Bleacher Report - Front Page

Logan Couture Injury: Updates on Sharks Center's Leg

Tyler Conway — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:40:11 -0400

The San Jose Sharks were already facing an uphill battle in their Western Conference Semifinals matchup versus the Los Angeles Kings, and now the underdogs might be hemorrhaging on offense.

UPDATE: Saturday, May 18, at 10:53 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

According to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, Couture is back on the ice:

---End of update---

According to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, center Logan Couture left Saturday night's Game 3 action at HP Pavilion after crashing hard into the boards:

LeBrun notes that the San Jose star was heavily favoring his left leg, though it's unclear what part of his leg was injured:

Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun noted that Couture was unable to put any weight on his leg heading back to the locker room.

Couture left the ice midway through the second period with the score tied 1-1.

San Jose came into Saturday night's action down 2-0 to the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings. Buoyed by the excellence of goalie Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles was able to stifle a Sharks attack that struggled for long stretches during the regular season.

Things will would only get worse if Couture is out an extended period of time. The 24-year-old center isn’t mentioned among the Sidney Crosbys of the NHL, but has fast become the Sharks’ most reliable offensive threat. Couture had nine points in six playoff games heading into Game 3, which was tied with seventh among all players.

That performance falls in line with Couture’s strong finish to the regular season. The fourth-year pro finished the 2012-13 campaign with 37 points, including a team-high 21 goals.

While an assist is all he has to his name versus Los Angeles, Couture’s mere presence is a threat that has to be accounted for every time down the ice. Without him in the lineup, the Sharks will have to make major adjustments to their lines, ones that could prove critical against a Kings team peaking at the right moment.

The Sharks are yet to release an official statement on Couture’s condition.

Belmont Stakes 2013: Lack of Triple Crown Threat Diminishes Marquee Race

Matt Fitzgerald — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:14:40 -0400

The 2013 Belmont Stakes is still a few weeks away, but the outcome of the second leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday unfortunately diminishes the significance of one of horse racing's marquee showcases.

Hall of Fame tandem of trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Gary Stevens teamed up to push 15-to-1 long shot Oxbow to victory at the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. That thwarted a Triple Crown bid by Kentucky Derby winner Orb, who encountered traffic problems and finished in fourth.

The luster of the Triple Crown achievement is what drives casual interest in horse racing, which is unfortunate in a sense. As Courier-Journal contributor J.J. Hysell highlights, the competition could make for an exciting race:

Golden Soul and Revolutionary played second and third respectively at Churchill Downs, but unfortunately the majority of outside observers don't particularly care for also-rans in this industry.

When ESPN's Darren Rovell was asked earlier in the week about the potential impact an Orb loss would have for Belmont Park on June 8, the consequences were revealed to be dire:

The Run for the Carnations in Elmont, New York is a grueling 1.5 miles that tests the endurance and strength of the competing thoroughbreds.

Though Oxbow is considered more of a sprinter, Rick Snider of the Washington Examiner documented Stevens' comments after the race, which indicated he may have had even more in the tank with Oxbow:

Even with Lukas setting an all-time record with 14 Triple Crown victories and Stevens winning his third Preakness to match his three triumphs at Churchill Downs and Belmont Park, the hype will be significantly diminished without horse racing's ultimate honor on the line.

An Orb victory would have boosted the sport's national relevance and profile for the Belmont Stakes and would have been a wonderful development for anyone who had an interest in the event.

Affirmed remains the last horse to win the Triple Crown in 1978, and that's bad news for those who were looking forward to witnessing a shot at history. There is nothing quite like a thrilling finish involving a premier horse chasing the Triple Crown and an upstart thoroughbred trying to deny him.

Belmont Stakes ratings were actually up by 13 percent last year from 2011, when I'll Have Another was bidding for the Triple Crown. However, he was scratched at the last minute, and that was part of the reason why viewers stuck around.

Betting is always a rush that comes with horse racing, but the decreased significance brought on by Orb's letdown is going to cause ratings to drop from their encouraging upward trend of 2012.

Belmont Stakes 2013: Orb'S Preakness Loss Takes Excitement out of Storied Race

Tyler Conway — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:08:55 -0400

Those planning their weekend of June 8 around seeing horse racing history at the 2013 Belmont Stakes should probably consider making secondary plans.

