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Chicago Blackhawks: What Bold Moves Are Ahead This Summer?

Andy Campbell — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:17:58 -0400

Suppose we are folding the tent right now. Suppose the season is officially over and a 3-1 deficit is too much for the Chicago Blackhawks to overcome. It may very well be.

Sure, we may be entertained, the 'Hawks could rally and force a Game 6 at the Joe and people can believe again. Back to reality for a second. The way the Detroit Red Wings' Jimmy Howard is playing, the way Henrik Zetterberg is clamping down on Toews and the lack of production the Hawks have had up front, it seems like this are coming to an end on the 2012-13 season.

So what now?

If I was to bet, I would put money on the same Stan Bowman speech we have heard over the last three seasons. Terms like "We like our group" or references to prospects in the system have become the norm. Yes, that and some very inactive summers. So don't be shocked 'Hawks' fans if not a whole lot happens.

If I were to be so daring though, there are a few major things that the 'Hawks brass should seriously consider.

Moving Dave Bolland:

We loved him in 2010 and in the 2011 Playoffs he was the reason the 'Hawks got back into the series against the Vancouver Canucks. But now that's yesterday's news and there are some serious red flags with his play.

For starters, Bolland is made of glass and you never know when he'll be able to play. Secondly, for a third or second line center, it's becoming clear that he is insufficient in the face-off dot. Thirdly, that offensive punch that he was once able to add has gone astray.

With his contract coming up for renewal in June of 2014 and Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Brandon Saad coming up the season after, expect Bolland to be shopped. This move above the others may be more likely.

Coach Q to Exit Stage Left:

When you don't do what your fan base expects you to do, someone has to take the fall. That someone will be Joel Quenneville. It's becoming more and more apparent in this series, Coach Q is being badly out-coached by Mike Babcock and he has no answers.

Oh yeah, and that powerplay is horrendous.

Should Q take the fall on his own? Maybe not, but you already saw one coach, Alain Vigneault, get bounced in Vancouver when Canucks general manager, Mike Gillis, has failed to put a more controlled product on the ice. As much as Stan Bowman should be the one under fire, he probably won't be as the 'Hawks upper management clearly want a GM they can pull strings on.

With that in mind, this may be it for Q.

Would the Hawks Dare Consider Buyouts of "Core" Players:

Bold indeed but change has to come and that should mean parting ways with a popular player or two.

The two that come to mind are Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa. Great players, Chicago has loved them, but they are aging and their skill set for the current Chicago club is becoming more relevant for the regular season only.

Sharp has a contract that is now looking to be a bit of an albatross moving forward. He was injured this season, was great against a poor Minnesota Wild team but has been invisible against the Wings. Sharp is now 31 years-old and is owed $5.9 million through 2016-17. One could guess that as early as next season the Hawks are not going to be fond of that contract.

With a shrinking salary cap, losing Sharp's salary by trade or buyout could go a long way for the 'Hawks to add some much needed muscle in their line-up.

Insert Hossa's name next. He's masterful, maybe one of the best skill players and it pains me to write it, but his contract is going to handcuff him. His postseason has been solid other than the last three games, hence why this is even a topic.

Let's face facts. When you need to change, it has to be drastic and this would be it. Nobody is going to touch Hossa in a trade with his $5.275 million cap hit through 2019-20. That's right, that's seven more years. A buyout for the 34 year-old is the only play here. Can you replace Hossa's skill level? No you can't, but you can use that money towards gritty players on an already too skilled hockey team.

It's possible, yet unlikely that we will see the 'Hawks rectify their situation and take the Wings to seven games. If not, Stan Bowman can attempt again to convince fans the team is OK, citing the streak, President's Trophy and a string of misfortune. But anyone that follows this club closely knows that something needs to be done. They still have talent and some key players to make future cup runs, but continuing to put faith in those that were a part of the 2010 Cup team, just because they were there, has got to end. Hopefully you'll see the significant changes the team needs to make.

All for now. Thanks for reading.

Why Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas Is Best RB Threat to Win 2013 Heisman Trophy

Ian Berg — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:16:21 -0400

The race for the Heisman Trophy is in full swing with athletic departments preparing campaigns for their potential stars and Vegas setting odds for the game's most illustrious award.

De’Anthony Thomas is the highest running back on the Heisman list from Bovada, and it’s tough to argue against his placement. Thomas is poised for a huge year and is the biggest threat for the Heisman at running back.

He is a unique talent for Oregon. There have been a lot of quality running backs that have passed through Eugene in the past few years, but Thomas is set to become the best to date.

One separator for Thomas is his all-purpose ability. He is a utility back that fills a number of roles for the offense. He lines up in the slot, runs downhill from the backfield and returns punts and kicks on special teams.

His impact is felt in every aspect of the Ducks program, making him the most important player to this team for 2013.

Marcus Mariota will be good, but Thomas is his safety valve.

Last fall, he rushed 92 times for 701 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also added 45 receptions, 445 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns to his stat line.

As a returner, he returned 13 punts and 16 kickoffs, totaling 611 return yards and two touchdowns. His returns averaged 17 yards on punts and 24.3 yards on kickoffs.

The stats tell the story. He is the cornerstone of the offense and as a rising junior will be one of the most experienced players on offense.

With Kenjon Barner gone, Thomas will become the primary back. Barner put up 1,767 rushing yards last fall and rushed for 21 touchdowns.

He didn’t show the receiving ability of Thomas, and he lacked the return numbers.

With the all-purpose threat that Thomas brings as a returner, receiver and rusher, it’s easy to see why he is one of the favorites for the Heisman.

With a new coach driving the program, there will be a national spotlight focused on Eugene.

Can Mark Helfrich continue the success that Chip Kelly saw? Will the offense be the same?

If Thomas can step in and carry the offense as expected, the Heisman campaign will come naturally. The country will already be watching Oregon closely, and when Thomas shreds defenses in the process, voters will take notice.

Oregon has never produced a Heisman winner, but that has a real chance of changing this fall.

The program has seen a number of players get close, but none have brought the complete package approach that comes with Thomas.

It all starts on August 31 when Nicholls State comes to Eugene, but the next two weeks will be what determines his chance in the race. If big games come against Virginia and Tennessee, Thomas should start making plans for New York this December.

Follow @ShugJordanPkwy

NBA Free Agents 2013: Non-Stars Who Will Have Major Impact on Market

Maxwell Ogden — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:00:03 -0400

The 2013 NBA period of free agency is shaping up to be one of the more memorable times in recent memory. It may not be 2010, but there are superstars and All-Stars all on the market and in the midst of their respective primes.

The question is: Which non-stars will help shape the market?

Dwight Howard and Chris Paul will be the players who everyone watches for, while Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Andrew Bynum and the rest of stars help create contenders. Beyond them, however, is a sense of uncertainty.

That uncertainty actually appears to be something—an under-appreciation for just how deep this class of free agents truly is.

From grizzled veterans to players with years of postseason experience, there's no shortage of quality players. With a mixture of young, upside-ridden talent, the class of 2013 appears to be one that significantly alter the face of the NBA.

So who should you be watching for to help do just that?

Tony Allen, UFA

It's criminal to even suggest that the Memphis Grizzlies will be hesitant to re-sign shooting guard Tony Allen. Not only have general managers voted Allen as the best perimeter defender in the NBA in 2011 and 2012, but he's just as important to Memphis' top-ranked defense as Marc Gasol.

With that being said, who in their right mind would be on the fence about re-signing head coach Lionel Hollins? According to the Associated Press, the Grizzlies, that's who.

So don't think for a second that Allen is safe.

If the Grizzlies do let Allen walk, the entire NBA will likely champ at the bit to get him under contract. Not only is Allen the league's premier on-ball defender, but he's a former NBA champion.

How much better of a free agent could you possibly be looking for?

Allen is 31, but he's displaying no signs of slowing down defensively, and any contender would be foolish to pass over him. In a class where the shooting guard position is as weak as ever, the interest will likely be at a high.

With few, if any, max-contract off guards, Allen could be viewed as the cream of the crop in 2013—and rightfully so.

Brandon Jennings, RFA

Arguably the most prized possession during the upcoming period of free agency will be point guard Chris Paul. Beyond CP3, however, the position is led by young players with ability worth marveling at but with upside untapped.

Brandon Jennings is at the heart of those players.

Jennings will become a restricted free agent, which gives the Milwaukee Bucks the right to match any offer he receives. With that being said, Jennings is, arguably, the point guard with the most upside behind Paul and will thus be in line for a max contract.

It may not be something he's earned just yet, but consider the reason for this odd truth to be two words—Eric Gordon.

In 2012, Gordon was a beneficiary of the fact that there just weren't any franchise shooting guards on the market. In turn, he went from being an above-average shooting guard with star potential to a player being paid like an All-Star.

Expect the same thing to happen with Jennings.

Jennings is on the border of stardom and possesses every tool necessary to be an All-Star in his prime. With that being said, the 23-year-old point guard has not yet made that leap, posting flashy numbers but struggling to discover consistency.

With a point guard market rather bare on stars after Paul, however, Jennings will set the standard for what other young floor generals receive.

Al Jefferson, UFA

In terms of what he puts on the floor, Al Jefferson is one of the better big men in the NBA. Unfortunately, spending his career with small-market teams has prevented Jefferson from becoming the All-Star he deserves to be.

This offseason, he'll be paid in a manner that makes up for that disrespect.

The Utah Jazz may let Jefferson walk, as they have both Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter in their frontcourt. Should that be the case, there's a strong probability that Jefferson becomes the most valued center after Dwight Howard.

Andrew Bynum's extensive history of injury certainly doesn't hurt Jefferson's cause.

In terms of raw ability, you could make the case that Jefferson is a top-10 player at his position. In terms of production, your argument becomes even easier to make.

He may not be the biggest name, but everyone will know his name this summer.

Jefferson will be one of the key dominoes to fall, regardless of what position he plays. After D-12, Jefferson's potential contract will help determine the market value of other players that fall into the second tier of players.

More importantly for Jefferson, it will grant him the opportunity to put his All-Star-caliber abilities on full display.

AS Monaco Agrees to Deal for Porto Stars Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez

Tim Daniels — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:57:14 -0400

AS Monaco announced an agreement with Porto to acquire midfielder Joao Moutinho along with forward James Rodriguez, reports ESPN.

