Bleacher Report - Front Page

Chicago Blackhawks: Tony Amonte Should Get Facts Straight Before Ripping Hossa

Jon Fromi — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:05:49 -0400

Former Chicago Blackhawks right winger Tony Amonte is entitled to his opinion. He just may want to check his facts before he opens his mouth.

Amonte, who played for the 'Hawks for part of nine seasons, took Marian Hossa to task on Tuesday. Following Hossa's absence in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final between Chicago and the Boston Bruins, Amonte called Hossa's injury into question.

Amonte, who is doing analyst work for Comcast SportsNet New England, made the following statement Monday:

Marian Hossa ... I admire the way he plays, he's a very good player, he's got a Stanley Cup on his résumé, but he's not the guy with the highest pain threshold in the NHL. If you look back to his stats and you look throughout his career, he usually plays about 60 games, takes about 20 or 30 off every year just to make sure he's fresh coming into the postseason. He's not a guy that will play through a lot of injuries."

Amonte expounded on Hossa Tuesday on the "Mut and Merloni Show" on Boston's WEEI-FM, saying the following to Mike Mutnanski and Lou Merloni:

You're in the Stanley Cup finals. I think you play until you can't play anymore. You give whatever you can to your organization and that's the way most guys will do it. That's what [Bruins forward] Nathan Horton's doing right now. He's probably got no right being out on the ice with that shoulder the way it is, but he's going to gut it out, play the next possibly four games at the most and then go in, get his shoulder fixed and be ready for the next season.

The above quote comes from ESPNChicago.com's report on Hossa's injury. In another report Tuesday, Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com wrote that Hossa is likely to play in Game 4 Wednesday.

Joel Quenneville told Powers that Hossa is suffering from an upper-body injury. Amonte claimed to Mutnanski and Lou Merloni he heard it was a groin injury.

Amonte weighed in on the 'Hawks performance and made some valid points on Chicago's game. He was pretty even-handed with his thoughts on the Blackhawks and their performance in the series. It is odd that he went off on Hossa the way he did.

Amonte claims that the usual Hossa season is 60 games. Hossa has played 15 seasons in the NHL. In seven of those seasons, he's played over 80 games. In three others, Hossa has logged at least 72 games. Hossa played seven games as a call-up late in the the 1997-98 season, so let's focus on the 14 full seasons he has played.

There are three seasons that have any resemblance to Amonte's claim to a "normal" Hossa campaign:

1998-99: 60 games in his rookie season.

2009-10: 57 games in his first season with the 'Hawks. Remember, he missed the first couple of months recovering from shoulder surgery. He certainly wasn't coasting for the playoffs.

2010-11: 65 games in a season when he was out with a couple of injuries. Again, most of those injuries came in the first half of the season

Three seasons out of 14. That is far from a frequent occurrence.

Amonte is a former player and I defer to him as far as his wealth of hockey knowledge. If he wants to question Hossa's toughness, that's his business. However, his claim that Hossa sits out 20-30 games a year has no basis in fact.

Does Roy Oswalt Have Enough Left to Be Rockies' NL West X-Factor?

Josh Schoch — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:05:43 -0400

The Colorado Rockies will call Roy Oswalt up from Double-A back to the MLB on Thursday after completing his rehab, according to Troy Renck of The Denver Post.

Official that Oswalt will start Thursday
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) June 18, 2013

After breezing through the minor leagues in his rehab starts, Oswalt is on his way up, according to NBC Sports.

Oswalt made five starts in the minors, throwing 33 innings with a 2.16 ERA and 25/7 K/BB ratio at Double-A, where he was just named the Texas League pitcher of the week. He held opponents to a .211 batting average, but did serve up five homers in five starts.

Oswalt’s most recent outing was 8.1 innings of shutout ball Friday with seven strikeouts versus one walk.

Oswalt will face the Washington Nationals in his first start this year, a team that he has gone 4-4 against with a 3.33 ERA in the last three years.

The timing for Oswalt's return couldn't have been more perfect. He is coming back at a time when the Rockies need him most, as they are half a game back of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West and are trying to make a push as they head toward the All-Star Break.

Oswalt could play a vital role for the team as it enters a very important part of the season. The Rockies' pitchers have a combined ERA of 4.44 this year, which isn't terrible but it isn't great.

The three-time All-Star can help Colorado in a few ways as it tries to climb up the standings.

First and foremost, Oswalt can win games.

He is just two years removed of his surge in Philly, when he posted an ERA of just 1.74 in 10 starts after being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.

However, in the last two years Oswalt has dealt with injuries and age. After starting at least 30 games for seven straight seasons from 2004 to 2010, he started 23 in 2011, and just nine in 2012. His stuff was poor in those games too, as his ERA ballooned to 3.69 in 2011 and 5.80 in 2012, not to mention his 1.34 and 1.53 WHIPs, respectively.

At 35 years old, Oswalt is finally back, but he might not be everything the Rockies hope he will be.

Even if Oswalt can't come out and shut hitters down, his most valuable asset is his experience and knowledge.

Tracy Ringolsby of MLB.com recently wrote an article about why Oswalt is a great fit for the Rockies, citing his experience in the big leagues.

Oswalt, who has earned $96 million in 12 big league seasons, knows about success. He reached double figures in wins in nine of his first 10 full seasons. He has a 163-96 big league record.

He pitched in the postseason with Houston in 2004 and '05, and with Philadelphia in 2010 and '11. He'd like to add a fifth postseason to his resume in 2013 with Colorado, returning to an NL team after his first AL exposure a year ago.

Oswalt has been around the block a few times, and he has knowledge that the Rockies' pitchers just don't have.

While Jorge De La Rosa and Jeff Francis are 32 years old and have been in the majors for a while, Jhoulys Chacin, Juan Nicasio and Tyler Chatwood are 25, 26 and 23 years old, respectively. These guys haven't been around all that long, and they could definitely benefit from being around a knowledgeable veteran.

The biggest question surrounding Oswalt's return is whether or not he has enough talent and knowledge to help lead the Rockies to the postseason, but it doesn't look good.

We can't expect much out of Oswalt on the mound.

While he dominated Double-A ball, the opponents he faced in Tulsa are a far cry from those in the major leagues, and he will be pitching half of his games in hitter-friendly Coors Field.

The biggest reason why Oswalt won't be enough is the offense.

Led by Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, the Rockies' offense had been on fire and was carrying the team.

However, Tulo went down with a broken rib and Carlos Gonzalez was hit by a foul ball, taking out both stars in one foul swoop.

While CarGo is back and playing well, Tulo will be out for 4-6 weeks.

With the Arizona Diamondbacks overachieving and the reigning World Series champion San Francisco Giants hanging around, the west is one of the tightest divisions in baseball, and losing Tulo for this long is essentially a death sentence.

Oswalt will be a nice addition for the Rockies, but don't expect to see them playing in mid-October.

Follow @JoshSchoch

UFC 162 Video Preview: Dan Henderson Offers His Take on Silva vs. Weidman

Trent Reinsmith — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:04:51 -0400

UFC 161 is becoming more distant by the day. If you look into the not-too-distant future, you’ll see that UFC 162 is just over the horizon and getting closer by the second.

UFC 162 will take place on July 6. The event features a pretty deep card, especially in the featherweight division. Three of the top 10 fighters in that weight class will be competing at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on that night.

However, the featherweights will not be the main attraction on that Saturday night. No, that honor goes to the middleweights. There will be four 185-pound contests on the fight card.

On the preliminary portion of the card, Chris Leben and Andrew Craig will look to rebound from losses, while Mark Munoz and Tim Boetsch will hope to stay in the top 10 of the division with a win.

Moving on to the main card, Strikeforce imports Tim Kennedy and Roger Gracie will look to show the UFC bosses that they belong with the promotion.

