Bleacher Report - Front Page

Dallas Stars' New Logo Potentially Leaked on Team App

Ethan Grant — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:18:00 -0400

The Dallas Stars were set to release the designs for a new logo and corresponding jerseys on June 4, but it appears a leaked photo of the new logo(s) has leaked on the team's iPhone app, giving fans an early glimpse of what their team is going to look like on the ice next season.

If you don't want to see the new logo before the official release, now would be a good time to divert your eyes.

Jason Brough of Pro Hockey Talk was amongst the reporters who got his hands on the new logo designs, as did Dale Lamontagne, who posted this picture of the new logo on Twitter once it was confirmed that there had been a leak:

For the Boys also had a look at both designs that were seen on the app, taking a chance to poke fun at the notion that it looks a bit like a national coffee chain that patrons might be familiar with (via Twitter):

As mentioned, the Stars were set to release designs for the logo and uniforms on June 4, as the franchise officially announced earlier in the week that the unveiling became official:

Chris Botta of the New York Times also reported on Twitter that the team claimed the design would be simple in nature. After seeing some of the leaked photos, it's up for you to debate whether the new logo follows suit to that claim or isn't appropriate for the team at all.

The Stars completed another disappointing season during the 2012-13 campaign, missing the playoffs for a fifth-straight time and finishing fifth in the Pacific Division for the third time in four seasons. Change has been a constant for the team since the offseason began, including the hiring of new general manager Jim Nill and the subsequent firing of two-year head coach Glen Gulutzan.

Looking to shake things up throughout the organization, the Stars have moved away from the designs that captured the history of the team from its beginnings as the Minnesota North Stars and are apparently using this modern approach to hockey in Big D.

It won't fix the result on the ice, but the new logo is the first step toward completely changing the culture of the franchise moving forward.

NBA Draft 2013: The Chicago Bulls' 5 Most Important Draft Targets

Matthew Wolfe — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:59:55 -0400

It was an interesting season for the Chicago Bulls in 2013, one that ended with a disappointing loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Unless you live under a rock, you are most likely aware that the Bulls were without superstar and former MVP Derrick Rose all season.

The absence of Rose has many Bulls fans feeling optimistic that if they can have this successful of a season without him, then things can only go up from here.

The Bulls will be picking 20th in the NBA Draft this June and have multiple needs that they could address.

Here is a look at the Chicago Bulls' 5 most important draft targets.

Begin Slideshow

What Makes a Great NBA Coach?

Bleacher Report Productions — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:56:49 -0400

The word "great" gets thrown around a lot these days, but what does that word mean when it comes to being an NBA coach?

In a league full of good coaches, let's break down exactly which traits separate the great ones from their peers.

Check out the video above to see what we think, and make sure you let us know what you think in the comments section below!

Roger Federer Would Revive Career with Improbable 2013 French Open Title

Mike Hoag — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:54:53 -0400

Roger Federer received a favorable draw at the 2013 French Open. However, it is going to take a tremendous effort by the 17-time Grand Slam winner if he plans to add more hardware to his impressive trophy case.

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were both placed in the opposite half of the French Open draw, signaling a potential clay-court showdown between Federer and one of his rivals.

FOX Sports echoed a popular scenario that ends with a Nadal vs. Djokovic and Federer vs. David Ferrer semifinals was likely (via Twitter):

Despite having a seemingly easy path to the finals (Federer is 14-0 against Ferrer), Federer has yet to win a title in 2013 and has struggled along the way. He was upset at the Madrid Open by 14th-seed Kei Nishikori, and then embarrassed on clay by Nadal on May 18.

Rafa continued his dominance over FedEx by capturing the Italian Open title after cruising to straight-set victory (6-1, 6-3). There was little doubt about the 37-year-old giant’s chances. The win distances Nadal even further from Federer, giving him his 20th win in the series while his opponent has won just 10.

It’s tough to witness the present undeniable decline in Federer’s game. Even in his present form, he is still a top competitor, but it’s only a matter of time before he falls off completely.

Have we finally reached that juncture in the legend’s career?

While it’s possible we have finally reached that place, that doesn’t diminish what he has achieved to this point. His career and legacy are, for the moment, nearly unchallengeable.

Never say never, especially when dealing with someone who has commanded the courts for as long as Federer. If he gets rolling on his serve, it will be a tough battle for anyone to send the determined champion packing.

A late-career renaissance is possible for the struggling star, but how incredible would it be if it began in Roland Garros? What if Federer defeats Nadal on clay to capture his second French Open title and 18th Grand Slam victory?

There are improbable storylines and great headlines throughout the sports world every day, but how could anyone hope to top that?

As good of a story as that would make, it could also go very quickly in a different direction. Another disappointing showing may be one step closer to the end for one of the game’s greatest players of all-time.

Heat vs Pacers Game 2: Adjustments Both Teams Must Make After Series Opener

Brian Mazique — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:54:04 -0400

After a nail biter in the series opener, both the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers could stand to make adjustments for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

While Heat and Pacers fans would love to see their teams blow their opponents out on Friday night, impartial NBA fans can only hope the second game of the series is half as good as Game 1.

Wednesday night’s clash was an instant classic that had a little bit of every thing: buzzer-beaters by both team’s stars, a coaching chess match, some chippy play and a great playoff atmosphere.

LeBron James’ quick drive to his left (take that MJ) gave the Heat the win.

This game was an example of what makes the NBA playoffs one of the best postseason experiences in sports.

That said, the job of Pacers’ coach, Frank Vogel, and Heat head man, Erik Spoelstra, is to find ways to make Game 2 a little less exciting for the masses.

Since the Pacers came out on the short end of the stick on Wednesday, the bigger burden falls on them to make changes.

Two Key Adjustments the Pacers Must Make

Take Better Care of the Basketball

Was it just me, or did George Hill looked overwhelmed by the pressure from the Heat’s perimeter players?

I guess I'm not alone. Nebraska Cornhuskers' senior big man Brandon Ubel noticed as well.

The Pacers’ point guard coughed up the ball three times and when he wasn’t turning it over, he looked out of sorts and failed to get the team into their offense quickly.

Miami plays ferocious defense on the perimeter. It is reminiscent of the doberman defense the Chicago Bulls used to play with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen

So Hill’s unsteadiness is somewhat understandable, but if the Pacers are going to win this series, they can’t turn the ball over 20 times as they did on Wednesday.

Hill wasn’t the biggest culprit of mishandling the pumpkin; Paul George had six miscues on the night.

While that is a big number, it is hard to come down too hard on King George. The man literally breathed life back into his team at the end of regulation and the overtime period.

He had 27 points, four rebounds, five assists, a buzzer beating three from 27 feet to force overtime and three clutch free throws in the extra session.

Hill was 2-for-9 with five points, I'm just saying.

Roy Hibbert’s Minutes Must Mirror LeBron James’ Time of the Floor

Even though George is the best defensive matchup for LeBron in the NBA, he still needs Hibbert’s presence behind him.

James is so explosive and smart; the moment Hibbert goes to the bench, he is ready to take advantage of the big man’s absence in the paint.

As a team, the Heat are perhaps the NBA’s biggest opportunists. Their ability to go on game-changing runs is usually precipitated by mad drives to the basket.

