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Nate Diaz's Manager Fighting a Losing Battle Regarding Diaz's Offensive Tweet

Trent Reinsmith — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:15:00 -0400

Totally and utterly baffling, that’s the only way to describe the manner in which Nate Diaz’s manager is handling the suspension and fine that were handed down to his client late last week.

On Thursday Diaz decided it was a good idea to throw the below tweet out there (since deleted):

I feel bad for pat Healy that they took a innocent mans money and I think the guy who took the money is the biggest Fag in the world ..

— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) May 16, 2013

The tweet was directed at Bryan Caraway, the fighter that benefited, to the tune of $65,000, when Pat Healy’s “Submission of the Night” award from UFC 159 was stripped away after Healy failed his post-fight drug test. (via MMAJunkie.com)

On Friday the UFC decided that Diaz’s use of a homophobic slur was a violation of the promotions code of conduct and that it was worthy of a 90-day suspension and $20,000 fine.

In a statement on the UFC website, the promotion spelled out the reasons for the penalty. That statement said, in part, “The language used in his tweet was regrettable, offensive and inconsistent with the values and culture of the organization, and is not tolerated.”

On Monday Diaz’s manager, Mike Kogan appeared on the MMA Hour (via MMAFighting.com) and did what a manager is supposed to do: He defended his client. The problem with the defense was that it totally missed the point of why Diaz was punished for his tweet. Kogan told MMA Hour host Ariel Helwani:

Nate doesn't feel remorse for what he said. I don't feel remorse for what he said. I don't feel remorse for defending what he said or elaborating on what he said. Because it was not a homophobic statement. It was not intended to offend homosexuals. We weren't even talking about homosexuals. One can debate the multiple uses of this term.

Kogan can defend Diaz’s use of the particular slur all he wants, but as Aaron McQuade, director of news and field media at GLAAD, wrote in a Twitter exchange with Yahoo.com’s Maggie Hendricks,

When you use an anti-gay slur, even not to describe a gay person, what you tell all gay people is “my subconscious wanted to find the worst insult it could, and what it came up with ... was you.” Those slurs are almost never intended to actually hurt gay people, but they do.

Kogan is probably correct, Diaz probably didn’t mean it as a homophobic statement, but it was, and McQuade’s tweets explain in perfectly plain language exactly why it was homophobic and hateful.

Kogan also seemingly questioned the UFC’s reasoning behind the code of conduct, saying, “The mere fact that there is a protocol to deal with these crisis situation implies its lack of sincerity."

The code of conduct is there to avoid situations that make the UFC look bad in the court of public opinion. In other words, the UFC is acting like every other major sport, in that it wants their athletes to represent the promotion in the best possible light. Everything a UFC fighter does reflects back on the promotion. When a UFC fighter calls refers to another individual in a derogatory manner the general public will remember that. No business that is trying to grow needs that. No sports league would tolerate that.

Kogan has the option to file an appeal, but the odds of he and Diaz winning that appeal are slim; after all the tweet violated two clauses in the code of conduct:

Derogatory or offensive conduct, including without limitation insulting language, symbols, or about a person’s ethnic background, heritage, color, race, national origin, age, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

Inappropriate physical, verbal, and online behavior (such as inappropriate statements made via e-mail, text messaging or social networks).

Kogan’s defense of his client is admirable, it’s also not going to help him in any way. The best thing Kogan and Diaz can do at this point is pay the fine, have Diaz serve the suspension and move on.

To think that there will be a lesson learned here for the Diaz camp is probably too much to ask for, but hopefully at least one fighter will see what happened with Diaz and realize the UFC means business with its code of conduct.

Randy Orton: His Next Main Event Run Needs to Happen Now

Sebastian Maldonado — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:10:07 -0400

There comes a time where an established wrestler needs to take a backseat from the main event. Sometimes retirement is a factor, while most times, it’s for creating new stars. But, there comes a time when that wrestler is ready to return to the main event.

Randy Orton’s next main event run needs to happen now.

Extreme Rules has passed, and Orton defeated the Big Show in his hometown of St. Louis. He used the punt to put away Show for the three count. The momentum has changed for the Viper.

Where does Orton’s path lie? Which way does he go to: the face or the heel?

Well, Orton’s better as a heel. His turn from Legend Killer to Viper was a dramatic change in his career. He went from a smug, arrogant man to an edgy, nearly psychotic performer. His demeanor changed to a vicious nature. He became a huge star, which led to his current face turn.

Rumors swirled since last year of Orton’s supposed heel turn, which hasn’t happened yet.

Bringing the heel Orton back would cause more problems than solutions, though. Too many heels stock up the main event with Ryback, Jack Swagger, Show, Mark Henry and Dolph Ziggler. When CM Punk comes back, that heel roster will become more convoluted. The WWE has officially made more significant heels than faces.

For this reason, Orton needs to stay a face. Now, how does his face turn not become stale? Ironically, enough, the WWE might be up to something.

A double switch could work. They could make Ziggler face and put him in a program with a heel Orton. That could work wonders for both Superstars who work very well together.

Maybe they keep things the way they are, which wouldn’t change much.

But changing might not be the answer. Orton has still remained an edgy competitor. Look at the other faces. John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Kane and even Sheamus have softened up a bit. Orton remains that constant.

Randy Orton’s next main event run needs to happen now. It shouldn’t matter which side Orton is on. What should matter is bringing the Viper back to where he belongs: the main event.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs: Game 2 Preview and Predictions

Zach Buckley — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:04:48 -0400

With the Memphis Grizzlies' twin towers reduced to a one-man show, the San Antonio Spurs cruised to a 105-83 win in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday.

Despite an uncharacteristically quiet offensive performance from Tim Duncan (six points, 3-of-9 from the field), the Spurs set the tempo and sprinted out to a 17-point edge after the first quarter. Memphis eventually whittled that lead to as few as six points late in the third quarter, but San Antonio closed the period on an 11-2 run and never looked back.

The methodical inside-out attack of the Grizzlies could not find contributions from both sides of that equation, but the missing half was hardly the one Lionel Hollins expected to be without. Reserve wing Quincy Pondexter (17 points, 5-of-9 from three) provided the perimeter scoring, but All-Star forward Zach Randolph struggled mightily to the tune of a season-low two points (1-of-8 from the field).

San Antonio looked like the team that closed out the upstart Golden State Warriors with three double-digit wins over the last four games of its second-round series, holding decisive advantages on both ends of the floor.