The nearly four-decades-long Triple Crown drought continued in Saturday's 138th running of the Preakness Stakes, as 16-1 underdog Oxbow shocked the world at Pimlico Race Course. Kentucky Derby winner Orb, who came into Pimlico as an overwhelming favorite, finished fourth.

It was a result that baffled some and shocked nearly all.

And with Belmont lingering in three weeks, race officials have to be wondering how they'll drum up excitement for the Triple Crown capper. Because for right now, Orb's loss feels like one massive pulling of the rug by a sport that's continually done so since 1978.

What makes this latest rug-pulling so dejecting is that—for arguably the first time since Big Brown in 2008—it felt like Orb had a legitimate shot at taking the whole thing. His Triple Crown odds were down to plus-225 on Bovada's sportsbook heading into Saturday's race, which is an astounding number for a horse that had just a third of the journey down.

Everyone felt like something was special in the air with Orb.

The three-year-old colt had already become the first since Big Brown five years ago to win from the favorite at Churchill Downs and was an overwhelming favorite at Pimlico. At 5-7 odds, Orb was getting bet on heavily by those in the public and those in the know.

Even opposing trainers couldn't help but marvel about Shug McGaughey's ascending colt. Doug O'Neill, trainer of Goldencents, said prior to the race that Orb had a very good shot at capturing the Triple Crown.

"I definitely think it's well within his range. He's a Triple Crown threat, for sure," said O'Neill, per USA Today's Gary Mihoces.

The legendary trainer Bob Baffert went one stop further, saying that those not rooting for Orb had "something mentally wrong with them," per the Lexington Herald-Leader's horse racing feed:

This is a good time to remind you that Baffert had a horse, Govenor Charlie, in this field. Even those who stood to financially gain from Orb's misfortune were rooting for Orb, so you can only imagine the public's feelings heading into this race.

Of course, we knew there were plenty of mitigating circumstances working against Orb. Starting on the inside post, he was looking to become the first thoroughbred since Tabasco Cat in 1994 to win starting from the No. 1 position. And he also became the fourth straight Derby winner since the turn of the century to lose in a field of nine or fewer horses, per Jay Privman of Daily Racing Form.

It didn't matter for most. This was the horse that would finally break free and win all three races because it had to be.

Horse racing's journey to find the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 has become sports' version of chasing the proverbial dragon. Every year casual and hardcore fans alike desperately cling to the hope that this could be the year. That competitive fields and the increased sophistication of trainers and owners hasn't created a parity-driven sport out of one that was once predicated on individual transcendence.

Parity works for the NFL. It doesn't for a niche individual sport.

So you'll forgive most if they were a bit dejected over Orb's failure on Saturday. Following the race, most took to Twitter to express their feelings—good and bad—about what just transpired.

Some, like Eric Stangel of the Late Show w/ David Letterman, understandably went right to the humor well:

Others, like Chris Brown of Smart Football, made astute observations about why things went wrong for Orb:

The rest, well, we can't print those. Suffice it to say the worst possible side of social media comes out when folks don't get their way.

This entire amalgam of emotions eventually comes at the expense of the Belmont. Without a Triple Crown threat, this five-week span of races limps to its death—the sport's superficial embodiment of breaking a leg. Sure, the race will go on and some people will watch, but the intrigue has been sucked almost completely dry.

Perhaps it was David Steele of the Sporting News who put it best:

It's ultimately a bit unfair to the people involved at Belmont. Even without a potential Triple Crown, the Stakes are one of the more interesting races in the entire sport. The mile-and-a-half-long track is a titillating test of endurance, especially for three-year-olds that have already hit the starting gate twice in such a short span.

Again, it doesn't matter. Trying to drum up excitement for this year's Belmont is like trying to save a broken marriage. You can try to talk yourselves into things like couples counseling or forced date nights, but you're only going through the motions before the inevitable, sweet end.

And that's likely what we'll be doing in these coming weeks. Perhaps we'll be able to drum up some pseudo-excitement if Orb and Oxbow both head to New York or if Rosie Napravnik again tries to make history.

Just know that we'll be happy to sign our divorce papers with the 2013 Triple Crown season come June 8.

NBA Playoffs 2013: Every 3rd-Round Team's Most Glaring Weakness

Maxwell Ogden — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:01:39 -0400

The 2013 NBA playoffs are just one round away from the crowning of this season's champion. As the conference finals take shape, however, each and every one of our legitimate title contenders are tasked with overcoming significant weaknesses.

The question is, what is it that could bring down these respective teams?