Acquiring the two stars represents a major coup for Monaco as the club prepares for a move back to Ligue 1 after winning the Ligue 2 title. It makes an immediate statement that they are willing to spend big to complete, similar to what Paris Saint-Germain have done.

Andy Scott of AFP reports the duo was valued at a combined €70 million by Porto.

The large transfer fee illustrates the significance of the agreement for Monaco, which didn't waste any time preparing for their return to the top level of French football.

Moutinho, a 26-year-old central midfielder, showcased terrific form during Porto's run to the Champions League Round of 16. He accounted for two goals and two assists in eight matches, playing a vital role to jump-star the attack in each.

He's a well-rounded player with an ability to play any role in the midfield. He's at his best in a prototypical central role, however, which allows him to roam from box to box. And, the best news of all for Monaco, is that he should just be entering his prime.

The Rodriguez acquisition is one more based on potential. At 21, the Colombian has flashed near limitless upside over the past two seasons with the Portistas. Monaco hope he can improve his consistency and become somebody who can lead the attack for many years to come.

Spending such a large amount on two players right away is obviously a risk for Monaco. But the club clearly has its focus set on competing in Ligue 1 right away and didn't want to miss out on the chance to add two key pieces.

Moutinho and Rodriguez should both play pivotal roles next season, so it won't take long to find out whether they were worth the major investment.

Ranking the 7 Most Exciting WWE Cruiserweight Champions in Company History

Ryan Dilbert — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:54:53 -0400

The WWE Cruiserweight Championship's brief history featured acrobats, high-flyers and several memorable and impressive stars.

For six years, WWE's quickest, most agile and most thrilling undersized wrestlers competed for the title. The WCW cruiserweight belt officially became a WWE title in late 2001 until it was disbanded in 2007. The title did eventually deteriorate into a joke of a championship, but during its peak, it was a launching pad for men like Jamie Noble and Gregory Helms.

WWE's most popular underdog tops the list and is followed by other stars who made us forget their size and focus on their skills instead.

Ranked here based on who had the best matches, most interesting stories and breathtaking offense during their title reigns, here are the most exciting cruiserweight champions in WWE history.

Begin Slideshow

Stage 19 of Giro D'Italia Cancelled Due to Heavy Snow

Mike Chiari — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:52:19 -0400

Stage 19 of the famed Giro D'Italia was slated to be one of the most exciting routes of the entire race, but cycling fans unfortunately won't have a chance to witness it.

According to BBC Sport, the stage has been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions including heavy snow.

The stage was scheduled to take place in Italy's Dolomite Mountains as it would have taken riders from Ponte di Legno to a Val Martello ski resort, according to BBC Sport. The poor weather will also force officials to make some changes to the 20th stage on Saturday as three climbs through the Dolomites will be omitted.

In addition to the snow, BBC Sport is reporting that the windchill was expected to dip to temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit. In an effort to ensure a safe environment for the cyclists and those who work the event, it was in the officials' best interest to cancel the stage.

Race director Michele Acquarone told BBC Sport: It was a tough decision on a big stage on a great finish in a great Giro. It was very hard to say no. But at 09:30 we contacted every mountain pass on the stage and they said 'no, it can't be done for the safety of the riders and the hundreds of workers'. It was better to say no.

While the cancellation of the 19th stage takes something away from the race, it likely won't affect the ultimate result. Italy's Vincenzo Nibali holds a lead of four minutes and two seconds over Cadel Evans, so something disastrous would have to happen in order for him to relinquish the lead.

According to BBC Sport, this is the first Giro D'Italia stage to be cancelled on account of poor weather since way back in 1989. Stage 18 was cancelled in 2001, but that stemmed from a cyclist protest as their hotels were raided as officials searched for drugs.

The final two stages are scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday, although it remains to be seen what decisions will be made if conditions ultimately worsen.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Steve Nash's Ex-Wife: Banned from LA so He Can Avoid Paying Child Support?

Dan Carson — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:52:02 -0400

Nothing sends a warm tingle down the back of the spine like a finger-pointing legal battle between wealthy divorcees, now does it?

If for some reason you felt like your life was lacking the icy tang of baby-mama drama this week, relief is on its way. Steve Nash has found himself locked in a legal battle with his ex-wife, Alejandra Amarilla, who claims the Lakers guard is trying to block her from moving to Los Angeles to avoid paying child support.

According to TMZ, Amarilla has filed court documents alleging that Nash is trying to block her from relocating her and their children from Phoenix, Arizona to Los Angeles, California.

Allegedly, Nash has asked her not to make the move because he believes he might be traded from the Lakers or have to retire from the game. Amarilla says this isn’t the case, and that the ballplayer is trying to avoid paying out for huge child support settlement that could be imposed on him under California state law.

Nash’s ex-wife alleges that under their current arrangement, Arizona state law doesn’t require him to pay a dime—something which Nash has taken advantage of, Amarilla says.

It’s a strange situation, considering Nash signed with the Lakers, citing that he his need to be near to his kids as his biggest factor for joining the team. He made that plain and clear, stating they were the “No. 1 reason” he chose to move to Los Angels instead of joining the Knicks in 2012.

A judge has issued a restraining order on Amarilla, which disallows her from moving west until they’ve went to trial.

We’ll see how this plays out. Surely it will end in a big group hug and a trip to the Cheesecake Factory—supervised by legal counsel, of course.

Got prenup?

Follow @Dr__Carson

Donald Cerrone Needs to Make a Statement Against KJ Noons at UFC 160

Hunter Homistek — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:51:08 -0400

Donald Cerrone needs to crush KJ Noons at UFC 160 if he wishes to stay relevant in the ever-deepening lightweight division.

For "Cowboy," this matchup is potentially disastrous—Noons is a sensational striker with relatively little fan following outside hardcore MMA circles—and a loss would completely eliminate him from the upper echelon of the 155-pound ranks.

Previously a premier fighter in one of the promotion's most stacked divisions, Cerrone's momentum is at an all-time low. After some serious tough talk before his bout with Anthony Pettis at UFC on Fox 6, Cerrone collapsed in a heap of liver-kick-induced paralysis after just two-and-a-half minutes of action.

Such is the story of Donald Cerrone.

Every time he puts himself in a position to fight for the title, to seize his loftiest ambitions, he falters...badly.

Before Pettis, there was a horrendous, lopsided unanimous-decision loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 141 in a bout to determine the next lightweight title challenger. Even earlier, Cerrone suffered a trio of losses inside the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) cage—two to current UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson and one to Jamie Varner.

Three title bouts, three losses.

Now, Cerrone's UFC 160 matchup against Noons is not a title fight (and not even a title eliminator), but it is every bit as important as a championship bout to him at this point in his career.

"Cowboy" needs to rehab his image; he needs to recapture his former glory as one of the division's most fearsome strikers.

Pettis and Diaz each marred this reputation, and Noons is exactly the stylistic matchup that could completely detach Cerrone from the "excellent kickboxer" descriptor he so proudly carries.

On the flip side, a dominant win against Noons would re-establish Cerrone as the terrifying striker of old.

Commentators Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg will undoubtedly heap praise upon Noons' striking expertise, and rightly so. For his faults as a mixed martial artist, Noons packs serious power and technique in his punches and kicks, and if Cerrone can best his foe on the feet, he will make a serious statement that he is back, and he is every bit as scary as previously thought.

Should he fail to deliver on the big stage again, however, Cerrone will tumble to the bottom of a loaded division—a division which may no longer provide a job for a "Cowboy."

For fans of MMA, heavy metal or general absurdity, Follow @HunterAHomistek

Dallas Mavericks Have Reportedly Given Up on Chris Paul to Pursue Dwight Howard

Matt Fitzgerald — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:42:30 -0400

The Dallas Mavericks figure to have a lot of roster turnover with several impending free agent departures, but that also gives them flexibility on the open market.

In their efforts to land a marquee star this offseason, the Mavs have reportedly shied away from pursuing Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul in favor of Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard.

Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram broke the news on Friday. What led to this development was the notion that Paul had a hand in the Clippers not offering head coach Vinny Del Negro a new contract. Dallas felt its chances of landing Howard were better in that context, per Price's source:

I think Chris Paul, depending on who [the Clippers] hire, is going to stay with the Clippers. The Mavericks are really interested in Chris Paul, but I think they want Dwight more. They think they can make them a point guard.

Stellar point guards are somewhat hard to come by, and it's a position with incredible star power and depth around the league. However, the Mavericks are intent on pursuing a player such as sixth men Jarrett Jack of the Golden State Warriors or Jerryd Bayless of the Memphis Grizzlies to fill that need, according to the report.

With regard to Howard, it makes a lot of sense for Dallas to covet him. Rick Carlisle's squad finished 27th in the league in yielding 101.7 points per contest and lacked a strong interior defender.

In the two campaigns since winning the NBA Finals, the franchise was swept in the opening round as a No. 7 seed and failed to make the playoffs in 2012-13. A lot of that has had to do with the inability to stop opponents in the deep Western Conference.

Establishing a more defensive identity is key for the Mavs, and Howard is the prototypical centerpiece to build around in that regard. Chris Kaman, Brandan Wright and Bernard James comprise all the centers Dallas has, and all are due to be free agents, per spotrac.com.

Price also reports that the Mavs are openly shopping their No. 13 overall pick in the NBA draft in an effort to open up more room and enhance their pitch for Howard.

That seems like a necessary action to take, considering USA Today's Sam Amick reported earlier in the week that Howard is torn between returning to the City of Angels and going to another Texas squad—the Rockets—to play with superstar SG James Harden.

The Lakers have leverage in that they can sign Howard to a maximum of five years and $118 million. Since Dallas is a new prospective suitor, it can only extend a four-year, $87 million offer.

Howard had a turbulent year as a Laker and battled through injuries throughout, but still notched 17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. Should he play for the Mavs, whose frontcourt is thin at the moment, those numbers should only go up—especially since the 27-year-old will be healthier.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/05/22/4877736/mavericks-are-preparing-hot-pursuit.html#storylink=cpy

FYI WIRZ: IndyCar's Eddie Cheever and Scott Goodyear Talk Fast Minds

Dwight Drum — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:41:27 -0400

It’s an observation in the National Football League among players and especially Pro Bowlers that a fast brain develops a fast body.

