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World Cup 2014: Brazil Opens 72,800 Seat National Mané Garrincha Stadium

Ian Rodgers — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:20:20 -0400

The preparations for the World Cup finals in Brazil next year are gathering at pace as the country opened its latest stadium in the capital, Brasilia.

The new 72,800-seater National Mané Garrincha Stadium was unveiled on Saturday ahead of its first match, the Federal District league championship final between Brasilia and Brasiliense.

The new stadium is the fifth to be completed and handed over in readiness for the World Cup finals next year following the re-opening of the iconic Maracana Stadium last month, as the Daily Mail reported.

The latest addition to the 2014 roster is an impressive sight in the Brazilian capital. The stadium stands at 46 metres high and is divided into four sectors with eight storeys, 19 gates and 158 turnstiles at the entrance points.

The stadium has also been designed to host events, concerts, conferences and meetings as well as football matches, and has 74 boxes, 276 toilets, 40 bars, two restaurants and 14 snack bars.

The stadium took two years to complete and will stage the opening Confederations Cup match between Brazil and Japan on June 13 next month.

For the vast majority of football fans across the world, it will be the name of the stadium which is most synonymous with the World Cup.

Mané Garrincha is a Brazil legend after being one of the star names in the country's World Cup triumphs in 1958 and 1962.

The Botafogo winger won his first cap against Chile in 1955 and went on to play 50 times for his country before his final appearance for Brazil in the 3-1 defeat to Hungary at Goodison Park during the 1966 World Cup finals.

Garrincha was granted a farewell match in 1973 following his retirement from the game a year earlier.

Garrincha died in January 1983 at the age of just 49 though cirrhosis of the liver after a long battle with alcoholism, as BBC Sport reported in a 2008 tribute to the player.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter also congratulated the 2014 organising committee and the Brazilian people in a letter.

There are some amazing stadiums that have taken shape, changing the face of Brazil’s football infrastructure and creating a legacy that will extend beyond the final whistle.

The Estadio Nacional de Brasilia Mane Garrincha is one of these stadiums, a tribute to a true FIFA World Cup legend. I can still recall his incredible play in 1958 and in 1962 in particular. They were unforgettable moments.

There are few Brazilian cities that can match Brasilia when it comes to architecture, and this impressive new stadium is a reflection of that.

4 Reasons Strikeforce Fighters Are Faring so Well in UFC

Steven Rondina — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:23:23 -0400

When Zuffa first bought out Strikeforce in 2011, fans and media alike wondered aloud how well Strikeforce fighters would fare in the UFC. When Derek Brunson first took on Chris Leben, it started a still-ongoing display that the guys fighting out there in San Jose were in no way the slouches some dismissed them as.

While the California-based promotion's former middleweight champ, Luke Rockhold, just suffered a brutal loss to Vitor Belfort, the Strikeforce alumni have still been performing admirably on the whole.

So why is this? What factors have contributed to this storm?

Find out right here!

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Figuring out What Went Wrong in Golden State Warriors Second Round Loss

Simon Cherin-Gordon — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:05:03 -0400

Two games into Round 2, it seemed as though the Golden State Warriors had suddenly become NBA title contenders.

They had stolen home-court advantage away from the San Antonio Spurs, and one last-second defensive breakdown in Game 1 is all that separated Golden State from a commanding 2-0 lead.

Stephen Curry was playing at an All-NBA level. Klay Thompson, Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes were clicking. The Spurs, who most people thought were the best team remaining in Western Conference, seemed to have no answer.

From that point forward, however, San Antonio grabbed control of the series and didn't once relinquish it.

They won Game 3 in Oakland, reclaiming home-court advantage. The Warriors won Game 4 in overtime, but the Spurs didn't panic and crushed the Warriors in Game 5.

Game 6 figured to be Golden State's to lose, as its season was on the line and they were playing in front of the NBA's best home crowd. But the Spurs came out with a gutsy performance and closed out the series.

While the loss was certainly a disappointment—the Warriors went from becoming the scariest team not called the Miami Heat in the NBA playoffs to being eliminated in a matter of one week—the defeat was not gut-wrenching.

Part of this is due to the fact that the Warriors went further than anyone anticipated this season, but Golden State's end was also made relatively painless due to its swift, swinging of their sharp executioner's sword.

The Warriors thrive on perimeter shooting. That isn't to say they are a "jumpshooting team" in the diminutive sense. The Warriors can win games with defense, rebounding, points in the paint, transition buckets and crisp half-court offense. But the team's biggest strength is the shooting ability of its starting backcourt.

Stephen Curry set an NBA record with 272 three-pointers this season, and if you watch NBA playoff basketball, you've certainly witnessed the numerous coronations of him as the best shooter in the world.

What most people do not know is that the 211 triples drained by Klay Thompson this season is the 22nd-highest total in NBA history.

Curry and Thompson combined to hit 5.9 threes per game this season at 43 percent efficiency. That's 18 points a night on 13.7 shots.

So what did San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich do after Curry and Thompson hit them with 16 triples in the first two games? His team held the duo to 16 threes over the next four games, cutting their production in half.

The San Antonio defense usually rotates frequently, closing out on shooters, blocking shots from the weak side and rebounding as a team. Popovich decided to move away from this strategy in this series, keeping his best perimeter defenders—Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard—glued to Curry and Thompson at all times.

He also opted to run an offense that focused heavily on tiring Curry and Thompson out. Both Tony Parker (Thompson's man) and Green (guarded by Curry) took more shots in the series than they normally do.

As the Spurs' strategy of neutralizing Curry and Thompson proved to be working, Warriors coach Mark Jackson opted to run his offense through Jarrett Jack and Harrison Barnes.

Both players did everything they could to exploit their matchups. Jack averaged 17.5 points over the final four games, while the placement of Leonard and Green on Curry and Thompson allowed Barnes to consistently go up against a smaller man. He averaged 18 points over those four games.

But Jack is too turnover prone and too limited as a passer to beat San Antonio as the primary playmaker, while Barnes' inability to draw fouls or find open men when the defense collapses on him made his scoring something the Spurs could live with.

On the other end, San Antonio simply showed more experience than Golden State.

Tony Parker shot only 43 percent over the final four games, but he got to the free-throw line over seven times per game. Golden State's guarding of Parker with Thompson left Kawhi Leonard frequently mismatched against weaker perimeter defenders, and he shot an incredible 56.4 percent over those four games.

While Golden State's sixth man, Jack, failed to initiate the offense, San Antonio's sixth man, Manu Ginobili, thrived. His shot was off all series, but he made plays for others, crashed the boards, came up with steals and limited his turnovers.

Danny Green, while not the outside shooter that Curry and Thompson are, hurt Golden State by consistently getting open looks due to the defense collapsing when San Antonio worked the ball inside. He and Ginobili each hit eight triples over the final four games, matching the total from Curry and Thompson.

The Warriors could not beat the Spurs when San Antonio was matching them from deep because Popovich's club is simply too strong on the inside for Golden State to match them there too.

Warriors center Andrew Bogut played as good a defensive series as one can against the Spurs. He averaged 11.5 rebounds and held Tim Duncan to 42.3 percent shooting.

Still, Duncan got to the line 5.7 times a game and averaged 19.5 points. Bogut scored only 37 points in the entire series and was taken off the floor whenever Golden State was in the bonus due to his terrible free-throw shooting (7-for-18 in the series).

The Warriors were thoroughly beaten by the Spurs. San Antonio took away their opponents' strengths on offense and exploited their weaknesses on defense. They proved to have more versatile personnel at the top and a greater quantity of players who could pitch in than Golden State had.

Nothing really went wrong for the Warriors in this series. They could have been a little hotter from the field and should have gotten slightly better treatment from the officials, but ultimately were outplayed by a team that's been built up over a far longer period of time and outcoached by a man that's won four championships and 29 playoff series over 16 seasons.

Golden State must do everything it can to learn and improve from this defeat, but tip of the hat is also in order.

6 Biggest Positives for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal Right Now

Willie Gannon — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 -0400

Arsene Wenger and Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League for the 16th time. The Gunners overtook fierce North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to claim the coveted place in UEFA's premier cup competition. The Gunners, unbeaten in their final 11 matches, will take a number of positives into next season.

Here, Bleacher Report looks at five of the biggest positives for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal right now.

Positive No. 1: Santi Cazorla

Santi Cazorla had a more than memorable season for the Gunners. The 28-year-old was something of a low-key signing, even though he cost around £16 million. (h/t The Sun) But from day one, he was brilliant.

In a misfiring season where the Gunners gave rise to Spurs-like levels of inconsistency, Cazorla was the one constant shining light for Wenger and Co.

Using his left foot like a wand and his right foot like a light saber, the 5'6" Spaniard is capable of cutting any defense to pieces with his incredible vision and eye for goal.

He weighed in with 12 goals and 16 assists from 48 games for Arsenal. With Barcelona and Real Madrid being knocked out of the Champions League in the most unexpected manner, the Gunners may just have to fight to hold on to their new star.

There can be no doubt he is a class act, and fellow B/R writer Charlie Melman reckons Cazorla is the key player if Arsenal are to wrestle the title from Manchester United's grasp next season.

Positive No. 2: Jack Wilshere

Quite simply, when Jack Wilshere plays, Arsenal are a completely different team. The English international is destined to have a massive season for club and country next term.

The 21-year-old is easily the most outstanding midfield-dictator in the Premier League. He controls the ebb and flow of matches with metronomic beauty and plays with a maturity that belies his tender age.

There can be no doubting that Wilshere is the most important player at Arsenal. Wenger must choose his summer signings wisely a build a team to protect and get the best out of the future star.

The main problem for the Gunners regarding Wilshere is that he is prone to injury. As the World Cup in Brazil nears, he will be called upon by Roy Hodgson to lead England's midfield.

