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UEFA Champions League Final: Will Smith, Other Celebrities in Attendance at Wembley

Adam Hirshfield — 2013-05-25 13:50:49 -0400

It may not be “Miami” or the “Wild, Wild West,” but the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley now has the cache to draw such American celebs as Will Smith and son Jaden.

Sure, they’re actively promoting their new film “After Earth,” but it’s still impressive to see stars like the Fresh Prince at a major soccer match.

Live from the UEFA Champions Festival, London, #AfterEarth stars Will Smith and @officialjaden #UCLfinal twitter.com/ChampionsLeagu…
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 25, 2013

As B/R's own Ian Rodgers suggests, "they have never been to a football match before, but will be at the final tonight as they revealed on this video clip via 101 Great Goals. Not a bad way to start but the pair should pay their dues by attending a League Two clash next season to make amends."

If the elder Smith's penalty taking skills are any indication, he'll need more than one match to get up to speed.

Who else will we see at Wembley cheering on Bayern and Dortmund?

Piers Morgan is a well-known Arsenal fan, so he probably won’t be there. He’s busy showing off his recent gift from hated Manchester United opponent Robin van Persie.

Latin pop star Shakira had a baby with Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, but Lionel Messi and the Blaugrana were crushed by Bayern Munich in the semis. We probably won’t see her, either.

Same for tennis star Rafael Nadal and his Real Madrid side.

Fellow tennis star Boris Becker is actually a huge fan of Bayern Munich and even serves on the club’s advisory board. He’ll undoubtedly be there.

The point is that the final is becoming a must-see event, even for seemingly uninterested American fans like Will Smith. Oh how far we've come.

UFC 160 Live Streaming: How to Watch Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva Online

Sean Smith — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:04:04 -0400

Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will meet Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva in a rematch on Saturday, and you can watch UFC 160 live streaming online.

Velasquez dominated Silva in their first meeting, but "Bigfoot" rightly earned a shot at the re-established titleholder by upsetting Alistair Overeem with a come-from-behind knockout win. Despite already being a two-time heavyweight champion, Velasquez will try to successfully defend his belt for the first time against Silva.

Before Velasquez and Silva even step into the Octagon, the next heavyweight title challenger will already be determined. Former champion Junior dos Santos and the surging Mark Hunt will clash in the co-main event, and the winner is almost guaranteed to earn a fight with the victor of the UFC 160 main event.

Here is how MMA fans can tune in to watch every portion of the UFC 160 fight card.

YouTube Prelims—6:30 p.m. ET

Stephen Thompson vs. Nah-Shon Burrell

Brian Bowles vs. George Roop

Jeremy Stephens vs. Estevan Payan

All three of these preliminary card bouts will be shown on the below video player. Follow the link to the UFC's official YouTube page.

FX Prelims—8 p.m. ET

Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story

Dennis Bermudez vs. Max Holloway

Colton Smith vs. Robert Whittaker

Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Abel Trujillo

Contact your cable provider for more information on how to watch FX on your television.

UFC 160 Pay-Per-View—10 p.m. ET

Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva

Junior dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt

Glover Teixeira vs. James Te-Huna

Gray Maynard vs. T.J. Grant

Donald Cerrone vs. K.J. Noons

You can purchase the pay-per-view via the above YouTube player. Follow the link to the UFC's official YouTube page.

Bayern Munich vs. Dortmund: Key Players Who Will Decide Champions League Final

Tim Daniels — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:03:42 -0400

Last season, Chelsea completed a miracle run to the Champions League final. There were no such underdog stories this time around. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were quickly established as title contenders and will now battle for the coveted trophy.

The German rivals both earned their championship match spots with semifinal victories over La Liga powerhouses. Bayern crushed Barcelona by an aggregate score of 7-0, while Dortmund survived a comeback bid by Real Madrid, 4-3.

It will mark the fifth meeting of the campaign between the Bundesliga sides. Bayern is unbeaten in those matches. Let's examine the most important player from each club. They will have a major impact on deciding whether FCB's dominance continues or Dortmund pulls off the upset.

Bayern Munich: Thomas Muller

Muller is the main reason Bayern are playing for the title. He was virtually unstoppable against Barcelona, scoring three goals over the two legs. His ability to put relentless pressure on the Barca back line caused it to wear down and then the floodgates opened for the Bundesliga champions.

What makes the 23-year-old attacking midfielder special is his unique approach. At times, it's a bit unorthodox, but he uses a combination of creativity, vision and a nearly unmatched work rate to create chances for both himself and teammates.

There are certain stars who always appear like they playing the match a couple steps ahead of everyone else. He's one of them. He can drive toward the box with what seems like reckless abandon, and in the blink of an eye, the ball is in the net.

He creates, while others react. That split-second difference is what makes him so dangerous heading into the final. It only takes a single defensive lapse from Dortmund for Muller to completely change the course of the match.

The German international has been in fine form lately, netting four goals over his past five appearances. Expect him to get plenty of touches in the first half as Bayern makes him the focal point of the attack. From there, they hope he creates his usual magic.

Borussia Dortmund: Robert Lewandowski

In many ways, Lewandowski is built from the same mold as Muller—somebody without extraordinary natural gifts, but he built himself into a vital asset for Dortmund through hard work and a tremendous finishing touch.

Look no further than his four-goal outburst against Real Madrid in the semifinals. The Blancos didn't pay nearly enough attention to him early. He built up momentum and had so much confidence by the second half that the defenders were powerless to stop him.

Dortmund are going to need a similar effort from him in the final. They will be without superstar midfielder Mario Gotze, who was ruled out due to injury. His absence is going to leave a void in the attack that must be covered.

Lewandowski has only scored once in four meeting with Bayern this season. That's mostly because FCB understands exactly how critical he is to Dortmund's success. The Polish star must find a way to produce despite the added attention.

Bayern's advantage in the midfield should allow them to create more chances. That means the ones the Dortmund midfielders are able to generate for Lewandowski need to get converted if they want to pull off the upset and capture the trophy.

Velasquez vs. Bigfoot 2: Keys to Cain Knocking Off Antonio Silva at UFC 160

Mike Chiari — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:39:25 -0400

When Cain Velasquez and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva met at UFC 146 last year, most expected it to be one of the most exciting fights on the card. That turned out to be true, but it didn't last long, as Velasquez knocked out Silva in just three minutes and 36 seconds. Silva will have another crack at Velasquez at UFC 160 on Saturday, however.

Velasquez has since captured the UFC heavyweight title after defeating Junior dos Santos in December, so the stakes will be even higher this time around. Based on their last fight, Velasquez is a heavy favorite. He can't afford to take Silva lightly, though, because the Brazilian has a big-time track record of success.

Here are the three biggest keys that Velasquez must adhere to if he hopes to repeat his UFC 146 performance against Silva on Saturday at UFC 160.

Go for the Knockout

After getting thoroughly dominated by Velasquez at UFC 146, it's possible that Silva will be a bit more cautious this time around. Velasquez can't allow that type of approach to influence him, though. Three out of Silva's four career losses have come by way of knockout and Velasquez has nine career knockout victories in his own right, so there is no point in straying from that.

Perhaps in an effort to get into his opponent's head and throw him off his game, Silva claims that he is going to knock Velasquez out, according to MMASpot.com.

Velasquez's one career loss did come by way of knockout against dos Santos, so that may actually be the best strategy on Silva's part. However, Velasquez shouldn't let Silva's talk distract him.

Velasquez isn't the type of fighter who generally goes the distance, nor is Silva. Velasquez's aggressive style has allowed him to become the best heavyweight in UFC, and he needs to worry about fighting the fight that is most comfortable for him rather than falling into his opponent's traps.

Avoid Mat Grappling

Both Velasquez and Silva are considered to be knockout fighters by most, but Silva certainly has the ability to tap his opponent out in certain situations. Silva has three career submission victories, and although he hasn't turned the trick since beating Jim York with an arm-triangle choke in 2009, it is something that he has in his back pocket at all times.

Velasquez, on the other hand, has never scored a submission win, so he should do everything in his power to avoid mat grappling with Silva. That means Velasquez should stand toe-to-toe with Silva and throw punches for as long as possible before ultimately going for a takedown. If Velasquez is too sloppy, though, Silva could turn the tables and put him in a very precarious position.

That is why Velasquez can't get overzealous until he is sure that he has the advantage. Velasquez is the clear favorite, but Silva's submission ability definitely makes him a threat. As long as Velasquez succeeds in keeping the upper hand, though, he should be fine.

Forget About Last Fight

It would probably be pretty easy for Velasquez to enter UFC 160 with a great deal of confidence and maybe even a bit of cockiness after UFC 146. He took Silva out to the woodshed and laid a beating on him, but that fight is in the past and has very little to do with Saturday night. If Velasquez comes into UFC 160 expecting a similar fight, he could be in for a rude awakening.

Velasquez remembers what he did to Silva, but Silva remembers as well. Bigfoot will do everything in his power to ensure that he isn't embarrassed again, so Velasquez needs to be on his toes and can't simply expect to do the same thing as last time. It's unclear if either man will be able to block UFC 146 from their memories, but Connor Casey of H4TV has noticed that UFC itself is treating UFC 160 like an entirely different ballgame.

As long as Velasquez does the same and focuses on taking care of UFC 160, he should be able to beat Silva for a second time and retain his title.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Champions League Final 2013: Last-Minute Preview for Bayern vs. Dortmund

Ethan Grant — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:35:33 -0400

After a few weeks of waiting, the highly anticipated matchup of German rivals is set to commence on Saturday in London.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are already rivals in Bundesliga play in their native country, but that rivalry will reach its boiling point on Saturday night, as the two German clubs square off for the 2013 UEFA Champions League title.

Bayern and Dortmund have faced each other four times this season, with the Bundesliga champs winning two and the other two matches ending in draws.

The two German clubs managed to defeat Real Madrid and Barcelona en route to the Champions League final, with Bayern dominating a Lionel Messi-less Barca and the Borussians hanging on for a 4-3 aggregate victory over Madrid.

The title will now be decided in London's Wembley Stadium. As Fox Sports posted on Twitter, the stadium is already rocking and ready for the German invasion of fans, of sorts, that has already descended to watch these two clubs battle it out.

With the match right around the corner, we've got you covered with a last-minute preview, complete with each team's projected lineups and some top storylines to follow during this all-German final.

