Bleacher Report - Front Page

Robbie Rogers Reportedly Returning to LA Galaxy as 1st Openly Gay MLS Player

Tyler Conway — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:32:23 -0400

A little more than three months after outing himself as being gay and retiring from soccer in an open letter to fans on his blog, Robbie Rogers is reportedly turning to the pitch.

According to a report from USA Today's Mike Foss and Erik Brady, the 26-year-old Rogers will join the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer next season. He will become the first openly gay player in MLS history.

There are no details on Rogers' contract, and neither the Galaxy nor Rogers have made an official statement about the signing at this time. The Chicago Fire currently hold Rogers' MLS rights, so there will be more details forthcoming about the agreement.

Rogers, a winger who last played Stevenage on loan from Leeds United, retired from professional soccer in February after announcing his homosexuality. When announcing his retirement, he wrote at length about the difficulties faced hiding his sexuality from the public and what a toll it played on him:

Secrets can cause so much internal damage. People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay. Try convincing yourself that your creator has the most wonderful purpose for you even though you were taught differently.

However, Rogers' stance on a return to the pitch has changed in recent weeks. He's trained with the Galaxy since early in the month and has made it clear that was the only MLS franchise he had true ties to.

When asked whether he would even consider joining the Fire, Rogers said he would probably not return if that was forced upon him.

"I don’t want to go to Chicago," said Rogers (h/t Pro Soccer Talk). "I think if it comes down to you can only play in Chicago, then I probably won’t go back."

With an agreement in place to send him to Los Angeles, Rogers can go on with his career and goal of inspiring gay youth. Speaking with USA Today, Rogers said his comeback decision stemmed from a visit with Portland's Nike Be True LGBT Youth Forum in April.

"I seriously felt like a coward," Rogers said. "These kids are standing up for themselves and changing the world, and I'm 25, I have a platform and a voice to be a role model. How much of a coward was I to not step up to the plate?"

Rogers also said he hopes to join the United States Men's National Team to inspire gay youth. He was a member of the senior club from 2009-11, making 18 appearances and scoring two goals.

While Rogers actually came out first, many will be quick to compare the United winger to NBA center Jason Collins. The 34-year-old Collins became the first openly homosexual athlete in the United States' "Big Four" male professional sports leagues in a first-person story written for Sports Illustrated.

In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter who came first. Collins and Rogers have opened up the conversation for society's openness to homosexuality in sports and will serve as inspiration to youth dealing with the same issues.

Exposing the Luckiest Pitchers in Baseball in 2013

Jason Catania — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:18:52 -0400

Ah, to be lucky.

They say it's preferable to being good.

When it comes to Major League Baseball pitchers, it's best to be both.

So let's take a statistical stroll through the land of the lucky—a happy place filled with the starting pitchers who have been fortunate in one way or another so far this season.

FIP

You've heard of FIP, yes? That'd be Fielding Independent Pitching, if you haven't. In short, this metric measures how good a pitcher has been based on the factors he can best control—strikeouts, walks and homers—and it's scaled to look like ERA.

The chart at right lists the 20 starting pitchers who have the biggest disparity between their current ERA and their current FIP.

Put another way, these 20 hurlers are outperforming their peripherals (i.e., pitching better than expected based on the numbers).

Let's take Jeremy Guthrie, for example. As you can see, the Royals right-hander's ERA is 3.49—plenty respectable, even in today's pitching-dominated game. But Guthrie's FIP? Well, that's a not-very-respectable 5.88—worst overall in baseball.

The reason? Well, there are three:

Guthrie is striking out just 4.9 per nine
Guthrie is walking 3.0 per nine
Guthrie is allowing homers on 18.3 percent of his fly balls

Put it all together, and Mr. Guthrie has been one extremely lucky pitcher.

While all of the pitchers in the list are benefiting from some form of good fortune or another, this doesn't mean they're anywhere near as lucky as Guthrie, and it doesn't mean their performances to date are bound to come crashing down.

To figure that out, we'll dig a little deeper and explore some revealing underlying metrics that show who's really gettin' lucky, if you will.

BABIP

BABIP's full name, as you well know by now, is Batting Average on Balls in Play.

This is a key component to help determine lucky pitchers—those with extremely low BABIPs—since we can compare a hurler's BABIP in a given season against his career number, which is what the chart below shows with regard to the 10 arms who have the lowest BABIPs in baseball.

First, it's worth pointing out that the bottom of the chart indicates the league-average BABIP in 2013 is .292. Typically, this number is in the .295-.300 range, but again, pitchers are ruling the world, so even the leaguewide BABIP number is lower than usual.

The third column is the operative one. If a pitcher's 2013 BABIP is well below his career norm, this is marked in red. If it's not egregiously lower, that's yellow. And the green indicates a current BABIP that's not too far off from career BABIP.

The gist here? BABIPs tend to regress to the league average (.292), while taking an individual pitcher's career BABIP into account.

So when you see the BABIPs of Travis Wood (.193 BABIP) and Matt Moore (.197 BABIP) compared to the league average (.292) and their career figures (.262 and .275, respectively), the conclusion is that they've had more than a little luck when batters make contact against them.

No wonder Wood's ERA is 2.24, and Moore's is 2.29.

LOB%

LOB% stands for Left On Base percentage.

This bad boy puts a percentage on the number of runners a pitcher leaves on the bases. The higher the percentage, the luckier the pitcher: A LOB% of 100 would mean that every runner a pitcher put on base didn't come around to score.

Here are the 10 highest:

The league average this year is 73.1, and any pitcher who strays too far from that is likely to regress.

Since all 10 of the hurlers above are well above the MLB average, the third column—the difference between career LOB% and current LOB%—comes into play.

Similar to the BABIP chart above, red means a very large disparity that is likely to come down, yellow a decent-sized one and green is minor.

Looking at the lone green box, Hisashi Iwakuma of the Mariners appears to have a knack for preventing baserunners from scoring, as his career LOB% is almost 10 percent north of the 2013 league average.

Of course, he also has an incredible 0.87 WHIP, so he's not letting many runners get on in the first place.

Iwakuma's been lucky compared to all other pitchers, but maybe not as lucky as you might think based on his history (which, admittedly, encompasses only a season-and-a-half in the majors).

HR/FB

This one's short for Home Runs per Fly Ball rate, and it measures how often a fly ball hit against a pitcher goes over the fence.

Luck comes into play here in that a low HR/FB corresponds to good fortune, because fewer flies are flying far (and gone).

Again, the 10:

The MLB average rate at which fly balls turn into home runs is 11.1 percent—basically one out of every nine goes over the fence.

Let's check column No. 3. This time, there's no green box, because no pitcher who's been fortunate in the percentage of homers-to-flies is all that close to their career rates. In other words, all of them are candidates to see a spike in homers allowed.

To put some some context to this in the form of actual numbers, take Jhoulys Chacin. The Rockies righty has given up 43 fly balls this season—and only a single homer.

That obviously won't last, which is why Chacin has been lucky, and why his 4.10 ERA will likely rise.

Who's Been the Luckiest?

Now that we've run through FIP, BABIP, LOB% and HR/FB, which starters have been the most lucky so far?

Among those in the top 20 in FIP-ERA differential:

Matt Moore also ranks in the top 10 in lowest BABIP and highest LOB%
Patrick Corbin places in the top 10 in highest LOB% and lowest HR/FB
Hisashi Iwakuma comes into the top 10 in lowest BABIP and highest LOB%
Jordan Zimmermann is in the top 10 in lowest BABIP, highest LOB% and lowest HR/FB

A good argument could be made that all four of those arms have had luck on their side as a big part of their hot starts. Whether their inevitable regressions will be slight or more severe remains to be seen, but there's something else to point out about those four.

They've not only been lucky, they've been good.

All statistics from FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted.

UFC 160: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva Weigh-in Results Video Highlights

Trent Reinsmith — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:14:49 -0400

The weigh-ins are over for UFC 160 and all but one fighter came in on weight. The only fighter to come in over was preliminary-card fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov checked in at 158.5 for his 155-pound lightweight limit bout against Abel Trujillo.

For missing weight, Nurmagomedov will surrender part of his purse:

The only other fighter who had a problem was Nah-Shon Burrell, who came in at 172 on his first attempt. Burrell received an earful from White, most likely due to the fact that he also missed weight in his first UFC bout, but Burrell made weight on his second attempt:

The weigh-ins had a special guest accompany Dana White to the stage, Mike Tyson. It was interesting to watch a clearly excited Tyson stand beside White during the weigh-in process. The former champ looked genuinely excited to meet the fighters as they squared up for their staredowns.