Wenger knows all about Wilshere's importance for club and country. He battled with Stuart Pearce in 2011 over the then-19-year-old. England wanted the youngster to play in the European U-21 finals. Le Prof warned England over his use in March, and will be sure to issue similar warnings come next season.

Positive No. 3: The Checkbook

Arsenal's and Arsene Wenger's transfer policy since 2004 has blighted the club like an ugly scar. To return to where they were in the halcyon days of the Invincibles, Thierry Henry and Double-Doubles, the Gunners need to sign a number of top-class players to revive their ills.

Depending upon who or what you read, Wenger has either £70 million, £150 million, or £35 million to spend in the summer.

Whichever way you look at, it the Gunners need to spend and spend fast to improve the team.

The Daily Mail is reporting that Wenger will spend this summer and quotes the Frenchman as saying;

The last three months is a springboard for next season. We have to transfer that belief into the start of next season, we need stability and to strengthen.

Is it spending a lot on one player or buying many players?

We want additions, but we want to keep the structure and spirit and quality of the team.

What all that adds up to is that, for the first time in years, Wenger has seemingly committed to make major signings in a transfer window.

Positive No. 4: The Spirit of the Team

Wenger achieved what he set out to do at the start of the season. He guided Arsenal to the promised land of fourth place in the English Premier League. A last-day victory over Newcastle United was enough to see off Tottenham Hotspur, who finished fifth.

In March, after Arsenal lost at White Hart Lane, finishing fourth looked almost impossible. Spurs were playing some of the best football in the EPL this season and had just moved seven points clear.

The Gunners spent the 10 days following the Spurs defeat reflecting upon what might have been. But rather than shrink back into their shell, they came out fighting.

Their season turned on the 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena. Between Feb. 16 and March 3, Arsenal lost 1-0 to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, 3-1 to Bayern Munich (both games were at the Emirates) and Spurs. Their season was all but over.

That 2-0 win opened up a glimmer of hope for Wenger and his team, and they charged right in.

Eleven unbeaten games later and Arsenal had finished fourth.

Talking to Sky Sports, Wenger heaped praise on his team and commended their great spirit;

I'm proud of the character and the spirit, especially with all we had to deal with during the season.

The players are special. I've told them many times and they've shown it. In the last two months they have been absolutely exceptional.

It's a good basis, as well, on a longer term to go into next season on such a strong run.

I'm very proud. We were very far behind Tottenham and even after defeat there (at White Hart Lane) we've shown character and attitude to come back and make 73 points, which is three points better than last season.

I have had many groups in my life and the focus and the desire to do well was always exceptional. It's one of the best groups I've had in my life on that front.

The combination of quality and attitude has been great, and that's why I always had faith that we would come back.

Positive No. 5: Tottenham's Agony equals Arsenal's Ecstasy

In any other year, the Gunners would not even dream of celebrating finishing fourth. This season was a little bit different, though. Spurs and Arsenal share a long and heated rivalry. In recent years, the White Hart Lane-based outfit has not had the players or finances to challenge the Gunners' dominance.

Under the chairmanship of Daniel Levy, Spurs have grown as a club. They now possess one of the best training grounds in the world and are almost ready to build a new stadium. They have the potential to be a coming force in the Premier League.

Arsenal's victory over Newcastle, which guaranteed Champions League qualification over Spurs, could have huge ramifications for years to come. Financially, it has denied their North London rivals a massive UCL revenue stream.

This potential loss of £25 million, combined with Arsenal's potential gain of £25 million and another £25 million through gate receipts, means the gap between the two clubs could be as much as £100 million next season.

Andre Villas-Boas put on a brave face when he said (h/t Yahoo Sports):

I said before this game that, whether we made it into the Champions League or not, we would have to raise the bar again because our competitors will do the same.

We got ever so close, but they will do their job in [the transfer] window and we will do ours the Tottenham way, scouting properly and looking for good grabs in summer window to make it a stronger squad.

Fortunately for Arsenal the "Tottenham way" means that Spurs will not be competing in the same transfer market.

Positive No. 6: Arsene Knows Best

Between fan protests, poor results, falling to 10th place in the English Premier League for the first time since 1994, calls for his head and the club's AGM in October being hijacked by irate fans, to say that 2012-13 has been a tough season for Arsene Wenger would be the understatement of the footballing year.

Amidst all the furor, Wenger still managed to guide his team to fourth place in the English Premier League. The longest-serving manager in English football and the EPL, now that Sir Alex Ferguson has retired, continues to prove he is a great manager.

Over the last two seasons, the Gunners have lost Robin van Persie, Alex Song, Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to rival clubs. Each and every time an important player parts ways with his beloved Arsenal, he replaces them with aplomb.

Next season, he is expected to add to the squad in a significant manner.

If he brings in the right players, Arsenal will challenge for the title, because like the old saying goes; Arsene knows best.

Bleacher Report's Premier League coverage has been nominated in the 2012-13 EPLTalk awards. Cast your vote here.

Were you happy with Arsenal's performance this season?

Leave your comments, thoughts and predictions for next season in the section below!

You can follow me on Twitter @WillieGannon.

And listen to me here, on the Hold the Back Page soccer podcast.

10 NFL Veterans on Their Last Legs

Wes Stueve — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:50:52 -0400

No matter how great he is or was, every NFL player reaches that point. The point at which he is no longer the player he once was. Every year, former superstars find themselves past their prime and on their last legs.

Looking at many veterans' 2012 seasons, it is easy to identify candidates for this. Age is an obvious factor, but many older players are still playing at high levels. In addition to age, quality of play is the most important trait here.

This happens to varying degrees. Some of the players on this list are borderline unemployable. Others still have jobs and are capable of starting.

Who are some of the NFL's veterans whose careers are fading fast? Some of these names are obvious—others might surprise.

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Edinson Cavani Transfer Rumours: Latest News on the Napoli Star

Colin O'Brien — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:38:42 -0400

Uruguay's Edinson Cavani is one of the hottest properties in world football right now, having been the spearhead to an impressive Napoli renaissance that's seen the southern Italian side challenge for the Serie A title for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona.

The influential front man looks set for a move away from the San Paolo this summer after scoring 98 goals in 134 appearances in all competitions for the Partenopei.

I've written in the past about Cavani's worth to his eager suitors, but now as the summer's silly season heats up this page will track all the latest news and rumours surrounding the 26-year-old.

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Eastern Conference Finals 2013: How Indiana Pacers Can Shock Miami

Ben Phillis — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:37:40 -0400

The Miami Heat are the obvious favorites to advance to the NBA Finals out of the Eastern Conference, but don’t be surprised if the Indiana Pacers send the Heat packing.

After Pacers head coach Frank Vogel’s comments were misquoted and jumped on by superstar LeBron James (via ESPN), Vogel came back to the media and clarified that he has “great respect for LBJ and the champs.”

Don’t misinterpret Vogel’s second round of comments. Neither he nor his players are intimidated by the Heat. If it hadn’t caused such a stir, the third-year coach surely would have stuck with his original quote: that Miami is the “next team in our way.”

The Pacers are determined and believe they can win. They want revenge after being ousted by Miami in 2012. Here are the ways Indiana can pull off a shocking upset of the NBA’s top squad.

Interior Defense

The Pacers were able to defeat the New York Knicks by simply owning them inside. Roy Hibbert demolished Tyson Chandler.

The Bulls gave the Heat trouble by “uglying up” games against them. Chicago didn’t have enough depth in the long run to defeat LeBron and company, but they definitely rattled the Heat and exposed a weakness.

Indiana is great on defense and extremely big. They were second in the regular season in points allowed per game and first in rebounds per game.

If the third seed out of the East can continue to play tough defense inside, the Heat will struggle in the series. Miami was 1-2 against Indiana in the regular season. In those two losses, they were limited to 61 field-goal makes on 138 attempts (44.2 percent).

That’s not exactly stifling, but it’s pretty good against the league’s most efficient team (49.6 percent in the regular season). In Miami’s lone victory against Indiana, they shot 55.9 percent from the field.

The number of points scored by the Heat was another key variable between these teams. This trend dates back to the 2012 playoffs. In the most recent regular season and last year’s postseason, the Pacers went 4-1 when the Heat didn’t break 100 points, but were 0-4 when Miami passed the century mark.

Setting the vibe with quality, physical defense is of the utmost importance against the defending champs. Indiana has the ability to win the battle in the paint, which will put them in position to compete in every game.

Halftime Adjustments

Erik Spoelstra received positive accolades for his coaching decision to give Miami’s players more freedom and go position-less. Spoelstra finished second in Coach of the Year voting, while Vogel finished a distant fifth.

However, Vogel has coached just as well as Spoelstra head-to-head.

Both coaches made fantastic halftime adjustments during the regular season. In the third quarter, the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers were second and third (respectively) in point differential, via NBA.com.

Not surprisingly, many of the games between these two teams were decided in that quarter. Here are the points scored by each team in the third, along with the eventual victor:

2012 Playoffs

Game 1: MIA 28, IND 22; Miami
Game 2: MIA 14, IND 28; Indiana
Game 3: MIA 12, IND 26; Indiana
Game 4: MIA 30, IND 16; Miami
Game 5: MIA 27, IND 17; Miami
Game 6: MIA 28, IND 16; Miami

2013 Regular Season

Game 1: MIA 15, IND 25; Indiana
Game 2: MIA 20, IND 27; Indiana
Game 3: MIA 23, IND 19; Miami

The average difference in third quarter scoring in those games is about 10.1 points. Whichever team won the third quarter won the game.

If Vogel consistently creates a good game plan at halftime, the Pacers can and will defeat the Heat.