Once that is established, the three-point shooters get better and better looks.

Vogel sunk his team in Game 1 by taking Hibbert off the floor in the closing moments of overtime. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix offers this "defense" of Vogel's decision.

The idea that he didn’t want to leave Hibbert on the floor to guard Chris Bosh doesn’t make much sense with only 2.2 seconds left in the game.

At best, Bosh would have been able to get off a jump shot after one or two dribbles produced a clean look. Maybe he makes that shot, but I’d live with that before I lived with this:

Per this quote from Vogel that was tweeted by Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk, it seems the Pacers coach understands the error of his ways.

Hibbert’s huge, unathletic body should be on the floor every second James is. It is the only way to keep the MVP from completely taking over the game.

Two Key Adjustments the Heat Must Make

Make Free Throws

Indiana did a good job defending without fouling in Game 1. Hibbert was the only man on the roster with five fouls. Considering they were playing Miami at home and the game went into overtime, that is pretty impressive.

Miami was fortunate to come out on top of this game because they didn’t take advantage of the opportunities they had from the line.

As a team, they made just 64 percent of their foul shots. James was 4-for 7, Dwyane Wade was 1-for-4 and even Ray Allen missed a crucial free throw that left the door open for the Pacers in overtime.

Per NBA Legion, that clearly hasn't sat well with the career 89-percent free throw shooter.

Had the Heat shot just 70 percent from the line, this game probably doesn’t even go into overtime. They can’t afford to squander these opportunities again.

Get Bosh the Ball in Isolation Situations

While 2.2 seconds wasn’t enough time for Bosh to take advantage of Hibbert’s slow feet at the end of overtime, the Heat could do a better job getting their center the ball throughout the game.

While a traditional post up isn’t a good idea against the bigger, stronger Hibbert; Bosh could eat him alive (figuratively speaking) in isolation.

Hibbert can’t guard him out on the floor and this matchup will lead to easy buckets or early foul trouble for Hibbert. Both results would be excellent for the Heat.

If the Pacers switch, just about any player on the floor could take advantage of Hibbert’s slow feet. Bosh would then have the opportunity to post up a smaller defender.

Obviously, you don’t want to take the ball out of LeBron and Wade’s hands too much, but if the Heat run the offense through Bosh a little more, it will make playing Hibbert tougher for Vogel.

Follow me, because this series has me hyped and I'm bound to tweet about it

WWE's Greatest Hits of the Week on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and More

Ryan Dilbert — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:48:48 -0400

Following Extreme Rules 2013, WWE-related social media featured victors from that event displaying their new trophies along with the weirdness and humor one has come to expect from all things WWE on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Curtis Axel's surprise arrival on Monday's WWE Raw created major buzz. He took to Twitter to help usher in his arrival.

Elsewhere, WWE dressed up dogs, Miguel played a part in alternate history and WWE fans and alum remembered a legend.

From AJ Lee showing off her body to Big E. Langston offering to show more of his, here are the most intriguing and amusing WWE items from social media this week.

Begin Slideshow

Los Angeles Dodgers: Picking the 2013 Overpaid Team

Todd Pheifer — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:44:05 -0400

Stop me if you have heard this one before, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are spending a lot of money in 2013 and not seeing expected results. This is, unfortunately, an obvious and frustrating reality for fans in the City of Angels.

However, consider the makeup of this roster. Some players are not performing to their ability. Others are simply overpaid, either because they have aged or because they were given too much money compared to their actual production and value.

Picking an overpaid team is obviously tricky because there may be some players that are doing “well” but are still compensated above what they should be paid. For better or for worse, the new ownership group has given plenty of people generous contracts, as well as traded for some guys that others teams were happy to shed from a financial standpoint.

With that in mind, here are a few players that fit onto the overpaid team for a variety of reasons.

Josh Beckett

Salary: $17 million

Stats: 0-5, 5.19 ERA

Beckett is the poster child for an overpaid former star who is an eyesore on a roster that is not producing. Truthfully, the Dodgers should not have taken Beckett from the Boston Red Sox. Why do I feel like the Dodgers had to take Beckett if Boston was going to do this deal?

Matt Kemp & Andre Ethier

Combined Salary: $33.8 million

Stats: .270/2/17 (Kemp), .264/4/15 (Ethier)

Matt Kemp is just not producing up to expectations. Andre Ethier was rewarded with a contract that was not a wise choice by management. Perhaps Kemp will rebound and live up to the hype, but Ethier is unlikely to produce $85 million worth of offense in the next five years.

Hanley Ramirez & Zack Greinke

Combined Salary: $36.5 million

Stats: Four games (Ramirez), Four starts (Greinke)

Call this the all-injured section of the all-overpaid team. You don’t necessarily blame a guy for being hurt, but when there is this much money on the disabled list, it is hard to ignore. Perhaps Ramirez will return and start producing. Now that Greinke is back, maybe the investment will start paying off. We’ll see.

Adrian Gonzalez & Carl Crawford

Combined Salary: $42.7 million

Stats: .309/4/30 (Gonzalez), .302/5/13 (Crawford)

I know what you are going to say. Why am I picking on the two guys that are actually hitting? Simple. They are still overpaid. No, I am not just making a philosophical statement about salaries in professional sports, though with these guys I could. The Dodgers are just paying almost $43 million for nine home runs. Crawford isn’t getting the RBI and Gonzalez isn’t putting balls in the seats.

Total damage

I could go on. Ted Lilly. Chad Billingsley. Brandon League. Juan Uribe. It is not hard to find guys on this roster that are making good money but not producing.

According to spotrac.com, the Dodgers are actually committed to paying over $232 million in 2013. At the moment, there is almost $47 million in payroll on the disabled list.

$232 million for a last-place team.

Again, you can’t blame guys for getting hurt. However, in the long run that trade with Boston along with the generous contracts that have been handed out by new management have created this situation. The payroll number is very large, and obviously aspects of this team are simply underachieving.

However, when you dig a little deeper, it isn’t hard to figure out that certain parts of this team just aren’t that good. There is a correlation between teams that spend a lot of money and playoff appearances. Perhaps this team will build some momentum and start winning.

Unfortunately, we already knew this simple reality: Money cannot buy championships.

Follow @tpheifer

Why the New York Giants Will Finish Dead Last in the NFC East in 2013

Brad Gagnon — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:41:14 -0400

The NFC East is expected to be very tight once again this year. Bovada Online Gaming in Las Vegas predicts that all four teams in the division will win between seven and nine games. Thus, you can make perfectly reasonable arguments in favor of the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins finishing first, or last, in the league's most popular division.

Here are the arguments for why the Giants will drop to fourth place this year...

Offseason downgrades

Ahmad Bradshaw was a cap casualty. His replacement, David Wilson, is fast and talented but unproven, especially as a blocker. Martellus Bennett departed in free agency. His replacement, Brandon Myers, is extremely productive as a receiver but one of the worst blockers in the league.

At safety, Stevie Brown is a ball hawk, but he's no Kenny Phillips (when healthy). Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka can't fully replace Osi Umenyiora. And I'd probably prefer a Kiwanuka-Chase Blackburn-Michael Boley linebacking corps to Keith Rivers, Dan Connor and Jacquian Williams.