The Western Conference finals are set in stone, as the veteran San Antonio Spurs will take on the defensive-minded Memphis Grizzlies. This is a rematch of their legendary first-round series from 2011, when the No. 8-seeded Grizzlies upset San Antonio.

The common theme? Rudy Gay wasn't present then, and he's no longer with the team now.

In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat have advanced, as expected, and will await their competitor. The options are the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks, who both thrive defensively but play a different brand of offense.

Regardless of which team Miami draws, each have their own weaknesses. No one is invincible.

Memphis Grizzlies: Perimeter Scoring

Regular Season Record: 56-26

Postseason Record: 8-3

Key Statistic: 4.7 3PT FGM (30th)

The Memphis Grizzlies are a dominant defensive force, pairing perimeter brilliance with interior power. From Mike Conley and Tony Allen locking down the guards to Tayshaun Prince controlling the corners and Marc Gasol defending the rim, there's little that Memphis can't do defensively.

On offense, however, there's one thing they're helpless with—shooting the three.

Conley leads a group that can shoot, but the issue isn't what they're capable of. The issue is that Memphis has no go-to shooter, nor does it possess a player that can counter a three-point attack from another team on a consistent basis.

Going up against a San Antonio Spurs team that ranked seventh in three-point field goals made and fourth in three-point goal percentage, that could be disastrous.

Memphis finished the 2012-13 regular season with an average of 4.7 three-point field goals made per game. Not only was that the lowest number in the league, but the Grizzlies were the only team to make less than 5.4 per game.

It doesn't help that they were 24th in three-point field-goal percentage.

Miami Heat: Rebounding

Regular Season Record: 66-16

Postseason Record: 8-1

Key Statistic: 38.6 RPG (30th)

The Miami Heat are the best team in the NBA, both by measures of advanced metrics, personnel and victories. With that being said, there is a significant area that the Heat are the worst in the league.

Rebounding.

During the regular season, Miami was dead last in rebounds per game at 38.6. They were 28th in offensive rebounds per game, as well, at 8.2 per contest.

They were one of just three teams to grab less than 9.0 offensive rebounds per game.

Perhaps most dangerous of all, Miami was 20th in opponent offensive rebounding at 11.2 allowed per contest. This has resulted in their ranking of 29th in opponent second-chance points scored (via NBA.com).

For a team that approaches perfection with every performance, there is one area that could be their ultimate undoing.

San Antonio Spurs: Athleticism

Regular Season Record: 58-24

Postseason Record: 8-2

Key Statistic: 14.2 fast-break points allowed per game (24th)

The San Antonio Spurs are a veteran team with an abundance of three-point shooters, a dominant interior presence, a legendary head coach and depth at every position. With that being said, the Spurs are also a team that thrives on finesse more so than power or athleticism.

That's not a flaw, but here's what is—San Antonio just isn't athletic enough to maintain an up-tempo pace throughout the postseason.

When things slow down, the Spurs are one of the most dominant defensive teams in the NBA. They allow just 96.6 points per game, are ranked eighth in opponent field-goal percentage and have the length to contain the three-ball.

With that being said, there's one number that speaks volumes to their makeup—San Antonio was 24th in opponent fast-break points (via NBA.com).

The Memphis Grizzlies shouldn't pose too much of a threat in this instance, but the Miami Heat and New York Knicks are threats. Both teams get out in transition and attack the basket, both punishing the rim and pulling up for the three-ball.

For a Spurs team that dominates in the half court but struggles when the pace picks up, it's imperative that San Antonio slows it down from hereon out.

Watch Official's Lousy Jump-Ball Toss in Knicks vs. Pacers Game 6

Grant Hughes — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:01:19 -0400

J.R. Smith's bricked jumpers weren't the only errant tosses in the New York Knicks' Game 6 battle against the Indiana Pacers. Referee Ken Mauer also joined the party by heaving up one of the worst jump balls in the history of organized basketball.

It's always a little weak to jump on officials. Usually, they're doing the best they can in what amounts to a no-win situation. No matter what they call, somebody is always unhappy.

Note to whiny fans: Your team probably lost because it wasn't any good—not because there's some league-wide conspiracy to shortchange your favorite squad.

But this one's fair game. I mean, how hard is it to execute a jump ball?

Really, there are only two steps in the process. First, the referee has to wait until both players are ready and in position. Looking at the video above, it's pretty clear that Mauer blew that one.

