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Carmelo Anthony Injury: Updates on Knicks Star's Shoulder

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:12:38 -0400

The New York Knicks may be out of the 2013 NBA playoffs, but that hasn't stopped them from stealing headlines. In fact, the news coming out of New York is not only revealing, but also potentially devastating.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Carmelo Anthony is battling a small left shoulder tear.

This comes after 'Melo played 12 postseason games.

Anthony had been favoring his shoulder throughout the playoffs, even wearing a protective sleeve. He fought through the pain, going for averages of 28.8 points on a slash line of .406/.298/885.

With that being said, it's not about what was—it's about what happens next.

If Anthony requires surgery on the shoulder, there's a possibility that the Knicks have yet another offseason in which their stars battle injuries. Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire have yet to complete an offseason in that regard, as each has faced his fair share of ailments.

This latest development could be the most devastating of all, as New York's window of opportunity appears to be closing.

Entering the 2013-14 season, only one player under contract will be younger than 27 years old. Free agency and the draft could help in that regard, but New York is tight in cap space and was built to win with Anthony, Stoudemire and Chandler leading the charge.

Anthony's shoulder injury could be yet another complication in what appeared to be the perfect plan to turn this storied franchise around.

Miami Dolphins: Offseason Has Changed Perception of Fins, but That's Not Enough

Alan Hubbard — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:03:57 -0400

The current offseason has been very good to the Miami Dolphins. So good, in fact, that it's altered the league-wide perception of the Dolphins as a football destination. General Manager Jeff Ireland considers that the offseason's greatest success, according to an interview with the Sun Sentinel:

I felt like we've addressed some of the things we needed to address, and we got players we wanted. What's great to hear is that the players wanted us, too. I think that's the most important aspect of what we've accomplished this year.

Ireland is right. That is a huge accomplishment. Remember, just a few years ago, the Dolphins were viewed with the same respect as an overflowing garbage dump. People simply did not want to bring their talents to South Beach.

Just a year-and-a-half ago, the Dolphins failed to land Jeff Fisher as their new head coach. He ultimately chose the power offered to him by the St. Louis Rams. Miami's failure to hook Fisher prompted Alex Marvez of Fox Sports to dub the team one of the league's most dysfunctional franchises.

He probably wasn't too far off in his description, especially when you consider Miami's pursuit of Jim Harbaugh a year prior to that. Owner Stephen Ross and Ireland left town to court the popular college coach, leaving then-head coach Tony Sparano to wallow in embarrassment.

The move ruffled many feathers in NFL circles, and when Harbaugh ultimately spurned the Dolphins, Ross and Ireland were left to walk tails-between-legs back to Sparano. He was later fired during the 2011 season.

Needless to say, no one felt sorry for the Dolphins.

Jump back to 2012, when the Dolphins doggedly pursued Peyton Manning. The team was desperate for a quarterback, but the future Hall of Famer never seemed to give it the time of day. Manning made trips to both Denver and Arizona to visit with those respective teams. The Dolphins, on the other hand, had to fly to Indianapolis to get the quarterback's attention.

Miami didn't stand a chance.

That's not all, either. Safety Ryan Clark tweeted his less-than-positive opinion about the Fins organization last March (the tweets have since been removed). He claimed that "No one" wanted to play in Miami:

It's my honest opinion. Not a good guy making decisions.

Former Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder also had some rather inflammatory things to say about Ireland:

I wouldn't go on a team with Jeff Ireland. I’m not very confident in him. He doesn't know what he’s doing in my opinion. He’s real disrespectful, he doesn't know how to deal with people and the whole Dez Bryant (situation) kind of showed to the world what he’s about, but guys in the building know what he’s really about. He’s not a good person. He has no class, and I wouldn't choose to go back and play there. And I would have to say it’s the only team I don’t want to play for.

Ouch.

So how does a team go about repairing such a poor image?

It started last season, with the hiring of head coach Joe Philbin and the drafting of quarterback Ryan Tannehill. After opening up on Hard Knocks, most people considered the dysfunctional Dolphins were set for another miserable season.

But Miami's two new leaders surprised the league and led Miami to a 7-9 record. Two missed field goals were the only things separating the team from a 9-7 record, which would have been its first above .500 season since 2008.

That set the stage for a high-pressure offseason. Ireland had to supply the team with weapons so they could be more competitive in 2013. By all accounts, the beleaguered general manager has done that. Impressively, he was able to attract a lot of talent.

Just one year removed from missing out on the hottest free agent available (Manning), the Dolphins snagged 2012's top free agent in Mike Wallace. They also lured Dannell Ellerbe away from the Super Bowl champs, brought in former Pro Bowl corner Brent Grimes and even got Dustin Keller from the New York Jets.

Suddenly, the Dolphins appear more attractive than the media-gorged Jets. Talk about a shift in the divisional power.

After a great free-agency haul and phenomenal draft, fans are buzzing about the Dolphins' 2013 season. Excitement has reached a fever pitch.

That's why this offseason is not enough. The Dolphins have reclaimed some of their tattered image by amassing talent in droves. And yes, Ireland has recaptured some (not all) of fans' good will by showing he had a plan all along.

But if the Dolphins don't put it together in 2013 and show marked improvement from last year, it will be all for naught. The time for patience is unfortunately over. Last year was when "wait and see how it plays out" was a viable option.

This year, with a very promising young quarterback looking to build off a surprisingly strong rookie season with a handful of new weaponry around him, and an inspiring, stern head coach at the helm, the Dolphins cannot settle for mediocrity again.

Ireland knows that much. As he said in the same interview with the Sun Sentinel:

We're just names on paper right now, until we start jelling as a football team, but we're excited about the players we've added, we're excited about the players we currently have on the football team, and right now we're just becoming a team, and that's what's important.

Repairing an tarnished image is a tough thing to do in the NFL. The Dolphins have spent the better part of two years trying to do just that. They've done a remarkable job so far, but don't be fooled.

That job is just getting started.

Ranking the 10 Dirtiest Plays from the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Brad Kurtzberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:39:36 -0400

We are midway through the second round of the NHL playoffs and already we have seen plenty of questionable calls, a few suspensions and several dirty hits.

Here is a look at the 10 dirtiest plays so far from the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.They are ranked from 10th through first based on how far outside the rules they actually go.

Feel free to mention some dirty plays I may have missed. If you have a video clip of it, please link it so we can all judge your play for ourselves.

And please don't get me started on the quality of officiating. That is a different article entirely.

Begin Slideshow

Technical on Chris 'Birdman' Andersen Gets Pacers-Heat Feud off to Quick Start

Grant Hughes — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:38:10 -0400

Chris Andersen didn't wait long to christen the Eastern Conference finals series between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers with its first technical foul. Late in the first quarter of Game 1, the Birdman got tangled up with Tyler Hansbrough on the baseline, prompting a quick whistle and the series' first tech.

The contact came as Andersen swooped to the hoop (because swooping is his main mode of travel) to try to tip a ball in as Shane Battier and Hansbrough wrestled underneath. Most of the contact on the play was actually between Andersen and Battier, but Hansbrough took exception.

After a slight extension of Andersen's left arm toward Hansbrough, the whistle sounded, signaling that the officials weren't going to permit much in terms of extracurricular activity.

Andersen had already scored two points and had a major impact on defense, so perhaps Hansbrough was trying to get him to lose his cool in an effort to get him out of the game.

Of course, the Pacers' hyperactive forward isn't really known for doing a whole lot of thinking on the floor. He's usually too busy creating contact, drawing fouls and generally looking like he's on the verge of snapping himself. So any sort of altercation between the two would have been entertaining, but probably a little scary as well.

At least we have more wombat fights to look forward to over the next few games.

Tensions were running high even before the technical foul, though, as Shane Battier went all "Karl Malone" on Roy Hibbert, delivering a solid knee to the center's man region as he drove the lane.

Shortly after the initial tie-up between Andersen and Hansbrough, David West connected with Andersen's nose on a totally inadvertent elbow. The pair were battling on the boards and the Birdman's beak was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

That led to some first-aid that included a couple of cotton plugs jammed up Andersen's nose. What he did next may be difficult to erase from your mind.

This is a series that'll certainly feature plenty of physicality. Indiana has a gritty reputation and something of a chip on its shoulder after losing in six games to the Heat in last year's conference semifinals.

At the same time, the Heat are probably a little on edge themselves. After keeping their cool (for the most part) in a testy series with the Chicago Bulls, they're probably playing with a few frayed nerves.

We know the referees are keeping things under control so far, as LeBron James actually picked up a pair of first-quarter fouls, a true rarity for the King.

Bodies are flying and a larger altercation seems inevitable at some point. Stay tuned for updates.

Who Would Give Andre Ward a Better Bout: Mikkel Kessler or Carl Froch?

Briggs Seekins — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:31:55 -0400

For boxing, it's going to be the good old days all over again in London, England this May 25. When Carl Froch (30-2, 22 KOs) squares off with Mikkel Kessler (46-2, 35 KOs) for the IBF and WBA super middleweight titles, it will be a return to prominence for a weight class that has been among the glamor divisions of the sport in recent years.

From 2009 to 2011, the Showtime Super Six tournament brought together the best available 168-pounders on the planet and set up the framework for them to fight. The tournament gave us some of the most interesting fights in the sport over those two years, and it established a true world champion at super middleweight: Andre Ward.

