Bleacher Report - Front Page

Arsenal: Are the Gunners Better with or Without Jack Wilshere?

James McNicholas — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:00:00 -0400

Jack Wilshere's return from injury was undoubtedly one of the highlights of Arsenal's 2012-13 campaign. He was viewed by many fans as a messiah who could single-handedly save the Gunners' season.

His early form suggested that the expectation levels were justified. Wilshere marked his return from his 18 month lay-off by starting the home match with QPR in October. Instantly, Arsenal fans were reminded of his extraordinary gifts. It was as if he hadn't been away.

By December, Arsene Wenger was heralding the return of Wilshere's "little burst" on the club website:

He is getting closer to the player we know he is and today I think he made a big step. You could see it already this week in training, that he has gained a little burst again, a little zip in the first three or four yards.

The reappearance of that characteristic acceleration was a sure sign that the young midfielder's game was returning to its former glory. Wilshere's performances reached their zenith in January's FA Cup clash with Swansea, as he capped a man-of-the-match display by crashing home the winning goal with a volley from the edge of the box.

However, when Arsenal faced Tottenham in early March, Wilshere suffered damage to his vulnerable ankle.

He missed eight weeks of action before returning in a 3-1 win over Norwich. Even then, Arsene Wenger admitted to the BBC that he had “rushed” the midfielder back in to action.

Between March and the end of the season, Wilshere faded into the background, spending more time on the substitutes' bench than in central midfield.

The reason for Wilshere’s absence was two-fold.

First and foremost, there was a concern over the player’s fitness. Arsene Wenger was evidently keen to protect a player who required minor surgery at the end of the season. Using Wilshere as a substitute allowed Arsenal to postpone the surgery without incurring great risk.

It was also a tactical choice. After the derby defeat against Spurs, Arsene Wenger restructured his side around a midfield trio of Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky. All three players are arguably more defensively disciplined than Wilshere.

Along with the central defensive pairing of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, the new-look midfield established a solid platform upon which a pragmatic Arsenal side would build their successful campaign for Champions League qualification.

The statistics suggest this iteration of the Arsenal XI was more successful than its predecessor:

It’s no surprise to see that Arsenal conceded fewer goals without Wilshere. Even when Wilshere starts in a holding midfield role he is unable to deny his attacking inclinations, and this can lead to the Gunners being caught on the counterattack.

The surprising stat is that Arsenal also scored more goals without Wilshere in the side. This is best explained by the fact that Wilshere’s withdrawal from the first XI also coincided with Santi Cazorla being moved into the front three, where he was able to wreak havoc more freely.

The win ratio of 60 percent speaks for itself. In 2012-13, Arsene were better without Wilshere.

However, this is unlikely to be the case in 2013-14.

Wilshere remains one of the squad’s most talented players and a talisman for supporters. Arsene Wenger must find a way to reincorporate the young playmaker in to his team, as he is destined to be a huge part of the club’s future.

Manchester United Lose Millions on Irish Property Deal

Willie Gannon — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:30:00 -0400

Manchester United are still paying the price for one of the worst financial deals in the club's history. The Red Devils' are still paying rent on their Dublin Megastore in Ireland—11 years after the store closed its doors for the last time.

According to Jack Fagan of The Irish Times, United have spent €520,000 per year on rent since they first bought the store in 1999—the year they famously won the Treble.

Considering that the failed venture closed in 2002, just over two years after first opening its doors, this, in the fullness of time, can be seen as nothing but a dreadful deal gone wrong. So confident were United in 1999 when agreeing to rent the landmark Lafayette building, that they agreed to a 15-year lease of €520,000 per year.

Add their rent together since 1999 and you come up with a cool €7.8 million. On top of which the Red Devils must pay a further €390,000 penalty fee to finally end the leasing arrangements. The total sum United will have paid out by August 15, 2015, when the lease finally ends, will be a whopping €8.2 million.

The famous six-storey landmark building, on the corner of Westmoreland Street and D'Olier Street, will go on sale next week for just €3.5 million.

The Dublin Megastore opened to huge fanfare in November 1999, with Roy Keane, Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Neville and Mark Bosnich all coming over to Ireland for the grand opening. At the time, a United spokesman described the shop as the "closest experience you can get to actually going to a game" for United fans. Time would prove how wrong he was.

Part of the enticement to get fans to shop in the store was live Premier League Manchester United matches. Fans would also get the chance to buy the official match program, which would be flown in especially for matchdays.

However, the store proved to be an unmitigated disaster despite the club having a rich and long history with Irish players and coaches. Former Ireland and Manchester United legend Roy Keane was captain of the side when the Irish store opened in '99.

Somewhat embarrassingly, the much-vaunted 15,000 square foot Megastore closed in February 2002 amidst poor sales and the club's plummeting stock price. Since then the famous building has been used as a clothing store, cafe and in 2011, as lease holders, United helped renovate part of the old shop into the Lafayette cafe and bar.

The backdrop to this failed property venture began in September 1998 when BSkyB tried to buy the club for £623 million.

United, on the verge of an unprecedented treble, saw how the potential deal could send the club into the stratosphere and began to expand rapidly across the world. They opened over 20 stores across Europe and Asia and announced a further 150 such ventures. It is worth noting that Dublin was the first such Megastore outside the Old Trafford HQ.

The proposed sale to BSkyB was eventually turned down by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

The government-based body found that a merger between the Premier League broadcaster and United would give the club an unfair advantage when negotiating broadcasting rights.

Upon being turned down by the MMC, BSkyB immediately lobbied the government for approval.

However, on April 9, 1999, just two days after United drew 1-1 with Juventus in the first leg of the semifinal of the Champions League, the Department of Trade and Industry followed the MMC's recommendation and barred Rupert Murdoch and BSkyB from buying the club.

The end result was seen by many fans as a major victory against corporate football. The government's decision, however, cost Manchester United an estimated £85 million. Fifteen percent was wiped off their stock value after the DTI's announcement.

The off-the-pitch announcement did little to deter the team on the field of play. Led from the front by Keane, United stormed to the Premier League title, the FA Cup and Champions League and went unbeaten for 33 games after Christmas.

The 1999 team is still hailed today as one of the greatest English teams of all time. They set the precedent for all the United players and teams that followed. They also put the club back on the map as a world power instead of just being a massive club.

Today, Manchester United is owned by Malcolm Glazer after the American tycoon won control of the club in 2005 with a £790 million takeover.

On the field, the club could not be more different.

Sir Alex Ferguson has departed and has been replaced by ex-Everton boss David Moyes. The club also took a huge stock market hit when the Scot announced his decision to retire. United lost almost five percent of its value in the first 10 minutes of trading on the New York stock exchange on May 8.

Most of that money was recouped when Moyes was announced as his successor, however.

Moyes will find that he is now under an unscrupulous microscope. His every move and decision will be analyzed to the nth degree like never before—especially his transfer dealings.

One thing is almost for sure: He won't make a deal that will still haunt the club in 15 years—or will he?

Statistics from PremierLeague.com

You can follow me on Twitter @WillieGannon.

And listen to me on the Hold the Back Page podcast.

MLB Prospects Update: Hottest, Coldest Hitters at Every Minor League Level

Jason Martinez — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:42:03 -0400

The last edition of this feature included Wil Myers and Xander Bogaerts as the "Who's Hot" in Triple-A and Double-A so it's not surprising that both have earned promotions since.

Myers debuted with the Rays on Tuesday and is 2-for-12 with a double and two runs batted in thus far. Bogaerts, a 20-year-old shortstop who is easily the top prospect in the Red Sox system, homered in his second Triple-A game but only has five hits in his first 23 at-bats.

On the flip side, it seems that I've also motivated the pair of "Who's Cold" hitters from the same levels. Giants center-field prospect Gary Brown has turned it on since a rough start with 17 hits in his last 41 at-bats, including five homers and five doubles for Triple-A Fresno.

My Double-A pick, Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed, is doing what he can to turn his season around. He still has a long way to go, but he's raised his average to .183 with 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats, including a homer, triple and three doubles.

Triple-A

Hot
OF Nick Castellanos, Detroit Tigers
Season stats: .296 BA, 10 HR, 38 RBI, 21 2B, 35 BB, 57 K, 3 SB in 74 games

One of my recent predictions for the "Next 8 Top Prospects To Make Their MLB Debut," Castellanos continues to make a case for the starting left field job in Detroit while Andy Dirks is clearly losing his grip on the gig (.448 OPS in June).

The 21-year-old can still have the occasional game where he looks far from being ready—he went 0-for-9 with eight strikeouts on June 15-16—but his overall numbers tell a different story. He's hitting .317 with seven homers, 28 runs batted in, 12 doubles, 26 walks and 34 strikeouts over his last 47 games.

At the least, he should be platooning with Dirks early in the second half. If the current trend continues, the job will be his much sooner.

Cold

IF Carlos Sanchez, Chicago White Sox
Season stats: .227 BA, 0 HR, 19 RBI, 10 2B, 3B, 18 BB, 43 K, 9 SB in 64 games

The switch-hitting infielder rose up the prospect ranks in 2012 quickly as he went from High-A to Triple-A with a stop at the Futures Game on the way.

After hitting well over .300 in 122 games between High-A and Double-A, Sanchez struggled in a late-season 11-game stint with Triple-A Charlotte. The 20-year-old appeared close, however, so it's surprising that he's continued to struggle at the level in 2013.

Double-A

Hot

OF Reymond Fuentes, San Diego Padres
Season stats: .332 BA, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 14 2B, 2 3B, 31 BB, 50 K, 23 SB in 63 games

Acquired from the Red Sox in the Adrian Gonzalez deal, the former first-round prospect fell completely off the prospect radar after two mediocre seasons with the organization (.711 OPS in High-A in 2011; .604 OPS in Double-A in 2012).

But the 22-year-old Fuentes, who is the cousin of Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran, is finally starting to live up to his potential in a repeat of Double-A. If he finishes out the year strong, the Padres could end up with one of those good problems to have with Fuentes knocking down the door to the majors by 2015 and current center fielder Cameron Maybin signed through the 2016 season.

Cold

3B Kaleb Cowart, Los Angeles Angels
Season stats: .209 BA, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 11 2B, 3B, 22 BB, 60 K, 7 SB in 68 games

When the Angels signed third baseman Alberto Callaspo to a contract extension this offseason that pushed his free agency back to the end of the 2014 season, I was not a fan of the move.

For starters, Callaspo is not a highly productive third baseman—he had a .692 OPS in 2012 and has a .682 OPS this season. And then there was Cowart, the top prospect in the organization and "Third Baseman of the Future" who was coming off of a strong season between High-A and Low-A (.276 BA, 16 HR, 103 RBI, 31 2B, 7 3B, 67 BB, 111 K, 14 SB).

Why block his chances of breaking through to the majors in 2014 by bringing back Callaspo?

Well, this is why. And by "this," I mean he is completely overmatched in Double-A, which is a good test for any prospect. At 21 years old, Cowart is not proving to be ready. It doesn't mean he won't be a good big leaguer, but expecting him before 2015 is unrealistic.

High-A

Hot

SS Alen Hanson, Pittsburgh Pirates
Season stats: .291 BA, 4 HR, 27 RBI, 14 2B, 5 3B, 24 BB, 49 K, 19 SB in 63 games

Low-A teammates Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco proved in 2012 that the Pirates didn't just have elite pitching prospects in their system. Hanson, a switch-hitting shortstop, finished the season with a .909 OPS, 62 extra-base hits (16 HR, 33 2B, 13 3B) and 35 stolen bases, while center fielder Polanco showed off his plus tools with a .910 OPS, 48 extra-base hits (16 HR, 26 2B, 6 3B) and 40 stolen bases.

It's been more of the same in 2013 with Polanco so impressive that he earned a call-up to Double-A after just 57 games. The 20-year-old Hanson, who struggled in April (.654 OPS), had a big May (.840 OPS) and is now doing what he can to rejoin Polanco with an even better June (.920 OPS).

