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Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Live Blog: Analysis and Reaction

Matt Warden — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:23:11 -0400

After snapping a seven-game losing streak on Monday night, the Rangers dropped Tuesday's matchup 6-2 against the Oakland Athletics.

Despite striking out 10 in six innings of work, Yu Darvish (7-3, 2.84 ERA) gave up five earned runs while Texas could only manage two runs on three hits. Brandon Moss hit his 13^th homer for Oakland, and is batting .357 with four homeruns and seven RBIs in his last six games.

The win gave the A’s a three-game lead over the Rangers in the AL Central.

Wednesday's game will feature a pitching duel between Justin Grimm (5-5, 5.59) and Tommy Milone (6-6, 3.61).

Grimm is 0-2 with an ERA over 11 in his last three starts for the Rangers. Milone has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his 14 starts this season and is coming off of a strong 6.2 inning start against the Mariners last Friday.

First pitch is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. ET on Fox Southwest but join me at 8:00 p.m. ET as I bring you the action live from Texas.

Tiger Woods Withdraws From AT&T National With Strained Elbow

Benjamin Klein — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:22:47 -0400

Tiger Woods didn’t look like himself this past weekend at the 2013 U.S. Open and now we know why.

A press release on TigerWoods.com announced that Woods has a left elbow strain that will keep him out of the upcoming AT&T National Tournament.

Here is what Tiger said in the statement:

I was examined after I returned home form the U.S. Open, and the doctors determined I have a left elbow strain.

I have been advised to take a few weeks off, rest and undergo treatment. I’ll be ready to go for the British Open, and I’m looking forward to playing at Muirfield. I would like to extend my regrets to AT&T, our sponsors and the fans in the Washington, D.C., area. The AT&T National means a lot to me and my foundation. It’s especially difficult not defending at my own tournament. It’s going to be a great event, and I look forward to being there to provide my support.

Woods had a very difficult time at Merion Golf Club, shooting 13-over for the tournament, which was his worst finish ever. Woods had 10 birdies and 20 bogeys throughout his four rounds and needed 2.7 putts per green in regulation.

After winning the Players Championship in mid-May, Woods played poorly at the Memorial Tournament right before the U.S. Open. There, he shot eight-over and despite making the cut, finished in a tie for 65th place.

Woods mentions that he should be ready to play at the British Open, which is set for July 18-21. Woods is a three-time winner at the Open Championship, last winning the title back in 2006. Last year, he finished tied for third at three-under.

Woods is the No. 1 golfer in the world and an injury is the last thing that he needed. If Woods isn’t able to take the course at Muirfield, this could turn into a major problem for the world’s best golfer. Not being able to play the British Open would also extend his quest to break the record for most career major victories.

Tiger currently sits four behind Jack Nicklaus for the all-time record. Woods needs to be healthy going forward in order to keep his hopes of 19 major victories alive.

Alaska Anchorage Hires Thomas as New Head Hockey Coach

Roman Uschak — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:16:24 -0400

The University of Alaska Anchorage has a new head coach—someone who will be moving just up the West Coast, and is no stranger to the college ranks.

The Seawolves have hired former Rochester of Technology Institute center Matt Thomas, who spent the last 12 seasons in professional hockey, most recently as head coach of the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder. The Thunder, an affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, were the ECHL’s Western Conference champions this season before they fell to the Reading Royals in the Kelly Cup Final.

“We're very excited that Matt Thomas will be joining Seawolf Athletics as our new head hockey coach," said UAA vice chancellor Dr. Bill Spindle at goseawolves.com. “Matt's extensive experience as a head coach, coupled with his incredible enthusiasm for rolling up his sleeves and facing UAA's program challenges head-on, make him the right choice to lead the Seawolves as we head into a new league and a new season this fall.”

Thomas replaces Dave Shyiak, who was released in April after eight seasons at the helm of the Seawolves.

“I have always admired the sense of community and pride that is associated with Anchorage and the entire state of Alaska and our entire family is excited about the move,” said Thomas at uscho.com. It truly is a ‘hockey state.’ My goal is to bring back the passion for UAA hockey and produce a winner for the community, alumni and our fan base.”

The UAA program was founded back in 1979, and has had just four head coaches in its entire existence. Thomas will be the fifth.

Thomas, from Mississauga, Ont., went 163-127-39 (.555) in 329 games in five campaigns with the Thunder, and was also 34-30 in the ECHL postseason in that span, according to the team’s website. All-time, Thomas fashioned a 342-225-80 mark (.590) in 647 career ECHL regular-season games as head coach of the Thunder, the Fresno Falcons and the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. He ranks fifth in league regular-season annals in victories, and is sixth in total games coached.

A former assistant coach at the University of Maine from 2000 to 2002, Thomas played at RIT from 1994 to 1998. He helped the Tigers to three NCAA Division III Tournament berths, along with a national runner-up finish his sophomore season. He also helped them to the NCAAs as an assistant coach in 1999.

The Seawolves last posted a winning season in 1992-93, their first as an affiliate member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, one year after they finished a string of three consecutive NCAA Division I tournament appearances as an independent.The 1990-91 team advanced to the NCAA quarterfinal round, losing to Northern Michigan after beating Boston College, while the 1991-92 squad finished a program-best 27-8-1 (.764) but fell to Lake Superior State in the first round of the NCAAs.

UAA will start play this fall in a revamped WCHA that also includes Alabama-Huntsville, Alaska Fairbanks, Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State and Northern Michigan.

Current NHL players who skated at UAA in their careers include Jay Beagle of the Washington Capitals and Curtis Glencross of the Calgary Flames. Mike Peluso was the first former Seawolf to win a Stanley Cup, back in 1995 with the New Jersey Devils.

Aaron Hernandez Reportedly Will Be Sued for Shooting Man in Face

Matt Fitzgerald — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:09:34 -0400

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez will face a lawsuit for allegedly shooting a man in the face at a Miami strip club.

TMZ.com broke news of this stunning development, as the lawsuit was filed in Florida federal court on Wednesday—five days prior to authorities searching Hernandez's Massachusetts home for an apparently unrelated homicide case.

The lawsuit for the shooting was originally thought to be dismissed just four days after it was filed, but there was simply an error in the paperwork. Thus, the man who originally filed it, Alexander S. Bradley, still intends to move forward with the legal action, and refile the lawsuit today.

At a club called Tootsie's Cabaret on Feb. 13, 2013, Bradley claims he got into an argument with Hernandez at the club before the two left in the same car.

While in the vehicle, Hernandez allegedly "aimed his weapon at Bradley...and the gun discharged, striking Bradley in the face," per TMZ.