The other middleweight bout on the card is the one most fans, fighters and MMA pundits will be endlessly analyzing from now until the cage door locks behind the combatants. Those combatants will be middleweight champion Anderson Silva and the No. 1 contender in the division, Chris Weidman.

Many believe that Weidman, a strong wrestler with a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has the skills to give the longstanding champion fits.

One person that doesn’t see things that way is the vanquished opponent of Silva, Dan Henderson. Rick J. Lee recently caught up with the former Pride and Strikeforce champion to get his take on the bout.

NBA Draft 2013: Prospects Who Will Contend For Rookie of the Year

Brian Mazique — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:04:00 -0400

To win Rookie of the Year in the NBA, a prospect must have two things. First and foremost, they must have a talent that is cultivated enough to make an impact in their first year.

The NBA draft is largely about potential and upside, but a Rookie of the Year candidate has to have enough game from day one to make a statement.

Secondly, the prospect must land in a spot that gives him the opportunity to play a major role. A player drafted to be a star's backup may have the talent, but he probably won't see the minutes to make his mark.

With that criteria established, here are the players who have the best chance of winning the award for the 2013-14 season.

Ben McLemore

McLemore's smooth jump shot led to 42.9 percent shooting from three-point range. He's such a pure shooter that his long-range game will translate to the NBA nicely.

He also has explosive athleticism that will allow him to be productive in transition. It is hard to see McLemore landing anywhere outside the top five.

Playing in Cleveland, Orlando, Charlotte or Phoenix should give McLemore plenty of opportunities to shine. Of all of the players in the 2013 NBA draft class, McLemore has the best shot at winning the award.

Trey Burke

Two of the most important qualities an NBA point guard can have is the ability to hit the outside shot and create for his teammates. As a sophomore, Burke made 38 percent of his threes and dished out 6.7 assists per game.

These skills will allow him to get his own offense if he lands with a team that needs his scoring. His proven playmaking will allow him to contribute to a team that already has a top scoring option as well.

Burke's outside shooting will even allow him to put up scoring numbers while playing off of an established player.

Anthony Bennett

As inside-outside games go, Bennett has perhaps the most polished attack. The 6'7" beefy forward is a bit of a tweener, but he can score from anywhere on the court.

He can score with his back to the basket and even has range out to the three-point line. He made 37 percent of his threes and even grabbed eight rebounds per game. Though Randolph is a bit undersized for the power forward position, he has a 7'1" wingspan.

That length will allow him to succeed no matter what forward position he plays. Bennett won't be drafted to play behind an established star. The team that selects him will be looking for him to score.

Follow me, basketball brings us all together.

College World Series: UNC's Moran Sends LSU Home with His Bat

J.P. Scott — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:42:01 -0400

Colin Moran didn't show up to the postgame press conference on Tuesday afternoon. He had already said all he needed to with his bat.

After a disappointing 0-for-3 outing to open up the College World Series against rival North Carolina State, Moran looked much more like the player that the Miami Marlins drafted sixth overall in this year's MLB draft when he took the field against LSU.

Moran led the No. 1 seed Tar Heels to a 4-2 win over the Tigers with a three-hit, one-RBI performance while scoring two runs.

His play was the spark that North Carolina needed to oust LSU, which may as well have been playing a home game.

The Tigers are inexplicably almost always the crowd favorite in Omaha, and it showed on Tuesday. In addition to LSU traveling well, countless numbers of otherwise neutral fans filled TD Ameritrade Park decked out in purple and gold.

Carolina pitcher Trent Thornton did his part for the Tar Heels as well. The freshman right-hander turned in a seven-inning performance, giving up only two runs. Though he had taken the mound a few times in the NCAA tournament, it was the first time he actually started a game since March 27.

Carolina coach Mike Fox had high praise for Thornton after the game. "Well, we had the utmost confidence in Trent today. I think all of his teammates did as well. He's pitched like that for us all year long. So we're sort of used to that."

LSU will head back to Baton Rouge, joining Louisville as one of the first two teams to be eliminated from the College World Series.

North Carolina will play the loser of tonight's North Carolina State-UCLA contest Thursday night at 8 p.m. EST in another elimination game.

J.P. Scott is a Senior Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand via the postgame press conference.

Texas Football: 5 Longhorns on Offense with the Most to Prove

Jonathan Woo — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:26:21 -0400

The Texas Longhorns appear to be on the up-and-up, but they are not without their flaws, some of which encumbered their efforts a season ago.

Equipped with an up-tempo offense and vast amounts of experience—something Texas lacked in 2012—the Longhorns are a prized pick to win the Big 12.

But winning on paper and winning on the field are two very different scenarios. Despite the veteran presence all over the field on either side of the football, the Texas program has been missing that flavor of success in recent seasons, which is why the 'Horns still have those who doubt their chances of success in 2013.

If the Longhorns can play with a chip on their shoulders, having it out to prove something to the college football public, they will be a force in the conference and potentially crack the BCS in January.

Offensively, Texas appears to be set for a strong campaign, but there are a number of pieces that—if primed correctly—can help transform the offense entirely.

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2013 Stanley Cup Final: Have the Boston Bruins Found Corey Crawford's Weakness?

Steve Silverman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:19:29 -0400

The Chicago Blackhawks would never have gotten to the Stanley Cup Final if Corey Crawford had not played stellar goal in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

He stopped the Minnesota Wild in the first round with little trouble. He helped the Blackhawks overcome a 3-1 deficit against the Detroit Red Wings in the conference semifinal. He won a goaltending duel with Jonathan Quick in the Western Conference Final.

The Blackhawks have no reason to complain about Corey Crawford. He has a 1.74 goals against average, a .936 save percentage and he has one shutout during the postseason.

As well as Crawford has played, he is not perfect. Neither is Tuukka Rask for that matter. All goalies have vulnerable areas and can be beaten from time to time.

The Blackhawks' job is to figure out how they can get pucks by Rask and then execute when they find out where his weak spot is. Through the first three games, they have not done that.

However, it appears the Bruins have found an area they can exploit with Crawford. It's not something that is going to turn into a deluge of goals like the Bruins were able to get when they played Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks two years ago. They pinned an eight-spot on the Canucks in Game 3 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

NBC analyst Pierre McGuire pointed out the Bruins are trying to fire high shots on Crawford whenever they can (43-second mark). They have scored seven goals in the first three games of the series and all of them have gone at least halfway up the net. Two of the goals have gone high to the blocker side. Five have gone high to the glove side.

The Bruins opened the scoring in the Stanley Cup Final with two Milan Lucic goals in Game 1. The first was a hard wrist shot to the upper corner on the glove side and the second was a slap shot to the same area.

Few goalies would have been in a position to stop the first Lucic goal, but the second one was not a good goal.

They also scored on Patrice Bergeron's slap shot that rang in off the post high on the glove side.

In Game 2, Chris Kelly tied the game up on a goal-mouth scramble. The puck seemed to go to the blocker side, but Kelly was not targeting any area. He was just trying to get good wood on the puck for his first goal of the postseason.

The game remained tied until deep into the first overtime when Adam McQuaid worked the puck to Tyler Seguin. Instead of firing a shot himself, Seguin made a perfect pass to Daniel Paille. With the puck on his tape, Paille unfurled a wrister that went high and off the post to Crawford's glove side. It angled back into the net and the Bruins had their overtime win.

Paille opened the scoring in Game 3 with another quick shot to the glove side. Those two game-winners were clearly the biggest goals of Paille's NHL career.

Crawford should have stopped Lucic's second goal and he also may have had a chance on Paille's Game 3 score.

It's doubtful that many other goalies would have been able to stop any of the other shots that the Bruins have scored on in the Stanley Cup Final.

If the Blackhawks are going to steal Game 4 in Boston, Crawford can't give the Bruins a thing. If he gives up more than a goal or two, it may be difficult for his teammates to beat Rask three times.