Cold

OF Luis Domoromo, San Diego Padres
Season stats: .198 BA, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 7 2B, 3B, 12 BB, 54 K, 2 SB in 50 games

One of the top prospects in Latin America when the Padres inked him to a seven-figure deal in 2008, Domoromo has been a bust thus far with only one decent season under his belt (.740 OPS in Low-A in 2011).

The 21-year-old is now struggling for a second consecutive season in the hitter-friendly High-A California League, which usually means the end of the line for a minor leaguer. If you can't hit there, it's not a good sign, although the Padres will probably be more patient with him considering the investment made.

Low-A

Hot

OF Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
Season stats: .344 BA, 8 HR, 52 RBI, 15 2B, 8 3B, 40 BB, 51 K, 29 SB in 64 games

The 19-year-old is clearly a man among boys in the Midwest League, dominating in all facets of the game. It's not a stretch to think he's the top prospect in all of baseball after his impressive run.

Between Buxton and power-hitting third baseman Miguel Sano, the Twins also probably have the top prospect duo in all of the minors. Both could reach Minnesota as 21-year-olds in 2015.

Cold

3B Dante Bichette Jr.
Season stats: .201 BA, 4 HR, 36 RBI, 7 2B, 3B, 20 BB, 66 K in 63 games

A second-round pick in 2011, Bichette looked like the second coming of his father, Dante Bichette Sr., the former member of the Rockies' famed Blake Street Bombers, after he posted a .952 OPS in 52 rookie league games.

But the 20-year-old third baseman is having trouble with Low-A pitching for the second consecutive season—he had a .653 OPS there in 2012. He's only 3-for-44 in the month of June and could be a candidate for a demotion to short-season ball so he can try to get some confidence back.

Buying or Selling LA Lakers Rumors Ahead of the NBA Draft

Richard Le — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:39:41 -0400

As the NBA draft nears, it is clear that the Los Angeles Lakers don't have a lot of options.

With their contracts for next season eclipsing the salary cap even without re-signing Dwight Howard, they can't make any significant pickups in order to restructure their team.

Despite their salary cap issues and the looming decision Howard has to make in regards to the team he wishes to sign with, there are a myriad of rumors involving the Lakers and their next moves.

Mark Stein from ESPN Los Angeles does a good job of recapping the rumors involving Howard and a possible sign-and-trade to the Los Angeles Clippers for a package of Blake Griffin and Eric Bledsoe.

While Stein makes it apparent that the Lakers won't dismiss this option, they are more inclined to take on a reprieve from their salary cap woes if they lose Howard rather than making a hasty deal for other players via a sign-and-trade.

Further debunking this rumor is the fact that the Clippers are deep in talks with the Celtics in terms of trying to acquire Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett in order to convince Chris Paul to re-sign, according to ESPN's Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne.

If the Clippers were to make this deal with the Celtics, that could possibly include Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan, they won't be in a position to offer the Lakers enough to convince them to do a sign-and-trade involving Howard.

While there are a myriad of rumors involving the Clippers, there have also been rumblings that Howard and Paul are in constant communication in terms of trying to end up on the same team.

ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reports that Howard and Paul are trying to determine possible destinations that could potentially house both superstars.

While the Atlanta Hawks are a viable team that could make that move, the original rumor regarding the Clippers has merit because they would have the cap space to fit both superstars if the Lakers would agree to a sign-and-trade.

Again, this rumor, though probably valid, could lead to nothing, given the Clippers' current attempt to trade for Rivers and Garnett.

There have also been rumors, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, that Howard is leaning toward the Houston Rockets as a possible destination as well.

This would be a great destination for Howard, who has shown himself to be unaccustomed to the media spotlight and scrutiny that the Los Angeles spotlight garners.

There would be less pressure to succeed in Houston. However, the Rockets are also a proven playoff team with a young nucleus and a co-star for Howard in James Harden.

Their uptempo style and three-point shooting barrage was only missing a true interior presence. Howard can give them that interior force while also running alongside their fast-paced shooters.

Cost-Effective Moves the LA Clippers Can Make in Free Agency

Oren Friedman — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:22:13 -0400

With six players set to enter unrestricted free agency on July 1, the Los Angeles Clippers’ front office will be looking to bolster a talented roster with solid veteran additions.

The Clippers' future is unsettled, as much of this summer will be dictated by Chris Paul’s free agency decision. The team’s coaching vacancy as well as revived discussions with the Boston Celtics to acquire Kevin Garnett, Doc Rivers and potentially Paul Pierce also bring to light more personnel management and salary-cap ramifications.

LAC has key players like Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford locked up for the foreseeable future. Although DeAndre Jordan is on the books through the 2014-15 season, he could be on his way out if the Celtics’ deal goes through. Prized young backup point guard Eric Bledsoe might also be out of Los Angeles if the Clips can secure Paul’s signature on a contract extension this summer.

Given that the complexion of the roster might be entirely different by opening night, it is challenging to anticipate what sort of major moves the Clips will make this summer. If the Celtics deal goes through, will Los Angeles try to acquire Pierce if he is bought out of his current contract? Will rumors of a Bledsoe swap for Orlando Magic swingman Arron Afflalo come to fruition if Paul re-signs?

If the Clips build an instant contender and another superteam, will veterans take a pay cut to chase a ring? Over the last couple seasons, both Shane Battier and Ray Allen, among others, have taken smaller contracts in pursuit of a ring.

As a result of these scenarios, we will focus on three potential cost-effective signings that could bolster an already-loaded roster.

Samuel Dalembert

A tough interior defender and a monster rebounder, Samuel Dalembert could provide some much-needed toughness to the Clippers’ front line.

Having played on four NBA teams over his 11-year career, Dalembert could make his first deep playoff run in Lob City. Over his career, Dalembert has averaged 8.1 rebounds per game.

Significantly, Dalembert is coming off of a down year. Playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, he averaged the fewest rebounds in his career since his rookie season in 2001-02. He saw virtually no postseason action, appearing in just one playoff game in the Bucks’ first-round series against the Miami Heat.

Consequently, the Clips might be able to acquire Dalembert for less than his market value. He could play the role of veteran enforcer, similar to Reggie Evans or Kenyon Martin in 2011-12.

Regardless of whether the Clippers have Jordan, Garnett or someone else starting at center, Los Angeles could benefit from the interior toughness provided by Dalembert.

Matt Bonner

A career 41.7 percent shooter from downtown, Matt Bonner’s sweet stroke would give the Clippers a dead-eye three-point shooter that could space the floor.

Bonner has made a living for the San Antonio Spurs over the last seven seasons by feasting on open jumpers as a result of the dribble penetration from Tony Parker and skilled passing of Tim Duncan.

The Red Rocket was paid around $3.6 million this season and has a non-guaranteed contract with the Spurs for roughly $3.95 million next season. Despite the Spurs’ culture of loyalty and player cultivation, Bonner might be let go this summer.

Role players are not immune to the type of security afforded to San Antonio’s big three.

Remember, Stephen Jackson was released after playing 55 games this season to make room for Tracy McGrady. Given the host of three-point shooters in San Antonio such as Gary Neal and Danny Green, Bonner’s services might be dispensable this summer.

Having chased championships with the silver and black for the majority of his career, Bonner might want to continue on a contender. Although he is not the greatest defender, his shooting and championship savvy would be a welcome addition to the Clippers.

Convincing the 33-year-old to take less than his market value might be a challenge, but the allure of another ring would certainly be enticing. Beyond the love affair that the Clipper faithful will have with Bonner’s New Balance shoes, the sharpshooter’s presence would be a welcome upgrade to the roster.

Matt Barnes

Having earned under $900,000 on his one-year deal with the Clippers this season, Matt Barnes’ production should certainly earn him a raise this summer.

Barnes’ renaissance year should open the door for many potential suitors willing to sign the UCLA product to a multi-year deal. However, Barnes’ comfort in Los Angeles and integral role in the team’s success might compel the 33-year-old veteran to re-sign with the Clippers this summer.

Caron Butler’s role as starting small forward is certainly unsustainable. Even this season, Barnes earned a more prominent role than Butler in the rotation while outperforming him on the floor. Barnes scored the most points per game in his career this season despite starting in only four games.

Barnes has already expressed interest in re-upping in Los Angeles this summer. If the Clips can hang on to Barnes without breaking the bank, then they should definitely consider bringing back the gritty defender.

All statistics used from Basketball-Reference.com, ESPN.com and Hoopsworld.com.

5-Star Offensive Lineman Damian Prince Visits Buckeyes Today

Austin Kemp — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:20:54 -0400

There’s no question that while Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes were reeling in the top recruiting class last February, the offensive line was the area that was not fully addressed.

Not wanting a repeat for the 2014 class, coach Meyer hit the recruiting trail hard early in this year’s process and has received verbal commitments from two offensive linemen, Marcelys Jones and Kyle Trout—and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

On Thursday, June 20, another O-line prospect steps on campus—6’6", 300-pound 5-star lineman Damian Prince.

Damian Prince will visit #OhioState http://t.co/WZL7pvmPX8 RT @HeavyGleesh Ohio state visit tomorrow, its official!

— Alex Gleitman (@alexgleitman) June 19, 2013

Prince is a Maryland native and holds offers from just about every top program in the country. While Ohio State is in the mix, it could be a fight all the way to the end alongside Alabama and Florida State. Already holding an invite to one of the most prestigious summer camps in America, The Opening held in Oregon, Prince is just the player the Buckeyes need to ink once February comes around.

Getting Prince on campus is huge for Ohio State. Coaches can make calls, visit schools, talk to parents, but until a prospect takes the time to visit, there’s no serious shot. What does this mean for Ohio State? The Buckeyes are a contender—a serious contender.

Though last year’s offensive line haul wasn’t what most preferred from a numbers standpoint, Urban Meyer can pitch something a lot of top tier programs cannot—a chance at early playing time.

When dealing with such a highly touted prospect like Prince, kids start to see the path to the NFL. The best way to prove your draft stock while in college is to play early and often. Prince would have that ability if he does in fact end up in scarlet and grey. Sure, national championships and bowl games are nice, but in more cases than not, they're not something top recruits base their "which school should I attend" decision on.

Urban Meyer has already imposed himself as arguably the top recruiter at the college level. He knows what it takes to land a top prospect like Prince, and he’ll chase him all the way to signing day. When Meyer is your coach, there is no reason why you should worry about recruiting. The guy gets it.

Prince is not a make-or-break player for the 2014 class, but he would certainly be a great get. Meyer and his staff realize this is a big year to address the line, and they won’t be denied a player at the position they need most.

Why Game 7 of NBA Finals Is Bound to Disappoint

Grant Hughes — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:42:29 -0400

There's no way Game 7 between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs will measure up to the impossibly high standard the two teams set in Game 6. Not that there's any shame in that; the epic battle that resulted in Miami staving off elimination with a 103-100 win will surely go down as an all-time great.

While it seems like the built-in drama of a winner-take-all Game 7 would naturally produce a more memorable contest, realistically it's going to be nearly impossible to top what we've already seen.

Chances are we won't witness another five-point advantage being erased in the final 28 seconds or an 18-point outburst from a headband-less LeBron James in the fourth quarter and overtime.

And logically, it seems unlikely that Tony Parker will hit an impossible step-back three over James or that Tim Duncan will start the game by making nine straight shots.

The NBA will have a champion after Game 7, but fans who watched Game 6 have already seen the best theater both teams have to offer. Cue the slo-mo highlights:

Dramatic, huh?

Apart from the basic truth that it'd be almost impossible to produce a game as exciting as the one we saw on June 18, there seems to be some kind of historical precedent for breathtaking Game 6s overshadowing the subsequent Game 7s. It's hard to say why that tends to happen. Dumb luck? Some kind of emotional hangover effect? Pure exhaustion?

Recent history provides plenty of examples in which the penultimate game in a series stands out as the high point (or at least the most memorable one), with the decisive Game 7 failing to match the intensity of its predecessor.

Buckner's Boot

I'm willing to bet that a lot of casual sports fans don't even realize that the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets went to a Game 7 in the 1986 World Series. Everyone certainly remembers Bill Buckner's game-changing error in Game 6, though.