On paper, this team got a little worse.

Injuries

The Giants actually had better luck with injuries than any team in the division last season. According to data mined by Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News, New York starters missed 38 games due to injury, while Dallas, Philly and Washington starters missed an average of 70. The odds don't favor that happening again.

Dallas was demoralized after losing Barry Church, Sean Lee, Bruce Carter and Jay Ratliff; Philadelphia stood little chance on offense with 80 percent of the offensive line hurt; and Washington spent virtually the entire season without top defenders Brian Orakpo, Adam Carriker and Brandon Meriweather. Those division rivals should have better luck this year, while the Giants will be lucky if they simply remain as healthy as they were in 2012.

They lack players in their prime

I'm not saying they're old. Although, in comparison to the rest of the league and division, they are. But the recent rash of cuts has really created a dynamic in which few Giants are in that late-20s career sweet spot. We're about to see a bunch of unproven guys like Williams, Wilson, Justin Pugh and Brown team up as starters with declining veterans like Tuck, Cullen Jenkins, Corey Webster, Antrel Rolle, Chris Snee and David Baas.

On the other hand: Why the Giants Will Win the NFC East in 2013

Why the New York Giants Will Win the NFC East in 2013

Brad Gagnon — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:40:07 -0400

The NFC East is supposed to be extremely tight once again this year. Bovada in Las Vegas predicts that all four teams in the division will win between seven and nine games. With that in mind, you can make perfectly reasonable arguments in favor of the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins finishing first, or last, in a division that has come down to the wire in each of the last four years.

Let's do exactly that for the Giants, starting with the glass-half-full perspective...

2012 was an anomaly

The Giants scored 85 more points than they allowed, which was tops in the division by a wide margin. Only three teams averaged more yards per play on offense, and—believe it or not—only five NFC teams allowed fewer points on defense.

Their plus-14 turnover ratio was the fourth-best in football. Only one other team above plus-three in that category missed the playoffs. New York might not gave gotten a whole lot better this offseason, but it certainly didn't get a lot worse. You have to believe that a similar showing in 2013 will naturally result in more wins.

Tom Coughlin

The NFL's best coach simply has resolve. The last time his Giants finished second in the division and just short of the playoffs, they followed it up with a Super Bowl victory. There are a lot of people down on this team after Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul failed to be superheroes in 2012, but the Giants seem to be at their best in situations like these.

As long as Coughlin's running things, you have to expect Big Blue to be in contention.

The Redskins and Cowboys were handcuffed in the offseason

New York didn't have a lot of money to spend and was even forced to part ways with some quality veteran players, but the division-rival 'Skins and Cowboys were barely able to lift a finger in free agency while carrying league-imposed cap sanctions into the offseason.

The Giants were at least able to replace everyone they lost while arguably upgrading with top pick Justin Pugh at right tackle. Washington didn't have a first-round pick, and Dallas signed just two free agents while losing a pair of defensive starters. These three teams were bunched together last year, which means the Giants might have moved ahead now.

On the other hand: Why the Giants Will Finish Dead Last in the NFC East in 2013

UFC 160: Which Fighter Has the Most to Lose?

Joe Chacon — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:39:19 -0400

UFC 160 features the fighters who possess the most powerful punches in MMA today.

Some of the more prominent fighters on the card, Cain Velasquez, Antonio Silva, Junior dos Santos, Mark Hunt, Glover Teixeira and Mark Hunt, combine for a total of 62 knockouts.

Whenever we ask the question of who has the most to lose or the most to gain comes up before a fight, many would believe it's the Champion or the one gunning for the belt. More often than not, that's not the case.

Take, for example, UFC 160. Although there is a title on the line, Velasquez does not have the most to lose. Should Velasquez lose the fight and his belt to Silva, he'd more than likely get another shot at it within the next calendar year to finish the trilogy with "Bigfoot". Instead of looking at who has a belt to lose, it's important to look at who would go tumbling down the rankings with a loss.

UFC 160 features a few fighters on the cusp of being in a title fight, but there's also some guys who are fighting for their spot on the UFC roster. An argument as to which fighter has the most to lose can be made for just about everyone on the card.

My opinion is that Glover Teixeira has the most to lose.

Teixeira has rattled off 18 consecutive wins, with three of those coming in the UFC. Working his way up to fighting "Rampage" Jackson and following it up with a fight against James Te-Huna doesn't seem like a step up, but Te-Huna has been on a nice streak of his own by winning 10 of his last 11.

Teixeira doesn't have the fan following or buzz that somebody such as a Mark Hunt has. Teixeira needs to keep winning to inch closer to a title shot. He's not a vocal guy and won't talk his way into a fight. He more or less just accepts what the UFC throws at him.

Should Teixeira lose, it would halt his momentum. Who would he fight after coming off a loss if Te-Huna is who the UFC set him up with after winning 18 in a row? Granted, Ryan Bader was Teixeira's original opponent but had to withdraw due to an injury.

There is quite a bit of steam behind Teixeira as he heads into Saturday night's UFC 160 card in Las Vegas, Nevada. As it stands now, if he beats Te-Huna, he will most likely be propelled into a light-heavyweight title eliminator bout. Should he lose, however, he'll fall faster than [insert whatever witty analogy you have here].

As for the guys fighting above Teixeira on the card, they'll be fine. Velasquez, Silva, Dos Santos and Hunt will all be right in the mix of things, even if they lose. For more analysis as to who is on the hot seat at UFC 160, be sure to check out Trent Reinsmith's article.

Nobody has more to lose at UFC 160 than Glover Teixeira.

UFC 160: Velasquez vs. Silva Live Streaming Weigh-in Video

Sean Smith — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:36:32 -0400

Cain Velasquez will defend the UFC heavyweight title against Antonio Silva at UFC 160.

The championship bout will be a rematch of a fight Velasquez dominated only one year ago. While Silva is a massive underdog, he rightly earned a second meeting with Velasquez by upsetting Alistair Overeem in a come-from-behind knockout win.

The next heavyweight title challenger is likely to be determined in Saturday's co-main event, which features former champion Junior dos Santos and the surging Mark Hunt. Dos Santos is coming off of a loss to Velasquez and is hungry for a rubber match. Hunt, meanwhile, has had a late-career resurgence after going on a long losing skid.

Another UFC title challenger will be named at UFC 160, as lightweight contenders Gray Maynard and T.J. Grant will battle for a fight with Benson Henderson. He is not long removed from a loss to Frankie Edgar, but now that "The Answer" is competing at featherweight, Maynard is seen as a fresh opponent for Henderson.

UFC 160 will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. On Friday, the fighters will hit the scales at 7 p.m. ET. Video of the weigh-ins will be streamed live on the above video player.

After the weigh-ins, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all the latest on UFC 160 and the rest of your MMA needs.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA who has also had work promoted on UFC.com and TheMMACorner.com. Follow @SeanSmithMMA.

What Must RG3 Prove Before Resuming Live-Action Play?

Chris Trapasso — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:32:37 -0400

Robert Griffin III looked uninhibited and moved with little to no apprehension when he took the practice field for the first time since suffering a gruesome knee injury in the Washington Redskins' home playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks in January.