The Blackhawks scored four goals in the triple overtime 4-3 victory in in Game 1, but they have only scored one one goal since then.

Chicago dominated the first period in Game 2, but they have not scored since then and they will carry a 122:26 scoreless streak into Game 3.

Hockey Night in Canada analyst and former Bruins head coach Don Cherry told Boston radio hosts Michael Felger and Tony Massarotti that the Blackhawks are not playing with the kind of effort needed to win at this point and they showed him "nothing" in Game 3.

That's why the Blackhawks are going to need a near-perfect effort from Crawford if they are going to bounce back.

Head coach Joel Quenneville is going to have to do something to rally his players so they challenge the Bruins for every loose puck. if he can do that, Crawford is going to have to do his part and stop those shots that come whistling in high on his glove side.

Penn State Football: 3 Things Christian Hackenberg Must Do Better

Colin Tansits — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:18:57 -0400

The future of Penn State football can potentially lie in the hands of soon-to-be freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg.

The top-rated pocket passer by ESPN is coming into Happy Valley as the co-starter next to former junior college quarterback Tyler Ferguson.

There is little doubt which of the two signal-callers has more hype and potential coming into the 2013 season; it’s obviously Hackenberg. But like any young quarterback, there is much more to improvement to be made before he can earn his stripes and be named the starter.

It may be tough to pick out problems in Hackenberg’s game with his sharp release, strong arm and great accuracy.

Nonetheless, Hackenberg is nowhere near his ceiling in terms of raw tools.

Aside from building off his already strong arm, good release and accuracy, there are a few more things the young quarterback must do if he wants to start on this team.

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College World Series 2013: Position Players with Best Chance to Raise MLB Stock

Maxwell Ogden — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:18:15 -0400

The 2013 College World Series has cut down the field and only the elite teams remain in the pursuit of baseball supremacy. While the teams may garner the headlines for their collective success, we'd be remiss to ignore the individuals remaining in the field.

The question is, which position players have the best chance to raise their MLB stock?

Certain players have solidified their status as future stars, but lack the breakout performance at the College World Series to push their name into the first round. Others have been drafted, but would do well for their MLB future by stepping up in Omaha.

The future is now for these players.

Michael Conforto, Oregon State Beavers

Position: Outfield

Drafted: N/A

2013 Season Statistics

63 GS, .335/.456/.536, 48 R, 13 2B, 11 HR, 47 RBI

One of the last remaining favorites is the Oregon State Beavers, as they defeated Louisville to move into an elimination game against Indiana. With their College World Series eligibility on the line, the Beavers will turn to their stars.

Expect Michael Conforto to improve his draft stock for the 2014 selection process.

Conforto is already a top prospect, hitting both for power and average in order to make a powerful impact with his bat. Conforto is also a respected fielder, which suggests that his two-way upside could result in his becoming a first round draft choice.

Conforto can solidify that status by leading his team to a win over Indiana.

Conforto has 11 home runs and 47 RBI in 63 games this season, hitting .335 and scoring nine runs. He's also hit 12 doubles, which displays just how consistent Conforto has been at hitting for extra bases.

A strong performance is on the horizon from one of college baseball's brightest stars.

Adam Frazier, Mississippi State Bulldogs

Position: Shortstop

Drafted: No. 179 (Pittsburgh Pirates)

2013 Season Statistics

68 GS, .360/.406/.476, 61 R, 20 2B, 0 HR, 38 RBI

With the 179th selection in the 2013 MLB draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected shortstop Adam Frazier out of Mississippi State. While this year's class of shortstops has been criticized as relatively weak, Frazier is a genuine MLB prospect.

It all starts with the bat.

Frazier is not a power hitter by any stretch of the imagination, as he's failed to register a single home run this season. With that being said, Frazier is hitting .360 and boasts an on-base percentage of .476.

Paired with 20 doubles and 38 RBI, Frazier has become one of the top pure hitters in the nation.

That's the type of value that any team would love to have at the top of their batting lineup, as Frazier can get on base at an elite rate. While his draft spot may suggest mediocrity as a prospect, Frazier's upside is undeniable.

He can go a long way toward improving his stock entering the MLB by stepping up at the College World Series.

Kyle Schwarber, Indiana Hoosiers

Position: Catcher/Outfielder

Drafted: N/A

2013 Season Statistics

58 GS, .372/.462/.658, 65 R, 10 2B, 18 HR, 54 RBI

At this stage of the game, Indiana Hoosiers catcher Kyle Schwarber has the look of a genuine superstar. The sophomore catcher is one of the top hitters in the nation, mixing elite power with the type of contact play that would intrigue any scout.

Schwarber can solidify his status as a top-pick contender in 2014 by continuing his path to super-stardom at the College World Series.

Schwarber is currently hitting .372 with 18 home runs and 54 RBI in 58 games. Not only do those numbers jump off of the page, but they're evidence as to how dominant he can be when focused on the task.

The question is, will the Indiana star step up as his team faces elimination against Oregon State?

Going up against one of the top pitching staffs in the nation won't be easy, but Schwarber has proven capable. Not only is he hitting for power at the event, but he's getting on base and serving as the catalyst to Indiana's high-octane attack.

Schwarber can make the leap into the top-pick conversation with any further hitting brilliance.

World Cup Qualifying: X-Factors for US National Team in Crucial Honduras Match

Steven Cook — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:16:49 -0400

The U.S. men's national team have been on a surge as of late through their World Cup qualifiers, but they'll face a familiar and pesky foe in Honduras on Tuesday night.

While the Americans lead the CONCACAF standings with 10 points through five games, they'll be put in a tough position should they struggle in the match. However, a win would go a long way toward ensuring the side's qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The Hondurans took down the U.S. back in February with a 2-1 victory on their home soil, but the home-field advantage will be reversed this time around as the two teams face off in Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah.

Let's take a look at the biggest X-factors who the USMNT need to step up during their World Cup qualifying tilt with Honduras.

Brad Evans

Even before ripping this unexpected gem that won the Americans' recent tilt with Jamaica in extra time, Brad Evans' playing level was through the roof and it continues to soar.

Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann made the bold move of pushing the former midfielder to an unfamiliar position at right-back, and it's paid dividends. Evans has been a constant factor in the Americans' shored-up back line.

Klinsmann told Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times that Evans has been showing great form as of late in his switch. Per Baxter's report, Klinsmann said "Now that Brad Evans is playing that role very, very strongly, he made a very strong case for himself going toward the World Cup in Brazil."

The 28-year-old has had his moments with the USMNT, some brighter than others. But he's enjoying one of the best stretches of his international career, and it continuing on Tuesday night would do wonders for the Americans' chances.

Jozy Altidore

The U.S. go as Jozy Altidore goes, and that's the biggest reason why they've been able to have success as of late in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

The American striker has been scoring goals at will, despite changes being made to his supporting midfield by Klinsmann in virtually every contest.

With so many question marks surrounding the best starting lineup for the USMNT, it's imperative that Altidore learns how to have success even if he doesn't know who will be lining up next to him. And recently, he's proven that with prowess and domination in manufacturing goals.

The Americans need Altidore to play with anger, energy and strength in order to have success, and that is just what the 23-year-old has been doing.

Jermaine Jones

It's unclear as of yet whether Jermaine Jones will return from injury after experiencing concussion-like symptoms after the team's 2-0 win vs. Panama, but Klinsmann hinted at it to MLSsoccer.com just prior to the team's battle with Honduras.

With DaMarcus Beasley out after picking up excessive yellow cards, the Americans could surely use Jones' attacking ability and strength on the pitch. Against a Honduras team that is always dangerous but tends to leave opportunities out there for the opponent, Jones could turn into a hero again.

The 31-year-old is one of the leaders on the USMNT, and his presence is felt positively on the pitch no matter how he's performing. He makes his teammates better and allows more comfort for the youngsters.