Sox fans know all too well that Buckner's gaffe came in extra innings of Game 6, and the Boston still had a great chance to knock off the Mets in Game 7. In fact, the Red Sox led Game 7 by a score of 3-0 in the sixth inning before the Mets rallied to take the title.

The most iconic error in baseball history endures as the lasting image of that World Series, and the drama surrounding it clearly overshadowed the game that ultimately decided the championship.

Eight Outs Away

In the 2002 World Series, the San Francisco Giants had a 5-0 lead and needed to retire just eight Anaheim Angels batters to secure the title. But Giants manager Dusty Baker yanked starter Russ Ortiz in the seventh inning after the righty surrendered a pair of singles.

In relief, Felix Rodriguez gave up a three-run jack to Scott Spiezio, and then the Giants allowed another three runs in the eighth. The riveting 6-5 win for the Angels sucked the life out of the Giants, who then lost Game 7 by a final score 4-1.

If you're starting to see that a devastating Game 6 tends to have a negative effect on the losing team in Game 7, congratulations. The Spurs probably shouldn't be spending any time at Baseball-Reference.com between now and Game 7. They might start to realize that history—baseball history, anyway—doesn't bode well for them.

David Freese: Hero

The St. Louis Cardinals were down to their final strike in the ninth and 10th innings of Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. David Freese ripped a two-run triple to right field to tie the game up against Texas Rangers closer Neftali Feliz with two strikes and two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

Then he hit a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the 11th inning that forced a Game 7. That's the short synopsis of what might very well have been the best playoff game of the last 50 years.

Just as a rhetorical exercise—does anyone outside of Missouri or Texas recall what happened in Game 7? Of course not.

The Cards won 6-2 in a Game 7 that absolutely nobody remembers.

Olajuwon and Starks (And O.J.)

Game 6 of the 1994 NBA Finals was a tightly contested affair that saw the Knicks have a chance to win the title down the stretch. John Starks had a shot at the game-winner, but Hakeem Olajuwon recovered on a switch to block the attempt. Houston survived and went on to win by six in a forgettable Game 7.

Like all of the preceding examples, the signature moment of the series came in the second-to-last game.

Well, to be fair, O.J. Simpson's infamous "Bronco chase" preempted Game 5. I guess that was a pretty big deal, too.

Anyway, you get the idea.

The Game in Question

So, returning to the present, we've already established that the spectacular nature of Game 6 between the Heat and Spurs is going to be hard to duplicate. San Antonio is likely to struggle in its effort to recover from the mental anguish of coming so close to victory, only to watch it slip away faster than Ray Allen's perfect release on a jumper.

And the Heat, emboldened by their triumph, seem likely to ride the momentum to an easy victory. Anything could happen, and Miami hasn't won back-to-back playoff games since May, but all signs point to a ho-hum Game 7 (relatively speaking).

But hey, Game of Thrones may have already prepared us for the letdown by blowing everyone away (who hadn't read the books) when it (SPOILER!) offed Robb and Cat Stark in the second-to-last episode of the season.

In other words, Game 6 was the "Red Wedding," while Game 7 will be, uh, whatever the hell happened in the season finale.

Follow @g30three

Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Latest Buzz on Asier Illarramendi and Yaya Sanogo

Richard Langford — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:39:21 -0400

Arsenal certainly looks like they are embarking on a busy summer. Rumors about possible targets have been flying left and right.

While Gonzalo Higuain to Arsenal is hogging the bulk of the attention (the Daily Mail reports that Higuain will make the switch this summer), he certainly isn't the only possible future Gunner out there.

There are two young players connected to Arsenal, and I think both would be a nice fit and quality additions.

Asier Illarramendi

We'll start with Spain's Asier Illarramendi. He isn't the most well-known player, but he is a scintillating talent and could be on his way to Arsenal. This comes to us from Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail:

Meanwhile, The Gunners are leading the chase for Spain Under-21 international Asier Illarramendi.

The £10 million-rated Real Sociedad defensive midfielder has been outstanding all season and has attracted attention from Real Madrid.

This is a shrewd target for Arsenal. The 23-year-old is beginning to come into his own, and he is a nice fit for the Gunners.

He is a fantastic holding midfielder. He is a good tackler, has a knack for interceptions and is a quality passer. He also is fairly cheap. This would allow the Gunners to fill a hole while still having financial flexibility to make other additions. And we all know this will appeal to the fiscally minded Arsene Wenger.

Illarramendi made 32 starts for Real Sociedad this season and earned a solid 7.18 rating at Who Scored. He's also picked up valuable experience with Spain's U-21 team.

Yaya Sanogo

This acquisition could happen in a hurry. Check out this quote from Sanogo to France Football, which comes to us via ESPN UK:

Gilles Grimandi [Arsenal scout] came to see me from time to time at Auxerre too. One day he called me for a meeting in a Paris hotel and Arsene Wenger was there. I was very impressed. Wenger told me I would get opportunities and reassured me about my injury. He told me he had followed me for years. That meeting was very important and today I am an Arsenal player.

Then there was a report from John Cross of Mirror Football, stating this could happen in the next few days.

So, not only does it appear that Sanogo is headed toward Arsenal, but that he could be headed to the first team. Sanogo is just 20 years old, and there will be some growing pains, but there is no denying his talent.

He is an explosive forward with a fantastic first touch. Sanogo is physically gifted. He has a nice mix of size and speed. He will draw comparisons to Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke.

If there is one concern with Sanogo, it is with injuries. He has had a hard time staying healthy. While this could lead to frustration while he sits inactive, his upside makes that risk well worth it.

25 Best Ways for College Football Fans to Get over Tough Losses

Lafe Peavler — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:35:58 -0400

All college football fans suffer tough losses. Even the most successful programs can't win every single game.

Knowing how to deal with a devastating loss is part of loving the game.

National champion Alabama lost to Texas A&M, after all.

Many fans look to drown their sorrows in alcohol, but these 25 ways to get over tough losses won't require a hangover cure. Whether it's doing some physical activity, eating some good food or just shouting, there are plenty of things fans can do to help themselves feel better.

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Are the Minnesota Vikings the Most Underrated Team in the NFL?

Matthew Stensrud — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:33:40 -0400

The Minnesota Vikings finished the 2012 NFL season with a 10-6 record, which included one of the best single-season rushing performances in league history by Adrian Peterson.

The six-year veteran was a mere nine yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson's record of 2,105 yards on his way to receiving the 2012 MVP award—the first running back to do so since LaDanian Tomlinson in 2006.

In addition to coming off surgery to repair the torn ACL that Vikings' all-time leading rusher suffered a year earlier against the Washington Redskins, Peterson also underwent surgery for a sports hernia following the 2012 season.

With Peterson at 100 percent entering the upcoming season, one could anticipate high expectations for a team sporting a top offensive line behind Matt Kalil, John Sullivan and Phil Loadholt.

Add in a draft that included three selections in the first round—Sharrif Floyd, Xavier Rhodes and Cordarrelle Patterson—which all met immediate and future needs for the Vikings, you might expect the team to be on the radar as a potential contender in the NFC for a deep playoff run.

Right?

Well, not so fast.

Instead, the Minnesota Vikings appear to be a team once again on the outside looking in as forecast by "experts" as another convoluted NFL season approaches.

ESPN has the Vikings ranked 17th in its recent power rankings, with nine other teams ahead of them in the NFC. This means that even after the playoffs are set, Minnesota ranks fourth among teams watching from home.

Out of all playoff teams from 2012, ESPN's rankings put the Vikings dead last prior to the start of the 2013 season, with two sub-.500 teams, the New Orleans Saints (7-9) and St. Louis Rams (7-8-1), both rated ahead of Minnesota.

The experts over at Bristol are not the only ones down on the Vikings this year. Will Brinson of CBSSports.com predicts the Vikings will be under the win total odds of 7.5 set by Las Vegas. A difficult schedule and regression by Peterson are cited as the rationale for the prediction.

Continuing with Vegas odds, Minnesota is the greatest long shot to win the Super Bowl among all 2012 playoff teams, coming in at 50-1 to bring home the Lombardy Trophy.

And while Christian Ponder seems to be a common target for criticism, finishing 21st in passer rating at 81.2, the third-year quarterback has an improved arsenal of receivers with former Packer Greg Jennings and rookie Cordarrelle Patterson joining the team.

Combine that with Pro Bowl MVP Kyle Rudolph and an emerging threat in slot receiver Jarius Wright, it would be fair for fans to scratch their head as to why so many pundits expect a 10-win playoff team to regress so much.

However, this tends to be the trend for analysts predicting the fate of the Minnesota Vikings, a team that has not been to a Super Bowl since the 1976 season and has lost three NFC Championship Games over the last 15 years.

History seems to be battling the likelihood for success of this upcoming season, one that includes the best running back in the NFL, young players continuing to develop at key positions and an overall improved team following free agency and the NFL draft.

Looking at the overall landscape of the NFL, it's hard to find a team more underrated than the Minnesota Vikings in 2013.

But maybe that's just the type of motivation the team needs to shake its harshest critics.

Follow me on Twitter and Google+

Follow @MattStensrud

MLS Wrap: Recapping Wednesday's Games

Oliver Field — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:10:39 -0400

It was business as usual for the home teams in midweek action. All four of Wednesday's matches saw the host emerge with at least a point, but not without a bit of drama.

Chicago came from behind to beat Colorado, while Vancouver had to do the same against Chivas later in the evening.

The Timbers continued their remarkable unbeaten run in a closely contested match in SoCal, while Montreal showed why they are the pride of Canada with another impressive shutout at home.

There are plenty of goals to discuss, so read further to recap all the action from the day.

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2014 World Cup: Africa's World Cup Qualifying Thrown into Chaos by Controversy

Frank Wagner — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:01:51 -0400

The qualification process for the 2014 World Cup in Africa has encountered some massive upheavals that threaten to send it into disarray.

With just one match remaining for every team in CAF's second round of qualifying, the proceedings seemed to be wrapping up nicely with five of the 10 groups already decided.

However, two of those groups could be back in play heading into September's final matches, as world governing body FIFA has confirmed, via its website, that it is investigating "three member associations for each having allegedly fielded an ineligible player in the preliminary competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup."

The two nations whose progress has been put in doubt are Ethiopia and Tunisia, while the third nation being investigated is Togo.

In Group A, Ethiopia seemed to clinch the group with a victory over South Africa Sunday, eliminating Bafana Bafana from qualification less than three years on from the World Cup they hosted.

However, despite the fact that Minyahile Beyene had been booked in a draw at South Africa and a home victory over Botswana, the Ethiopian played in victories over Botswana and South Africa when he should have been suspended for a match.

The Ethiopia football federation has since admitted the mistake and said that they will accept any disciplinary action thrown their way, according to BBC.

FIFA has set a precedent in this qualification process for such matters, overturning three results to 3-0 losses for teams fielding ineligible players.

In fact, Sudan's 2-0 victory over Zambia was overturned to a 3-0 Zambia victory for a nearly identical situation to Ethiopia's.

Should Ethiopia's 2-1 win at Botswana be overturned, their lead over South Africa would be just two points.

Further, if both that result and their 2-1 victory over South Africa are overturned, Bafana Bafana would stunningly go from eliminated losers to group winners without playing a match.

Meanwhile, in Group B, Tunisia seemed to book progress to the CAF playoffs with a draw on Sunday.

However, the north Africans' group victory has been put in doubt by the result of a match that they had no part in.

Cape Verde Islands has appealed a 4-3 loss they suffered to Equatorial Guinea in March, claiming that their opponents had fielded an ineligible player.

If the result is overturned, the gap between Tunisia and Cape Verde would be just two points, meaning the group would still be in the balance heading into the September match between the two nations.

Finally, Togo is being investigated for having allegedly fielded an ineligible player in their 2-0 victory over Cameroon.

If the result is overturned, Cameroon would move from two points behind Libya to a point clear at the top of the group.