He wore a sizable brace on his surgically reconstructed right knee, jogged between drills, executed drops from under center and made quick throws to his receivers.

After his debut session, the next, logical questions center around RG3's timetable to return and when he'll be back to 100 percent.

While it's extremely difficult to pinpoint when Griffin III will be fully healthy, let's speculate on the necessary steps he must take during his lengthy and vital rehabilitation process before he's physically capable of returning to 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year form.

First, here's a rundown of the Redskins' offseason schedule:

OTAs: May 20, May 22-23, May 28-30, June 3-6.

Mandatory minicamp: June 11-13.
Training camp: July 25-Aug. 6, Aug. 10-16

RG3 underwent surgery to repair torn knee ligaments (ACL, LCL) on Jan. 9.

Bleacher Report's Sports Injury Featured Columnist Dave Siebert cited a document compiled by acclaimed orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. Peter Millett of the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., who wrote "patients should be introduced to agility drills and light running sometime between post-operative weeks 12 and 20."

Griffin III appears to be slightly ahead of schedule in that regard, as his noticeable on-field fluidity came on May 23, which was post-surgery Week 19.

Later Siebert included a snippet from a discussion Bleacher Report's Sports Medicine Lead Writer Will Carroll had with renowned physical therapist Mike Reinold, who said the following: "The thing that you have to remember is that no two surgeries are alike. A lot comes down to how hard the athlete is willing to work before and after the surgery."

Siebert noted that "RG3's unbelievable conditioning prior to the injury also plays a huge role," as Reinhold said, "the better someone goes in, the better someone comes out."

So what's next for the Redskins' franchise quarterback?

According to NFL.com's Albert Breer, RG3 explained:

Rg3 says he has two steps left in rehab. He'll start "explosive sprinting" in "a few weeks". And then start cutting a few weeks after that.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 23, 2013

Following that timeline, he may not be as limited during the team's mandatory minicamp that begins on June 11.

However, there's a chance RG3 will take precautionary measures prior to and during that three-day camp to ensure he's totally comfortable sprinting and cutting by the start of training camp on July 25.

By then, barring any setbacks, Griffin III should be extremely close to 100 percent for training camp, which would be more than six months after his knee surgery.

After his OTA practice, RG3 stated he'd be fine with taking the field in Week 1 without any repetitions during the preseason, and right now, there's no telling how Mike Shanahan and the rest of the Redskins coaching staff will approach Griffin III's participation in the four-game exhibition.

RG3's rehab process must be monitored closely as the June minicamp and training camp will be crucial checkpoints along the way.

Based on all the public information regarding RG3's rapid recovery, he should be available, at the latest, for preseason action and is on schedule to be ready for the regular season.

Follow @ChrisTrapasso

Great Moments in Sports Jumbotron History Are Here for Your Enjoyment

Gabe Zaldivar — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:25:03 -0400

They get us through timeouts, halftimes and in between innings. No, I am not talking about your smartphones but the classic entertainment that plays out on Jumbotrons across America.

HooplaHa, the same people who brought you such whimsy as the positive street basketball play-by-play video, bring yet another couple minutes of laughs.

Really, there are some classic moments stuffed into this video of fans and ushers going nuts just to pass the time between sports action.

Thankfully, they kept many of the clips to those featuring the younger fans, because there is nothing more annoying than watching adults act like the 15 seconds they are on the Jumbotron is their stepping stone to 15 minutes.

With that being said, this is just two minutes of pure joy wrapped up and delivered as only HooplaHa can.

Come for the guy kissing his beer over his lovely lady on the Kiss Cam, but stay for the adorable Boston Bruins kid ripping off his jersey to show his epic team-themed paint.

And, of course, there are a couple of marriage proposals. I've said this before and I guess this is the time to roll this out once again. Guys, stop proposing at sports games.

I am sure your lady is a huge fan, but the overweight sports nerd who is nursing some heartburn and keeping score as well as the smell of beer doesn't exactly make for the most romantic venue.

Ah, but it just wouldn't be the Kiss Cam without smooches and the occasional lifelong commitment being offered from the stands.

It also wouldn't be a Jumbotron without fans losing their minds and acting like they have never seen themselves on a screen before. Keep dancing and proposing; I will be at the concession stand if you need me.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports shenanigans: Follow @gabezal

Ohio State's 2013 Homecoming Game Set Against Iowa, 3:30 Kickoff

David Regimbal — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:23:50 -0400

Mark your calendars, Ohio State fans: The Buckeyes' 2013 homecoming game has been set.

Ohio State will host the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 19 for its homecoming game, with a scheduled kickoff of 3:30 p.m. EST.

Ohio State spokesperson Jerry Emig made the announcement via Twitter Friday afternoon:

Ohio State’s 2013 Homecoming game will be 10/19 vs. Iowa on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2, the networks announced today. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m.
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) May 24, 2013

The Buckeyes will be coming off of a bye week heading into the Iowa game, so the Hawkeyes will be facing a rested team and an anxious crowd when they travel to Columbus. The 3:30 kickoff time will inevitably increase the anticipation for the game, making it a more hostile environment for the Hawkeyes to overcome.

The last two matchups between these teams have been absolute nail-biters.

In 2010, the Buckeyes overcame a four-point deficit when Terrelle Pryor converted a 4th-and-10 on Ohio State's go-ahead touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes would go on to win, 20-17. The victory that was later vacated because of NCAA violations.

A year before, the Buckeyes and the Hawkeyes battled in Ohio Stadium with a trip to the Rose Bowl on the line.

Ohio State held a seemingly comfortable 14-point lead five minutes into the fourth quarter, but a 99-yard kickoff return by Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and a gutty touchdown drive from Iowa forced overtime.

The Buckeyes stiffened in OT, forcing Iowa out of field goal range to attempt a desperate pass on 4th-and-26, which was intercepted by safety Anderson Russell.

Three straight runs up the middle from Dan "Boom" Herron set up the chance for Ohio State to win the game with a field goal.

This was the result.

The Buckeyes have already announced three prime-time matchups for the 2013. Two of those games—Wisconsin on September 28 and Penn State on October 26—will go down in Columbus while the other—Northwestern on October 5—will be played in Evanston, Ill.

All three of those matchups, in addition to the Iowa game, will be aired on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.

You can view Ohio State's 2013 football schedule and the games with announced kickoff times here.

David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.

Why Danica Patrick Doing the Indy 500, Coca Cola 600 Double Is a Win-Win

Joe Menzer — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:11:56 -0400

Kurt Busch? Who cares about Kurt Busch?

The driver everyone wants to see attempt running the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in the same day is Danica Patrick. Furthermore, the sport of auto racing and Patrick herself need it to happen.

While Kurt Busch was recently off testing in IndyCars and getting himself sanctioned to possible give Double Duty a future try, Patrick was continuing to muddle through her first full-time season in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series in totally predictable fashion.

Did anyone really think Patrick was going to take the Sprint Cup Series by storm? Did anyone really expect her to take down the likes of five-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and so many others who have been racing stock cars at the highest level for years?

If so, they were foolish.

Patrick is trying to haul the mail up an incredibly steep learning curve. That means she keeps getting thumped by hard lessons, like during the Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. After failing to race her way into the main event , she got voted into it by fans.