In motorsports, it may take more than a fast brain and body. It takes a fast car, fast engine and fast parts as well.

But a fast brain and a superior mind, one that can quickly process the world—whether it’s on a football field or a racetrack—is essential to football and motorsports success.

ESPN and ABC IZOD IndyCar analysts Eddie Cheever and Scott Goodyear shared their thoughts on speedy brains when posed with a teleconference question.

Could you explain for a fan what hand-eye coordination and reaction time it takes for an open-wheel driver to race an IndyCar and especially to run an IndyCar at Indianapolis?

“I think the first thing when you're racing at IndyCar at those high speeds is you have to absorb and process a lot of information quickly, and you have to do it almost automatically,” Cheever said.

Both Cheever and Goodyear were accomplished open-wheel drivers. Their comments are enhanced by considerable experience.

“I hate to say it's as simple as this, but I found it automatic, almost easy to a point," Goodyear said. "When you are in the zone, I'm sure other players and other sports find this and other athletes I've talked to in other sports say this, the world is going by slow.”

Goodyear explained more about the feel of racing at Indianapolis.

“When you're running at Indy and you are in your prime of your career and the car is good and you are in the zone, you almost feel like you could step out of the car and run beside it," Goodyear said.

Cheever defined the urgency and reaction ability a driver needs to race in the Indianapolis 500.

“When you're the middle of the field and starting the race and turning into turn one and you're now 230 miles an hour, and the car isn't doing what it should be doing. Not only do you have to go through the process of keeping your car on the track and not spinning, you're also looking at 250, 300 yards ahead of yourself because you're going to be there shortly."

“And if something is wrong, you have to anticipate where you should place your car as all of this happens in front of you.”

Cheever summed up his analysis with his take on mental ability.

“So I don't really know if you can measure the physical attributes that are required, but I would say that eyesight is very good, very important. I would say that processing information that can be measured is very important. But above all, what I think you have to have is the mental endurance to keep putting up with abuse which will be thrown at you in the three-and-a-half hours that it takes to run the race."

“To do that and still be aware and angry and hungry and aggressive on those last 20 laps is not easy. It takes a lot of training.”

Goodyear expanded his thoughts about a helpful mental zone:

“As a race car driver when you're competing the rest of the world doesn't exist. You got up every day and all you thought of was your race car, and talking to your engineer and there wasn't a to-do list."

“When you get a little older, and there is a to-do list, and you put motor racing second, third, or fourth on your to-do list and you're going to take care of family issues, business issues or travel or something like that."

“That is when you need to not be driving a race car the length of a football field in less than a second.”

It seems that racing speed requires many facets of speed, human and mechanical.

FYI WIRZ is the select presentation of topics by Dwight Drum at Racetake.com. Unless otherwise noted, information and all quotes were obtained from personal interviews or official release materials provided by sanction and team representatives.

Why Tottenham Should Keep Going After Leandro Damiao

Mikhail Turner — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:31:03 -0400

Tottenham faced another disappointing season in 2012/13 but are again looking to strengthen this summer.

One of the top needs for the club is a forward, and Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao has been earmarked as a top target.

Here's Bleacher Report's own Nick Ackerman with a profile and scouting report on the Brazilian international.

The Internacional striker has been linked to the London side as far back as 2011, with the Daily Mail reporting on Spurs' interest then.

More recently, Dominic Fifield of the Guardian claims both Damiao and Valencia striker Roberto Soldado are the forward targets for Tottenham this summer.

While the added interest in one of Spain's top forwards is a significant sign of ambition, Tottenham must persist with trying to sign the 23-year-old Damiao.

His long-term future, skills and ambition are just a few reasons why Damiao would be a wonderful signing.

One positive in this saga is the recent revelations by ESPN FC and Sky Sports that some sort of contact has been made between Tottenham and Damiao's camp.

Both reports also mentioned a claim from Internacional president, Giovanni Luigi, that a deal with Tottenham is likely.

Damiao would make a relatively young and exciting Tottenham side that much more of a threat next season.

His style of play on the pitch and statistics suggest he would be an improvement on both Tottenham's current forwards.

He mixes Emmanuel Adebayor's skill and aerial ability with Jermain Defoe's clinical finishing and has a higher ceiling than both.

His height, decent strength and deceptive pace will also work in favour.

Damiao works hard for his side and can play comfortably in a 4-2-3-1 or in Andre Villas-Boas' preferred 4-3-3 formation.

His overall tally of 23 goals and six assists in 42 games in 2012 isn't breathtaking, but was still quite productive.

What is astounding is his efficiency, as 70 of his total 135 shots during that time were on target.

That means that 52 percent of his shots were on target, something that's been the norm for his career so far.

Neither Adebayor nor Defoe can match that type of efficiency. It may take a little adjustment for him to provide that type of threat in England, but the ability is there.

Top that all of with the high praise he received from Ronaldo during an interview with FIFA.com, and he's a player the London side must get.

One more plus for the situation is that, unlike other big-name targets, Damiao won't scoff at the chance to play in the Europa League.

Roberto Soldado captained his side to the knockout rounds of the Champions League this season and would likely prefer to stay at his club, even though they will also currently be entering Europe's second-tier competition with two league games remaining.

Damiao's ability to adapt quickly will be the only question mark, but if he provides the quality he is capable of he could be the difference between fourth and fifth place next season.

That is certainly one huge reason for Tottenham to ensure that they capture the Brazilian.

WWE Payback: Wade Barrett Should Defend Intercontinental Title in Fatal 4-Way

Seth M. Guttenplan — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:29:20 -0400

At WWE’s June pay-per-view, Payback, Wade Barrett should be in action in a Fatal 4-Way match against The Miz, Chris Jericho and Fandango.

On the May 20 edition of Raw, Barrett and Fandango lost to the team of The Miz and Jericho. However, Fandango was more interested in dancing by the commentator’s table with Summer Rae than helping Barrett in the match. While neither Barrett nor Fandango should be turning face, this storyline could have hinted at this proposed Fatal 4-Way match.

The Miz deserves a rematch since he never received one after losing the title back to Barrett the night after WrestleMania 29 on Raw. He disappeared after that due to outside projects. When he came back, he wrestled Cody Rhodes on the pre-show of Extreme Rules, where Barrett was a commentator. However, it’s unclear why Barrett and The Miz did not face each other at the event. When The Miz was included in the tag team match on Raw, it indicated to WWE fans that his feud with Barrett was not over.

Jericho feuding with Barrett, Miz and Fandango over the Intercontinental title is also very logical. Jericho holds the record for most Intercontinental championship reigns and has a history with all three Superstars. He was Barrett’s pro on the first season of WWE NXT. Plus, Jericho has been great in terms of putting younger talent over. He helped Dolph Ziggler last year and Fandango this year. He could help Barrett once again.

Fandango could be the key to this entire Fatal 4-Way match happening. When the heel dancer started a revolution on Raw the night after WrestleMania, I had a feeling that he could be a midcard champion soon. With Antonio Cesaro losing the United States title to Kofi Kingston, it seemed as though Fandango was going to win it.

However, WWE was wise and had The Shield’s Dean Ambrose win the title. The Shield is arguably made up of the top three heels in the company right now. The Shield had defeated all of the top Superstars, so it made sense to put championships around their waists. With Ambrose as the best talker, WWE was smart to put the singles title on him.

With this Fatal 4-Way match, Fandango has the opportunity to win the title from another heel. It is also an opportunity for WWE to move the midcard title without using a transitional champion like Kofi Kingston. Jericho and Fandango’s feud gets fused with Miz and Barrett’s semi-feud to make one big storyline for the Intercontinental title.

WWE Payback is the only pay-per-view until Money in the Bank, which could be another reason to move the title off of Barrett. He was a favorite to win the briefcase last year until he was injured. If Fandango does not win the title at WWE Payback, it could be a sign that he may win the Money in the Bank briefcase.

Do you think Wade Barrett should defend the Intercontinental title in a Fatal 4-Way match at WWE Payback? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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

Like GuTTWrenchPowerBlog on Facebook here.

TNA: AJ Styles Walks Alone and What That Means for Bully Ray

Shane Combs — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:26:48 -0400

Okay, I admit it: I have often kicked against the idea of AJ Styles being the guy who will dethrone Bully Ray. It's not personal, mind you; it's just that I have been enjoying TNA more than any wrestling promotion in more than a decade and don't want the story told so soon, so easily.

So when my friends, family, readers and anyone who watches TNA began to talk about AJ Styles as the Crow Sting to Bully's Hulk Hogan, I acknowledged the comparisons but threw in some other names.

Matt Morgan, for instance. Long before he stepped up to challenge Sting for the No. 1 contender spot, I thought he could be a dark horse coming out of nowhere to defend general manager Hulk Hogan, who wouldn't give him a shot, against the man whom Hogan handed the opportunity, Bully Ray.

I admitted it was just a possibility, but then again so was AJ Styles.

Of course, I threw in the name of the guy whom I call "The Best in the World," Batman, Bobby Roode. Not only is he my favorite TNA wrestler, but he is the longest-reigning TNA champion. By that regard, he should be called upon at some time to stand up and try to protect what is rightfully his.

I could throw in other names because we are about to embark on what could be the greatest Bound for Glory series in the history of TNA. So many guys could peak at the right time, and almost all of them will have a personal grudge with Bully Ray, should he still be the champ.

But on Thursday night's Impact, we saw the patching in of AJ Styles. And minutes later, AJ Styles tore that patch off.

Here, courtesy of TNAWrestling, is the video of the segment that closed Impact Wrestling.

First, I was impressed by the presence of the president of Aces and Eights, Bully Ray. This alone signified the importance of the event. While it has been Mr. Anderson doing the grunt work to try to recruit AJ Styles, when it came to finishing the job, the big guns came out.

This included Devon holding the rope for AJ Styles and Bully Ray pointing out how significant that was. Finally, somebody treated AJ Styles with the respect he seems to desire.

Bully Ray pointed out that AJ Styles has never had a beer and asked him to have one with him. Surely, if AJ Styles were going to dismiss Aces and Eights, he would do it now.

But AJ Styles had a beer instead.

And step up to take the Aces and Eights cut, AJ Styles did as well. AJ Styles went with it to the point that the fans began to chant, "You sold out."