Make LeBron Uncomfortable

This one goes hand-in-hand with the interior defense. If Roy Hibbert can shut down Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade is still somewhat hobbled, LeBron has to take over.

Obviously LeBron is capable of taking over games. But putting him out of his comfort zone could make a difference.

Late in Game 1 against the Bulls, the Heat looked shocked, disorganized and lackadaisical. Crunch time was reminiscent of their NBA Finals against the Mavericks.

Chicago hit them with their best, most physical shot, and it kind of rattled the Heat.

Now imagine a much deeper Pacers team doing that.

Indiana has to play tough, hard defense both on the inside and against LeBron. If they succeed, they can slow down the four-time MVP.

Dime magazine pointed out that Paul George, an All-Defensive Second Team selection, could give the Pacers a huge boost by taking LeBron out of his comfort zone. Jimmy Butler was able to do it in stretches, so why not George?

George already did an amazing job in the first regular-season victory against the league’s best player: he had 29 points to James’ 22. After the game he said (via ESPN): “I definitely wanted to battle him.”

The young forward relishes the opportunity, and George’s defense could be the X-factor. Over the same nine games referenced earlier against the Pacers, King James had 7.2 assists per game in wins and 3.75 assists per game in losses.

That huge discrepancy is the result of LeBron feeling a little uncomfortable. When James is playing naturally, those extra passes come easily.

The importance of those assists can’t be understated. For example, in the regular-season win over Indiana during the streak, James was the fourth-leading scorer (only 13 points) but led the team with seven assists. Even if LeBron isn’t scoring, he’s creating offense for his teammates.

It may not be a popular pick, but the Indiana Pacers are definitely capable of knocking off the Miami Heat. Physical, tenacious defense from the Pacers (especially Hibbert and George) combined with great coaching by Vogel will send this underdog to the NBA Finals.

*All unattributed statistics courtesy of ESPN.com.

French Open 2013: Lower-Ranked Players Who Will Cause Major Upsets

Ben Phillis — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:16:39 -0400

The names of the top three or four male and female tennis stars are well known, but some players outside of the top 10 could easily make a splash at the French Open this year too.

No. 4 Rafael Nadal is the hot story going into the tournament, fresh off of a win against Roger Federer in Rome. The victory boosted Nadal past David Ferrer in the world rankings, according to ESPN. The Spaniard has seven career titles in the French Open and is viewed as the clear-cut male favorite on Roland Garros’ clay surface.

Entering the women’s tournament, Serena Williams is the obvious choice to emerge victorious. She is currently in the middle of a career-best 24-match winning streak, via the New York Times.

The other top-ranked players in both fields are extremely famous even to casual fans: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray (if he plays), Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka.

All of those big names might face significant roadblocks in their quest to win the French Open though. The following players are those potential barriers. Keep an eye on them once qualifiers are finished and matchups are set.

Benoit Paire

The French right-hander is one of the best sleepers in the tournament this year. Paire is playing in his home country and had several strong outings recently.

In Rome, the 24-year old defeated Juan Monaco (No. 18) and Juan Martin Del Potro (No. 7) before falling to Roger Federer. His outstanding play in Italy proved that he can beat elite talent.

Ousting Del Potro was big for Paire, but he’s been eliminated by Federer or Nadal three out of his past four tournaments on clay. The Frenchman certainly has the ability to upset players ranked higher than him (Paire is currently No. 26), but he hasn’t been able to beat a top-five player in 2013.

This French Open could be his arrival.

Carla Suarez Navarro

For the females, Navarro is a quality lower seed at No. 20. The Spaniard was very good in Rome.

She knocked off Nadia Petrova (No. 11) in her first round of play. After two more victorious matches, Navarro was bested by eventual champ Serena Williams. Not bad considering Williams’ untouchable play lately. Her success at that tournament was no aberration, either.

In Madrid, the native managed to defeat Samantha Stosur in two sets. Caroline Wozniacki lost to Navarro in similar fashion earlier this year at Stuttgart. Both players are top-10 talents, and both wins came on clay.

The 20th-ranked player could surprise some people at Roland Garros.

Ernests Gulbis

Gulbis’ ranking was outside of the top 100 earlier in 2013, but his great year propelled him all the way to No. 39.

Some of the Latvian’s main highlights since January include beating Tommy Haas on his way to a title, handily defeating Janko Tipsarevic, besting John Isner right after the American claimed a title and playing Rafael Nadal tight twice.

Beating Nadal in what is by far the Spaniard’s best tournament would not be an easy task. Gulbis has shown the ability to win big on clay though.

You can be certain that higher seeds don’t want to see the rising pro as an opponent right now.

*All statistics provided by the Association of Tennis Professionals and the Women’s Tennis Association.

Ka'Deem Carey Will Push Towards the Heisman Trophy in 2013

Austin Kemp — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:12:21 -0400

Ka’Deem Carey was able to burst onto the scene last season as a sophomore, leading the nation with over 1,900 rushing yards and totaling 23 touchdowns on the ground. Now, being a year older and entering his second year in Rich Rodriguez’s spread attack, Carey will look to stay atop the leading rushers in the country and cement himself as a Heisman trophy contender.

At 5’11, 203 pounds, Carey is a nightmare for defenders in the open field. He has the ability to run through arm tackles and can also take a defender for a ride if tackled up high. Though his top-end speed isn’t great, Carey’s vision is what separates him. Once he spots a hole, he’s able to hit it as fast as any running back in the country.

Looking at Rich Rod’s running backs he’s coached in the past, evidence points for an improvement for Carey in 2013.

At West Virginia in 2001, running back Avon Cobourne rushed for 1,298 yards during his first season. Fast forward a year and you’ll see his numbers jumped by nearly 500 yards, increasing his total amount to 1,710. This can be seen for Steve Slaton as well, who jumped from 1,128 yards in 2005, to 1,744 in 2006. An increase of over 600 yards.

If this trend carries over to Carey, he could be in for a season that sees him eclipse well over 2,000 rushing yards. If that’s the case, how could you leave him out of the Heisman discussion? You couldn’t. Heck, it was a shame there was no mention of him last season in the discussion.

Naturally, teams in general make a noticeable leap when entering a coach’s second season. Yes, the Cats lost their QB to the NFL, but they have others with a year’s experience under their belts. The receivers and the offensive line will naturally improve now that they know what to expect with the new coaching staff, and because of this, Carey will benefit greatly.

The schedule isn’t too daunting, either. With the first three games consisting of Northern Arizona, UNLV, and UTSA, Carey should be able to rack in huge numbers depending on how much playing time he actually receives. Arizona also misses Stanford and Oregon State on the schedule, who were two of the top three defensive teams in the conference last season.

This is shaping up to be another incredible season by Ka’Deem Carey, and the funny thing is, most of the nation still doesn’t know who he his. If he is able to elevate his game even more than last season, the Tucson native should receive serious Heisman consideration. No one can predict injuries, but if Carey is able to stay healthy all season, he will, again, be the leading rusher in college football.

Comparing Mock Drafts for LA Lakers from Around the Web

Richard Le — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:47 -0400

After charging their way into the playoffs at the very end of the season, the Lakers can only expect to utilize their No. 48 pick and the Memphis Grizzlies' No. 60 pick (due to the fact that the Lakers' rights to one of the Grizzlies' picks are protected through the first 55) to rebuild their roster.

Starting with NBA Draft's mock, it appears as if the best prospect the Lakers can hope to get from their draft position is Mouhammadou Jaiteh.

As scouted by Duane Causwell, Jaiteh is a large and imposing big man with broad shoulders and the ability to utilize his body to be a force in the paint. His ability to box out and his soft touch around the rim are definitely advantages that the Lakers need to shore up a front line that may or may not retain Dwight Howard's services.

However, Jaiteh is not the greatest athlete. He doesn't have the fastest lateral quickness and isn't a great leaper. He is also very raw in terms of post moves and can't stretch the defense due to having poor shooting mechanics.

While Jaiteh could potentially become a big body in the paint for the Lakers to utilize against the other physical big men in the league, Jordan Hill already fills this role and is a much better athlete. However, with the 48th pick, Jaiteh may be the best big man available.

Draft Express has the Lakers selecting Alex Abrines, an international shooting guard out of Spain.

Abrines is a 6'6" shooting guard who weighs in at only 190 pounds. Playing only limited minutes during his tenure with FC Barcelona and being quite small for his height, he won't be much of a help shoring up one of the Lakers' biggest weaknesses (their perimeter defense).

Walter Football's mock draft has the Lakers taking Will Clyburn, a purported jack-of-all-trades who can score and hit the glass. His weaknesses revolve around a tendency to turn the ball over unnecessarily, and his ball handling needs some work.

It is clear that the Lakers' most prominent problems cannot be solved through the draft, especially since they no longer have the rights to the 19th pick.

Perhaps Will Clyburn would be a better option than Jaiteh. He gives them a prospect at the wing position that could potentially mitigate the gaping hole that is their perimeter defense.

Outside of a DeJuan Blair-like surprise in the second round, there are very few big men this late in the draft that can yield a really productive player. Jaiteh is too big of a risk and an international guard such as Abrines is too unproven and small.

Drafting an athletic wing player or guard like Clyburn to supplement any moves the Lakers will make heading into next season would be he best course of action.

Before It's News projects the 48th pick to be Erick Green, whose selection is intended to fill in the perimeter gap left by Kobe Bryant and his injury.

While his projected draft value is a little high according to NBA Draft and Draft Express, there is no doubt that the Lakers could use the scoring punch from the guard positions.

Leading the nation in scoring during his college career, the knock on Green's explosive scoring and one-on-one abilities is the fact that his slight build and lean frame make him too small to be a 2-guard in the NBA. However, he isn't a proven facilitator and has never had to respond to not being the primary option on offense.