Again, that was predictable. And so was what happened next.

She finished 20^th—which wouldn’t have been so bad if there were more than 20 cars in the race.

“I’m not going to lie; I didn’t feel very good after we ended the All-Star Race last weekend,” Patrick told reporters, per Philly.com and SB Nation. “I’m not necessarily optimistic right now about the (600).”

No question, this was not the year for Patrick to attempt running both the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s longest race. She will be running in only her second 600, having started 40^th and finished 30^th last year while completing 395 of 400 laps, per racing-reference.info (she ran a limited number of Cup races last year but retained her rookie status for this year).

But next year? Someone ought to step up and offer her a huge bonus just to attempt running both races.

Let’s face it: interest in auto racing is down. It’s been sagging in IndyCars for years. And NASCAR, once the surging titan of the sport, is struggling to hold onto the market share it has and grab hold of younger demographics.

Patrick's driving reputation could use a boost, too.

Patrick made her name for herself in IndyCars and swimsuits. She finished fourth in the 2005 Indy 500, when she became the first woman to lead a lap in the historic race. That was no small feat, but it was important that she follow it up with more on the race track.

She did, but not to the extent she or anyone else envisioning her to inject life into a struggling series would have hoped. She won only one race in 115 IndyCar starts over seven years, per racing-reference.info, before making the switch to NASCAR full-time last year—when she ran a full schedule in the Nationwide Series and finished 10th in the point standings without a single top-five and only four top-10 finishes in 33 starts, also per racing-reference.info.

That has brought her under scrutiny in an entirely different light. Is she tough enough to mix it up with the stock-car boys? Can she withstand the grind of a longer season? Quite simply, is she good enough to succeed?

Well, the one thing she has succeeded at in racing and in life, above all else, is in marketing herself. Why not do it one more time and give IndyCars and NASCAR a shot of publicity they both could use next season by announcing she’ll become the first driver since Robby Gordon in 2004 to attempt the Indy 500-Coca Cola 600 double?

Who wouldn’t tune in to see if she could actually do it? Only Patrick's current car owner Tony Stewart has completed all 1,100 miles in both races on the same day—when he finished sixth at Indy and third in the 600 in 2001 and needed two liters of IV fluid in between.

If Danica could come even close to duplicating that, it would be incredible and give both IndyCars and NASCAR a ratings boost. Patrick likely would gain much-needed respect in the Sprint Cup garage for even attempting it.

As long as she had a relief driver standing by in Charlotte in case her body gave out and it became a safety issue, it sounds like a win-win for everybody.

NBA Draft 2013: New York Knicks Should Draft Jeff Withey

Thomas Duffy — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:08:32 -0400

You can find NBA mock drafts all around the web, and nearly all of them point to a different player that the New York Knicks should take with the 24th pick in the 2013 Draft.

Some point to Shane Larkin (Yahoo), others to Ricardo Ledo (Bleacher Report), and some to European players. Chad Ford of ESPN, though, predicts that the Knicks will take Jeff Withey, the big center out of Kansas, and that would be the most ideal move for New York.

Tyson Chandler won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2011-12, and still remains a top-tier defensive center, but he can’t do it alone. Had the Knicks not made a key move in picking up Kenyon Martin towards the end of the season, Chandler would have been the lone contributing big on the team.

Marcus Camby dealt with injuries all season long, and then, once he was healthy for the postseason, he didn’t play. Kurt Thomas and Rasheed Wallace were relatively effective when they weren’t injured, but that was the problem—they always were.

So that leaves Chandler and the 35-year-old Martin to command the paint next year. Although he was awesome this season, another year of wear and tear will not help K-Mart's game, which relies mostly on dunking and blocking shots.

Chandler is 30 years old, but with the number of minutes he is playing, it won’t be long before he is on the sidelines as well. This season, Chandler played 32.8 minutes per game, which needs to be slightly reduced for him to be most effective.

Do the Knicks need scoring options outside of Carmelo Anthony? Yes—but the smarter way to go is to pick up a proven player, someone who can without a doubt score at the professional level. Whether or not Larkin, who is just 5’11”, or Ledo, who was declared academically ineligible for Providence this season, can do that is kind of a shot in the dark. The better alternative to fill the team's scoring needs is to do so through free agency or a trade.

In drafting Withey, the Knicks will greatly improve their frontcourt. The former Jayhawk stands at seven feet tall and contributed 13.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and nearly four blocks per game in his senior season at Kansas. He is limited offensively, but so is Chandler, and that's okay—the Knicks offense revolves around Anthony and the team’s ability to hit three-point shots, not interior post play.

Withey could come in and contribute right away off the bench, working himself into the rotation with Chandler and Martin. He can rebound and block shots, which are two things that New York really lacked this season.

The Knicks, like every other team in the NBA, have other holes that they need to fill going into 2013-14. But drafting Withey with the 24th overall selection in the 2013 Draft will satisfy one of team's biggest needs going into next season.

WWE: New Age Outlaws Should Make Short-Term, Full-Time Comeback

Joe Johnson — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:08:23 -0400

Once again, the "Road Dogg" Jesse James and the "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn will be working house shows for WWE as their Attitude Era tag team, the New Age Outlaws. The duo have made several cameos on episodes of Raw over the last year for specialty programs. Right now is the perfect time for them to come back full-time, for a short run.

During the WWE's European tour this year, the New Age Outlaws battled The Shield in what turned out to be the show's main event. Road Dogg and Billy Gunn still draw huge pops from the crowd and their schtick is once again fresh, having been off the air for so long.

Without an obvious challenger to The Shield's tag team gold, the Outlaws should return to fill the void until viable contenders can develop.

It should be noted that as a general rule I'm opposed to "legends" eating into TV time and storylines that could otherwise go to younger talent. The company is in a new era and should stop relying on stars made 15 years ago to draw fan interest. That rule can be broken, though, when the legends are being used to put over the young talent and fill a natural gap.

It's a no-lose situation for the WWE right now. Once Kane and Bryan split, which will likely occur after they lose a presumed rematch at Payback, The Shield will be without a challenger. The tag titles are strong around their waist due to their credibility, but they would be stronger with effective feuds and PPV title defenses.

The WWE hasn't established a babyface tag team other than Team Hell No in the last six months and need another few months to get to that point. The Outlaws can fill that gap.

In the Attitude Era, fans tuned in to see Road Dogg and Billy Gunn just as much as they did any other stars of the era. Their pre-match rituals, dances and catchphrases saturated mainstream culture. WWE loves to sell DX merchandise and we haven't seen new Outlaws apparel in a decade. It would shoot to the top of their sales within weeks of debut.

The Outlaws and The Shield could main event an episode of Raw as a tag team. The Outlaws could add a third man, even sticking with Daniel Bryan, to run six-man tags. As The Shield becomes more popular with the crowd, the presence of the Outlaws will keep them heel as no audience will pop louder for them than the goofball team from the Attitude Era.

The key, though, is to know from the start that the Outlaws involvement is meant solely to make The Shield more impressive. The feud would help draw back old school fans who want to see their favorites from yesteryear. They would see and like The Shield and stick around.

More money from merchandise. More fans watching to see old stars. More fans seeing The Shield. No young guys are hurt long-term by jobbing out to The Shield. Finally, The Shield rolls on through the summer to stay strong and develop into a greater draw.