Event Information

Where: Wembley Stadium in London, England

When: Saturday, May 25 at 2:45 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox and Fox Deportes

Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2Go

Probable Lineups

BAYERN MUNICH		BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Pos.	Player	Pos.	Player
G	Manuel Neuer	G	Roman Weidenfeller (c)
D	Philipp Lahm (c)	D	Lukasz Piszczek
D	Jerome Boateng	D	Neven Subotic
D	Dante	D	Mats Hummels
D	David Alaba	D	Marcel Schmelzer
M	Bastian Schweinsteiger	M	Sven Bender
M	Javi Martinez	M	Ilkay Gundogan
M	Arjen Robben	M	Jakub Blaszczykowski
M	Thomas Mueller	M	Marco Reus
M	Franck Ribery	M	Kevin Grosskreutz
F	Mario Mandzukic	F	Robert Lewandowski
Coach	Jupp Heynckes	Coach	Juergen Klopp

Injuries

Bayern Munich

Toni Kroos, OUT

Holger Badstuber, OUT

Borussia Dortmund

Mario Gotze, OUT

Top Storylines

Bayern Dominance

In addition to not dropping a match against Borussia Dortmund this season, Bayern has been victorious in each of its last 14 matches—the one exception being a draw to Dortmund on May 4 that helped provide a window to how tense this match could be.

With only a valid argument to be made for a handful of other Premier League and La Liga teams, Bayern has been the best team in Europe this year—the Champions League legs have helped prove that assertion to be right on target.

On a historical level, Bayern has also dominated the group and elimination stages of Champions League play.

This will be Bayern's third appearance in the last four years in the Champions League final, and they have been unable to finish the job in the match after losing to Inter Milan in 2010 and Chelsea in last year's thrilling CL finish.

With experience, a revenge-factor of sorts and the four previous matches between these two teams during the 2012-13 calendar season, Bayern figure to have all the momentum heading into this mother of all European finals.

Gotze's Absence

Mario Gotze has proven himself as one of the biggest rising stars in Europe this season, scoring 20 goals in 43 games (all competitions) this season. As fans descend on Wembley Stadium, they'll notice that Gotze won't be in action for this Champions League final:

He's also joining up with the team on the other side of the field next season.

Expected to join Bayern when the 2013-14 season commences, Gotze would have already been in a weird place if he was on the pitch for this match. He won't be, though, and Borussia Dortmund will have their hands full in replacing his production.

As noted by OptaFranz, he's not an easy player to replace for a match of this magnitude:

However, Dortmund is a pesky squad who has no problem playing the underdog role in any given match. Additionally, Robert Lewandowski and Marco Reus are fine players, capable of playing a solid match to force the ball on the attack.

Will Dortmund crumble without Gotze, or rise to the occasion and prove his absence won't be that noticeable next season? It's one of the big questions of the match.

All-German Rivalry

Like many rivalries in professional sports (Ohio State-Michigan, New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers), you throw previous records out the window when the game commences.

Prepare to do the same for this match.

Bayern had the upper hand on Dortmund for most of the season—both home and away matches ended in a 1-1 draw in Bundesliga play—but Dortmund won the previous two Bundesliga finals before this year's Bayern triumph.

Prepare for the fireworks to commence both on and off the field in this matchup of bitter rivals. As most Champions League finals are, expect this one to resonate in your soccer memories for years to come.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Ethan Grant on Twitter:

2013 French Open: Dark Horse Contenders to Watch in Women's Bracket

Merlisa Lawrence Corbett — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:33:58 -0400

Serena Williams is the favorite to win the French Open.

However, she was also the favorite going into last year's French Open, where she lost in the first round.

Unlike Rafael Nadal on the men's draw, no Women's Tennis Association player is a sure-thing on clay.

The last woman to repeat as French Open champion was Justin Henin, who won in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Even defending champion Maria Sharapova is no lock to make it to the finals.

Counter punchers and clay-court specialists, like Angelique Kerber and Sara Errani, could upset Williams or Sharapova.

That's why this year's French Open looks anything but bleak for these dark horse contenders.

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NBA Picks: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers, Game 3

Jeff Grant — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:28:57 -0400

The Miami Heat are 4-0 against the spread on the road during the 2013 NBA playoffs, which can't be ignored when making your picks Sunday, as they continue their best-of-seven series against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Sports bettors will find that the Heat are one-point favorites in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 183.5 in the betting market.

Let's take a closer look at Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

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Is Lionel Hollins Coaching for His Memphis Grizzlies Future vs. Spurs?

Jesse Dorsey — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:25:36 -0400

Lionel Hollins has coached the Memphis Grizzlies to the best season in the team's history, taking them to their first Western Conference Finals in the process, yet he still seems to be coaching for his future.

As the 56-26 Grizzlies do their best to come back from a 2-0 deficit against the San Antonio Spurs, Lionel Hollins remains without a contract for next season.

Even as other teams are nipping at Hollins after each game he and the Grizzlies win, the front office is seemingly still questioning whether or not he's the right coach for the team it has put together.

Obviously there are fundamental differences between Hollins and the front office.

When Robert Para bought the team back in October, no decisions were made considering the direction of the team, as it seemed they were reserved to see how the season unrolled.

In essence, it seemed like a tryout for a lot of the team this season, and that includes Hollins.

What has become a problem throughout the season is that the new owners have gone all-in on embracing the statistical revolution in basketball. They hired ESPN's John Hollinger back in December in an attempt to start filling the front office with younger, analytic-driven basketball minds.

While that seems to be a good idea given the success of the Houston Rockets and the importance they've placed on analytics in the past few seasons, it's a style that clashes with Hollins.

Hollins is generally considered to be in the old-school basketball camp, intent on playing a traditional lineup pigeonholing players into certain positions given their size.

However, the Rudy Gay trade at the deadline seemed to be a direct contrast to old-school basketball thinking.

Memphis got rid of its leading scorer, brought back Tayshaun Prince, a lanky veteran, and Ed Davis, a guy who would be called a power forward by old standards but simply a "big" in today's NBA.

There is no "true" center other than Marc Gasol on the team, and that's the way the front office designed the team. However, that's not the way that Hollins coaches the team. (Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal)

One of the issues that I have is that neither Darrell or Ed (Davis) are fives. We don't have another big guy. We weren't able to play big and have two bigger people across the board because we don't have a bigger guy to put in the game.

Davis averaged just 15 minutes per game following the trade to Memphis, compared to 24 minutes when he was splitting starts with Amir Johnson on the Toronto Raptors.

Hollins also talked with Grantland's Zach Lowe following the Gay trade, telling Lowe that he wasn't a fan of the Gay trade when it went down:

People made it seem like I didn't know, or that I was upset. I wasn't upset. Somebody asked me a question: "Would you want to do the trade or not?" And I said I would not. But I also voiced that to management before the trade was even made, because they asked me.

Even though Hollins did lead the team to its most successful season yet, if he's not the type of coach that fits what the team is trying to do, letting him go wouldn't be that far-fetched.

They're obviously not at a boil-over point yet, especially since the team is winning, but it seems to be a similar situation to the Art Howe-Billy Beane dynamic with the Oakland Athletics back in 2002, around which the book Moneyball was based.

Howe was the old-school manager, while Beane was championing moneyball from behind the scenes.

The A's won 103 games in 2002, yet Beane released Howe from his contract following the season to go in a different direction.

I suppose now all we need is for Brad Pitt to play Hollinger and Phillip Seymour Hoffman to take on the Hollins role, the pair of them starring in Moneyball II: Mid-Range Jumper.

It still seems as if things are hunky-dory in Memphis (the team is successful), it's just up to the front office to decide whether it wants a coach to challenge the team or run its system to a tee.

One of the biggest votes of confidence for Hollins came after the Grizzlies lost two games out of the gate against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. (Via ESPN)

The only conversations we've had is they said they wanted me back. After we lost the first two games to the Clippers, we had a friendly conversation about the series and how they just wanted me personally to know that regardless of what's being said out there, this is how they felt.

Regardless of what the Grizzlies decide, it seems safe to say that Hollins will be coaching in the NBA next season.

2013 NBA Playoffs: Who Will Prevail in Heat's Big 3 vs. Pacer's Big 5? Who Knows

Martin Telleria — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:21:24 -0400

It seems that, contrary to popular belief, LeBron James is indeed human.

In the Indiana Pacers’ 97-93 win over the Miami Heat Friday night, James opened the floodgates for criticism once again.

If there is one chink in the king’s armor, it is that he is selfless to a fault. In the eye’s of LeBron, there is always a better shot. It is rare that we see a superstar so hell-bent on making the right play.

Friday night, it cost him.

He picked the wrong time to have two turnovers in the last minute of a playoff game, desperately attempting to convert passes that simply weren’t there.

That being said, I’m not putting the loss completely on him. Once again, he was brilliant, scoring 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting. Throw in his eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and a blocked shot and you have a typical LeBron box score.

No, the Heat didn’t lose because of LeBron. They lost because, quite simply, the Pacers are a fantastic team.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reports that star Paul George, in his postgame press conference, said what many of us have known.

"Take nothing away from their Big Three, what they have going. But we'll take a big five any day. That's what we have."

George is absolutely on the money with his opinion. The Pacers were the epitome of a team.

All five guys in the starting lineup chipped in at least 10 points, balance in its purest form.

None, however, were bigger than Roy Hibbert (literally and figuratively). Scoring a hyper-efficient 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting, Hibbert continues to expose the biggest flaw in the defending champion’s armor: size.

Hibbert was candid with his remarks after the game, oozing confidence as he spoke.

"We're not going to back down. They could be the champs, but we're coming for them.

"A lot of us feel we should be up 2-0. They're at the top. Like I said, we're coming for them."

Hibbert is correct in his assessment. The Pacers are one defensive lapse away from being up 2-0 in the series.

As strange as it seems to say, the Heat no longer look the favorite to emerge from this war. If anything, this series is dead even, the greatness of the Heat’s stars doing battle with the greatness of the Pacers’ as a whole.

It’s a beautiful juxtaposition of styles.

At this point, this is a series that absolutely nobody has any idea how it will turn out.

In Game 1, it appeared that James’ superiority as a player would ultimately be the deciding factor between two evenly matched foes. Game 2, however, showed that the Pacers not only do not fear the King, but they have the tools to stop him.

Anyone offering predictions should simply be ignored. They don’t know how this series will play out. Neither do you, and most certainly, neither do I.

It’s time for us all to just sit back and enjoy the ride. It’s probably going to be a long one.

Which Came First: Perry's Homer or a Man on the Moon?

Daily Cold Hard Facts — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:14:31 -0400

In 1963, Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry remarked, "They'll put a man on the moon before I hit a home run." On July 20, 1969, a few hours after Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, Perry hit his first and only home run.

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

2013 Detroit Red Wings Thriving as Playoff Underdogs

Greg Eno — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:11:49 -0400

So this is how the other half lives, when it comes to playoff hockey.

This is what it’s like to be a low seed, prohibitive underdog.

This is what it’s like to have a goalie as hot as a firecracker, turning into Mr. Zero against a high-powered offense.

This is what it’s like to see the players on the other team frustrated, angry and telling themselves that the breaks will eventually go their way.