Still, the significance of a single victory won't be taken out of context by either club.

San Antonio had a 2-0 lead on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 Western Conference Finals, only to watch the series waste away behind four straight OKC victories. Memphis lost Game 1 of both of its previous series (and Game 2 to the Los Angeles Clippers in the opening round) before closing each matchup with four consecutive wins.

Time: Tuesday, May 21, 9 p.m. ET

Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio

Series: Spurs lead 1-0

TV: ESPN

Game 2 Key Storyline: Accountability

It's too late in the year for any dramatic adjustments to be made, and these teams wouldn't be standing today if they were needed. Coaching a seven-game series often tests each side's ability to fine-tune its game plan, relying on maximizing the effectiveness of the style that brought each club to this position.

For San Antonio, a resounding 22-point victory certainly suggests that Gregg Popovich is ahead in this coaching chess match. But he still has work to do before moving into checkmate position.

Another 14-points-on-15-field-goal-attempts game out of Duncan and Manu Ginobili combined could push the Spurs into the loss column. San Antonio general manager R.C. Buford has built a talented roster capable of withstanding these kind of nights, but clearly this is a pattern that the Spurs would like to avoid going forward.

As for Memphis, accountability means playing the exact role that the team expects from each player.

It means providing enough help to alter Parker's penetrations without exposing the Grizzlies to an open shooter on the perimeter. It means Randolph and Marc Gasol have to set the tone on the offensive interior, demanding defensive attention and still finding gaps within that coverage to create looks for themselves or for their teammates.

The Grizzlies forgot who they were on Sunday. Their stifling defense was lost amid a flurry of ball-chasing help, a far cry from the disciplined attack they used to frustrate opponents up until now.

Series Star So Far: Tony Parker

Pop's time-tested system often masks the tremendous accomplishments of individual players (perhaps another reason why this team is so often overlooked), but Parker's Game 1 effort was badly needed with his two tenured teammates hurting for offensive rhythm.

Parker's stat line was noteworthy (20 points, 9-of-14 from the field, nine assists), but it doesn't jump off the page the way he did in the eye test.

He decisively raced around screens, constantly found his way into the paint, then either finished the drive himself or found an open shooter on the perimeter.

Feels like a broken record at this point, doesn't it? But hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Coach Lionel Hollins prepared his team for San Antonio's pick-and-fill-in-the-blank (roll, pop, slip) looks, but Memphis overcommitted to deny Parker and his screener from getting open looks.

The results were late rotations, missed assignments and a dazzling aerial performance by the Spurs. San Antonio shot 14-of-29 from the outside, with Kawhi Leonard (4-of-5), Danny Green (3-of-6) and Matt Bonner (4-of-6) doing the heaviest lifting.

Projected Starting Lineups:

Memphis: Mike Conley, PG; Tony Allen, SG; Tayshaun Prince, SF; Zach Randolph, PF; Marc Gasol, C

San Antonio: Tony Parker, PG; Danny Green, SG; Kawhi Leonard, SF; Tim Duncan, PF; Tiago Splitter, C

Grizzlies Injury Report (via CBSSports.com)

None reported

Spurs Injury Report

None reported

Grizzlies Will Win If...

...They get back to playing Grizzlies basketball.

Memphis had a rare showing of hero ball creep into its offensive system on Monday, a complete reversal of the ball-movement-oriented system that capitalizes on the team's biggest strengths.

There are no prima donnas on the roster, no stat-crazed players putting individual achievements over team success. But there is plenty of star power, even if the accolades don't always match the talent level.

In other words, there's no real excuse for the ball-stopping, momentum-killing possessions that showed up in Game 1. The ball is going to find its way into the most capable hands more often than not, but setting up those chances with multiple passes will test the Spurs' defensive discipline and the legs of their shooters.

The Grizzlies have the talented individual defenders to keep help responsibilities to a minimum. Memphis needs to play the role of aggressor on San Antonio's screens, forcing Parker's reads rather than reacting to them.

Easier said then done, but remember this team has an All-Defensive first-teamer on the roster (Tony Allen) along with the Defensive Player of the Year (Gasol).

If Mike Conley can dictate the pace on both ends of the floor, this series could easily be tied when it shifts over to the Grind House.

Spurs Will Win If...

...Tony Parker continues making the right decisions with the basketball.

Whether or not he's better supported by Duncan and Ginobili in Game 2 (history suggests he should be), Parker's still the key to San Antonio holding serve on its home floor.

His matchup with Conley was widely considered to be the most important position battle in the series (and one of the most entertaining to watch), and the wide margin between the two players mirrored the enormous gap left on the scoreboard.

There have been some slight variations, but in large part the Spurs have gone as far as Parker's been able to guide them in this postseason.

Their opening-round series sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers aside, his performance has typically dictated the outcome of the game. Including Sunday's Game 1 win, he's averaged 23.6 points on 47.4 percent shooting and 8.0 assists in Spurs' victories compared to just 18.5 points on 38.2 percent shooting and 3.0 assists in their losses.

Analysts have grossly underestimated what remains in San Antonio's aging back of tricks, but Parker has left little doubt about which member of the Big Three means the most to this team.

Prediction

Hollins isn't going to let his defense lose sight of its identity again. Randolph's volume (in terms of both offensive chances and points) is sure to increase in Game 2. San Antonio won't convert nearly half of its three-point attempts again.

But the eventual outcome of Game 2 will be no different than Game 1; it should simply have a more dramatic beginning and ending.

In the battle of adjustments, Popovich has the history and experience to hold a commanding edge.

The pace may well slow down, the play may be a lot more physical. But the Spurs are built to adapt, formed to throw a variety of puzzles at their opposition on either end of the floor.

Too much Parker, more Duncan and Ginobili and another strong performance by the supporting cast will give San Antonio a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals for the second time in as many years.

Spurs 93, Grizzlies 88

Follow @Hoops_Guru

Dwight Howard Reportedly Complained About Mike D'Antoni in Exit Interview

Maxwell Ogden — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:02:51 -0400

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles, Dwight Howard used his exit interview with general manager Mitch Kupchak to voice his frustrations with head coach Mike D'Antoni.

The topic was expected to arise at some point, as D-12 experienced the worst season of his career under D'Antoni's guidance. Surprisingly, it wasn't just the on-court issues that made Howard so upset.

It was all about whom the head coach opted to seek for leadership.

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, part of the discussion between Howard and Kupchak centered around Howard's frustration with D'Antoni -- particularly how the center felt marginalized as the coach looked to Bryant and Steve Nash for leadership and suggestions and discounted Howard's voice.