Froch and Kessler were both major players in the Super Six.

Kessler lost to Ward in the opening round, then came back to beat Froch by unanimous decision in an exciting, competitive fight. But he subsequently withdrew from the tournament due to an eye injury suffered in the loss to Ward.

With new life in the tournament, Froch proceeded to battle his way back through into the finals, where he also lost to Andre Ward in November of 2011.

In September of 2012, Ward put an exclamation point on his tournament victory by TKOing light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson in 10. Since that night, the debate has been whether or not Ward deserves to be viewed as the true pound-for-pound king.

Meanwhile, Froch and Kessler have soldiered on, continuing to demonstrate that they are Nos. 2 and 3 in the division. Last May, Carl Froch exposed previously undefeated Lucian Bute, stopping him in five. Later in the year he knocked out Yusaf Mack.

Kessler stopped both Allan Green and Brian Magee last year. Those two guys may not be world-beaters, but they haven't exactly made careers out of being steamrolled, either.

So two years after the Super Six solved everything, everything has remained pretty much the same. The IBF and the WBA will recognize the winner of this bout as their world champion. But everybody knows the fight is really about establishing who is in second place behind Andre Ward.

As a result, people will speculate on whether or not the winner will fight Andre Ward. If Froch wins, it's natural. After he avenges his first career loss against Kessler, the perfect storyline would be for him to go after Andre Ward next.

Kessler's only other loss came to Joe Calzaghe in November of 2007. Calzaghe would go on to retire undefeated without ever rematching with Kessler.

On the media call I participated in last week, both Froch and Kessler acknowledged that they would like to have a rematch with Ward, though they were understandably more interested in talking about the extremely difficult fight staring them in the face.

But the winner of this fight is going to be spoken about as a possible future opponent for Andre Ward. He might have beaten them both in fairly decisive fashion already, but neither has gone anywhere since.

I am predicting that Froch will win this fight, but I am far from convinced that he will fight Andre Ward next as a result. I think there's a good chance he fights fellow Brit George Groves, an undefeated prospect who looked outstanding against Glen Johnson.

If Froch can get by that one, I think he will have the star power in London to lure Andre Ward across the pond.

On the media call, Froch made it clear that he would prefer to fight Ward in London. “Now it's Andre Ward's turn to travel the world and show he's a true champion,” Froch stated.

Froch made no excuses for his loss to Ward, calling the champion a “top, top fighter who knows how to win boxing matches.” But Froch clearly enjoys his ever-rising stardom in his native country and would prefer to fight keep fighting there going forward.

And for business purposes, it might make a lot of sense to do Froch-Ward II in London. On last week's media call, Bernie Bahrmasel said that Kessler-Froch II had sold 18,000 tickets in about three hours.

If Froch fought a rematch with Ward, I have a hard time believing it would sell as well in Vegas as it would in London.

Froch has the kind of fans who would be able to rally around the argument that he was an even hungrier and more determined fighter than in the past, and that with 20,000 of his countrymen screaming support, he might have a chance to beat the great champion from the states.

In Vegas you are mostly going to meet the hard-bitten realists who know there's no reality-based reason to expect that Carl Froch would be able to beat Andre Ward now. After all, he didn't come close last time.

First of all, I don't believe a lack of determination and focus has ever been a problem for Carl Froch. His problems with Andre Ward mostly stemmed from the fact that Ward had a pretty easy time reading him and reacting. He was able to stop Froch from even getting into position to throw his punches.

Ward is still 29 and has never had a truly hard night's work in his life. So I have no reason to expect him to be anything but completely sharp whenever he next gets in the ring.

And I just don't see Carl Froch ever beating a completely sharp Andre Ward. Still, Froch has looked great since his last fight with Ward, and if a return fight ends up happening in London, I will be excited for it.

But I think Ward will have a pretty easy time outclassing Carl Froch once more.

If Kessler manages to come out on top against Froch, I think a rematch with Ward is the only possible fight he will want. And I think he will struggle even more than he did in the first fight.

Ultimately, I don't think either Froch or Kessler would have much chance at all against Ward. A rematch with Froch would probably do better as a big-time fight.

And it would end up looking a lot like their last fight, except that Ward might win even more decisively.

But this should have nothing to do with how we view the fight this weekend, and true boxing fans know this. In Froch's own words, Kessler-Froch II is “a proper, big fight between two warriors.” Forget about any alphabet soup titles; there is so much pride on the line here between these two that we are guaranteed 12 hard-fought, action-packed rounds.

This should be a night when what happens in the ring will be a lot more important than anything the rest of us can say or write about it.

NBA Draft 2013: Prospects Who Have Potential to Become First-Year All-Stars

Ethan Grant — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:31:04 -0400

Only Tim Duncan, Yao Ming and Blake Griffin have made the NBA All-Star Game as rookies. In fact, only 45 players have done so since 1951, when legendary Boston Celtics starter Bob Cousy accomplished the feat for the first time.

Can any of the prospects in the 2013 NBA draft class accomplish the feat?

It might be too early to tell, but the current collection of draft prospects is littered with steady, consistent guys who will be able to contribute to rosters right away and do so in a manner that should gain national attention.

Remember—making the All-Star Game is no easy task these days.

Fan votes weigh down the actuality of the product on the court, meaning that the most popular players usually get the nod over guys who might be more deserving on a year-to-year basis. The saving grace? The All-Star Game is for the fans and not the players.

However, this draft has a chance to send the 46th player to this honor, even if it is considered devoid of the big-time star and therefore "weak" by some standards. Steady, NBA-ready players might not capture early headlines, but you'd be surprised how far that goes to capturing attention by the time voting is in full swing.

Although extremely difficult to attain, here's a look at three of the current 2013 draft prospects who have the best chance to join this elusive club during their rookie seasons.

Complete 2013 NBA Draft Lottery Order

Pick	Team
1.	Cleveland Cavaliers
2.	Orlando Magic
3.	Washington Wizards
4.	Charlotte Bobcats
5.	Phoenix Suns
6.	New Orleans Pelicans
7.	Sacramento Kings
8.	Detroit Pistons
9.	Minnesota Timberwolves
10.	Portland Trail Blazers
11.	Philadelphia 76ers
12.	Oklahoma City Thunder (via Raptors)
13.	Dallas Mavericks
14.	Utah Jazz

Prospects Who Will Be All-Star Candidates

SF Otto Porter Jr., Georgetown

A consensus first-team All-American and the Big East Player of the Year, Porter became one of the country's most impressive prospects before our eyes during his sophomore season with the Hoyas.

Averaging over 16 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, Porter dazzled fans with his ability to be efficient on offense, run the floor in transition and guard multiple positions for coach John Thompson III during his time in D.C.

Make no mistake—Porter will be drafted to start this June.

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, he's even a candidate for the No. 1 pick:

Washington, Sacramento, New Orleans and Detroit also all make sense as logical landing spots for Porter come June's draft night, and each would afford him the opportunity to start as a rookie and prove that his improvement from freshman to sophomore can continue when he takes the court next season in the NBA.

If he continues his red-hot shooting from the three-point line (42.2 percent) and is as efficient from the field as he was in college, there's no reason Porter shouldn't be a hot candidate to make the All-Star game as a rookie for the team that selects him this year.

He's not the kind of player who will take over a game or be expected to average 25 points a game for his team to win games. Comparing his game to that of former Piston Tayshaun Prince, Porter can capture the national audience by staying disciplined on defense and asserting himself as an option in the full court when play opens up during the 2013-14 season.

SG Ben McLemore, Kansas

McLemore draws comparisons to Ray Allen for his sharpshooting ability and his penchant for taking the three in big moments during his freshman season at Kansas.

Allen didn't make the All-Star game as a rookie all the way back in the prehistoric ages of the 1996-97 season, but McLemore, in the right system and the green light from whoever is his coach next season, certainly is among the players who need to be mentioned in this conversation.

McLemore exploded during certain points of his redshirt freshman season, posting three games with at least 30 points and a slew of others where he hit the 20-plus point mark. The knock on McLemore, though, is consistency, which will plague him during his rookie season in the NBA, too.

However, if McLemore heads to a team like Charlotte, Orlando or Phoenix next season, he'll have the green light the moment he signs the dotted line on his rookie contract. With that green light, it wouldn't be a surprise to see McLemore shoot more than the 10.8 times he did at Kansas, especially with 49.5 and 42 percent field-goal and three-point percentages backing his claim to his new head coach.

A special talent among the guards in this draft, McLemore should average 20 points per game for whichever lottery team makes him its first-round pick in this draft. Sure, those are lofty standards for a player who will adjust to the NBA game and will have to contend with the deeper three-point shot, but that's how much his game should fit the NBA mold.

If McLemore can improve his isolation situation before he starts his NBA career, he's a no-brainer candidate to both score in bunches and maybe assert himself as a candidate to make the All-Star Game—a claim likely enhanced by Kobe Bryant missing most of the first part of next season with injury.

PG Trey Burke, Michigan

If the National Player of the Year isn't in the conversation for this mantle, who should be?

Burke lit the world on fire during his two years at Michigan. He was a borderline top pick when his freshman season was over and asserted himself as exactly that during his deep tournament run at Michigan last season.