If Jones is able to start Tuesday's match, it will give the Americans a huge leg up, and Honduras will have their hands full.

Johnny Manziel Should Already Be a Millionaire, but the NCAA Is Holding Him Back

Amy Daughters — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:02:51 -0400

Though it’s pretty easy to see that Texas A&M star QB Johnny Manziel is literally “living the dream,” what if in reality he’s just another young athlete getting screwed?

Yes, “Johnny Football” has access to the best parties, elite travel opportunities, pretty girls and boatloads of fans but at the end of the day what is it all really worth?

Think about the bottom line for Manziel: what does he really have to show for his first-ever freshman Heisman and his skyrocket ride to fame?

Sure, we’ll always remember him, but if he gets hurt in 2013 or turns out to be a one-hit wonder with zero pro prospects, what does Manziel take with him when he goes?

The answer here is really simple; nothing.

Manziel—in partnership with coach Kevin Sumlin and a group of talented teammates—has managed to turn Texas A&M football on its ear and with that the university, the SEC conference and college football as a larger entity, has enjoyed huge financial rewards.

And, due to the way the NCAA defines “student athletes” Manziel and his band of talented on-field cohorts have virtually nothing in their bank accounts to tell of their storied success.

Though money doesn’t always define success, when you’re dealing with a multimillion dollar-generating sport like college football, it’s tough to stomach the fact being a top cash generator doesn’t mean you’ll see a single penny.

The truth is given an alternate universe Johnny Manziel’s wild popularity—which is not just limited to the confines of College Station, Texas, the Lone Star State or the SEC region of football—could equal a tidy sum in endorsements, appearance fees and profit-sharing.

That is if the NCAA allowed such crazy benefits to the “student athletes” whose participation actually generates the dollars.

Isn’t it ironic that the kid who is clad in a Texas A&M uniform with “Adidas” plastered all over it won’t see a single penny from his school’s relationship with the athletic supplier?

Yes, isn’t it just a bit odd that Manziel can’t—by NCAA law—earn a dime from sales of jersey’s bearing his name and number and that he’ll never get a piece of the action from his image as an Aggie?

Not in a video game, not in a photo and not in footage that can be sold as a part of Texas A&M’s glorious revival and foray into the SEC ranks.

Sure, Manziel may cash in his epic collegiate career on a full-fledged and very lucrative stint in the NFL, but the chances of that happening, in reality, are slim especially given the difference between the two levels of play (more pronounced at the QB position) and the risk of injury.

So, how much money would Manziel be looking at after just one single season at A&M if the NCAA opted to raise the shifty veil separating amateurism from the stacks of cash in the college football coffers?

Well, you’d have to figure given the frenzy associated with the first-ever freshman Heisman winner and the first bronze statuette in Aggieland since John David Crow carried one home in 1957, that the number could easily exceed a million bucks.

Especially if the right marketing people struck while the iron was hot.

This all leads to the obvious question of who really has the right to make money off Johnny Football?

Is it the institution where he enrolled to play college ball? Is it the SEC who negotiated his TV rights, the BCS which rules college football, ESPN which covers it so completely, or is it the NCAA which allows all these parties to reap in huge gains by utilizing a sentimental shield misnamed “student athlete?”

On one side, college football isn’t a business because Johnny Manziel is not an “employee” of the program he works for even though he earns that same institution a boatload of cash by using his talent and risking his athletic future.

Yes, college football can’t be a business because Johnny Football couldn’t even file a workman’s compensation claim if he were injured.

And this is true even though he generates as much cash as any single employee in the town he “works” in.

On the flip side, college football is a multimillion-dollar industry where everyone is getting crazy rich…well, that is except for the guys who actually play the game.

Again, these are the young men who risk their physical futures to add to a bottom line which they share no part in.

Their due reward?

A college scholarship which they would gladly toss aside, half used, for a coveted place in the NFL draft.

But, remember that as per an article posted in 2012 on BusinessInsider.com only 1.7 percent of college football players make the pros.

These numbers are direct from the NCAA and mean that 98.3 percent of the guys who don’t earn a penny as a college player, but in many cases toil to earn other parties stacks of cash, will never make a career of football.

In other words, if you take 100 college football players, less than two of them will ever be financially rewarded for greasing the big money wheel of collegiate athletics.

Johnny Manziel is making lots of people lots of money but if fizzles out before leaving Texas A&M or gets seriously injured in the process, he’s left high and dry with nothing to show for it.

Meanwhile, the fat cats are happy to move on to the next set of victims and stand up for age-old values such as “amateurism” and the sacred concept of the “student athlete.”

Before immediately accepting the long-standing belief that college athletes shouldn’t be paid, seriously consider the following questions.

Is offering zero compensation to institutional athletes an honorable attempt to keep collegiate athletics free of the money-hungry brand of capitalism we kneel down to?

Or, instead is it a complete sham used to take advantage of the very athlete’s whose performances are the game, not just a part of it?

And where does a guy like Johnny Manziel, a superstar with loads of cash potential, fit into this unjust picture?

Arsenal Transfer Rumours: 4 Attainable Players on Arsene Wenger's Radar

Charlie Melman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:57:07 -0400

With no club football to occupy us during these summer months, silly season has taken hold of some of the more hopeful fans out there.

Of course, some rumors that pop up during the offseason will eventually materialize, but the vast majority are utter nonsense. Often, one wakes up in a cold sweat on September 1 and wonders how one could have ever been coaxed into believing such sensational stories were true.

So let's focus on those transfer rumors that, while by definition are hopeful, actually have some chance of bearing fruit.

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Picking the Under-25 MLB All-Star Team for 2013

Jason Catania — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:54:04 -0400

What if the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played only by those younger than 25 years old?

While "old fogeys" like Miguel Cabrera (30 years old), Robinson Cano (also 30), Joey Votto (29) and even Buster Posey (26) will get their due on the big stage at Citi Field in July, we thought it would be more fun to focus on identifying the most All-Star-worthy youngsters in the game this season.

Here's a look at the Under-25 All-Star Team for 2013.

All statistics come from Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs; WAR totals come from FanGraphs.

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Alabama Football Recruiting: Biggest Storylines to Emerge from OL/DL Camp

Sanjay Kirpalani — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:49:49 -0400

Alabama held its second summer camp session last weekend, which focused strictly on players manning the offensive and defensive lines.

There were a number of the nation’s top linemen participating and getting familiar with the surroundings in Tuscaloosa.

Both trench units are points of emphasis for Nick Saban and his staff in this cycle, so what are the biggest nuggets of information that Tide fans can take away from this camp?

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New York Rangers' Biggest Short-Term and Long-Term Problems

Andrew Capitelli — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:49:39 -0400

It was only last May that the New York Rangers were just two wins away from a Stanley Cup Final berth. Glen Sather built a team that head coach John Tortorella could work with, and in 2011-12, together the two helped the team reach its peak.

Although the Rangers completely bought into Tortorella’s defensive system, the team lacked the offensive production to see them through to the finals. Sather saw the summer of 2012 as an opportunity to add to the team’s anemic offense and trade valuable depth for superstar Rick Nash. At the same time, the then 12-year Rangers exec found himself in several contract disputes with even more depth forwards, players like Ruslan Fedotenko, John Mitchell and Brandon Prust.

All three were eventually allowed to walk and join other clubs, so when the Rangers opened up training camp in January of 2013, Tortorella was surrounded by a host of new faces. The ensuing season will forever be considered a disappointment, despite the team’s ability to reach the second round of the playoffs. There was a clear lack of depth down the middle, a severe shortage of goals and lack of team fluidity.

In the end, Marian Gaborik and Tortorella became causalities, Brad Richards found himself the press box and Henrik Lundqvist left the organization doubting whether or not he plans to be in New York for the long haul.