The major injuries Bradley claims to have suffered from the gunshot wound include the loss of his right eye, and extensive surgery was required to repair his face, which included the use of screws and plates.

Bradley also implied that his right hand and arm absorbed part of the shot. He said that those injuries also required surgery.

In addition to asking for more than $100,000 in the suit, Bradley asserted that Hernandez did not even have a license for the gun that he shot Bradley with.

Such a development is troubling enough for Hernandez, but the alleged unlicensed gun may spell even more legal trouble in the future.

Hernandez is a key part of the Patriots offense, and his presence is key to the team's sustained success in 2013. He finished 2012 with 51 receptions for 485 yards and five touchdowns in 10 regular-season games.

Fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski's status is questionable after multiple surgeries, including one on his back on Tuesday, per ESPN Boston's Field Yates, who also notes that Hernandez had surgery this offseason.

Combine that with this legal situation Hernandez currently finds himself in, and unfortunately New England is in danger of being without two of their biggest playmakers in the near future. However, according to Yates, the Patriots do have five other tight ends on the current roster.

Say You Bought Chipper Jones' House for Only $3.2 Million

Gabe Zaldivar — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:03:57 -0400

Chipper Jones is selling a peach of a Georgia home that has you well taken care of in the bathroom department.

Busted Coverage spotted the listing for Jones' Roswell mansion over at Realtor.com. As with a great deal of these types of sales, the best part is the collection of wonderful images that show off what it's like to be a world-class athlete.

Here are just a few that will have you saying, "I should have been a star third baseman for the Atlanta Braves."

I sincerely hope you enjoy wood floors and paneling, because this house is chockablock filled with the stuff.

Although, I am intrigued by festive soirees you could throw in this giant bar area.

Of course, no self-respecting person would be without a movie theater to catch all the latest straight-to-video hits.

If you are looking for sheer size, you have come to the right place. As you can see, the pool and apparent car park are sizable.

As for the exact size, the listing states the house is a whopping 23,504 square feet and sits atop a 2.52 acre lot, giving you all the privacy you could ever want.

It also has a bathroom for you and 10 of your closest friends. While the house only boasts a paltry six bedrooms, it makes up for it with 11 bathrooms, making pesky lines at family parties a thing of the past.

Besides the movie theater, the house has a dining room that seats 12, an exercise room, six fireplaces and a second kitchen, because one is never enough.

You can have all of this for a measly $3,195,000. I will wait while you go smash your piggy banks for the down payment.

Hit me up on Twitter: Follow @gabezal

Making the Call on NY Knicks' 5 Toughest Offseason Decisions

Mike Benjamin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:00:18 -0400

On Tuesday night, we bore witness to the best NBA Finals game in 10 years.

It was an amazing display: two titans with an insatiable will to win, giving maximum effort in regulation and beyond. Someone had to win, so Miami did, forcing a Game 7 and a chance to be the first team to win consecutive NBA titles since Kobe’s Lakers did so in 2009 and 2010.

So, where do the Knicks fit into all this hoopla?

Well, it just made their offseason decisions that much tougher to make.

If the Knicks are to avoid being a footnote in NBA history in the early stages of this millennium, company brass has some moves to make.

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Chelsea Stars Who Will Not Be Delighted by Jose Mourinho's Return

Garry Hayes — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:47:18 -0400

He's been back at Chelsea for just over a week and already Jose Mourinho is busy making headlines.

Blues fans may be ecstatic at Mourinho's return—after all, he is the man who gave them a first league title in 50 years during his first spell in charge, not to mention making the club one of the most feared across Europe—but some Chelsea players may feel differently.

Rumors of his intentions to take a hard line with Chelsea's star players next season (via Daily Mail) have emerged, but not only that, some of the club's leading players are now being linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge as the Portuguese begins to make his presence felt.

It's going to be an interesting summer in West London, as the Special One reshapes the Blues in his vision. So with that in mind, Bleacher Report looks at some Blues players who may not share the fans' happiness at Mourinho's return.

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LeBron James' Post-Game 6 Legacy: An Admittedly Biased View

Kyle Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:40:14 -0400

Let me make something clear right off the bat: I unabashedly dislike LeBron James as an athlete.

I rooted against him in Cleveland, slammed him for The Decision and yelled at him through my TV on an embarrassing number of occasions. So it’s safe to say my opinions on LeBron, Game 6 and his legacy should be taken with a dump truck full of salt. But this is America, so I’m going for it anyway…

LeBron James is, at his best, the greatest basketball player I’ve ever seen. I was born in 1990, so unfortunately my memories of Michael Jordan are limited. I watched as Shaquille O'neal and Kobe Bryant won three straight championships. I saw Tim Duncan win four, and then Kobe two more.

But I’ve never seen anybody do the things LeBron does. He defends all five positions, takes it to the rim at will, passes as efficiently as anyone, blocks shots, snags rebounds—the man does it all.

Except, something seems to be missing. I can’t quantify it. I don’t know if there’s even a word for it. Killer instinct? Cold-bloodedness? Guts? Maybe.

MJ had it. Kobe has it.

At the end of the game, with the season on the line, do you have the gumption to take the last shot without doubting yourself? MJ and Kobe always believed the ball was going in on that last heave. With LeBron, it seems like he’s hoping and praying it goes in so he doesn’t have to face the world after coming up short again.

Last night, LeBron single-handedly brought the Heat back from the brink of elimination with an unbelievable headband-less performance. I’ve never seen anything like it. He looked like a bully fifth-grader trying to impress his friends by facing off against five kindergartners. But then, all of a sudden, the game was on the line. The pressure mounted. And LeBron James made two consecutive and crucial turnovers. The Spurs had them dead to rights.

At this point I’m thinking about LeBron’s tarnished legacy. One win and three losses in the NBA Finals. Two crucial mistakes in the biggest game of the season.

Then Ray Allen bailed him out.

So today, LeBron gets a pass. To his credit, he did record a monster triple-double. But I can’t forget him looking completely lost at the end of Game 6—not to mention his uninspired performance through the first three quarters. Lebron is great. He's really, really great. But legends don’t shrink in the biggest moments. That’s what made them legends in the first place. I’ve seen LeBron shrink too many times to be compared with the likes of MJ and Kobe.

Who knows? Maybe Game 7 on Thursday will change my mind.

I doubt it.

USA vs. Honduras: Jozy Altidore Finally Becoming Striker USA Needs Him To Be

Zach Brown — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:39:36 -0400

The United States finally has its hero.

With the U.S. men's national team locked in a scoreless contest with Honduras Tuesday night, Jozy Altidore was the difference maker, knocking home the winning goal in the 73rd minute.