However, it is clear that if Green is still on the board by the 48th pick, he would be a steal for the Lakers, who are in desperate need of some real talent at the point guard position.

Despite his upside, Green's slight build will make him a defensive liability, which means the Lakers' shoddy perimeter defense won't see a significant upgrade with him on the floor.

While this may be an issue if the Lakers had a higher pick, drafting 48th means the Lakers must take the most talented player left on the board, regardless of position. If Green is still available, there are few players in the second round with his kind of scoring prowess and upside.

Buying Insurance and Defining the Importance of a Backup QB in the NFL

BJ Kissel — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:04:06 -0400

A lot of people wouldn't say the backup quarterback position is one of the five or six most important positions on a football field, that is, until you're having to play your backup quarterback. Then it becomes really important.

There's no denying that your starting quarterback is the most important position on your team, but how much focus you put on that backup spot could go a long way in determining how competitive you are if you're unfortunate enough to lose your starter.

There's a couple of different ways you can approach the backup quarterback position.

A lot depends on how old your starter is and what the situation is with your No. 1 guy. But to put it simply, you can bring in a veteran journeyman who you know has experience and you can feel comfortable about what you're going to get from him, or you can have a young, developing player ready to step in and get his opportunity.

Within the last couple of years, we've seen these two different philosophies used.

The first was when the Washington Redskins made the bold move two years ago to trade up and secure former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 pick in the draft. But what was even more surprising was when they took former Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins in the fourth round of that same draft.

It was seen as the ultimate insurance against Griffin either not working out like they had hoped or protection against an injury. It was also a pretty good indication from the coaching staff that they're confident in their abilities to develop quarterbacks, and Cousins specifically, because he'd have to be ready to play day one should anything happen to Griffin.

The Redskins released veteran quarterback John Beck right after they drafted Cousins.

Cousins seemed to have the right attitude about the situation in his comments to the Washington Post right after the draft.

Coach Shanahan’s words to me were that he couldn’t pass me up, and he was excited to have me. . . . Certainly, with Robert Griffin, there’s a lot of hope in him in being part of their future. But I’m excited to be a part of their organization and help that team win football games.

It's a good thing that Cousins had the right attitude because, once Griffin went down last season with a knee injury, Cousins was ready to step right in and play. He took advantage of the one start he made against the Cleveland Browns, finishing the game having completed over 70 percent of his passes for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns.

The Redskins trusted their abilities to develop a young quarterback and felt they had one who could, even as a mid-round pick, step right in and play at a high level if it was needed.

On the flip side of this scenario is what the Kansas City Chiefs did this past offseason. The Chiefs had Brady Quinn and Matt Cassel as their two starting quarterbacks in 2012. These two players combined to throw just eight touchdowns and 20 interceptions last season. It was obviously a dire situation in Kansas City with no real prospect on their roster as a potential quarterback of the future.

Former fifth-round pick out of Iowa Ricky Stanzi is on the Chiefs roster, but he couldn't sniff the field while Quinn and Cassel were playing at an embarrassingly low level. That doesn't bode well for Stanzi's future in Kansas City, even with a new regime as new general manager John Dorsey, and Chiefs head coach, Andy Reid, decided how to approach the quarterback position.

The Chiefs held the No. 1 pick in the draft and decided to use their second-round pick to acquire their starting quarterback and trade for former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.

While this move frustrated a good number of Chiefs fans who wanted to see the organization finally invest a first-round pick in a quarterback for the first time since 1983, as the draft played out, it looks to have been the right decision.

These quarterbacks didn't fall because of some new CBA wrinkle or that the value isn't there for whatever reason, it was just a down year for quarterbacks. EJ Manuel, being the only quarterback selected in the first round, was No. 16 overall, going to the Buffalo Bills.

The most interesting thing was the Chiefs reached an agreement with former New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Chase Daniel before the draft. Daniel signed a three-year, $10 million deal with the Chiefs that included $4.8 million guaranteed.

You don't give a player $4.8 million guaranteed and then draft another quarterback high in the draft to compete with him for the No. 2 quarterback position. Once you gave him that money, you knew he was your backup quarterback.

It was just another form of insurance, just like Cousins was insurance against a Griffin injury for the Redskins. Daniel was insurance against a weak quarterback class and the Chiefs not having to force the pick, especially if the Chiefs didn't truly believe in any of the quarterbacks available.

This idea is using veteran players to fill these roles and maybe it's less about overall philosophy and more about the specific players who were available. If the Chiefs looked at this draft and didn't believe there's a quarterback worthy of being the No. 2 guy right away, it'd make sense to give Daniel a whole lot of money.

Only time will tell if one of these mid-round quarterbacks turns out to be pretty good. Whether it's Matt Barkley, Tyler Wilson or Ryan Nassib, the Chiefs had their shot at each of these guys and felt more comfortable going with the combination of Smith and Daniel over any combination the draft and free agency could come up with regarding players.

Some other examples around the league right now are the Oakland Raiders doing what the Chiefs decided not to do, giving Wilson a chance to win the backup job as a rookie, maybe even the starting job over Matt Flynn.

The New England Patriots have spent the last three years developing Ryan Mallet to either be ready if Tom Brady should go down with an injury or be traded off and bring them back draft picks.

This thought process has allowed teams to sell off their developed assets, in this case being young, unproven quarterbacks who have looked good in limited capacity. We've seen it recently with Cassel and Kevin Kolb.

The Green Bay Packers are rolling the dice by going with 2012 seventh-round pick B.J. Coleman and former Texas Tech slinger and undrafted free agent in 2009 Graham Harrell as the two quarterbacks behind Aaron Rodgers right now. The Packers are pretty much assuming their season is toast if Rodgers goes down, so they'll just have to worry about that situation at that time—should it present itself.

There's no right or wrong way to handle the backup position because it's worked both ways and not worked both ways as well.

It depends on the coaching staff's ability to develop younger players, the specific players who are actually available, and then obviously, the fit for your specific offensive scheme. These are the most important determining factors in whether or not a player is going to be successful on a particular team.

There are a few teams out there that are potential playoff teams that are gambling at the backup quarterback position right now. It's just like regular insurance; it's something that you must get in advance of there being a problem, because like most issues dealing with insurance, it's too late if you're waiting until after the fact.

The Career-Defining Moment of Each UFC Middleweight Champion

Adam Hill — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:03:28 -0400

In 2000, the New Jersey Athletic Control Board started regulating mixed martial arts instituting stricter rules and more weight classes. The UFC added the new divisions, including middleweight, starting with UFC 31 back in 2001.

For the better part of a decade, Anderson Silva has lorded over the UFC's middleweight division.

However, prior to "The Spider's" domination, there were four other men who had the distinct honor of holding the middleweight title.

These fighters have all made an indelible impression on the landscape of the middleweight division.

This is a list chronicling the defining moment of each champ's career. These are the moments that not only epitomize the fighters' determination, but also their warrior spirit.

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Asmir Begovic: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Peter Brownell — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:00:01 -0400

Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is among many players being tipped with a possible transfer in the summer window.

Here's a breakdown of his numbers and a brief scouting guide to the Bosnia-Herzegovina international, along with a few hints as to where he might be playing next summer.

Age: 25

Contract Situation: Begovic joined Stoke City in 2010 and is under contract until 2016.

Career Stops: Portsmouth (2005-2010), La Louviere (loan, 2005), Macclesfield Town (loan, 2006), Bournemouth (loan, 2007), Yeovile Town (loan, 2008), Ipswich Town (2009), Stoke City (2010-).

Current Campaign: English Premier League—38 games, 45 goals conceded; World Cup Qualifiers—five games, three goals conceded.

Video Showreel:

Scouting Guide:

Begovic is a goalkeeper for the English Premier League side Stoke City and for the Bosnia-Herzegovina national team.

The 25-year-old perfectly combines a big body with quick reactions to make scoring on him very difficult. He commands his box and can pick off crosses and set pieces with ease. He is also a fine shot-stopper, reaching difficult attempts with dives and leaps that other goalkeepers would not be able to get to.

Begovic has the total package of goalkeeping skills.

Where Next?

A few of the top English clubs are pursuing the services of the highly regarded Begovic.

First up is Chelsea and Arsenal, who the Mirror reports are battling to nab Begovic as their netminder in their respective upcoming Champions League and Premier League campaigns.

The aforementioned piece in the Mirror indicates that Chelsea may well be the front-runners between the two clubs.

Then there are the Premier League Champions, Manchester United, pursuing Begovic (per the Guardian). However, as the Guardian indicates, it might well be Fulham who sweeps on through and earns his signature.

All the interest, of course, speaks to how bright this goalkeeper's future is. He should continue to snuff out goals for years to come.

4 Biggest Takeaways from the NFL Spring League Meeting

Dan Hope — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:55:22 -0400

The NFL is a progressive and forward-thinking league, so changes are expected to occur and news is expected to break at the NFL Spring League Meeting, which began Monday in Boston.

No definitive news has come out of the league meeting yet, which continues Tuesday and Wednesday. That said, reporters covering the league meetings have come away with some interesting takeaways that are expected to play out over the next two days or in upcoming weeks.

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Why Hero Ball Doesn't Cut It in NBA Playoffs

Adam Fromal — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:54:29 -0400

In the NBA playoffs, winning is the only thing that matters, which makes the prominence of Hero Ball a head-scratching reality. Just because a mentality is firmly entrenched in our collective consciousness doesn't mean that it's the proper method of approaching a situation.

During the regular season, this strategy can occasionally work. But during the postseason, when defenses are ramped up more than a few notches and everything slows down, Hero Ball is a terrific recipe for an early exit.