This is what it’s like to squeak into the playoffs, flying under all the so-called experts’ radar.

This is what it’s like to upset a high seed in the first round and vex another high seed in the second round.

This is what it’s like to play loosey goosey while the other guys are gripping their sticks like they’re strangling a chicken.

This is what it’s like to watch the other coach juggle lines as frantically as a circus performer.

This is what it’s like to actually have fun, instead of carrying the weight of Stanley Cup-or-bust expectations on the shoulders.

This is what it’s like to have a team short on talent but long on spunk.

This is what it’s like to be Cinderella on skates.

For 22 straight springs, the Red Wings have qualified for the playoffs. In about 20 of those years, they were in the conversation for the Stanley Cup.

The 1990-91 season is when the streak began. The Red Wings were a playoff pretender that year, not a contender. They were 34-38-8 and were considered easy first-round fodder for the St. Louis Blues.

But the Red Wings kicked up their heels and took a 3-1 series lead over the Blues before collapsing into defeat, 4-3.

That was the last time—22 years ago—when the Red Wings didn’t have a team considered Stanley Cup worthy.

They didn’t always win it, of course. Sometimes they were blotted out in the very first round. But when those regular seasons ended, NHL observers pretty much threw the Red Wings into the mix of teams who had a shot at hoisting the Cup.

Not this year.

The string of playoff appearances continued this spring, but the streak of being a Cup contender ended.

The Red Wings had to hustle just to make the playoffs, number one. They had to win their final four games to nip the rest of the pack at the wire. Teams that do that can’t seriously be considered Cup-ish.

Going back even further, to the start of the season, hockey folks had the Red Wings’ grave dug and the team lowered three feet into it.

There was no Nicklas Lidstrom, most famously. The All-Universe defenseman retired last summer, and according to the puck brains, Lidstrom took with him any real chance that the Red Wings could continue to be a playoff team, much less one that could make a long run.

The Red Wings were as young and as inexperienced heading into this season as any Red Wings team in recent memory. In fact, you might have to go back further than that 1990-91 team to find a team this youthful wearing the Winged Wheel on its collective chests—certainly when it comes to playoff hockey.

Not that this team, which is on the verge of swatting the mighty Chicago Blackhawks out of the playoffs, doesn’t have its veterans.

There are still your Hank Zetterbergs and your Pavel Datsyuks and your Danny Clearys and your Todd Bertuzzis and your Johan Franzens.

But the list of recently retired Red Wings reads like a mini franchise Who’s Who.

Since 2009, the Red Wings have lost the following to retirement: Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Darren McCarty, Chris Chelios, Tomas Holmstrom and Chris Osgood. There are about 215 Stanley Cups in there.

This year’s squad?

It’s not exactly made up of a bunch of grizzled playoff veterans.

Beyond Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Cleary, Bertuzzi, Justin Abdelkader, Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson and Johan Franzen, the Red Wings are made up of mostly rookies, second- and third-year guys, and a few re-treads.

It’s a patchwork lineup—the likes of which have spoiled Red Wings playoff parties in years past, back in the days of 100-plus point seasons and when anything less than a Stanley Cup was considered to be failure.

There’s another aspect of these playoffs that has often been played out by the Red Wings’ opponents over the years, and one that has spurred this spring’s surprise uprising.

That would be the goaltending of one Jimmy Howard.

Red Wings fans know this story, but it’s been told by the other team’s guy.

Remember New Jersey’s Marty Brodeur in the 1995 Cup Finals? J-F Giguere in the 2003 first round against Anaheim? Those are just two examples. There have been others—goalies whose feats have caused Hockeytown’s fans to wake up in a cold sweat.

This year, it’s Howard who’s “that guy.”

It’s Howard who is repelling shot after shot, scoring chance after scoring chance—turning a powerful opponent into a pile of frustrated rubble.

Howard made Anaheim’s Corey Perry look to the heavens more than once in the seven-game first round. Perry, a top goal scorer ever since he entered the league, went goal-less against Howard.

Now Howard’s doing it to Chicago’s Jonathan Toews, who has yet to score a goal in this conference semifinal series against the Red Wings.

Toews did get a hat trick of sorts in Game 4—he took three straight penalties in the second period, all within a 5:34 time frame. The Red Wings scored on one of those three power plays, and it turned out to be the only goal they needed, as Howard was again stellar.

The Blackhawks hadn’t been shut out all season. They also hadn’t lost three straight games all season. Both those streaks ended Thursday night. Howard can’t be judged an innocent in making that happen.

Howard is playing the best hockey of his career, and in the process he is exorcising demons—the ones that said he isn’t a money goalie, and that he can’t be trusted in the playoffs.

Win me a playoff series and then we’ll talk, the Howard critics like to say about the goalie they hate to love.

Now, that might seem like an unfair measuring stick, but this is Detroit, whose fans have always had a fascination with the quarterbacks and goalies who were on the sidelines and on the bench, rather than supporting the ones actually playing.

The Red Wings haven’t won this series against the Blackhawks yet. The fourth win won’t be easily attained. Frankly, for it to happen, Howard has to continue to be red hot.

And, for it to happen, the Red Wings have to continue to be the team that they loathed to play against in so many of those aborted playoff runs.

They have to continue to experience how the other half has lived for the past 22 years.

UFC 160 Main Event Will Be Highlighted by Cain Velasquez's Unrivaled Power

Patrick Clarke — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:09:08 -0400

It's been nearly a year since Cain Velasquez destroyed Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva at UFC 146 in Las Vegas. But the only thing that's changed over those 12 months is that this time around, Velasquez enters the Octagon as the reigning UFC heavyweight champion.

Therefore, the 30-year-old will head into Saturday's main event at UFC 160 with a massive target on his back. But don't expect the current UFC heavyweight trend of champions going down to continue.

Velasquez is no Brock Lesnar, and as he proved last December, he's a step above Junior dos Santos.

The belt won't change anything for Velasquez this weekend. At the end of the night, the former college wrestler's unrivaled power, stamina and strength will be what fans remember most about UFC 160.

After all, four of Velasquez's five victories have come via knockout or technical knockout, including last year's first-round win over Silva. While Velasquez had plenty of motivation to annihilate Silva on that night, having surrendered the title in his previous bout, the motivation this time around is simple: Keep the belt.

As Velasquez's trainer Javier Mendez recently pointed out, the UFC's heavyweight division has been plagued by parity (via ESPN.com's Josh Gross):

Remember, no one has defended the title more than twice, so if he's talking about wanting to keep defending that title, he wants to be remembered by everybody as one of the greatest, like Fedor [Emelianenko].

While recent history suggests that Velasquez will soon be forced to hand over the title, recent performances from the current champion tell us he will be a heavy favorite when the bell rings on Saturday night.

Silva only lasted a little over three-and-a-half minutes in the cage with Velasquez in their first meeting. But he was lucky to last that long. He had no answer for Velasquez's power, speed and strength despite boasting a significant size advantage.

Right off the bat Velasquez forced Silva to the mat and within a minute he drew blood, delivering an elbow to Silva's head. After Velasquez landed a plethora of combinations and significant strikes, the referee finally stepped in and stopped the fight.

Velasquez absolutely dominated from start to finish, and while his speed was perhaps the difference, it was his deceptive power that put Silva on the defensive within moments.

While the 6'4" Bigfoot has had plenty of time to analyze what went wrong for him in that fight, there's simply no way around Cain Velasquez's strength and speed. This is a terrible matchup for Silva, as it is for just about every heavyweight fighter in the UFC.

The result of Saturday's main event remains to be seen, but all indications are that Cain Velasquez will put on a show, displaying more of his unrivaled power in another dominant performance.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Neymar to Barcelona: Barca Reportedly Signs Brazilian Star

Tim Daniels — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:05:49 -0400

Neymar is reportedly heading to FC Barcelona, according to world football writer Guillem Balague.

The supremely talented rising star from Brazil is reportedly being sent to Barca after Santos agreed to a €30 million price with the Spanish club.

Santos will have to find an amenable contract with Barcelona before the transfer gets completed.

Until now, Neymar had spent his entire career with Santos in his home country. The original plan was for him to remain with the club through the 2014 World Cup, but plans clearly changed and now he'll test his talents with Barcelona.

The 21-year-old striker has already showcased immense attacking ability. A combination of pace, creativity and a terrific finishing touch have made him an extremely coveted commodity for years. These attributes should eventually allow him to rival any forward in the world.

Making the move now, before next year's World Cup showcase in Brazil, was the right decision. He had nothing left to prove with Santos, where he honed his skills for four years. He was prepared to make the jump without waiting until next summer.

Although Neymar was already gaining worldwide attention, it isn't until he proves himself against elite competition that he'll truly earn his place among the world's best players. Santos wasn't going to provide that opportunity for him.

Joining a bigger club will also allow his stock to rise ahead of the World Cup. He's expected to take center stage as Brazil attempts to return to the forefront of the football world on home soil. It's a role that includes a massive amount of pressure.

Now, he'll get a taste of that next season with his new club. He's ready for the challenge. There might be a brief transition period, but it's only a matter of time before he's making an impact.

The other aspect to consider is the potential for Neymar to become the face of the club for a long time. SportsPro rated him as the world's most marketable athlete, and the World Cup in Brazil should only further build his individual brand.

While it's probably not something most fans consider, that marketability is something clubs must take into account before making a large investment in a player like Neymar. The fact he could attract so much positive attention for the club limits the risk of signing him.

Now that the transfer drama is over, the Brazilian can focus on proving himself to the remaining skeptics. He has a golden opportunity to do exactly that between now and next summer.

By the end of next year's World Cup, Neymar's place on the global football stage should be a lot more clear.

WWCFL Veteran Stacey Rogowski Brings Leadership to Expansion Lady Outlawz

Mark Staffieri — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:05:40 -0400

Having competed for three seasons with the Calgary Rage, Stacey Rogowski provides the expansion Okotoks Lady Outlawz with a veteran perspective. Playing for the newest entry in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League, Rogowski extols all the qualities of leadership.

As an athlete that has enjoyed all types of competition, Rogowski has a sporting background that covers a wide breadth of endeavors. Her leadership was evident at a young age as she helped make high school rugby a reality for competitive girls.

“My entire life has always revolved around sports. I was the type of athlete that would give any sport a try. I started out as playing on a boy’s hockey team when I was 8 years old to playing sports like soccer, basketball and rugby through high school. I even helped start up my high school rugby team because my friends and I were tired of the boys having all the fun with the full contact sports.”

“I never really seriously considered playing football in high school, as I knew I would be the only girl on the field. Yet, I was still at all the games watching and cheering the team on. So when a friend mentioned a women’s football team, I knew I had to play. I instantly fell in love with the intensity and team aspect of the game.”