Simply put, he's the best player in the draft this season. As ESPN's Stats & Info reported on Twitter, his ability to make plays is statistically the best ratio of any Wooden winner:

Burke makes plays with his shot, his passing ability and his defense, and he's in the same position as current NBA Rookie of the Year and Portland Trail Blazer Damian Lillard—he's the best point guard on the board and should have full control of whatever team drafts him this season.

If he does get drafted by a team that needs him to sit for a year, then the All-Star dream likely dies.

If he does get a chance to start full-time, though, there's no reason not to expect him to perform the same way he did at Michigan during his two-year stint with the school. Lillard had a legitimate chance to make the team as a rookie, although point guard is arguably the NBA's biggest strength these days.

No matter what happens—these three future professionals should be fun to watch as rookies.

There's always a learning curve in the NBA, and it often swallows up guys from accomplishing this particularly impressive feat. If they fail to do so this year, these three guys should be on your list of guys who could make the game in the very near future, if nothing else.

Sure—this piece errs on the side of optimism for these prospects. But that's what makes the draft (in all sports) special, and it's a great chance to highlight three guys who will be fun to watch at the next level for years to come.

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How Colin Kaepernick Can Claim MVP Title in 2013

Phil G — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:22:24 -0400

Hopefully many of you enjoyed my previous piece detailing the best quarterback in the NFC West. Now, I shift my focus to Colin Kaepernick and his much anticipated 2013 appearance.

We all know how Colin Kaepernick burst on the national spotlight with a marvelous performance against the stout Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football back in November.

How can we forget?

Funny enough, Kaepernick was more dazzling as a thrower than a runner. In fact, the former University of Nevada product only ran for 10 yards on that faithful night.

It would be remiss of me if I didn't mention the absence of Bears starting quarterback, Jay Cutler. However, that night was more about Kaepernick's arrival than whoever lined up as quarterback for the Bears.

Just in case many forgot, it was former Redskins quarterback, Jason Campbell.

After that 32-7 thrashing by the 49ers, a quarterback controversy brewed: Alex Smith vs. Colin Kaepernick. It invited national debate among analysts and fans alike.

Many Niners fans were aware of Kaepernick as a developmental project at the quarterback position, but his sudden flashes in that Bears game opened up the possibilities of the future becoming the present.

After several media sessions where Harbaugh was spitting out political responses, fans finally got their answer.

Colin Kaepernick was named the starter for the remainder of the season. However, the journey only became harder as expectations rose with Kaepernick under center.

Not only did Kaepernick answer those expectations, he exceed them.

A spectacular performance against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the first round paled in comparison to the composure he showed when coming back to defeat the upstart Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game.

Yes, the season was capped off with a disappointing Super Bowl loss, but for a second-year quarterback who only started 10 games to lead his team to a Super Bowl, can we really expect any more?

Now, like last season, Kaepernick will have high expectations to not only lead his team to a Super Bowl, but to also come away with a victory.

But why stop there? Kaepernick has the skill set, likeability factor and surrounding talent to be a legitimate MVP candidate in 2013.

Here is the blueprint for Kaepernick to be crowned MVP in 2013:

Just win, baby!

This is an obvious factor, but one that has been pretty consistent over the last few years. The last six MVPs––five of which are quarterbacks—have averaged 13.5 wins for their respective teams.

Its safe to say the 49ers will be one of the top teams in the NFC.

However, no matter how good Kaepernick is individually in 2013, history has shown winning has been the common denominator.

Complete Body of Work

Colin Kaepernick is still developing as a passer. Can he make all the throws? Absolutely, but a true MVP is a consistent threat with his arm.

Kaepernick is nearly their, but he has a few flaws and kinks to work out before reaching his full potential. So, Kaepernick will have to dazzle with both his arms and legs to win this award.

If Kaepernick can throw for nearly 3,500 yards, while also running for nearly a 1,000 yards, he should be in the running for the award. Of course, this is in combination with winning and this third factor...

Stand Out

Nearly every MVP winner in the last few years stood out in some way or another. In 2007, Tom Brady lead the New England Patriots to a perfect 16-0.

Aaron Rodgers was coming off a Super Bowl victory before winning the award in 2011. In 2012, the two front-runners for MVP, Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson, were coming off serious injuries.

Peterson rushing for 2,000 yards also had a lot do with that, but Peyton Manning's 2012 season wasn't anything we should disregard.

Kaepernick has to stand out in some fashion or another. Whether it's a spectacular game against a divisional rival or a highlight level type of play, one thing's for certain: Kaepernick has to separate himself from the crowd.

Team USA Basketball: Why Tom Thibodeau Would Be a Great Hire as an Assistant

Charles Bennett — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:21:55 -0400

It is being reported by ESPN that Mike Krzyzewski has signed on to coach Team USA for the 2014 World Cup of Basketball and the 2016 Olympic Games.

Already, speculation is arising as to whom Coach K will choose to be on his coaching staff.

The New York Post is reporting that Jim Boeheim is in as an assistant for 2016, but Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni is out. That leaves at least one opening on Coach K’s squad.

That opening should be filled by Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. And there are a lot of reasons why.

Perhaps the most obvious is that Thibs is a pretty decent head coach. He was named Coach of the Year in his first season and was runner-up in his second. With a career winning percentage of 68 percent, he recorded 100 wins even faster than former Bulls coach Phil Jackson.

But a better reason is that Thibs is a career assistant. Prior to the Bulls job, Thibs had been an assistant in the NBA for 20 seasons, most under Doc Rivers, Jeff Van Gundy and John Lucas. He was Doc Rivers’ associate coach when the Celtics won their most recent title, and also was on Van Gundy's Knicks for their 1999 Finals run.

Another reason Team USA needs Thibodeau is that he is arguably the best coach of defense still in the game. Teams where Thibodeau was a head or assistant coach nearly always have finished in the upper echelons of points allowed, field-goal percentage allowed, turnovers forced and defensive rebounds.

Thibodeau has been responsible for the development of a number of the NBA’s great defensive players, including David Robinson, Dennis Rodman, Kevin Garnett, Marcus Camby and Joakim Noah.

Finally, it usually helps for a Team USA coach to have a little international experience, either playing internationally, coaching internationally or scouting international players.

While Thibs doesn’t have the international experience of a D’Antoni, or even of Gregg Popovich, it’s worth noting that his primary scorer (Luol Deng) plays internationally for Great Britain, and his primary defender (Joakim Noah) plays internationally for France. Two more of his players (Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer) have played internationally for Team USA.

Bottom line: to replace Mike D’Antoni as an assistant, Coach K should look no farther than Tom Thibodeau.

Tiger Woods, Now's the Time to Take a Stand for Social Change

James McMahon — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:20:30 -0400

Tiger Woods is getting a second chance to make a real difference. This time around, the world's most influential athlete should be ready to stand up and accept the challenge.

The question is, however, whether Tiger has it in him to publicly wage an offensive against racial stereotypes, insensitivity and flat-out bigotry or will he again shy away from the opportunity as he did as a much younger man 16 years ago.

No, Tiger is not obliged to take on the issue, and, yes, doing so could have some adverse effects for the world’s top-ranked golfer. But more important than the obligation or the risk, Tiger has a second chance to step up for the first time, and everyone, including Sergio, would be better off if he did.

Indeed, this is not the first instance Woods has been faced with racially-insensitive remarks made by another PGA Tour star. At the 1997 Masters, it was Fuzzy Zoeller who suggested that Tiger, who was on his way to his first Masters title, not serve “fried chicken and collard greens” at the following year’s champion’s dinner.

It was an off-the-cuff comment just like Sergio’s that subsequently caused a firestorm similar to the one the Spaniard is embroiled in today. Not only did Woods, who at the time was only 21 years old, shy away from the controversy those remarks drew, he took criticism for not being more outspoken in the face of an obvious racial stereotype. Ironically, he also took heat for not bailing out Fuzzy in the wake of the remarks.

Now a much more mature 37-year-old man and a father of two, Woods again has the opportunity to make a difference after Sergio repeated Zoeller’s mistake on Tuesday evening.

It’s not a competitive thing. Nor does it have anything to do with his simmering feud with Garcia. It’s not even about marking Garcia as a racist. It’s likely that Tiger, who isn't exactly Sergio’s best friend, doesn't even think of him as that. But Garcia's comments were racist and certainly display a danger and stereotypical attitude toward African Americans that is still prevalent today but should have no place in our society.

With the U.S. Open nearing, Woods should call the media together for a discussion of racial sensitivity and renew his efforts to bring more diversity to the game of golf—a movement that appears to have stalled the past couple of years.

He could suggest being the front man for public service announcements about what is out of bounds when it comes to hurtful stereotypes and “off color” comments such as the one Sergio authored this week.

As uncomfortable as it might be, he could even sit down with Sergio on NBC cameras and discuss the underlying roots to comments that perpetuate racial myths. Talk about a powerful moment for an important message.

It would make a difference because no other athlete this side of Michael Jordan has owned the capability of sparking public discourse and debate as Tiger does. Yet like Jordan, Woods has typically shied away from wading into the pool of societal debate and, like his "Airness," has taken criticism for it.

Yet in the here and now, Woods has an opportunity to turn controversy into opportunity, inaction directly into action. Jordan passed on making a difference off the basketball court. Tiger still has the opportunity to do it away from the golf course.