It doesn't end there.

D'Antoni recently removed assistant coach Chuck Person from his staff, which had an adverse effect on D-12's morale. Person was viewed as a "confidant" to Howard and was one of the few things keeping his relationship with D'Antoni in tact.

It certainly doesn't help that Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford, who was with D-12 in Orlando for five years and joined him in making the trip to L.A., is interviewing for head-coaching gigs.

Per McMenamin, Person and Clifford were viewed as the "buffers" between Howard and D'Antoni. Without them, sources put it simply by saying it's "a bad thing."

This is not the news you want to hear as the Lakers general manager with Howard becoming an unrestricted free agent.

3 Pittsburgh Penguins Players Not Pulling Their Weight in 2nd Round of Playoffs

Michael Prunka — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:01:12 -0400

The Pittsburgh Penguins are on quite a warpath in the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs. The only thing that can slow them down now is players not pulling their weight.

They ousted the New York Islanders in six games in the first round of the playoffs, and currently hold a 2-1 series lead on the Ottawa Senators.

The Penguins haven’t marched through the playoffs uncontested. John Tavares and company gave them a run for their money. More recently, Craig Anderson, Erik Karlsson and the Senators’ defense proved to be a problem for the Penguins in Game 3.

As the Penguins look to take down the Senators and move past the second round, here are three Penguins who aren’t quite carrying their weight thus far.

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WWE Raw Results: Twitter Reaction to Paul Heyman Announcing New Client

Ryan Dilbert — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:04 -0400

Monday's WWE Raw featured a major surprise when Paul Heyman introduced a repackaged Michael McGillicutty as his newest client.

Fans, writers and WWE Superstars reacted to the unexpected move on Twitter with surprise, excitement and, for those hoping it would be Rob Van Dam, disappointment. Heyman introduced the son of Curt Hennig and grandson of Larry "The Ax" Hennig as Curtis Axel:

Axel joins Brock Lesnar and CM Punk as the third member of Heyman's growing stable. Kudos to those with clairvoyance enough to see that coming.

WWE recently hinted at a possible new client with a speculative article on WWE.com. The piece said that, "WWE Superstars and Divas are still abuzz over the possibility of Heyman's ranks increasing by one."

That buzz became a reality when Axel walked to the ring to a fantastic remix of his father's old entrance music. The discussion then crackled on Twitter.

Cageside Seats tweeted that going with Axel was the right move:

Choosing Axel is certainly bold. It puts a man who has rarely been seen in a position to succeed. Having Heyman in his corner gives Axel momentum aplenty.

Fighting Spirit Magazine made a great point about how selecting Axel is a move that builds for the future even if it doesn't get an immediate response:

The mostly silent fans in attendance may have either been shocked about Heyman's choice, or they could have simply forgotten who Axel/McGillicutty was. Regardless, WWE can't live off part-timers. The company has to roll with newer guys and see what sticks.

Whether Axel fails or flourishes, it's worth giving him a shot.

He has the right music now, and his name is certainly an improvement. Kaitlyn weighed in on the name change:

As Podswoggle.com pointed out, typing Curtis Axel is infinitely easier than typing Michael McGillicutty:

Not every fan was happy with the choice. Lance Storm tweeted something to mull over for those wishing Heyman's new client was someone else:

Too often, WWE fans spend too much time critiquing the product rather than enjoying it. No one knows how pairing Axel with Heyman will work out. It's more fun to sit back and see how things turn out than second-guessing the move.

Axel later faced Triple H in the night's main event.

He weathered Triple H's initial attack and then began to stomp on and wear down his foe. The match ended when Triple H seemed to still be suffering the effects of his Extreme Rules match with Brock Lesnar.

Sure, the story became more focused on The Game than Axel, but being in the WWE Raw main event seemed impossible for him before the show started.

If he rides this night into something big, fans can look back at this WWE Raw as the moment it all began. Heyman's newest client at the very least has folks talking.

Ryback and the Embracing of the Heel Role in the WWE

David Levin — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:03 -0400

The night after Extreme Rules, Ryback proved he has fully embraced his new role as antagonist of the WWE. By calling out John Cena after their “no-contest” finish in the Last Man Standing match, which sent both men through the back part of the stage in St. Louis, all he did was make himself an even bigger star.

Sunday night, Ryback proved he could handle the role and handle a championship match and hang equally with more seasoned WWE superstars. Maybe the WWE knew what it was doing all along.

For the better part of the match, it was Ryback carrying the show, taking it to Cena (although Cena sold it pretty well) and meeting him blow for blow and providing more offense than the current WWE champion.

The match upcoming, an Ambulance Match at Payback in June between the two (which Ryback proposed on Monday night), figures to be an epic battle—one where Ryback should be (and WWE needs him to be) better than he has been so far.

Ryback was also more aggressive with the microphone Monday night. As he called out Cena there was more energy in his voice, more anger in his movements and more determination in calling out and insulting the fans in the crowd.

The fact he came out in "heel" fashion and abused an already-damaged Zack Ryder also added to his coming full circle.

After Sunday night, I am confident both men will take their feud to a whole new level.

In the past, we have seen wrestling heroes embrace their changes in character with no hassles. Barry Windham became one of the greatest heels in wrestling history. Hulk Hogan committed the ultimate “betrayal” when he made the jump to the dark side.

Others had a few issues with the change. Sting could never make the jump with ease. Dr. Death Steve Williams looked uncomfortable with the move. Daniel Bryan is much better as a face than a hated character.

The greatness associated with the heel in the past was that they are the ones who controlled the match, determined moves and won matches on television while the face won more than lost in live arena shows.

Remember as well, the Monday after a pay-per-view is always about the drama and what can lead to the next pay-per-view. We did not see John Cena on camera. Whether he is actually hurt to some degree or if the WWE was "selling" his injuries even if he walked away from the ambulance is not known.

Like my friend and fellow colleague Tom Clark said via Camel Clutch Blog, "John Cena is indestructible. That’s it. Do whatever you want to him, hit him as hard as you like, take the boots to him for a straight hour if you want, beat the man to a bloody pulp and then sit back and watch what happens next."

The question now becomes whether Ryback can take on more responsibility in his match with Cena. Should he be able to "progress” more, then the feud, the rivalry and the title could all change with a count of one-two-three.