The point is, the Rangers were on cloud nine just one year ago, but now things aren’t as peachy. Numerous problems have arisen over the past 12 months, so today we’ll sort through them and take a look at the most serious short-term and long-term problems.

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2014 Recruiting: Power Ranking the 5 Most Shocking Commitments so Far

Edwin Weathersby — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:46:50 -0400

Although the 2014 recruiting cycle is still young, much has taken place thus far.

Recruiting classes are taking shape; recruits are starting to narrow down their lists and summer visits will begin to take place.

However, there have also been several instances of surprising commitments. A stud running back shockingly flipped schools while another committed to a program much earlier than anticipated. An Elite 11 quarterback recently announced his commitment, but it was not to a school many expected him to choose.

Shocking commitments happen in every recruiting cycle, so brace yourself.

Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports & ESPNU.

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The One 2013 Free Agent Each NBA Team Is Most Hotly Linked to

Adam Fromal — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:44:47 -0400

Even while the NBA Playoffs rage on, the 30 teams in the Association have been positioning themselves for the offseason. Focusing on the 2013 NBA draft and the ensuing free-agency period, each team is interested in maximizing the strength of its roster.

Although teams can't officially comment on free agents—or else they face potential tampering charges—certain franchises and free agents are already starting to be linked together. In most cases, one particular free agent has emerged as the one a team is most hotly linked to.

That said, there are seven teams who legitimately have generated no free-agent rumors whatsoever:

Boston Celtics: The Doc Rivers/Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce distractions have prevented any rumors from surfacing.
Miami Heat: They've had more important things to focus on. You know, like the NBA Finals.
Orlando Magic: With the No. 2 pick in the draft looming, that's been the primary concern for general manager Rob Hennigan.
Phoenix Suns: In this case, nothing has surfaced yet. It defies explanation, other than the fact that Phoenix isn't the most attractive destination right now.
San Antonio Spurs: See: Heat, Miami.
Utah Jazz: It's too tough to pick out one player since the entire roster seems to be hitting unrestricted free agency.
Washington Wizards: The debate between Otto Porter and Anthony Bennett rages on and prevents any hot rumors from boiling over.

The other 23 teams have taken part in the rumor mill, so let's see what's been churned up.

Note: All contract information comes from Spotrac.com.

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CWS 2013: Keys to Victory for Each Remaining Contender

Justin Onslow — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:43:36 -0400

The 2013 College World Series hasn’t lacked excitement. The road to Omaha, Nebraska, was paved with tremendous games, and we saw yet another last night.

In a thrilling 5-4 contest, Mississippi State came from behind to upend Indiana and secure a berth in the semifinals. The Bulldogs now wait for Oregon State and Indiana to battle it out in the loser’s bracket for a chance at redemption in the semifinal round.

No. 1 North Carolina earned its place in the next round with a 4-2 victory over No. 4 LSU on Tuesday. The Tar Heels are already in the loser’s bracket after having lost 8-1 to NC State a round prior and will wait for the loser of the NC State vs. UCLA matchup set for 8 p.m. EDT on Tuesday.

Let’s take a look at keys to victory for each of the six remaining teams in the tournament, highlighting the most crucial factor for each squad as it closes in on a College World Series title.

NC State

It’s All About the Pitching

Playing winning baseball doesn’t require a complicated formula. At its core, the game is all about pitching, hitting and defense.

Obviously.

But NC State hasn’t needed much offense to get this far in the College World Series. Wolfpack starting pitching has been absolutely dominant, starting with college baseball’s strikeout king, Carlos Rodon.

NC State has held opponents to an average of 1.8 runs per contest in the tournament. And while scoring a little more than five runs per game hasn’t hurt its cause, the hottest team in the country hasn’t needed that run support.

Unfortunately for UCLA, hitting hasn’t been the strongest facet of its game this year. With a team batting average of .250, the Bruins are going to need a few clutch performances at the dish to have a chance against NC State.

If the Wolfpack continues pitching as it has throughout the tournament, though, this game might not even be a contest.

UCLA

Clutch Hitting

As already noted, UCLA hasn’t exactly been an offensive juggernaut this season. It’s going to take more than a couple runs to upend NC State on Tuesday night.

The Bruins offense has been consistent throughout the tournament—it just hasn’t been all that explosive. Averaging just 4.5 runs per game without a single performance topping six runs, UCLA can’t hope to open things up against a tremendous NC State pitching staff.

However, teams don’t have to score in bunches to win in the tournament. Sometimes getting timely hitting is enough.

Two runs were enough to upset LSU in the previous round, courtesy of some terrific pitching. If UCLA can get a similar performance from its hurlers on Tuesday and find a way to string together some timely hits, the Bruins will have a chance of cooling off the red-hot Wolfpack.

Indiana

Kyle Schwarber

Yes, baseball is a team game. But it’s also a team game predicated on individual matchups and performances.

Catcher Kyle Schwarber is the heart of Indiana’s team, both behind the dish and next to it. When Schwarber doesn’t perform, the Hoosiers are at a big disadvantage.

But in his last two games, the team’s leading slugger and No. 2 hitter has struck out six times and notched just three hits in 10 at-bats. At the top of the lineup, Schwarber has to find a way to put the ball in play.

With an elimination game on the horizon against an Oregon State team that dominated Louisville 11-4 on Monday, the Hoosiers need to come prepared to put up some runs. Schwarber will be the key to doing just that.

Oregon State

Don’t Change a Thing

No one expected Oregon State to take it to Louisville as it did on Monday evening. With an 11-4 drubbing that saw both clutch hitting and strong pitching, the Beavers look primed for another big performance against the Hoosiers on Wednesday.

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

The top of Oregon State’s lineup is far from broken. In the Beavers’ win over the Cardinals last round, each of the team’s top five hitters notched at least one hit, including two or more from the top three spots. With that kind of production at the top of the order, it isn’t difficult winning ballgames.

It may be easier said than done, but Oregon State doesn’t need to change anything to beat Indiana on Wednesday. An 11-run performance goes a long way toward building confidence and lessening the pressure, and the Beavers should look loose and confident when they face the Hoosiers.

Mississippi State

Keep the Pressure off

It took three runs in the eighth inning to pull ahead of Indiana and leave enough cushion to withstand a ninth-inning run from the Hoosiers en route to a 5-4 victory. But at this stage in the tournament, the Bulldogs can’t afford to back themselves into a corner like that.

Mississippi State got on the board first in that contest with a run in the first inning, but its offense remained mostly stagnant until the eighth inning. The Bulldogs may not be so lucky in a potential rematch.

Mississippi State will await the winner of the Indiana-Oregon State contest set for Wednesday night. But regardless of their opponent, the Bulldogs can’t afford to fall behind early and rely on a late-inning rally to save them again.

If Mississippi State falls behind early, it has to hope its relief pitching can hold out long enough for a late-inning comeback—not the ideal situation for a team that has dipped into its bullpen fairly often in the tournament.

North Carolina

The Big Boppers

North Carolina is one of the most explosive offensive squads in the nation, led by Landon Lassiter, Colin Moran, Brian Holberton, Cody Stubbs and Sky Bolt. All five hitters (No. 2 though No. 6 in the lineup) are hitting over .300 on the season and combined for nine hits in the Tar Heels’ 4-2 win over LSU on Tuesday afternoon.

That string of mashers is a veritable gauntlet for opposing pitching, and as long as the quintet continues hitting as it did against LSU, it won’t matter what the bottom of the order does.

Terrific starting pitching was critical in their win over LSU, but the Tar Heels don’t need to hold opponents to two runs or fewer to win ballgames. Even against the tough pitching of NC State or UCLA, North Carolina should have a decided advantage.

North Carolina is No. 1 for a reason. If the middle of their lineup continues performing at this level, there is no team remaining that can stop the Tar Heels.