So far, the extracurricular affairs of the 2013 season have seen Mark Jackson call on Jarrett Jack to run isolation plays for the Golden State Warriors. Kevin Durant took over down the stretch for the Oklahoma City Thunder—and during the rest of the game, for that matter—once Russell Westbrook was hurt. Carmelo Anthony seemed to do nothing but play Hero Ball.

What do all three of those players have in common?

They're all sitting at home and watching the Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs continue to duke it out for a shot at holding up the coveted Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Coincidence? I think not.

The very notion of playing Hero Ball is one that's rooted in failure. You might think of the concept as giving the best player on the team a shot to win. The ball is in his hands, after all.

However, think about the opportunity cost of the play. By committing to one player, and only one player, the team is forgoing any semblance of team play. It's essentially admitting that it has no confidence in its ability to generate a quality look by running a set, instead settling for what's likely to be an extremely difficult shot.

ESPN's Henry Abbott has a brilliant idea:

Abbott's argument is simple, but it's rather profound. Sometimes the best ideas are the one's rooted in simplicity. Occam wouldn't have been able to shave if that weren't true.

Teams need to stop insisting that difficult shots by the best players are the route du jour and instead focus on getting the easiest look. That's the principle that the San Antonio Spurs have built their offense around for years.

Using backdoor cuts, tons of ball movement and plenty of unselfishness, Gregg Popovich has installed a system that ensures a team passes up a good look for a great one.

Why isn't that the case in crunch time for all teams? Why can't they pass up a bad look for a better one?

And make no mistake about it, a difficult shot taken by a terrific scorer can still be a bad look. Even Durant, 'Melo and Stephen Curry can hoist up unfavorable attempts in late-game situations.

Instead, teams should be attacking the rim and devising plays that free up open looks, not heavily contested one-on-four situations for their best players to navigate. According to Shane Battier, defenses are actually softer during these crucial situations, possibly because the thought of fouling makes them nauseous.

Are they soft against one player trying to take on an entire team by himself? Not so much.

You can see Battier's full thoughts on Hero Ball in the embedded video.

During that same video, ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz brings up the interesting point that coaches might be conditioned to give the ball to the superstars in late-game situations because they're loss averse. No one can blame them if their superstar fails, but a blown play at the end could look quite bad in the headlines the next day.

Loss aversion is everywhere in sports. It's why football teams don't go for it more on fourth downs, even though it's mathematically beneficial to do so. It's why baseball teams with new managers are more likely to get rid of incumbent players who are slumping. They can't afford to wait it out and hope for a return to prominence.

And yes, it's part of the reason that Hero Ball has become so omnipresent in the 2013 playoff landscape.

But trust me, you don't want to get me started on loss aversion in sports or else you'll be reading a 50,000-word tome. So let's move on.

If you're looking for evidence that Hero Ball isn't working during the postseason, you're in luck, because there's plenty out there.

Let's roll back the clocks and look at the New York Knicks' overtime loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the first-round series. The game is tied at 84 with the clock ticking down in the final quarter, and Anthony has just clanged a three-point attempt off the back of the iron. Tyson Chandler tips the ball out and the play resets.

Above you can see 'Melo establishing position on the elbow with 15 seconds left on the shot clock.

Take a good look at where Jason Kidd, Iman Shumpert and Chandler are positioned.

The ball is thrown in to Anthony with nine seconds left on the shot clock and 29 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Again, look at Kidd, Shumpert and Chandler.

See any differences yet?

Mike Woodson is making absolutely no effort to run any sort of play, instead resigning himself to the fact that Anthony needs to create his own shot when the defense on him is at its tightest.

Jeff Green bats the ball away from 'Melo, which puts him in an even worse position. Now instead of having an established spot on the elbow, he's well behind the three-point arc with only six seconds to get off a shot.

Meanwhile, Raymond Felton backs off, and here's the crucial part: Jason Terry is well aware of what's going to happen. You can see him motioning to Avery Bradley that he should be ready to pick up Felton if necessary.

Terry is now prepared to give Green a little bit of help in ensuring that the team in green doesn't lose on this shot.

Boom. Terry makes his move and doubles Anthony.

You know, because the situation wasn't tough enough for the league's leading scorer already.

Notice anything else? Not a single teammate has moved. Even as the situation spirals downward, there's no attempt to abandon Hero Ball.

Anthony pulls up, and the ensuing jumper ricochets off the back of the iron. Just like his last attempt did.

Surely this wasn't the best look that the Knicks could find. There had to be better options than 'Melo jacking up a deep two-pointer as he faded away and drifted to the side in an attempt to avoid the double-team.

But...Hero Ball!

Let's not just pick on Anthony and the Knicks, though.

If you go back and watch any of the Thunder losses to the Grizzlies, you'll see Durant trying to take over too much in late-game situations. It seemed like he took every single shot down the stretch until a game was out of hand.

During the 2012 playoffs, Abbott—yep, him again—conducted an interesting study on Hero Ball. He looked at 15 star players (Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Manu Ginobili, Danny Granger, LeBron James, Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Paul Pierce, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Russell Westbrook) and compared their performances during the last five minutes of games in which the teams were separated by less than five points to the shooting of the non-stars.

The stars shot 71.8 percent from the field and 25.6 percent when they were behind the arc. Meanwhile, the non-stars posted respective percentages of 54.2 and 36.

You tell me which you'd rather have.

Although I don't have numbers for this postseason readily available, your eyes should be telling you that a similar story is unfolding.

This isn't a new problem. It's one that's been around for quite some time, meaning that even the legendary Phil Jackson ran into trouble with Hero Ball when he and assistant coach Doug Collins had Michael Jordan under their metaphorical wings. The following is a passage from Sacred Hoops, Jackson's book that should be considered a must-read for any hardcore basketball fan:

The problem was that Jordan's teammates were often just as enchanted as the fans. Collins devised dozens of plays to get the rest of the team involved in the action; in fact he had so many he was given the name Play-a-Day Collins. That helped, but when push came to shove, the other players usually faded into the background and waited for Michael to perform another miracle. Unfortunately, this mode of attack, which assistant coach Johnny Back dubbed "the archangel offense" was so one-dimensional the better defensive teams had little difficultly shutting it down.

"The archangel offense" is quite similar to Hero Ball, even if it didn't necessarily take place late in the game. And if Michael Jordan couldn't get it to work, who exactly can?

There are plenty of reasons for a coach to just hand the ball to his superstar in a crucial situation and hope for the best as the other players get out of the way. The problem is, there are more reasons for him to do anything else.

Winning is one of those reasons that falls into the latter camp. In the playoffs, that should be enough to sway even the coaches most hell-bent on going to war with Hero Ball as the only weapon in their arsenal.

Comparing Mock Drafts for Chicago Bulls from Around the Web

Ernest Shepard — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:31:30 -0400

It is time to take a look into the future of the Chicago Bulls after their second-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat. The Bulls have avoided the NBA draft lottery for five consecutive seasons.

The last time they were part of the lottery was 2008; they landed the No. 1 pick in the draft. With that pick, the Bulls chose former Simeon High School and Memphis star Derrick Rose.

Selecting Rose was not a slam dunk. Can’t-miss prospect Michael Beasley from Kansas State impressed the scouts with the ability to score from inside and the perimeter.

In 2008, the choice for the Bulls was easy. They only had to decide between two players.

As the Rose vs. Beasley debate raged on, fans in Chicago clamored for the hometown prospect. At times, someone outside of Chicago held different sentiments.

Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com wrote an article about why he would have chosen Beasley over Rose at that time.

In the end, the Bulls made the right pick by getting Rose, while Beasley has yet to find a team where he can be a long-term fixture.

Where do the Bulls stand in 2013?

The NBA draft combine came and went with a few players improving their draft stocks. The Bulls will be looking for a player whom they hope can crack the rotation next season with the No. 20 pick.

What Are the Bulls’ Needs?

If you ask Bulls fans, they will quickly tell you that they need for Derrick Rose to come back healthy. His return to the team would arguably be the biggest addition that any NBA team will have during the offseason. As great as Rose can be, he cannot fill all of the Bulls’ needs.

The Bulls were undermanned against the Heat during the best-of-seven series. There was an apparent lack of frontcourt depth. As a result, center Joakim Noah averaged 38.4 minutes versus the Heat.

Losing Omer Asik to the Houston Rockets left the Bulls with a hole in the center position. It is a hole that must be filled.

Scoring is another need for the Bulls. If the Bulls can find a center or a power forward who can score while coming off the bench, it will solve two problems at once. If such a frontcourt player is unavailable in the draft, then the team has to consider the best scorer who is on the draft board.

Who Are the Websites Suggesting the Bulls Draft?

Looking at five mock drafts, each observer has the Bulls selecting a different player.

Here is who they choose:

ESPN Chad Ford’s Mock Draft 2.0: Mason Plumlee, Power Forward, Duke
NBADraft.net: Giannis Adetokunbo, Small Forward/Power Forward, Greece
DraftExpress.com: Tony Mitchell, Power Forward, North Texas
Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld.com: Jeff Withey, Center, Kansas
CBSSports.com: Allen Crabbe, Shooting Guard, California

Each player brings a different skill set to a team that can use plenty of help. Plumlee is an athletic forward who can run the floor and finish strong in the painted area. Adetokunbo is a good scorer, and so is Crabbe. Mitchell and Withey are rugged post defenders who can play either at power forward or center for the Bulls.

Do Any of Them Fit What the Bulls Need?

Yes!

Each player would fill a need. The Bulls have to become more athletic in the frontcourt.

Drafting Plumlee would allow the Bulls to have a solid player who can run the floor and finish in the post. If there is a knock on Plumlee, it is the fact that he is not known as a scorer. He comes from a great basketball program in Duke, and by entering the draft as a senior, he is a seasoned college player.