This was a Raw program we all expected in terms of drama. There is a new "Heyman" guy. Daniel Bryan looked like a man possessed. I think he and Kane could be at odds over who the weak link is in the tag team. We saw what might be a game changer for Wade Barrett. And Triple H played the "injured card" well, much like HBK did in 1996.

But the thing the WWE needs now more than ever is for Ryback to take his ball and try to run over the company and, more specifically, John Cena.

Follow me on Twitter @david.levin71 for my thoughts on professional wrestling.

The 8 Best and Worst Moves of Philadelphia Eagles' 2013 Offseason

Bryn Swartz — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:56:34 -0400

The last few months have been the honeymoon period for Philadelphia Eagles fans when it comes to new head coach Chip Kelly, whose coaching style seems very different from Andy Reid.

Both are offensive masterminds, but even before the season begins, it's become very obvious that the Eagles offense in 2013 will be significantly different from last year's team.

After all, running back LeSean McCoy called the practices "a freaking track meet."

But although Kelly has definitely made the team significantly better from the disaster of 2012, he hasn't been perfect.

The following eight slides will highlight some good and some bad from Kelly's current tenure with the Eagles, in no particular order.

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10 Biggest Truths That Will Shape Rest of 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Steve Silverman — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:54:34 -0400

We don't propose that we can see the future, but there are a number of truths and facts that we can determine as we are nearing the midway point of the conference semifinals round of the NHL playoffs.

We believe that these truths will have an impact on the postseason and several players' careers from this point forward.

Here are 10 NHL truths that will determine how the rest of the postseason plays out.

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Every 2013 NHL Playoff Team's Most Memorable Moment

Carol Schram — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:50:44 -0400

The 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs are moving into their fourth week and already we've seen moments that have added to the NHL's mythology.

In terms of pure volume, more than half of this year's playoff games are now complete and eight teams have already been pushed to the sidelines. Along the way, we've seen stars make mistakes, underdogs catch our eye and one of the most stunning comebacks in the history of our game.

As we progress, the stakes will get higher, but there's no complaining about the entertainment and intensity factors of the games that already make up the lore of the 2013 postseason.

Here's a look at the most memorable moment for each playoff team so far. If there's something that's even bigger in your mind, please share it with us in the comment section below.

All game and series info courtesy of nhl.com.

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Triple H Injury: Updates on WWE Star's Status

Richard Langford — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:42:10 -0400

The WWE's Monday Night Raw came to an abrupt ending as doctors tended to Triple H. It left confusion and mystery surrounding the broadcast and the nature of The Game's injury.

Triple H appeared to pass out as his match with Curt Axel, formerly Michael McGillicutty of The Nexus, ended in a no-contest.

Doctors rushed to his side, and that is when the broadcast came to an abrupt end. This led wrestling great Jerry Lawler to speculation he would quickly regret:

Whether this injury was staged or legit, it left a serious sense of drama around the proceedings, and obviously, we all hope that this was merely a bit of planned theatrics.

Triple H has certainly been involved in these kinds of things lately. The Game's arm was the victim of a Brock Lesnar kimura lock earlier in the year, and that was all part of their budding feud.

In fact, the possibility of drama springing from this injury leads me to believe it was fake.

Curt Axel is Paul Heyman's newest client. There was a nice buildup to finding out who the mic master's latest protege would be. So, it would only stand to reason that the company would do something to ensure that wrestler had a big intro, and an intense rivalry with the legendary Triple H would make for that.

The son of "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig is a technically gifted wrestler, and he looks to have a bright a future ahead of him.

Assuming nothing is seriously wrong with The Game, that future is likely to contain a rivalry with Triple H.

UFC 160 Info and Predictions for Velasquez vs. Bigfoot Silva 2

Scott Harris — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:38:50 -0400

Knockouts! Knockouts! Knockouts! Do you like knockouts? I like knockouts. Knockouts, knockouts? Knockouts, knockouts.

If you happen to be a member of the every-fight-fan-in-the-world contingent who enjoys an occasional belt of the leather, you may want to fire up the DVR or GIF machine for UFC 160, which goes down this Saturday from Las Vegas and appears primed and ready to deliver some heavy artillery.

Contained in this slideshow are information capsules on each fighter, including predictions and viewing coordinates. As inferred above, there may be one or two knockouts this weekend. Keep your head on a swivel.

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Ranking the 10 Most Difficult Courses on the PGA Tour

James McMahon — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:32:54 -0400

By and large, choosing the most difficult golf courses currently playing host to PGA Tour events is like trying to rank how badly one MMA champion can beat you compared to another. You know they are all tough; it's just a matter of one degree to another when ranking their potential to do harm.

To wit, there's not a single PGA Tour layout that doesn't challenge and often get the better of the best golfers in the world. Likewise, there's not one of those world-class courses that can't be bested by the incredibly-talented professionals.

Variables such as weather, pin placements, tournament pressure and actual course conditions always determine just how tough a course can play, but there are some that always prove a significant challenge no matter the state of the variables, strength of the field or significance of the event.

Here are our most challenging PGA Tour layouts, a small sampling of a distinguished set of golf courses that every year take on the most gifted players in the world.

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Arsenal Summer Transfer News: Tracking Latest Rumours and Updates

Charlie Melman — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:31:26 -0400

Arsenal's season has only just ended, so you know what that means: Transfer season is upon us once again!

Yes, with no actual football to occupy ourselves with over the long summer, we must desperately speculate about any potential arrivals and departures around the Emirates Stadium.

Perhaps there might actually be a summer of big spending in the cards for Arsenal? The club is flush with money from new sponsorship deals, and chief executive Ivan Gazidis has recently reiterated the organization's desire to challenge for the title again.

Throughout the week, I'll be keeping this slideshow updated with the latest Arsenal transfer stories, complete with some critical analysis. Make sure to check back regularly.

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WWE Raw Results and Report Card 5/20/2013: Post-Extreme Rules Raw

Jonathan Snowden — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:29:51 -0400

The Raw immediately after a pay-per-view is almost always worth checking out. In many ways it's like watching Vince McMahon hit the reset button on his cartoon world in order to give us a slew of brand new matches to salivate over.

This edition of Raw was on its way to being yet another incredible show—until Triple H laid an egg in the main event putting a damper on everything that came before it. When the show closed, the WWE universe's attention was focused squarely on Triple H. And not in a good way.

Was his strange behavior an injury angle? Had something truly gone wrong?

The questions stole the focus from a debuting Curtis Axel, another stellar performance from the Shield and Ryback's emergence as a serious player as a heel.