Here are the highlights from the co-main event and main event weigh-ins:

Full UFC 160 weigh-in results:

Cain Velasquez (240) vs. Antonio Silva (263)

Junior dos Santos (239) vs. Mark Hunt (264)

James Te Huna (206) vs. Glover Teixeira (205)

T.J. Grant (155) vs. Gray Maynard (156)

Donald Cerrone (155) vs. KJ Noons (156)

Mike Pyle (170) vs. Rick Story (169)

Dennis Bermudez (146) vs. Max Holloway (145)

Colton Smith (170) vs. Robert Whittaker (171)

Khabib Nurmagomedov (158.5) vs. Abel Trujillo (155)

Nah-Shon Burrell (172)* vs. Stephen Thompson (170)

Brian Bowles (135) vs. George Roop (135)

Estevan Payan (145) vs. Jeremy Stephens (146)

* made weight on second attempt

Spurs vs. Grizzlies: Biggest Storylines Through First 2 Games

Tyler Brooke — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:06:51 -0400

The Western Conference Finals has featured plenty of intriguing storylines. Even if the San Antonio Spurs are up 2-0 over the Memphis Grizzlies, this has still been an entertaining series to watch.

After the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the Grizzlies, the expectations were that the Spurs would represent the West in the NBA Finals. It’s certainly looking like that right now, but there are a few other stories that earn some attention through the first two games.

The Struggles of Zach Randolph

After playing quite well during the first two playoff series, the Spurs have certainly frustrated Randolph early on in the series.

Game 1 was not pretty for Randolph, who was one of the top scorers for the team during the regular season. He went only 1-for-8 from the field, scoring only two points in the entire game.

By the time Game 2 came around, Randolph seemed determined to take more shots. He finished the game with 15 points and 18 rebounds, but shot 6-of-18 from the floor and a terrible 3-of-8 from the free throw line.

Through the first two games of this series, Randolph is only shooting 26.9 percent. The frontcourt of Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter has done a great job of containing him, and the Grizzlies have sorely missed his consistent contributions.

Randolph will look to make a bigger impact during the remainder of the series. If he doesn’t turn it around, the Grizzlies will be in big trouble.

Kawhi Leonard the Spurs’ X-Factor

Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili get plenty of attention from opposing teams, but Leonard has stepped up in the playoffs.

Leonard has actually looked better and better as the playoffs go on. His numbers have improved after each series, and now things are looking very impressive through the first two games.

The first game of the series was big for Leonard. He went 7-of-10 from the floor and 4-of-5 from behind the arc, putting up 18 points in the victory. In Game 2, he went 5-of-9 and finished with 12.

Everyone likes to focus on the Spurs’ Big Three, but Leonard has already made a big impact on this series.

Can the Grizzlies Turn it Around at Home?

The Grizzlies were unable to win either game in San Antonio, but it’s a different story for this team when they play at home.

While playing at home, the Grizzlies went 32-9 in the regular season. In the playoffs, they’ve gone 5-0 when in Memphis.

The fans in Memphis are always intense. The motto of “Believe Memphis” has been popular for some time around the city, and fans are hoping that the Grizzlies can win yet again at home.

In the last 20 games between these two teams, the home team has won 17 of them. There seems to be something about these teams playing at home, and that could be a sign of things to come in the next two games in Memphis.

Breaking Down the Transfer Rumour: Wayne Rooney to Paris Saint-Germain

Will Tidey — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:06:44 -0400

Wayne Rooney has handed in a transfer request at Manchester United, this we know.

The 27-year-old, who has won five Premier League titles and a Champions League at Old Trafford, is clearly ready for a new challenge, and Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly keen to offer it to him.

The Guardian reports PSG are prepared to match Rooney's estimated wage of £300,000 per week at United. The transfer fee being mooted is around $60 million (Bloomberg).

French champions PSG would be looking to pair Rooney with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the maverick genius who led their quest to the French title and Champions League quarterfinals this season.

Will Rooney take up their offer? And, if he does, what would United stand to lose without him? What might they gain?

Equally, let us consider the implications for PSG should Rooney swap England for France next season.

In this clip, B/R's Will Tidey breaks down the implications of a possible deal and weighs up the likelihood of it coming to fruition.

J.A. Happ's Return Will Make or Break Toronto's Playoff Hopes

Benjamin Klein — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:02:59 -0400

Between poor pitching and a severe injury, 2013 has not been friendly to Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ.

Happ was drilled with a comebacker off the bat of Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings on May 7. Happ was rushed to the hospital and was later diagnosed with a minor fracture to the left side of his skull, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.

Happ also managed to twist his knee while falling to the ground, but it will not require surgery, reports Chisholm.

Happ was placed on the 15-day disabled list by Toronto a day later and on Friday was moved to the 60-day DL, according to Andrew Simon of MLB.com. July 7 is now the earliest that Happ can return, but as Shi Davidi of SportsNet reports, he’s still waiting on his knee to fully recover:

Before the injury, Happ hadn’t been pitching very well. He made seven starts for the Blue Jays, going 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 33 innings of work. He had some serious command issues, though, averaging 5.18 walks per nine innings, the most of any Toronto starter with at least five starts.

The Blue Jays have started the season on a poor note, entering Friday in the cellar of the AL East, 8.5 games behind the division-leading New York Yankees. While most of the team has yet to click yet, the starting rotation has clearly been Toronto’s biggest weakness.

Over the winter, though, it appeared the Blue Jays would have a very strong staff. They acquired R.A. Dickey from the New York Mets and Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle from the Miami Marlins. None of those three have an ERA under 4.50.

The Blue Jays in general have the fourth-worst starting rotation in baseball in terms of WAR, according to FanGraphs. They’re walking more batters every nine innings than all but two teams in the league. Things just haven’t gone according to plan for the team north of the border.

Once Happ comes off the disabled list, presumably after the All-Star break, in my non-professional opinion, it’s make-or-break for the Blue Jays. He can either spark this team and potentially lead them to a postseason berth or he can continue to pitch like he did before getting hurt and Toronto can battle for a top draft choice.

Toronto certainly has the talent to make a strong second-half push, but everyone is going to have to hit and pitch their best, including Happ.

Since 2009, though, Happ hasn’t been very good. He went 6-4 with a 3.40 ERA and a 4.84 BB/9 in 2010 between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros. He went 6-15 in 2011 with Houston and 10-11 with the Astros and Blue Jays last season. This season has easily been his worst nightmare, though.

In Happ’s first full season in the big leagues, he looked great. He went 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 35 appearances (23 starts). He had solid command of nearly all of his pitches and looked to have a high ceiling. As I mentioned, he’s been a bit of a letdown ever since.

Happ is more than capable of pitching like an ace—or at least a front-of-the-rotation stater. It may be a bit bold to say, but the remainder of the Blue Jays’ season rests in the left hand of Happ.

His teammates will want to put as many runs on the board as possible for him once he returns, and if he can have a couple of quality starts, Toronto could turn its season around. But it could go even more south just as quickly.

Curtis Granderson Injury: Updates on Yankees Star's Hand

Ethan Grant — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:01:18 -0400

The New York Yankees had just welcomed outfielder Curtis Granderson back into the lineup after an injury forced him out of action in the early part of the 2013, but on Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, the 32-year-old had another medical scare.

UPDATE: Friday, May 24, at 9:50 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

According to New York Daily News reporter Mark Feinsand, Granderson has a fracture in the fifth metacarpal of his left pinky finger:

---End of update---

Hit on the left hand by a pitch in the top-half of the fifth inning by Rays reliever Cesar Ramos, Granderson did not return to the outfield for the bottom half of the frame.

ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted as Granderson left the lineup:

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com then reported that Ichiro had replaced Granderson in right field:

Granderson was originally forced out of the lineup prior to the season because he was hit on the right forearm by a pitch thrown by Toronto Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ.

As Jack Curry later noted on Twitter, the way teammates were patting him on the back in the dugout could mean a serious malady that will need attention in the next few days:

He made his return to the lineup on May 14 against the Seattle Mariners, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in his first MLB action of the 2013 season.

Playing in seven other games since, Granderson had seven hits (one home run) in 28 at-bats heading into Friday night's showdown with Tampa Bay. He was 0-for-2 when he exited with the hand injury, but did come around to score in the fifth after the play.

Granderson is a career .262 hitter and has 211 home runs during his time in the pros.

Traded to the Yankees prior to the 2010 season, Granderson had no problem staying healthy during his first three seasons in pinstripes. He played in 156 and 160 games, respectively, during the past two seasons in New York, and was an All-Star in both.

He also led the league in runs scored and RBI during the 2011 campaign.

As Olney noted on Twitter, this would be the definition of bad luck for the Grandy man if he was forced to return to the disabled list for an injury that is similar in nature to the one that originally forced him out of the lineup:

After exiting the game and heading to the locker room after the inning, all we can do now is await the news of further tests on his left hand to see what the diagnosis might be.

Why Nate Robinson Is as Good as Gone for Chicago Bulls

Kelly Scaletta — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:53:20 -0400

Nate Robinson may have provided Chicago Bulls fans with many of their greatest thrills of the 2012-13 season, but unfortunately, he is as good as gone from the Bulls. There are just too many realities getting in the way.

First, there is the fact that the Bulls have an abundance of point guards already under contract. Derrick Rose will be back at long last, and obviously he is going to get the bulk of the minutes. (As an aside, let’s set aside any silly debates about the return for one article please.)

Kirk Hinrich has another year on his contract and will serve as Rose’s primary backup and probably serve some time as a shooting guard. Whatever thoughts you have on Hinrich, two things are indisputable. He is on a guaranteed contract, and in coach Tom Thibodeau’s mind, he’s ahead of Robinson on the depth chart.