Jeff Withey is also a senior and comes with a strong pedigree as a contributor to the Kansas basketball program for four seasons. He is a strong defender in the post who could bring the missing piece of toughness to the Bulls.

Mitchell is an excellent shot-blocker. The Bulls could use some help in this area. The Heat were able to attack the paint anytime they wanted to. Having Mitchell in the paint could change that.

Crabbe is a versatile scorer who has incredible range and is a great rebounder at his position. Drafting him would be a good insurance plan if the Bulls lose Marco Belinelli and/or Nate Robinson to free agency. But can he defend well enough to fit into Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau’s system?

The wild card is Adetokunbo.

He can score, but what else can he do?

The Nigerian has intriguing size (he is listed at 6’9”) and athleticism. His ball-handling and ability to finish at the rim are something that the Bulls do not have on their current roster aside from Rose. The final question is, can he adapt to playing against NBA competition?

Given the strengths of each player, if I had a say, the mystery behind Adetokunbo is worthy of the No. 20 pick of the upcoming draft.

While the Bulls need backups at the center and shooting guard position, the need for a player with a huge upside helps them in the interim as well as in the future.

Drafting Adetokunbo would be a move with the future in mind.

Michael Kickham Should Replace Ryan Vogelsong for the San Francisco Giants

Mark Reynolds — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:23:36 -0400

Ryan Vogelsong looked as though he had finally figured things out on Monday night for the San Francisco Giants. After a brutal start to the season, Vogelsong cruised through five scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals to lower his ERA from 8.06 to 7.19.

Vogelsong's dreams of a recovery from his brutal beginning to the season were then shattered along with his right hand. Vogelsong was struck with the ball while taking a swing during his at-bat in the bottom of the fifth inning.

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, Vogelsong will likely be out for four to eight weeks with a fractured right hand. Vogelsong's wife, Nicole, confirmed via Twitter that he will undergo surgery Tuesday and be out for six weeks.

The Giants entered the season without a viable Plan B in the event of an injury to a starting pitcher. The Giants received 160 starts from the starting five last year, but that injury luck ran out on Monday night.

The Giants don't have an effective, experienced starter whom they can turn to in the minor leagues.

Long reliever Chad Gaudin could be an option to replace Vogelsong given his experience as a starter. However, removing him from the bullpen would weaken that unit without definitely upgrading the rotation. Gaudin has a 4.72 career ERA in 409.2 innings as a starter.

The Giants could seek an alternative outside of the organization. However, with more than two months until the trading deadline, a robust market for starting pitching probably doesn't exist yet. It's unclear if any alternative on the current trade market would be an upgrade over Gaudin or someone already in the system.

Instead of looking to Gaudin or the trade market, the Giants should turn to Michael Kickham to replace Vogelsong in the rotation. What Kickham lacks in experience, he makes up for with his excellent stuff.

Kickham entered the season as the organization's sixth-best prospect, according to Marc Hulet of FanGraphs. Hulet wrote of Kickham:

Kickham doesn’t have quite the same fastball velocity that fellow southpaw Josh Osich has but it still touches 94 mph and he has a chance to stick in the starting rotation. He also has better secondary stuff: a plus slider, average curveball and developing changeup. Kickham has a strong pitcher’s frame and pitched 150 innings in 2012. ...The lefty spent all of 2012 in double-A when he produced very impressive numbers, including a strikeout rate of 8.18 K/9 and an above-average ground-ball rate. ... He has the ceiling of a No. 4 starter.

Jason Parks, a prospect expert for Baseball Prospectus, wrote of Kickham (via Jay Jaffe of Sports Illustrated):

The 24-year-old has good stuff from the left-side—including a plus fastball—with feel and utility for a deep secondary arsenal. Some scouts think Kickham would be a better fit in the bullpen, where his velocity could play up and his command issues could play down, but he has the body and the arsenal to develop into a back of the rotation workhorse. Either way, Kickham is a major-league arm and should see action in 2013.

Kickham is currently second in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League with 50 strikeouts in 47.2 innings of work. He's also been pitching extremely well of late after a rough start to the season. Over his last four starts, he's put up a 1.80 ERA while striking out 25 against just six walks over 25 innings of work.

Kickham had an outstanding year at Double-A Richmond last year. He put up a 3.05 ERA while striking out 137 hitters in 150.2 innings of work.

His control was his biggest weakness entering this season. He's cut his walk rate from 4.5 walks per nine innings pitched (W/9) last season down to 3.6 W/9 so far this year. That's still too high of a walk rate, but it shows that Kickham is trending in the right direction with his control.

Andrew Baggarly of CSN Bay Area wrote Sunday that Gaudin would be the first option if the Giants needed to give a starter a break. However, given the length of time Vogelsong will be out, the Giants should leave Gaudin in the pen and turn to Kickham.

Kickham might not be quite as ready for the big leagues as the Giants would want in an ideal world. Alas, Vogelsong's fractured right hand shattered any notion of an ideal world on Monday night.

The Giants' lack of a viable sixth starter has put them in a bind. The best solution to ride the Vogelsong injury out is to give the ball to the organization's best arm in the upper minors in Kickham.

Kickham will have his struggles if he's called upon by the Giants, just as he did to open the season for Fresno. However, his low-90s fastball and assortment of off-speed stuff have helped him miss bats throughout his minor league career. If the Giants give Kickham the opportunity to settle in at the big league level, he can give them more upside than Gaudin because of his swing-and-miss stuff.

The Giants don't need the eventual replacement to match the 3.05 ERA that Vogelsong gave them over the past two seasons or the 1.09 ERA he put up over four postseason starts last year. They just need someone to keep them afloat and provide some stability for the next six weeks.

Leaving Gaudin in the bullpen and turning to Kickham is the best among the few options on the table right now for the Giants.

All statistics and standings in this article are courtesy of ESPN, MiLB .com and Baseball-Reference.com.

Biggest Personnel Losses Suffered by Alabama Football and Who Will Replace Them

Charlie Potter — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:14:07 -0400

The University of Alabama has been a factory for producing NFL talent since head coach Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, and after the Crimson Tide won their 15th national title in January, that tradition continued in the 2013 NFL draft.

Nine Alabama players were selected in the draft, with several other players either agreeing to free-agent contracts or finding jobs that match their newly acquired degrees. Their absences will be felt in the locker room and on the field next season for Alabama, but the Crimson Tide must rebuild and reload like they have in the past.

Several positions are up for grabs with the departures of the former starters, and it will be up to the remaining and incoming players to fill them. However, Saban and Co. recruited well and have more-than-capable veterans on the 2013-14 roster.

Here we break down the biggest personnel losses that Alabama suffered this offseason and which players will step in to fill those voids.

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Analyzing the Chicago Bulls' 2013 NBA Draft Needs

Zach Buckley — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:05:25 -0400

The Chicago Bulls are either an ideal landing spot for 2013 NBA draft prospects or a nightmarish destination to begin one's pro career.

On the one hand, joining Chicago means becoming a part of one of the league's most proud franchises and a club that's still just scratching the surface of its potential. The Bulls just won 45 regular-season games without Derrick Rose and should be clawing their way back to the league's elite ranks.

On the other hand, a playoff-proven rotation isn't always the easiest to crack for a rookie. And Tom Thibodeau's rotation runs thinner than most, as Chicago reserves logged the third-fewest minutes in the league this season (14.4 via HoopsStats.com).

System and opportunity are two of the most oft-cited factors in determining a rookie's effective transition to the realm of the professional sports world. So before any potential pick can take an optimistic or pessimistic view of Chicago as a future surrounding, the onus is on the Bulls' brass to identify draft targets who fit Thibodeau's system and will have the opportunity to maximize their potential.

But before even identifying any potential draft targets, the Bulls must first target areas of need on their current roster.

Chicago is clearly lacking in two areas as currently constructed: low-post scoring and perimeter shooting.

The Bulls averaged 36.7 points in the paint this season (19th in the league) and converted just 46.8 percent of their chances there (24th, via HoopsStats.com).

The return of slasher extraordinaire Rose would figure to bolster these numbers, but perhaps not as much as one would think.

Nate Robinson, who saw the lion's share of Rose's minutes this season but could become a free-agent casualty this summer, had more than one-third of his made field goals coming from within the paint. Backcourt mate Jimmy Butler found more than 60 percent of his field goals there (via NBA.com/stats).

Chicago's lack of interior scoring is the root of this problem.

Veteran Carlos Boozer prefers to do most of his damage from midrange; more than half of his field-goal attempts came at least eight feet from the basket. Joakim Noah does more of his damage near the basket, but his scoring (11.9 points per game) often takes a backseat to his defense (11.1 boards, 2.1 blocks) and shot creation (4.0 assists).

On the perimeter, the Bulls were more selective in their chances, and for good reason.

At 35.3 percent, Chicago tied the Portland Trail Blazers for the 20th-best three-point success rate in the league (via ESPN.com). Never a team to defeat itself, the Bulls attempted the second-fewest long-range shots in the NBA, 15.4 per game.

Whatever sharpshooting threat the Bulls enjoyed this season, it could be growing even less intimidating in 2013-14. Of the six Chicago marksmen to shoot above 30 percent from deep this year, half are now free agents (Robinson, Marco Belinelli and Richard Hamilton, via HoopsWorld.com).

Hamilton's departure has seemed a formality since the veteran had all but disappeared from Thibodeau's rotation. Comcast SportsNet's Aggrey Sam says it's unlikely that Robinson will return to a crowded Chicago backcourt.

Of course, that's the easy part of the tasks that lie ahead for GM Gar Forman. Now it's his job to find players meeting the athletic profile to fill one of those needs.

It won't be easy. Forman's draft arsenal runs two picks deep, the 20th pick of the first round and the 19th selection of the second (49th overall). And multiple analysts rate this draft class as being historically weak.