And when Kurt Angle interfered and Aces and Eights cornered and held the Olympic gold medalist? AJ Styles took the hammer to the knee of Kurt Angle the same way Bully Ray took the hammer to Jeff Hardy.

But then AJ Styles turned the hammer on Aces and Eights and walked out.

Alone.

And from that moment, the story that was AJ Styles as Crow Sting and Bully Ray as Hollywood Hogan took on a life of its own. This story has now added a layer that is most intriguing. With the guts to take out both TNA's Kurt Angle and Aces and Eights, AJ Styles has made himself the anti-Bully Ray.

It is and has been the claim of Aces and Eights that they were mistreated by TNA. Because of this, they formed a club, a brotherhood, a group of men who would ensure that when you ride with the Aces and Eights you never walk alone.

Well, AJ Styles does walk alone.

He is not with team TNA or with Aces and Eights. He is nothing that they are and everything they're not.

And this is how you step out of the crowd. While most people copy the most popular trend (like trying to form Fortune to combat Aces), the man who stands out will do the opposite—he will begin the next trend.

Bully Ray has, in some ways, made the clubhouse cool. He is easily the best heel in professional wrestling right now. He is the only man who can harass Brooke Hogan one week and vow his love to her the next. He is the only man who can thwart Jeff Hardy in his own match. He is the only man who can get the best of both Hulk Hogan and Sting on any given night. And, after doing all this, he surrounds himself at the table with his brothers and some beer.

Yes, Bully Ray can do it all, almost.

But the one thing he can't do is the one thing AJ Styles just mastered: walking alone.

And while there is still a Bound for Glory series and many wonderful future opponents for Bully Ray, AJ Styles just moved leaps and bounds beyond the majority of them.

I've seen the man wrestle—I know he can jump.

But the leap he took on Thursday night in taking no side may be what differentiates him from every other guy in TNA. It may even launch him into the main event at Bound for Glory.

Should Penn State Worry LSU Offered Nittany Lion Commit Jared Wangler?

Andrew Kulha — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:18:44 -0400

Jared Wangler, a 3-star outside linebacker, is committed to Penn State, and that doesn't appear to be changing any time soon—even after a recent offer from LSU.

There's nothing to worry about here.

According to Jared Shanker of ESPN.com, Wangler remains committed despite a huge offer from the SEC power:

An offer from an SEC school often makes recruits take a step back and re-evaluate a top group or a commitment.

That's not the case with Jared Wangler (Warren, Mich./De La Salle). LSU offered the 6-foot-2, 218-pound outside linebacker Wednesday, but he remains committed to Penn State.

"It's really humbling," Wangler said, "but nothing's changed."

This is great news for Bill O'Brien and his staff, and it should also be validating for both Penn State and Wangler.

For the Nittany Lions, Wangler appearing unfazed by the LSU offer is a sign of his commitment to the program.

And during this time of sanctions and limited scholarships following the Jerry Sandusky scandal, dedication is a must.

O'Brien's commitment to the program is unmatched and he's the right coach to rebuild the image of and restore Penn State football. He'll need players with the same kind of dedication and integrity.

For Wangler, the LSU offer should be confirmation of his skill set. Shanker also reported that Les Miles went as far as using his one allotted phone call to Wangler to extend the scholarship offer.

Not just any recruit can play in the SEC, especially at LSU, so the Tigers' offer to Wangler should be a sign of just how talented he really is.

Again, that's good news for O'Brien and Penn State, because Wangler's commitment looks to be as solid as they come.

Predicting Winners for Saturday's 2nd-Round NHL Playoff Games

Franklin Steele — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:18:20 -0400

All three 2013 NHL playoff contests on May 25 are elimination games. The Detroit Red Wings have put the Chicago Blackhawks in a corner, the Los Angeles Kings have their first chance to close out the San Jose Sharks and the Boston Bruins will take another crack at closing out the New York Rangers.

In other words, it's a great day to be a hockey fan.

All three games are packed to the brim with story-lines and intrigue, and should be barn burners in every respect. These are proud teams that are on the brink of elimination—the 'Hawks, Sharks and Rangers all had Stanley Cup aspirations at the beginning of 2013.

Now they are stripped to a "one game at a time" mentality, hoping just to play hockey once more this season.

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Can Kevin Gausman Surpass Dylan Bundy as Baltimore Orioles Long-Term Ace?

Ely Sussman — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:16:44 -0400

Kevin Gausman wasn't particularly successful in his Baltimore Orioles debut (via MLB.com), but with electric stuff that rivals Dylan Bundy's, it's worth exploring whether or not he is better suited to serve as the team's long-term ace.

Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun recaps how the 22-year-old performed in his major league debut. Here's the gist of it:

Whether Gausman's first game in an Orioles uniform lived up to the monumental hype—he left after five innings trailing by a run after throwing 89 pitches—can be debated, but there's no doubt that the Orioles unveiled something special.

The right-hander flaunted a fiery fastball that clocked in at 99 mph several times, contrasting it with a mid-80s changeup helped him pick up five strikeouts over those five innings. Matt Kremnitzer of ESPN.com calls the latter his best pitch and notes that Gausman can throw his slider at two different speeds.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports tweets that at least one salivating scout was impressed:

According to FanGraphs, Bundy lacked the same velocity when he debuted for the O's last September. Then again, he's nearly two full years younger than Gausman, so there's time for him to develop. Fatigue might have also been a factor, considering Bundy worked more than 100 innings in the minors earlier that summer.

With the exception of R.A. Dickey and a couple other outliers, pitchers who experience sustained success atop a major league rotation possess three above-average weapons. Both of these young men already do.

Entering 2013, Bundy was ranked higher than Gausman on all top prospect lists. Bleacher Report's resident expert, Mike Rosenbaum, called Bundy "the unanimous top pitching prospect in the game" and praised his maturity and polish. By contrast, Rosenbaum had Gausman at No. 47 on his spring training list, noting that there's "room to fill out" on his wiry frame and "some effort involved" in his delivery.

But as much potential as Bundy has, he's useless to Baltimore if he isn't healthy.

The Orioles shut him down with elbow stiffness last month, and fans held their breath when the 20-year-old made a dreaded visit to orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli reports that Andrews gave him a platelet rich plasma injection (PRP) on April 29 and prescribed six weeks of rest. So Bundy could be back on a mound by mid-June and ready for promotion shortly after the All-Star break.

However, Ghiroli adds that "there are various degrees of success with it and the timetable for recovery is incredible varied." ESPN.com's Stephania Bell goes into further detail:

While the PRP injection may be of help to Bundy, it is also possible that his symptoms will persist. The jury is still out on the sum total of the effects of PRP, but it is seen by many as a treatment option with virtually no downside since it involves using the patient's own blood components—and nothing synthetic—as a means of trying to facilitate healing. There is much more to be learned about what the optimal treatment parameters and ultimate benefits of PRP injections are.

Countless trade suitors have bothered Baltimore with inquiries about Bundy's availability over the past year. That will continue until he is established in the big leagues.

Despite the recent setback, Bundy is still viewed as their future ace. But depending on how much he rusts on the sidelines this season and what Gausman does with his MLB opportunities in the interim, that could change.

Is Sergio Garcia Really a Villain?

James McMahon — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:15:08 -0400

Sergio Garcia can be called a lot of things. He can be labeled a whiner, a finger-pointer, even an underachiever. Yet in the aftermath of the ugly escalation of his feud with Tiger Woods, the question is whether the Spaniard deserves to be called a villain.

Here’s what we think we know; Garcia isn't a racist worthy of our contempt or a victim in need of our sympathy. That said, the jury is most certainly out on exactly where the true Sergio lives in between those two extremes and whether he deserves to be the most vilified professional golfer of his generation.

Even before the unfortunate “fried chicken” comments, Garcia was a love him or hate him kind of chap, with the majority, at least on this side of the Atlantic, seeming to favor the latter over the former.

Perhaps it’s his whining, complaining nature, a trait he recently admitted to in comments to Golf.com. Maybe it’s the significant potential he has never fully realized and the killer instinct he has never possessed. One thing is for sure, his two-week dust up with Woods that turned so ugly this week hasn't helped his cause one single bit.

In fact, Sergio may very well be the only golfer who could get into a public spat with Tiger Woods and come out on the losing end of it in terms of public perception. To be sure, the past two weeks have revealed the problematic aspects of Garcia’s personality that cause him so much distress.

He has trouble accepting responsibility, points fingers way too much and can’t seem to let things go when he should.

Like Tiger, the opinion on Sergio Garcia the person is a complicated mixed bag. He’s paid the price for his fair share of dust ups with fellow professionals and galleries. He’s also perceived by many in both those groups as an affable golfer who plays the game with spirit and energy.

It was that positive version of Sergio that burst onto the scene with great acclaim in the 1999 PGA Championship, matching shot for shot a 23-year-old Tiger Woods down to the wire in an epic battle of two promising stars at Medinah Golf Club.

We didn't know it then, but Sergio had met his Moby Dick for the first time in battle, falling just short of Tiger, who has gone on to haunt him in the 14 years since that encounter. It’s the same man who today appears to have his foot squarely on Garcia’s throat.

Sergio’s honeymoon with golf fans following that 1999 performance lasted until the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black on Long Island. It was there Garcia’s fragile psyche revealed itself in front of Tiger and pretty much the entire golf world.

While contending for his first major championship victory, Garcia developed a case of “the waggles” to the point Bethpage galleries were counting out every incomplete takeaway as Sergio stood over the ball for what seemed hours at a time.

Obviously, Garcia didn't appreciate the treatment any more than the galleries liked endlessly waiting for his shots and thus the contentious nature of Sergio and American golf fans found its roots. It’s likely that the animosity from the 2002 Open in part fueled Sergio’s Ryder Cup passion and motivated his great play against the Americans in the event.

While that energy has served Garcia well in the competition, it furthered his image as public enemy No. 1 with American golf fans who watched his celebrations during multiple European victories. Sergio's image and personality took another hit in 2007 when he spat into the cup on the 13th hole at Doral after missing a par putt with other players still to play behind him. Even for Sergio, that's an action that's hard to explain away as someone else's fault or even competitive fire.

Despite that, there are those that believe the true reality of Garcia is that of a likable guy who enjoys competition but isn't absolutely driven by victory. Indeed, he possesses a playful personality, another reason he and the ultra-focused Woods do not relate well to one another.