While Triple H will be the talk of the blogs this week, luckily his weren't the only matches on an otherwise stellar edition of Monday Night Raw. I've taken the liberty of assigning a letter grade to every segment, grading segments that go down during key parts of the show a little more harshly than midcard filler.

Disagree with my grades? Let me know in the comments.

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NBA Playoff Studs Finally Meeting Expectations

Ben Leibowitz — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:24:28 -0400

While just four teams remain in the 2013 NBA playoffs, breakout performances throughout the postseason have players meeting lofty expectations.

Some players are justifying contracts that were widely criticized by fans and pundits. Others are vindicating a front office’s choice to trade for them by fitting a niche. In some cases, players fall into both of those categories by defending their hefty contract and changing viewpoints regarding a “bad” trade.

Through a cloud of negativity, these NBA playoff studs finally gave their fans something to cheer about. Many of them shut up their critics in the process.

Although some of these upstart players are still fighting for a championship, I’ll also look back at the postseason as a whole.

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WWE Raw Results: Winners, Twitter Reaction and Highlights from May 20

Tim Keeney — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:15:33 -0400

Extreme Rules, often known simply as the pay-per-view after WrestleMania, showcased some scintillating action on Sunday night, and as a result, the expectations for the next day's Raw were almost unreasonably high.

Consider the test passed.

Highlights included Ryback quickly setting a compelling stipulation for his rematch with John Cena, Paul Heyman revealing a shocking choice as his new client, Triple H wrestling on Raw for the first time in years and The Shield, Team Hell No and Kofi Kingston competing in a tactically elite match.

Yes, please.

Let's take a look at the full results.

Quick Results

Ryback challenges John Cena to Ambulance Match at WWE Payback.

The Miz and Jericho defeat Fandango and Wade Barrett via submission by Miz.

Sheamus defeats Titus O'Neil via pinfall.

Paul Heyman reveals Curtis Axel as his new client.

Big E Langston defeats Alberto Del Rio via pinfall.

AJ Lee defeats Layla via submission.

Cody Rhodes defeats Zack Ryder. Ryback puts Ryder in the ambulance after the match.

The Shield defeats Team Hell No and Kofi Kingston via pinfall.

Randy Orton defeats Jack Swagger via pinfall.

Triple H and Curtis Axel fight to a no contest.

Ryback Challenges Cena

After an epic Extreme Rules battle that saw Cena taken off on a stretcher but refuse the ambulance, this is how Raw started on Monday night:

Ryback went on to give a promo that, for him, wasn't too shabby:

Mr. Feed Me More ended up challenging Cena to an Ambulance Match.

That's not exactly surprising considering his match with Cena—which snaked through the arena on Sunday night and featured several impressive, powerful spots—was a truly memorable one. Not only does this stipulation let them leave the ring in similar fashion, but neither wrestler will have to be pinned.

For the WWE, which is trying to keep up each star's momentum, that's an ideal circumstance.

To further cement his point, Ryback attacked Zack Ryder later in the show and after a power bomb and Shell Shocked, threw him in the ambulance.

Because, you know, there's no better way to intimidate the WWE champ than by beating up a guy who was just beaten up.

Also, poor Ryder:

The Debut of Curt Axel

There was endless speculation about who Paul Heyman's newest client would be. Wade Barrett, Antonio Cesaro, Ryback, Christian, Rob Van Dam and several other names were tossed around as possibilities.

It was none of them, as Heyman revealed the newest member of his stable to be Curt Axel, formerly Michael McGillicutty of The Nexus:

Sidelined WWE star Tyson Kidd was certainly enthused about the development:

Combine the technical prowess of Axel, who is the son of "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, with Heyman's talent on the mic, and you have the potential for a future champion. As such, a massive push will almost undoubtedly follow.

But when Triple H came out to confront Axel and Heyman, most fans couldn't help but make jokes:

The Game slapping the former Nexus member didn't exactly quell those jokes, either.

In all seriousness, though, a feud with Triple H has the potential to serve as a gargantuan moment for the burgeoning third-generation star.

And after Raw ended in a no contest between the two after The Game nearly passed out with doctors surrounding him, it's clear a feud is on the way.

The Shield, Team Hell No and Kofi Kingston Electrify

A night after they swept for gold, it's not surprising that The Shield came away with the victory over Team Hell No and Kofi Kingston.

But it was an absolutely thrilling match:

Every wrestler got in a healthy amount of terrific offense, while there were several spectacular spots throughout the 23-minute match.

It doesn't appear that these feuds are anywhere close to coming to an end, and the entire WWE universe should be overjoyed by that fact.

Follow @t_keen

Philadelphia Phillies: As Ryan Howard's Fade Continues, Darin Ruf Must Play Now

Phil Keidel — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:15:25 -0400

Ryan Howard is day-to-day with inflammation in his left knee, per Ryan Lawrence of Philadelphia's Daily News.

That isn't all. The magnetic resonance imaging test of Howard's knee identified "changes" in his meniscus.

Since my training is in law and not medicine, maybe it would be best to hear it from Phillies' trainer Scott Sheridan: "He’s got some changes in his meniscus and his knee. And he’s also got some inflammation in the knee that concerns us."

Maybe Howard will be back in a few days. Maybe he will need a disabled list stint.

Either way, it does not really matter. Ryan Howard is a player with egregiously diminishing skills who now cannot much stay on the field.

And Howard's at-bats against decent left-handed pitching are the stuff of nightmares. As of this writing, Howard's on-base percentage against lefties is .213.

At this point in his career, Howard would be a solid platoon player. And that's about it.

If the Phillies could commit to playing Howard only against right-handed pitching, the production the Phillies would get from a half season from Howard and the rest from the likes of John Mayberry Jr. and Michael Young might equate to the output of a decent full-time first baseman.

Or maybe Darin Ruf should be splitting time with Howard at first base. More on Ruf in a minute.

It all sounds crazy, of course, because of Howard's contract.

The common refrain any time the idea of sitting Howard crops up is that the Phillies owe Howard too much money.

Here's the thing, though: One thing should have nothing to do with the other where that issue is concerned.

Howard is going to get the whole of his $20 million this year and $25 million in each of the next three seasons no matter what his playing status is.

Playing Howard only because of the money he is making, then, is quite possibly sacrificing enhanced chances to win future games because of a past blunder.

Not only does that decision-making run counter to the basic ethic of professional sports, which is to win above all else, but it sends the absolute wrong message to the other 24 guys on the team who might have a better chance to win if Howard sits against left-handed pitching.