Everton Transfers: 4 Biggest Questions Roberto Martinez Must Answer

Matt Cheetham — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:43:34 -0400

As is the case with any new manager appointed during the summer, Roberto Martinez's first criteria with Everton will be to successfully work the transfer window,

The Spaniard comes in to replace David Moyes, and will attempt the slightly daunting task of installing his own philosophies on a side moulded a particular way for the past 11 years. Something new signings will help him achieve much faster.

For Martinez, the Toffees' notoriously frail financial state means it's more a case of manipulating the market instead of recruiting major signings—unless he fancies offloading a key player or two.

However, with no immediate fixtures, these are the first key actions Evertonians will judge him on, so it's important he makes a good impression and handles the major issues the right way. If not, they could come back to haunt him.

Here's a look at some of the biggest questions facing Martinez during this summer transfer window.

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Andrew Wiggins' Impressive First Workout a Sign of Big Things at Kansas

Tyler Conway — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:42:46 -0400

Never let it be said that Andrew Wiggins does not know how to make a proper arrival.

The nation's consensus top recruit and arguably the best prep basketball player since LeBron James made his first appearance on a Lawrence court since signing with Kansas on Monday. According to CBS Sports' Gary Parrish, the reports coming out of that workout were absolutely glowing.

"Wow!" a source said of Wiggins' performance. "Like watching a video game. He'd be the No. 1 pick this year."

Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv also got similar reports from a source:

Wiggins arrived at Kansas on Saturday, joining the remainder of the Jayhawks' brilliant six-man wrecking crew of a recruiting class. The 18-year-old wingman is the leader of a group that counts shooting guard Wayne Selden and center Joel Embiid as fellow elite names heading to Lawrence.

Bill Self's club is replacing its entire starting lineup this season, with Kansas' 2013-14 bunch likely boasting a Kentucky-like youth movement.

At the center of this rebuild is obviously Wiggins. Considered the No. 1 recruit in the nation by every major publication known to man, the Canadian-born Wiggins surprised some people with his decision to attend Kansas. He also considered Kentucky, Florida State and North Carolina, with the former two being the supposed leaders in the pack for much of the chase.

But since making his intentions known, Wiggins has put his best foot forward in ingratiating himself with the Jayhawks fanbase. Wiggins was able to arrive with the remainder of his teammates this weekend because he chose coming to Lawrence over participating with Team Canada's U19 team for next month's World Championships in Prague.

While that's not an uncommon sacrifice—most top prospects from the United States, including Jabari Parker, did not try out for the national team—Self was quick to praise his new star's decision, according to Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.

“I think it speaks volumes that he’s trying to get here as soon as he possibly can,” Self said.

The question remains: What does this all mean? What does Wiggins coming to Lawrence, impressing in a practice and forgoing his Team Canada efforts to do so mean in the long-term?

Absolutely nothing in a concrete sense. This was one practice. Having any reaction whatsoever to its result would be the latest in the overreaction theatre that will be the Andrew Wiggins Watch of 2013-14.

Every move this kid makes will be dissected. Every shot, every pass, every everything. Nothing—not even going to the movies or reading Shakespeare—will be sacred in covering this kid.

And while we can go all moralistic in this space and decry the whole process as corrupt—which we all should know it is by now—Wiggins is used to this attention by now. This is the deal that all notable athletes sign up for in this culture, even ones who are just barely old enough to buy tobacco products. Unless the Internet and all media platforms crawl in a hole and die, the overdone obsession with Wiggins' legacy won't stop until he becomes an NBA superstar or disappoints.

In a strange way, that's why Wiggins being impressive at his first workouts—and jarringly so at that—is actually important from a superficial sense.

There is always this overwhelming feeling in culture that first impressions are the most important. And that's especially the case for someone who is under such a microscope. We'll probably all brush these initial reports to the side within the next 12-24 hours because Wiggins is supposed to look good and this is one practice. There will probably be plenty of commenters on this site and others frustrated at the over-coverage and overreaction to an isolated incident.

And that's fine. But imagine the polar opposite scenario. Imagine a place where Wiggins comes into Lawrence looking a little overweight. Or where he comes equipped with an entourage so large that Vincent Chase would think it's excessive. Or any number of these weird scenarios you often see young stars fall into.

Now let's be clear in stating we pretty much knew none of that would happen. By all accounts, Wiggins is one of the more gracious and understated young stars of his kind in recent memory. He comes from a home that boasts a former NBA player (Mitchell Wiggins) and a former Olympic track and field silver medalist (Marita Payne-Wiggins). This kid is nothing if not fully prepared for everything the limelight provides.

That being said, it's just good to see a young man like this in action. For those who bleed Kansas colors, it has to be comforting to hear that Wiggins is not some overhyped media creation like so many former prep stars.

As someone who has watched hours of film on Wiggins, I can tell you that he's my favorite prep prospect since watching Kevin Durant play at Texas when I was still in high school. But to hear it from people inside the Kansas organization—that Wiggins is the best athlete they've ever been around when countless other stars have walked through Lawrence—that's certainly a good start for the youngster.

Of course, it will be nothing compared to seeing Wiggins throw down at this year's "Late Night in the Phog" on Oct. 4 or actually, you know, play in a real basketball game. But over these next four months, little steps like impressing during workouts and coming to Lawrence to get an early start with teammates will have to keep the coals burning on the Wiggins hype.

Will he ultimately translate that to on-the-court excellence? Who knows. But it's painfully obvious this kid is doing everything he can to make sure he does.

Follow Tyler Conway on Twitter:

Texas Football Recruiting: Why the Longhorns Must Win Now to Land Top Recruits

Zach Shelton — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:39:48 -0400

For the second straight year, the Texas Longhorns are staring at an underwhelming recruiting class that, once again, does not contain a 5-star prospect. And if they do not start winning in 2013, this disappointing trend will only get worse.

The full ESPN 300 came out on Monday. There were only six current Texas commits in the rankings, and its only two players in the Top 150 dropped two spots apiece.

Though the 'Horns still have the nation's third-best class according to ESPN and the top-overall one according to Rivals, their average star-rating of 3.28 is far below that of teams like Texas A&M and Alabama. That is what happens when 11 of your 19 commits have a 3-star rating.

In other words, once these programs are done warring it out for the 154 uncommitted players on ESPN's list, the Longhorns will take a tumble. That is, unless they can get a few more of their own.

However, that will be a daunting task for Mack Brown and his staff. The only top prospect on their radar whom they are a near shoo-in for is Armanti Foreman, whose 2-star twin brother they will have to offer as well. The rest, such as Arrion Springs and Solomon Thomas, seem to be slipping away with each passing moment.

And do not even bring up Jamal Adams. The safety that would start immediately for this team may as well be doing donuts on Royal-Memorial with Will Muschamp riding shotgun.

Such is the state of the Texas program. Even after getting Kenny Vaccaro drafted 15th-overall, DBU itself is basically striking out with one of the best defensive back classes in recent memory—and are not exactly making up for it with the rest of the haul.

All of this because Texas is 11-15 in the Big 12 the past three seasons, on its third offensive coordinator in as many years and hardly a soul believes Mack Brown will be around in 2015. When you are competing with the SEC and its seven-consecutive national championships for every top recruit, that does not cut it.

That is not to say that Texas' current 3-star and unheralded 4-star recruits are no good. Each of them, especially the long and athletic receivers, fits the mold with the potential to become dependable BCS-level players. Many of them will also outperform their rating and/or surge up the rankings as seniors.

But only one or two projects look to make an immediate impact for the 2014 team, which will be short 12 seniors that regularly contribute and probably Quandre Diggs as well. It was fine this past year since it was returning 19 starters, but Texas will need at least three guys that have Day 1 talent, especially in the secondary.