Winning.

This Season's Top 5 Shaqtin' a Fool Highlights

Joel C. Cordes — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:06:56 -0400

Highlights? Lowlights? Basketball bloopers? How exactly does one sum up all that is Shaqtin' a Fool?

Comedic gold, that's what it is.

And now, Shaquille O'Neal breaks down the top 10 plays from an absolutely bullish market of NBA gaffes during the 2012-13 season.

Something tells me a certain erstwhile Denver Nuggets center will make more than a cameo during these clips.

Want the rest of the top 10? Find them in all their glory here.

To Shaq's credit, he can take it as well as he dishes. Insults, that is...I certainly don't mean the basketball.

Enjoy all the giggles from the best of Shaqtin' a Fool this season!

Champions League Final 2013: Stars Who Must Shine for Bayern Munich to Prevail

Mike Chiari — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:05:54 -0400

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will meet in an all-German UEFA Champions League Final on Saturday with The Bavarians seemingly holding the advantage in terms of overall talent. That certainly doesn't guarantee victory, but it's easy to see why Munich is the favored side.

Dortmund won't go quietly, though, as it has a strong team in its own right. Provided both squads play to their full potential, however, this game is Munich's to lose. In order for The FCB to play at the highest level it possibly can, there are several stars who need to step up.

Here are three in particular who must take over the match on Saturday to ensure that Bayern Munich secures the prestigious European Champion Clubs' Cup.

Thomas Muller

Munich boasts a great deal of offensive talent, but attacking midfielder Thomas Muller certainly tops the list. Muller was dominant for Bayern during league play, but has been even better in the Champions League. Muller leads the team with eight goals in 11 matches and has added two assists as well. He must continue that fine play if Munich is going to take care of Dortmund.

Muller scored a late goal for Bayern against Chelsea in the Champions League Final last year to take a 1-0 lead, but Didier Drogba tied it in the 88th minute and Chelsea went on to win via penalty kicks. While that loss had to be disappointing, Muller believes that it will help them rather than hurt them during this year's title match, according to Andrew Haslam of UEFA.com.

It remains to be seen if Muller's feelings will ring true, but he proved last year that the moment isn't too big for him. Bayern was just a couple minutes away from winning it all thanks to his marker in the 83rd minute, but it wasn't to be. Expect Muller to be in great form as he aims to taste the victory that Munich came so close to achieving last year.

Manuel Neuer

While the focus when it comes to Munich is often on its offensive stars, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been just as responsible as anyone for the team's success. There have been questions about Neuer's consistency in the past, but that simply hasn't been an issue this year. He has especially taken his game to another level in Champions League play as he has been nearly unbeatable throughout the tournament.

It doesn't take an expert to understand how well Neuer has been playing as he recorded four clean sheets in the Champions League quarterfinals and semifinals. According to Champions Matchday, however, Neuer is the first goalkeeper to accomplish that feat since Edwin van der Sar turned the trick for Manchester United in 2008.

Goalkeeping is always a big deal, but it is of the utmost importance in a Champions League Final. One minor slip up can lead to a goal and all it takes is a single marker to win in some cases. Munich should have enough offensive firepower to put some shots in the back of the net, but it isn't a given. As long as Neuer continues to play at his current level, though, Bayern should ultimately be fine.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

It probably isn't fair to place blame on one player for Munich's Champions League Final loss last year, but midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger took the brunt of the criticism. Schweinsteiger was Bayern's fifth penalty kick taker against Chelsea and had a chance to put the pressure on Didier Drogba. He was stopped, however, and Drogba went on to deposit his attempt in the net to give Chelsea the victory.

Schweinsteiger had played a fine game to that point and had an excellent season, but that seemingly didn't matter after his failure.

Schweinsteiger bounced back this season and has been a huge part of Munich's return to the final. With two goals and four assists, he is among the team's most dangerous offensive producers. Schweinsteiger is confident in his ability as well as the team's ability to get the job done this time around, according to GOAL! Bundesliga.

He is an extremely versatile player, excelling both offensively and defensively. That type of two-way game should come in handy during a match that is sure to be tightly contested. As long as Schweinsteiger doesn't allow last year's result to weigh on his mind, he will be a key contributor on Saturday.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Here's Why Oregon Football Could Be in More Trouble with the NCAA

Michael Felder — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:05:41 -0400

On Thursday, after obtaining Oregon's Notice of Allegations, The Register-Guard exposed the possibility of complications that could come Oregon's way in dealing with the NCAA. As The Register-Guard simply stated:

The notice of allegations does note that Oregon is subject to penalties under repeat violator rules. The most-recent allegations began within five years of the Ducks’ last major violation, the J.J. Arrington letter-of-intent scandal, which was resolved in 2004.

For folks hoping that the Ducks get slammed, that is good news. Harsh penalties are on the table, and perhaps the NCAA uses the repeat violator clause as a means to truly hinder the Ducks program.

From the Los Angeles Times, here is the incident that hangs as the window to the Ducks' increased penalties:

Oregon was in a battle with California for Arrington's services at the time of the violations. On the last night a junior college player could sign, Arrington told Oregon assistant Gary Campbell that he would sign a letter of intent.

However, the midnight deadline passed and Arrington still had not signed. Furthermore, Arrington told Campbell that he had changed his mind and wanted to attend California. Campbell went to the hotel where Arrington was staying, and the player forged his father's signature and falsified the time on the letter of intent.

Oregon released Arrington upon discovering the violations. Campbell, who has been an Oregon assistant for 20 years, was suspended for one week without pay and was not allowed to recruit off-campus for one year.

This was an incident that was not big enough to raise many eyebrows, and more importantly, not enough to bring serious NCAA trouble to Eugene. Now, as Oregon's time before the judge quickly approaches, it has to wonder if something deemed small, almost a decade ago, is going to make the enforcement committee throw the book at them.

Oregon does have hope, one of the more prominent "repeat violator" cases in recent history, the Alabama Crimson Tide program, ultimately came away only lightly dinged by the NCAA. While sitting on the repeat offender list following 1995 and 2002 sanctions, the 2009 Crimson Tide athletic department, for the infamous textbook scandal, was only forced to vacate wins, extend probation and was listed on the repeat violator list.

Three national titles later and still listed on the repeat violator list, Alabama is no worse for the wear.

Oregon's issues are bigger than textbooks, but the qualities and relative newness of several of its violations make this case quite unique. There is more than just Will Lyles acting as a medium for the staff angle here, the issues surrounding scouting services and acquiring information on prospects loom large as well.

The possibility for more trouble is very real. Yet, in the coming sanctions, Oregon fans should be more worried about the NCAA looking to flex some of their muscle on rules surrounding scouting services, street agents and phone call rules than repeat violator status.

K.J. Noons Believes All the Pressure Falls on Donald Cerrone at UFC 160

Duane Finley — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:02:09 -0400

K.J. Noon has spent the past decade throwing leather in seemingly every other major promotion outside the UFC. This Saturday night in Las Vegas, the next chapter of his mixed martial arts career will begin, as he makes his long-awaited debut inside the Octagon at UFC 160.