Marquis Teague is going to be getting the remaining minutes of playing time, if there are any scraps left to give. It would appear the long-term plan here is to cultivate Teague for the backup job after Hinrich’s tenure is done following the season.

Teague will need to at least play enough minutes to gain the experience to assume that job, or at least indicate whether or not he has the potential to fill it.

That isn’t going to leave a lot of minutes for a fourth-string point guard.

Second, If Robinson were still available for the minimum on a non-guaranteed contract, it would be one thing, but he won’t be. Fortunately for him, he played too well to have to settle for another such contract. He will garner around $3 million and a multi-year deal, neither of which is something the Bulls are poised to offer.

Chicago just doesn’t have the money or financial flexibility to do anything to keep Robinson. You might think $3 million isn't much money, but for the Bulls—who will be handcuffed by taxpayer constraints—it is a lot of money because it's all they can spend.

They have very little funds to play with, already committed to $73 million next season, according to Sham Sports (minus Hamilton's salary).

By rule, they can only add a taxpayer mid-level exception (TME) for $3.2 million and fill out the rest with veteran's minimum players. Are they going to use that on Robinson, a fourth-string point guard, when they have greater needs?

Chicago has two priorities this offseason. First, it needs a fourth big man who can play meaningful minutes. Nazr Mohammed had his moments, but it’s pretty evident he isn’t going to ever be a part of the regular rotation.

Second, it needs another wing. While Jimmy Butler did a fantastic job at shooting guard, and looks to be the new starter moving forward, it means that now there is a giant hole at a backup wing. With Luol Deng playing massive minutes, and now Butler as well, it’s evident the Bulls need to bring in a player who can fill that void.

They need to fill these two voids, and the best options are to use the draft to fill one and their TME to fill the other, rounding out the team with veteran minimum players. What they do with which may well depend on who is available to them in the draft at the No. 20 spot.

They may use the exception to keep Marco Belinelli and use the pick to land a big. That would present a problem in that Belinelli is not big enough, or a capable enough defender to guard the 3, which would probably mean that Deng would play excessive minutes again.

Chicago could try to grab Ronnie Brewer, who signed last year for the veteran’s minimum, and bring him back to back up both Butler and Deng, then use the draft pick to find a wing to cultivate and use the minimum mid-level to bring in a respectable defender, such as Samuel Dalembert (although some of these things are a mystery as to how much players get paid and why).

Regardless of how it works out, the inevitability is that Robinson is going to be out in the cold. He would be a nicety for the Bulls to have, but when you have necessities to be met, you need to forgo niceties.

Why Jose Mourinho's Return to Chelsea Will Herald a New Era of Success

Rowanne Westhenry — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:45:22 -0400

2013 marks 10 years since Roman Abramovich turned around the fortunes of Chelsea FC. The club were in dire financial straits before he arrived, and the decade of success that they have since enjoyed was beyond their wildest dreams.

It is also nine years since he first brought Jose Mourinho to Chelsea. Having given incumbent manager Claudio Ranieri a year and an open chequebook, Abramovich looked to the Special One to provide him with the glory that he craved. Mourinho delivered beyond expectation, and a love affair was born.

The passionate relationship was short-lived, and what followed has been well-documented, as the Russian has seen off another seven managers since Mourinho. However, the 10th anniversary of his takeover offers the rare opportunity of a clean slate.

It has been an emotional time for the supporters, from the greatest highs to some crushing lows, but this is a chance to make up for some of the mistakes that have been made. Bringing Jose Mourinho back to the club that loves him most is the best possible situation for all involved, if his words in the Guardian are to be believed.

Including those currently out on loan, Chelsea will have 39 players for 2013-14 with an average age of 23.5 years. Mourinho will also inherit six players that he worked with six years ago, giving him the perfect blend of youth, experience and incredible talent.

Whilst his probable return has prompted a glut of ridiculous transfer rumours, the Special One won't need to splash much cash at all to fine-tune the squad.

The midfield is overloaded with attacking talent, and the emergence of Nathan Ake along with David Luiz in a more advanced role is beginning to stabilise the back. The Blues need another centre-half to work within a rotation system, but with 19-year-old Brazilian Wallace joining the fight for the right-back position, it looks as if Mourinho could create another unbreachable defence.

The most virulent rumours surround strikers and enormous sums of money, but there is a case to be argued that they should look closer to home for their saviour.

Romelu Lukaku scored more Premier League goals on a seasonlong loan at West Bromwich Albion than Fernando Torres has scored in his three years at Chelsea. The towering Belgian is ready to compete with the superstars within the squad, and the Special One is the perfect manager to give him his chance.

There have also been suggestions in the Daily Mail that Thibaut Courtois will be brought back to Stamford Bridge to compete for Petr Cech's position on the teamsheet, and the likes of Nathan Chalobah and Lucas Piazon could join the senior squad.

All things considered, Mourinho has the potential to build an incredible dynasty at Chelsea. Money is not an obstacle; rather it all hinges on whether Abramovich has learnt how to be patient.

The first 10 years of the Roman Empire have been about establishing Chelsea's position on the global stage by any means necessary. Mourinho's return brings the perfect chance to complement their success with the one thing that the club has lacked: stability.

Amnesty Provision Plan for LA Lakers

Jeff Nisius — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:42:57 -0400

The Los Angeles Lakers are in for a tumultuous summer. Not only are they going up against the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks to retain the services of Dwight Howard, but their payroll is also unbelievably high. Oh yeah, and they still need to make a decision on Mike D’Antoni’s future and hope Kobe Bryant’s rehab goes according to plan.

With so much at stake and very little wiggle room to sign free agents, the Lakers brass could choose to use their amnesty provision on someone. This would allow them to clear that player’s contract from their payroll, no longer counting against the salary cap or luxury tax.

Many have discussed the idea of using the clause on Pau Gasol, who was basically misused under D’Antoni, or Metta World Peace. Peace is clearly not worth the $7.7 million he is due to be paid this season, although it is the last year of the contract.

There have also been talks of the Lakers potentially using the amnesty clause on Kobe Bryant. While that might sound like a great idea for Lakers fans because it could help free up enough cap space to make a run at Chris Paul while re-signing Dwight, it’s inconceivable.

No franchise player deserves to be treated that way, especially Kobe Bryant, who has brought five championships to the franchise. Not to mention he had another age-defying season and has proven he is still one of the elite players in the NBA.

Let’s take a look at how amnestying Pau Gasol would impact the Lakers. Also, for both of these scenarios, we would expect Dwight Howard to re-sign with the Lakers; otherwise, it might not make much sense to use it on either player.

Amnestying Pau would save $19.28 million for certain. However, with Dwight re-signing, that would bump the Lakers’ payroll near $97 million for next season with only five guaranteed deals on the books, which includes Kobe’s contract.

Due to the new collective bargaining agreement, the NBA’s new luxury tax penalties are beginning this season. Larry Coon summarized the new tax system extremely well in an ESPN article.

Teams pay $1 for every $1 their salary is above the luxury-tax threshold in 2011-12 and 2012-13. Starting in 2012-13, teams pay an incremental tax that increases with every $5 million above the tax threshold ($1.50, $1.75, $2.50, $3.25, etc.). Teams that are repeat offenders (paying tax at least four out of the past five seasons) have a tax that is higher still -- $1 more at each increment ($2.50, $2.75, $3.50, $4.25, etc.)[…]

Taxpaying teams have a smaller mid-level exception, can acquire less salary in trade, and cannot use the biannual exception. Starting in 2013-14, teams more than $4 million above the tax level cannot receive a player in a sign-and-trade transaction.

Teams pay $1 for every $1 their salary is above the luxury-tax threshold in 2011-12 and 2012-13. Starting in 2012-13, teams pay an incremental tax that increases with every $5 million above the tax threshold ($1.50, $1.75, $2.50, $3.25, etc.). Teams that are repeat offenders (paying tax at least four out of the past five seasons) have a tax that is higher still -- $1 more at each increment ($2.50, $2.75, $3.50, $4.25, etc.)[…]

Taxpaying teams have a smaller mid-level exception, can acquire less salary in trade, and cannot use the biannual exception. Starting in 2013-14, teams more than $4 million above the tax level cannot receive a player in a sign-and-trade transaction.

With Gasol on the roster and Howard being brought back, the Lakers would pay a minimum of $72.25 million just in luxury taxes. Amnestying Gasol would reduce the Lakers’ payroll back down to around $77 million with between six and eight players on the roster. The Lakers would then have the taxpayer mid-level exception and the veteran minimum to fill out the roster.

It seems unlikely the Lakers would opt to cut Gasol free. The more likely scenario would be to amnesty Metta World Peace or not use the exception at all. The Lakers would not gain much, other than some tax savings, by amnestying Metta, but they would also lose a key member of their rotation.

The Lakers have notoriously spent what it takes to build a championship-caliber contender. While they certainly could save a considerable amount of money by using the clause on either player, Kobe Bryant’s injury might have changed the strategy.