"Ok guys, we'll jump it up on three. One, tw...NOW!" -The ref doing the jump ball.
— Referee Logic (@RefereeLogic) May 19, 2013

Maybe this is the start of a new trend in the NBA: the surprise jump ball. That sounds kind of fun, doesn't it? A ref could either fire the ball up way before either team is ready or, even better, wait for about 10 minutes with all 10 players lined up. You know, just to see how long they'd stand still.

Anyway, Mauer missed the "timing" portion of his jump-ball officiating class. But he also screwed up the second part by tossing the ball right to Amar'e Stoudemire, who was so stunned by what happened that he spiked the rock right into the waiting arms of Sam Young.

Had the Pacers scored on the ensuing play, Stoudemire would have deserved an assist.

Oh, I almost forgot that Mauer botched a third aspect of the jump ball. Look where he's standing! Don't be afraid, Kenny. You're allowed inside the circle. In fact, that's where every other referee in the history of basketball has stood during the jump ball. Get in there, buddy.

The befuddled Knicks took awhile to recover from the strangeness.

The Knicks appear to be still stunned from that awkward jump ball toss.
— ESPN (@espn) May 19, 2013

And it seemed like Mauer was under attack from all angles, as New York supporters came out of the woodwork to hassle him.

John Starks not happy w/ref Ken Mauer's tech call on J.R. Smith. Starks walks to court & yells, "You were terrible when I played, Kenny."
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) May 19, 2013

Ultimately, this isn't that big of a deal. But it's undeniably weird when something as common as a jump ball suddenly takes center stage in a playoff game for all the wrong reasons.

Preakness 2013: Biggest Takeaways from Historic Race at Pimlico

Alex Ballentine — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:38:36 -0400

The 2013 Preakness didn't give fans the Triple Crown contender they wanted, but it delivered an exciting race worthy of all the hype that surrounded the event.

Oxbow ultimately picked up the Preakness win despite 15-1 odds heading into the race. He proved that anything can happen in horse racing, dominating the race from wire-to-wire and becoming the first horse to do so in 31 years, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Here's how the race shook out for each horse in the field.

Place	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Earnings
1	Oxbow	D. Wayne Lukas	Gary Stevens	$620,000
2	Itsmyluckyday	Eddie Plesa Jr.	John Velazquez	$200,000
3	Mylute	Tom Amoss	Rosie Napravnik	$100,000
4	Orb	Shug McGaughey	Joel Rosario	$50,000
5	Goldencents	Doug O’Neill	Kevin Krigger	$30,000
6	Departing	Albert M. Stall Jr.	Brian Hernandez Jr.	-
7	Will Take Charge	D. Wayne Lukas	Mike Smith	-
8	Govenor Charlie	Bob Baffert	Martin Garcia	-
9	Titletown Five	Eddie Plesa Jr.	John Velazquez	-

It was certainly a shocking result as no one expected Oxbow to be a serious contender. In all, it was a memorable evening of racing that fans won't forget anytime soon.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Oxbow's historic performance.

Orb Isn't Who Everyone Thought He Was

Orb came in as a huge race-time favorite. Despite the No. 1 post position, which has historically been difficult to win from, he was being bet at 5-7 odds at post time.

His stunning come-from-behind victory had experts talking about a potential run at the Triple Crown. Given his brilliant run at the Derby, it was understandable that bettors didn't take into consideration his starting position.

However, it turned out to be too much for the colt to handle. He was boxed in from the beginning and struggled to get the space needed to make the final push that could have challenged Oxbow. He ended up in fourth place and outside the money.

Perhaps more than any other sport, a sure thing doesn't exist in horse racing. Orb simply didn't have what it takes to win the Triple Crown.

Oxbow Has Elite Speed

After a sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, it was easy to see why Oxbow was considered a long shot at Pimlico.

What bettors didn't factor into it was Oxbow's top-end speed. The sprinter-friendly, shorter track turned out to be just what Oxbow needed to become a serious contender. While he faded late down the stretch at the longer Churchill Downs track, he had enough gas to keep up his torrid pace at Pimlico.

If Orb's disappointing finish showed the importance of post position, Oxbow's showed the importance of track length.

With the big win, he has to be considered a factor at the Belmont Stakes.

The Belmont Will Be Wide Open

Some will say that losing a potential Triple Crown winner will make the Belmont Stakes uninteresting. To an extent, that's true. Had Orb pulled off the victory, the buzz leading into the race would have been much bigger.