Because Howard got off to a decent start in 2013, and because Darin Ruf's season began poorly at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Ruf fell off most Phillies fans' radar after he was the darling of spring training.

And it is not like Ruf is now the second coming of Miguel Cabrera at Lehigh Valley now.

But Ruf's batting average is up to .267, and he has hit five home runs in 40 games.

In limited major league action last season, Ruf hit three home runs in 12 games.

Maybe Ruf cannot hit right-handed pitching well enough to keep a job at the major league level. That's okay, because Howard can still do that just fine.

Ruf can almost certainly hit left-handed pitching at a better clip than .196.

If the Phillies are serious about trying to steal a playoff spot this season, the first order of business must be the beginning of cutting their losses with Ryan Howard.

WWE Raw: Why Curtis Axel Is the Perfect Choice to Join Paul Heyman

Seth M. Guttenplan — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:07:55 -0400

WWE Raw, the night after Extreme Rules, provided fans with a brand new Paul Heyman guy in Curtis Axel. The Superstar formerly known as Michael McGillicutty is the son of Curt Hennig and grandson of Larry Hennig. WWE used a combination of the family members’ names and created Curtis Axel—the perfect choice to join Heyman’s stable.

Pun intended.

When Axel debuted on NXT, he showed that he has a great look and in-ring ability. However, he also showed what he was missing—charisma and mic skills. With these attributes lacking, Axel never made it very far. He spent a short time with the New Nexus, but eventually was only found on WWE Superstars and the new version of NXT.

Luckily for Axel, Heyman is the ideal manager for someone lacking mic skills. Heyman has been the mouthpiece for a number of Superstars—most notably Brock Lesnar. Now Axel gets the opportunity to get over the WWE Universe with assistance from the best talker in the company today.

Also, let's not forget that Axel has been COO Triple H’s project for a long time. Last summer, 411Mania reported that Triple H was high on the third-generation Superstar. Triple H was also a fan of Sheamus, and look where the Celtic Warrior has been.

When one of the top people running WWE is a fan, the future is bright. Triple H’s interest in Axel most likely played a part in making a match between the two in the main event of Raw.

Axel’s situation may remind WWE fans of another certain third-generation Superstar in The Rock. Dwayne Johnson may have begun his career as Flex Kavana, but was eventually renamed Rocky Miavia. This new name also paid homage to his father and grandfather—two former WWE Superstars.

It is interesting to note that The Rock trained with Axel when the most electrifying man in all of entertainment was preparing for his Royal Rumble match against CM Punk. The Rock seemed to also promote the promise that Axel showed.

All he needed was a little assistance.

With Axel joining Heyman, it is another sign that the entire company is heading in a great direction. Big E Langston, The Shield, Fandango and Ryback are joined by Axel as big parts of WWE’s future. Langston is alongside Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee to help him become acquainted with WWE life. Fandango is Vince McMahon’s project while The Shield is just the total package.

Heyman is also a winner in this situation.

With CM Punk still resting and Lesnar being a part-time wrestler, Heyman was left without much to do on WWE TV. The best talker in the company needs to be used on a regular basis. Therefore, it was logical to give Heyman a new client.

Punk never really needed Heyman due to the former WWE champion’s excellent mic skills.

Some names I read on Twitter suggested that Rob Van Dam or Ryback could have been Heyman’s new client. Van Dam is part of the past as WWE focuses on its future. Ryback would have been a logical choice, but how much higher on the card could Ryback get?

Axel is the ideal Superstar who will truly benefit from being Heyman’s newest protégé.

Do you think Axel was the perfect choice to join Heyman? Why or why not? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Follow me on Twitter (@sethgutt), and check out my site guttwrenchpowerblog.com.

Like GuTTWrenchPowerBlog on Facebook here.

Ranking the 10 Best Running Backs in Big Ten History

Michael Carroll — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:03:55 -0400

Though the Big Ten has existed since 1896, the conference first used its current name in 1953. Therefore, I will rank what I believe have been the 10 greatest running backs in the Big Ten since 1953.

When coming up with the players for this list, I strongly considered national individual honors, such as Heisman Trophy votes and consensus All-America team selections. These awards allow us to compare the backs not only to their in-conference peers, but also to running backs throughout the country. I considered statistics to a lesser extent, but the numbers do carry a lot of value in this list.

This list includes five players who won the Heisman Trophy a combined six times, as well as the FBS career leaders in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. Eight of the 10 players are members of the College Football Hall of Fame, including a Class of 2013 inductee.

The conference has had some record-setting runners over the past 60 years, so choosing 10 was difficult. Feel free to debate the list, or to add players who you feel I have missed, in the comments section below.

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5 Eye-Popping Statistics from the Boston Bruins' 2013 Playoff Campaign

Chris Blanchard — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:00:03 -0400

It's hard to believe that just one week ago the Boston Bruins looked doomed to their second consecutive first round playoff exit, trailing the Toronto Maple Leafs by three goals early in the third period of Game 7. Since then Bruins have experienced a tremendous renaissance, giving them a healthy 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the New York Rangers.

After scoring four unanswered goals to send the Toronto Maple Leafs packing, Claude Julien's bunch halted Henrik Lundqvist's two-game shutout streak and poured eight goals past the defending Vezina winner to take a firm grip on their second round series.

On Tuesday, they will travel to Madison Square Garden with an opportunity to put themselves on the brink of a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.

As Game 3 approaches, lets take a look at some of the numbers behind Boston's latest surge.

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NHL Playoffs 2013: Best and Worst Goaltending Performances so Far

Brad Kurtzberg — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:47:28 -0400

Goaltending is always a huge part of winning in the NHL, but its importance is magnified even further in the playoffs.

We are now in the middle of Round 2 and already we have seen some outstanding play by netminders that helped their teams steal vital games.

There have also been some dreadful performances by goalies that cost their clubs at critical times and even contributed to their failure to win games or advance to the next round.

Here is a look at the best and worst goaltending games so far of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Feel free to mention any games on either side of the ledger that you feel I may have missed and indicate why you feel that game belongs on either list.

Because I try to remain optimistic, I have included 10 games on the best performances list and only five on the worst. We'll start with the five worst goaltending performances before finishing with the 10 best.

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Ranking Most and Least Efficient NHL Playoff Stars

Steve Silverman — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:43:17 -0400

Winning in the Stanley Cup playoffs means your stars have to step up.