Rogowski’s first joined the Calgary Rage in 2010, when the franchise was part of the former AFFL (Alberta Female Football League). When the AFFL absorbed teams from Manitoba and Saskatchewan to become the WWCFL, she became one of many women’s football players that suddenly became pioneers.

“My first three seasons with the Rage were amazing. I broke my ankle in my first season, so that was not what I would call successful. In my second year, I was named outstanding offensive back of the year. When I started with the Rage, it was tough. As the Rage were just going into their second year, the starting couple years are always tough for (new) teams.”

Those first three seasons with the Rage provided Rogowski with the confidence to persevere. In having had the opportunity to compete with a close-knit group of players, the camaraderie and feeling of family enriched the experience.

“Learning football and getting that instinct you need comes through games and experience. The team got better as the years went on, and the players are super competitive and have a ton of heart. The coaching staff was always really great, and I do credit them and my previous teammates for making me into the confident player I am today.”

Although Rogowski joined the expansion Lady Outlawz for the 2013 season, the roots of respect and friendship that were established in Calgary still bear fruit.

“I didn’t leave the Rage on bad terms. In fact I still talk to handful of them weekly, some even daily. Barry Hunter was the coach of Calgary Rage when I first joined them—he and I had a good player-coach relationship and I really enjoyed playing for him.”

“When he told me he was going to start a team in Okotoks, I thought it would be great to help start up anew. I knew I could be a player that could bring experience and knowledge to these new players.”

Despite the fact that the Lady Outlawz are still looking for their first win in franchise history, Rogowski understands that the inaugural season is a learning experience. After suffering from an ankle injury in her first year with Calgary, Rogowski understands about adversity, character and the need to remain a positive attitude.

“This year has been a struggle for our “rookie team." I just try to keep my teammates positive and tell them to learn as much as they can.”

With the blend of younger and older players on the Lady Outlawz, the diverse mix leads to a special dynamic. As the team features several mothers, their patience and maturity helps to provide a calming presence for the nascent franchise.

“We do have quite the age range on this team. I think we all balance each other pretty well. To me, I do not care how old you are—all I care about is how much heart you play with and what you bring to the game. I know every one of my teammates regardless of age will give it 100 percent on the field.”

“I think it is great that we have moms out there playing with younger players. Us younger ones know that we will always be taken care of and looked out for from our “football mommas." We even have a mother-daughter pair playing on our team. Trust me, the two of them compliment each other. No one wants to disappoint their moms, and no mother wants to disappoint her daughter!”

While Rogowski is one of the younger players on the team, her experience contributes to a unique situation, as older players seek advice on the game from her. Although the experience makes Rogowski the de facto leader for the Lady Outlawz, it is a role that she accepts with great pride and devotion.

“I definitely see myself as a leader on the team, and I do know that my teammates look to me for leadership and experience. From the very start of the season, the coaches and players all made me feel (like), and almost expected me to be, a leader without having to say it.”

“My teammates ask me about technique and any pointers I have for them. The coaches know they can throw me into any position and ask me to do anything, and I will give everything to succeed.”

“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”

Jabrill Peppers' Best Fits from Dwindled List of College Football Programs

John Rozum — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:02:15 -0400

Jabrill Peppers is among college football's top 2014 recruits, and he has reportedly dwindled his list of schools.

According to MaxPreps.com, Peppers will choose from six schools and expected to select a program on Sunday:

He will make his much-anticipated college decision on Sunday at 5:15 p.m. in an announcement on ESPNU. Peppers has narrowed the list down to LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers.

Using his list, let's find the best fits for making an immediate impact at the collegiate level.

Ohio State

For one, the Buckeyes have BCS National Championship expectations with Coach Urban Meyer. Coming off a 12-0 campaign, the Buckeyes have every reason to anticipate another perfect season.

Second, Ohio State may lose elite cornerback Brad Roby to pro football after the 2013 season. Roby enters this fall among the top overall defenders in the nation. And given his 19 defended passes with 63 tackles last fall, another solid year will have Roby as a top-10 NFL draft prospect.

As a result, Peppers can come in and instantly take over. Peppers has both man coverage and zone awareness skills, so he'll allow Meyer's secondary to lock down half the field.

Notre Dame

The Irish aren't exactly young at cornerback heading into the 2013 college football season.

That bodes nicely for Peppers to enter South Bend and quickly isolate at cornerback.

The Irish will lose Bennett Jackson, a senior coming off a season where he defended eight passes and made four picks.

Peppers' wherewithal and his natural athleticism will simply keep the turnovers coming.

In addition, his size, at 6'1" and 210 pounds is excellent for playing press coverage in Cover 1 and Cover 2. Ultimately, Peppers' impact for Brian Kelly and Co. will be maintaining a physical identity at each defensive level.

Michigan

The Wolverines are looking like the most likely choice for Peppers. Brady Hoke's team is the unanimous selection amongst the 247Sports.com crystal ball predictions.

Mesh that with Michigan's need to sustain its strong pass defense and Peppers suits the Wolverines perfectly.

The Wolverines ranked No. 2 in pass defense a season ago, but did allowed a 58.8 completion percentage (ranked No. 50). Fortunately, Peppers' knack for making plays on the ball and quickly redirecting to the developing route is capable of emerging as a competitive advantage.

After all, the Wolverines also only managed seven interceptions in 2012.

French Open Live Streaming 2013: When and Where to Watch Online

Tyler Conway — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:00:08 -0400

All eyes in the tennis world will shift focus to the majestic red clay of Roland Garros as the ATP's best and brightest descend upon Paris for the beginning of the 2013 French Open on Sunday.

A two-week event that is as grueling for the players as it is captivating for the fans, the French Open, historically, is the tournament that vaults tennis into the conversation for the entire summer. The long lull between the descent to France and January's Australian Open allows everyone to get into top form, but it often puts fans in a bit of a malaise.

That changes starting Sunday.

Rafael Nadal heads into the festivities as a prohibitive favorite despite having missed much of the past calendar year with injury issues. The 27-year-old Nadal is a clay-court legend, having amassed seven French Open titles, including the past three events. Standing in his way is the normal duo of top clay contenders in Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, with an underrated crew of underdogs waiting in the wings as well.

On the women's side, all eyes will be fixated on Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. It's been 11 years since Williams won at Roland Garros, but her recent dominance across the WTA makes her a force in any tournament. Sharapova is the defending women's champion.

With all the top names—minus Andy Murray—in action, and ESPN and NBC's family of networks both carrying all the action from France, it will be critical to know where and when to watch—even when you're on the go.

With that in mind, let's take a look at a complete viewing guide to all of this year's action at Roland Garros.

Event Information

When: Sunday, May 26 through Sunday, June 9

Where: Stade de Roland Garros in Paris

Watch: ESPN, NBC, NBC Sports Network and Tennis Channel will all carry the event at various points. (For the full listings for the 2013 French Open, go here.)

Live Stream Schedule

Date	Service	Start time
May 26	WatchESPN	5 a.m. ET
May 26	NBC Sports LiveExtra	12 p.m. ET
May 27	WatchESPN	5 a.m. ET
May 27	NBC Sports LiveExtra	12 p.m. ET
May 28	WatchESPN	5 a.m. ET
May 29	WatchESPN	5 a.m. ET
May 30	WatchESPN	5 a.m. ET
May 31	WatchESPN	5 a.m. ET
June 3	WatchESPN	5 a.m. ET
June 4	WatchESPN	8 a.m. ET
June 4	WatchESPN	5 a.m. ET
June 5	WatchESPN	5 a.m. ET
June 6	WatchESPN	5 a.m. ET

*Dates and times subject to change as the tournament progresses.

Men's Favorites

No. 3 Rafael Nadal

Andy Murray's withdrawal from this year's action at Roland Garros led to Nadal vaulting up to the No. 3 seed in this year's tournament, but that's about where the good luck ended for the defending French Open champion.

Despite being the third seed, the French Open does not use a typical S-curve for its draw. Instead, there are pairings that are drawn live, a quirk of the tennis world that's as baffling as it is endearing. In this case, the draw led to the tournament's two prohibitive favorites—Nadal and Novak Djokovic—seeing each other on the same side of the bracket, setting up a possible semifinal faceoff that to most will feel like the final.

Djokovic defeated Nadal at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters at the beginning of the clay-court season, which could give the Serb confidence heading into the French.

Nonetheless, it's hard to favor anyone but Nadal heading into this tournament. Since returning from injury at the Chile Open, Nadal is yet to miss a final in 2013. He's been utterly dominant in a way few thought he could instantly, having taken an ATP-high six calendar titles and compiling a 36-2 record this season.

That's a lot of momentum for Nadal to take into a tournament where he seemingly needs none. The Spaniard has won seven of the last nine tournaments at Roland Garros, a feat of sustained excellence that rivals anything in tennis history. With Nadal having taken the Italian Open and the Madrid Open—the two highest-profile tuneup tournaments for France—all signs point to an eighth French Open triumph.

No. 1 Novak Djokovic

As noted in the previous section, Djokovic is the man with by far the best chance to take down Nadal. A potential matchup between Nadal and Djokovic in the semis has match-of-the-year potential, which speaks to just how much work the Serb has put in on clay.

The world's most dominant force on the hard court—he's won the past three Australian Opens and the 2011 U.S. Open—Djokovic has historically struggled at Roland Garros. He's made the final just once—last year when he faced the inevitable defeat at Nadal's hands.

However, the world's top-ranked player has made vast improvements from his early struggles. His win over Nadal at Monte Carlo was the type of resume-affirming triumph that you so rarely see in non-Grand Slam tournaments. It seemed to tell everyone that this was the Summer of Novak and everyone was just along for the ride, picking up the table scraps in tournaments he left behind.

And then the wheels started falling off a bit. Djokovic, who injured his ankle in the Davis Cup, suddenly started dropping out early in tournaments. He was upset by Grigor Dimitrov at the Madrid Open and then followed it up with a frustrating quarterfinal loss to Tomas Berdych in Italy.

The momentum-shifter now feels like a blip on the radar. Djokovic and Nadal finding the same side of the draw is a massive disappointment, but it should be a coronation for the winner. It'll be interesting to see if Djokovic has any Monte Carlo magic left.

No. 3 Roger Federer

Hey guys, anyone remember Roger Federer? You know, the guy who has had arguably the longest sustained run of excellence in tennis history? Yeah, him. Has anyone seen or heard about him whatsoever this season?

Oh, OK, me neither. Fed-Ex, who returned to the world's No. 1 ranking a year ago, has been nowhere to be found roughly since August, having not won a tournament since the Western & Southern Open midway through the month.

Thus far in 2013, the results have only gotten worse for Federer. He's only made one finals appearance in six events—a sound defeat at the hands of Nadal at the Italian Open—and boasts an un-Federer-like 18-6 record for the season.