After a nifty pass from a charging Fabian Johnson, Altidore hit a brilliant left-footed shot low and away from the Honduran keeper that found the back of the net.

Since losing a friendly to Belgium on May 29, the USMNT has now won four straight matches. It is no coincidence that Altidore has recorded a tally in each. In the five previous games where Altidore had not recorded a goal, the United States was just 1-2-2 on the season.

There was plenty of doubt surrounding Altidore as recently as last month. Before finding the back of the net against Germany on June 2, Altidore had gone 16 months without a goal in international competition.

He began showing signs of renewed promise last year when he set the scoring record for an American player in Europe by recording 31 goals for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie.

But until he broke through against Germany on June 2, Altidore's club success had not translated to the national team.

Stronger play from his teammates has helped Altidore greatly—Johnson's assist on Tuesday night was the second time in two games the duo connected for a goal—but credit Altidore for finishing on his chances, something he had not done for the USMNT for more than a year.

The next few months are key for Altidore. He is rumored to be on the transfer market, as reported by MLSSoccer.com, and needs to land with a team that utilizes him properly. He can only continue to grow as a player if he is getting significant playing time against the best competition.

If he does continue to hone his skills, Altidore could eventually become the greatest striker in U.S. team history.

Come next year, the United States will go as far in the World Cup as Altidore can carry them.

Floyd Mayweather Will Gain Mental Edge Over Alvarez From Massive Hype Tour

Brian Mazique — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:37:13 -0400

On Monday, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Alvarez will begin a rare—if not unprecedented—11-city tour to promote their September 14 bout, per Ring Magazine.

A promotional strategy this big is uncommon—even for a Mayweather fight—but if there is a fighter in the world who can handle the hype, it's Money. In contrast, if there is a fighter whose makeup would suggest that the massive hoopla could distract them, it may be Canelo Alvarez.

The 23-year-old super middleweight champion is quiet, reserved and seemingly quite shy in nature. It is easy to see how these events could put him in an uncomfortable space.

Mayweather will use every opportunity to gain a mental edge over Canelo. You never know when Mayweather will turn on the bravado, or hit you with the more introspective and softer-spoken Money we've seen more and more as he's gotten older.

In any case, Mayweather keeps his opponents off balance before the fight about as much as he has during fights over his legendary career.

The tour is set to end on July 2, with stops in Phoenix and L.A. It is nearly two-and-a-half months before the men are set to meet in the ring, but in such a big fight, one has to wonder how an unorthodox event during fight preparations could affect the participants.

There are even more reasons beyond his introverted demeanor that would suggest Canelo may be adversely affected by the tour.

Not only is Mayweather the older, more experienced fighter in major fights, he's also in the more comfortable position of having to add weight to meet the 152-pound weight limit.

Alvarez is already a bigger man naturally, but now he has to come down—albeit just two pounds—to make weight. It is yet another adjustment in the process of preparation.

At such a high level, every little edge counts. Against the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, there will be little-to-no room for error or a lack of focus. The tour equates to just another potential distraction for Alvarez en route to the biggest fight of his life.

Fighting Mayweather is as much about mental preparedness as it is about physical execution. The mind games and psychological warfare begin the moment he acknowledges an opposing fighter's presence on his radar.

It continues through the pre-fight negotiations and after the fight has been agreed to. Few can match Mayweather when it comes to trash talk. Alvarez isn't even close in that regard. This tour is only going to make that point more obvious.

Poise and patience will be a key if Alvarez is going to have a chance to best Mayweather. Money's psyche games over the course of an eight-day tour could get under Alvarez's skin and make him abandon his game plan in the ring.

Before Mayweather fought Robert Guerrero, he completely dismantled him in their face-to-face promotional meeting. Money also duped his opponent into thinking he'd slug him toe-to-toe.

This didn't happen and while this trickery wasn't the primary reason Money destroyed Guerrero, it worked as a small piece to a masterfully assembled puzzle.

The platform this tour creates will allow Money ample time to prep the subject of his next masterpiece.

Follow me for boxing news and opinions.

Michigan Basketball: Which Version of Mitch McGary Will Show Up in 2014?

C.J. Moore — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:29:26 -0400

The best big man in the NCAA tournament spent most of the season coming off the bench and averaging 6.0 points per game.

The big man in the NCAA tournament had six regular season games when he scored only two points and was shut out once.

The best big man in the NCAA tournament was Mitch McGary, the shoo-in for preseason first-team All-American. That other guy was Mitch McGary, a project big man.

The assumption is that based off six games in the NCAA tournament that McGary is going to be much closer to the guy he was in those final six games than the one he was the first 33.

That’s what happens when you perform the way McGary did on the biggest stage, averaging 15.3 points and 10.7 boards in the tournament.

Here’s what we know is a certainty regarding McGary’s game. He is an elite rebounder. He proved that from start to finish last year. He ranked 10th in offensive rebounding percentage (per KenPom.com—subscription needed) and grabbed 22.4 percent of available defensive rebounds. That should continue in 2013-14.

What we’re assuming based off the tournament is that he can be an elite offensive threat as well.

The challenge in that regard is continuing to produce without the services of National Player of the Year Trey Burke. In the tournament, Burke assisted on 13 of McGary’s 40 buckets. McGary also benefited from the penetration of Tim Hardaway Jr., who assisted on nine of McGary’s baskets in the tournament.

What made McGary so valuable in John Beilein’s offense—and why McGary sparked the March run—is that he could finish what his guards created. McGary took 70 percent of his shots at the rim and shot 70 percent at the rim, according to Hoop-Math.com’s data. With Burke's ability to draw defenders, that made life in the paint pretty simple.

McGary is now spending the offseason working on creating more for himself.

Michigan assistant coach Bacari Alexander recently told Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press that the plan is to move McGary from center to power forward, which would give him some more freedom in the offense.

McGary showed against Syracuse in the Final Four that he can work in space. Working from the middle of the zone mostly, McGary had six assists.

Alexander told Snyder:

As he showed a maturation to shoot it when you’re open, pass it when you’re not and make accurate passes and balance and things of that nature, now we can entertain that plan that we originally planned for previously. In addition to that, increasing the shooting range is something that’s going to be a critical asset for him. But the not-so-much-talked-about aspect of making a position change is what you do defensively.

Michigan’s defense will be at its best when he’s able to protect the rim, but Alexander’s point is that in order to defend fours—many of whom are stretch fours in today’s college basketball—he has to be comfortable away from the paint. McGary has the quickness to defend outside. He just needs to show Michigan’s coaches he can do so without fouling.

The Wolverines pride themselves on fouling less often than any team in the country and McGary committed 4.8 fouls per 40 minutes last year.