Hence, the complexion of the group heading into the final match between Cameroon and Libya hinges on this clerical decision.

With places in next summer's World Cup on the line, these decisions carry huge weight for the nations involved.

While it is certainly wrong for nations to field ineligible players, it is hard to imagine a place in the world's most prestigious tournament being decided by a clerical error.

Given the way these investigations and the playoff round go, though, that could very well be the case.

Follow @Fw1812

The NFL's Biggest Medical Concerns so Far This Offseason

Dave Siebert, MD — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:01:11 -0400

Usually, the NFL injury discussion ramps up during the preseason, but this year's offseason is not exactly devoid of pivotal medical storylines either. In fact, several injuries already pose major threats to some teams' 2013 seasons.

With that in mind, let's take a look at a few of the more notable injuries, ranked in order from least to most potential impact based on a combination of injury severity, recovery progress and player importance.

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Chelsea Transfer Rumours: Blues Can't Afford to Lose Juan Mata Over Contract

Justin Onslow — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

Jose Mourinho has only just returned to Stamford Bridge, and already he’s faced with some questions regarding one of his best players.

Or at least that’s what reports suggest.

According to Martin Lipton of the Daily Mirror, Barcelona have targeted midfielder Juan Mata as a top candidate for transfer this summer, and Mourinho may just be willing to go along with the plan:

Barcelona have targeted Juan Mata for a shock summer swoop because they believe he has fallen out with Jose Mourinho.

And the Nou Camp side have now sent out feelers in the direction of the former Valencia man Mata, ahead of a likely £30million bid.

The latest claim, coming from Catalonia, suggests Mourinho has blocked a wage increase due the 25-year-old under the terms of his current contract.

Sources in Spain insist Mata's 19 goals and 35 assists last term entitled him to a pay rise, but it has been vetoed at Mourinho's orders.

If those sources are correct, Mourinho may have already found himself in over his head. Mata was tremendous in tallying 54 points for the Blues last term, and he’s arguably Chelsea’s most important young player as they attempt to make a run at the Premier League title next term. If the 25-year-old has a salary dispute with the club, Mourinho would be wise to settle it now before the situation gets out of hand.

Of course, the source of such reports could also be coming from Camp Nou as the Catalan side try to stir up unrest and force Chelsea into making a poor decision. Given Barca’s obvious intent to make some changes this summer, that scenario would certainly make some sense.

What we know at this point is that Barcelona are interested, Mata has publicly admitted nothing of a salary dispute, and Chelsea have denied the rumours.

But there’s always more to the story than meets the eye.

It wouldn’t be a surprise for Mata to have a wage increase clause in his contract based on recent performance. It also wouldn’t be a surprise for Mourinho to have blocked the increase in order to free up funds.

What makes little sense is the idea that the Stamford Bridge boss would be willing to sell his best player over such a matter—unless, of course, he wants to free up a spot for Eden Hazard to shine as the club’s go-to playmaker, as Lipton suggests in his report.

Still, Chelsea can’t afford to let seemingly minor details uproot Mata and allow the situation to become toxic ahead of the summer transfer period. Both Chelsea and Mata have done well to quell the rumours, but speculations will only continue to increase until a definitive decision has been made.

Regardless of the validity of those rumours, Mourinho can’t afford to let Mata go at any cost, especially if that price is the reported £30 million offer Barcelona are preparing. Mata is worth more to Chelsea than a £30 million bid.

Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Buzz From Red Devils' Summer Window

Steven Cook — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

As usual, transfer rumors are flying around Manchester United as the club looks to build success from their 2012-13 Premier League title for years to come in the upcoming summer window.

While new manager David Moyes looks to begin the arduous task of replacing Sir Alex Ferguson, many names have come up as potential targets while some of the Red Devils' current players are plotting their exit.

Let's take a look at the latest buzz surrounding Manchester United.

Thiago Alcantara

Young Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara is being courted to come to Old Trafford, and the Red Devils currently lead the sweepstakes for the 22-year-old, Charles Perrin of the Daily Express reported late Tuesday:

The 22-year-old originally had a staggering £77m release clause inserted into his contract, but this has plummeted to £15.4m after he failed to feature in at least 60% of Barca's games last season.

Barcelona are looking to offload the budding star in order to make a push for Juan Mata of Chelsea, according to Jim Daly of the Daily Mirror. So in a way, United might be helping themselves and hurting a foe in the same move.

Alcantara has emerged as one of Spain's up-and-coming stars, but he's been unable to get first-team action as he's stuck behind Xavi and Andres Iniesta. And with the way those two are playing, he's not starting anytime soon.

It'll be interesting to see if United's curiosity on the Spanish midfielder formalizes into a deal.

Cesc Fabregas

Spanish phenom Cesc Fabregas was all over EPL transfer talk last week, but Simon Rice of The Independent reported Tuesday that Fabregas insists on staying with Barcelona.

Here's what Fabregas had to say:

People talk a lot but the truth is that no-one has spoken with me. I want to triumph in Barcelona, that club is my home and I always dreamed of playing there, so I will try and succeed there as long as I can.

The midfielder hasn't had an easy time finding his place at Barcelona, which has inevitably started up talk about an England return. But if Fabregas doesn't want to move, then that makes things much less likely.

If Fabregas' words are any indication, he doesn't seem set on a summer move to England.

Marco van Ginkel

The interest from Premier League powers is forming for Netherlands midfielder Marco van Ginkel, with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea tracking the 20-year-old according to Mark Ogden of the Daily Telegraph.

However, he currently plays for Europa League qualifiers Vitesse Arnhem, who are resistant on letting their prized youngster go.

Van Ginkel is currently on a post-tournament holiday and won't concentrate on the matter until he returns later this month, according to Ogden.

Another unfortunate development for United fans is that Vitesse have partnership agreements with Chelsea, which could complicate their competition with their EPL rival.

Liverpool Transfer News: Reds' Willingness to Spend Big Is Bold EPL Statement

Matt Fitzgerald — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:00:02 -0400

Liverpool's bold strategic approach to the summer transfer is a strong stand by the club, and a big statement to the rest of the English Premier League if management follows through on the prospective roster revamp.

According to a report by Goal.com chief correspondent Wayne Veysey, the Reds are prepared to spend £42 million to acquire four marquee players in Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Simon Mignolet, Luis Alberto and Christian Atsu.

Manager Brendan Rodgers' overhaul of the team, according to Veysey, is an attempt to gear the personnel more toward his preferred formation of 4-2-3-1.

That would only further fortify the depth of this team, which has already experienced a boost in acquiring Kolo Toure and Iago Aspas, per Veysey.

While the others are important, Manchester City's Toure should help absorb the retirement of legendary defender Jamie Carragher.

A player like Carragher is basically irreplaceable in terms of what he meant to the organization, but in terms of actual play during matches, according to English Premier League Index, the Ivorian figures to be a viable option to step in nicely:

The club's official Twitter was even having a hard time getting over the foreign concept of Carragher's absence on Wednesday:

It's not the only change that Rodgers is making in an effort to push the team into a progressive, new era, though.

Another particularly bold move involves the prospective transfer of Mignolet, the goalkeeper who would figure to replace longtime Reds stopper Pepe Reina.

Although Reina hasn't been as consistently great over the past few seasons, it's still a touchy situation dealing with such a popular and historically solid keeper. Mignolet was called early last season by Manchester City counterpart Joe Hart as the best goalkeeper in the league to that point.

However, it's risky because Mignolet would arrive from a club in Sunderland that barely avoided relegation this past season. It wasn't necessarily Mignolet to blame, but the increased expectations in Anfield will definitely be a factor.

According to Veysey, the most significant move would be getting Mkhitaryan. The Shakhtar Donetsk’s midfielder can play anywhere on the line and is especially dangerous on the attack.

BBC Sport's chief football writer, Phil McNulty, states that Rodgers feels Mkhitaryan is a key element to adding "more firepower" to the Reds next season. That will be vital to being more competitive in the EPL, where the top clubs sport attacking prowess nearly insurmountable on a consistent basis.

Also helping the cause with regard to Liverpool's offense will be Aspas, and Alberto will be a veteran mentor in the midfield to complement Mkhitaryan. The 21-year-old Atsu is also in an ideal environment to develop as a winger and future club cornerstone.

There is at least some hope that Liverpool could make a decent jump in the EPL next season if all the new pieces jell together properly for Rodgers.

Defending trophy bearer Manchester United dominated the competition, but are far from certain to do so again due to the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson as manager and a thin midfield unit.

The next four squads behind the Red Devils in the standings were all relatively close together with 70-plus points, but Liverpool was lagging behind a bit in seventh with 61 points to finish 2012-13.

By adding players in this kind of class and at a relatively reasonable cost, Rodgers and the Reds are building a promising product on the pitch that can more consistently contend for trophies in the future—perhaps sooner than expected.

Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Breaking Down Impact of Gonzalo Higuain for Gunners

Timothy Rapp — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:00:00 -0400

One of the oldest transfer rumours of this summer appears very close to coming true, as Arsenal and Gonzalo Higuain have reportedly reached an agreement that would bring the Real Madrid striker to North London.

And he's exactly what the Gunners need.

From John Cross of the Mirror:

Gonzalo Higuain has agreed to come to Arsenal as the club-record £22million deal nears conclusion.

Real Madrid striker Higuain and his agent father Jorge are believed to have agreed personal terms in excess of £130,000-a-week as Arsenal prepare to smash their transfer record and wage structure.

The Spanish giants circulated Higuain's name for transfer last month and gave him the green light to negotiate a move away from Real Madrid this summer.

Higuain is keen to move to the Emirates after two rounds of talks with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger who hopes to wrap up the formalities before the club's Far East tour in three weeks' time.

While Olivier Giroud improved throughout the course of the year and Lukas Podolski filled in admirably when called upon to play centrally, it became clear this season that the Gunners needed a true No. 9 to replace Robin van Persie, who departed for Manchester United last summer.

Higuain has always been a reliable scorer for Real Madrid, and though he only started 29 total games for Los Blancos this season, splitting time with Karim Benzema, he still managed to score 19 goals on the year.

Higuain is a true poacher, capable of finishing in virtually every manner. He can hold up play for the midfield or drop back and act as a facilitator for his teammates, as evidenced by his 17 assists for Real Madrid over the past two years.

He would step in as Arsenal's primary striker from day one, allowing Giroud to be used as a reinforcement or as a tactical starter atop the formation in certain matchups.

It would also signal an end to Theo Walcott's desires to play centrally, which is probably for the best since he was an absolute nightmare for defenders on the right wing last season.

It's really fun to imagine Higuain leading a forward line with Walcott to the right, Podolski or Santi Cazorla on the left and Cazorla or Jack Wilshere slotting in behind Higuain.

Then again, Podolski's work rate on the left wasn't overly impressive this season. And with Walcott loving to cut in centrally from the right and looking to score goals, adding a more technical player on the left like Cazorla may be preferable to Podolski, who like Walcott looks to find his shot.

But however Arsenal lines up next season, landing Higuain will mean the Gunners again have a pure goal-scorer. While holding midfielder will remain a major need, and other reinforcements may be needed if players are sold, the first domino in Arsenal's rumoured summer of spending will have finally fallen.

And it's a domino that should find the back of the net quite often in the Premier League.

Arsenal Transfer News: Gonzalo Higuain Makes Gunners True EPL Title Contenders

Alex Ballentine — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:59:23 -0400

Arsenal is set to make the biggest splash of the summer transfer window thus far with the signing of Gonzalo Higuain.

According to the Mirror, Higuain has agreed to a move to Arsenal while the club is ironing out the details of his £22 million transfer.

Arsenal Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis told the Mirror that he wants the club to compete on the highest level and was willing to open up his pocket book to do so. It now appears that he wasn't kidding. The
£22 million transfer would be the largest in club history.

However, if the transfer means that the Gunners become a legitimate threat atop the EPL table, then the expensive move will be well worth it. Looking at what Arsenal were able to achieve last campaign and the current EPL landscape, the Gunners should be able to do just that.