It is a moment the former Elite XC lightweight champion has been waiting for, and when the doors to the Strikeforce organization officially closed back in January, the opportunity to enter the UFC presented itself.

The 30-year-old Californian is looking to make an immediate impact in the UFC lightweight division, and he will have the opportunity to do so when he squares-off with Donald Cerrone on Saturday night.

That being said, stepping onto the sport's biggest stage for the first time comes with a unique brand of pressure. And while Noons has a tremendous amount of experience competing in combat sports, there is little that he can do in preparation for fighting in MMA's most successful promotion.

Nevertheless, "King Karl" isn't thinking about "Octagon jitters." He isn't thinking about his recent rough patch or having lost four of his last five outings. The only thing Noons has on his mind is defeating Cerrone. In fact, the San Diego-based fighter fully believes the only pressure that exists in the bout rests squarely on "Cowyboy's" shoulders.

"If there is any pressure, I've turned it into energy to prepare for this fight," Noons told Bleacher Report. "For me, this fight is a rebirth. I've done my time. I've been fighting for awhile. I've already won a world title. Who is the pressure really on? I'm not the one everybody is up on. I'm not the one who is supposed to win. I'm not the one everybody knows about. If you think about it, the pressure is really on him not me."

"I'm very excited about this fight. I'm excited to be in the UFC, and I'm excited to get an opponent like this. It's a big name on a big card. The UFC putting me on the main card against a top opponent shows me I'm being recognized for the things I've accomplished in the past. They put me up there and I'm excited about it. [Cerrone] is at the top right now and a win will put me right up there. It also depends on my performance as well," Noons added.

The matchup between Noons and Cerrone has become an early favorite for "Fight of the Night" honors. Both fighters have built solid reputations for their hard-charging styles and their love for the good "old-fashioned" ruckus.

While the bout presents interesting stylistic differences between Noons' boxing-based attack and Cerrone's Muay Thai/kickboxing skill set, the former Strikeforce title contender is looking forward to answering the challenges the WEC veteran brings to the table.

"He is great with his legs and he's going to be using them in this fight," Noons said. "It's going to be a factor in the fight and dealing with his kicks is definitely something we've game planned for. He's good all around. We've trained for everything and I've definitely upped my game in a lot of different areas. I'm looking to showcase that on Saturday night."

"How many fights of mine have you watched?" Noons asked in regard to earning a fight night bonus. "How many bonuses do you think I should have won throughout my career? I'm not sure, but this might be a good fight on Saturday."

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Rafael Nadal Faces Rocky Road to 8th French Open Title

Benjamin Klein — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:00:21 -0400

Winning an eighth French Open title isn’t going to be a walk in the park for Rafael Nadal.

Nadal, the winner of the last three championships at Roland Garros, defeated Novak Djokovic in the final a year ago. A finals rematch, however, won’t be in the works in 2013.

Instead, if Nadal and Djokovic manage to win their matches through the quarterfinals, they’ll meet in a blockbuster semifinal.

The potential semifinal matchup is due to the seeding of Nadal and the withdrawal of Andy Murray from the tournament. Murray, the No. 2 player in the world behind Djokovic, is out of the French Open with a back injury, according to the Associated Press via USA Today.

Nadal, who’s ranked No. 4, earned the No. 3 seed in the French Open, and Roger Federer moved up to No. 2. This means that Nadal and Federer could face off in the final, but Nadal is going to have to get through the top player in the world first.

Nadal, though knowing he might have a big test ahead, is just glad to be able to participate.

“I am very happy that I am back and I am healthy to play here another time,” Nadal told the Associated Press, via USA Today. Nadal recently returned from a seven-month absence after a knee injury prevented him from taking the court.

Before Nadal can even think about facing Djokovic again, he first has to get there. His first-round matchup is against Daniel Brands of Germany, who will be appearing in his fifth French Open. Brands has never made it past the first round, though, and Nadal should defeat him with ease.

The first true test for Nadal could come in the quarterfinals if he were to be matched up against Richard Gasquet, the No. 7 seed at Roland Garros. Gasquet has never made it past the fourth round in nine French Opens over the course of his career. Nadal is undefeated in nine matches against Gasquet in their history.

If all goes according to plan, Nadal would then need a victory over Djokovic—if he advances to the semifinals—in order to reach the championship. Nadal has fallen to Djokovic in eight of their last 11 chances and lost just a month ago at Monte Carlo.

Nadal does have an advantage, though, considering that they’ll be playing on a clay court. Nadal is 13-3 against Djokovic on clay. But keep in mind that you should never count out Djokovic, especially before a match even starts. He is the No. 1 player for a reason.

Who Nadal could end up facing in the final is far from being determined, but it could certainly be Federer. Federer is the only other player outside of Nadal to win at the French Open since 2005, taking the title back in 2009 when Nadal fell in the fourth round to the runner-up, Robin Soderling. A Nadal-Federer final would certainly favor the Spain native, but it would likely be a close match.

Needless to say, an eighth French Open title won’t be a piece of cake for Nadal. There are plenty of opponents trying to upend the seven-time champ. He’s going to have to be on his top game, stay healthy and hope that the things fall in his favor.

Which Pittsburgh Penguins Offensive Star Has Had the Best Postseason?

Steve Rodenbaugh — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:56:22 -0400

As the highest-scoring team in the Stanley Cup playoffs thus far, the Pittsburgh Penguins have had no shortage of offensive heroes in the playoffs.

While Penguin fans have come to expect big goals from the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, some of the biggest goals of the playoffs have been scored by Tyler Kennedy, Beau Bennett and Brooks Orpik; each of whom has tallied game-winning goals.

With the Penguins one win away from advancing past the second round for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 2009, here's a look at the biggest offensive stars for the Penguins thus far:

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Best XI Best Brazilians Ever to Play Club Football in Europe

Christopher Atkins — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:56:13 -0400

No country has quite such a rich footballing history as Brazil, and that history has managed to extend itself to the four corners of the planet.

Such is the depth and quality of Brazilian football, that the country's players appear in leagues in almost every country imaginable. Where they appear, also, they generally make a significant impression.

It is the major leagues of Europe, and Champions League football, that generally sees the very best that the country has to offer. For the past 20 years, talent has drifted from Brazil to Europe in astounding numbers.

It has been on this stage, rather than in the Brasileirao and Copa Libertadores, that the modern Brazilian greats have made their names.

Let's, then, take a look at the best XI of Brazilians to have played in Europe.

n.b. The likes of Zico, Didi, Junior and Socrates all played in Europe and would get in this side if based on talent and overall achievement. However, I have also tried to factor in performances in Europe as a decisive element.

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NHL Playoffs 2013: Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane and the 10 Best Goals so Far

Mark Jones — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:51:52 -0400

Even under the pressure of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the NHL's biggest stars are still lighting up both lamps and highlight reels with a plethora of spectacular postseason goals.

The first two rounds of this spring's playoffs have produced amazing play after amazing play on a nightly basis. At the forefront of that list lies a dazzling array of beautiful goals—from blazing breakaways to perfect passes—that didn't only excite 18,000 in-house fans but also made a significant difference on the scoreboard, too.

We've examined every 2013 playoff tally and cut the list down to a 10-item group of the best goals so far, taking aesthetic beauty, required skill and game impact all into account.