As Alexander pointed out, the other area of McGary’s game that he could improve is his outside shooting. The ideal scoring big man in Beilein’s offense is one that can shoot it—think Kevin Pittsnogle.

McGary did not shot one three last year, but he did show an ability to hit the mid-range jumper in the tournament. McGary knocked down nine of his 18 jumpers in the tournament, according to CBSSports.com’s shot charts. This was an improvement from the regular season when he made approximately 34.7 percent of his jumpers, according to Hoop-Math.com’s data.

The final key to McGary putting up numbers is how well incoming freshmen guards Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton create. Beilein can try to run some offense through McGary, but he is still going to be at his best when he’s on the receiving end of a nice drive and dish.

If those guards can captain the offense right away like Burke did his freshman season, McGary should be able to live up to the expectations he created for himself in six productive games.

7 Reasons the McMahon Family Drama Does Not Belong on TV

Sharon Glencross — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:26:42 -0400

Ah, yes. WWE Raw. Or as it has recently become known, "The McMahon Family Drama Show."

Stephanie is a high-powered business woman! Triple H doesn't belong in the ring anymore! Vince McMahon is just concerned about his family! Stephanie and Triple H are having marital problems! Triple H wants to beat up his father-in-law! Oh, and now they're hugging it out!

Is this wrestling or Days of Our Lives?

So, let's just look at a few of the reasons that Vince, Stephanie and the rest of the family need to be kept off of our screens.

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Tim Tebow Must Emerge as Primary Backup in Order to Stay on Patriots' Roster

Benjamin Klein — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:23:01 -0400

Newly signed New England Patriots' quarterback, Tim Tebow, must prove that he’s better than Ryan Mallett during training camp and throughout the preseason unless he could find himself jobless yet again.

Tebow had a tough time finding an organization that was willing to take a chance on him until the Patriots singed him to a two-year deal around a week ago. Tebow now has the opportunity to backup Tom Brady each week and potentially get some time on the field as well.

Tebow’s exact role has yet to be determined, but you can bet that he’s going to have to play remarkably well in order to make the final roster. The Patriots don’t really need to keep three quarterbacks on the team and Tebow must make it his mission to secure the No. 2 job over Mallett.

Two of my friends over at NESN, Doug Kyed and Luke Hughes, recently did a 53-man roster projection and most of the focus was on Tebow. Kyed left Tebow off his roster and the quarterback just barely made the team for Hughes—and both kept Mallett. Both agree that it won’t be easy for Tebow to make the final squad.

Mallett, a third-round pick in 2011 by New England, has rarely taken the field since joining the Patriots. He only has four career pass attempts and eight rush attempts on his resume. Backing up Brady doesn’t require a lot unless he goes down with an injury—like when Matt Cassel took over when Brady hurt his knee.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said in a question-and-answer session in February that the Patriots have been impressed with Mallett during practice (Insider subscription required). Tom Curran of Comcast SportsNet New England reported before the NFL draft that New England hadn’t had conversations about dealing the backup QB.

Now that the draft has come and gone, nearly every team knows whom their quarterback for the upcoming season will be. But that doesn’t mean that everything is going to go according to plan once Week 1 is set to start. Injuries happen all the time and sometimes derail quarterbacks for extended periods.

If Tebow plays well up until the regular season, and there’s a market for a player like Mallett, New England could feel comfortable trading him and keeping the former Florida Gator as the No. 2 guy.

Is that a stretch? Sure it is. But it’s certainly a possibility.

Regardless of what happens with other teams, Tebow needs to focus on playing well once the Patriots take the field. He isn’t going to have many opportunities to succeed before the Patriots need to make a final decision as to who will be on the final roster and who will be cut.

Last year, Mallett had 67 preseason pass attempts. Brian Hoyer—who was eventually cut—had 47. Brady threw the ball 27 times in two games. With Tebow fighting for a spot on the team, we should expect him to throw at least 40 preseason passes. If his mechanics are poor and he isn’t making plays, he’s gone.

Let me say this again: The Patriots don’t need three quarterbacks on the roster.

Tebow must play better than Mallett in order to have any shot at making the team. Keep in mind that he signed a deal that doesn’t include any guaranteed money (h/t USA Today). The Patriots won’t owe him anything if they decide to let him go at the end of the preseason.

You don’t have to call it a quarterback competition, but Tebow will be looking to take Mallett’s backup job. His spot on the team is nonexistent if he doesn’t.

Roberto Soldado or Leandro Damiao: Which Striker Would Be Better for Spurs?

Frank Wagner — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:18:51 -0400

With the summer transfer window upon us, the big question facing Tottenham Hotspur is whether they should pursue Roberto Soldado or Leandro Damiao.

The north London club's biggest need in this transfer window is, without doubt, at striker.

Last season, Spurs' front line consisted of just two experienced players, Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Due to injuries and losses of form, the pair combined for some shocking statistics, as they accounted for just under a quarter of the club's league goals.

Clearly, Tottenham would be well-advised to chase a few more options for the front of their lineup.

Based on the rumors that have been swirling, manager Andre Villas-Boas and chairman Daniel Levy agree with this assessment, as the club has been linked with scores of strikers since the season ended.

Some of the strongest links have been with Valencia's Soldado (via Metro) and Internacional's Damiao (via Express).

So which of these front men should Tottenham sign this summer?

The two players have carried a similar goal-scoring record over the past few seasons, with each getting just about three goals in every five matches for their respective clubs.

However, Soldado has been scoring his goals in La Liga while Damiao has been plying his trade in the Brazilian Serie A. That should give the Spaniard a leg up.

After all, while the Brazilian league is filled with great players, the adjustment period is typically shorter for players coming to the Premier League from Spain than those coming from Brazil.

On the other side, if Spurs are looking for a really long-term solution to their striker problem, Damiao might be the better pick.

At 23 years old, Damiao could carry on for quite some time at White Hart Lane, whereas the 28-year-old Soldado has less of a window.

Further, Damiao has the potential to get better over the next few years while Soldado has likely already hit his prime.

In terms of price, it's a wash, as both are worth around £20 million (via Express).

The point that separates these two great options, though, is in their general style of play.

Leandro Damiao is a big forward with technical skill, able to take the ball out of the air, hold it up and finish with ease.

In short, he is the sort of striker that would be a perfect addition to Andre Villas-Boas' side.

While Roberto Soldado has all of that technical skill and then some, the Spaniard's small frame detracts greatly from his aerial challenges, limiting the option for balls over the top.

Soldado is an awesome option for Tottenham, but Damiao would be a slightly better fit into this side that AVB is molding into his image.

As a result, if Spurs had to choose just one of those two, Levy should pursue the Brazilian.