The Lakers are going to need every single wing on the roster to be productive next season while Kobe is sidelined. Amnestying Metta would definitely leave a big hole in the wing rotation, and using it on Pau would eliminate the team’s second-best healthy player. Expect the Lakers to keep all hands on deck in order to appease Kobe and attempt to stay within striking distance of the playoffs until Kobe can return.

Big Baby Davis: NBA Playoffs Podium Police

NBA365 Productions — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:36:47 -0400

The NBA playoffs are an exciting time of year. The best players and teams get to compete for the most coveted trophy in basketball. Players exhibit some of their best abilities on the court, yet that is not the only place they show off.

NBA players have a certain dress code to follow. They must present themselves in a professional manner pre- and postgame. Their attire is somewhat regulated, so these athletes have taken professionalism to the next level, and the playoffs are the perfect time to show off their style.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Lance Fresh join us to break down podium fashion from some of the NBA's best.

Which players got it right? Let us know in the comments below.

#AYO

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Fallon Fox vs. Allanna Jones: Live Play-by-Play and Twitter Reaction

Matt Juul — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:32:31 -0400

Transgender female fighter Fallon Fox takes on Allanna Jones in tonight's co-main event at CFA 11.

The featherweight has garnered a ton of attention recently after Sports Illustrated published a profile of her. The news caused a bit of controversy in the MMA community and even made national headlines.

There's no doubt that all eyes will be on Fox when she enters the cage for tonight's semifinal bout.

Make sure to catch the fights when they start at 9 p.m. ET live on AXS TV, and don't forget to check back here for all of the latest reactions from Twitter before, during and after tonight's must-see women's matchup.

Indy 500 Lineup: Ranking Top Contenders in the Field

Joseph Zucker — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:19:38 -0400

The eyes of the motorsports world are descending upon the Indianapolis 500 this Sunday.

While there are 33 drivers in the field, there are a select few that have distanced themselves from the pack in terms of contention. Sure any driver could hypothetically win, but fans will be focusing on the drivers with the best chances to reign victorious at the Indy 500.

Here is the lineup for the Indy 500, followed by the top contenders based on current standings and history in the race.

Starting Lineup (via IndyCar.com)

Pos.	Driver	Car No.
1	Ed Carpenter	20
2	Carlos Munoz	26
3	Marco Andretti	25
4	E.J. Viso	5
5	A.J. Allmendinger	2
6	Will Power	12
7	Ryan Hunter-Reay	1
8	Helio Castroneves	3
9	James Hinchcliffe	27
10	J.R. Hildebrand	4
11	Alex Tagliani	98
12	Tony Kanaan	11
13	Oriol Servia	22
14	Justin Wilson	19
15	Sebastien Bourdais	7
16	Scott Dixon	9
17	Dario Franchitti	10
18	Takuma Sato	14
19	Charlie Kimball	83
20	James Jakes	16
21	Simon Pagenaud	77
22	Townsend Bell	60
23	Ryan Briscoe	8
24	Simona de Silvestro	78
25	Josef Newgarden	21
26	Graham Rahal	15
27	Sebastian Saavedra	6
28	Tristan Vautier	55
29	Ana Beatriz	18
30	Pippa Mann	63
31	Connor Daly	41
32	Buddy Lazier	91
33	Katherine Legge	81

4. Helio Castroneves

Helio Castroneves is one of two active drivers who have won the Indy 500 on three different occasions. The last one came in 2009. Since that win, Castroneves has been solid, if unspectacular at the Indy 500. He finished ninth in 2010, 17th in 2011 and 10th in 2012.

Regardless of that run, Castroneves is not a driver you want to count out at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Plus, he's had a nice start to 2013. He's third in the standings and has finished in the top five in half of his races.

With his recent history in Indianapolis, Castroneves shouldn't be considered the favorite, but he's definitely in the discussion.

3. Marco Andretti

Marco Andretti would be higher if it wasn't for the Andretti Curse. Nobody in the famed Andretti family has managed to win the Indy 500. Bad luck has hit any Andretti driver at the most inopportune occasions, and it's gotten to the point where you have to see an Andretti win the race before you can believe it can happen.

Curses aside, Andretti is a very good driver. He's second in the points standings this year, only 13 behind Takuma Sato. He's finished in the top five twice and in the top 10 three times. If Andretti doesn't win, you should expect him to remain somewhere near the leading drivers.

Starting out at third lets Andretti get out to a fast start and near the top quickly without actually competing to be the leader.

2. Scott Dixon

Scott Dixon has remained one of the most consistent drivers in IndyCar over the last five or so seasons. He won the points title in 2008, and has since finished second in 2009 and third in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Dixon sits fifth through the first four races of 2013.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been kind to Dixon as well. He won in 2008 and has runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2012.

Having already conquered the race before, Dixon knows how to plan a winning strategy. At 16th, he can sit back and make a run for the lead at the most opportune time.

1. Dario Franchitti

Dario Franchitti is the other active driver along with Castroneves who has won the Indy 500 three times.

He hasn't had a great start to 2013. Franchitti is just 15th in the standings with two DNFs. It's an inauspicious beginning, and one he'll look to be atoning for in Indianapolis.

If there's one place where Franchitti can find his groove, it's at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He's been the winner there three of the last five years. It's a bit like when two rivals go against one another and the announcers say, "Throw the records out the window."

With Franchitti, forget about his poor start and focus just on the driver. He's already proven himself on multiple occasions and should be considered the favorite for the Indy 500.

NFL Reportedly Proposes New HGH Testing to Players Union

Ethan Grant — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:11:10 -0400

The NFL is determined to require players to submit to human-growth-hormone testing during the 2013 season and onward, and talks between the league and the NFL Players Association are reportedly heating up.

According to NFL.com's Albert Breer, the NFL delivered a new proposal to the Players Union on April 24. In that report, the league apparently relaxed its standards on game-day testing to try to appease the needs of the players. Avoiding game-day testing had been a big hang-up during previous negotiations.

Here's an excerpt from Breer's piece:

One union source said the issue now is that the league's proposal calls for testing to begin immediately. The samples would then be tested, and results would be stored, until the World Anti-Doping Agency comes up with the baseline standard for acceptable levels. The union, per the source, would rather wait to start drawing blood and testing until the baseline is determined and full testing is ready to be implemented.

The news that a new proposal has been submitted also comes on the heels of an early May report from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, who sourced an anonymous NFC starter's claims that an estimated 10-to-15 players on each NFL team use the now-banned substance.

Per a league source in Breer's report, the NFLPA received the offer through a conference call this week and is preparing a counterproposal to send to the NFL in the next week or so.

Another NFL source claimed the league hasn't heard anything in the now-month window that has passed since the revised proposal was first given to NFLPA for review.

In summation—progress is apparently being made, but the two sides still do not see eye to eye.

The latest on HGH testing is a step in the right direction for the league, especially if you listen to the opinions of those like CBS Sports' Mike Freeman:

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell expressed confidence back in February that the league and the players would come to an agreement to get testing in place prior to the start of the upcoming 2013 season (h/t NFL.com).

The issue has also made its way to Washington, D.C. this offseason, where Congressman Elijah Cummings told USA Today that it is now "put up or shut up" time with respect to the NFL having no consistent HGH testing plan in place.

Spurs vs. Grizzlies: Key Player on Offense, Key Player on Defense

NBA365 Productions — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:09:38 -0400

The San Antonio Spurs bullied the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, leading some to believe that this series could be over fairly quickly. In Game 2 we saw a different Memphis team, one who would not go down without a fight; exactly what we were hoping for from the two best teams in the Western Conference.

The Spurs may be up 2-0, but there's a feeling of optimism in Memphis; the Grizzlies fought back from being down in their previous two series.

Each team has their go-to guys for the series, but which players must stand out in order to help their team come out on top? Raja Bell joins Bleacher Report to tell you who the most important offensive and defensive player is in the Western Conference Finals.

Let us know in the comments below who you think is the key player on each side of the ball is.

Heat vs. Pacers: Key Player on Offense, Key Player on Defense

NBA365 Productions — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:07:26 -0400

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat definitely did not disappoint. We witnessed the two best teams in the East fight each other until the very last second.

The Pacers went into Miami with the confidence that any team would need to take down the reigning champs. Behind Paul George and his key three-pointers, Indiana basically had the game sealed; that is until the four-time MVP, LeBron James, took it to the rim with the game-winning layup.

Each team has its go-to guys for the series, but which players must stand out in order to help their team come out on top? Raja Bell joins Bleacher Report to tell you who the most important offensive and defensive player is in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Let us know in the comments below who you think is the key player on each side of the ball is.

2013 MLB Rookie of the Year Stock Watch, Week 8

Zachary D. Rymer — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:06:56 -0400

With the one-quarter mark of the 2013 season in the rear-view mirror and June just on the horizon, we have a pretty good idea of which youngsters are Rookie of the Year contenders.

The picture is a bit more exciting on the National League side, as the NL is overrun with exciting young players like Shelby Miller, Didi Gregorius and Jose Fernandez. It's looking like the Rookie of the Year race in the Senior Circuit is going to be a Royal Rumble affair all season long.

The story in the American League is different. No Mike Trout-ish superstar has emerged yet, and to call the guys who are in the race "stars" is pushing the limit of the word. They're more like...well, guys.