Having turned 31, ancient for a top tennis pro, one has to wonder whether we're seeing the end of the line for the all-time great. Father Time waits for no man, even though Federer's scintillating run last season made everyone suspend their disbelief for a long time. His triumph at Wimbledon and re-ascent to the top of the tennis world was the type of late-career renaissance only seen by the Andre Agassis of the world.

Though the draw played to his favor with Nadal and Djokovic being on the opposite side of the bracket, it's hard to envision a scenario where Federer actually wins the title. He has only one career French Open title, though Nadal's excellence on clay has a good deal to do with that. His path looks clear in theory, but let's hold off before we go sending Federer straight to the final.

Then again, we've counted out Federer before and been proven wrong. Very, very wrong.

Women's Favorites

No. 1 Serena Williams

Viewed mostly as a monolith on the women's tour by casual fans, it's easy for some to chalk the French Open up as Serena's tournament to lose. History tells us that's not the case. Her only French Open championship came in 2002, at a time when her dominance rivaled anything we've seen in the sport's history—regardless of gender.

Even as she enters this year back atop the tennis world, Serena's not a spry 21-year-old anymore. She's pushing 32, a time where the quickness needed to excel on clay could frustrate any top player.

It doesn't help that the last 10 tournaments that have come and gone since her last French Open title have been a never-ending series of disappointments. Williams has not made it past the quarterfinals in a decade, finding new and semi-humiliating ways (for her at least) to get upset with every trip to Paris. In 2012, Virginie Razzano defeated the fifth-seeded Williams in Round 1.

Wait, who? Wikipedia tells me she's a French tennis pro. Good enough for me. Suffice it to say, there were plenty of mouths agape at Roland Garros when the hometown hero defeated Williams last year.

The only real success Williams has had at Roland Garros has come with her sister Venus by her side. The duo won the doubles tournament in 2010.

Nevertheless, there's reason for hope. Serena has regained not only her world No. 1 ranking but her form over the past 12 months. She heads into Roland Garros with a 36-2 record for the season and five calendar titles already, including three straight on clay. In two of those finals, she defeated her greatest competition, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka.

If Williams ever plans on holding La Coupe des Mousquetaires again, this may be her last shot.

No. 2 Maria Sharapova

Sharapova may have lost the last time she played Williams on clay, but she was triumphant the last time she stepped on Roland Garros soil. The 26-year-old Russian pulverized Sara Errani in straight sets to take the 2012 French Open crown, a victory that completed her career Grand Slam.

It was also a win that culminated her career-long effort to get better on clay. An expert on hard and grass surfaces, Sharapova's frustration on clay was well-documented. She famously called herself a "cow on ice" on the surface following a second-round victory in 2007, a quote that's stuck with her ever since.

Since then, her footwork and defensive skills have made dramatic improvements, two critical elements on the clay. Sharapova's comfort on the surface was obvious last year, though she did defeat a somewhat depleted field.

That being said, it's impossible to count her out for a repeat. The victory at Roland Garros last season sparked something of a career renaissance for Sharapova, whose struggles with form and injury made some wonder whether she'd ever return to her former glory. With two victories already in the books for this season, it's safe to say she's back to form.

It will be interesting to see how the draw affects her, though. Victoria Azarenka awaits in the semifinals if the seeds hold, and the duo have battled through close matches in their careers. Williams' presence looms on the other side, but much like Nadal-Djokovic, Sharapova-Azarenka could become the tournament's best match.

No. 3 Victoria Azarenka

She's the least-covered top tennis draw in this tournament, but it's arguable Azarenka has been the most successful this season. While Williams has a tour-best five calendar titles, it's Azarenka who comes into Roland Garros having taken the year's first Grand Slam.

The 23-year-old Belarusian's triumph over Li Na gave her two straight victories down under, her only Slam titles. But with a strong start to the season, it looked like Azarenka had the momentum to challenge Williams' world No. 1 ranking.

Unfortunately, injuries have marred Azarenka's post-January schedule. She had to withdraw from the Dubai Tennis Championships, Indian Wells and Sony Open in March with a lingering ankle injury and took the entire month of April off to rehab.

Since returning, the results have been mixed, to say the least. Azarenka lost in the second round of the Madrid Open to Ekaterina Makarova, and though she made the final at the Italian Open a week later, Williams took her to the woodshed in straight sets.

In other words, this isn't exactly the best time for Azarenka to get over her clay-court woes. She's never made it past the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and has only gotten that far twice, in 2009 and 2011. Putting her on Sharapova's side of the bracket is just another sign that Azarenka is probably only a contender in name for only these next two weeks.

Complete Men's Seeds for 2013 French Open

Seed	Player	Nationality
1	Novak Djokovic	SRB
2	Roger Federer	SUI
3	Rafael Nadal	ESP
4	David Ferrer	ESP
5	Tomas Berdych	CZE
6	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	FRA
7	Richard Gasquet	FRA
8	Janko Tipsarevic	SRB
9	Stanislas Wawrinka	SUI
10	Marin Cilic	CRO
11	Nicolas Almagro	ESP
12	Tommy Haas	GER
13	Kei Nishikori	JPN
14	Milos Raonic	CAN
15	Gilles Simon	FRA
16	Philipp Kohlschreiber	GER
17	Juan Monaco	ARG
18	Sam Querrey	USA
19	John Isner	USA
20	Andreas Seppi	ITA
21	Jerzy Janowicz	POL
22	Alexandr Dolgopolov	UKR
23	Kevin Anderson	RSA
24	Benoit Pare	FRA
25	Jeremy Chardy	FRA
26	Grigor Dimitrov	BUL
27	Fabio Fognini	ITA
28	Florian Mayer	GER
29	Mikhail Youzhny	RUS
30	Julien Benneteau	FRA
31	Marcel Granollers	ESP
32	Tommy Robredo	ESP

*Via RolandGarros.com.

Complete Women's Seeds for 2013 French Open

Seed	Player	Nationality
1	Serena Williams	USA
2	Maria Sharapova	RUS
3	Victoria Azarenka	BLR
4	Agnieszka Radwanska	POL
5	Sara Errani	ITA
6	Li Na	CHN
7	Petra Kvitova	CZE
8	Angelique Kerber	GER
9	Samantha Stosur	AUS
10	Caroline Wozniacki	DEN
11	Nadia Petrova	RUS
12	Maria Kirilenko	RUS
13	Marion Bartoli	FRA
14	Ana Ivanovic	SRB
15	Roberta Vinci	ITA
16	Dominika Cibulkova	SLV
17	Sloane Stephens	USA
18	Jelena Jankovic	SRB
19	Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova	RUS
20	Carla Suarez Navarro	ESP
21	Kirsten Flipkens	BEL
22	Ekaterina Makarova	RUS
23	Klara Zakopalova	CZE
24	Julia Goerges	GER
25	Lucie Safarova	CZE
26	Sorana Cirstea	ROU
27	Yaroslava Shvedova	KAZ
28	Tamira Paszek	AUT
29	Varvara Lepchenko	USA
30	Venus Williams	USA
31	Alize Cornet	FRA
32	Sabine Lisicki	GER

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Champions League Final 2013: News, Notes and Photos from Bayern vs. Dortmund

Adam Hirshfield — Sat, 25 May 2013 12:56:26 -0400

It doesn't get much bigger than this: the Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium in London.

As the two Bundesliga sides prepare for the most important match in European club football, there are so many fascinating storylines to consider.

This is the first Champions League (or European Cup) final to be played between two German sides.

Dortmund star Mario Gotze, who has shone all season long for Die Schwarzgelben, has agreed on a £31.5 million summer transfer to—you guessed it—Bayern Munich. Intriguingly, Gotze is sitting out Saturday's match with a nagging hamstring injury.

And while there may be no Barcelona, Manchester United or Real Madrid—no Lionel Messi, no Robin van Persie and no Cristiano Ronaldo—you could make a compelling case that Bayern and Dortmund have been the top sides in this Champions League tourney.

So stick with us as we delve into the wonder that is the biggest stage in soccer. It should be a fun day at Wembley.

***

Follow all my footbizzle shizzle on the Twizzle: Follow @ahirshfield

Tennessee Volunteers Football: 5 Freshmen That Could Start in 2013

Daniel Hudson — Sat, 25 May 2013 12:46:58 -0400

The Tennessee Volunteers are 98 days away from the kickoff of the 2013 college football season. It will be an important year for new head coach Butch Jones, both for recruiting and overall program-rebuilding. His first class, the 2013 recruits, features at least five players that could see potentially start from day one.

After the worst three-year stretch in 100 years, the Big Orange needs to get to the six-win threshold so that they can play in the postseason for the first time since 2009. I believe the team can get seven or even eight wins, but only if certain holes are filled.

Off the top of Vol fans' heads, wide receiver is a glaring weakness after losing two top-35 picks to April's NFL draft. But cornerback, defensive line and the all-important quarterback position are just a few others that offer incoming freshmen a chance at playing time or even a starting spot.

Tennessee's 2013 freshmen will make the difference in earning either a bowl-winning season or succumbing to an unprecedented fourth consecutive losing season.

Begin Slideshow

Wrestling Manager: A Review of Downloadable Game for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

Seth M. Guttenplan — Sat, 25 May 2013 12:45:36 -0400

Wrestling Manager is a game developed by Serious Parody that is available for purchase and download through the app store on iTunes. For any wrestling fan who ever dreamed of becoming a promoter, this is your opportunity to prove it.

That is exactly what you have to do in this addicting game that provides all the components of running a wrestling promotion. You are given a set of talent for your roster as you create events. Hope that your events are a success because the money you make from events can be used to upgrade your talent and promotion.

The talent available is one of the more creative aspects of the game. Since Serious Parody could not legally use WWE and TNA Superstars’ names, it certainly had some fun creating new names. Wrestlers such as The Overtaker, Rodney Van Damn and the Penultimate Warrior are just a few names available to buy using the money made from events. Not only are these wrestlers’ names similar to WWE and TNA Superstars, but they look like them, too.

The Wrestling Manager is not like any other wrestling game you have seen in the past. It combines the franchise or dynasty mode of sports games with wrestling. I had the opportunity to speak with the creator of Wrestling Manager, Daniel Hinkles. In this interview, Hinkles encouraged me to buy and use managers and celebrities in the game.

Hinkles emphasized that one of the reasons why the inaugural WrestleMania was such a hit was that Vince McMahon brought in celebrities to help draw crowds. The creator of the Wrestling Manager said that celebrities have the same effect in the game. Celebrities will help one’s events draw better.

He had similar ideas about having managers on one’s roster. Managers help get wrestlers over with the crowd. Paul Heyman is hoping to do just this with the re-debut of Curtis Axel. There are managers in the Wrestling Manager that could possibly do the same for wrestlers in the game.