In fact, that might be a factor in the club's appointment of Franco Baldini, someone with a long track record of luring Brazilians to Europe, as technical director (via Guardian).

However, one should hold out hope that Tottenham sign both Leandro Damiao and Roberto Soldado this summer.

If that happened, Spurs would suddenly have a formidable strike force, a happy situation after last season's struggles.

Follow @Fw1812

Brazil vs. Mexico Live Stream: How To Watch Key Group A Matchup

Timothy Rapp — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:18:06 -0400

Wednesday's clash between Brazil and Mexico in Group A of the Confederations Cup is a huge match for both sides.

For Brazil, it's the opportunity to earn three more points and all but earn a spot in the semifinals. For Mexico, it's a chance to keep their semifinal aspirations viable, as a loss would all but eliminate them from the next round.

Obviously, you don't want to miss a minute of this vital match. With the television and streaming information provided below, you won't have to miss a thing.

When: Wednesday, June 19 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, Brazil

TV: ESPN

Streaming: WatchESPN

Players to Watch

If you don't know you should be watching Neymar's every move by now, well, you must be a jilted Real Madrid fan.

The Brazilian talisman and Barcelona man provided the moment of the Confederations Cup thus far, with his wonder strike on the half volley to give Brazil a 1-0 lead over Japan in the third minute of the tournament's first game. All eyes are on Neymar a year away from the World Cup, as he'll be expected to lead his country to a title on his home soil.

He's not alone, of course. Barcelona boasts an excellent back four of Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Dani Alves and Marcelo, even if Alves had a pretty brutal game against Japan.

But when you watch Brazil, you watch for the creative and electrifying attackers. Alongside Neymar, Brazil has Fred in the forward role, who has been scoring regularly for his country. Then there is the powerful Hulk, whose powerful shots from distance give keepers nightmares, and Oscar, a tricky and technically sound player who quietly impacts every match in a positive way.

Add in central midfielder Paulinho, fast becoming one of Brazil's most reliable players, and you have a very, very dangerous team.

But Mexico, despite their recent struggles, should not be underestimated.

Javier Hernandez may be stuck behind Robin van Persie on Manchester United's team sheet, but few players score with as much regularity for their country as El Chicharito.

He's not alone, of course. Andres Guardado is a dangerous weapon out wide on the wing, while Giovani dos Santos gives Mexico a dangerous, creative edge when he is utilized in the hole atop the midfield behind Hernandez.

There is plenty of talent on this team—don't forget about Carlos Salcido, Pablo Barrera and Hector Moreno—but it will be Mexico's desperation to earn a win in this vital match that makes them truly dangerous for Brazil.

Prediction

Mexico just isn't playing great soccer right now, folks. With just one win in six World Cup qualifying games during the Hexagonal round and a 2-1 loss to Italy, it's really hard to see this team knocking off a talented Brazilian squad.

Look for the hosts to win this one, 2-1.

Will Yankees' Brian Cashman Make Big Trade Splash to Save Season from Injuries?

Doug Mead — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:11:39 -0400

Tuesday was not a very good day for the New York Yankees, and for general manager Brian Cashman.

First, they learned that first baseman Mark Teixeira—who missed the first two months of the season with a partially torn tendon sheath in his right wrist—would need another DL stint for ongoing wrist concerns.

Teixeira was hitting only .151 in 15 games, and Yankees coach Kevin Long said over the weekend that Teixeira's swing hasn't been right since he was activated from the DL.

Fortunately for the Yankees, an MRI revealed some inflammation in the wrist, but no new tearing in the tendon sheath itself. Teixeira was given a cortisone shot and won't be swinging a bat for several days.

It should be noted that Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista suffered a similar injury last year that required season-ending surgery. For Teixeira, that option certainly hasn't been ruled out at this point.

For third baseman Kevin Youkilis, the situation is a bit more serious. Youkilis returned from the disabled list on May 31 after missing a month with back problems. He too was placed back on the DL and will undergo surgery on Thursday to repair a herniated disk.

Youkilis will be sidelined for a minimum of 10-12 weeks, meaning it would be late August/early September before he's ready to return. That's a best-case scenario at this point.

The issues now facing the Yankees are obvious—Alex Rodriguez is already on the DL and is out indefinitely while he recovers from hip surgery. Eduardo Nunez (strained oblique) was recently moved to the 60-day DL and isn't expected back until at least the All-Star break.

Oh yeah, and shortstop Derek Jeter likely won't be back until after the All-Star break as well.

All of the injuries have forced manager Joe Girardi to field a lineup that at times looked more like a Triple-A team.

And yet amazingly, the Yankees find themselves just four games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. But with the recent news, that may not last long.

Is it now time for Cashman to start considering a major splash on the trade market?

With the trade deadline just six weeks away, trades are already on the minds of general managers across MLB. But for Cashman, the need is more for now, and not for the final two months of the season.

Here are a few options that Cashman can consider in order to make up for the rash of serious injuries.

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Breaking Down Minnesota Twins' Odds of Being Traded

Collin Kottke — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:10:35 -0400

Let’s start off by being brutally honest with ourselves: no Twins’ pitcher will be traded this year.

Think about it.

Either the pitcher is too good and too vital to the organization to trade, take Glen Perkins for example, or the pitcher just isn’t good enough to trade and would get nothing in return, like Vance Worley.

So let’s take every pitcher out of the equation right off the bat. If anyone leaves, chances are good it will be through an outright release.

Let’s just move right on to the position players who have a legitimate shot at moving around the deadline this year.

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Cold Hard Fact for Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Daily Cold Hard Facts — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:10:13 -0400

Fact: Prior to 1900, prize fights lasted up to 100 rounds.

Bleacher Report will be bringing sports fans the most interesting and engaging Cold Hard Fact of the day, presented by Coors Light.

Will Each Top 25 Team Finish 2013 Above or Below Preseason Rankings?

Randy Chambers — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:10:11 -0400

It's always fun looking back at where a college football team started in the polls and where it finished. It tells a lot about the voters, teams and gives the fans something else to rub in its rivals face.

Look, Oregon finished second in the AP Poll last year, but it was USC that began the season ranked No. 1. Among other things, don't think for a second Duck fans haven't reminded fellow Trojans about that.

Very few teams finish where they started in the polls. Some steadily climb up the ladder like Notre Dame, while others fall off a cliff like West Virginia. The position changes will continue this season.

Don't expect a couple of SEC programs to live up to the hype, and there a few Pac-12 teams you should be keeping an eye on.

Note: Rankings were provided by Adam Kramer of Bleacher Report.