The only way the Longhorns are going to fill the remaining spots in their class with those type of players is by getting it done in 2013. That means winning the Big 12, which is there for the taking, and possibly one last BCS bowl before the playoff system comes about.

Texas has everything else a teenager could want—location, facilities, tradition, fan base and exposure. What it does not have is proof that it can contend on a national level the way it did in the 2000s, and that is why the negative recruiting is starting to take a toll on the trail.

That all changes if the Longhorns put in that long-awaited breakthrough season in 2013. The decommitments will stop, the late coups from big programs will return and even the big-name out-of-state targets will come calling. Mainly, balance will be restored in the state with the absolute best crop of high school talent in the nation.

But only if the Longhorns get the job done, and done well, this very season.

Villanova Basketball: 5 Lessons Learned About Wildcats This Offseason

Joe Tansey — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:39:23 -0400

What have we learned about the Villanova Wildcats in the three months of the offseason so far?

It is a question that may not be asked by many in mid-June, and that is exactly why we are asking it in this article.

Jay Wright's team has plenty to look forward for the 2013-14 season, but there is plenty to take away from the three months since the 2012-13 season ended.

Here are the five biggest lessons that we have learned from the Wildcats' offseason so far.

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Redfoo's US Open Qualifying Attempt Is Great for Tennis

Richard Langford — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:38:55 -0400

Stefan Gordy is set to begin an earnest attempt to qualify for tennis' final major of the year: the U.S. Open.

If you, like I was, don't think you are familiar with Gordy, yes you are:

That's right, he is more commonly known by his stage name, Redfoo. And I have a hard time believing anyone with access to the internet and ability to view this article could possibly have not run across one of LMFAO's overplayed hits.

As SI.com passes along, Gordy will be playing this week at the sectional qualifying tournament in Salinas, Calif.

Now, his participation in qualifying for the U.S. Open could go one of two ways for the sport. If Gordy was out there dancing and singing in spandex while simply using this stage as a chance at self promotion, this would be less than ideal for tennis.

However, that isn't the case. Although, I wouldn't be totally shocked to see him playing in a crazy spandex suit. But he will certainly be taking the tennis seriously. Mr. Redfoo loves the sport.

The 37-year-old is currently dating WTA No. 2 Victoria Azarenka, and he is often seen in the crowds cheering her on.

He also has an extensive background playing the game.

In a story by ESPN's Charles Curtis earlier in the year, Redfoo mentions he was, "top-40 in Southern Cal in 16’s." Also, that Boris Becker would come over to his father's house while Gordy was growing up.

He also made it known that he still loves to play. Gordy, via Curtis:

Every time I tour, I find a pro—I go to the local tennis center in that country, wherever it is and I play. I played with a Davis Cup player, he’s 19 but he’s on a Davis Cup team in Malaysia. I don’t even want to tell you the score.

He's definitely got a decent stroke. Here he is playing a bit with Serena Williams during the BNP Paribas Showdown in New York in March:

However, it's not that I think Redfoo has a shot at qualifying that leads me to saying this is good for the sport. He doesn't need to qualify to make a positive impact.

Redfoo has a fanbase that includes numerous people who would likely never give tennis a second of their thoughts. However, his passion for, and now participation in, competitive tennis will introduce a whole host of new fans to the game.

This will help add numbers and youth to the tennis fanbase. That is a great news for a sport struggling for relevancy in an ever diversifying sports landscape.

Kevin Durant Latest NBA Star to Try the Unfortunate Capris Look

Jesse Dorsey — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:33:45 -0400

Fashion in the NBA has gone from an arms race to become the league's biggest hipster a season ago, to being a race between certain players doing everything possible to blur gender-related notions when it comes to clothing. This time, it's Kevin Durant's turn.

After Dwyane Wade spent some time during the Eastern Conference Semifinals wearing some very confident capri pants, it seems that Durant got a bit jealous.

What other way is there to show off your calves when there's a bit of a chill going on outside?

Durant took a cue from Wade, as TerezOwens.com spotted a picture on Durant's Instagram page of the Oklahoma City superstar wearing a pair of camouflage capri pants on Tuesday afternoon.

I might actually be one of the few who hopes this trend not only continues, but gets even more extreme as the months go along.

Down the road, we need to get Russell Westbrook wearing a pair of subtle high heels, LeBron James putting on a lacy shirt and Carmelo Anthony donning a hoop skirt during the playoffs next season.

Nothing about what these guys are doing in terms of experimental clothing necessarily looks good. I'm just curious to see which one of them is going to take it the furthest.

There's no doubt that Westbrook is in it for the long haul, but don't underestimate the stubbornness of Wade; he's liable to wear a sundress to the championship parade if the Miami Heat go on to beat the San Antonio Spurs.

Of course, they all still have a long way to go before anybody comes close to rivaling Dennis Rodman in a wedding dress.

Wisconsin Football Recruiting: Secondary Depth Takes Another Hit

Peter Raisch — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:31:24 -0400

There are some alarms going off in the office of Bill Busch today. Busch, the secondary safeties coach for the Wisconsin Badgers, just saw another key piece of his 2013 depth chart disappear when safety JUCO commit Donnell Vercher was denied admission to Wisconsin. The reason for the denial is unknown, and Vercher is reportedly signing with Fresno State.

This news is even tougher to swallow after projected starter Reggie Mitchell bolted the Badgers before camp. In just two weeks, Busch's job went from tough to mission impossible.

So what now?

The most logical plan would be to build the secondary around rising star Dezmen Southward, and then pray. Michael Trotter and Michael Caputo make up the rest of the safeties with an ounce of game experience on the roster. Their combined four starts unfortunately revealed two players in desperate need for more field vision and maturity. Caputo notched 10 tackles while Trotter has 24 and a pass break up. A season can make a world of difference, though. Precious first team reps will most likely go to Trotter and Caputo as their backup status has been upgraded to projected starter.

The team still needs bodies at a position that was razor-thin to begin with. It starts with special teams stalwart Kyle Zuleger, who is switching to safety this season to help bolster the depth. Next, the Badgers are also embracing the philosophy of when a door closes on defense, a window opens on offense. That is why running back Jeffrey Lewis is rumored to be joining the other side of the line.

Safeties are normally the captains of the secondary, and a strong presence at the position will be especially needed as the Badgers change their defensive scheme to a 3-4. The loss of Vercher stings even more because he was described as a "ballhawk" which would have fit nicely in a defense predicated on the interception and forced fumble.

Great teams have to deal with unexpected personnel issues all the time. How Gary Andersen overcomes such a vacuum at such a critical position will be an early indicator on how creative (or how lucky) the new coach is.

Players That Contending Teams Hope Will Be Available at MLB Trade Deadline

Jason Martinez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:21:51 -0400

Earlier today, I named seven players guaranteed to be traded by the July 31st deadline. Not surprisingly, all seven will be free agents after the season and play on teams that aren't in playoff contention now and aren't expected to be a month from now.

On the flip side, there is an entire different group of players that might become available if their teams either fall out of the playoff race or fail to make a run to get back to within striking distance. Then there are the rebuilding teams, such as the Astros and Marlins, with valuable trade chips who are under team control for a few more seasons. Trading them could make sense if a particular organization feels that the return will help expedite the rebuilding process.

Which teams will be left standing as playoff contenders in late July is still to be determined, but it's likely that many of them will be asking about the availability of these six players in hopes of acquiring them for the stretch run and beyond.

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CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar Stands to Blow WWE Away This Summer

Bill Atkinson — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:15:30 -0400

The most anticipated program in WWE this year has been launched, and by the time SummerSlam rolls around in August, the WWE Universe could be emotionally and physically drained.

Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk. Two "Paul Heyman Guys" are suiting up and threatening to take wrestling fans on a ride this summer that will be more intense and thrilling than the fastest and highest roller coasters could ever provide.