Did he grow up protected and privileged, yes. Was he raised to be a person who looked down on others for reason of skin or culture, not likely.

His poorly-chosen words on Tuesday certainly belie that fact, but he’s not the first athlete to pop off with a poorly-chosen remark. He’s also not the first to pay a significant price for it through the microscope of public examination.

It’s fair to say Garcia has failed at times to take responsibility for his shortcomings. At the same time, the Spaniard is honest to a fault, both in regard to self-evaluation and in his opinions of others. At the 2012 Masters, Sergio admitted he didn't have the game at the time to win majors, suggesting he was instead playing for second place or worse.

Problem is, in professional sports we prefer our athletes to not show their vulnerable side. It’s a sign of weakness and proof they aren't what we think they should be. That’s exactly how Sergio is viewed after his moments of public self-awareness, which he would be better served by keeping to himself.

It’s really the true dichotomy of Sergio. We like that he is honest but we don’t like what he says when he’s being honest. We appreciate his boyish charm and carefree approach but we call it out when he falls short in final rounds of majors such as the 2002 U.S. Open or significant PGA Tour events like the 2013 Players Championship.

Much from his own doing, he is damned if he does and most certainly damned if doesn't. None of this means that we should like Sergio. It also doesn't demand that we hate him. It does lead us to the reason we just simply don’t know if we should be feeling either one of those emotions with any sort of conviction.

Cleveland Cavaliers: What Should They Do with the 19th Pick in the NBA Draft?

Tommy McConnell — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:15:03 -0400

With the Cleveland Cavaliers lucking into the first pick in the NBA draft for the second time in three years, nearly all of the speculation has focused on which player the Cavs will select in that coveted spot.

And rightfully so—if that pick hits and the Cavs find a star, they set themselves up nicely for the next decade. Miss on that pick, or even just come up with an average rotation player, and Cleveland may have doomed itself to mediocrity. It's a big deal.

But Cleveland has a second pick in the first round, thanks to the Los Angeles Lakers and Ramon Sessions. Nailing that pick isn't equally important as the first overall, but finding a contributing player late in drafts is a huge, huge advantage. This is free money.

Let's assume the Cavs select Nerlens Noel. He fills a glaring need and sits atop the most mock drafts (that I've seen, anyways). With Noel in place, what should happen at No. 19?

Option No. 1: Fill out the starting lineup
With Noel on the roster, the Cavs will have a top-four draft pick from the past three seasons slotted in a point guard, shooting guard, power forward and center. That leaves a gaping hole at small forward.

That spot is currently occupied by Alonzo Gee, owner of the 282nd PER in the league and the second-most minutes played by any Cavalier last season. That is not ideal. Finding Gee's replacement is a good idea.

(For the record, parting ways with Gee is not mandatory. He's actually a capable player, but he was stretched beyond his capabilities last season. He shouldn't be playing that many minutes, asked to guard the other team's best perimeter player, knock down threes, etc. He'd be fine coming off of the bench.)

The Cavs should be looking for a good defender to cover for the defensive shortcomings of Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters. They need a very good three-point shooter that can stretch the floor, which is a necessity with the drive-and-kick capabilities of Irving and Waiters and the "paint-clogging" futures of a Tristan Thompson/Nerlens Noel front-court; a versatile wing who can fit in with either a traditional lineup or when the Cavs go small.

Hey, that's not asking too much, is it?

There's actually a handful of guys that could be available at or around that spot. In my opinion, Reggie Bullock from North Carolina has the resume closest to what was described above—ideal size, proven shooting skill and the length and athleticism to learn how to be a very good NBA defender. If he's available, he's the best fit.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope out of Georgia could also audition for the role, although he probably isn't as polished as Bullock right away, but could be down the line.

Option No. 2: Go big. Really big.
With Thompson and Anderson Varejao already on the roster, it could be argued the Cavs already have their starting 4 and 5. But neither protects the rim, and Varejao is a constant injury risk. Drafting Noel still fills a need.

But what if Rudy Gobert is still available? He's been projected anywhere from 10th overall to 22nd. So maybe he's a lottery pick, but if he falls, the 7'2" youngster presents a really intriguing option. Maybe it's overkill, but a big man lineup of Thompson, Varejao, Tyler Noel and Gobert is formidable.

You can never have too many bigs, and while it might be irresponsible to draft for luxury with so many glaring needs, the Cavs should be taking the best player available. If Gobert is there at 19, he likely fits that criteria.

If the Cavs go this route, they might as well go all the way: sign Greg Oden. At the very least, the Cavs have now jacked the odds way, way up that they've found a reliable post player for the future.

Option No. 3: Trade the pick.
Is the 19th overall selection, paired with either one of two of the Cavs' second-round picks, enough to move into the lottery?

Maybe, if Dallas is serious enough about clearing cap space to make a run at Dwight Howard.

If the Cavs were able to move up that high, who would be the target? The Gobert logic would still apply, although they'd be paying a premium for him instead of grabbing a great value. No. 13 might be too high for Bullock, but he does fill a need. Perhaps this puts Allen Crabbe into consideration.

The swingmen-type players are projected to go all over the place. It might be wise for the Cavs to stay put and let one fall to them, if there's not much difference between the lot. But if there's a guy Chris Grant covets—and history shows he is not afraid to take his guy, no matter where he's drafting—he may have the firepower to move up.

Either way, there will be talent available to the Cavs. Probably not a future all-star, but certainly a contributor. As always with Dan Gilbert, Chris Grant and the Cavs around draft time, it'll be very interesting to see what they wind up doing.

Royals TV Department Drops the Ball, Displays Worst Graphic Blunder Ever

Dan Carson — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00:39 -0400

Working in the news media industry means working in a business where accuracy is pretty much everything.

We don’t always get it right, but rarely do we ever get it as wrong as Fox Sports did while airing Thursday night’s game between the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Angels, as Awful Announcing points out.

During a break in the action, a graphic arrived on viewers’ screens posing a question for baseball fans: "Which young player would you like to start a franchise with?”

Me? I’ve always wanted to open a Chipotle with Derek Holland, but we can assume they meant “baseball franchise.” We can also assume they didn’t proofread this graphic even once.

See any problems? Yup, we have some issues to sort through here:

1. Bryce Harper is now “Bryce Hunter,” who sounds like the kid you grew up with who always showed off how good he was doing flips off the diving board.

2. Harper also plays for the Washington Nationals, which is a lot like the Detroit Tigers—but not at all.

3. Matt Harvey’s name has transformed into “Matt Jones,” which is presumably his rapper name from “back then.” (Who? Matt Jones!)

4. Harvey plays for the New York Mets, not the Baltimore Orioles.

5. Manny Machado is listed as playing for the Chicago White Sox instead of the Baltimore Orioles.

6. Last but not least, Mike Trout is listed as a New York Yankee, which is probably just a little premature, considering the Los Angeles Angels outfielder hasn’t been scooped up by the Evil Empire just yet.

So, is it apathy? Carelessness? Or did the people pitching graphics for the Royals just serve up a grand slam of awfulness? I think it’s a little country and a little rock ‘n roll, which means “all of the above.”

Cutting and pasting from prior templates rarely works out for the best, and we can all assume a graphic design job will be opening up in Kansas City soon.

Which young player would YOU want to start a Chipotle with?

Follow @Dr__Carson

NBA Lottery 2013: Teams in Best Position to Ace This Year's Draft

Mike Hoag — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:57:27 -0400

The Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2013 NBA lottery, their third "win" in 10 seasons, but they aren’t the only team in a good position to improve at this year’s draft.

There are several other teams that have the ability to immediately improve due to the way things went down during the drawing. While all lottery teams are guaranteed their pick of top talent, there are some others that sneaked in or are in favorable positions for other reasons.

Take a quick look at how the first round looks after May 21’s ping-pong balls fell into place:

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks will benefit from having two mid-first-round picks at the 2013 NBA draft. Usually, the 17th and 18th selections might not be too inspiring for an organization, but this year’s crop of talent may allow the team to have a big day.

It is widely perceived that there are no clear-cut superstars at the top of this draft. While it isn’t the most exciting year talent-wise, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix thinks that lottery talent could slip into the 20s.

That’s a great thing for the Hawks organization, especially with Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams gone and Josh Smith’s future up in the air. The team can desperately use a facelift, and its two picks will allow it to add two young and potentially dynamic players to rebuild around.

With only a handful players on their payroll for the 2013-14 season ($21,513,022 million in salary, according to Spotrac.com), the Hawks also have the flexibility to acquire big-name players in free agency to finish a potentially impressive offseason.

The only question that remains is whether or not Danny Ferry will get it right.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are no strangers to the top slot of the NBA draft. In fact, they rank pretty high up on the list of top picks since the beginning of the “Common Draft era,” according to ESPN Stats & Info (via Twitter):

Two of those top picks recently netted the Cavs Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. The biggest question about the 2013 draft is whether or not a player with that potential exists at the top of the draft.

Those questions have prompted trade rumors around the Cavs and their top selection. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst initially reported (via Twitter) that the team will be looking to move their pick:

General manager Chris Grant didn’t do much to quell those early rumors after the draft lottery.

"We're open," Grant said, according to Jodie Valade of The Plain Dealer. "We're going to look at all our options and make the decision based on what's best for the franchise -- short-term and long-term."

Still, Cleveland has put itself in a very favorable situation leading up to the draft.

Of all the teams preparing for draft day, it is in the best position to markedly improve, whether it deals its top pick to attain a proven veteran player, trades down or uses it to select the best player available.

Remember, it also has the 19th selection after swapping its ownership of the Miami Heat's first-round pick with the Los Angeles Lakers' selection.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder won’t be drawing lottery balls anytime soon thanks to the solid, young nucleus of talent centered around Kevin Durant. But that doesn’t mean that the squad won’t have a relatively high pick in this year’s draft.

Toronto surrendered its 12th overall selection to the Thunder through the Houston Rockets after Oklahoma City sent James Harden to Texas before the start of the season. The pick transfer wasn’t a foregone conclusion, though. If the Raptors drew a top-three pick, their selection would have remained with their organization.

It could have been even better for the Thunder had the Raptors floundered this season. However, since the team won as many games as it did, the highest pick that they could have attained was No. 12 overall. There was no chance of a pick landing between No. 4 and No. 11 since all picks after the top three are assigned in order of remaining teams' records.