Consider for a moment that if a man of Woods' stature, wealth and influence can not once but twice face such publicly racist comments, what must lesser athletes of color and everyday Joes and Janes deal with on a regular basis. The voice they lack can be picked up by a motivated Woods with true convictions on the subject.

Whatever the medium or the method, Tiger could do some real good if he takes the ball mistakenly handed to him by Garcia and runs with it. He could also really help himself in the process.

Woods has already earned points for the way he's handled the feud with Garcia over the past week or so, highlighted by his gracious statements on Twitter in the wake of the now infamous comments. By making this issue his own and keeping the dialogue about racial insensitivity in the forefront, it will show just how much he has matured and how far he has come.

It will also help make the world a better place for his children, who, despite all the advantages of wealth and privilege, will face racism in their lives just as their father has.

Bottom line, we get that Tiger Woods is a professional golfer first and foremost, and a darn good one at that. In a perfect world, the color of his skin wouldn't call him to a higher purpose, but this is anything but a perfect world.

By stepping up, Woods could affect some real change. That’s a legacy that would go beyond career wins and major championships. It’s an opportunity he wasn't ready for when it first presented itself years ago. It’s one he would do well to accept now.

Sharks vs. Kings: San Jose Clearly in Charge Heading into Pivotal Game 5

Jesse Reed — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:19:44 -0400

The San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings are knotted up at two games apiece heading into Game 5, but one team is clearly in control of this series right now.

Here's a hint: It's not the Kings.

After getting hammered in the first two games on the road against Los Angeles, the Sharks have come alive on both sides of the ice. The tempo and level of aggression the Sharks are playing with right now is incomparable to what we've seen from the Kings in the past two games.

At one point during Game 4, Ray Ratto of CSN Bay Area made an astute comment about the different approach on offense between the two teams:

Simply put, San Jose's playing with some serious fire right now on offense. Los Angeles needs to wake up and respond with the same energy and urgency to avoid getting blown away in the next two games.

On the defensive side, Sharks defensemen Marc Edouard-Vlasic and Justin Braun are completely stymieing the front line of Los Angeles. Kings center Anze Kopitar has only managed one power-play assist in the first four games, per Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group.

Perhaps at the center of it all is Joe Thornton, who has come alive in a major way the past few games. Teammate T.J. Galiardi spoke about Thornton's incredible play after Game 4, per ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun:

It’s the best I’ve seen him play. I don’t know what he had for pregame meal today, but I hope he has it again in a couple of days. He was flying. And it’s so contagious; when Jumbo’s going, everybody is going. It’s pretty to watch.

Pretty to watch and pretty darn effective.

Thornton's leadership has San Jose ready to unseat last year's champs. If he and the rest of his teammates come to play with the same kind of intensity as they have the past couple of games, the Kings are doomed.

Honestly, if not for Jonathan Quick's outstanding goalkeeping, the Sharks would have won the last two games by wide margins. Furthermore, if not for some crazy happenings at the end of Game 2, the Sharks would have a 3-1 lead heading back down to Los Angeles.

This series is tied, but right now the Sharks have a huge mental edge on the Kings. The level of intensity the team has been playing with epitomizes playoff hockey, and to this point in the series, it's a level Los Angeles has yet to match.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

WWE Main Event Results: Winners, Twitter Reaction and Analysis from May 22

Tim Keeney — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:14:00 -0400

This week's WWE Main Event from the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb., featured some impressive names and thrilling performances.

Not only did Alberto Del Rio and Big E Langston face off in an anticipated rematch, but Ryback also made an unexpected appearance.

The company's hour-long show will continue to fly under the radar, but this week's event once again proved that it consistently boasts terrific in-ring performances and important moments in certain storylines.

Let's take a look at the complete results.

Alberto Del Rio defeats Big E Langston

This, of course, served as a rematch of Monday night's contest when Langston was able to defeat the world heavyweight title's No. 1 contender:

Del Rio got revenge on Main Event, however, securing the pinfall via rollup after an impressive, back-and-forth match that featured lots of offense.

While this is an intriguing potential rivalry, Del Rio will undoubtedly go back to feuding with Dolph Ziggler once the champion returns from his concussion. The compelling question then becomes simple: what happens to Big E Langston?

Judging by Langston's reaction after the match, however, he's not leaving Del Rio alone anytime soon:

Whether he continues to battle Del Rio or moves on to someone else, most will just be happy to see the big man inside the ring as much as possible. Fans are beginning to take notice of his talent:

As the Brooklyn Brawler pointed out, his unreal strength is unquestionably his most tantalizing trait:

There's just something about watching him lift the 240-pound Del Rio straight over his head that makes for exciting entertainment, and you have to believe the WWE will continue to find plenty of important airtime for the up-and-comer.

The Usos defeat Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre; Ryback "Ambulances" Another

On Monday night, it was Zack Ryder who was the unlucky recipient of a Ryback attack. On Main Event, it was Heath Slater's turn.

During Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre's match with The Usos, Mr. Feed Me More appeared in an ambulance, tossed Slater into said ambulance and drove away.

The WWE Universe then posed an important question:

This is clearly building momentum for Ryback's potential Ambulance Match with John Cena at WWE Payback, but the big man's choice of victims is only creating material for jokes:

On the flip side, The Usos went on to beat two-thirds of 3MB with another solid showing and appear to be gaining more momentum within the WWE world:

If Kane and Daniel Bryan end up separating instead of getting their rematch, someone will have to take on Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. The Usos, who have been receiving a slight push as of late, are an intriguing option.

Breaking Down Alex Len's Full 2013 NBA Draft Profile

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:10:18 -0400

The 2013 NBA draft is one of unparalleled unpredictability, as there appears to be an absence of superstar talent in this year's class of prospects. With that being said, there are a select few players that display the upside necessary to be a franchise player.

One of those prospects is polarizing center Alex Len—a player whose potential can only be defined by a full examination of what he brings to the table.

Len has become one of the most difficult players to project in this year's less-than-stellar draft class. While the physical gifts and basketball skills are in place for him to be a perennial All-Star, Len often lacks the necessary aggression to take over a game.

The question on every general manager's mind is simple—is he worth the risk?

Basic Profile

Position: Center

Age: 19

Height: 7'1"

Weight: 225 pounds

Wingspan: 7'4"

2012-13 Season Averages: 24.04 PER, 26.4 MPG, 11.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 2.1 BPG

Strengths

Alex Len is one of the most physically gifted players in this draft—standing at 7'1" with a 7'4" wingspan. While his 225-pound frame is thin, he does have the body necessary to add muscle and thus bang down low.

Until that time comes, Len has the offensive skills to play a diverse and unpredictable style of basketball.

Len is strong with his back to the basket, as he's capable of scoring with either hand. His greatest strength, however, is the ability to face-up and score both off of the bounce and with his jump shot.

Paired with the uncanny ability to pass out of the high post, this makes Len a dynamic offensive prospect with the upside to be one of the better all-around big men in the NBA.

Defensively, Len isn't the most polished product, but he's made drastic improvements as a rebounder. Not only does he box out better than in recent seasons, but he contests the low post with more patience than he had as a freshman.

Instead of always going for the block, Len appears more inclined to alter the shot without fouling or biting on pump fakes.

Being able to explode at the basket for a block or dunk is certainly helpful, but it's the mental progression that matters most for Len. The game seemed to slow down for him in 2012-13, but there's one question.

Did it slow down too much?

Areas of Weakness

When you realize how physically gifted Alex Len is, there's already reason to invest an early draft choice in him. When you touch upon the fact that he's developed a strong set of offensive skills, you're inclined to believe that he's a sure thing.

Unfortunately, there's one question that has everyone concerned—is he too passive to pan out?

Len has the ability and athleticism to take over games, but it often appears as if he's afraid to step on his teammates' toes. Instead of commanding the ball and pounding it down low, Len often takes what's given to him.

That's the perfect approach for a guard—not so much for a big man.

Len needs to be a more vocal player, and when he has the ball, he must look for his shot first. It's an extraordinary skill to be able to pass as well as Len does, but if a team is drafting a center in the lottery, they likely expect them to be an offensive or defensive anchor.

Until Len displays the killer instinct necessary to take over a game, there's reason to believe he'll fall short of reaching his full potential.

Ideal Destinations

For the average prospect, how their career pans out depends entirely on where they end up. Under the wrong head coach or playing with improper teammates, a supremely talented player can often see their career go to waste due to their misuse and resulting morale.

The question here is, where would the most ideal location be for Alex Len?

Len would be best suited to join a team with an established point guard, as he's more likely to succeed with a teammate creating his looks. He can score from the post, but as a rookie, Len is most likely to find success facing up and attacking, or using his mid-range J off the catch.

For that reason, the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns all make sense as potential top 10 destinations.

Nikola Pekovic could return for Minnesota, but Len has the higher upside of the two—specifically on the defensive end of the floor. Offensively, point guard Ricky Rubio has mastered the pick-and-roll and should have no problem incorporating Len's European style of play.

In New Orleans, Greivis Vasquez is labeled as a player that offers the ability facilitate, but not much else. With that being said, Vasquez wasn't just good, but he was third in the NBA in assists per game without a back-to-the-basket threat to pass to.