Arsene Wenger's group finished fourth in the EPL table last season, just two points behind third-place Chelsea and five points behind second-place Manchester City. Of course, the Gunners failed to come close to Manchester United, but so did everyone else.

In short, Arsenal wasn't too far off from the top challengers to United in the race for the EPL title. Now that they have are in the process of bringing on Higuain, they have the pieces necessary to take the next step in competing for first place.

Last season, the Gunners managed to finish third in the league in scoring despite a lack of dynamic goalscorers. Theo Walcott led the team with just 14 goals on the season.

Higuain should fix that and make the Gunners' attack even more potent. The Argentinian scored 16 La Liga goals last campaign despite starting only 19 matches and sharing the spotlight with prolific scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

At Emirates, Higuain will be a focal point of the offensive attack and should see even more opportunities to score. Having a player that can be counted on to create offense, both as a passer and scorer, will make Arsenal all the more dangerous this upcoming season.

The hope in bringing on a star like Higuain is that it will help the club take the next step. For an Arsenal team that finished fourth in the standings last season, the next step is serious contention for the title—anything less and Higuain's signing will have been a disappointment.

Breaking Down Alabama QB AJ McCarron's NFL Potential

Brandon Holstein — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:46:55 -0400

A year from now, Alabama Crimson Tide senior quarterback A.J. McCarron will have likely been drafted and in the beginning stages of his first NFL season.

Whether that will be as a potential starter, backup or quarterback of the future is unknown; however, as is the case regarding most of today's top college football players, it's never too early to take a look at how much NFL potential each player already possesses.

After all, McCarron now finds himself entering his third straight season as the Crimson Tide's starting signal-caller and a player that has already developed quite a national following and name for himself.

Winning back-to-back national championships will do that for you, as will being the lucky guy who gets to be dating former Miss Alabama Katherine Webb—ESPN commentator Brent Musburger's favorite piece of "eye candy."

Clearly life has been good to McCarron recently, but that's not to say he doesn't already have his share of doubters.

Pundits of McCarron cite him as more of a "game manager" and player who excels more from the stellar talent and coaching staff he has around him, rather than the true individual skills and quality talent it takes to become an upper-echelon NFL quarterback.

Needless to say, his current NFL draft stock is a long way from coming into focus, but that doesn't mean it’s necessarily too early to start considering his NFL potential.

Recently, Bleacher Report's lead NFL draft writer Matt Miller has been chronicling an excellent series on "How Scouts Break Down NFL Prospects" by position.

Here, we will use his piece on breaking down NFL quarterback prospects as our backdrop in configuring how McCarron stacks up—using what Miller believes are the eight most important criteria when evaluating quarterback's for the NFL (accuracy, vision, leadership and poise, arm strength, pocket presence, anticipation, mechanics and size).

Accuracy

In the aforementioned article courtesy of Miller, he states accuracy as something "you either have or you don't" and considers it to be "the single-most important aspect to being able to play the position at a high level."

Sentiments I also agree with, accuracy is generally a quality that can't necessarily be coached and can only be improved so much over the course of one's career.

Luckily for McCarron, this is typically an area he already excels in.

In the video above, we see McCarron drop a beautiful ball with touch, arc and accuracy where only his man can get it. In scouting lingo, this is called "dropping the ball in a basket" or "throwing to a spot or area."

Notice how he also places the football away from the defender and over the correct shoulder. This is the type of NFL throw evaluators want and love to see and one of the aspects that makes McCarron such a good passer from within the pocket.

Now let's take a look at what also makes him a quality passer outside the pocket.

Same game, only difference now is we see McCarron working outside the pocket.

Here, he's rolling to his right out of a play-action fake, before rifling a pass to the sidelines on a 10-yard out. An NFL-caliber throw for sure, McCarron's pinpoint accuracy, ball placement and velocity is spot on, and far too much to handle for the defender despite being in otherwise perfect position.

Surely the receiver deserves some credit for hauling in a difficult pass that requires superb hand-eye coordination, but this is exactly the type of throw we are referring to when we say "there's no defense for a perfectly thrown ball."

Now let's take a look at a play that's not so good.

In the clip above, McCarron does a poor job of setting his feet and stepping into his throw. This poor mechanical display is the epitome of how everything starts from the ground up, as good footwork provides the platform and foundation for which a quarterback is able to consistently make these types of throws.

By failing to play on the balls of his feet and throwing off his back foot, McCarron ever so slightly increases the angle of his arm, thus causing the pass to sail high and almost be intercepted.

This is the same type of bad habit that dogged Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford this past season, and it is something he needs to work on diligently as a quarterback who doesn't necessarily possess the level of arm strength it takes to play with sloppy mechanics.

Vision

Generally speaking, a quarterback's vision is believed to be his ability to scan the field and find the open receiver post-snap. It ties in his ability to read the defense and see the entire field, but limiting it to the decisions he makes once he already has the ball in his hands does not effectively tell us all we need to know.

To be a great quarterback with excellent vision it also takes a deep understanding and overall football knowledge of how to make pre-snap reads and adjustments.

This skill generally comes with experience, but it is also a quality that requires a great deal of conceptual awareness. Meaning, how well you're able to see how the small parts come together to fit into the whole.

It's the same type of skill required of architects and designers when asked to take a project from the beginning stages of conception to the finishing touches of completion.

Below paints a perfect picture of what it means to see the whole picture and get it to your "hot read" by analyzing the defensive alignment before the ball has even been snapped.

The video below, on the other hand, deals more with what McCarron is able to do once the ball has already been snapped and his initial read is no longer available.

Here, he does an excellent job of keeping the play alive by improvising and ever so slightly drifting backward to buy himself more time.

On the surface, this play seems to be more of a broken play gone incredibly well; however, by keeping his eyes downfield and allowing his receivers the extra time to get open, McCarron effectively makes this play happen seemingly by way of his vision and mental awareness to never give up on it.

Leadership and Poise

It goes without saying that McCarron has played and performed admirably in some rather high-profile games. He won both of the BCS National Championships he's played in, while sporting a solid 24-2 overall record as a starter in the unforgiving conference that is the "battle-tested" SEC.

With that also being said, the argument then becomes how much has he really had to do?

Surely there have been big moments in McCarron's career, but evaluators want to know if he really has what it takes to carry a team and make plays, rather than relying on the superb talent he always has always had around him.

In 2013, evaluators will be looking to see if he has that "it" factor to carry his team when things aren't going quite right—that willpower to step up and make plays when nothing seems to be going your way, because, to this point, those occasions have been few and far between.

The clip below, however, is one such example of McCarron's ability to step up and deliver in the clutch. Firing a pass in between defenders, in what became the game-winning drive against a talented defense in rival LSU.

Arm Strength/Velocity

Overall, McCarron isn't the type of quarterback who will wow you with a whole lot of natural arm talent. Instead, he is a player who uses leverage and torque generated from his lower body to drive his passes through and into his intended target.

As you will see in the column and video example on anticipation, McCarron's natural propensity to spin the ball with favorable RPMs doesn't come all that naturally. All the more reason why he needs to be mechanically sound in his fundamentals, which we will see is one of his strongest categories overall.

Outside of sheer velocity, however, McCarron does throw a nice deep ball.

As you can see in the video below, not only does he posses the capability to chuck the ball 50 yards downfield, but he's also doing it while under a heavy amount of interior pressure. Which is perhaps a better example of his poise in the pocket, and something we find ourselves discussing next.

Pocket Presence and Escapability

It's likely that one will never mistake McCarron for a scrambling quarterback or the next coming of Ryan Tannehill or Aaron Rodgers. That's not his game. However, much like McCarron's arm, his feet do just enough to get the job done.

Against Texas A&M, he took on what was perhaps the most pressure he has ever seen or faced in a game while at Alabama. Providing some rare glimpses and examples of McCarron's "internal clock" and ability to escape the pocket once his protection breaks down.

Like the final play straight out of the movie Friday Night Lights, McCarron's desperate scramble to reach the end zone in the clip above falls just short. However, that's not before showing us that he does have some natural ability and capacity to improvise with his legs when given the opportunity.

Next, however, is this play, which brings about questions regarding his natural affinity as a true pocket passer.

It goes without saying that McCarron largely benefited from great protection he received from what was perhaps one of the best offensive line units to ever play major college football—sporting the likes of Chance Warmack, D.J. Fluker and Barrett Jones.

Just one of things that, as Matt Miller pointed out in his article from last November—"Breaking Down A.J. McCarron's NFL Potential, Draft Stock"—makes it so hard to get a "true read on McCarron's pocket presence."

McCarron wasn't often pressured and asked to extend and create on his own, and while he does show the ability to know when to pull it down and run, the clip above does raise questions about his ability to feel and escape backside pressure.

Which is just one of the things that makes the not-so-fleet-footed Tom Brady one of the best ever at feeling and escaping pressure coming off the edge.

Anticipation

Anticipation is one of those rare quarterback qualities you're either initially good at or you're not. However, unlike accuracy, anticipation and timing is definitely something that can be developed over time with proper coaching and experience.

Take for instance Colin Kaepernick.

Coming out of Nevada, many questioned his ability to read a defense and throw to an area before his receiver made his break. Former Boise State player and current Detroit Lions quarterback Kellen Moore, on the other hand, possessed rare anticipation and timing skills coming out of college.

What’s the biggest difference between the two of them? A whole lot of arm talent and ball velocity. Plus, Kaepernick has now developed the ability to anticipate and have a better feel and understanding for when and where his receivers will become open.

However, now turning the attention back to McCarron, the clip below is a nice example of what is typically referred to as a "timing route." With a safety converging over the top, he places his confidence in his arm to fit it between two safeties in an area that requires pinpoint accuracy, guts and trust.

Never mind the fact that he doesn't possess the rocket arm of a Kaepernick, McCarron's arm talent lies somewhere between above average and good. Which is plenty good enough when you're able to speed up your decision-making process and throw with anticipation, rhythm and timing.

Mechanics

Part of what makes McCarron such an accurate passer in the short-to-intermediate passing game starts with his mechanics. As it was discussed earlier, a quarterback's mechanics starts and ends with his footwork.

Ideally, I'm looking for a quarterback who uses his feet to align his head and shoulders into position to make an accurate throw. McCarron does this nearly flawlessly, as evidenced by this video below, which provides an excellent aerial view of his overall throwing motion.

Here, we see McCarron utilize excellent footwork, balance and patience, while holding the ball high and tight to his chest to properly step into and finish through with a smooth overhand delivery. Nearly a flawless example of what it we mean by a quarterback who is considered "mechanically sound."

Size

As we have seen more and more over the past few years, size isn't always the best indicator of future NFL success. It's been quite the opposite in fact. Quarterbacks with limited size and height, such as Russell Wilson and Drew Brees, have shredded the conventional wisdom behind the argument that taller quarterbacks are better.

Better off? Yes. Better players? Well, that depends on your context.

There's no doubting the fact that taller quarterbacks have a competitive advantage in having an increased line of vision. However, this one quality hardly makes up for the previous seven we have already discussed.

According to the University of Alabama's official website, he currently checks in at a healthy 6'4", 214 pounds. Well above average in terms of height, McCarron will likely need to add a few pounds onto his lanky frame before he can be considered "NFL ready."

Nonetheless, it doesn't hurt to know he can basically check off this column as a quarterback who already possesses NFL size.

Final Word

McCarron is the type of quarterback who has a lot going for him but whose ceiling appears to be somewhat limited.

With a slightly average to above-average NFL arm and legs, he must rely on his mechanics, accuracy and football IQ to speed up and make up for some of the physical deficiencies that limit his NFL potential.

This is not to say McCarron cannot become a quality NFL quarterback in due time; however, evaluators will want to see how much his arm strength has improved since the end of last year, as well as his ability to make plays and create something out of nothing.

Too many times in the past, McCarron has benefited from big leads and stellar talent around him, and not often have we gotten the opportunity to see how he reacts and responds to adversity and/or pressure.

Nonetheless, McCarron's accuracy, vision, mechanics, size and production are all positive characteristics to build upon. His 10-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio from last year, and 291 consecutive passes without throwing an interception, points to a player who consistently makes good decisions, protects the football and avoids beating himself.