But it's time to check in with the top rookies in both leagues all the same. Here's a look at how their stocks are trending.

American League

1. Nick Tepesch, RHP, Texas Rangers

GP (GS)	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	BAA	K/BB
8 (8)	3-4	3.98	1.33	43	.260	31/13

There's no dominant hitter in the American League Rookie of the Year race, nor is there a dominant pitcher.

But Nick Tepesch certainly comes the closest to fitting the latter description, as he's in the middle of a decent season that's been trending more towards "good" recently.

The 24-year-old right-hander started May off on a sour note by allowing 10 earned runs in his first two starts but has since allowed just three earned runs over 11 innings in his last two outings. He gets bonus points for only allowing a mere double to the seemingly immortal Miguel Cabrera against the Detroit Tigers last Friday.

Tepesch had to be scratched from a Wednesday start due to a blister, but the word from The Dallas Morning News is that he's fine now and will be able to start again on Sunday in Seattle, where he'll look to build on his solid rookie campaign.

Stock: Up

2. Oswaldo Arcia, OF, Minnesota Twins

GP	AVG	OBP	SLUG	HR	R	RBI
29	.263	.327	.463	4	11	14

Oswaldo Arcia has talent. It just hasn't been on display all that much recently.

Arcia hasn't cracked the Twins' starting lineup since Sunday, when he went 0-for-3 in a loss to the Boston Red Sox. It was his fourth straight 0-fer, for which his punishment has been a few days on the pine.

Arcia has only gotten three at-bats this week, so he hasn't had much of a chance to add to his solid numbers. He did what he could on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves, though, launching a solo homer in a pinch-hit appearance.

Last week saw Arcia atop Mike Rosenbaum's ranks for American League rookies, but his lack of action over the last few days makes it too hard to keep him there.

Stock: Even

3. Conor Gillaspie, 3B, Chicago White Sox

GP	AVG	OBP	SLUG	HR	R	RBI
40	.276	.341	.422	3	10	8

Last year, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com wrote the following about Conor Gillaspie while he was a prospect in the San Francisco Giants organization:

"Whether he has the stuff to be an everyday player remains to be seen, but at the very least, he looks like a solid Major League contributor in the very near future."

Given what we've seen from Gillaspie this year, I'd say Mr. Mayo hit the nail on the head.

Gillaspie has indeed been a solid contributor, as he's done a decent job at third base for the White Sox both offensively and defensively. His OPS was over .800 as recently as last week, and he owns a 3.2 UZR and three Defensive Runs Saved (see FanGraphs).

Gillaspie hasn't done much to build on his ROY resume over the last week, collecting only one hit in 11 at-bats in a span of three games, but he's still a candidate for the award.

Stock: Even

4. Justin Grimm, RHP, Texas Rangers

GP (GS)	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	BAA	K/BB
7 (7)	3-3	4.02	1.44	40.1	.270	36/14

I really shouldn't say that things were looking grim for Justin Grimm for a while there. That's just too easy.

...But shoot, how can I not?

Things certainly were looking a little grim for Grimm. He had allowed 10 earned runs in two road starts at Milwaukee and Oakland, inflating his ERA from 2.28 to 4.48. He was in need of a face-saving start.

Grimm got one his last time out against the Tigers, allowing only two earnies in six-and-a-third. And if Tepesch deserves points for holding Cabrera to a double, Grimm certainly deserves more points for holding Miggy to a single.

Grimm still isn't quite on his teammate's level just yet, but at least he's back on the right track.

Stock: Up

5. Cody Allen, RHP, Cleveland Indians

GP (GS)	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	BAA	K/BB
19 (0)	1-0	2.05	1.00	22	.188	30/7

Cody Allen's 2013 season did not get off to the best start. He allowed three earned runs in his first two outings on six hits and three walks in only three innings.

Since then, however, Allen's been a money pitcher.

Over his last 17 appearances, Allen has allowed two earnies in 19 innings for a 0.95 ERA. He's struck out 27 of the 70 batters he's faced and has held them to a .423 OPS.

From what I understand about the job description, numbers like these are generally what you want out a reliever. Terry Francona and the Indians have themselves a good one in their 24-year-old righty.

Stock: Up

On the Bubble: Carter Capps (Mariners), Aaron Hicks (Twins), Dan Straily (A's)

National League

1. Shelby Miller, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

GP (GS)	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	BAA	K/BB
9 (9)	5-3	1.74	0.93	57	.188	62/15

It's saying something about how good the pitching in the National League has been so far this year that Shelby Miller's 1.74 ERA is only good enough for fourth among starters.

Oh, and I suppose that ERA also says something about how good Miller has been, period.

Granted, he's been a little more human recently. After coming through with one of the most dominant performances of the season against the Colorado Rockies a few weeks back, Miller has failed to last six innings in each of his last two starts. The most recent one of those saw him surrender three earned runs in five-and-two-thirds in San Diego, like he was some kind of mortal or something.

Miller better be ready to put that behind him, because his next start is on Sunday at Dodger Stadium against a guy named Clayton Kershaw.

You're going to want to be near a TV for that one.

Stock: Even

2. Didi Gregorius, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

GP	AVG	OBP	SLUG	HR	R	RBI
24	.348	.406	.554	3	14	8

And there I was thinking the Diamondbacks had made a trade for a shortstop prospect who couldn't hit.

As were many, to be sure, and we now have no choice but to tip our caps to Didi Gregorius. Dude can hit after all.

Gregorius was slowing down a little bit, but he picked himself up with back-to-back three-hit efforts on Sunday and Monday and is now sitting on a .960 OPS. Among National League rookies with at least 20 games under their belts, that's the best.

Gregorius is also getting it done in the field. Per FanGraphs, he has a slightly better than average 0.5 UZR and three Defensive Runs Saved, making him a solid all-around shortstop the D-Backs should be very pleased with.

Stock: Up

3. Jose Fernandez, RHP, Miami Marlins

GP (GS)	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	BAA	K/BB
9 (9)	2-2	3.31	1.16	49	.215	46/18

With Giancarlo Stanton on the shelf, Jose Fernandez is really the only reason to watch a Marlins game these days.

He makes for a pretty good reason, though, as Fernandez's starts are can't-miss affairs based on his stuff alone. It's electric and he's been putting it to good use lately.

After a solid April, Fernandez is having a better May. The 20-year-old righty has made four starts this month, posting a 2.16 ERA and racking up 23 strikeouts in 25 innings.

If there's something to keep an eye on, it's that Fernandez's strikeouts have been trending the wrong way. He struck out nine in his first start this month, then seven, then five and then only two in his most recent outing against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Either this is him trying to be more efficient, or it's the league adjusting to the scouting reports on him.

Time will tell. For now, Fernandez is doing just fine.

Stock: Even

4. Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

GP (GS)	W-L	ERA	WHIP	IP	BAA	K/BB
10 (10)	5-2	3.30	1.26	62.2	.245	60/22

Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke are the super-big money guys in the Dodgers' starting rotation, but what Hyun-Jin Ryu is doing this season should not be overlooked.

The South Korean lefty has settled in nicely after an up-and-down introduction to Major League Baseball. Ryu has a 2.84 ERA over his last six starts, spanning 38 innings. He's allowed only five earned runs over 19 innings in his last three starts, the most recent of which saw him pitch into the eighth inning in Milwaukee.

Ryu doesn't have the most eye-popping numbers in sexy departments like ERA and WHIP, but he's tied for the National League lead in starts among rookies, and no rookie in baseball has logged as many innings as he has.

The Dodgers aren't getting a whole lot of bang for their buck, but their investment in Ryu is panning out about as well as they could have expected.

Stock: Up

5. Evan Gattis, C/OF, Atlanta Braves

GP	AVG	OBP	SLUG	HR	R	RBI
37	.256	.308	.587	10	17	27

A message for a Mr. Jedd Gyorko: I see you out there, and I want you to know that you're this close to cracking the top of the list.

But Evan Gattis has to get out of the way first, and he doesn't seem to be too keen on doing that.

Gattis has become a man without a position now that the Braves have gotten Brian McCann and Jason Heyward back, but he's finding ways to contribute when he can. Recently, Gattis has slugged three homers in his last six at-bats. The most recent of those came with the sacks full for his first career grand slam.

It looked for a while there like Gattis' great story had run out of juice, but apparently not quite yet.

Stock: Up

On the bubble: Jedd Gyorko (Padres), Jim Henderson (Brewers) Trevor Rosenthal (Cardinals)

Note: Stats are courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted and are current as of the start of play on Friday, May 24.

If you want to talk baseball, hit me up on Twitter.

Peyton Siva Will Prove to Be Great Value in Second Round of NBA Draft

Alex Ballentine — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:03:51 -0400

Despite two Final Four appearances and a national championship to his name, Peyton Siva isn't a slam dunk to even be drafted in June's NBA Draft.

A decorated college career doesn't always guarantee success. In fact, there are plenty of college stars that just don't find a way to translate their game to the NBA (see: Morrison, Adam).

At just 6'0", 185 pounds and with flaws in his jumper, it's easy to see why many analysts are a little down on Siva's draft stock. Although he was part of a successful program as a four-year contributor, it wasn't as though he was carrying the team on his back.