One aspect of this game that is familiar to wrestling fans is the ability to create different types of matches. Like the wrestlers and other parts to the game, these match types cost money. However, when creating an event, one must also include promos throughout the show. This is something that wrestling fans have not necessarily been able to do in past wrestling video games.

In terms of where this game can improve, there are a few areas. I didn’t quite understand how to improve events and upgrade talent. The Wrestling Manager game website does offer some hints on how to unlock various levels, but a tutorial on how to play the game would have been more useful.

Also, while it is meant to be a game in which one is the wrestling promoter and manages a wrestling company, fans tend to want to do the wrestling as well. Serious Parody has also created a game called 5 Star Wrestling that is more about the wrestling moves. This game is coming to PlayStation 3 this summer.

So if you are looking for an addicting game that allows you to become a wrestling promoter, be sure to check out the Wrestling Manager.

You can listen to my interview with Daniel Hinkles by clicking here. There were some initial issues getting Hinkles on the line, so feel free to fast forward the first 10 minutes.

Continue the conversation by following me on Twitter (@sethgutt), and check out my site guttwrenchpowerblog.com.

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Bayern Munich vs Dortmund: Live Score and Highlights for Champions League Final

Tristan Thornburgh — Sat, 25 May 2013 12:39:06 -0400

Saturday's Champions League final is an all-German affair between Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and runners-up Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern are looking to win a first European title since 2001 whereas Dortmund are looking to add to their one Champions League triumph back in 1997. Bayern are favorites, but Dortmund's attack-minded, youthful collective will take some stopping.

The match will be Bayern's penultimate before coach Jupp Heynckes departs this summer, to be replaced by former Barcelona man Pep Guardiola.

Heynckes has won a Champions League title before, with Real Madrid, but would dearly love to say goodbye to Bayern with a second. His team reached the final last season only to be beaten on penalties by a spirited Chelsea team who were outplayed for long periods but somehow triumphed in Munich.

Redemption is on the menu.

Dortmund will be confident they can inflict further hurt. Jurgen Klopp's team will be without the influential Mario Gotze, who has already agreed on a deal to join Bayern next season, but still carry considerable threat in the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Marco Reus.

Klopp's team came through a very difficult group in the Champions League and saw off Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in the semifinals to reach Saturday's final.

European football's biggest game will be played at London's Wembley Stadium and kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET on Fox.

David Moyes Songs for Manchester United Fans to Sing Next Season

Darren Richman — Sat, 25 May 2013 12:33:29 -0400

Manchester United's fans are still amongst the loudest and most passionate away support in the country.

The level of wit and range of references displayed by the travelling fans borders on remarkable. Ryan Giggs has been serenaded to the tune of Joy Division while "We've got one stand bigger than your ground" was later updated to replace "one stand" with "Jaap Stam."

The arrival of a new manager might fill some fans with a degree of apprehension, but David Moyes will still probably receive the vocal backing of the supporters early on.

Here, then, are five songs about Moyes for the United faithful to sing next season.

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Jon Jones Wants to Know When Daniel Cormier's Diet Starts, Cormier Responds

John Heinis — Sat, 25 May 2013 12:25:05 -0400

Just in case a light heavyweight title fight between Jon "Bones" Jones and Alexander Gustafsson doesn't work out, the champion has a backup plan in mind: heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier.

Jones went for the jugular when he called out "DC" on Twitter Friday morning:

Someone ask DC when his diet starts #Wolftickets
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 24, 2013

Back in January, after cruising through his final Strikeforce fight against Dion Staring, Cormier said he wanted to fight Frank Mir in April before fighting Jones in the fall, according to Sherdog.

Cormier got his bout with Mir in at UFC on Fox 7 on April 20th, winning a fairly lackluster decision. Since then, the American Kickboxing Academy standout has been tepid about a move to light heavyweight.

The 34-year-old, who never got a chance to compete in the 2008 Olympic due to kidney failure, has stated he wants to cut the weight the right way to avoid any health complications.

Coincidentally, Cormier hosted the UFC 160 Fan Club Question & Answer session Friday night and made it a point to answer Jones' call-out:

I haven't started cutting weight yet, but we can fight at 220 tomorrow if you want. He can walk in off the street and fight at whatever he weighs. Let's get in the Octagon, Jon, you and I.

Nevertheless, Cormier remained complimentary of Jones, stating that he believes he would come out victorious in a superfight with middleweight champ Anderson Silva:

Jon and Anderson would be a good fight. I mean, you know man, regardless what you think of Jon Jones personally ... whether you like him or you don't like him, he's a fantastic fighter. I truly believe Jones, he's the best ... he's the best. Anderson is going to be too small and Jon's a good wrestler, he's a great finisher ... I think Jon would beat Anderson.

Cormier currently boasts a 12-0 professional mixed martial arts record, including eight finishes. He indicated that he would like to fight the winner of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum, who headline UFC on Fuel 10 next month.

Meanwhile, Bones has won nine fights in a row, tying Tito Ortiz's record of five consecutive title defenses with his TKO over Chael Sonnen at UFC 159 in April.

Will Jones versus Cormier finally settle their beef in the Octagon sometime in the next year, or is this long-awaited match up still a long way off?

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com and contributes MMA videos to The Young Turks Sports Show.

Comparing Footballers to Superheroes

Charles Lawley — Sat, 25 May 2013 12:21:35 -0400

Adored by millions, larger than life and usually acting all dark and emotionally scarred. Footballers and superheroes have a lot in common.

Whether you know more about Aquaman or Aquilani, we're all aware of superheroes and soccer stars.

So, for a bit of fun, we're going to compare people in football to comic book characters.

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Boston Marathon Victims Gather to Finish Last Mile

Tyler Conway — Sat, 25 May 2013 12:14:57 -0400

The horrific bombing at the 2013 Boston Marathon shook the foundation of our nation's core. It had families coming together and represented one of America's worst tragedies on one of its most hallowed afternoons.

But after Saturday, folks can always say terrorism could not stop them from finishing the Boston Marathon.

As noted by a Boston.com report, over 2,000 bombing victims and runners came back on Saturday to finish their Boston Marathon run. The gathering brought those athletes and victims of the tragedy together, leading to a triumphant celebration of life as all crossed the finish line.

The impetus to run the final mile came from a group called OneRun, which was represented by spokesperson Kathleen McGonagle on Saturday. Tom Grilk, the executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, organized an effort to give runners and those looking to honor victims a true Boston Marathon experience.

"The opportunity to run down Boylston Street and to cross the finish line amid thousands of spectators is a significant part of the entire Boston Marathon experience," said Grilk (via Reuters).

The one-mile run began at Kenmore Square and ended at the official finish line, where on April 15, two bombs went off near the Boylston Street endpoint. The two explosions injured 264 people and killed three: eight-year-old Dorchester native Martin Richard, 29-year-old Krystle Campbell of Arlington and Boston University graduate student Lingzi Lu.

On April 22, criminal charges were filed against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev following a dangerous spree of crimes that included a shootout with police in Watertown, Mass. His brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the other suspect in the bombings, died during an overnight shootout with police.

In the time since the bombings, the sports world and United States as a whole have rallied around Boston and its "Boston Strong" slogan. The NHL and the Boston Bruins donated $250,000 on behalf of the One Boston Fund. The Boston Red Sox and Major League Baseball raised $646,500, while the NFL, NFLPA and New England Patriots made a $1 million donation together.

While there were corporate sponsors covering Saturday's run and leftover funds to be donated to victims, one could argue that running in and of itself was the most important thing here. It showed that this horrific incident would not hold people back from their goal of finishing the Boston Marathon and that the city would emerge stronger and better.

There aren't many times in the sports world where we can all root for the same team, but those runners hugging and celebrating those lost or injured in April is something we can all stand and applaud.

Follow Tyler Conway on Twitter:

AC Milan Line Up Keisuke Honda as Potential Kevin-Prince Boateng Replacement

Jason Voss — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:45:14 -0400

AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has been linked with a move away from the San Siro after having a subpar season this past year.

The Ghana international is a transfer target of Tottenham, Manchester City and newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Monaco, who recently signed Porto superstars Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez.

Boateng is also a Massimiliano Allegri loyalist and has backed the boss on numerous occasions, so should the Milan brass decide to part ways with Allegri, it could further cast doubt on Boateng's Rossoneri career.

The 26-year-old midfielder was played in a plethora of positions this season, including right wing, left wing, attacking midfield, centre-midfield and he even played as a centre-forward in three contests.

Milan's No. 10 has tremendous versatility, and Allegri surely thought that his skills would translate to these positions, but Boateng struggled mightily and only played as a midfielder, his native position, in 13 games this season.

These constant positional changes prevented Boateng from settling in and finding his groove. He was outstanding last season when he was used as a box-to-box midfielder, the position that best translates with his skills as an all-around midfield dynamo.

Throughout his tenure at the San Siro, Boateng has had some sensational strikes, as evidenced here.

Allegri undoubtedly wished that a more attacking role would yield more of the same, and he did have some displays at right wing that were promising, including a starring role in Milan's 4-2 win over Catania, but those performances were few and far between.

A transition back to his preferred midfield role saw him improve his performances and, going forward, there should be no question as to what position he should play.

If Boateng does decide to leave the Rossoneri, Milan will target CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda as a replacement. Honda has starred for the Moscow club since 2010, scoring 23 times in 101 appearances.

He's capable of lining up as an attacking midfielder, a centre-forward or as a deep-lying playmaker in the centre of midfield.

Honda is most notable for his ability as a free-kick practitioner, using his left foot to drill some splendid shots as well as set his teammates up from unfavorable shooting positions. Some of his set-piece goals can be seen here.

While Honda is a great player in his own right, I don't quite understand the link. Honda is also 26, so it's not like Milan would be getting younger at the position.

They already have a world-class, deep-lying playmaker in Riccardo Montolivo, and their 4-3-3 formation doesn't really accommodate a player who's so attack-minded, preferring a more well-rounded skill set.

Boateng is better defensively and is a natural box-to-box midfielder who has the creative acumen to inject some attacking flair into the Milan midfield. He's stronger on the ball and has experience in top European leagues, including the English Premier League and Bundesliga.

Honda has only played in the Japanese domestic league, the Dutch Eredivisie and the Russian Premier League, three leagues that are all of lesser quality than the ones that Boateng has graced.

If Milan are able to get around €20 million for him, they'd be much better suited in going after PSV midfielder Kevin Strootman, with whom they've been associated with before, who will probably cost around that figure.

Honda is currently valued at €20 million as well, but one would be hard-pressed to find someone who would prefer Honda to the 23-year-old Dutch international.