In ending, McCarron has proved he can keep his team in games and help it win consistently, but the question now becomes, does he have what it takes to lift a team single-handedly?

That's the question we're all left wondering for 71 more days.

Phil Jackson Claims He's Consulting for Lakers After Team Sought His Help

Grant Hughes — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:40:42 -0400

Phil Jackson is back with the Los Angeles Lakers, but probably not in the way most people would have expected. And in a turn of events that has to have stroked the Zen Master's considerable ego, his return as a pseudo-consultant came at the team's request.

Apparently, there's no bad blood between Jackson and the Lakers after the organization passed him over for its head-coaching duties in favor of Mike D'Antoni early in the 2012-13 season.

And despite a "casual" relationship with owner Jim Buss, Jackson seems more than willing to help out.

While the 11-time champ has no official title with the Lakers, he and longtime girlfriend Jeanie Buss were front and center at a recent Time Warner Cable event. Plus, there was a conspicuous absence as well.

Jackson and Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak have maintained a strong relationship over the years, and even the messy coaching search that netted D'Antoni didn't come between them. According to Kupchak, the only thing that might have irked Jackson during the process was a late wake-up call.

It seems that everyone's getting along in Lakerland these days. Well, at least as far as the front office is concerned. Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant could very well be at each other's throats at this very moment. But the harmony among the executives doesn't have Jackson convinced that the team is in good health.

In fact, he's already got a few ideas he'd like to implement.

That doesn't sound like someone who's a name-only consultant. Jackson has the experience—and now, apparently the desire—to help the Lakers sort out the financial mess of their current personnel situation.

It turns out all the Lakers had to do was ask.

Oh, and because this is Jackson, one of the most deliberately mercurial figures in NBA history, he planted a subtle seed that his ambitions might someday include a return to the bench.

I'm already enjoying the third go-round in the Jackson-Lakers saga.

Spurs Use Team Dinner After Crushing Game 6 to Clear Heads for Game 7

Jesse Dorsey — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:36:22 -0400

The San Antonio Spurs were dealt a devastating blow in Game 6, but the team went out to dinner together following the game to help clear the air.

It might seem like a small event to get over letting championship slip through their fingers in the span of 30 seconds, but sometimes its the small things that can help bring teams together.

Following the 103-100 loss to the Miami Heat in which they had a five-point lead with 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the big conversation was about how they could possibly bounce back after coming within seconds of a championship.

San Antonio's dinner was a team-bonding moment first and foremost, but it was also a way to keep teammates from going back to the hotel and wallowing in self-pity by themselves.

Tim Duncan hammered home the importance of the players supporting each other after that game, and all the good that the early morning dinner did. Via Lang Whitaker of NBA.com:

It helped, it did. The other option is a bunch of us go back to our rooms and sit there by ourselves and beat yourself up. So it’s always good to be around teammates and kind of get some stuff out in the open. We did exactly that. As I said, we’ll be ready to rock.

However, the most interesting thing to come from the dinner was the story that Tony Parker told the team about his similar experience back in 2005:

It was a great dinner. We shared histories and what happened in different games, and sharing stuff like when I was with the (French) national team, when we were up 7 and lost in 35 seconds, the European Championship. You just share those moments and try to see what you can do better and prepare for Game 7.

Of course, he's referencing the EuroBasket semifinal game between France and Greece from 2005.

Parker's French team held a seven-point lead with 47 seconds left to play and was looking at making its first EuroBasket Finals in nearly 60 years.

Greece scored 12 to France's four in the final 47 seconds and won by a point, leaving France nothing but a chance at a consolation prize in the bronze-medal game.

That French club went out and clobbered Spain for the bronze, winning 98-68.

Parker's team then didn't have a second chance at retribution—it lost and that was it. This time around, it can make up for its folly. Of course, there's no consolation prize either.

No team has won a Game 7 in the NBA Finals on the road since the Washington Bullets back in 1978. Not only that, the Miami Heat have won both Game 7s that they've been involved in since their convergence in 2010.

Hopefully for the Spurs sake, that was one rejuvenating dinner.

Buying or Selling Chicago Bulls Rumors Ahead of the NBA Draft

Mike B. — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:35:32 -0400

As the 2013 NBA draft approaches, the Chicago Bulls haven’t been associated with many rumors.

It will be interesting to see who the Bulls draft in the first round (20th overall). Will they take a shooting guard to replace Marco Belinelli, who could possibly leave town via free agency this summer? Or will they opt for a small forward or center?

Perhaps the Bulls would like to trade up. This time last year, a rumor, via Ian Whittell of ESPN Chicago, had Luol Deng heading to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the seventh overall pick. The Bulls likely would’ve taken Harrison Barnes, who went on to have a solid rookie year for the Warriors. The deal never took place, but will Chicago move Deng on this year’s draft night?

Let’s play the “buy or sell” rumor game, Chicago Bulls style.

Bulls Are Likely to Target Defensive-Minded Players in the Draft

Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times believes the Bulls are looking for defenders in the upcoming draft.

That’s not the least bit surprising, seeing that the Bulls have been known as an elite defensive team the last few years. Head coach Tom Thibodeau is all about defense, and you don’t have to be the world’s biggest Bulls fan to know that.

According to Cowley, potential targets include three centers—Pittsburgh’s Steven Adams, Louisville’s Gorgui Dieng and Kansas’ Jeff Withey.

Adams should be long gone before pick No. 20, as NBADraft.net has him going to the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 10. If he is available, though, the Bulls should strongly consider taking him.

Already a good defender at this point, Adams could blossom into a great defender, playing for Coach Thibs in Chicago.

Dieng is certainly an intriguing prospect. The Senegal native had a sensational junior year, picking up Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors and helping the Cardinals win the national title.

Dieng brings more to the table than just high-quality D. He can also pass from the high post (2.0 assists per game) and has the ability to drill the mid-range jumper on a consistent basis.

Meanwhile, Withey is a shot-blocking machine to say the least. When you erase nearly four shots per contest, you’re a shot-blocking machine.

Withey blocked 31 shots during the 2012 tournament, breaking current Bull Joakim Noah’s record.

He was named co-National Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, sharing the award with Indiana’s Victor Oladipo.

Verdict: Buy

Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers

The Bulls aren’t likely to move Deng this offseason. But if they decide to place him on the trading block, CSN Chicago’s Aggrey Sam claims the Cleveland Cavaliers could show interest.

The Cavaliers, of course, own the top pick in the draft. Would they part with the pick in order to acquire Deng? Some Bulls fans out there who would love to see such a trade take place.

The Bulls could draft Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore and slide Jimmy Butler over to small forward. A backcourt of Derrick Rose and McLemore could be entertaining for the next decade or so.

McLemore is often compared to future Hall of Famer Ray Allen due to his lights-out shooting. He may not be "Jesus Shuttlesworth 2.0," but he does has the potential to be an NBA star.

The addition of Deng would surely help out the Cavaliers, who were one of the league's worst defensive clubs this past season. Yet, there's no way the Cavs would trade the No. 1 pick for Deng, especially since his contract expires next summer. A one-year rental just wouldn't make sense.

The Cavaliers own the 19th overall pick as well as a boatload of cap space. They could deal the pick and simply absorb Deng’s contract, making Chicago's financial situation a lot better. However, the Bulls wouldn't bite on a deal like this.

Verdict: Sell

Bulls Are Likely to Draft a Big Man

ESPN Chicago's Nick Friedell thinks the Bulls will go the big-man route in this year's draft.

"With that in mind, a quick glance at the Bulls roster would indicate that while the Bulls could go in a number of different directions, the safe money is on them looking for a big man and giving a reformed bench some more depth."

Friedell lists big-man possibilities as the aforementioned Dieng and Withey. He also includes Duke's Mason Plumlee.

Plumlee came up huge as a senior, producing 17.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 59.9 percent from the field.

The Bulls have a thing for Duke players, as current starters Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer both starred for the Blue Devils. Guys like Jay Williams and Chris Duhon were drafted in the past as well.

No one would be shocked if the Bulls selected a big man with the 20th pick. It's no secret that the team needs a backup center for Joakim Noah.

Verdict: Buy

NHL Draft 2013: Updated Look at Philadelphia Flyers' Targets

Michael Pizzutillo — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:24:48 -0400

During the 2013 NHL draft, the Philadelphia Flyers will be targeting players to fill future needs, yet possessing a quick(er) learning curve.

It's no secret the Flyers need depth in their defensive unit, but a bruising, punishing prospect may not be enough to succeed in Philadelphia. The team desperately needs a player with an above-average hockey brain and incredible hockey instinct.

Too many times the Flyers defenders found themselves out of position—in their own zone—and losing battles along the board or open ice. Sure, many of these players threw their bodies around, unloading ferocious hits time after time, but that punishment was easily erased by mental mistakes or lack of effort.

As Philadelphia holds selections in the first, second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, the team should be concentrating on smart defenders who can make the leap into the NHL.

Here are four defensemen the Flyers could be targeting throughout the draft:

Rasmus Ristolainen

A guaranteed first-round selection, the Finland native will be a "tough grab" at the No. 11 pick. Rasmus Ristolainen is a sold blueliner who moves well with or without the puck. He also thrives on playing physical hockey.

He could eventually blossom into Kimmo Timonen's replacement.

Ryan Pulock

Another lock in the first round, Ryan Pulock could be the perfect fit for the Flyers. The shifty blueliner can skate, pass, shoot and hit. He would complement the team nicely, but with his impressive combine appearance, Pulock may not still be around by the time Philly makes its first selection.

Darnell Nurse

The gritty blueliner plays a Broad Street Bully style of hockey but with the potential to be an offensive threat. Darnell Nurse, the nephew of ex-Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, already has ties to the city and could quickly become a fan favorite with the Flyers faithful.

He possesses a ton of talent and potential upside, so the team would be making an investment for the future.

Chris Bigras

Chris Bigras is a player who has not received the attention of a first-round selection, but he could end up being a nice second-round pick for Philadelphia. He's a versatile blueliner, who is extremely intelligent on the ice.

In a scouting report by SportsNet's Patrick King, he labeled Bigras as an adaptable player, who could develop into a reliable, long-term pro.

The Philadelphia Flyers will not spend every pick on a defenseman, but the team should be focusing on filling this major void on its roster. Now is the time for Philly to invest in its defenders and help achieve successful seasons for years to come.

"Defense wins championships" is one of the oldest cliches in all of sports, and it's still true to this day. If the Flyers do not improve their defense, they will never truly compete for Lord Stanley's Cup.

Ranking the 5 Biggest Fan Favorites in Minnesota Wild History

Tom Schreier — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:20:25 -0400

In compiling this list of fan favorites from the Minnesota Wild, I chose players who are no longer in the NHL. This eliminates current stars Mikko Koivu, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Co. Guys like Marian Gaborik, who graced the Wild roster at one point and currently wear another sweater, are excluded as well.

Keep in mind that Minnesota got its team in 2000, so this is a relatively short list.

Begin Slideshow

Stanley Cup 2013: Suddenly Shaky 'D' Costs Boston Bruins Golden Opportunity

Nicholas Goss — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:18:19 -0400

Failing to put away an opponent in a playoff series when given the opportunity often comes back to haunt a team, and if the Boston Bruins lose the Stanley Cup Final to the Chicago Blackhawks, losing Game 4 6-5 in overtime will likely be remembered as the point where it all fell apart.

Going into Wednesday's matchup in Boston, the Bruins had a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead with a victory going into Saturday's Game 5 in Chicago.

But the Bruins were never able to hold a lead or capitalize on their chances to win the game, and ultimately lost when Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook blasted a shot from the point that found the back of the net nine minutes, 51 seconds into the extra period.

Most surprisingly for the Bruins, it was their normally reliable, responsible and excellent defense that let them down on Wednesday.

"Every game is different," said Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. "Sometimes you feel more comfortable than the other nights and today they had a lot of—we had a lot of breakdowns and they got two-on-ones, breakaway, stuff like that. It’s just a battle out there. Sometimes you just feel more comfortable than the others."