Sometimes, the biggest stars in the game can dominate, like Sidney Crosby. But in other cases, a player with more subtle skills, like Boston's David Krejci, steps up after an ordinary regular season.

On the other hand, the pressure of performing under the brightest lights in a win-or-go-home situation may cause some to falter and lose their way.

Here's a look at the five most and least efficient players in the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.

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Why College Football Rankings Shouldn't Come out Until Week 4

Jonathan McDanal — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:41:15 -0400

Early college football rankings are great hype material and provide good discussion points, but are they worth the consequences?

Computers can't see everything that's happening on the field, so there is a valid place for human opinion in the process that determines the best teams in the country. However, computers are completely unbiased, so they also have earned their seat at the table.

Ultimately, there are issues with the human polls, and most of the issues occur before the season ever kicks off. Here are the reasons that college football rankings should come out no sooner than Week 4.

Enjoy, and feel free to add some reasons of your own (or completely disagree) in the comments.

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Help-Wanted Ad for Brooklyn Nets' Open Head Coaching Position

Andrew Kipp — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:39:39 -0400

Help Wanted!

Offered by: Brooklyn Nets

Position: Head Coach

Location: Brooklyn, NY

About our organization

The Brooklyn Nets are an NBA team based in Brooklyn, New York. The Nets, founded in 1967, are a member of the Atlantic Division. The general manager of the team is Billy King, and the owner is Mikhail Prokhorov.

Core responsibilities

The team is loaded with talented players—including Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez—who have a combined 10 All-Star Game appearances between them.

With such a talented roster at his disposal, the new head coach of the Brooklyn Nets will be responsible for maintaining a winning atmosphere, with the ultimate long-term goal of winning an NBA championship.

Last year’s starting lineup featured players with a combined 52 seasons worth of NBA experience—so the head coach must be able to earn the respect and trust of elite-level, veteran players.

The roster also features budding talents such as 24-year-old MarShon Brooks and 23-year-old Tyshawn Taylor. The new coach must be able to instill confidence in these younger, less experienced players, and develop their skills as the season progresses.

The development of Brooks and Taylor will be critical to the future success of the franchise. The head coach must work with these players individually, and make them understand that he’s invested in their improvement.

Developing the younger players will also give Williams and Johnson more time to rest. Both players played through nagging injuries last season and played too many minutes while injured.

The new coach must do a better job of managing his veteran star’s playing time throughout the season, so they don’t wear down over the course of the grueling 82-game season.

Certain players—including Johnson and Gerald Wallace—failed to live up to their big contracts last season. The new head coach will need to get the most out of every player on the roster, and make each player want to perform their very best on his behalf.

He must have a consistent approach that the players believe in, and buy into.

Prokhorov has a lot of money, but very little time to complete his five-year plan for winning an NBA Championship. The new coach must make sure he, Prokhorov and King are on the same page.

He must earn the trust and respect of the general manager and the owner. He must maintain an open dialogue with both, and share the same vision and goals for the franchise.

Above all else, the coach must instill mental and physical toughness in the team. Last season’s team was maddeningly inconsistent during the regular season and lost in the first round of the playoffs. The coach must hold players accountable for their performance and not allow them to become complacent.

He will need to manage the egos of players who know they’re going to be paid for multiple years, regardless of how they perform on the court.

Last summer, the team splurged, signing Deron Williams to a $100 million contract extension. Then took on the rest of Joe Johnson’s $89 million contract in addition to inking Gerald Wallace to a four-year, $40 million deal.

Individual achievements must take a backseat to the success of the team. The coach needs to make the players understand that their individual statistics mean nothing if the team isn’t winning.

The head coach needs to allocate responsibility to assistant coaches, and make sure his voice isn’t the only voice the players hear. He cannot be stubborn, and must show the ability to make intelligent and calculated adjustments during games and throughout the season.

The New York fans and media are unforgiving and are known for having very little patience.

The new head coach will certainly be under the microscope, so he needs to display strong leadership and character—especially in the face of adversity.

Our requirements

Must be a great motivator and communicator
Must effectively preach discipline and mental toughness to create a strong team identity
Must be a defensive-minded coach
Must have the ability to manage egos
Must have thick skin and be able to take criticism from fans and the media
Must be able to make calculated in-game adjustments
Must have the team prepared to win every night
Must develop young talent
Must intelligently manage the minutes of older players and star players
Must not be afraid to make personnel adjustments
Must effectively allocate responsibility to assistant coaches
Must preach unselfish play on offense
Must facilitate continuity between core players, bench contributors, incoming free agents and rookies
Must preach consistency

Expectations for first season

Win at least 50 regular-season games
Earn a top-three spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs
Win a first-round playoff series

Thank you for your interest in the Brooklyn Nets head coaching position.

For more Brooklyn Nets analysis, follow Andrew on Twitter:

Follow @andrew_kipp

Blackhawks vs. Red Wings Game 3: Score, Twitter Reaction and Analysis

Ryan Rudnansky — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:24:00 -0400

The Detroit Red Wings caught fire in the second period on Monday night, going on to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.

There were plenty of exciting moments in the first 20 minutes of the game at Joe Louis Arena. The two teams combined for 24 shots (Chicago 15, Detroit 9) and 28 hits (Chicago 11, Detroit 17). And there were five penalties in the first period, resulting in three power plays.

After the Red Wings' Joakim Andersson was given two minutes for roughing Andrew Shaw, the Blackhawks got off three shots on goal. But they were all saved by Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard.

There were also three penalties at the 13:03 mark. Shaw was whistled for roughing, while Chicago's Bryan Bickell and Detroit's Kyle Quincey were both given two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. It resulted in a Red Wings power play.

During the power play, the Red Wings got three shots off on goal, but only one of them was inside 15 feet.

ESPN Chicago tweeted:

Detroit's Justin Abdelkader was whistled for holding the stick at the 16:12 mark. The Blackhawks got off three shots on goal on the ensuing power play, but all shots were longer than 40 feet.

Pat Caputo of The Oakland Press in Michigan tweeted during the first 20 minutes:

OHL broadcaster Bryan Thiel added:

Less than a minute into the second period, the Blackhawks got another power play. This time, it was the Red Wings' Brendan Smith who was given two minutes for holding Patrick Sharp.

But the Blackhawks weren't even able to get off a shot on goal during the power play, as all three of their shots were blocked by the Red Wings.

The inability to take advantage of the power plays came back to haunt the Blackhawks at the 7:49 mark. Gustav Nyquist flew through the defense on a break and slammed home a wrist shot from roughly 13 feet out.