With this added bonus pick, a 60-win team like the Thunder is in a great position to add another scorer to the mix on an already dangerous roster.

They also have some trade ammunition, should they choose to employ it. In addition to the No. 12 selection, the Thunder also possess the 29th and 32nd picks.

Whatever they end up doing on draft day, the Thunder are in a very good position to get immediately better for another championship run in 2014.

That’s scary.

Follow @MikeHoagJr

Jon Jones' Toe and 7 MMA Injuries You'll Never Be Able to Unsee

James MacDonald — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:52:29 -0400

It is a curious fact about human psychology that we can’t help but gawp at the abnormal, even if it makes us want to regurgitate our lunch.

And so it is with MMA injuries.

They seem to have a hypnotic quality. Then again, once the initial shock wears off, we tend to respond to subsequent replays of the injury by squirming in our seats and gasping obscenities—at least I do, anyway.

When one thinks of injuries, images of broken bones tend to come to mind. However, this list is going to focus more broadly on injuries in general, rather than concentrating on snapped limbs.

As ever, feel free to leave your own suggestions in the comments.

Without further delay, I present to you seven MMA injuries you’ll never be able to unsee.

Note: Images NSFW.

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NCAA Lacrosse: Keys for Each Team to Emerge Victorious in the Final 4

Dave Giancola — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:47:06 -0400

Tomorrow marks the beginning of college lacrosse's championship weekend in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Division I semifinals will take place on Saturday, followed by the Division II and III championship games on Sunday. On Memorial Day, the Division I final will take place and a champion will finally be crowned.

As we move closer to the semifinal round, let us take a look at two keys for each team if they want to advance to the championship game on Monday.

Cornell

1. Score more than 15 goals

For Cornell, scoring has been pretty easy this season. Rob Pannell and Steve Mock are the headliners for the Big Red, but a talented midfield unit makes things even tougher for opposing defenses.

Cornell will face a gritty Duke defense, so an early lead will be key to boost the confidence of the Big Red sideline.

Look for Rob Pannell to initiate from behind the goal, while Steve Mock works his wizardry inside the crease area.

If the team can score 15 goals in this game, I do not see them losing.

2. Goaltending

Cornell goaltender AJ Fiore is a seasoned veteran with a lot of tournament experience. Unfortunately for Cornell, inconsistency has plagued the senior for his entire career.

Sometimes, Fiore plays like a first-team All-American, at other times, he looks like he needs a seat on the bench.

Fiore has played well thus far in the tournament, but the speed and depth of the Duke offense will be a challenge nevertheless. Fiore must anchor his defense not only from a skill standpoint, but more importantly, from a communication standpoint.

If he can maneuver his defensive scheme against a tough Duke team and escape with a save rate above 60 percent, Cornell should be able to outscore the Blue Devils.

Duke

1. Keep Rob Pannell in check

Keeping Rob Pannell at bay is quite a feat. The senior is the best player still in action, and his performance thus far in the 2013 tournament his been downright impressive. He scored 8 points in the quarterfinal round and made it look easy.

Every time Pannell touches the ball, he turns into a triple threat. He can dodge, feed or shoot from almost anywhere on the field, and his strength allows him to muscle his way inside.

Once he gets to a favorable angle, he either scores in highlight fashion or makes an impressive dish inside to his roommate Mock. He is truly an exciting player to watch.

Duke must keep Pannell behind the cage to be successful. If the Blue Devils can somehow match him man-to-man, they can hopefully pack their defense in against Mock and limit his opportunities.

The Blue Devils' best chance would be to shut off the attack and let Cornell's midfielders try to beat them.

2. Win Faceoffs

The easiest way to keep the ball away from Pannell and Mock is to win faceoffs.

Brendan Fowler of Duke was recently named a first-team All-American as a faceoff specialist, and must strut his stuff against Cornell on Saturday.

It is pretty simple, when Cornell has the ball, it scores. There is an old saying that offense is the best defense in lacrosse, and it should be Duke's slogan on Saturday.

If Duke is to move on to the championship game, it must win the draws and the battle for time of possession. If the Blue Devils can keep Cornell under 15 goals, they should be within striking distance in the fourth quarter.

Denver

1. Dictate pace of play

When Denver plays its style of lacrosse, it is almost unstoppable. After trailing by six goals early in the quarterfinals against UNC, Denver was able to win faceoffs and play at its preferred tempo.

Once the Pioneers do this, they are able to exhaust opposing defenses and keep their back end fresh. Denver is a fast team at the midfield and can score at will with its talented attackers.

Denver must push the pace against Syracuse and force the Orange to empty their bench. If the Pioneers can do this, they should cruise to a victory over the No. 1 seed.

2. Match up with Syracuse's first line of midfielders

Denver must force the ball away from Syracuse's first line of midfield to have the best chance at victory.

Syracuse is a deep and talented team, but relies heavily on its midfield to initiate the offense. Syracuse will try to force the issue by putting the ball in the stick of Jojo Marasco, so Denver must have a good defensive gameplan.

The Pioneers must double Marasco quickly and be sure to have the second slide recover to the crease. Marasco is a crafty feeder, so he can be lethal when given just a few inches of space to work.

Look for Denver to play physical defense on Syracuse. If they do, they can try to force turnovers and keep the ball away from the Orange midfield unit.

Syracuse

1. Initiate offense from the midfield

Syracuse only scored seven goals in its victory over Yale in the quarterfinal round. This week, the Orange face a much faster and deeper team in the Denver Pioneers.

Syracuse must score more than 10 goals to keep this game competitive, with 15 being the benchmark to aim for. To achieve this, 'Cuse must put the ball in the sticks of its playmakers, most of whom reside on the first-line midfield unit.

Jojo Marasco, a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist, was held to a goal and two assists against Yale, a point total he would like to double in the semis.

Syracuse must initiate from up top, dodging against the short-stick defenders of Denver. Marasco will draw the long pole, so look for senior Luke Cometti to get a lot of isolation chances in this game.

2. Win the ground ball battle

Denver is going to look to turn this game into a track meet, so Syracuse must be able to maintain possession. To do so, it must be on the winning side of the ground ball battle.

In a year of fast paced lacrosse and high scoring, the Orange can slow down the game and play six-on-six if it can win ground balls. Denver is talented at the faceoff X, so 'Cuse must play a defensive style during draws, attempting to turn every faceoff into a 50/50 opportunity.

Why WWE Needs to End Ryback's Main Event Push Immediately

Bryan Haas — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:43:17 -0400

Months ago, WWE superstar Ryback could often be heard screaming “Feed Me More.” In recent weeks however, it seems as if his speeches now include things more along the lines of “Why Me?” or “I got cheated.”

Yes, the superstar from Sin City has had a string of bad luck when it comes to his WWE championship matches. Several times he has been thwarted in his attempts by the upstart group, The Shield, and at the recent Extreme Rules pay-per-view, the match was declared a no-contest after brutal injuries were suffered by both Ryback and his opponent, John Cena.

That result has led the increasingly unpopular behemoth to demand an ambulance match with Cena at the upcoming Payback event on June 16th.

Setting aside Ryback for the moment, let’s analyze the match itself. One competitor must place his opponent into an ambulance and the vehicle must actually leave the arena in order for someone to be declared the winner.

In the past, the company has had two ambulance matches. Kane defeated Shane McMahon in 2003 in the first such contest. And Cena himself defeated Kane in the same type of contest at Elimination Chamber in 2012. A win in that type of affair should automatically favor Cena, right?

Well, no.

Ryback himself now has a decent amount of experience with emergency vehicles. In November after a win over Brad Maddox, he placed the young competitor inside an ambulance. And on this week's Raw, he did the same to Zack Ryder after Ryder had already competed in, and lost, a match against Cody Rhodes.

But setting aside the match type, hasn’t Ryback gotten enough opportunities at the WWE title?

Beginning with his first opportunity for the title at Hell in a Cell in October, Ryback will now be getting his fourth title opportunity at the upcoming Payback, more than any other superstar in that time period.

And why? The man is big and strong, and has great intensity.

But so does a charging bull, and frankly, the prospect of that animal running at you is much more intriguing than Ryback getting another WWE title shot.

And despite the attempts of WWE to ram Ryback down our throats, his character has never caught on the way that it was meant to.

Initial reactions to him were decent, as he was a great face that the fans were meant to get solidly behind. But many quickly soured on him, and his once booming reactions died down to tepid reactions after only a few short months.

Even now, as he abruptly interrupts matches, or arrives in an emergency vehicle, Ryback receives little to no reaction.

And while a negative reaction, littered with boos and jeers is not exactly a favorable one, at least it is something. Ryback barely gets that at this point.

And love him or hate him, Cena at least always gets some type of reaction, whether it be good or bad. And the crowd being split in terms of a reaction to Cena should translate to the crowd being split over whether or not to root for his opponent.

But Ryback often gets no reaction, positive or negative, when doing anything. Sure, he’s a powerhouse, and a human wrecking ball at times. But if the WWE Universe does not feel strongly about a superstar either way, how long can that superstar hope to keep up the charade?

We have seen many competitors lose their pushes even after getting huge reactions, Ryder being the prime example. We have also seen others lose their momentum due to lack of interest from fans, Sin Cara’s push being a good example of this.

But when a superstar that is supposed to be a top contender for your highest accolade is getting no reaction whatsoever, how long can WWE continue to let this go on?

There is a difference between being stubborn and being foolish. And right now, the company is walking a fine line between the two by continuing to make Ryback its top heel.

Fantasy Baseball 2013: Week 9's Buy Low, Sell High Trade Advice

Jason Catania — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:43:06 -0400

What good is talent to a fantasy owner who lacks timing?

Fantasy baseball, just like the real thing, is a game of skill, luck and timing. That last trait, in particular, comes in handy in regard to trading.

Knowing which player to trade away and which to deal for—and knowing just the right time to do so—can make all the difference.

It doesn't get much better than making a move to unload a hot flavor-of-the-month type who's about to cool off in exchange for a slumping stud about to take off.

If you want to check out last week's suggestions, look no further.

Now, speaking of timing, let's get to a batch of players to sell high and a group to buy low.

Sell High

Matt Moore, LHP, Rays

Fantasy Stats: 8 W, 2.29 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 8.8 K/9

It's hard to argue with Moore's success this season—just look at those numbers.