But that isn't to say that Forman is completely without options.

Using DraftExpress.com's mock draft board to whittle down the field takes potential interior additions Steven Adams (Pittsburgh) and Gorgui Dieng out of the running.

If Forman's willing to wait for his return (as he was when he traded up to land stretch forward Nikola Mirotic in 2011), he may be tempted to grab Brazilian big man Lucas Nogueira, a raw 20-year-old prospect packed with potential for the right, patient franchise. Mouhammadou Jaiteh, a 6'11" 18-year-old, offers similar promise but is likely a few more years away from contributing.

For a more instant return, Forman might consider Kansas center Jeff Withey or Bucknell's big man Mike Muscala. Withey fits the defensive profile to see the floor under Thibodeau (3.9 blocks per game as a senior, via StatSheet.com), but often finds his offense either off timely feeds or cleaning the glass. Muscala has both solid footwork and a soft shooting touch in his offensive arsenal, but could stand to add bulk to his 6'11", 230-pound frame.

If Forman's not convinced the low-post prospects are worth the investment, he has a few perimeter targets to mull over.

San Diego State's Jamaal Franklin may be Thibodeau's pick, thanks to his versatile skill set and nonstop motor. But just a 27.2 percent three-point shooter as a junior, he doesn't project to strengthen Chicago's perimeter attack. Michigan's Tim Hardaway, Jr. could be their three-point threat (34.2 percent for his Wolverines' career), but appeared to give inconsistent efforts defensively.

Allen Crabbe of California is another strong shooter, but needs work in developing his handles and could stand to add strength. South Dakota State's Nate Wolters is a prolific scorer (22.6 points per game) and shooter (38.0 three-point percentage, via DraftExpress.com), but scouts have serious concern with his level of competition and athleticism.

Providence freshman Ricky Ledo is an intriguing talent, but a prototypical boom-or-bust candidate. A top-20 recruit, academic issues kept Ledo from ever suiting up for the Friars, and scouts have reportedly questioned his ability to be a good teammate (via Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com).

Weak drafts, not surprisingly, typically fall short in the stardom department but sometimes bode well for teams operating out of later draft slots.

The Bulls aren't in need of a superstar to push them over the top, but do need to find something of value with that first-round selection.

Forman has some options, but he'll need to do his homework to identify talent among a crop of players rife with potential and question marks.

Follow @Hoops_Guru

The 6 Best and Worst Moves of the New England Patriots' 2013 Offseason

Nick Lantz — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:00:37 -0400

The New England Patriots had quite a busy offseason between free agency and the 2013 NFL draft. Some fan favorites were let go, a few veteran leaders were brought in and somehow, the Pats ended up with seven draft picks.

After a disappointing 28-13 loss to the Ravens in the AFC Championship, so many questions were stuck unanswered in the minds of Patriots fans worldwide. Two very important players, Wes Welker and Aqib Talib, were free agents, and the secondary was something that clearly needed to be addressed (though it's really has been an issue for several years).

The Patriots have made some very difficult decisions this offseason to get to where they are now. It's time to take a look at the Pats' best and worst offseason moves.

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Ashley Williams: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Peter Brownell — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:00:00 -0400

Swansea City centre-back Ashley Williams is among many players being tipped with a possible transfer in the summer window.

Here's a breakdown of his numbers and a brief scouting guide to the Wales international, along with a few hints as to where he might be playing next summer.

Age: 28

Contract Situation: Williams started with Swansea City in 2008 and is under contract until the end of June 2015.

Career Stops: Hednesford Town (2001-2003), Stockport County (2003-2008), Swansea City (2008 loan), Swansea City (2008-Present).

Current Campaign: English Premier League—37 games; League Cup—4 games, World Cup Qualifiers—6 games.

Video Showreel

Scouting Guide

Williams plays as a left-sided centre-back for English Premier League side Swansea City and the Welsh international team.

He is a very capable passer with both feet and can acutely navigate his team out of trouble from the deepest part of the pitch. Williams has a keen sense of timing, particularly when looking to cut out passes with both his head and feet.

The Welshman is a solid aerial defender and is known for strong leadership skills as he wears the armband for both club and country.

Where Next?

If reports are true, two English Premier League clubs appear the most interested in obtaining the signature of Ashley Williams.

First up are Arsenal, according to The Guardian, where all indications are that Arsene Wenger has lost confidence in his current defense and believes Williams to be a nice fit as he attempts to shore up his back line. Williams' ability to lead would be key for the Gunners.

Then, according to the Express, there are Liverpool, another Premier League club transitioning defensively. They too could benefit from the strong attitude, character and skills Williams brings to a club.

With Arsenal securing a spot in next season's Champions League, it might be the more ambitious move for Williams to consider London for his next footballing home. Regardless, the interest of such famous and storied clubs must instill confidence in the talented centre-back.

30 Pics of Sad Fans Sulking

Amber Lee — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:56:48 -0400

The sad sack fans in the stands trying to keep it together after a crushing defeat. They're a staple at every sporting event in which a winner and loser are declared.

Sometimes, it's us in the stands, celebrating along with our fellow fans as our team steamrolls the opposition. In more unfortunate moments, we're there commiserating with each other after a gut-wrenching loss.

Although, more often than not, we're watching from home either way. It's cheaper. It's climate-controlled. And the cost of snacks and booze is far more reasonable at the grocery store than at Yankee Stadium.

That's not to say that actually attending a game in person is an experience that can be duplicated. It's just that there are pros and cons to dishing out your hard-earned dollars. The visceral experience is a pro. The cost and the commute are definite cons.

Another con? Getting caught by Getty Images or broadcast on national television, looking like you just witnessed the ritual sacrifice of 100 puppies. Or 100 kittens. Or 100 puppies and 100 kittens.

Everyone reacts differently when things don't go their way. Some keep their cool and walk out with their head held high. While others cry, deny or go straight up comatose, when times are tough.

Here are some of the latter.

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NBA Stars Offer Condolences to Oklahoma City Tornado Victims on Twitter

Jesse Dorsey — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:55:54 -0400

A tornado that ripped through Oklahoma City Monday afternoon has the sports world—and the NBA especially—offering condolences and soliciting help in any way possible.

At least 51 people, including seven children at an elementary school, were killed in the tornado, while countless others were injured, houses were destroyed and thousands are without power as the cleanup efforts begin.

The National Weather Service warned that the tornado was so large that there was a possibility that it couldn't even be classified as a twister.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the only professional sport in the city, but athletes everywhere, along with countless NBA players, showed support for the people in Oklahoma City.

An official release from the NBA was posted earlier today, offering condolences and asking people to help support the areas impacted:

The NBA Family's thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families following the massive destruction of the tornadoes that swept through the Midwest.
Please join us in support of the American Red Cross to help provide much needed aid and supplies to areas hardest hit.

Donations can be made at www.redcross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999.

Kevin Durant tweeted for the first time since the beginning of the month in order to send a message to the people in Oklahoma City.

Praying for the victims of the Tornadoes in OKC these last few days..Everybody stay safe!
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) May 20, 2013

And like countless others, he tweeted out the information that really matters; how you can donate money.

Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 for $10 donation to help tornado victims in #OKC #okwx

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) May 21, 2013

A ton of the other Thunder players sent out similar messages as well.

🙏 Thoughts and Prayers to all affected by the tornado today.
— Thabo Sefolosha (@ThaboSefolosha) May 20, 2013

Again, pray for OKC... Everybody stay safe!
— Serge Ibaka (@sergeibaka9) May 20, 2013

THANKS FOR CHECKIN ON ME ERRBODY.. I/THE FAM SAFE FROM THE SEVERE WEATHER & TORNADOES THAT STRUCK OKC.. PRAYERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE AFFECTED.
— Hasheem Thabeet (@HasheemTheDream) May 21, 2013

Please pray for the people in OKC. A lot of families lives changed from the tornados aftermath. 🙏☝
— Ronnie Brewer (@RonnieBrewerJr) May 20, 2013

Perhaps coolest of all, Kendrick Perkins announced that he and his wife would be delivering supplies and taking donations all day Tuesday.

@kendrickperkins Team Perkins will be there with a truck load of supplies! So thankful to have you & @vanityhearts5 here in OK!!

— Ms. Wellington OKC (@MsWellingtonOKC) May 21, 2013

Players all over the league echoed the sentiment that rang through the ranks of the Oklahoma City squad.

Just heard about news in okc, praying for the best for all those there...
— Andre Iguodala (@andre) May 21, 2013

I hate to hear what happen in OKC.... Wishing the best for you.... I'm pretty sure big homie @kdtrey5 is taking care of y'all
— Jared Sullinger (@Jared_Sully0) May 21, 2013

Praying for everyone in Oklahoma City. This is crazy!
— James Harden (@JHarden13) May 20, 2013

Pray for OKC this is a tragedy instagram.com/p/ZjDLXQojql/
— Deron Williams (@DeronWilliams) May 20, 2013

Kobe Bryant reiterated what seems most important at this point. Text the Red Cross in order to make donations to support the victims.

Thoughts and prayers Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 for $10 donation to help tornado victims in #OKC #okwx
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 21, 2013

Actions speak louder than words.

3 Questions We Have About Glover Teixeira Ahead of UFC 160

Joe Chacon — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:53:44 -0400

UFC 160 is now just a few days away and features plenty of exciting fights (on paper). In addition to Cain Velasquez versus Antonio Silva and Junior Dos Santos taking on Mark Hunt, we will be treated to a potential brawl between Glover Teixeira and James Te Huna.

Teixeira is in the midst of an 18-fight winning streak and is 3-0 within the UFC. Yet, with 22 professional fights on his record, there are still plenty of questions we have about him.