Boston was uncharacteristically awful in its own end in Game 4, committing way too many turnovers, not winning 50-50 puck battles in the dirty areas, failing to clear rebounds, pinching when the safe play was to keep position and taking dumb penalties.

The result was a playoff-high six goals allowed, equaling the total that the Bruins gave up in their previous six games dating back to Game 3 of the conference finals.

"I just think we weren't very sharp in our decision-making," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien postgame. "Where we talked about we having layers, our D’s were pinching, our forwards were not really covering up, weren't totally committed to that part of the game.

"That's when you saw two-on-ones. Sometimes caught a little bit low. We were through the neutral zone, weren't very aggressive. There was a lot of our game tonight that was just average, and average isn't good enough at this stage of the season."

Average would be putting it nicely. Boston was downright horrendous at certain times on Wednesday from a defensive standpoint.

For example, the first goal of the game happened as a result of a lost puck battle in the attacking zone and a failure to back-check fast enough on the ensuing two-on-one breakaway. The result was a shorthanded goal for Michal Handzus.

On Chicago's second goal, Milan Lucic pressured Jonathan Toews from the blue line to behind the goal line but left him when the puck went to the point, allowing the Blackhawks captain to score on a rebound because he was all alone in front of the net.

The Blackhawks' third goal was scored on a rebound by Patrick Kane, who was able to skate from a few feet inside the blue line all the way to the net because three Bruins players were to the right of Rask and not paying attention.

There were also breakdowns and mistakes defensively on Chicago's next two goals, but I think you get the picture by now. The Bruins cannot win games against a highly skilled team like the Blackhawks without responsible and consistent defense.

"Everything together—it was mental, it was positional" said Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg when describing the team's defensive mistakes. "We always talk about layers, right? We just didn’t have those tonight. That’s why things like that happen."

Shutdown defenseman Zdeno Chara was a minus-three and was on the ice for five of the Blackhawks' six goals. Last year's Frank J. Selke Trophy winner Patrice Bergeron was a minus-two. It's rare that these two defensive stalwarts are on the ice for so many goals, but it also illustrates how poorly the Bruins defended in Game 4, even when their best players were on the ice.

In the two games that the Blackhawks have won in this Cup final, they have scored 10 total goals. In losses, they have put only one puck past Rask. Boston isn't built to win a high-scoring game in which it has to find the back of the net four, five or even six times against a great team like the Blackhawks. Boston simply doesn't have the offensive firepower to trade goals with Chicago.

Playing catch-up hockey and being forced to open themselves up offensively to erase a deficit isn't going to result in much success for the Bruins. They had to overcome deficits of 1-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-2 and 5-4 just to force overtime in Game 4.

Luckily for the B's, most of the mistakes made in Game 4 are correctable because they involved positioning, effort, intelligence and a lack of toughness.

The Bruins certainly have the character and resiliency to bounce back from this defeat. They won Game 2 in overtime after losing in triple overtime to start the series, and many of their players were also a part of the 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team that won a championship after being deadlocked at two games apiece following Game 4.

This is a veteran and experienced Boston team that understands how hard it must work to win Game 5 on the road and earn an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup on home ice for the first time since 1970.

"We knew it was going to a tough series, an even series," said Bergeron. "That’s what we’re having. We never said it was going to be easy."

"They’re a great team out there and so are we, so we just got to go out there—like you said, it’s a best-of-three now—and regroup and get ready for Game 5."

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report. He is also a credentialed writer at the 2013 Stanley Cup Final in Boston. All quotes obtained firsthand.

CWS 2013: Most Intriguing Potential Matchups for Remaining Games

Ethan Grant — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:17:43 -0400

Just five teams are still in contention for the 2013 College World Series after Wednesday night's game between Indiana and Oregon State, in which the Beavers moved on to the tune of a 1-0 victory in the elimination showdown.

The fun is just getting started in Omaha.

North Carolina and North Carolina State will be the lone matchup on Thursday, while Mississippi State and UCLA both await their next opponent after going 2-0 in their first two games in Omaha.

Although the possibilities are anything but endless at this point in the bracket, there are still possibilities to be had. With that in mind, here's a look at the most intriguing matchups that we can still make with only a few more chances for these teams to state their cases with respect to the College World Series crown.

*For a complete look at the 2013 College World Series bracket via NCAA.com, click here.

Most Intriguing Potential Matchups

UCLA vs. North Carolina State

The Bruins and the Wolfpack already squared off in the College World Series, and it was UCLA who took home the 2-1 win behind an impressive performance on the mound from Nick Vander Tuig.

While the Wolfpack now have to beat North Carolina to reach the CWS semifinals, the Bruins are sitting comfortably back while scouting both of those teams on Thursday night. While the Tar Heels pose a deeper threat at the plate, North Carolina State is no slouch, either, having put up eight runs against UNC in their first meeting inside the final eight teams.

The rematch of this second-round winner's bracket game pits two of the best staffs in the nation against each other yet again, with UCLA getting the slight edge because of an experienced staff that includes closer David Berg.

Neither team is an offensive juggernaut, but both know how to score when things get tight and the pitching staff needs a jolt to get going.

UCLA, for example, hasn't scored more than six runs so far since the regionals, while North Carolina State has put up nine and eight spots in separate wins but is clearly out of its element when required to play back-and-forth baseball with an offensive team.

In a battle of pitchers and timely hitting, this could end up being another old-school baseball fan's dream—lots of high-quality, MLB-level pitching talent and a few splashes of hitting prowess mixed in.

Mississippi State vs. North Carolina

If you want to see a game that could go either way with just one swing of the bat, then the Bulldogs and the Tar Heels will be a game to watch if both can make it through to the Championship Series round.

North Carolina will have to dispatch in-state rival NC State first, but the Tar Heels are fresh off of a 4-2 win over LSU and will come into this game confident as ever with their backs against the wall in the form of elimination.

From UNC slugger and first-round MLB draft pick Colin Moran to the tandem of Mississippi State stars Adam Frazier and Hunter Renfroe, both of these teams have it going when they send a player to the plate.

North Carolina is in the top 20 in the NCAA in walks, batting average and on-base percentage, among other stats, and they are one of the most feared teams in the nation at the plate. Mississippi State is no slouch, either, with Frazier just three hits shy of tying for the most hits in the NCAA this season (currently at 102).

Bulldogs star Wes Rea was the hero against Oregon State earlier in this tournament, too, hammering a two-RBI double to put his team ahead for good and give us a chance to see that Jonathan Holder (aka Kenny Powers look-a-like) exists in Starkville.

If that's not enough to want to see Mississippi State, I don't know what is.

All jokes aside, both of these teams are talented and well-coached. There's a prestige about the SEC wins that the Bulldogs bring to the table and an impressiveness about North Carolina's season that's hard to match elsewhere, and this would be one heckuva best-of-three series.

But for all the flash at the plate, this game would come down to pitching, and a depleted North Carolina squad would have to dig deep to double-dip UCLA after scrapping out a win over NC State on Thursday.

It's a dream matchup of two of the most talented teams in the country, but it might be too much to ask UNC to get there after that first loss earlier in the bracket.

UCLA vs. Oregon State

Matt Boyd was dominant again on Wednesday, throwing a four-hit shutout to oust Indiana and propel his Oregon State squad into the semifinals of the CWS, where they will now have to beat Mississippi State twice to move on to the Championship Series.

A Pac-12 clash between these two would be quite the storybook ending for both teams.

As noted by the conference's Twitter account, these two were a combined 10-1 heading into the College World Series:

They haven't disappointed in the CWS, either, as Oregon State's opening-game loss to Mississippi State was the lone gaffe on an otherwise stellar performance for the Pac-12 on the biggest stage in college baseball.

Led by a trio of staring pitchers (Boyd, Andrew Moore, Ben Wetzler) that lets the coaching staff avoid having to worry about what the third starter is going to bring to the table, and with Boyd's shutout the catalyst for a shot at their third CWS title, the Beavers can now send Moore and Wetzler to the hill to contend with the Bulldogs a second time around.

As mentioned above, UCLA has been rock-solid this postseason, and it starts on the mound. But the Bruins lost two of three to the Beavers earlier this season at home, and they didn't score more than three runs in any of those three games.

If the title wasn't enough, conference bragging rights would be on the line here.

Oregon State kept hope alive with its win over Indiana on Wednesday, but time is running out for the Beavers to continue their magic. Two wins over Mississippi State would do the trick, and that just might allow Oregon State to face a familiar foe in the Championship Series.

*Stats courtesy NCAA.com.

Follow Bleacher Report FC Ethan Grant (@DowntownEG) on Twitter.

Cost-Effective Moves the Miami Heat Could Make in Free Agency

Peter Emerick — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:07:03 -0400

The Miami Heat are one game away from back-to-back NBA titles, but that doesn't mean it's too early to take a look at this upcoming summer of free agency.

Regardless of whether LeBron James and Co. hoist the 2013 Larry O'Brien Trophy or not, they need to be relatively active this offseason.

With aging players like Ray Allen, Mike Miller, Shane Battier and Udonis Haslem, Pat Riley needs to find some talent not only to bolster the Heat's depth, but also to start building for the future of the franchise.

OK, before we get ahead of ourselves, let's get one thing straight. Pat Riley won't be establishing a future for his franchise via free agency, that is, unless he decides to trade one or two parts of the Big Three—Chris Bosh and/or Dwyane Wade.

Before we get into a debate on whether Bosh or Wade hold any significant value in the trade market, let's refocus on the task at hand—finding cost-effective moves the Heat can make to bolster their roster this offseason.

Chris Andersen, C, Miami Heat

The most obvious move the Heat can make is by retaining the talents of the one and only Birdman, Chris Andersen.

Whether you love him or hate him and his eccentric tattoos, there's no debating that he's the kind of player the Heat need in the paint.

He brings intensity to the court every second he's on the floor, and he's the kind of player who's not going to back down from a challenge or threat—just ask Tyler Hansbrough about that.

Aside from the energy and intensity he brings, Andersen is also a guy who can clean up the glass and be an interior presence on defense at the same time. Andersen has potential to make some cash this upcoming offseason if he wants to pursue his options, and teams are willing to invest in an aging role player.

But the Heat would be wise to lock him up to a mid-level exception the first moment they can, because he's helped them reach Game 7 in the 2013 NBA Finals. Honestly, without Andersen, the Heat would probably be watching the Indiana Pacers take on the San Antonio Spurs—that's how important he is.

Tony Allen, SG, Memphis Grizzlies

Much like Chris Andersen, the next player on this list, Tony Allen, is the kind of guy who can make a difference on the defensive side of the ball–and that's what the Heat need.

He can bang with players bigger than him, and he can run with the best perimeter players in the game.

Not only is Allen an athletic and versatile defender, but he can also find his stroke along the way.

This past season, Allen averaged 8.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in just 26.7 minutes per game. That's the kind of production the Heat could use coming off their bench, especially if Ray Allen decides to exercise the player option in his contract this offseason.

Allen already has a championship ring, though, so enticing him with the thought of winning another NBA title won't be that easy. Let's be honest, though, who wouldn't want to add another ring to their legacy?

If the Heat could sign Allen to the mid-level exception of around $3 million, they would be making one of the best steals—no pun intended—of the 2013 offseason.

Chauncey Billups, PG, L.A. Clippers

Adding a 37-year-old Chauncey Billups certainly wouldn't make the Miami Heat any younger, but it would give them veteran leadership in the backcourt, which is something a championship-caliber team can always utilize.

While there's no way the Heat would offer him close to the $3 million he got paid this past season, they could get away with offering him a veteran minimum.

He may not be the player he once was with the Detroit Pistons, but he has a reputation for knocking down big shots time and time again.

Just imagine a small-ball lineup at the end of a game with LeBron, Dwyane Wade, Billups, Ray Allen and Chris Bosh. Talk about having shooting threats all over the court.