There's a lot to like here, too. He's a 23-year-old left-hander who sits in the mid-90s with a gnarly curveball that's a strikeout pitch.

Plus, Moore is coming off a start in which he joined none other than Babe Ruth as the first AL southpaw to begin a season 8-0 at 23 or younger.

Moore owners don't exactly need Don Draper to make the fantasy sales pitch.

But why would you want to move Moore if you own him? For one thing, he's still walking too many per nine this year (4.3). For another, Moore owns a .197 BABIP, the second lowest in baseball. For a third thing? His 91.8 LOB percentage is the highest.

Translation: Moore is putting guys on base but getting extremely lucky when it comes to surrendering hits and allowing baserunners to score.

Moore's going to remain effective and occasionally elite this year, but at the moment he's an extremely attractive asset. If you can get a top-30 caliber player for him based on his performance to date and his historic start, do it.

Carl Crawford, OF, Dodgers

Fantasy Stats: .302 BA, 28 R, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 9 SB

It's good to finally see Crawford healthy and playing well after he spent so much time doing neither the past couple years.

Crawford made for a worthwhile gamble on draft day, given his history prior to 2011 and the hope that he could return to something similar to that level again.

So far, so good—Crawford is hitting for a high average, scoring runs and swiping bases. Heck, he's even thrown in a handful of homers, to boot.

The underlying numbers aren't particularly foreboding, and yet, that still-very-recent injury history, as well as Crawford's advancing age—he turns 32 in August—make him a good candidate to cash in on by shipping him out sooner rather than later.

Unless you'd prefer to trust the health and performance of a guy who hasn't played a full season since 2010 will hold up the rest of the way.

Hisashi Iwakuma, RHP, Mariners

Fantasy Stats: 5 W, 2.37 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 8.5 K/9

As fantastic as Yu Darvish has been in 2013, his fellow countryman Iwakuma has been nearly as good.

While the 32-year-old right-hander doesn't have the name recognition of a Darvish or other hot-starting starters, which might make him a tricky sell-high guy in less competitive leagues. Will other owners value him properly? A mere glance at the stats, particularly that AL-best 0.87 WHIP, should entice aplenty.

Iwakuma hasn't been quite as fortunate as Moore, but his .220 BABIP and 85.6 LOB percentage are going to regress enough to cause his fantasy figures to decline some.

The bottom won't fall out or anything, thanks to his elite walk rate (1.5 BB/9) and the fact that he pitches half his games at Safeco, but Iwakuma's ERA from here on out will probably be closer to the 3.51 FIP than his current 2.37.

Carlos Beltran, OF, Cardinals

Fantasy Stats: .305 BA, 20 R, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 0 SB

Even at 36, Beltran keeps producing.

The veteran switch-hitter's game has transitioned from a dynamic power and speed combo in his prime to primarily a power play as he's aged. But Beltran can still swing it, as he's on pace for 35 homers and 102 RBI. he also still has the name recognition to bring back a nice return via trade.

Given his age, injury history and declining overall skill set, Beltran is a risky Card to hold onto (get it?), especially after he started fast in 2012 (.304-20-63 through his first 77 games), only to peter out down the stretch. He hit .232 with 12 homers and 34 RBI over his final 74 games last season.

Moving Beltran now, while he's healthy and producing, is both a smart and safe strategy.

Justin Masterson, RHP, Indians

Fantasy Stats: 7 W, 2.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 9.1 K/9

Masterson has tricked many a fantasy owner, teasing with flashes, and even occasional stretches, of dominance, only to wind up being slightly less than hoped for.

To wit, here are Masterson's stats through his first 10 starts—the same number of outings as this year—back in his breakout 2011 campaign: 2.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 6.7 K/9.

Aside from the strikeout rate, which is 2.4 K/9 higher (admittedly, a major edge), the Masterson we saw in 2011 is the Masterson we're seeing now.

A reminder of Masterson's final stats in 2011: 3.21 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 6.6 K/9.

All of which means that from start No. 11 on, the 28-year-old did this: 3.53 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 6.5 K/9.

Of course, this doesn't guarantee that Masterson is going to be a mediocre starting pitcher from here on out, and the fact that he's throwing more sliders than in recent years, which could account for the uptick in whiffs, counts for something.

But it's unlikely a guy with a career 7.1 K/9 rate has suddenly morphed into a strikeout-an-inning type.

Plus, as a right-hander who slings it from below three-quarters, Masterson's bugaboo has always been getting out opposite side hitters, and while he's currently holding lefties to a .225/.319/.302 triple-slash line, it might be wiser to put more stock in his career .281/.363/.421 line against them.

Buy Low

Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Marlins

Fantasy Stats: .227 BA, 8 R, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 1 SB

There were reasons to avoid picking Stanton on draft day, including rightful injury concerns. The pendulum has now swung in the opposite direction, as Stanton has missed the past month with a hamstring injury.

Not only that, but even when he was playing Stanton's awful start gave credence to all the worries over whether the Marlins' putrid lineup would water down his stats.

While the caliber of his teammates hasn't changed all that much, Stanton's become a player to inquire about while he's still out and his numbers still look so unappetizing to his current owner.

The righty slugger, we remind you, did hit his first three bombs of the season in the two games prior to getting hurt. He also took live batting practice this week, so he's slowly but surely making his way back.

Don't pay anywhere near what his preseason price was; now's the time to get him on the cheap.

David Price, LHP, Rays

Fantasy Stats: 1 W, 5.24 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 8.0 K/9

Right now, Price's owner is probably still freaking out over 1. his fantasy ace's horrific numbers, and 2. the fact that the Rays recently came out and said Price wouldn't be ready to go when eligible to come off the DL at the end of May.

Look, the strained left triceps that cut Price's last outing short and put him on the shelf is a concern, but the Rays also indicated that the lefty hasn't had any setbacks and might only need to miss two or three more turns.

If anything, the injury makes Price more available, and while his performance hasn't been anywhere near expectations, ask yourself this: Do you really think the reigning AL Cy Young winner, if healthy, is going to finish the year with an ERA in the 5s?

For what it's worth, Price's FIP is 4.03 and his xFIP is 3.52, meaning a few too many hits have fallen in (.345 BABIP), a few too many runners have scored (60.2 LOB percentage) and a few too many have left the yard (15.1 HR/FB).

This is the low point, and that's exactly when you swoop in.

Josh Hamilton, OF, Angels

Fantasy Stats: .220 BA, 21 R, 6 HR, 16 RBI, 1 SB

The Hamilton hate has gone a bit too far, no?

Sure, the lefty slugger hasn't done much of anything so far, and he's actually been healthy all year, but much like with Price, you have to put the numbers in perspective based on recent history.

Hamilton's swing-at-everything approach has gotten much worse the past two years and is clearly a problem, and the 32-year-old is quickly becoming useless against left-handers (.393 OPS). And yet, he's still capable of having a 10-homer month at the drop of a hat.

Hamilton's .270 BABIP is well below his .330 career number, so he can make up some ground in the batting average department, too.

The uptick in May from his brutal April (.204/.252/.296, .548 OPS) has been slight but noticeable, too, as he's slashing .243/.317/.486 (.804 OPS). Is it really so hard to believe he won't get better?

Again, there are very real issues here, so don't expect miracles—and certainly don't pay for them either. But the point is that with everything looking so bleak, you won't have to.

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs

Fantasy Stats: .266 BA, 23 R, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 2 SB

Don't you love it when your third-round pick falls into the "blech" category?

Castro hasn't been that bad, but look at those numbers again. It's likely you were expecting more, right? After all Castro, still just 23, has been a breakout candidate a couple years running now.

The non-surface stats don't indicate that Castro has fallen victim to the luck gods or anything, so this is more of a recommendation based on the fact that Castro's owner has to be growing tired of waiting for him to do something. That and the fact that shortstop remains a supremely shallow fantasy position.

If you can alert Castro's owner to his minor ankle injury from Thursday night, perhaps that'll help grease the wheels, too. Paint the offer as a friendly let-me-take-him-off-your-hands, and there's not likely to be a lot of resistance at this point, especially if the owner has any other capable shortstop.

That last part is key, though, as Castro shouldn't be targeted as a guy about to blow up but rather as a quality player at a weak position who should still be able to post above-average fantasy stats for the spot across the board.

B.J. Upton, OF, Braves

Fantasy Stats: .155 BA, 12 R, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 3 SB

Has any active, non-injured player lost more fantasy value than Upton?

Among qualified players Upton's .155 average is the second-lowest in baseball (ahead of only Ike Davis), but then you didn't draft Upton expecting anything more than slightly below-average in that category. (Right?)

Upton's BABIP? .211. Career? .318. So we know the atrocious average will get...less atrocious.

The bigger concerns should be the power and speed, as the perennial 20-homer, 30-steal guy is on pace for just 14 and 11. But he's also one of the streakiest dudes around, as his 2012 season proves.

From July 1 on last year, Upton hit 23 homers and stole 17 bases.

Not saying he's going to do that again, but this is 28-year-old smack in the middle of his prime who appears to be mostly healthy. Would 15 and 15 with a .250 average from here on out be possible? You betcha.

Would it make you happy to get that production for a song? If so, check "yes" in the buy low box.

All statistics come from FanGraphs, unless otherwise indicated.

How Mark Stoops and Kentucky Are Already Making an Impact in Recruiting

Barrett Sallee — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:43:00 -0400

Don't look now, but first-year Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops is turning some heads.

After 50,831 fans packed Commonwealth Stadium in April to take in the spring game, the Wildcats find themselves in the top 25 of the current ESPN.com class of 2014 recruiting rankings. That's a good place to be, but it's still the ninth-best class in the SEC.

Still, for a program that's coming off of a 3-9 campaign, a winless SEC season and is largely overlooked in the landscape of the SEC, it's certainly something for Stoops and the rest of Big Blue Nation to hang its hat on.

The centerpiece of Kentucky's 2013 class is 4-star quarterback and ESPN 150 member Drew Barker. The 6'4", 205-pound pro-style prospect chose the Wildcats over SEC East foes South Carolina and Tennessee.

Anytime Kentucky can beat out two traditional SEC powerhouses for a big-time player, it's huge. It was also testament to Stoops' ability to make an impression. According to Cincinnati.com, Barker received 115 letters in one day.