Strootman can play as a defensive-midfielder as well as a deep-lying playmaker, and this versatility is invaluable in a three-man midfield. Honda is too attack-minded and would likely take some time to acclimate himself to the Serie A.

It remains to be seen if Milan will keep Allegri as conflicting reports are stating that the club will axe the Italian tactician, with others saying the contrary.

A managerial change could come with a change in formation. However, Allegri's experiment with the 4-3-3 turned out well, and the new manager would do well to keep the formation.

An ideal situation would see the Rossoneri remain vigilant with the three-man midfield, fielding the indispensable Riccardo Montolivo as the deep-lying playmaker, Boateng as the box-to-box midfielder and Strootman as the defensive midfielder.

Strootman also provided 11 assists in domestic play this season and would give the Milan midfield another much-needed creative option.

A return back to his native position would pay dividends for both Boateng and Milan as his performances last season, including some displays this season, show that he is most effective in that role.

Milan do need to generate more creativity from their midfield, and it won't come from Mathieu Flamini, Sulley Muntari, Nigel de Jong, Massimo Ambrosini or Bakaye Traore.

Antonio Nocerino is another option, but he was even worse than Boateng this season and could be sold while he is still worth a decent amount of money.

The San Siro outfit have also been linked with Lazio star Hernanes, but considering the Rome club is a domestic rival, his transfer fee could rise to around €30 million. At 27 years old, he doesn't fit the new Milan transfer philosophy, and while the Brazilian maestro would be fantastic at the club, Adriano Galliani will explore younger options.

Of course this is all speculation and no transfer dealings will be seriously explored until Milan first sort out their managerial situation.

A meeting between owner Silvio Berlusconi, an outspoken critic of Allegri, Milan vice president Adriano Galliani and Allegri will be held on Thursday, and this meeting could decide the direction the Milan brass plan to go in.

Boateng's past performances have endeared him to the Milan faithful, and I don't think that his best days are behind him. A consistent role could revive some of the world-class form he portrayed last season.

If the Ghanaian international is sold, PSV midfielder Kevin Strootman is a better option than Honda as the position he plays and his upside would see him shine at the San Siro.

Comparing Paul George's Indiana Pacers to the Reggie Miller Years

Jesse Dorsey — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:39:58 -0400

As Paul George grows into a star for the Indiana Pacers, flashbacks of Reggie Miller taking the Midwestern jewel to the Eastern Conference Finals five times in seven years come to mind.

The last time the Pacers made the conference finals, Reggie Miller was a 38-year-old man, the team was in the process of being handed over to Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal (whoops) and Indiana had not yet gone through the infamous "Malice at the Palace."

However, the Pacers had been to five Eastern Conference Finals (but just one NBA Finals) before in Miller's career, building a veritable dynasty of sorts, only to continually fall short nearly every time they made it past the second round of the playoffs.

Of course, this all started way back in 1987, when the Pacers drafted Reggie Miller following a 41-41 season.

Unlike the Pacers of today drafting Paul George in 2010 after a 32-50 season, the Pacers weren't a bad team when they picked up their future franchise player. The ground was really set after adding Rik Smits in the 1988 draft, with Smits starting nearly every game of the 90s at center for the Pacers.

Herb Williams and Wayman Tisdale were traded on consecutive days in '89, leading to Indiana landing (most importantly) Detlef Schrempf, a huge piece of the next five seasons, and Antonio Davis, a definite late bloomer.

Indiana really underwent two critical revamps before the team made its first Eastern Conference Finals, flipping away Chuck Person and Schrempf before the 1992 and 1993 seasons and landing Pooh Richardson and Derrick McKey.

By the 1994 season, the Pacers' first trip to the conference finals, Miller was already 28 and Smits was 27.

It makes the most sense to compare today's Pacers to this '94 team. The two might not be the most similar of teams, but they are both the first great teams in their respective timelines.

Defensively, the 1994 team was sound, but it was a team with a sense of balance, not a defense-first squad like today's Pacers.

Smits was a heady center, and his all-around gigantic frame made him a definite presence. His light rebounding numbers notwithstanding, he was generally a smart player around the bucket.

Standing next to Smits was a big, mean man. Dale Davis was the real muscle of the team, inhaling rebounds and dishing out punishment whenever an offensive player broke past the first line of defense.

McKey was the team's third scoring option in the early days of its greatness. He was really ahead of his time in that he often slid into the small forward spot, despite being a solid build for a '90s-era power forward.

Of course, the Pacers also had Miller at shooting guard, and by the time 1994 rolled around, he was the veteran leader of a middle-aged basketball team.

At point guard, they had a committee of sorts, getting a ton of starts from hardly remembered Haywoode Workman in '94, a few from the injured Richardson and some sixth-man play and spot starts from Byron Scott.

The core makeup of the two teams seems eerily similar, but that's as far as the likenesses go.

Paul George and Reggie Miller are obvious parallels simply because they are the best guys on the squad and both play from the wing.

However, both teams have a very evident inside-out makeup.

With Smits and Davis looking very much like Roy Hibbert (enormous center with a still-developing offensive game) and David West (Herculean power forward, although a much better shooter than Davis would ever be), the '94 Pacers and the '13 Pacers absolutely punish teams trying to score in the paint.

From there, the two teams diverge and the obvious differences start to show up.

McKey, Indiana's other winger, was a crucial part of the team's offense, whereas Lance Stephenson is merely a contributor on offense who does much of his work on the defensive end.

George Hill has an offensive edge over any point guard the '94 Pacers put on the floor, although the '94 Pacers' depth at point guard is something the 2013 squad can only dream of.

Antonio Davis and Tyler Hansbrough are about as different as two reserve big men can be. Where Hansbrough is all energy, with any point he scores being icing on the cake, Davis could at least handle himself with some amount of poise around the basket while playing defense like a stone wall.

Style-wise, these two teams become even more different.

The '94 Pacers were known for their extremely efficient offense, leading the league in three-point percentage and ranking second in overall field goal percentage.

This year's Pacers were in the bottom third in the league for both three-point and field goal percentages, but they made up for it with a fifth-place finish in offensive rebounding and a defense that held teams to the lowest shooting percentage from inside and outside of the three-point line.

It seems hard to imagine this incarnation of the Pacers ever looking too much like the '90s Pacers. As changes popped up throughout the decade, Indiana's style never changed too much until the 1999 season, when defense went out the window.

Indiana was always content with having a good defense, but the calling card of the team was always the stellar offense.

The next few seasons will be interesting to watch from a basketball standpoint, just to compare how the team evolves.

It seems to make sense for the Pacers to continue to champion their defense in the coming years while methodically improving their offense along the way, much like Miller's Pacers touting offensive dominance while slowly building up the defense over the years.

There is one main comparison to take away when you look at the '94 Pacers and the present-day squad: Both are top-tier teams regardless of their style, though today's Pacers boasts a much younger core.

Chelsea Transfer Rumours: Blues Linked with Luka Modric, Isco

Michael Cummings — Sat, 25 May 2013 10:55:12 -0400

With the reported return of the Special One and a rumored £100 million transfer budget, this summer had already promised to be a memorable one for Chelsea. Now, as the potential targets trickle into news reports, we have the names to go with the speculation.

Jose Mourinho, who has been linked heavily with a return to Chelsea this summer, per The Sun, is interested in bringing several players with him to Stamford Bridge, according to the Daily Mirror. One—Atletico Madrid's on-loan keeper Thibaut Courtois—is already a Chelsea player. The rest are not.

Atop the list is Atletico striker Radamel Falcao, who has also been linked with a £50.7 million move to Monaco, according to Metro. Also on the list are Zenit St. Petersburg forward Hulk, Bayer Leverkusen forward Andre Schurrle, Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala, Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini and Malaga midfielder Isco.

The Sun, meanwhile, reports that Mourinho wants to bring midfielder Luka Modric with him from Real to Chelsea.

Together, these reports make for an impressive shopping list, and that should give Chelsea supporters reason to be cautiously optimistic.

Isco, 21, is one of Spain's best young talents, as B/R's Allan Jiang outlines here. He has also been linked heavily with Real Madrid, according to Marca.

Modric, 27, has Premier League experience, having played for Tottenham from 2008-12. This season, he was a key to Real Madrid's victory over Manchester United in the Champions League, per Michael Cox at The Guardian, and B/R's Sam Tighe has rated Chelsea as Modric's best Premier League fit based on "financial and suitability terms."

Schurrle, 22, has been linked with Chelsea for some time and is reportedly close to completing his transfer, according to BBC Sport. His arrival would give the Blues more options in the attack. Mangala, also 22, would help shore up the defense as 32-year-old captain John Terry ages.

Another consideration involves Mourinho himself. The Portuguese led Chelsea to back-to-back titles in 2004-05 and 2005-06, his first two seasons in England. Back then, he benefited from heavy investment on the part of owner Roman Abramovich, and this summer could bring a similar scenario.

With so much money reportedly available and such a talented manager reportedly on his way back, Chelsea fans have much to be excited about this summer. And before long, at least some of the reports should start turning into reality.

Follow @MikeCummings37

Championship Playoff Final: Would Crystal Palace or Watford Be Better EPL Side?

Alex Gruber — Sat, 25 May 2013 10:49:45 -0400

The nPower League Championship season draws to a close Monday afternoon, as Crystal Palace and Watford do battle at Wembley Stadium. At stake: the right to play in the Premier League beginning in August.

One of the biggest questions that will be asked in the build-up and aftermath of this match is how the teams would fare in the Premier League. Recent history has been kind to newly promoted teams: Of the last nine to come up, only three have gone down—Blackpool, Reading and QPR.

Palace manager Ian Holloway was in charge of that Blackpool side for both the promotion and the relegation. He would certainly understand what it takes to make this leap. Indeed, the Tangerines were not relegated until the last day, as they lost to champions Manchester United.

Holloway also has experience in the Premier League as a player, having spent five years at QPR in the early 1990s. His counterpart at Wembley, Gianfranco Zola, also has plenty of experience in the English top flight with an eight-year spell at Chelsea and a three-year stint managing West Ham.

The two clubs involved here have had a combined five years of Premier League experience since the league's inception in 1992. Crystal Palace has had three of those, the last coming in 2004-05. Watford's last season in the league was 2006-07.

But when breaking things down to see which squad is better suited to take on the Premier League, it is imperative that the actual squad of players is examined.

Crystal Palace's squad has been led by two key figures. One of these is star man Wilfried Zaha, who will be joining Manchester United next season. The winger has been a major revelation for the Eagles, and his sale could net his current club up to £15 million to replace him.

The other major factor in Palace's lineup has been striker Glenn Murray. He racked up a whopping 30 goals in the Championship, topping the league's scoring charts. However, he suffered a knee injury in the playoff semifinals that could see him out for nine months.