As for Phoenix, they have both Goran Dragic and Kendall Marshall running point. Dragic is the more creative playmaker, but Marshall maintains a steady pace and thrives as a facilitator.

Both men would help Len develop in a rather rapid manner.

No team will be the perfect landing spot for Len, unless he manages to fall to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 12. OKC, a team with established stars in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, simply needs a half-court threat to get the interior basket when the jump shots stop falling.

Len could be that player.

Regardless of where he ends up, there will be a learning curve and fans will, inevitably, question whether or not Len deserved to be a lottery pick. When it's all said and done, however, Len should be a high-quality NBA big man.

It's all about finding the coach and teammates that can help him develop a more aggressive approach to the game.

10 Twitter Accounts for Manchester United Fans to Follow

Gregory Wakeman — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:09:38 -0400

Social media has now exploded to an almost unfeasible extent.

Almost everyone on the planet lives their lives through the likes of Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter, and most people only receive their news through these means.

Of course, soccer fans are no different. Whether you are looking for inside information from players and fans, official statements from the club or transfer rumours regarding the Red Devils, there are dozens of Manchester United Twitter accounts available to keep supporters informed.

Here are 10 Twitter accounts that Manchester United fans need to follow.

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Phil Jackson Takes over the World...Because He Can

Jesse Dorsey — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:05:45 -0400

Phil Jackson's new book Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success is on shelves now, and we know that because Jackson has appeared on every television and radio show of merit in the past week, and every step he's taken has been documented.

And he remains the hottest free-agent basketball mind. Whether he's looking to become a consultant, a general manager, president, head coach, part owner, mascot, cheerleader or popcorn salesman, Jackson could join any team in the NBA.

Over the course of the past week, Jackson has revealed just that. Not only that there are job offers, but there are offers that would let Jackson come in and do whatever he wanted.

One of the coolest and perhaps least appreciated Jackson-related media to be released this week has to be the New York Times Magazine release of Sam Anderson's "The Rembrandt of Basketball."

It wasn't specifically about Jackson's book, but it was probably the coolest release of the week.

Anderson wrote about the beauty in the seemingly precise yet abstract plays that Jackson drew up over the course of his career, even publishing a handful of old plays along the way.

From that we got to see the final two plays that Jackson drew out for the 1998 NBA Finals: Jordan's layup, and the final shot of his career with the Bulls.

Jackson has been talking about his book for months now, but his book tour really kicked off about a week ago when he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which could only be described as a bombshell-dropping 10 minutes.

It was one of the first times that he publicly rehashed the debacle that went down when he was asked if he wanted to coach the Los Angeles Lakers. He talked a little Michael Jordan vs. Kobe Bryant and he told Leno that he would have been interested in working in Seattle had the Sacramento Kings been moved.

In essence, it was the perfect kickoff point for Jackson.

Leno's interview was lighthearted and fun, Adam Sandler chiming in every once in a while with a quip here and there.

While there was no huge bombshell from his appearance on Leno, it was the first time that he publicly spoke about not getting the Lakers coaching job.

A few days later, ESPN got its hands on an excerpt from the new book. The biggest piece of information dropped in that case was Jackson's dream about spanking Kobe and smacking Shaq.

I wasn't pleased with the meeting. I worried that having everyone's complaints on the table without any resolution would have a negative effect on team harmony. In the days that followed, we lost four out of five games, including a 105-81 "massacre" by the Spurs in the Alamodome. One night that week I had a dream about spanking Kobe and giving Shaq a smack. "Shaq needs and Kobe wants -- the mystery of the Lakers," I wrote in my journal.

He could have stopped there and countless people would have been ready to go out and buy the book upon its release, but he kept things going with a huge Tuesday following the release of his book.

Jackson seemingly started things off with a long, soul-baring interview with Dan Patrick that was essentially the exact opposite of his interview with Leno.

Patrick went deep into the Michael vs. Kobe debate, and not in a way that ever hinted toward the two even being equivalents, just that the two were similarly minded players coached by one of the greatest basketball minds of all time.

It really is one of the best interviews you could hear with Jackson. I would definitely suggest checking it out in its entirety (it's about a half-hour chat between the two).

Jackson gets into the psyche of both Jordan and Kobe, talks a bit about music with Patrick and admits that he was most intrigued by job offers from the Brooklyn Nets and the nonexistent Seattle Supersonics.

From there he went on to sit down with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, scooping up the eyes that likely wouldn't have caught him on Leno.

With Stewart, Jackson was similarly adamant that he was done coaching in the NBA, a sentiment that he echoed all week long.

Phil Jackson takes book tour to The Daily Show on.cc.com/13H18r6 via @thedailyshow
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) May 23, 2013

Finally, Jackson took to the ESPN side of the radio with an appearance on Mike and Mike in the Morning, going through everything yet again.

After a week of appearances, there wasn't much new to be heard, but there was an additional quote regarding the Lakers passing on him as their head coach this past season.

Jackson talked about how he reacted when Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak informed him that Mike D'Antoni was given the job instead: "I laughed. It was humorous to me when Mitch said that we think that Mike is a better coach for this group of guys."

It took barely more than five days, but Jackson ran the gamut. He appealed to the old folks slowly nodding off to Leno, picked up some love from the younger bunch on The Daily Show and then grabbed a bit of love from the ESPN fans and non-ESPN fans alike with appearances on Mike and Mike and The Dan Patrick Show.

I think the only thing he missed was a drop-in on The Price is Right and a bit of a jig on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The old fellow is going to more or less finish things off on May 23 with a discussion in Chicago where he'll sign a few copies of his new book and talk with Chicago Tribune writer K.C. Johnson.

More than anything, this shows just how important Jackson is to basketball over the course of the past 25 years.

It's not just that he's coached four of the 25 best players in the history of the game in that time (although that certainly helps), or that he's racked up 11 rings along the way (ditto).

Instead, it seems that he's so interesting because of his vast knowledge of an athlete's mentality.

Put aside everything else and you've still got a man who can talk about how relationships impact people who are in close proximity on a day-to-day basis.

There are few people in the world, let alone the NBA, who are anywhere near as interesting as Jackson.

UFC 160: Who's on the Hot Seat Heading into Velasquez vs. Bigfoot Silva 2 Card

Trent Reinsmith — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:00 -0400

In most sports, a loss can be shaken off pretty quickly. After all, in most sports, the loss only lingers for a few days or maybe a week. In MMA, the memory of a loss can linger for months, and in a sport where an individual is only as good as his last performance, a loss can be devastating.

Looking at things in that way, you could say that every professional mixed martial arts fight puts the combatants on the hot seat, but sometimes the seat is just a little bit hotter.

Heading into this weekend's UFC 160 fight card, a handful of fighters will be feeling a bit more heat than others.

Who are those fighters, you ask? I'll let you know.

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Is Realignment Good or Bad for College Basketball?

C.J. Moore — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:47:47 -0400

If conference realignment has had you confused and in a tizzy the last few years, just wait until next season. It's mostly over; now we just have to learn who is where.

A quick rundown of some of the big basketball-related changes:

Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame are off to the ACC.
Louisville gets to play one season in something called the American Athletic Conference with the likes of Houston and Central Florida before also jetting to the ACC.
Creighton, a school in Omaha (still in the middle of the country last I checked), and Butler (also very much in the Midwest), now play in what is the Big East, only it's not that Big East that you know but a new one.
Memphis and Temple are in the league that (as of now) they're calling the American Athletic Conference, which includes Connecticut and Cincinnati.

It’s like someone decided to mix up the alphabet without any rhyme or reason, mostly just so we could relearn it and get angry in process.

(A big thank you to Chris Dobbertean over at Blogging the Bracket for putting together this handy list of the changes. It’s actually something you can follow.)

The question that was rarely (if ever) asked during all this mess: Do any of these changes make sense for basketball?

The answer is frustrating for basketball fans. No. The motivating factors behind conference realignment have been well-documented: football and money.

Geography, rivalries and history, the realigners simply don’t care about you.

Syracuse and Georgetown, that rivalry was fun, but there’s no need for it. The Border War between Kansas and Missouri, a lot of hatred there, but let’s leave those battles to the message boards. The backyard brawl between Pittsburgh and West Virginia, it made sense for those two to be in the same conference, but not as much sense as West Virginia traveling to Lubbock, Texas every year!

I live in Kansas City, and when Missouri left for the SEC, I had a lot of MU fans tell me that they were happy about the move. It made sense for their school. They needed stability.

I can understand the fear that realignment caused. If Missouri had been patient, the school would have been just fine in the Big 12. Some of those fans have even admitted to me since that they wish they would have stuck around. But I understand what felt like an impending implosion of the Big 12—thanks Dan Beebe—motivated MU to be proactive.

Proactive is a nice way of explaining the motivation for athletic directors and conference commissioners. At least it sounds a lot better than “money grab.”

What has been refreshing in the last year is that some moves are finally being made because of basketball; anything the Atlantic 10 does, for instance.

The new Big East is a basketball league and every acquisition was made because of basketball. But it would not have been necessary for those schools to join forces if the old Big East had been able to stick together.