As Teixeira continues his climb the ladder toward a title shot, let's take a look at the three most pressing questions we have as he heads into his fight on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

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Ranking the 10 Best Starting Lineups in College Basketball History

Doug Brodess — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:38:20 -0400

As you look throughout the history of college basketball, there are dozens and dozens of great teams that have made their mark on the sport.

But, even among the great teams, there are a select few that stand apart from the rest.

Here are the 10 best starting lineups of all time.

This list is not solely based upon numbers of NBA draft picks or a variety of rewards and recognitions. This list looks at team accomplishments instead of potential or talent.

Some teams had the horses but didn't ultimately finish the race. They are not included.

These teams played well and won lots of games...and championships!

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NFL Depth Chart Predictions: 10 Starters Who Will Be Squeezed out of Lineups

BJ Kissel — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:24:07 -0400

Now that we're past the draft and most high-priority free agents have found new places to play next season, let's take a look at which NFL players could be in danger of losing their starting spots from last season.

With some positions, like wide receiver and cornerback, it's hard to differentiate starters from non-starters because it depends on the personnel package used at the time. One can look at a traditional depth chart, but that doesn't always tell the whole story. So on a few of these positions, I'm just going to talk about their roles diminishing.

I'm going to look at 10 players in the NFL that could fit into this category. Obviously it's early and rookies haven't proven anything yet, but let me know in the comments what you think about these guys and any other players out there who should be looking over their shoulder.

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Oregon Track and Field: How About a Women's Triple Crown...and a Title Sweep?

Red Shannon — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:22:44 -0400

You can see it in their eyes and hear it in their words.

It's the same focused gaze I saw in Ashton Eaton's eyes at last summer's Olympic Trials when he defied the elements to break the decathlon world record.

The University of Oregon women's track team exudes an attitude of purpose and determination I haven't often seen—at any level of sport.

Four straight runner-up finishes at the outdoor national championships will tend to do that.

The collective frustration of coming so close and the resulting resolve to finally break through is exemplified by this tweet from junior 800-meter specialist Laura Roesler:

Once I'm on a path towards something I REALLY want, no one or nothing can stand in my way or distract me. I got a one-track frame of mind
— Laura Roesler (@lroesler5) May 19, 2013

The concept of "team" has never been more pronounced. Roesler's sentiments run through the entire women's squad as if an outdoor championship were definitely possible—even probable.

But because everyone on the team understands the enormity of the task and the quality of the competition, they cannot yet utter the words I know they are thinking: outdoor champions.

Which leads one to ask—considering the previous four years of not quite grasping the ultimate prize—"what makes this year any different?"

The extra impetus of having a shot at an unprecedented triple crown is the short answer. In the current academic year, the Ducks women have already captured national Division 1 titles in cross country and indoor track.

The long answer includes factors like home-field advantage (the NCAA championships will be held at Oregon's Hayward Field June 5-8), a particularly deep and versatile team this year and a bit of an underdog role with the likes of Kansas and Texas A&M dominating the polls throughout the season.

On the road to the championships, the whittling-down process begins this week (May 23-25) at the West Preliminaries in Austin, Texas, and the East Preliminaries in Greensboro, North Carolina.

There, the top 12 finishers in each event will advance to the championships in Eugene. The controversial qualifying format has detractors arguing that the trip to the preliminary sites is an unnecessary and risky requirement for college's top stars, who sometimes intentionally perform just well enough to advance.

But it does provide an arena where the so-called bubble athlete can step up and earn an unexpected spot on the championship team.

Given Oregon's strong team dynamic and laser-like focus, the unsavory prospect of becoming a spectator and not a competitor on Hayward's home soil should push many of the second-tier Lady Ducks to personal bests in Austin.

This leads me to predict Oregon will bring a surprisingly strong team—in terms of quantity and quality—to the championships.

And don't forget that most of Oregon's specialists have multiple-use capability. Expect coach Robert Johnson to devise a plan in Austin that will maximize Oregon's scoring potential in Eugene.

For example, the Ducks' defending 100-meter champion, English Gardner, could be asked (she'll probably beg) to step into the blocks of the 200—in addition to duty on the 4x100- and 4x400-meter relays. Gardner, whose self-proclaimed baby is the 100, turned a blistering 22.62 seconds at the recent Pac-12 Track & Field Championships—a time which could easily score points in the 200 championship finals.

I noticed on the entry list that Johnson does have Gardner penciled into a 200 slot.

In fact, peering over the lists, there are several X-factors who could translate into surprise points for Oregon. Here a few random examples:

Sophomore Lauren Crockett in the high jump
Freshman Jenna Prandini, a sure points-getter in the sprints or relay, could score in the long jump as well
Sophomore Jillian Weir in the hammer
Freshman virtuoso Liz Brenner in the javelin

A triple crown for the women of Oregon would certainly be another high-water mark in a community already known as Track Town, USA. But there exists another plot twist that would surely rattle the old timbers of Hayward—a sweep of both the women's and men's titles.

And that is not outside the realm of possibility. The men, like the women, are currently ranked No. 3 in most polls and have been gaining momentum.

But that's another story for another day. Let's see how things shake out in Austin.

Follow @rojosports

2013 Denver Broncos Minicamp: Skill Positions Report

Cecil Lammey — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:21:59 -0400

The Denver Broncos kicked off organized team activities (OTAs) Monday at Dove Valley. Rookie minicamp wrapped up a little over a week ago, and now the whole team was out at practice. This is the first time we've seen the Broncos all together on the practice field since the playoffs last year.

The team is built to make another postseason run, and many consider the Broncos favorites to win the Super Bowl this year. They've got a different look at some positions this year, and we'll have to see how these pieces perform in 2013.

Some of those pieces are on the offensive side of the ball and the skill positions were my focus Monday as we in the media had access for the entire day of practice. During each practice I will tweet out some of my observations.

Here's my full report of what I saw from the Broncos' skill position players on Monday.

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NHL Playoffs 2013: The Most Important Matchup in Each 2nd-Round Series

Mark Jones — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:12:50 -0400

The most prominent series in the NHL playoffs are often decided by the most subliminal of factors.

On the colossal stage of the conference semifinals, eight teams are currently battling it out for just four spots in the next round.

The handful of squads that get there will likely do so by the smallest of margins—one timely penalty kill, one spectacular save or one strategic line change that, in the end, made the biggest of differences.

As each Stanley Cup quarterfinals series reaches the stretch run, one crucial unit vs. unit or player vs. player matchup is beginning to emerge as a deciding factor. For some, a special teams advantage is paving the way to a string of victories; for others, one singular star—outperforming his counterpart on the opposing end—is leading the rest of his team onward.

An examination of each series' most important matchup falls on the coming slides.

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Breaking Down Texas Rangers' Best Options for Jurickson Profar

Zachary Krueger — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:11:21 -0400

The Rangers may find themselves in a tough place once infielder Jurickson Profar finally solidifies himself with the major league club. The top prospect of the 2013 season is listed as a shortstop, but with the talented Elvis Andrus already holding down that position for the Rangers, Profar finds himself in a crowded place.

Here are some ideas Texas could consider for Profar's future with the team.

Move Kinsler to First Base

It's not uncommon to see a major league team ask one of its stars to change positions to make room for another upcoming player. You might recall Michael Young's time with the Rangers, where he played every position in the infield aside from catcher.

Texas could ask one of their star players to do the same once again.

Kinsler is one of three players who could be asked to change their positions. Having been a second baseman for his entire career, a move to first would make the most sense. He would still be able to play on the left side of the infield, and at 6'0" could make for a nice target to throw to.

Kinsler has never won a Gold Glove with Texas, so defensively he could be replaced. With the Rangers' history of asking players to change a position, it would not be crazy to think they could ask Kinsler to do so in order to make room for Profar.

Move Andrus or Beltre

Once again, this topic also deals with the position changing of a superstar. We've seen this before where a shortstop or third baseman will switch positions for a player of the same position. Most notably, the Orioles had prospect Manny Machado play third base despite his experience as a shortstop, a move that has worked out well for Baltimore.

There is no chance that Texas would move Beltre to shortstop, meaning that either Andrus or Profar would be taking over third for the Rangers. At 34 years old, Beltre's age could make him expendable, but the fact that he is a three time All-Star and four time Gold Glove winner could make this another tough decision for the Rangers.

Andrus or Profar would be the most likely options to end up at third base should the Rangers decide to switch up the left side of their infield. Being the incumbent, I'd expect Andrus to remain at shortstop while Profar goes to third, and Beltre either finds himself at first base or designated hitter.

Trade Profar or Another Key Player

There is no denying that Texas is stacked offensively and defensively. They boast one of the top hitting corps in the league, and their pitching staff has the ability to shut down any offense in the majors.

Depending on how Texas chooses to address its situation with Profar, it would not be surprising to see them trade one of their top infielders, or Profar, to bring in other needed talent. While they have a deep roster, there are still areas that could be improved on.

The Rangers could use help at catcher, designated hitter or the outfield. Age could come into play for two of Texas' players, as catcher A.J. Pierzynski and designated hitter Lance Berkman are veterans in their mid-to-late 30s. Both players are signed to one-year deals, an indication that neither may be with the team after 2013.

In the outfield, Nelson Cruz is still a great power hitter and won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Lenoys Martin has had a nice year for Texas, hitting .283 on the season with a .333 on-base percentage, but he has only two homers and five RBI through 38 games.

Daniel Murphy has struggled this season in left field, but has been a good player for Texas since 2008. Even still, his numbers could certainly be replaced by a top-tier player.

The problem that Texas has is really a luxury. Any team would love to have too many good players on their roster.

Whatever it is the Rangers choose to do with Profar or other players on their roster, they appear to be in great shape for years to come. They can only improve from the eventual addition of Profar to their everyday roster, or moving him to another team to address a need.