Cheesy? Sure. But that tactic is becoming commonplace these days, and it's only cheesy if it doesn't work.

Another key piece of Kentucky's 2013 recruiting class is 4-star wide receiver Thaddeus Snodgrass, a 6'0, 180-pounder from Springfield, Ohio who chose the Wildcats over West Virginia, South Carolina and Louisville, according to the Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal.

While securing the commitment of another 4-star commitment is news in and of itself, it's the state Snodgrass hails from that's the important issue here.

Ohio.

Five of Kentucky's seven commitments in Stoops' class of 2013 hail from the talent-rich Buckeye State, which is not an accident.

In Stoops' introductory press conference in Lexington, he made it a point to specify that Ohio was one of his primary recruiting focuses.

"Kentucky, obviously we're going to recruit Kentucky hard and take care of our home," he said. "We're going to recruit Ohio very hard. I have strong ties in Ohio. There's very good football players in Ohio. We'll work through the Carolinas, Florida, and Georgia a little bit."

The early success in the 2014 recruiting class comes on the heels of a solid close by Stoops and Co. as the new staff was getting settled in their new gigs.

Junior college defensive end Za'Darius Smith signed Kentucky in the class of 2013 after developing a relationship with Stoops while Stoops was at Florida State, while Stoops also was instrumental in the signing of defensive end Jason Hatcher and safety Marcus McWilson.

Is Kentucky going to contend for the SEC East title in 2013? No. That's way too premature. But Stoops quickly turned momentum around in Lexington. No longer is Kentucky just a basketball school. There's hope for football, and if this recruiting momentum keeps up, hope will turn into success on the gridiron sooner rather than later.

Follow @BarrettSallee

Ranking the 10 Most Embarrassing First Pitches of the Last 10 Years

Pete Schauer — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:41:37 -0400

There are the first pitches in baseball that we remember—such as President Bush throwing out the first pitch following the devastation that took place in New York on 9/11—and then there are the other ones.

The embarrassing ones.

You can scour the web and find thousands of dismal first-pitch videos, but it's a lot more embarrassing when professional athletes shame themselves, which is a trend in this slideshow.

Let's roll.

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5 Takeaways from the Green Bay Packers OTAs

Bob Fox — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:35:45 -0400

The Green Bay Packers had their first set of organized team activities from May 20 through May 22.

The Packers will have two more of their OTAs and one more minicamp before the players will report to training camp on July 25.

But based on what occurred earlier this week at the OTAs, I came away with some observations.

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Wonders in Washington: Could the Redskins Win the Super Bowl?

Dilan Ames — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:30:45 -0400

The Washington Redskins were able to ditch their losing ways in 2012, winning their division for the first time in over a decade.

They succeeded largely because of the play of impact rookies such as Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris, along with savvy veterans like Santana Moss and London Fletcher. Altogether, the Redskins improved as a whole on both sides of the ball and definitely took steps towards becoming a Super Bowl contender.

Since the season ended, this squad has only improved. Washington solidified its rickety secondary through the draft and free agency, which will only help them in 2013. It also doesn’t have the hardest schedule, and RG3 will have digested a whole season and offseason, maturing that much more.

So, the question is this: Can the Redskins win Super Bowl XLVIII? Well, they certainly have a chance and not just that “on any given Sunday” type of chance.

The biggest worry for the Redskins is obviously the knee of their star quarterback. At 23 years old, RG3 has had two major knee surgeries and, although he looks to be recovering just fine, he isn’t Superman.

Of course, while Washington stands a better chance of winning if Griffin III is in the game, he’s not the only puzzle piece it’ll need to fit in order to put together a championship season.

Between top draft picks like David Amerson and Phillip Thomas, along with free-agent corner E.J. Biggers, Washington has certainly bandaged its secondary. However, there is just too much youth at the defensive back position for the organization to be super confident.

If Amerson, Thomas and late-round pick Bacarri Rambo can perform as most people expect them to, Washington should be OK, but there is still lingering doubt for sure. The doubt itself stems solely from the fact that none of them have played a single down in the NFL, but preseason will (obviously) be the best tell as to whether or not these young guys are ready.

Aside from defensive back, the Redskins are pretty set.

The offense is solid, although the offensive line could use a little work. It will also be interesting to see how rookie TE Jordan Reed fits into the team’s game plan, but I’m sure he will find his niche.

The main objective that the Redskins needed to focus on this offseason was maintaining their pieces from a year ago. Continuity is key in the NFL, and Washington’s big wigs have done a pretty good job of keeping together a division-winning team.

Another large obstacle in the Redskins’ way is their schedule. Now, I did mention earlier that they don’t have the hardest schedule in the league, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have some tough games.

Washington will have go on the road to take on the Packers, Broncos and Falcons. I don’t know about you, but to me that sounds like driving across the country just to get the wind knocked out of you.

Now, that’s not to say the burgundy and gold don’t stand a chance. The Redskins will definitely put up a fight against these NFL juggernauts, but whether or not they are “winnable games” is still up in the air.

There will also be some added incentive to win at Denver, too; It will be Mike Shanahan’s first time back at Mile High since being fired by the team a few years back.

While there aren’t a whole lot of things standing in the way of the Redskins’ Super Bowl endeavors, what does stand in their way is certainly intimidating.

I wrote earlier that the majority of this team’s success or failure will fall squarely on the shoulders of its quarterback, but what will truly carry them to the big game will be whether or not they can continue to improve as each week passes. They don’t have a plethora of big stars or anything, but the blue collar attitude seems to fit this team well.

So, can the Redskins win the Super Bowl? Sure. Will they? Probably not, but they are close.

How Far Can the St. Louis Cardinals Depth Carry Them?

Corey Noles — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:30:28 -0400

For the last two years, we’ve heard repeatedly about the ridiculous depth of the St. Louis Cardinals.

There’s been a long line of serious talent working its way through the farm system for the last few years just waiting for holes to open up that would give them an opportunity.

All they want is an opportunity.

Well, in 2013 they’re getting that opportunity.

While depth is a great asset, there’s no doubt the Cardinals would prefer to not be digging quite so deep into it just yet. Some eight weeks into the season and the Cardinals have already promoted six pitchers (if you include Shelby Miller and Trevor Rosenthal.)

So far, the youth has put on quite the show in St. Louis with pitchers Shelby Miller, Trevor Rosenthal, Carlos Martinez, John Gast, Tyler Lyons and Seth Maness combining for an 11-3 record.

That group of six has pitched a total of 19 innings—75.1 as starters and 38.2 from the bullpen.

They’ve helped the Cardinals weather various catastrophes this season, including two starting pitcher injuries and a bullpen meltdown that would have been a nightmare without bringing these guys us.

They continue to steady the rocking boat.

Of course, it’s important to keep things in perspective. While it’s been a little rocky on occasion, the Cardinals still have 30 wins with about one-third of May still to go.

It’s funny to see how shaken up people have gotten despite the fact that for quite some time the Cardinals had the best record in baseball. Keep perspective.

There is an interesting question to investigate regarding the Cardinals pitching depth, however.

Do the Cardinals have enough left in the minor leagues to continue to carry them or are they rapidly expending their stockpile of fresh talent?

Let’s take a look at what they have left on the cusp of the major leagues.

Michael Wacha

We’re starting with the obvious. Wacha was arguably one of the hidden gems in the 2012 MLB Draft. Wacha is mature beyond his years with a fastball that has been major-league ready since, well, before he was drafted. While he’s made some adjustments and has been refining his off-speed deliveries in Memphis, he is capable of contributing at the major league level right now. Regardless, they’re trying not to rush him because most everyone believes he has top-of-the-rotation talent.

Tyrell Jenkins

Jenkins, 20, is in his fourth season in the Cardinals farm system. That is not a misprint. He’s still pretty raw, but has a gorgeous, fluid-type motion that powers a nasty fastball. He’s still garnering control and had a setback in 2012 when an August shoulder injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

He’s pitching in Single-A Peoria to start the season and is 3-2 with a 4.33 ERA over 35 IP through his first seven starts. He’s not ready, but he’s still just a young pup. He seems healthier and still has some developing to do. I wouldn’t expect to see him before 2015, at which time he will be in his sixth minor league season at age 22. Wow.

Michael Blazek

Blazek has been in the minors for quite some time but is having an impressive season at Double-A Springfield so far. The RH reliever has a 0.92 ERA over 17 games (19.2 IP) and has surrendered only two earned runs, no home runs and two walks. His 7 saves tie him for the team lead. He won’t likely be a long-term call-up, but if someone from the bullpen goes down, he could be a stop-gap candidate.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that if the Cardinals found themselves in need of another starter, Martinez, Rosenthal and Kelly (even though he hasn’t looked good so far) are all candidates.

They wouldn’t have to promote anyone because two of the best arms are right there hanging out in the bullpen.

Then there’s the elephant in the room...

Chris Carpenter

Carpenter is positioning himself for yet another storybook return to the mound. As we’ve learned the past three seasons, Carpenter likes to make an entrance.

If he came back last year, there’s no reason to expect any less from him in 2013.

There are still others within the system who could play fill-in roles, but there’s no one I would recommend over a healthy Carpenter today.

With the 2013 draft just around the corner, the Cardinals will once again be looking for that diamond in the rough—that late-round pick capable of replenishing the stockpile.

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak and owner Bill Dewitt are transforming the way the modern team approaches roster development.

This is the kind of thing they’ll make a movie about in another 20 years if things continue to work for them. So just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Stats obtained from MLB.com and MILB.com on May 24, 2013.

Follow @CoreyNoles

5 Undrafted Free Agents Who Can Make the Chicago Bears Roster

Matt Eurich — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:24:52 -0400

Each and every year, hundreds of college players look forward to hearing their names called during the NFL draft. While some ultimately hear their names get called, many sit through the three-day ordeal without getting a phone call.

While it may seem like the end of the road, many of those players get the opportunity to choose where they would like to sign as an undrafted free agent.

Most undrafted players fail to make it on an NFL roster, but some have had great success in the NFL such as Arian Foster, Wes Welker, James Harrison and Kurt Warner.

Along with their six draft picks, the Chicago Bears brought in a bevy of undrafted free agents who hope to make their mark with the coaching staff and make the roster for the 2013 season.

Here are five undrafted free agents who can make the Bears roster.

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