And that’s what the basketball coaches in that league would have preferred. Ask Jim Boeheim, whose team ended up just fine in the ACC, what he thinks of all the movement, and his answer would still probably be the same as it was last November (via Syracuse.com):

Maybe they should just have a draft. Each conference just draft teams because it doesn’t make any sense who they’re getting anyway. So they might as well just have a draft, except then they’d have to make a decision and they probably wouldn’t be able to figure that out.

… It’s like I said, If these guys were running the United States in Colonial times, Brazil and Argentina would be states. Because they have something we need.

It’s hopefully finished now, as Dennis Dodd from CBSSports.com explained in this piece last month. The ACC joined the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 by its members agreeing to a grant of rights, meaning you leave now and you cost yourself a lot of money. There might be a few moves here and there, but for the power conferences, it should be at a standstill.

Everyone’s needs have finally been met. Everyone is going to get paid. But everyone was going to eventually get paid whether teams realigned.

Was speeding up the process really worth it? Not for college basketball.

NBA Rumors: James Harden's Recruitment of Dwight Howard a Great Sign for Rockets

Richard Langford — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:46:52 -0400

And so it begins. Another offseason, another period of intense speculation over where Dwight Howard will play basketball in the coming year.

This wasn't supposed to happen this year. When Howard was dealt to the L.A. Lakers from the Orlando Magic, it felt safe to assume that the star center would ink a long-term deal and become Tinsletown's new darling.

However, no deal was reached during a tumultuous season in Los Angeles, and it's open season on the league's best center. James Harden is going hunting.

HOOPSWORLD's Alex Kennedy shares this information:

In his article on the subject, Kennedy does not list any of the other players Harden is recruiting, but he does say that, while the start of free agency is still six weeks away, Harden is calling and texting certain players.

He also adds that, "Most free agents, including Howard, are big fans of Harden’s game and have a lot of respect for the up-and-coming shooting guard."

Now, I could sit here and tell you that Harden's recruitment of Howard will be enough to sway the big man to Houston, but I'm not going to speculate on what Howard is thinking. I have no hints at the inner workings of what Dwight is thinking, and I doubt anyone else does. Shoot, Howard might not even know himself.

However, no matter what happens with Howard, this is all a tremendous sign for the Houston Rockets.

After signing Harden to a max deal, Harden rewarded the Rockets with a strong season that led him to the All-Star Game, and his team to the postseason.

At 26.3 points per game, Harden was third in the league in scoring.

Now, instead of resting on his accomplishments accrued during his first season as the top dog in a franchise, Harden is already hard at work trying to get his team better.

Harden could easily pass the buck on this job by relying on the front office to improve the roster. Or, he could just complain to the front office that the team is not good enough and make demands.

Instead, he is taking an active role in the process and doing his part.

This is not only a great sign pointing towards the hope that Harden will help the Rockets land an elite talent, but also that the shooting guard is completely invested in this Houston franchise.

It is essential that the star and a leader of the team sells out to win. It sets an example for everyone else in the organization, and it establishes an environment that makes it nearly impossible for anyone else to give less than full effort.

Whether or not the Rockets are able to land Dwight Howard, Houston fans should be excited about a bright future.

Funniest Moments of the 2012-13 Premier League Season

Michael Cummings — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:46:29 -0400

The English Premier League is not all fun and games—except that sometimes it is.

From the action on the pitch to the managers running the show behind the scenes to the disorder and chaos of transfer deadline day, the Premier League has the potential to create funny moments at almost any time.

Fortunately for us, the 2012-13 season produced plenty of those moments.

Remember when Peter Odemwingie drove to London to join QPR—only to find out he had to return to his old club and face his teammates?

Remember when Jason Puncheon had to take a bathroom break—in the middle of a match?

Remember when Arsene Wenger had trouble with his puffy coat? And remember all those contorted faces Phil Jones made throughout the season?

Those were just some of the funny moments that caught the attention of B/R world football lead writers Will Tidey and Michael Cummings. In this clip, those two discuss some of the funniest moments of the Premier League season; be sure to add yours in the comments below.

Follow @MikeCummings37 and @WillTidey

5 Biggest Problems New Jersey Devils Must Solve This Offseason

Alex Bacon — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:45:46 -0400

After a disappointing 2012-2013 campaign, the New Jersey Devils have a lot to work on during the offseason.

Not only does the team need to worry about 12 potential free agents, it also needs to avoid missing the playoffs next season. If the Devils do miss the playoffs next year, it will be the first time the franchise has failed to make the postseason for two consecutive years since 1987.

In order for the Devils to once again make the playoffs, there are a few things that need to be addressed during this offseason.

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Can Mark Cuban Make 2013 Free-Agent Splash After 2012 Whiff?

Josh Martin — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:45:16 -0400

How many mulligans can Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks take before Dirk Nowitzki has fizzled as a championship-caliber franchise player?

We might find out this summer.

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the Mavs are shopping the No. 13 pick in the 2013 NBA draft in an attempt to clear cap space for signing one of the league's marquee free agents:

Attempting to pry either Dwight Howard from the Los Angeles Lakers or Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers will be a chore enough in its own right—even more so when factoring in Dallas' spotty history in free agency.

The Mavs failed to lure Deron Williams back to his hometown last summer, perhaps in part because Cuban was off filming an episode of Shark Tank in LA, according to Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com.

The Mavs' case isn't helped by the team's poor treatment of its own free agents over the years.

In 2004, Dallas balked at matching the Phoenix Suns' offer to Steve Nash, only to see the point guard with a bad back blossom into a two-time MVP.

A similar story played out in 2011, when the Mavs had the opportunity to retain the core of their championship team (most notably 2011-12 Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler) but opted not to in preparation for the more restrictive statutes of the new collective bargaining agreement.

That most recent move was made (presumably) with the hope of landing D-Will and, if that fell through, one of the two between Howard and Paul. Both superstars would have to relinquish a significant portion of their potential earnings to sign a four-year deal with Dallas; however, between the two of them, Dwight would probably have the easier time making up the difference with a second max contract down the line.

After all, he'll always be tall and strong, whether or not his back heals completely, while CP3 has long been undersized and continues to skate by on a bum knee.

Perhaps the more pertinent question is, do the Mavs offer either Howard or Paul a better chance to win a championship in Dallas than in LA?

At present, Dallas' roster consists of three big names who are past their respective primes (Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and Shawn Marion), three guards in their mid-20s who are bound to seek out bigger paydays (O.J. Mayo, Darren Collison and Rodrigue Beaubois) and three guys who just finished their rookie seasons (Jae Crowder, Jared Cunningham and Bernard James).

That's hardly title material, especially when you consider that Dallas will likely cut ties with that second group and seek to do the same with Marion.

Granted, the ceilings that Howard and Paul are up against in LA at present aren't entirely championship caliber, either.

The Lakers scrapped their way into the seventh seed this season and will return in 2013-14 with a roster that's old, injury prone, defensively deficient and highly overpaid.

The Clippers, meanwhile, enjoyed the finest regular season in team history, only to see the team's hopes for bigger and better things in the postseason derailed by (among other things) Vinny Del Negro's poor coaching, the childish behavior of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan (via T.J. Simers of The Los Angeles Times) and the inability of anyone other than Paul to contribute with any consistency.

That being said, the Clips will have some flexibility to retool their roster again this summer and will welcome in a new coach after parting ways with Del Negro, according to Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times.

As for the Lakers, they figure to give it another go with Kobe Bryant (once he returns from his torn Achilles), Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and perhaps Howard—which still looks good on paper, assuming injuries don't derail the whole deal again. Even if things don't pan out for the Purple and Gold next season, they can look forward with confidence to the summer of 2014, when they'll be flush with cap space with which to attract more big names.

At this point, Dallas' biggest advantage may well rest with its organizational stability. Head coach Rick Carlisle, who's among the most respected at his position in the NBA, isn't going anywhere. Neither is Donnie Nelson, who's worked closely with Mark Cuban since Nelson's father, Hall of Famer Don Nelson, first came aboard in 1997.

That beats the uncertainty inherent in the Lakers, whose ownership situation remains in flux after the death of Dr. Jerry Buss, and in the Clippers, which seem destined to all but hand over the reins of their latest coaching search to CP3.

Is that enough, though, to convince one of the NBA's elite to leave the sun, fun and surf of southern California for the dry heat and wide expanses of northeast Texas? What if you throw in the savings on income taxes, which (admittedly) would be mitigated somewhat by the higher property taxes in the Lone Star State?

That might be enough to attract a borderline All-Star (Josh Smith, Andre Iguodala if he opts out, Al Jefferson), a niche guard (J.J. Redick, Tony Allen, Monta Ellis) or a high-risk, high-reward prospect (Andrew Bynum, Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans).

But a bona fide superstar? A perennial All-NBA performer? A franchise cornerstone? I have my doubts.

As should Mark Cuban.

Champions League Final 2013: Under-the-Radar Players Who'll Determine UCL Title

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:45:10 -0400

The wait for the 2013 UEFA Champions League final is nearly over, with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich set to square off for the title this weekend.

Both teams have been incredibly impressive in the European competition this season, and both boast a number of key players to watch out for this year. The likes of Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and so many more will all take the field at Wembley Stadium this year, and it's completely understandable to think that it will be their performances that decide the final.

However, as we've seen before, it's often the under-the-radar players that make the biggest difference on the night—not the world-class stars that we expect.

Will the same be true in the Champions League final in 2013? I think so.