However, Siva did show in his college career that he has what it takes to break into an NBA rotation. Here's why Siva is going to make a team that takes a chance on him very happy:

Defensive Prowess

There are issues with Siva's jumper, sure. He only shot 40 percent from the field in his senior season and an even worse 28 percent from beyond the arc. But where Siva really excelled, and could carve a niche in the NBA is on defense.

Siva is a relentless on-ball defender that led a pressure Louisville defense that forced its opponents to turn the ball over on 27 percent of their possessions. Siva himself averaged 2.3 steals per game.

Head Coach Rick Pitino told Kentucky.com that Siva's defense as the main reason for the Cardinal's success in the tournament:

He dominated the tournament at the defensive end and ran his team to success... Because you know the reason we won the thing — it was Peyton Siva who dominated the game at the defensive end. You very rarely see a point guard just in every crucial situation rotate for a steal and make the big play, and then he ran the team.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/03/19/2564464/pitino-has-cards-full-attention.html#storylink=cpy

One key ingredient for success as an NBA bench player is energy. When Siva steps onto the floor, you know you are getting an athletic defender that will play with full effort as long as he's in.

Athleticism

Offensively, there are issues with Siva. Not only is his shooting stroke a concern, but his diminutive stature may allow him to be bullied by bigger, stronger point guards in the league. However, his athleticism will be something that helps him compensate for those issues.

Siva erased any doubts that he may not be an NBA-type athlete at the combine. He registered a 41.5" max vertical and was the second-fastest point guard behind Miami's Shane Larkin. That speed not only helps him as a defender, but was what he relies on to make him an offensive threat.

Siva is an explosive athlete that can force defenders to move laterally to stay in front of him. Throw in his court vision and ability to dish (5.7 assists per game), and he is more than capable of keeping an offense going with his slashing ability.

Intangibles

Team success in the college ranks can't be taken too seriously when evaluating college prospects. Some players are just more suited for the college game and never make the leap. However, it at least plays a small role.

Evidenced by his four years and two Final Four appearances at Louisville, Siva is a proven leader. His consistency was a big reason for Louisville's success last season, and he has been part of a winning culture.

Siva isn't the flashiest player available in the draft. He'll never be an elite scorer and questions about his shooting will likely be a career-long plague.

That being said, he's a fierce defender that knows what it takes to be part of a winning team. For a prospect that is likely to be assigned a much smaller role than he was in college that's important. Siva has the mental makeup and skills to contribute as a high-energy change-of-pace point guard off the bench.

For a player that isn't likely to have is name called until the end of Round 2, that's a great value pick.

The 25 Most Dominant Players in the NFL Today

Wes Stueve — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:02:54 -0400

The NFL has many high-profile players, and everyone in the league is obviously a terrific athlete compared to the rest of us. But some players stand out as especially dominant.

Just what does dominant mean? It doesn't just mean being a great player, though that is certainly a factor. In fact, being a great player is probably the biggest factor in defining the NFL's 25 most dominant players.

The word dominant is key, however. It may sound a bit obvious, but this means that a player is capable of taking over, that he is nearly impossible to stop. That he dominates.

This isn't based on just 2012 results. Of course, recent dominance is preferred, but the player is more important than the results. This is a projection.

Some names on this list will be no surprise. Obviously, Calvin Johnson will make an appearance toward the top. Some names, however, might not be so clear.

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UFC 160 Start Time: When and Where to Watch Velasquez vs. Bigfoot Silva 2

Craig Amos — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:00:00 -0400

It's a stacked card, UFC 160, with a bevy of competitive matches, recognizable names and combatants renowned for moving fans to the edge of their seats. And to top it all off, the event will be headlined by a heavyweight title fight of all things.

The championship bout will be contested by Cain Velasquez and Antonio Silva, who will be fighting for the second time in 12 months. The first time around Velasquez dominated, but Silva will enter the Octagon on Saturday night rolling, and with revenge on his mind.

The action will get underway in the evening and run late into the night, lasting somewhere in the neighborhood of six-and-a-half hours. With a card this good, you won't want to miss a moment of it.

Read on for information about when and where you can catch every last moment.

Facebook Prelims

Things will begin on the social media network, where three fights will take place. Facebook is typically reserved for first-timers and down-on-their-luck journeymen, but this time around there is a lot to get excited about.

Fights on the Facebook portion of UFC 160 include:

Stephen Thompson vs. Nah-Shon Burrell
Brian Bowles vs. George Roop
Jeremy Stephens vs. Estevan Paya

The Facebook prelims will start at 6:35 p.m. ET.

FX Prelims

The next portion of UFC 160 lead-ins will go from FX. This tier of the broadcast will focus on a handful of promising up-and-comers, including a couple of recent TUF champs, while a bout between a couple welterweight veterans rounds things out. In Canada, you'll find these fights on Sportsnet.

Fights on the FX portion of UFC 160 include:

Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story
Dennis Bermudez vs. Max Holloway
Colton Smith vs. Robert Whittaker
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Abel Trujillo

The FX prelims kick off at 8 p.m. ET.

UFC 160 Main Card

Headlined by a heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Antonio Silva, the UFC 160 main card consists of five contests, all quite promising in their own right.

Fights on the UFC 160 main card include:

Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva
Junior Dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt
Glover Teixeira vs. James Te Huna
Gray Maynard vs. T.J. Grant
Donald Cerrone vs. K.J. Noons

The UFC 160 main card airs on pay-per-view, beginning 10 p.m. ET.

Now that you know when and where to catch this weekend's UFC action, don't forget to check in with us at Bleacher Report for coverage of the event, including live results and post-fight analysis.

Ranking the 10 Biggest Surprises of the 2013 NHL Playoffs so Far

Nicholas Goss — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:44:44 -0400

The last month of exhilarating hockey has been a perfect example to why the theater and drama of the NHL playoffs is far superior to any postseason action in all other sports.

No lead is safe, any top seed can be eliminated in the early rounds, many role players will perform at an elite level and any series deficit can be overcome. This is why it's so hard to predict the outcomes of these games and series.

There are so many surprises in each game, which makes the NHL playoffs must-see television every night at this time of the year.

Let's look at the 10 biggest surprises of the 2013 NHL playoffs so far.

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Phoenix Suns Must Cut Ties with Michael Beasley at All Costs

Sam Cooper — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:39:53 -0400

The Phoenix Suns just suffered through one of the worst seasons in franchise history, and now they must make some decisions regarding the talent (or lack thereof) on the roster.

Of course, there were some bright spots to a terrible season. Players such as Goran Dragic, P.J. Tucker and Jermaine O'Neal demonstrated plainly enough that it is possible to exceed expectations and have a terrific season on an individual basis, even on a team where so many things went wrong.

Bu then there were several players who completely failed at producing in Phoenix this past season. Shannon Brown is one name that comes to mind, but Michael Beasley is the name that is sure to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of Suns fans long after he is gone.

When the Suns signed Beasley to a three-year, $18 million deal in July, they thought that he could be the primary scoring option that the roster lacked. After all, Beasley had scored almost 20 points per game in the 2010-11 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and after just four NBA seasons, he seemed poised to blossom into an All-Star.

But after his most recent campaign with the Suns, it has become evident that Beasley may never succeed at the professional level, regardless of the environment or the coach mentoring him.

After started the first 20 games of the season, Beasley had worn out his welcome with the Suns. For the majority of the year he struggled to find playing time. He finished the season averaging a career-low 20.7 minutes per game.

We all know that Beasley's defense is subpar, and that his rebounding and playmaking skills are lackluster at best. That is why it was so imperative that he at least contribute in the scoring column.

But Beasley struggled offensively as well, and he contributed a negative number of offensive win shares for the second consecutive year. In prior seasons, Beasley was at best only slightly below average when it came to efficiency in terms of effective field-goal percentage.

However, as the graph below shows, Beasley put up a career-low 43.4 effective field-goal percentage with the Suns, which is well below the league average.

Graph

But it doesn't stop there either. Among players who played at least 1,000 minutes over the course of an NBA season, Beasley's -2.5 offensive win shares made him the worst offensive player in Phoenix Suns history. In fact, he is one of just four Suns players to contribute fewer than -1 offensive win shares in a season, and two of the other three players were from the team's first and second seasons as an NBA franchise.

When compared to all NBA players, Beasley's offensive win shares stat is the 17th worst in NBA history. The last time a player had a worse OWS output was Denver's Junior Harrington (2002-03).

By this point, every Suns fan is aware of Beasley's inconsistency on the offensive end. His personality has become a problem too, and Beasley has appeared in the news multiple times. He was cited for driving with a suspended license, and more recently he was placed under investigation for alleged sexual assault.

And things aren't much better on the court with teammates and interim head coach Lindsey Hunter. During a stretch in which he was playing productive basketball, Beasley stated that he was playing better simply because he "stopped listening to everybody"—including his coaches.

Meanwhile, when Beasley makes boneheaded plays like the one in the video below, he isn't exactly impressing his coach.