Less than a minute later, it was Drew Miller who scored on a deflection, assisted by Patrick Eaves and Cory Emmerton.

All of a sudden, the Red Wings led, 2-0.

Chris Boden of Comcast SportsNet Chicago tweeted:

Brendan Smith was hit with another penalty for interference with 17:39 remaining in the period. But the Blackhawks once again squandered an opportunity on the power play. The only two shots on goal came from farther than 55 feet away.

Through two periods, Detroit had opened up a big advantage.

Brian Hedger of NHL.com highlighted Chicago's apparent inability to score on the power play:

Andrew Shaw was hit with a penalty for slashing Howard at the 1:53 mark in the third period. However, this time it was the Red Wings who were unable to convert, seeing three of their shots blocked during the power play.

At the 4:15 mark, Patrick Sharp broke away from the Detroit defense and had a shot against Howard, but Howard made a nice glove save.

About 20 seconds later, the Blackhawks struck on Patrick Kane's wrist shot from 12 feet out. They were within one goal, determined not to go down without a fight.

But it was Detroit that bounced back immediately.

With the Blackhawks threatening, Pavel Datsyuk made an incredible shot from 34 feet out, assisted by Brendan Smith and Johan Franzen, at the 6:46 mark.

SportsCenter tweeted:

And with about 13 minutes to play, it was 3-1 Red Wings.

Michal Handzus was given two minutes for holding Abdelkader with 8:58 remaining, handing the Red Wings a power play.

But Detroit wasn't able to capitalize.

Duncan Keith was whistled for roughing at the 14:09 mark, giving the Red Wings another power play. And—once again—the Red Wings came up empty.

But at this point, the Red Wings only needed to keep the Chicago offense at bay. And they did just that, cruising to a confidence-building victory in Detroit.

The Blackhawks finished 0-for-4 on power plays for the game. Howard was outstanding throughout, saving all but one of Chicago's 40 shot attempts.

The Red Wings now lead the series, 2-1.

Mexico: Heart of a Champion Is El Tri's New Anthem

Karla Villegas Gama — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:13:36 -0400

El Tri will have a huge motivator starting May 30, when the team faces Nigeria in an international friendly at Reliant Stadium. Mexican Grammy-winning pop group Jesse y Joy has put up an anthem for the national team.

The song, which you can download for free, talks about the pride and passion of the El Tri supporters. "Corazón de Campeón" (Heart of a Champion) is an upbeat tune, full of rhythm that invites people to sing and dance while cheering for the squad.

Kyle Diller, new media manager for Gilt Edge Soccer Marketing, LLC, told Bleacher Report that, “this is definitely an anthem for the Nigeria friendly and will be played at that game.”

Meanwhile, at the Hispanicize Music Festival where the song was released, the performers acknowledged that, “as soccer fans ourselves, we have great respect for the Mexican National Team. Soccer has no language barriers, so we encourage everyone to learn the song and chant it off the top of their lungs to support their national team.”

Jesse y Joy (brother and sister) came into the musical scene in 2007 with "Esto es lo que Soy" (This is What I am). Their debut album received a Platinum certification from the Mexican Association of Producers of Phonograms and Videograms. They have two more studio albums so far.

"Corazón de Campeón" is the first song they have recorded for sporting purpose, and it will be an anthem through the rest of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. Mexico is set to play against Jamaica on June 4 (away), and Costa Rica on June 11 (home), before traveling to Brazil for the Confederations Cup.

This is not the first time El Tri’s supporters have had a song to support the team.

In 1986 the players sang "El Equipo Tricolor" (The Tricolor Team). In 1994 Televisa, a Mexican broadcaster, created "Mexico Let’s Go," and in 2010 Mexican pop singer Emmanuel released "Bam, bam, un Gol por Ti" (Bam, bam a goal for you).

Follow @karlitsv

8 Premier League Players Who Won't Be Back Next Season

Joe Tansey — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:13:11 -0400

Usually in May, the talk surrounding the English Premier League contains a bevy of transfer rumors about incoming players.

But what about the players saying goodbye to the EPL?

Have no fear, this slideshow has all you need to know about the players who will not be playing in the English top flight next season, whether it be because of retirement or a move to a new club.

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Indiana Basketball: Setting Expectations for Each Projected Starter

Kyle Grand — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:09:35 -0400

The starting five for Indiana basketball next season is going to look very different. Point guard Yogi Ferrell is the only returning starter, meaning four new Hoosiers will be joining him.

Rounding out the starting lineup will likely be senior Will Sheehey, sophomore Jeremy Hollowell and freshmen Noah Vonleh and Luke Fischer.

For the above predicted starting lineup, this slideshow will set expectations for each player.

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Recapping Aly Raisman and Jacoby Jones' Final Dancing with the Stars Routines

Richard Langford — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:06:15 -0400

The season finale of ABC's Dancing with the Stars saw Aly Raisman go out like she came in: in spectacular fashion.

Jacoby Jones also put up another entertaining night of dancing, but he doesn't appear to be as strong of a contender for the Mirror Ball trophy.

In the grand finale, each couple performed three dances. The first was in a style of the judge's choice. The second was an entertaining cha-cha relay. The third was a freestyle—which was full of extra dancers and big production.

Neither of our two featured dancers did themselves any favors in the relay.

Jacoby came in fourth and Aly third. However, the judges had good things to say about all competitors, and as you can see, it was a solid effort from both.

It was in the other dances where Aly really shined.

Her judges choice was a samba:

She and partner Mark Ballas earned 28-out-of-30 from the judges for this sexy and technically sound dance. It was an impressive effort, but not nearly as memorable as her freestyle.

Team RaisNBall earned a perfect 30 for that dramatic performance. The judges were gushing after this routine, and as CelebDirtyLaundry passes along, judge Carrie Ann Inaba said: "That was one of the most amazing routines I have seen on Dancing with the Stars."

Meanwhile, Jones wasn't so shabby himself. He started off with a solid jive:

Jones earned a 27-out-of-30 for this routine. With his power and energy once again impressing the judges.

He definitely brought that energy to his freestyle.

The biggest knock on Jones is that in his exuberance he can lose timing occasionally, but not enough for the judges to give him anything less than nines.

Jones has had an impressive run, but I'd be surprised if he won the Mirror Ball when the champion is announced on Tuesday. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Raisman won it.

The fluidity of her dance moves improved as the season went on, and she was one of the favorites every week.

Also, that amazing freestyle performance was a great impression to leave voters with.