Read on to see which under-the-radar players will determine the title this year.

Kevin Großkreutz, Borussia Dortmund

Kevin Großkreutz wouldn't have been on many people's radars as a key player to watch in the Champions League final this year. After all, there were no guarantees that he would even start for the German giants against the reigning champions, but with Mario Gotze officially out of the final (per The Guardian), it seems Großkreutz will start out on the left flank (per Bundesliga.com).

And he could not be more important for Dortmund.

Bayern's right-hand side is particularly strong, and they will likely look to attack Dortmund from that side a great deal throughout the night. They'll look to use the likes of Philipp Lahm, Thomas Mueller, Arjen Robben or whoever else lines up out wide to pressure the Dortmund defense, and then switch the ball infield to Mario Mandžukić or Mario Gomez in attack.

As we've seen this year, it's been a highly successful tactic for Bayern.

Großkreutz must be on his game to counter that threat. And if he can, he has the potential to become a real X-factor going forward for Dortmund in this one.

He was not quite on the same page with Marco Reus in the semifinal against Real Madrid, but the pair were still very dangerous and created plenty of chances—something they'll no doubt look to do again in this one as they try to hurt the Bavarians on the counterattack.

Luiz Gustavo, Bayern Munich

Finding an under-the-radar player in Bayern Munich's star-studded squad really isn't an easy task. Yet if there's one man who doesn't get the recognition he deserves for his crucial role, it's defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo, who will again play a very key role for Bayern in the final.

With so many attacking players ahead of him, Gustavo might seem like he has it relatively easy when attacking—however, that simply isn't the case against Dortmund.

Jurgen Klopp's side will heavily press Bayern's midfield and try to restrict them from bringing the ball out—which will start with Gustavo. If he can get through that pressing defense, then Bayern will be in a very strong position in their attack; but if not, it could bring lots of pressure on to the German giants.

Gustavo's importance is also the same when it comes to defense.

Jupp Heynckes will likely have his forwards do a lot of defensive work early to try and shut down the likes of Ilkay Gundogan in midfield. That could, in turn, mean that Gustavo becomes responsible for picking up Robert Lewandowski.

Obviously that onus will fall on to Dante and the other defenders at the team, but Gustavo will be the man responsible for breaking up the pass from getting to him in attack. And with Lewandowski in scintillating form this season, there's little doubting just how crucial Gustavo cutting off the Polish striker will be to Bayern's chances.

Roman Weidenfeller, Borussia Dortmund

Without Petr Cech last year, Chelsea would not have won the Champions League. And despite the fact that Borussia Dortmund have been much more attacking-minded this year than last year's champions, the same also rings true for their goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, whose performances so far have been crucial to their success in the European competition.

Bayern's Manuel Neuer might be the more reputable of the two shot-stoppers, but there's little doubting that Weidenfeller will be the more important of the two.

Especially against Bayern's attack and the slew of goal-scoring options that they have to choose from.

Weidenfeller made a number of key saves against Real Madrid and Malaga in the knockout rounds of the European tournament and will be expected to do the same here.

As we saw last year, it only takes one save to completely change the match, with Cech's saved penalty on Robben in extra time the biggest save of them all. Will Weidenfeller have a similar impact in the final this year? We'll no doubt know soon enough.

But, as Transfermarkt's statistics show, Weidenfeller's last saved penalty was against Bayern Munich. Even better—it came against Arjen Robben.

Some food for thought, perhaps.

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

Bayern Munich Will Win Champions League Final vs. Borussia Dortmund

Will Tidey — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:41:04 -0400

CNN FC's Pedro Pinto believes Bayern Munich will win Saturday's Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund. The two German sides meet at London's Wembley Stadium, with Bayern looking to heal the wounds of last season's final defeat to Chelsea.

The match will be Jupp Heyneckes' last in charge of the Bundesliga champions before Pep Guardiola takes over this summer.

Heyneckes won a Champions League title as Real Madrid manager in 1998 and would love to sign off with a second.

Standing in Bayern's way will be a team they know only too well. Jurgen Klopp's youthful Borussia Dortmund team have been hugely impressive on their way to the final and are seeking to add to their 1997 European title.

Watch the clip above to see Pedro justify his prediction.

CNN FC's weekly show, hosted by Pedro Pinto, airs on Thursdays at 5 p.m. GMT in the UK. Visit the CNN FC website to find out more.

Houston RB Charles Sims Reportedly Transferring Before Senior Season

Matt Fitzgerald — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:40:53 -0400

Houston Cougars running back Charles Sims is reportedly leaving the program just ahead of his senior season.

Rob Sellers of CougarsDen.com broke the news on Wednesday:

The 6'1", 213-pound Sims enjoyed a stellar campaign for the Cougars in 2012, running for 851 yards on six yards per carry for 11 touchdowns, while also catching 37 passes for 373 yards and three more scores.

This comes after Sims announced he would return for his final year back in January.

Prior to this past season, Sims was on the preseason Maxwell Award watch list, an accolade that is given to college football's most outstanding player. That hype was justified by his breakout sophomore campaign in which Sims received first-team All-Conference USA honors.

A big reason he didn't receive the same distinction yet again was due to his health, as Sims missed three full games and the second half of three others with injuries (h/t UHCougars.com).

Since Sims has redshirted and already graduated from Houston, he can catch on with another program as a transfer immediately without sitting out a full season, as is typical protocol.

That is what current Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson did in transferring from North Carolina State to Wisconsin in 2011, and he attended graduate school in Madison.

Circumstances are different for Sims in this instance, and it is still a mystery as to precisely why he left Houston. The key is that he's eligible for one more collegiate season, and wherever he lands, he should find a way to see the field

Sims projects well to the NFL because of his size and versatility to catch the ball out of the backfield. Even as a freshman in an offense triggered by Case Keenum, that was evident, as Sims registered 70 receptions for 759 yards.

Kansas Coach Charlie Weis Lands WR Nick Harwell for Jayhawks

Farzin Vousoughian — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:31:45 -0400

Kansas football announced Wednesday evening that the team has landed wide receiver Nick Harwell. According to the KU athletics website, "Harwell has signed a grant in aid to join the KU football program in August."

The Jayhawks have a receiving core with limited talent in Andrew Turzilli, Justin McCay and Josh Ford. The Jayhawks went all of last season without a touchdown pass to a wide receiver.

Now, Kansas has a little bit more fire power and a big target for quarterback Jake Heaps to throw to.

Kansas head coach Charlie Weis was pleased with Heaps' four-touchdown spring game earlier this offseason. Now, Weis is really looking forward to coaching this offense.

Under Weis' guidance, the Jayhawks offense should see some improvement. With the addition of Harwell, the returning Jayhawks have a better understanding of how Weis wants to run the offense.

Heaps also spent one year watching quarterback Dayne Crist in Kansas, giving him a better idea of the offense by spectating in games and participating in practice.

The Jayhawks still have a lot of room for improvement, but picking up Harwell can help the program turn a corner and move into the right direction. Kansas won two games in 2011 and just one game last season in Weis' first year. The Jayhawks are currently riding a 21-game conference losing streak, with their last conference win coming against Colorado on Nov. 6, 2010.

Harwell, who played for Miami (Ohio), was the NCAA's second-leading receiver two years ago with nearly 130 receiving yards per game. He finished his sophomore year with 97 catches for 1,425 yards and nine touchdowns.

Despite missing three games last season, Harwell placed 13th in the NCAA in receptions per game and 14th in receiving yards per game.

Follow @Farzin21

Examining San Francisco 49ers' Offseason and Key Preseason Positional Battles

Justin Onslow — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:29:36 -0400

The San Francisco 49ers lost in the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history last season, but that loss to the Baltimore Ravens highlighted how far the NFC West powerhouse has come in the last two years.

Alex Smith suffered a concussion against the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 11 that altered the entire course of the 49ers' season. While Jim Harbaugh was criticized for his decision to keep Colin Kaepernick at the helm of the offense when Smith returned, it ultimately proved to be the best decision he could have made.

In his second season with the team, Kaepernick compiled 2,229 total yards and 15 total touchdowns in 13 regular-season games—and somehow played even better in the playoffs.

In three postseason contests, the shifty signal-caller tallied 1,062 total yards and seven more touchdowns, including a 444-total-yard performance against the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional round. With a 28-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game, the 49ers would punch their ticket to New Orleans for a championship showdown with the Ravens.

The story of Super Bowl XLVII has been told and retold. The Ravens got out to a tremendous start with a 21-6 lead at the half, but San Francisco battled back in the third quarter to pull within one of the lead.

Despite Kaepernick’s best efforts, San Francisco was unable to overtake the eventual champions, dropping a heartbreaking contest 34-31.

It wasn’t an easy loss for 49ers fans to swallow, but there’s plenty to be hopeful about this season. San Francisco is well on its way to becoming the preeminent franchise of the National Football League.

With a future superstar under center, one of the best offensive lines in the league and a defense unmatched by any unit in the NFC, the 49ers are in no danger of fading away after last year's Super Bowl run.

Trent Baalke is one of the most forward-thinking general managers in the NFL, and he’s done a tremendous job in setting up San Francisco with sustainability and elite talent. And he added to that talent this offseason.