Michael Beasley has reached rock bottom in Phoenix, and unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a way out. He couldn't even keep his starting spot when his competition was P.J. Tucker, Wesley Johnson, Jared Dudley and Marcus Morris. As the Suns rebuild, they will certainly bring in new wing talent from both the draft and free agency, and that means there will be even more competition for Beasley to deal with.

The fans have completely turned on Beasley, and the only solution now appears to be for Phoenix general manager Ryan McDonough to erase this mess by having the Suns cut ties with Beasley altogether.

However, getting rid of him is no simple solution either. He's making $6 million for the next couple of seasons, and no sane NBA GM would be willing to trade for him given his current production.

The amnesty clause is also fantastic in these situations, but the Suns already cut Josh Childress a year ago.

However, there is still one way out, and it is to simply release Beasley over the offseason and "stretch" him.

For those unaware, the stretch provision allows an NBA team to waive a player over the offseason and pay his remaining guaranteed sum of money over an extended period of time. The team will pay the player that money over twice the number of years remaining on his contract, plus one.

For example, a player released with two years left on his contract will be paid the same amount of money, but over the course of five years instead. In Beasley's case, that means the Suns pay his remaining $12.25 million over five years instead of two, meaning they can save some cap space to sign free agents right away.

At this point, that seems like the best option for Phoenix. They could keep Beasley and give him another chance, but it seems as if he has already overstayed his welcome. It is time for both parties to move on.

It is a shame to see such a fantastic college prospect blow an opportunity with another NBA team, and this may have been Michael Beasley's last opportunity to start in the NBA.

Hopefully Beasley can finally get his act together and find just one setting where he can succeed. But you can guarantee that that setting won't be in Phoenix.

Big-Money MLB Free-Agent Acquisitions Making the Worst First Impressions

Gabe Zaldivar — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:22:06 -0400

Well, it seemed like a good idea.

That may very well be the sentiment creeping through a number of MLB front offices at the moment when discussing names like Edwin Jackson, Josh Hamilton or B.J. Upton.

While it’s still early in the season, there have been enough games played to push the panic button on some of the biggest free-agent acquisitions this offseason.

Join MLB Lead Writer Zach Rymer and MLB Contributor Gabe Zaldivar as they break down the busts who were the talk of free-agent circles just a few months ago.

These guys are getting paid millions to hit into double plays and whiff at the plate. It’s time we alert you to the matter.

Of course, you might think every last one of these guys was unfairly criticized; by all means let us know in the section below. There have been plenty of early flops this season, so leave those down there as well.

Follow Zach on Twitter at: @zachrymer

Follow Gabe on Twitter at: @gabezal

French Open Tennis 2013: Championship Odds and Predictions for Top Contenders

Nick McCarvel — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:17:10 -0400

The tennis world descends on the City of Love in a sport where players aim to be loveless for the second major of the year: the French Open at Roland Garros. In tennis, love means nothing, and it's a score every player wants to avoid, no matter the cost.

Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams are no doubt the favorites. Serena's won 24 matches in a row while Rafa's streak stands at 15 after he bounced back from his first loss in Monte Carlo after claiming the tournament a jaw-dropping eight years in a row.

But who can drop some jaws in Paris? Maria Sharapova is the defending women's champion, and over the past year, Victoria Azarenka has proven that she is perhaps the biggest threat to Serena's solid grip of power. Novak Djokovic has said it is his biggest goal of 2013 to win the French, while Roger Federer sits safely on the other side of the draw from his two biggest rivals.

We'll take a look at the top players' draws at Roland Garros while placing odds on how they'll perform and breaking down just what they'll have to do to win seven straight on the grueling, unforgiving red clay.

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LPGA Forced to Alter 72-Hole Format at Pure Silk-Bahamas Classic

Fred Altvater — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:14:46 -0400

The LPGA Tour is visiting the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas for the inaugural Pure-Silk LPGA Classic, but with 12 inches of rain pelting the islands Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, tour officials have been forced to take some drastic measures.

A huge lake has appeared on what was Nos. 9 and 18. Four other holes on the Ocean Course at the Atlantis Resort are also unplayable. Maintenance crews are working around the clock to pump the extra water back into the ocean but it is a time-consuming task.

The LPGA canceled play on Thursday and announced that 12 holes would be played on Friday for the first round. The schedule for Saturday is to play a second 12 holes. The decision will then be made on Saturday whether or not to play the full 18 holes or finish with a final 12 holes on Sunday.

LPGA Tour rules require a minimum of 36 holes played to deem the tournament an official event on the tour. Three rounds of 12 holes each would total the 36 holes necessary for official money for the players.

There will be no cut this week. The 144 entrants will play all three rounds, but only the top-70 finishers will be paid.

This is the first LPGA Tour event to be played in the Bahamas and the players were looking forward to a good week of golf and recreation on Paradise Island.

The unusual format of only playing 12 holes each day should make for a dramatic tournament. Fewer holes means the players can’t afford a bad hole and birdies becoming even more important.

Fewer holes also portends a multiplayer tie is very possible at the end of play on Sunday.

The tour is attempting to give new sponsor Pure Silk television exposure, the players official money, and fans some golf to watch this weekend.

Jack Nicklaus is promoting 12-hole rounds for faster play and help grow the game. The LPGA Tour is demonstrating to the world that there is more than one way to play tournament golf and make it entertaining.

Roy Hibbert's Performance Around the Rim Will Be Biggest Key for Pacers vs. Heat

Patrick Clarke — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:11:02 -0400

While Paul George's ability to match LeBron James' output on the offensive end is crucial to the Indiana Pacers' chances of taking out the Miami Heat and advancing to the NBA Finals this summer, Roy Hibbert's play around the rim is the biggest key of all for Frank Vogel's squad.

You can't turn on the television without hearing someone second-guessing Vogel and his decision to leave Hibbert on the bench at the end of Game 1.

And while it is far too late to ask "what if?" there's definitely a strong case to be made as to why Hibbert should have been in the game. Either way, you can bet he'll be standing tall in the paint if Indiana finds itself in a similar situation down the road.

A Defensive Player of the Year candidate in 2012-13, Hibbert has emerged as one of the top interior defenders in the game today. While his offensive game is still developing, Hibbert's shot-blocking and rebounding prowess has made him a key player for Indiana.

Now, those attributes make him the key to a potential NBA Finals berth.

In their Eastern Conference finals series with the Heat, the Pacers will need to call upon Hibbert more often on both ends of the court. The reason is simple. Miami doesn't possess a post scorer or defender who can score on Hibbert or consistently stop him from scoring.

Establishing Hibbert early on the offensive end is a great way to get the big fella going and to perhaps put Miami in early foul trouble.

Plus, if Hibbert is involved in the offense, it's nearly impossible for him not to be on the defensive end. In addition to averaging 14.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this postseason, Hibbert is averaging 2.5 blocked shots per game in these playoffs.

He blocked 19 shots in six games against the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals.

There's definitely no questioning Hibbert's effort out on the floor either. A poor stretch of play on offense isn't going to make him invisible on defense.

Therefore, Hibbert's performance around the rim, both offensively and defensively will be pivotal for the Pacers the rest of the way against the Heat. While Chris Bosh's perimeter-oriented game can give Hibbert trouble, Bosh has no answers for Indiana's big man on the other end.

The former Georgetown star is the one player who can exploit Miami's seemingly one and only weakness. After all, without Hibbert on board, the Pacers wouldn't have ranked first and second in the NBA in rebounds (45.9 per game) and points allowed (90.7 per game) respectively this past regular season.

Roy Hibbert scored 19 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field and picked up nine rebounds in Wednesday's gut-wrenching Game 1 loss in South Beach. And considering the question being asked is how Indiana blew what should have been a series-opening victory, that level of production from the fifth-year center is enough to power the Pacers past the Heat.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Grizzlies' Tony Allen Fined $5,000 for Clutch Game 2 Flop

Grant Hughes — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:06:43 -0400

The NBA has come down hard on the Memphis Grizzlies' Tony Allen, fining him a cool $5,000 for his acting job after Manu Ginobili spilled him to prevent a layup with 26 seconds left in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

In the immediate aftermath, just about everyone was skeptical about Allen's reaction. The Grizzlies guard practically went into convulsions on the court, grabbing his head and writhing around like he'd been seriously injured.

Soccer fans, you know exactly what I'm talking about. All that was missing was some guy running in from the sidelines and spritzing Allen down with a little water bottle.

The play was called a Flagrant 1, so credit Allen for recognizing the currently protective stance the NBA is taking on all hard fouls and selling the contact at a crucial time in the game.

It's a shame that there are rewards for these kinds of plays nowadays (the Grizzlies got a pair of free throws and the ball, which allowed them to take the game to overtime), but it's also a good thing that the league is retroactively punishing overzealous acting jobs.

Don't worry, though, Allen will probably be able to afford the fine by supplementing his income in Hollywood.

Also, it might not be fair to completely rule out the notion that Allen really did hit his head. Apparently, we've got the NBA equivalent of the Zapruder film, which shows that Allen might have actually hurt himself.

Of course, it's also possible there were some residual effects from something like this:

It seems unlikely, though. And if Allen really did manage to bang his head on the floor after being dragged down by his left arm, that must have been one magic flagrant foul by Ginobili. (That last part was a blatant excuse to link to this video). I will not apologize.