At last Lesnar is going to start earning the money he thus far had been stealing from WWE thanks to his rather cushy contract. If you were to think of his battle with John Cena as a pre-banquet cocktail and his run with Triple H as the appetizer, then the upcoming program with Punk will be the dinner to end all dinners.

Why? Because finally Lesnar is crossing swords with someone who is as crazy and intense, if not crazier and more intense, as he is.

Right now, Punk is the only WWE Superstar whose crowd pop rivals that of fellow babyface Daniel Bryan. It’s really not fair to call it a crowd “pop” because it’s more of a crowd “explosion.”

Punk’s character is the gold standard of someone being over in WWE. Even during the last six months of his record WWE title run, a heel Punk still outdid any face reactions from the WWE Universe. Jet engines are not as loud as the cheers when “Cult of Personality” booms through the arena.

Punk takes any opponent to levels no one could comprehend. Look how he extended John Cena, The Rock and even The Undertaker. His match on Raw Monday night with Alberto Del Rio showed that the self-imposed hiatus did him a world of good.

Punk looks more fit and relaxed than he has in some time. He looks like a man ready to rumble.

You knew from the beginning of Raw Monday night that the end of the show would somehow involve Lesnar. As soon as Punk basically told Heyman to shove off, he practically opened the door for Lesnar to bust through.

And bust through he did. Right up to the ring and hit Punk with the F5.

With that, the first shot was fired across Punk's bow. And Punk is not the type of character to recoil in fear. Lesnar will have to answer for his actions, and that is where the fun really will begin.

And that is what Lesnar needs to begin justifying what WWE is paying him.

Since returning to WWE the night after WrestleMania 28, Lesnar has fought a grand total of four matches and has a winning percentage of .500. He lost to Cena at the 2012 Extreme Rules, but took two of three bouts with Triple H, winning at the 2012 SummerSlam and this year’s Extreme Rules but losing at WrestleMania 29.

His fight with Cena was a one-off at best. The trilogy with Triple H tried to recapture the intensity of the Ruthless Aggression era, but did not quite live up to the memory.

Now, WWE has apparently seen the light. Lesnar is picking a fight with a character whose history of rising to new highs and stooping to new lows is unmatched by anyone in the company. It has all the makings of an epic battle.

WWE seems to be ratcheting up the intensity of its product this summer with an amazing number of solid storylines—Daniel Bryan’s inferiority complex, the rise of The Shield, the coming of the Wyatt Family and the “retirement” of Mark Henry, to name a few.

The feud between CM Punk and Brock Lesnar will prove to be more than worthy to be the leader of that parade of stars.

Follow Bill Atkinson on Twitter at @BAtkinson1963.

8 Early Winners and Losers of the Baltimore Ravens' Offseason

Mike Fast — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:13:54 -0400

It's certainly been a busy offseason for the Baltimore Ravens.

Since free agency began 14 weeks ago, Baltimore has signed 24 players. Seven of those players did not play for the Ravens in 2012.

There has even been a key coaching addition, as the Ravens have signed Steve Spagnuolo to be their senior defensive assistant. Spagnuolo was the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants during their 2007 Super Bowl-winning season.

For all the talk about who the Ravens lost, there hasn't been enough talk about who they've gained.

Baltimore has gotten younger and more diverse defensively. Usually that wouldn't be such a big deal, but the Ravens finished last year ranked 17th in total defense—their worst ranking in a decade. They needed a big change.

There's still more than a month left before training camps begin. Until then, let's take a look at the winners and losers of the Ravens' offseason.

Begin Slideshow

Michigan Football: Why WR Jeremy Gallon Could Be Wolverines' MVP in 2013

Adam Biggers — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:13:35 -0400

The Michigan Wolverines need an electrifying athlete to carry them through 2013—and Jeremy Gallon could be the one to deliver.

As a junior, Gallon led Michigan with nine catches, two scores and 145 receiving yards during its 33-28 Outback Bowl loss to South Carolina.

The impressive performance was his national debut.

Now a senior, Gallon’s experience makes him all the more valuable to coach Brady Hoke’s program. Along with Drew Dileo, Gallon is the Wolverines’ only veteran receiver with meaningful playing time on his resume.

The days of Denard Robinson streaking 50 yards down the field are a thing of the past. But Gallon has similar speed and elusiveness that will give defenses fits.

He’s not “Shoelace," but the Wolverines still have a highlight waiting to happen in Gallon, Michigan’s could-be MVP this fall.

Gallon is Ready to Explode This Fall

He’s only 5’8” and 185 pounds, but Gallon plays much bigger than his modest stature.

Michigan may rely more on the passing game this season, giving him ample opportunity to shine. He showcased his skills after Robinson was sidelined with an ulnar nerve injury against Nebraska, the eighth game of the year.

After the loss to the Huskers, Gallon went on a rampage. He caught 22 passes in Michigan’s final four Big Ten contests—he had 45 on the year. Where Michigan lacked in the big play department, Gallon provided.

Gallon caught four passes for 30 yards or better prior to the Outback Bowl. He averaged over 26 yards per grab in a 42-17 throttling of Iowa.

Along with Roy Roundtree, Gallon was key to the Wolverines’ aerial attack with six catches for a total of 67 yards in a season-ending, 26-21 loss to Ohio State.

He’s come through when he was needed most. Gallon is truly a go-to during crunch time.

Weapon X

Gallon isn’t just a great receiver; he’s also an outstanding punt returner. In 2011, he returned 19 kicks for 192 yards. He could easily help out in that area this fall.

The former 4-star Apopka High (Fla.) sensation was also useful in the backfield this past season; he racked up 67 rushing yards on 11 carries, including a long of 12.

As one of Michigan’s most versatile components, Gallon’s value in multiple areas is evident. He’s not the fastest guy on the field most of the time, nor is he the biggest or strongest. But he certainly poses a threat each and every time he touches the ball.

Gallon is Evolving

Not only has Gallon steadily increased production each season, but he’s also increased his leadership abilities.

Coach Hoke recently praised Gallon’s maturation, saying that he’s “continued to grow” (via Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press)—and that’s just as important as performing on the field.

Gallon finished 2012 with 829 receiving yards, the fourth-most in the Big Ten and most of any Wolverines wideout. Expecting him to have 1,000-yard season may be a bit much, but expecting him to at least equal his production from 2012 this coming fall isn’t out of the question.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs: Ray Allen Will Be Difference-Maker in Game 6

David Bessin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:12:49 -0400

The normally reserved Ray Allen’s reaction to Danny Green breaking his NBA Finals record of made three-pointers is a subtle sign that the sharpshooting guard has had enough of someone stealing his thunder.

When the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs take to the court in Game 6, expect the future Hall of Famer to make some noise.

Not that it ever wasn’t there. Allen has quietly seen his minutes increase during these finals and with it, his production.

Against the Spurs, Allen is sinking a blistering 65 percent of his shots, including 52 percent from three-point land, off the bench. While the Heat’s shooting efficiency has fluctuated over the last five games, Allen is one of the few that is consistently shooting well.

If the Heat want to match Green’s production, Allen has the best shot at doing it. While he may not be known as a defender, Miami needs consistent scoring over defense now that the series returns to South Beach and they have the home crowd backing them up.

Additionally, the Heat need to find a new way to win. San Antonio has proven they can adjust under head coach Gregg Popovich after each of their losses, and now it’s Miami’s turn. Not only do they have to bounce back, they must win two games in a row, something that hasn’t happened since mid-May.

Due to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade’s streaky shooting, head coach Erik Spoelstra could surprise the Spurs and give a few more shots to non-Big Three players. Again, Allen would thrive in this situation, as he is by far the best scoring option after LeBron, Wade and Bosh.

Teammates such as Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem have failed to step up over the course of the finals. If anyone gets more touches, it’s Ray.

Don’t be surprised if Allen is a big reason the Heat win their second game while facing elimination in these playoffs.