Adding Billups would also be a great move for Norris Cole, who could finally learn from a veteran at his position who knows how to win and knows how to control the pace of a game with the best of the best.

Antawn Jamison, PF, L.A. Lakers

There's no doubt Antawn Jamison wasn't happy with his situation early on in the season with the Lakers out West.

He wasn't getting the minutes he was accustomed to, and he wasn't exactly getting that "legitimate shot" at an NBA title like he had hoped.

That all could change if he wants to take his talents to South Beach this offseason.

The Heat need a player who can spread the floor but also be a force in the post and on the glass, and that's exactly who Jamison is.

LeBron James played with him in Cleveland, and while it didn't work out as well as they had hoped there, Jamison could have the shot at redemption his career and legacy needs in Miami.

This past season, Jamison averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game. That production doesn't point to his ability to still take over games with intelligent play on the post and on the glass, and a long-range shot from the perimeter.

Jamison would be a great addition for the Heat; they would just need to get him for the right price.

DeJuan Blair, PF/C, San Antonio Spurs

This one would be an odd move, but there's no doubt DeJuan Blair has some serious potential that hasn't been fully realized yet.

Not only his he a ridiculously opportunistic and intelligent rebounder, but he can also finish around the rim with both class and authority, which is rare for a player with his unique size and skill set.

The Spurs would be foolish not to try to retain his talents this offseason, but that all depends on the growth and maturation of Blair's relationship with Gregg Popovich.

The Heat need to hope that it completely falls apart and Blair wants to head to a team that can give him a shot at a title while getting actual playing time. The Heat is that team, and adding Blair to their roster would be a very solid move.

While the Heat don't have much money to spend this offseason, there's no doubt that talent is out there for them to get.

It's all about being smart with their cash, and they've already proved that they can do just that.

Power Ranking the Top 20 Running Backs in Fantasy Football for 2013

Jordan Heck — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:05:03 -0400

Getting a top running back in fantasy football is important for your team's success. Almost all of the top running backs are selected within the first two rounds, so it's important to grab at least one quickly.

The fantasy season is still early, but it's still important to set your sights on players for the upcoming season. Here are my projected top 20 running backs for the upcoming fantasy year with extended analysis on players 1-15.

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Stars Rescue Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup Dreams in Wild OT Game

Steve Silverman — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:00:11 -0400

The Chicago Blackhawks were desperate to climb back into the Stanley Cup Final. If only they could scratch out a goal or two against Tuukka Rask, they would have a chance to go back to Chicago with the series tied 2-2.

That was the theory before the start of Game 4. However, the Blackhawks and Bruins made mincemeat of that idea and engaged in a track meet of a hockey game that saw Chicago emerge with a 6-5 overtime victory. Brent Seabrook was the game's final hero when he blasted home the winner 9:51 into overtime.

"We did a lot of good things tonight. (We) look at the positives and move forward." -Coach Q says with a smile. pic.twitter.com/CViJU2FkmN
— NHL (@NHL) June 20, 2013

Overtime has become standard in this series, as three of the four games have gone into extra time. This was the Blackhawks' second overtime win, and the series is tied 2-2.

This is the first Stanley Cup Final since the 1993 meeting between the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings to feature three overtime games.

Going into this game, the Blackhawks were getting ready to call the authorities because their stars were missing in action. Jonathan Toews had been invisible, Patrick Kane had one assist and the power play was disastrous.

The Blackhawks remedied all three of those situations in this game.

Toews scored his first goal since Game 5 of the conference semifinal series against the Detroit Red Wings when he made an artful deflection of a Michal Roszival shot past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask early in the second period that gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead.

Minutes later, Kane followed with a goal of his own. Once again, Roszival took a shot from the point. The rebound came out to Bryan Bickell, who fired a quick shot that Rask saved. Kane flashed in, got the puck on his backhand and fired a shot past Rask for a 3-1 Chicago lead.

With Toews and Kane both scoring, the Blackhawks let loose a huge sigh of relief.

Toews said Seabrook has been asking him for a couple days, "What are you thinking about?" Toews' answer: "Scoring goals."
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 20, 2013

The Blackhawks, who had been held without a goal for 122:26 of action following Patrick Sharp's goal in Game 2, suddenly had three in the first 28:41 of action. They would need all of them and more, because the Bruins would fight back hard.

Milan Lucic got the Bruins within one on a backhand shot over Corey Crawford's glove, but the Blackhawks would not relent.

Marcus Kruger finished off a two-on-one after taking a pass from Michael Frolik. Rask was able to kick out Kruger's first shot, but the forward stopped on a dime, recovered and put the puck into the top of the net on a sensational maneuver.

That two-goal lead might have stopped a lesser team, but the Bruins responded with a power-play goal by Patrice Bergeron to get within one before the end of the second period.

The Blackhawks were hanging by a thread between periods because the Bruins had the momentum and they were facing a 3-1 deficit if they lost the game.

Their fears of failing came closer to reality when Bergeron scored again early in the third after a dominating shift by Jaromir Jagr, who ended up with the primary assist.

But that's when the Blackhawks responded with a power-play goal by Sharp. Their power play had failed on its first 14 opportunities of the series—including the first three in this game—but Sharp slammed home a rebound to give them a 5-4 lead.

That lead lasted just 55 seconds, until Johnny Boychuk rocketed a drive past the glove of Crawford.

All five goals that Crawford allowed came to his glove side. Quenneville was unfazed.

"Corey's been great for us all year, all playoffs," Quenneville said at the postgame press conference broadcast by the NHL Network. "He just moves forward. We got the win and he'll be fine."

But despite his problems, Crawford made a big save in overtime on Brad Marchand that kept the Bruins from winning the game. Moments later, Seabrook came through with his second overtime goal of this playoff year. He had eliminated the Red Wings in Game 7 with another blast.

After the Blackhawks had been outworked by the Bruins in Game 3, they came back dramatically in a number of key areas.

They cut their humiliating 40-16 faceoff deficit to 39-38 and had a 13-11 margin in blocked shots after the Bruins had a 17-7 edge in that area in Game 3.

Quenneville wore the smile of a satisfied coach in this game. He saw his team find its scoring touch, its creativity and its battle level.

That allowed the Blackhawks to regain home-ice advantage. That has not been decisive so far in this series, with each team winning on the other's home ice, but it's something that will allow the Blackhawks to feel relieved as they prepare for Game 5.

Why Kevin McHale's Houston Rockets Would Be Perfect for Dwight Howard's Legacy

Luke Petkac — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:59:15 -0400

Some might say that Dwight Howard has a difficult decision facing him this summer, but actually, it's not that tough at all. Because the Houston Rockets would be absolutely perfect for Howard and his legacy. It's a no-brainer.

Talking about Howard's legacy has been popular lately because of the drama he brought to both the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, but that talk's a little silly. Howard's young and has a good eight or nine years of basketball ahead of him. We have no idea what his legacy will look like at this point.

Still, there's no question that Howard's public image and legacy have taken a hit over the past few years, and he'll be looking to repair that damage.

Some, like ESPN's Chris Broussard (Insider only), have suggested that Howard's image will be even more damaged if he leaves the Lakers, but that's simply not true.

If LeBron James has taught us anything over the past few years, it's that winning cures all ills. If Howard plays fantastic basketball and wins a ring or two in his new city, we'll forgive him. That's just the way it works.

And that makes Houston the obvious choice for Howard. He could be incredible there.

Howard is very different from almost every other franchise center in history in the sense that he's never developed a great back-to-the-basket game. Even at his peak in Orlando, Howard's scoring efficiency on post opportunities was ranked around 50th in the league, and his go-to post move (a running hook with either hand) has always looked awkward and clunky.

Howard's primary value on the offensive end lies not in his low-post game, but in his outstanding pick-and-roll ability. And that makes James Harden—far and away the league's best young pick-and-roll ball-handler—the ideal partner for him.

In his Orlando stint, Howard destroyed defenses in the pick-and-roll. He was ranked as the league's first- or second-most efficient scorer as a roll man in each of his last three years with the Magic. And if he can do that well playing primarily with a good—but not great—pick-and-roll guard like Jameer Nelson, then just imagine the things he could do with Harden—a Manu Ginobili-esque passing genius.

Harden's patient, probing style in the pick-and-roll often forces defenses to send help or over-commit to prevent a drive to the basket, something that Howard could take advantage of in a way that Omer Asik simply can't. Howard's quick and explosive enough to get a dunk or a high-percentage shot any time the defense overplays a ball-handler, and with all due respect to Asik, he can't do stuff like this:

To be honest, Houston's also a great landing spot if Howard ever does want to become a dominant back-to-the-basket center.

Don't get me wrong, there's a good chance that Howard is who he is offensively at this point (and that's still enough to make him a top-five player when healthy). But he's an incredible athlete and still relatively young at 27 years old. There's no reason he couldn't be a dominant post presence. Players older than him have reinvented themselves late in their careers.

And if that is something that interests Howard, then what better teacher could he have than Kevin McHale?

To put it simply, McHale had the greatest set of moves on the low block ever. Period. Guys like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon had more unstoppable signature moves, but no one had a bigger arsenal of fakes, turnarounds and up-and-unders than McHale. No one.

He had 30-odd moves, a counter for every one of them and sometimes even a counter for the counter move. If anyone could serve as a mentor for Howard, it's him.

Funnily enough though, even if Howard wasn't able to pick up any moves from McHale, he'd still probably have better scoring opportunities down low with the Rockets than he has in his previous stops. Few teams in the league play more small ball than the Rockets do. They love to throw Chandler Parsons at the 4, run like crazy and hoist up tons of threes.

And that strategy could play right into Howard's hands. The Rockets often force other teams to go small to keep up with their speed, and if there's one thing Howard can do, it's take advantage of smaller defenders.

Obviously teams aren't going to be throwing guards or small forwards out to try and defend Howard on the block, but a bad defensive switch could put Howard in a good spot down low. And the Rockets' constant pick-and-roll attack generates switches like that pretty regularly.

Defensively, we know Howard would fit well with the Rockets because when healthy, he fits with everyone.

Asik did a phenomenal job anchoring the Rockets' defense this season, but he's not Howard, who's led the league in defensive win shares four times in the last six years, per Basketball-Reference.

Howard also could replace, if not improve, Asik's production on the defensive glass.

Asik grabbed 31 percent of all available defensive boards last season, and a healthy Howard rebounds at around the same rate, per Basketball-Reference. Crashing the defensive glass is important for a running team like the Rockets, so the fact that Dwight can match or exceed Asik's production in that area is key.

If you're a Rockets fan or even just a Howard fan, you have to admit all of that sounds pretty great.

With that being said, there are a few potential drawbacks to Howard going to Houston, and it's important that they be mentioned.

First, there's the fact that Houston played at the fastest pace in the league this season, per Basketball-Reference. The only team Howard's been a part of that played near that quickly was this year's Lakers squad, and he looked pretty uncomfortable in the Los Angeles system.

This isn't an enormous concern, since Howard was dealing with serious back issues this year, and he's always been outstanding at running the floor for easy lobs or dunks. He would probably be just fine playing at the Rockets' pace, but it's still worth mentioning since there aren't all that many big men who love sprinting up and down the floor.

The second and most important drawback is that Howard would have to sacrifice some post touches. That was mentioned a bit earlier, but the reality is that Howard would be forced to adapt to the Rockets' system.

Howard's accustomed to having between 50 to 60 percent of his touches come in the post, and that simply would not happen in Houston. The Rockets play too quickly.

That would maybe change if Howard did indeed learn from McHale, but as he is now, Howard would have to sacrifice some post touches for the good of the team.

That's it, though. Those are the only real drawbacks to Howard being with the Rockets, and in all honesty, they're pretty small.

No one knows what Dwight Howard's legacy is going to be by the time he retires, but one thing's for sure—he'd have the chance to build a great one with the Rockets. They have the right players, the right coach and—as CBS Sports' Zach Harper recently broke down—the ability to get at least one max player in a Rockets uniform.

The rest is up to Howard.

All stats were compiled via Synergy Sports Technology unless mentioned otherwise.