Anyhow, all's well that ends well. The Spurs went on to win the game, negating the advantage Allen gained by flopping, and now the league has penalized the Grizzlies guard. If only the NBA could just get these things right in real time, we'd finally be getting somewhere.

UFC 160: 5 Things to Watch for at Velasquez vs. Silva 2

Jeremy Botter — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:02:29 -0400

UFC 160's main event is a weird one.

I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. The first bout between Cain Velasquez and Antonio Silva was so definitive, so dominant, that I'm not sure there's a single person in the world outside of Silva's family, friends and camp that wanted to see it a second time.

You can't say that Silva didn't earn his title shot, either. He beat Travis Browne and Alistair Overeem, after all, and he won both in destructive fashion. Those wins, combined with the lack of another clear-cut contender, mean that Silva deserves to be in the cage on Saturday night.

And still, I can't say that I'm excited about the fight. Anything can happen in MMA, sure, but given what we saw Velasquez do to Silva the first time around, I can't imagine that many fans or experts are giving "Bigfoot" a real shot at winning. For the first time in a long time, a UFC heavyweight title fight feels like a foregone conclusion.

But outside of the main event, there's still plenty to be excited about on the UFC 160 card. When you take a step back and really look at the card, from the prelims all the way to the co-main event, you quickly realize that it's actually quite jam-packed with interesting fights.

Today, I'm going to take a look at five things I'm looking forward to at UFC 160. Join me, won't you?

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SEC Baseball Tournament 2013 Scores: Day 4 Results, Highlights and Analysis

Ethan Grant — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:01:10 -0400

With only six teams remaining in the 2013 SEC Baseball Tournament, we're getting into crunch time with respect to those still capable of winning the conference and moving on to the College World Series later this summer.

Two games on Friday will help move us closer to that reality.

No. 2 LSU took on No. 7 Alabama in the opener on Friday afternoon in Hoover, while No. 9 Texas A&M is slated to take on No. 1 Vanderbilt in the nightcap. Both matchups feature teams who have already seen each other in the tournament so far.

LSU got the best of Alabama on Wednesday, but the Tide bounced back to force the Tigers to pull off another victory to move on to final stages of the tournament on Saturday and Sunday. Texas A&M pulled off the upset of Vanderbilt on the same afternoon, but the Aggies won't be favorites for two straight wins over the SEC's top teams.

Take a look at the sections below to see how things played out on Day 4 of the SEC Baseball Tournament.

No. 2 LSU 3, No. 7 Alabama 2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
LSU	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	11	0
Alabama	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	4	1

Just when it looked like Alabama had figured out the LSU lineup, the Tigers remembered that nothing is over until the final out is recorded on the diamond.

After Alabama took a one-run lead into the ninth inning and had LSU down to its next-to-last strike, the Tigers stormed back, scoring two runs with two outs and finishing off Alabama in order in the bottom half of the ninth to eliminate the Tide for good.

SEC Sports had the tweet as the game ended:

LSU moves to 50-9 on the season with the victory and will battle Arkansas when play gets underway on Saturday afternoon in Hoover.

Through the first few innings, this game had the makings of another pitcher's duel in a conference tournament. Both LSU starter Ryan Eades and Alabama starter Mike Oczypok were magnificent through the first few innings.

Eades, whose draft rights are owned by the Colorado Rockies, got in trouble in the fifth inning. A leadoff walk by Ben Moore quickly turned into the first Alabama run, as Mikey White managed to follow with a triple to knot the score at one.

After Austen Smith struck out swinging, Brett Booth came through to drive White home and give the Tide a lead that they would not surrender until the game was within their grasp in the top half of the ninth.

As the game continued to push forward and the Tigers largely unable to mount any threat against Alabama's one-run lead, the story of the day was Alabama starter Oczypok. A walk-on freshman, his first 8.2 innings were everything Alabama needed after three straight days of games in the conference tournament.

Jon Solomon surmised the same on Twitter:

It wasn't enough, though, as LSU still had one more out, and specifically, one more strike, against Oczypok before the complete game could be logged in the books and the Tide could avoid elimination for another day.

Christian Ibarra's two-out single kept the Tigers alive, and it wasn't long before LSU mounted the comeback for good.

Tyler Moore then doubled to bring home the pinch runner, and after Alabama made the decision to sit Oczypok for good after 26 brilliant outs, Jay Shaw surrendered what turned out to be the game-winning run on catcher Ty Ross' second hit of the day.

LSU would finish with 11 hits on the afternoon, but none bigger than Ross' clutch moment to keep the Tigers' chances alive in front of a booming crowd in Hoover.

Chris Cotton, who had 13 saves and a 1.57 ERA prior to the ballgame, closed the door with three straight strikeouts and the Tigers escaped from a tense showdown with their SEC rival with a chance to keep playing on Saturday.

Bryan Lazare had the tweet as the Tigers closed it out:

LSU's three pitchers managed to hold Alabama to just four hits, two of which came from the shortstop White. Booth added another hit and the only other Alabama RBI on the afternoon.

Mark Laird, Mason Katz, Sean McMullen and Ross all had multi-hit days for the Tigers, while first baseman Tyler Moore added a knock and the opening RBI that put LSU on the board in the third inning.

For Alabama, the season is over. LSU, though, gets to move on to the next stage of the elimination round and will need to head back to the tape to see how to avoid another loss to Arkansas if it wants to make it to the SEC tournament championship on Sunday.

LSU and Arkansas will clash at Noon ET on Saturday in Hoover.

Follow B/R Featured Columnist Ethan Grant on Twitter:

Manchester City vs. Chelsea: International Friendly Odds, Preview and Prediction

Kevin Stott — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:57:23 -0400

Who: Chelsea FC vs. Manchester City FC

What: International friendly

Where: Yankee Stadium, New York (Bronx), New York, USA

When: Saturday, May 25, 2013

Weather: The Weather Channel forecast

Time: 21:30 GMT/5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT

TV: Fox Soccer Channel, FOX Deportes (US), ESPN UK / HD (UK)

Worldwide TV Coverage: LiveSoccerTV.com

Radio: SiriusXM SIRI channel 94 (Internet 94)

Odds: Chelsea +155, Manchester City +150, Draw +265

Source: LVH SuperBook (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA)

Chelsea and Manchester City wrap up their two-game, end-of-season international friendly series on Saturday when the two English Premier League giants meet in Yankee Stadium in New York City.

By the time the match starts, Chelsea will no longer be able to say it's both the reigning UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League trophy holders with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund playing for the former honor at London's Wembley Stadium (CL final preview link) earlier in the day (FOX, 2:45 p.m. ET/11:45 a.m. PT).

As was obvious in City's 4-3 come-from-behind win in St. Louis on Thursday, club friendlies like these are usually high-scoring affairs, with neither side really caring about getting the win or having to try to earn the three points.

Many players coming up in clubs' systems get a chance to play in matches like these and these games give managers and management a chance to see how these guys fare on the big stage.

The Blues led 3-0 in the second half when outgoing interim manager Rafael Benítez replaced goalkeeper Petr Čech with Jamal Blackman, and the 19-year-old quickly allowed a goal before you could even say "Roman Abramovich is a mad Russian oligarch," making Chelsea fans happy to remember they have Thibaut Courtois waiting in the wings on loan at Atlético de Madrid.

With the win, the Sky Blues improved to 4-1-0 against the Europa League champions in their five meetings this year and from a wagering standpoint, taking City at +150 here in Gotham City seems like the logical thing to do, even if you're a Chelsea fan.

The big news in the City camp this week actually came out on Tuesday when Major League Soccer announced that the Sky Blues are actually teaming up with the Yankees—who will be minority owners—to create Major League Soccer's 20th franchise, called New York City FC or NYC FC.

The new club will begin play in 2015.

As far as Saturday's game in The House That Ruth Built—aptly nicknamed for famed Yankees slugger Babe Ruth for those who may not know—Chelsea fans should expect to see Frank Lampard play, as the Blues vice-captain did not get in on Thursday.

Two Chelsea youngsters who really impressed with their play in that game were César Azpilicueta, who played the right wing and converted on a penalty kick, and central midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who should one day make the club's first team.

Despite the deceiving scoreline, City absolutely dominated Chelsea in the Gateway City and had Čech not been in goal for so long, the Blues could have been thoroughly embarrassed, even if it was just a completely meaningless friendly.

And whereas an NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings in London's Wembley Stadium—the two teams will meet there on Sept. 29—may not spark the kind of interest on of this side of the pond as one would think, these international friendlies that are held stateside with clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, City and Real Madrid really show how many hidden and intelligent soccer fans dwell in the United States.

As mentioned, from a betting point of view, taking City with the healthy plus (+150) seems pretty wise, and although not offered at the LVH SuperBook here in Sin City, seeking out a total at a European or offshore sportsbook and playing the over is also a very strong angle.

Whatever happens, both clubs will definitely be glad their grueling schedules have finally come to an end and that they can finally get some much-needed offseason rest.

PREDICTION: Manchester City 4, Chelsea 2

BET: Manchester City +150

Follow me on Twitter: @KevinStott11.