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Justin Smith Signs 2-Year Contract Extension With San Francisco 49ers

Matt Fitzgerald — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:03:15 -0400

San Francisco 49ers All-Pro defensive lineman Justin Smith has reached an agreement with the organization on a two-year contract extension that runs through 2015.

The team's official Twitter broke the news on Wednesday:

Smith has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last four seasons and has been a key driving force in the Niners' vaunted defense, which has turned into one of the premier units in the league since head coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff took over two seasons ago.

The 33-year-old Smith is known for his durability, having only missed three games in his entire 12-year career since being drafted No. 4 overall in 2001 by the Cincinnati Bengals.

In fact, since his rookie campaign, Smith hadn't missed a single contest until 2012, when a torn triceps injury suffered in a win against the New England Patriots forced him to sit out the final two regular-season games.

When he left the game, the Patriots mounted a furious rally before losing 41-34. The following week—the first time Smith was out of the lineup—the Niners were thrashed 42-13 on the road by the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks.

The defense wasn't quite the same with Smith being somewhat limited by the injury in the postseason. San Francisco gave up an average of over 28 points in its three playoff contests.

Clearly, Smith is a key cog in the 49ers' aggressive 3-4 scheme, and keeping him around will only help the Niners' quest for a Super Bowl after falling agonizingly short the past two seasons.

Manny Ramirez Leaves Taiwan: Baseball-Mad World Suddenly Stops Spinning

Gabe Zaldivar — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:02:49 -0400

Not only will Taiwanese fans be less exuberant, but YouTube will be filled with far less joy, because Manny Ramirez is leaving the Chinese Professional Baseball League.

Like a stingy pour of top-shelf whiskey, this delicious treat just wasn't enough. Focus Taiwan (h/t For the Win) reports Ramirez, 41, is bringing his brief stint with the EDA Rhinos to a close.

Per the report, the former MLB superstar is scheduled to leave the country on June 21, just shy of fulfilling his three-month contract. When you consider how successful Ramirez has been, you think he would stick things out and see where the EDA Rhinos tenure might take him.

Focus Taiwan has some thoughts on what his next step might be:

The Rhinos did not give a reason for Ramirez's departure, except to say that he was getting homesick, but Japanese and Taiwanese media are speculating that he is being pursued by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league.

Alas, there is hope we may soon have far more ecstatic home run calls and Manny-being-Manny moments, if only in a different uniform.

For now, I am left to ponder the strange road that has been far too short.

In March, we got our first taste of Ramirez playing in Taiwan, giving us a glimpse of the slugger who once belted home runs and stirred crowds and announcers.

Busted Coverage had these amazing images from that initial start, including a Ramirez sign with Johnny Cueto playing the part of ManRam impostor.

Then there was the time he actually "moonwalked" out of the batter's box, bringing a smile to even the most jaded of sports enthusiasts.

It wasn't just Ramirez or the fans who lost their minds over a fantastic few months, because the announcers raised their game in tandem.

Bleacher Report's own Zach Rymer sounded off on the home run call that mentioned an "ex-girlfriend who will never return."

Focus Taiwan does mention that Ramirez may be getting homesick, so this could indeed be the end of a wild ride for baseball fans across the world.

If it is the end of his career, he certainly finished on a fantastic note. Per the report, Ramirez hit .352 with eight home runs and 43 RBI in just 49 games.

Still, it was never about the numbers with Ramirez. Any discussion on this baseball great has to include the obvious peripherals that made him a fan favorite as well as a thorn in the side of managers.

We certainly hope the rumors of a Japanese landing are true. If not, we raise our glasses in a toast to the class clown who could really hit.

Let's swap ManRam stories on Twitter: Follow @gabezal

Cristiano Ronaldo Deserving of Huge Contract Reportedly Offered by Real Madrid

Ethan Grant — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:58:00 -0400

Cristiano Ronaldo, like so many other footballers during the 2013 summer transfer window, is unsure about his future at his current club.

After a season at Real Madrid that included 57 goals across different club competitions, a deep run in the Champions League draw and a second-place finish behind Barcelona in the La Liga table, Los Blancos are at a crossroads with one of the top two players on the planet right now.

As Ben Hayward and Alberto Pinero reported on Tuesday, Ronaldo is reportedly deep in contract negotiations with Madrid to become the richest soccer player on the planet—an extension that will come close to €155 million over the lifetime of the deal.

With Manchester United, AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain all closing hard on the Portuguese star, and rumors about a potential exit—like one chronicled here by Jamie Sanderson of Metro—running rampant, Madrid faces a club-changing decision with respect to their brightest star.

Although the salary number is in fact high, Ronaldo is no-doubt deserving of the high-dollar contract to continue his career with Los Blancos well after his current contract expires in 2015.

As noted above, his future is anything but certain.

Former manager Jose Mourinho returned home to Chelsea during the transfer window already, and the biggest name associated with a potential move is that of the Red Devils—Ronaldo's previous stop on his club career tour.

He netted 18 goals in 31 Premier League matches for United back in 2009, and then moved to Real Madrid on a lucrative transfer that summer to become one of the highest-paid players in the game. His time at the Bernabeu has been anything but unproductive—he's scored 201 goals in just 199 matches for his current club.

But Mourinho's EPL exit and the possibility of filling the star void in the middle of the Red Devil lineup, look like possibilities that would be hard to ignore as an athlete, considering that is where the 28-year-old made a name for himself earlier in his career.

Sanderson reported on it above—Ronaldo is unsure of his Los Blancos future.

CNN's Tancredi Palmeri is also unsure of what's to follow in the days to come:

Ancelotti, of course, is referring to former PSG boss Carlo, who captained his club to a first-place finish in the Ligue 1 table this year. The former Italian footballer might be coming to take over the sidelines that Mourinho abandoned to return to Chelsea.

While new leadership is a factor in the Ronaldo decision to either request a transfer or sign a new deal with the club, another factor has also emerged in recent weeks that makes this reported extension agreement that much more crucial to Madrid.

Ian Herbert and Pete Jensen of The Independent have reported that Ronaldo is quietly being urged to complete the next 18 months of his contract and then become completely unattached from Madrid, freeing up a new club to avoid the dreaded transfer fee that will be the driving force behind any Madrid interest in such a move.

Neil Custis of The Sun reported back in early June that United was stepping up their offer for Ronaldo to £65 million, an offer that still wouldn't persuade Los Blancos to sign on the dotted line without a fight for their star player.

Without an extension, though, it would be prudent to think about the repercussions of the reality Madrid would face in knowing he was leaving for nothing. That disappointment might be enough to lead to transfer anyway.