With the additions of former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey and former Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, an already dangerous defense got even stronger. It remains to be seen if the All-Pro corner can return to form in San Francisco, but Baalke managed to acquire him on a very cap-friendly contract (one year with no guaranteed money, per ESPN).

The 49ers did lose hard-hitting safety Dashon Goldson to free agency, but Baalke and Harbaugh had a plan for replacing him. They moved up to the 18th pick in the first round of the draft to acquire LSU safety Eric Reid—a move that encapsulated San Francisco's draft success this year.

The duo continued to impress with their draft selections, finding tremendous value throughout the weekend. Among the high-value players selected, Florida State defensive end Tank Carradine, Louisiana Tech wide receiver Quinton Patton and South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore.

A shining example of the rich getting richer, the 49ers put together one of the most impressive offseasons of any team in the league, on the heels of an absolutely dominant 2012 season. There’s no reason to believe San Francisco can’t duplicate its success in 2013.

We’ll take a closer look at many of those offseason moves and preview several key position battles this offseason, as well as provide an outlook and predictions for the 2013 season.

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3 Players Tampa Bay Lightning Should Consider Trading This Offseason

Eric Steitz — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:20:16 -0400

The Tampa Bay Lightning have a solid core and a wealth of prospects but very minimal salary-cap space. With so many assets and such little money to work with, Tampa Bay will have to look at trades to free up money and improve the team this offseason.

One target for trade talks this past offseason could have been Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier. His declining performance and injury issues combined with the team’s highest salary-cap hit ($7.727 million) would have made him a prime target. However, Lecavalier has a no-trade clause and mentioned he would like to stay in Tampa Bay for the rest of his career.

There are a few players that the Lightning could shop around this offseason in order to improve the team for a playoff run in 2013-14.

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Indy 500 Lineup: Drivers Most Affected by Qualifying Results

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:19:07 -0400

The Indianapolis 500 is one of the biggest events on the sports calendar, and this year's event features some of the best drivers in the world.

While a number of contenders have a chance to win the prestigious event, the recent qualifying will play a big role in the race. In the last nine years, the driver starting in pole position went on to win four times.

Last year was the first time in seven years that the eventual winner did not come from the first two rows at the start.

This is what makes the qualifying so important, and these top competitors were impacted the most heading into the Indy 500.

Marco Andretti (No. 3)

The Andretti name has a lot of prestige in the racing world, and Marco is the latest to try to make his mark on the sport.

Of course, the young driver has proved that he is more than just his name this season. He is currently third in the championship points standings thanks to a number of top-10 finishes this year.

His next step is to win the Indy 500, where he has finished in third place twice in his career. However, this will be the first time that he will start in the first row, which gives him an advantage over the field.

Getting a good start should give this talented driver as good a chance of winning as anyone in the competition.

Dario Franchitti (No. 17)

Only A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears have ever won the Indianapolis 500 four times in their careers. Franchitti is looking to join that group after winning for the third time last year.

His 2012 victory might have been the most impressive given that he started at the No. 16 spot. As surprising as this come-from-behind win was, he will try to do it again in 2013 after earning the No. 17 spot at the starting line.

Since World War II, only four drivers have ever won this race while starting from the No. 17 spot or worse. This does not bode well for Franchitti's chances of a repeat.

The British driver still has the skill and experience to be a contender in this race, but the lineup will make it difficult.

Ed Carpenter (No. 1)

Despite competing in IndyCar for parts of 11 years, Ed Carpenter has never been one of the top drivers. In 132 starts, he has two wins and only seven top-five finishes.

If he is ever going to make an impact, now is the time.

Carpenter earned the pole position in the upcoming race after reaching 228.762 mph during the qualifying. He needs to use this to his advantage and do his best to stay in front of the pack for the duration of the race.

The veteran likely would not have gotten a second look with an average qualifying, but this position puts him in the conversation for the top contenders. The Indianapolis native cannot afford to let this opportunity slip through the cracks.

Full Starting Lineup (via Indycar.com)

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

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

The Cyclical Nature of College Football and How Long Alabama's Run Will Last

Lisa Horne — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:18:05 -0400

Seven years.

That is how long the Southeastern Conference has dominated college football.

Alabama has won three of the last four BCS titles. How long will this onslaught last?

That depends on two things—the head coach and the NCAA.

College football is cyclical. But winning programs that incurred a coaching change or NCAA sanctions—sometimes both—saw their dynasties end.

Alabama, Nebraska and Oklahoma were three of the most dominant teams in the 1970s. They won a combined seven national titles.

Alabama head coach Bear Bryant won six national titles before retiring in 1982. Alabama won another title in 1992 under Gene Stallings but would then go on a 17-year drought. The school faced three major NCAA investigations from 1995 to 2009 and was slapped with postseason bans and vacated victories.

Oklahoma faced the wrath of the NCAA in 1988. Head coach Barry Switzer left the program in 1989 because of notorious scandals that occurred during his watch. The NCAA sanctioned the Sooners with postseason and television bans and scholarship reductions.

Nebraska coach Tom Osborne (1973-97) never coached a team that finished with less than nine wins in one season. His teams won two national titles in 1994-95 and shared a title with Michigan in 1997. Since Osborne retired, five Nebraska teams have finished the season unranked by the AP and only three finished in the AP's final Top 10.

The Miami Hurricanes stormed through the 80s as one of the more fearsome teams in the country. They won three national titles in that decade. Nobody could stop the Hurricanes...except for the NCAA. Miami was rocked by scandals including the infamous Pell Grant scandal. In 1995 the NCAA hammered Miami with a postseason ban and stripped its scholarships for the next three years.

USC won two championships in 2003-04 but its 2004 BCS Championship was vacated due to NCAA sanctions. In addition to vacated victories, USC was placed on a two-year postseason ban and stripped of 30 scholarships over three years. USC head coach Pete Carroll left for the Seattle Seahawks at the end of the 2009 season. Since Carroll's departure, USC's record is 32-19.

Florida won two BCS titles in 2006 and 2008 but it hasn't played in a BCS Championship since then-head coach Urban Meyer left in 2010.

LSU won its first BCS title under then-head coach Nick Saban in 2003. Saban left for the NFL's Miami Dolphins on Christmas day 2004. Head coach Les Miles won the school's second BCS title in 2007 but he did that with Saban's senior class—he has not won a BCS title with his own players.

If it is not a coaching change that affects a team's momentum, it is the NCAA's imposing heavy hand. The more a coach wins, the more every school or NFL team wants him. He heads the short list of every athletic director or NFL general manager.

Winning also has another downside. The more a team wins, the more high profile it becomes. More eyes are watching, including those in Indianapolis where the NCAA is headquartered.

So far, Alabama is the team to beat in the foreseeable future. Alabama is no longer on NCAA probation but it still is within that five-year repeat offender window.

If the Tide stay clean and Nick Saban continues to coach at Tuscaloosa, Alabama should keep rolling.

Saban will be 62 years old this October. He's already dabbled in the NFL. Unless the most powerful man in sports is offered an absurd amount of money to coach somewhere else, he's staying put.

The only way we can predict how long Alabama will continue to dominate is to predict how long Saban will be at Alabama. It's that easy.

We're predicting Saban retires after having won his seventh title at Alabama. Saban currently has four BCS titles but one of those belongs to LSU. To catch Bryant, he needs three more. To be the all-time leader, he needs four.

We're giving him five years to win four, just like an NCAA student-athlete scholarship.

Piece of cake.

Note—National champions were determined by using the criteria of an AP, UPI, USAT or BCS title.

Alain Vigneault Fired: Ranking the Best Candidates for Vancouver Canucks Coach

Nicholas Goss — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:08:38 -0400

The Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from the NHL playoffs in disappointing fashion in each of the last three years, and on Wednesday, the team decided to fire head coach Alain Vigneault.

Louis Jean of TVA Sports was the first to report the news, and then the team made it official shortly thereafter:

Vancouver Canucks President and General Manager Michael D. Gillis announced today that Alain Vigneault has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks. Associate Coach Rick Bowness and Assistant Coach Newell Brown were also relieved of their duties today.

When the Canucks blew a 2-0 series lead in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final to the Boston Bruins and lost in seven games, the pressure on Vigneault to help the team capture its first championship increased dramatically.

Instead of improving, Vancouver followed its Stanley Cup Final appearance with two consecutive first-round playoff exits, which included eight losses in the team's last nine playoff games. Vigneault spent seven seasons as the team's head coach, but the Canucks advanced past the second round of the playoffs just once in that time.

With the Canucks' championship window rapidly closing, making a coaching change to help this team reach the "next level" was the right decision for the future of this franchise.

Let's look at the five best coaching candidates who should be considered as potential replacements for Vigneault in Vancouver.

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Pros and Cons of Cleveland Cavaliers Taking Nerlens Noel with No. 1 Pick in 2013

Jonathan Wasserman — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:06:07 -0400

Though they'll take their time, the Cleveland Cavaliers are essentially on the clock with Nerlens Noel being the likeliest of targets.

It's really one of the more intriguing draft pickles we're ever going to see.

The Cavs will weigh the pros and cons of selecting a player who just recently suffered a torn ACL. You'd think the pros should outweigh the cons by a lot when it comes to a No. 1 overall favorite. But not this year. Not with Nerlens Noel, who will be hoping the scale on Chris Grant's desk tilts slightly in his favor.

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