Household names like Ryan Callahan and Ryan Getzlaf each earn a mention.

Young stars such as Jason Zucker and Chris Kreider each make an appearance.

And then there's Sidney Crosby.

Patrick Kane Dazzles, Feeds Sharp

Although the Chicago Blackhawks icon has had an unremarkable playoff campaign so far, Patrick Kane's incredible puck-handling in this play may have set up the easiest tap-in goal of Patrick Sharp's career.

Getzlaf Steals, Scores Instantaneously

Damien Brunner was already thinking about an offensive zone entry. Jimmy Howard was already thinking about the next penalty-kill sequence.

And then Ryan Getzlaf appeared.

Jason Zucker's OT Winner

Few would've expected the Minnesota Wild's only playoff win since 2008 to be won by, of all players, Jason Zucker. The 21-year-old winger's sharp-angle laser was anything but forgettable, though.

Rangers' Give-and-Go

Young New York Rangers forwards Carl Hagelin and Derek Stepan have taken some criticism over the course of the playoffs, but this patient and pretty give-and-go from Round 1 remains one of the postseason's best highlights so far.

Sidney Crosby's First of Several Beauties

No. 87 absolutely embarrassed Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey as he blew through the defense and rifled the puck home to put Pittsburgh up 3-0.

Crosby Flies Through

No Islanders-caliber defense, no problem for Crosby. An entire five-man shift of Senators watched the league's most prominent star rocket past gracefully before finding goaltender Craig Anderson's five-hole.

Ryan Callahan's Breakaway Deke

The Rangers captain leaves Brad Marchand cursing under his breath and Tuukka Rask stuck in spread-eagle shape as he shifts from the backhand to the forehand for this spectacular one-on-one tally.

Milan Michalek Takes the Highway

Ottawa Senators veteran Milan Michalek proves that Penguins stars Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin can be embarrassed too, as he flies down the middle-lane boulevard and scores on Tomas Vokoun.

Crosby, Again

Sidney Crosby. Through the legs. To the backhand. Top shelf.

Enough said.

Nash, Kreider Keep Rangers Alive

Rick Nash's calculated shot-pass is deflected smoothly up and over Tuukka Rask by Chris Kreider as the Blueshirts win in overtime and stay alive in their second-round series.

Mark Jones has been an NHL featured columnist for Bleacher Report since 2009. Visit his profile to read more, or follow him on Twitter.

MLB Picks: Los Angeles Angels vs. Kansas City Royals

Jeff Grant — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:50:29 -0400

The Los Angeles Angels have put together a season-high five-game winning streak, which can't be ignored when making your MLB picks on Friday as they take on the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Sports bettors will find that the Angels are minus-115 road favorites in the pro baseball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at nine in the betting market.

Let's take a closer look at this American League matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

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MLB Picks: Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds

Jeff Grant — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:48:22 -0400

The Cincinnati Reds are 17-5 in their last 22 games against the Chicago Cubs, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks on Friday as the two teams open up a three-game series at the Great American Ball Park.

Sports bettors will find that the Reds are minus-144 home favorites in the pro baseball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at eight in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this National League Central matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

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People in MLB Who Are Ruining Baseball

Zachary D. Rymer — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:45:29 -0400

Everybody in the baseball world is an angel.

Well, except for a few people. Yours truly got to thinking about people who are ruining baseball, and a few obvious targets came to mind.

I have no patience for certain managers who need to understand that there’s one inning in which a sacrifice bunt should never be laid down, one umpire in particular who loves the spotlight, or for that one owner in South Beach who seems hell-bent on putting himself in the history books as the worst owner in baseball history.

These not-so-angelic people—ironically, one of them is actually named Angel—are bringing baseball down. A good scolding is the least they deserve, and I got in front of a camera to do the deed.

Sound off in the comments section if you have any comments, questions or ponderous musings you want to share, and you’re also welcome to give me a follow on Twitter.

Follow Zachary: @zachrymer

Andros Townsend Charged with Breaking Betting Rules by FA

Ethan Grant — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:26:29 -0400

Andros Townsend, who split time between Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur, has been charged by The Football Association with breaking betting rules in matches he participated in.

As a result, Townsend has withdrawn from England's U-21 squad for the upcoming Euro 2013.

TheFA.com reported the news of Townsend alleging breaking Rule E8 (b) in correlation with a number of betting offenses. Per the report, Townsend has until June 3 to respond to the allegations made by English football's governing body.

Owen Gibson of The Garden confirmed via Twitter that Townsend's sanctions are not related to match fixing, rather betting on outcomes of games that he was involved in:

The FA also reported on Twitter that Townsend had withdrawn from upcoming competition after the allegations were made public:

Per Gibson's report with The Guardian, the FA also released a statement that both the FA and Tottenham would afford Townsend full support as the investigation continues and he responds to the charges.

Townsend joined the Spurs academy at the age of nine, and he steadily moved up the ranks with Tottenham over the past few years on loans with other clubs. He made his Premier League debut last September against Reading, but was shipped to QPR in January for the remainder of EPL play.

Starting 12 EPL games for QPR, Townsend registered two goals on 35 shots. In all competition during the 2012-13 season, he tallied three goals and an assist in 14 starts in EPL, FA Cup and Europa League play.

He will be replaced by Birmingham's Nathan Redmond on the England U-21 roster.

Inter Milan Reportedly Fire Manager Andrea Stramaccioni

Matt Fitzgerald — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:24:11 -0400

After another disappointing finish to the Serie A season, Inter Milan has reportedly fired its manager Andrea Stramaccioni as of Friday.

The San Francisco Chronicle broke the news, and the report indicates that the decision wasn't announced to the public immediately but that Stramaccioni had been informed of the situation.

There wasn't much of a chance for the 37-year-old Stramaccioni to establish himself or garner any kind of staying power, especially with his contract running through 2015. He took over the Black and Blues in late March of 2012, and they finished out the Serie A campaign in sixth place.

In Stramaccioni's first and only full season at the helm, though, the results weren't as good, as Inter Milan finished ninth in the standings and won as many fixtures as it lost.

That has the Black and Blues out of European competition, failing to qualify for the first time in 16 years. Although Stramaccioni met with club president Massimo Moratti and had an encouraging discussion about his future, it appears that was misleading.

Even before Stramaccioni was sacked, Moratti did not rule out a return by Roberto Mancini, according to Football Italia (h/t Fox Sports). The former Inter coach was recently let go following a successful but turbulent tenure as manager of the English Premier League's Manchester City.

Mancini guided Inter Milan to five consecutive Serie A titles before he left, and with his demanding, hard-nosed style of coaching, led Manchester City to second place in the EPL this season.

As the initial report highlights, the replacement may actually be former Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri, a rumor that Moratti tried to dispel on Thursday. It will be interesting to see what this storied organization does in terms of its coaching search, as this will be Inter's third manager in approximately 14 months.

Stramaccioni didn't get the benefit of the doubt, despite injuries to Rodrigo Palacio, Diego Milito and Antonio Cassano—among others—which depleted Inter's offensive attack.

The Black and Blues are hoping to find stability in the managerial position for the foreseeable future in order to become a perennial Serie A contender and world football powerhouse once again.