Of course, Ronaldo himself has done nothing to impress or assuage Madrid fans. This cryptic tweet last week, for instance, is the embodiment of the roller coaster ride at Bernabeu when it comes to his future:

The issue here is not the reported interest of other clubs, I'm sure there's interest in Lionel Messi, too. But like we've seen with Luis Suarez at Liverpool and Gareth Bale at Tottenham, if the idea of a transfer doesn't get shot down right away, there's weight to the rumor.

And there's weight to the idea that the player has interest in a move.

By offering Ronaldo a lucrative contract extension, Los Blancos can assure that their lone star will be in uniform when La Liga play begins next year. Currently playing for Portugal in World Cup qualifying, Madrid needs Ronaldo to go toe to toe with Messi and Neymar next year, too.

Although the number is high and it might limit a potential move for a second-fiddle star alongside the unquestioned current one, securing one of the best goal-scorers on the planet can't be taken lightly when this kind of interest continues to soar across different countries.

Hopefully, for the sake of his Portuguese teammates, Ronaldo is focusing on getting his national team into the 2014 World Cup. On the side, though, Madrid making sure he's focused on a long-term future at Santiago Bernabeu is the best move this club can make during the transfer window.

Even if the price is high, Ronaldo has been nothing but stellar in his first few years with Real Madrid, and the club can't afford to hedge its future on the idea that new management and a big transfer fee will help replace what he brings to the pitch.

Now the world will await to see if we'll see Messi versus Ronaldo each year in La Liga play, or once in a blue moon in European competition.

2013 NBA Finals: San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat, Game 7 Picks

Jeff Grant — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:57:32 -0400

The Miami Heat are 0-8 against the spread in their last eight games following a straight-up win, which is important to consider when making your NBA picks on Thursday as they close out their best-of-seven series with the San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Sports bettors will find that the Heat are six-point home favorites in the pro basketball odds, courtesy of SBR Forum, while the total has settled in at 189.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals from a betting perspective, while offering up a first-half prediction along the way.

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WWE Money in the Bank 2013: Projecting Main Events, Undercard and Winners

Mike Chiari — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:55:22 -0400

While Money in the Bank is not branded as one of the WWE's "Big Four" pay-per-views, it has routinely been among the best shows of the year since its inception. With two world title matches as well as two Money in the Bank ladder matches essentially guaranteed, it's tough to imagine things being any different this year.

Coming off a surprisingly strong Payback pay-per-view, the WWE has a golden opportunity to keep the positive momentum moving toward SummerSlam. Thanks to the return of CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio's heel turn, a fresh feud between John Cena and Mark Henry and even the scheduled return of Rob Van Dam, Money in the Bank promises to be spectacular.

Since it is unclear how the Money in the Bank ladder matches will be divided and how many superstars will be in each, it is anyone's guess how things will shake out. Aside from the Royal Rumble, though, Money in the Bank may be the most fun event of the year to predict.

With that said, here is a full slate of predictions for each and every Money in the Bank match, including winners and a breakdown of how things will play out.

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Why Running Back Is Deepest Position in 2014 College Football Recruiting Class

Andrew Kulha — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:54:22 -0400

The recruiting class of 2014 is just as talented as it is deep, but there is no position more impressive than running back.

The No. 1 player in the class (247Sports Composite) is a running back, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Leonard Fournette, a 5-star recruit from Saint Augustine High School in New Orleans, La., has super star potential, but you could go deep into the running back rankings and eventually find a player who could be a featured back at the college football level.

Related: Including fullbacks and all-purpose backs, here's how Bleacher Report's running back power rankings looked like this year.

Fournette is in a class of his own. He's 6'0.5'' and 225 pounds, so he can be a true power back, but he has the speed of a natural scatback. He can punch it between the tackles in short yardage situations, but also stretch a run outside, make a few defenders miss and outrun the rest to the end zone.

He's the perfect blend of speed and power. Think of a young Adrian Peterson for a comparison:

Behind Fournette, though, there are about seven running backs that could and should be considered tied for second.

According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, 5-star running back and Georgia commitment Sony Michel is ranked No. 2, but Joseph Yearby (Miami), Dalvin Cook (Florida), Jalen Hurd (Tennessee), Racean Thomas, Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb (Georgia) could all fill that spot admirably.

Yearby, Cook, Hurd and Thomas are all 5-star recruits, according to the 247Sports Composite. Mixon and Chubb could easily gain that fifth star with good senior seasons.

Thomas, in particular, is one recruit to look out for. He has one of the best highlight tapes out there, and his juke moves are straight out of a video game. Alabama and Auburn are the top two programs on his 247Sports interest list.

Hurd, a Tennessee commitment, is another back with superstar potential. He's as big as a linebacker at 6'3'', 230 pounds, but he runs with the speed of an elite running back. Much like Fournette, he'll be able to play power football, but also flip it into second gear and run past defenders.

The "second tier" of running backs features players like Oklahoma State commitment Devon Thomas, Texas commitment Donald Catalon, Oklahoma commit Samaje Perine and Auburn commit Kamryn Pettway, amongst others. They aren't star recruits right now, but they're talented enough to receive offers from these big-time college football programs.

The potential is there for these running backs, and at the very least, they have what it takes to be productive. Pettway is ranked as a 3-star recruit and is the No. 24 back in the class, according to the 247Sports Composite, that goes to show just how deep this position group really is.

Overall, all of these running backs have incredible potential.

At a position that's becoming devalued because of injury, platoons and pass-happy offenses, the class of 2014 looks poised to put the focus back on the star running back.

Note: All analysis and scouting done via by writer, via tape study of film on recruit's respective 247Sports profile pages. Star rankings courtesy of the 247Sports Composite.

The Faces of the Game 6 Press Conferences Say It All

Tristan Thornburgh — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:49:35 -0400

The faces from the postgame press conference after the Miami Heat's overtime win against the Spurs perfectly encapsulate how both teams were feeling.

LeBron called it "The best game I've been a part of." You mad, Spurs?

Italy vs. Japan Confederations Cup Live Blog: Azzurri take on Blue Samurai

Christopher Impiglia — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:45:01 -0400

Italy will be looking for another convincing win when they take on World Cup hopefuls Japan in Group A of the Confederations Cup. The Blue Samurai, meanwhile, will be hoping to bounce back from the tough 0-3 loss to Brazil in their first match. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. ET, with coverage starting at 5:45 p.m. ET.

Have Dortmund Secured Their Immediate Future by Securing Lewandowski?

Stefan Bienkowski — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:42:41 -0400

Marcel Schmelzer wasn't having one of his best games in a Dortmund shirt that evening, and when the ill-attempted cross turned into a shot on a pinball-like trajectory through the Real Madrid box, the initial reaction was that of a deep sigh. Dortmund may have been a goal ahead of the Spanish champions but the game was still very much alive, and the atmosphere was far from comfortable.