Losing these two key players would be a tough way to start a campaign in the Premier League. As such, it would be up to midfield players like Andre Moritz, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Mile Jedinak and Owen Garvan to pick up some of the slack.

One thing they may not have to worry about is their back line. They lost captain and veteran defender Paddy McCarthy to injury before the season started, which might have been a harsh blow were it not for reinforcements.

Summer signings Damien Delaney and Peter Ramage have formed a formidable duo to protect goalkeeper Julian Speroni. The flanks have been well guarded by the likes of Jonathan Parr and Joel Ward. Parr also suffered a season-ending injury late on, but hopes to be back to start next season.

Watford, on the other hand, have had a series of big contributions from a number of players that has seen them score the most goals in the Championship. Leading the way is Championship Player of the Year Matej Vydra, whose team-leading 22 goals in all competitions saw him win the award over Murray.

Second on the team's scoring charts is Troy Deeney. The English attacker burst onto the scene in the dramatic victory over Leicester, scoring the goal to send the Hornets to Wembley in the 97th minute. His 19 goals in league play put him sixth in the Championship.

Almost lost in the fury of Deeney's goal was the spectacular double save by the goalkeeper at the other end not 20 seconds prior. That man was Manuel Almunia, the long-time Arsenal stopper who joined on a free transfer over the summer and has been reliable between the sticks.

Also among the influential faces at Vicarage Road are Fernando Forestieri, who was involved in the build-up to Deeney's strike, and Almen Abdi, a Swiss international whose creativity in midfield has been backed up by a dozen goals.

The one thing that Abdi and Vydra have in common is that they are on loan from Udinese. In fact, Watford have a total of eight on-loan players from the Italians, largely because the two share owners in Giampaolo Pozzo, who took over the English club in July. The clubs made Forestieri's loan permanent in January.

This is the biggest factor that would be working against the Hornets here: they are set to lose about a dozen players once loan deals expire. This includes the eight Udinese men, two from Spanish side Granada—also owned by Pozzo—and one each from Chelsea and Belgian giants Standard Liege.

Also working against Watford is a transfer embargo put in place by an independent disciplinary committee. This stems from unreported third-party involvement in various transfers, including the sale of current Sunderland striker Danny Graham, during the previous owner's tenure.

Per Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail, this would prevent Watford from making new signings until deadline day, August 31. They should be able to make loan signings permanent, an important fact since they've gotten such big results from the players mentioned earlier.

Should Pozzo be able to retain his Udinese starlets, his team looks the better bet to be successful in the Premier League. This group has tons of confidence and a great work ethic under Zola, with a free-flowing system allowing players to express their talents.

This is no knock on Holloway's men. They've built a solid squad of their own and deserve their place in this playoff final. But it seems like their reliance on a couple of main threats—Murray, Zaha and Kevin Phillips are the only players with more than five total goals—could haunt them.

Velasquez vs. Silva Fight Card: Who's Under the Most Pressure at UFC 160?

Dustin Filloy — Sat, 25 May 2013 10:41:10 -0400

While the remainder of his peers positioned at the top of the main card will enter the bout on a winning streak, former UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos will attempt to avoid his first career losing skid.

"Cigano," who surrendered his belt to Cain Velasquez at UFC 155 in December, can vindicate his second career loss and punch his ticket to another title shot with a win in tonight's co-main event at UFC 160.

However, with surging former K-1 champion Mark Hunt standing in his path, Dos Santos surely has more pressure on his shoulders than any other fighter at UFC 160.

Cigano reeled off 10 straight wins, including nine in the Octagon, before absorbing a five-round thumping from Velasquez in their rematch.

Originally slated to square off with Alistair Overeem, Dos Santos received word in early March that an injury would be forcing the former K-1, Dream and Strikeforce champ to pull out of their scrap at UFC 160.

Days later, Dos Santos discovered that he'd instead be forced to lock horns with Hunt, a significant underdog who's garnered "Knockout of the Night" honors in two of his last four bouts.

While a win catapults Cigano back into title talks, a loss against Hunt, whom Bovada has deemed a 3.25-1 (+325) underdog, could devastate Dos Santos.

Regardless of how severe the element of pressure has become, Dos Santos refuses to deviate from his typical modest and carefree attitude.

"I'm really, really, really happy with everything what is happening in my career," Dos Santos said during an interview with MMA Heat's Karyn Bryant. "Even if I lost my last fight. I don't care about that...you know...because I'm having good times."

Cigano also sounded off on the nature of matching up a pair of heavy-hitting knockout artists on such a significant stage by saying: "For sure he's going to try to stand and bang, but it's MMA. I think I'm faster than him and I will try to knock him out. My first strategy is always to try to knock my opponent out. But if I see I have to take him down, I will do that, because he's really dangerous, and I respect that."

Chicago Blackhawks: 5 Keys to Winning Game 5 vs. Detroit Red Wings

Jon Fromi — Sat, 25 May 2013 10:35:37 -0400

The Chicago Blackhawks have a simple goal heading into Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal. Chicago can't make up a 3-1 series deficit Saturday night. Any comeback hinges on extending the series against the Detroit Red Wings.

Forget about wresting home ice back from Detroit or a potential Game 7 showdown at the United Center. The only thing that matters is getting a win Saturday and staying alive in the postseason.

How do the Blackhawks keep their season going? Here are five keys to taking the first step and winning Game 5.

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Indy 500 Schedule 2013: Start Time, TV Info, Weather Updates and More

Mike Chiari — Sat, 25 May 2013 10:28:29 -0400

With qualifying complete and everything in place, the only thing left to do is go racing at the Indianapolis 500. "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" is always exciting, but this year's edition could be especially interesting due to the fact that there are so many contenders.

Only four drivers in the field have won the Indy 500 before, so the odds of a first-time winner breaking through are quite good. Although the Daytona 500 is certainly in the argument, the Indianapolis 500 is still considered to be the biggest race in motorsports and it could very well launch someone to superstardom on Sunday.

Here is all the information you need to know ahead of Sunday's Indy 500 including when and where to watch it, what type of weather you can expect and where every driver will be starting when the green flag waves.

Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

When: Sunday, May 26 at 12 p.m. ET

Watch: ABC

Live Stream: LiveStream.com

Weather Updates

Although heavy showers aren't expected to mar the Indy 500, it does appear as though rain could play a slight factor. According to Weather.com, the high temperature in Indianapolis on Sunday will be a comfortable 68 degrees. There is also a 30 percent chance of showers during the day, whereas the chances increase to 60 percent at night.

Since the weather promises to get worse as the day goes on, officials will likely have to find a way to finish the race before the evening. Luckily, the race starts at noon ET, so they should have plenty of time even if rain stalls the race for a period of time. As long as the showers aren't extended, though, there isn't much to worry about.

Race fans have actually gotten quite lucky weather-wise when it comes to the Indy 500 in recent years as rain hasn't often been a factor. According to Jenny Anchondo of FOX 59 in Indianapolis, measurable rainfall has occurred at the Indy 500 just four times since 2000.

It seems like rain could very well fall for a fifth year since 2000 on Sunday, but unless the forecast changes drastically, it won't be a big deal. Look for the Indy 500 to go off largely without a hitch.

Starting Grid

Grid Spot	Driver	Four-Lap Average (MPH)
1	Ed Carpenter	228.762
2	Carlos Munoz	228.342
3	Marco Andretti	228.261
4	E.J. Viso	228.150
5	A.J. Allmendinger	228.099
6	Will Power	228.087
7	Ryan Hunter-Reay	227.904
8	Helio Castroneves	227.762
9	James Hinchcliffe	227.070
10	JR Hildebrand	227.441
11	Alex Tagliani	227.386
12	Tony Kanaan	226.949
13	Oriol Servia	226.814
14	Justin Wilson	226.370
15	Sebastien Bourdais	226.196
16	Scott Dixon	226.158
17	Dario Franchitti	226.069
18	Takuma Sato	225.892
19	Charlie Kimball	225.880
20	James Jakes	225.809
21	Simon Pagenaud	225.674
22	Townsend Bell	225.643
23	Ryan Briscoe	225.265
24	Simona De Silvestro	225.226
25	Josef Newgarden	226.731
26	Graham Rahal	225.007
27	Sebastian Saavedra	224.929
28	Tristian Vautier (R)	224.873
29	Ana Beatriz	224.184
30	Pippa Mann	224.005
31	Conor Daly (R)	223.582
32	Buddy Lazier	223.442
33	Katherine Legge	223.176

* Qualifying results and starting grid via Indy 500's official website.

Sleepers to Watch

James Hinchcliffe

There is plenty of talk about the likes of Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves as either of them can move into a tie as the all-time winningest Indy 500 driver with a victory on Sunday, but James Hinchcliffe may have something to say about that. The Canadian star is currently fourth in the IndyCar standings and he has already won two races in this young season.

After winning the opening race of the season, Hinchcliffe took the checkered flag in the most recent race as well in Sao Paulo, Brazil. His fellow drivers showered him with praise after the race, including Ryan Briscoe.

Hinchcliffe's daring style can backfire at times, but being conservative isn't an effective way to win the Indy 500. If Hinchcliffe is near the front in the closing laps, look for him to make a big move and go for the gusto as he seeks his first Indy 500 win.

Scott Dixon

Scott Dixon already knows how it feels to win the Indy 500 as he turned the trick in 2008, but there is no doubt that the Kiwi from New Zealand would love to turn the trick again. Dixon has been very consistent this year as he is fifth in the points. He has yet to win a race, but he has been able to remain in the mix, which is something that will serve him well on Sunday.

Despite the fact that Dixon has won the race before, it doesn't seem like there is a lot of hype surrounding him. Most of the focus is on Franchitti and Castroneves, which may end up being a good thing for Dixon as he can fly under the radar. With that said, oddsmakers understand that he is a threat to win as he is listed as the No. 2 favorite, according to Lewis Franck of ESPN the Magazine.

Dixon definitely has the tools necessary to win and his winning experience could very well come into play during the latter stages. Don't be surprised if he is able to pull it off.

Takuma Sato

While avid followers of IndyCar racing are well aware, many viewers who tune in to the Indy 500 on Sunday will probably have no idea that Takuma Sato is the current points leader. He has been excellent through four races with one victory and two podium finishes. No win would be sweeter than the Indianapolis 500, however.

Sato will starting in the middle of the field at No. 18, but that doesn't preclude him from winning the race. He has done a great job at staying out of trouble on the track this year, and that is something that should help him on Sunday. There aren't many people picking Sato to win, but he definitely deserves to be in the conversation.

History will be made if Sato is triumphant as no Asian driver has even won the Indianapolis 500. Sato could inspire people across Japan and Asia as a whole if he is able to win the biggest race in motorsports. He'll have some stiff competition to contend with, but it's certainly possible.

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