But then the ball flew past Sergio Ramos, and then through the legs of Luka Modric. Before the Madrid defense had time to adjust itself, Robert Lewandowski had the ball at his feet.

Pepe—the cumbersome Brazilian defender—was on him in an instant, hacking and slashing in a manner for which he'd only became too infamous, but it was to no use. The Polish striker had pulled the ball back and twirled on the spot, in a move more accustomed to a balding Frenchman, and swung the ball past the defender and his colleague Diego Lopez in goal.

Lewandowski had scored his third goal of the night, and Madrid were defeated.

Dortmund deserved the win that night. Just like they deserved their spot in the final a month later. But they were fortunate to have Robert Lewandowski on hand to score such an exquisite goal and three more like it, to which the Spanish opponents simply couldn't respond. Dortmund needed their Polish striker that night, just like they still need him this season.

Denying Lewandowski his move to Bayern Munich was initially seen as a brash move by Jurgen Klopp and Co. Considered no more than an act of defiance against an inevitable process of Bayern Munich once again getting their man, corners of the media questioned the point in allowing a talented striker to leave for free.

But then Kevin de Bruyne returned to Chelsea and Heung-Min Son chose Leverkusen over the Champions League finalists.

All of a sudden, the club looked out of ideas. Dortmund simply couldn't release Lewandowski because they had no one to replace him.

And how could they? For all the trouble the striker has caused recently, Lewandowski has been simply phenomenal for the club this season. Even with all the money in the world, nobody can promise what the Polish striker is expected to continue after the summer.

With 24 goals in the Bundesliga this season, Lewandowski finished just one goal short of matching Stefan Kießling's record despite starting five fewer games than the Leverkusen goalscorer. To put both players' record into context, the third-highest tally was that of Alexander Meier with only 16 goals.

Perhaps more importantly for Dortmund was the sheer percentage of their goals that were scored by their star striker. With 24 to his name, in a league campaign in which the club scored 81, the striker bolsters just short of 30 percent of the total amount of goals scored by the team. When we consider that Lionel Messi contributes around 33 percent of Barcelona's goals, it truly shows you how reliant Dortmund are on this fantastic striker.

Yet it wouldn't be fair to analyse Lewandowski or Dortmund's season without running over their European campaign—a tournament the Polish striker had no problem dominating either.

In fact in the continental competition the striker's contribution to the team actually rose to 42 percent. As we can see from the above table from WhoScored.com, that puts him in the bracket of one of the most dependable players in the competition.

When we add in his two assists during the tournament, we can deduce that for every two goals that Dortmund scored on their way to the final, Lewandowski either scored or assisted one of them.

In an unforgettable season for Borussia Dortmund's fans, Robert Lewandowski will possibly, and quite regrettably, be remembered for his later affiliation with Bayern Munich and the anguish he's caused during a time when the yellow of Dortmund should have been dancing to their prosperity.

Perhaps he will one day sign for Bayern Munich, or perhaps they'll grow tired of this ordeal and simply move on to another player to solve their problems. Yet one thing is for sure: Dortmund still have a very good striker on their books for one more season, and they most definitely need him.

Adrien Broner Must Stop Paulie Malignaggi To Pass Newest Test With Flying Colors

Brian Mazique — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:42:29 -0400

When you're Adrien "The Problem" Broner, just winning isn't enough. The same concept will apply when The Problem faces WBA welterweight champion Paulie "The Magic Man" Malignaggi on Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The two men have exchanged a number of barbs during the buildup for the fight, but Broner has definitely taken the lead on the trash talk scorecards. Take a look at the pre-fight press conference:

Broner's talent and bravado demands spectacular performances each and every time he appears in the ring. For the most part, he has never failed to meet these lofty standards. When he faces Malignaggi, Broner will be looking to win his third world title in as many weight classes.

When you consider the fact that he's just 23 years old, The Problem could be on his way to a Hall of Fame career.

There is some question about Broner's level of competition to date. In 26 fights, he's faced only three fighters whose names would ring a bell in the heads of most boxing fans. Broner stopped Vicente Escobedo and Antonio DeMarco in 2012 and he won a unanimous decision over Daniel Ponce De Leon in 2011.

Beyond those three opponents, he hasn't faced top-notch competition.

Malignaggi isn't exactly a world beater, but he is an experienced and crafty champion at 147 pounds. Broner's exploits have taken place at 135 pounds primarily; he's jumping two weight classes to challenge a man who has been in the ring with the likes of Amir Khan, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Juan Diaz.

While Malignaggi has been in the ring with some of the better fighters of his era, he hasn't beaten any of them. Because of this, it would not look good for Broner if The Magic Man finds a way to hand him his first loss.

Punching power is non-existent when it comes to Malignaggi. He has only seven KO wins in 36 professional fights. Though he is a skilled boxer, it is hard to imagine a scenario where he could get the best of Broner.

Even if Malignaggi has his moments early, the fighter most believe Broner to be should have Malignaggi worn down by the middle-to-late rounds. Malignaggi has always been tough and shown a great chin despite his lack of punching power, but Broner has built a reputation as a power puncher.

In theory, an athletic, heavy-handed fighter like Broner should stop someone like Malignaggi. However, when a fighter jumps up in weight, there is a concern as to whether he will be able to hurt heavier opponents.

Broner can put that concern to rest by stopping Malignaggi.

If The Problem allows Malignaggi to go the distance, this will be seen as a so-so performance and despite holding a title at 147 pounds, his stock won't rise.

Follow me for boxing news and opinions.

5 Top Prospects Who Will Go from Single-A All-Stars to MLB All-Stars

Adam Wells — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:39:20 -0400

There comes a point in every young baseball player's career where they, to steal an intentionally ambiguous line from Tony Soprano, get it.

It is hard to pinpoint exactly when that moment comes, at least from the outside. Some players might tell you that it was there all along and they just needed a period of adjustment. Others could say that physical and mental maturity hit them and everything finally clicked.

The point being that, for the players in the Low-A Midwest League All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Dayton, the gap between what they are and what they could be in the future is still so large that their careers could veer off course at any moment.

But when you look at the raw tools these young athletes put on display in Dayton, it's hard not to fall in love. As a follow-up companion piece to my list of players to watch in the game on Tuesday, here are the players who showed that they have what it takes to go from the Low-A All-Star game to the Major League Baseball summer classic in the not-too-distant future.

Note: Unlike the original piece, which dealt with just the players who were going to be on the field, we will include the stars who were originally on the All-Star rosters but didn't play in the game.

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