But that doesn't mean the race won't be interesting.

The Belmont is now wide open. Orb has shown that he's a great horse with his Derby win. A better post position in the 1.5-mile race, and there's little doubt he'll be a serious contender. Oxbow's win was impressive, but if he didn't have the endurance to finish the Kentucky Derby, how will he do on the longer Belmont track?

Throw in the likely presence of horses that skipped out on the Preakness like Golden Soul and Revolutionary, and this race is anyone's to win.

Odds courtesy of Bovada.

New England Patriots Hope Defensive Tackle Changes Improve Run Defense

Randolph Charlotin — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:35:12 -0400

Ron Brace, Myron Pryor, Brandon Deaderick and Kyle Love were released this offseason by the New England Patriots. All played defensive tackle—the position at the heart of the first line of defense.

A purge at one position typically indicates a problem area for a team. But the Patriots run defense finished ninth overall in yards allowed (1,630) and sixth overall in yards per attempt (3.9 average) in 2012.

Upon further analysis, though, good teams don’t fear New England’s run defense and for good reason.

New England’s run defense was aided by the prolific offense that forced many opponents to abandon running the ball just to keep up with the Patriots. In close games, however, opponents pounded the ball for four quarters and wore down New England’s run defense.

The first step in evaluating the run defense was to separate the blowouts from the games decided by 10 points or less. The blowouts were wins over Tennessee, Buffalo, St. Louis, Indianapolis, the New York Jets, Houston and Miami. The close wins were over Denver, the Jets, Buffalo, Miami. and Jacksonville, while the close losses were to Arizona, Baltimore, Seattle and San Francisco.

While yards per carry were nearly even (3.8 yards/attempt in blowouts, 3.9 in close games), the average yards per game jumped from 87.1 to 109.9.

The increase of 22.8 rushing yards per game doesn’t sound like much, but that was gained with an additional 5.1 more attempts per game. That’s a yards-per-carry average of 4.5 yards.

To put that in perspective, 109.9 yards allowed per game would rank 14th in the NFL in 2012. Eight yards more than New England’s season average of 101.9 rushing yards per game would change the Patriots run defense from good to mediocre.

In an attempt to be fair, the 31 yards gained by San Francisco’s Dashon Goldson on a fake punt was subtracted from the total yards, as was his single rush attempt. If these numbers were included, the rushing yards would increase from 989 yards to 1,020 yards, 254 attempts, a 4.0 yards-per-carry average and 113.3 yards per game allowed.

Run Defense in Blowouts Versus Close Games
Type of Games	Games	Attempts	Yards	Yds/att	Yds/gm
Blowouts	7	161	610	3.8	87.1
10 Points or Less*	9	253	989	3.9	109.9
2012 Totals	16	415	1,630	3.9	101.9
*Dashon Goldson’s one rush for 31 yards subtracted from totals

Brace and Pryor couldn’t stay on the field. New England said the release of Deaderick and Love was performance related. It might be more about a change in approach for the defense.

Only six 300-pound space-eating defensive linemen are currently on the roster. Based on the current roster, the defensive linemen won’t be waiting for the ball-carrier to come to them in 2013. The approach will be less two-gap play and more penetrating, getting into the backfield and making the play kind of D-line play.

Vince Wilfork is the prototype for what the Patriots want at defensive tackle. Free-agent addition Tommy Kelly had 14.5 sacks combined in 2010 and 2011, and New England hopes he can regain his penetrating ways. Armond Armstead had six sacks in his only season playing for Toronto in the CFL.

The remaining DTs are Marcus Forston, a rookie free agent in 2012 who spent most of last season on the practice squad, and 2013 restricted free agents Cory Grissom and Dewayne Cherrington.

That’s a lot of change at one position, but it had to be done. Last year’s run defense wasn’t as good as the numbers suggested.

Questions? Comments? Send to randolphc82@comcast.net.

Chelsea Transfer Rumors: Breaking Down Blues' Latest Summer Transfer Buzz

Dan Talintyre — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:24:11 -0400

With outgoing manager Rafa Benitez revealing to ESPN that Chelsea will look to spend around €100 (£85m) over the summer transfer window, a number of big-name players are being linked with prospective moves to the West London club.

Having bombed out in both the Champions League and the Premier League this year, Chelsea will again be looking to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season and will no doubt be hoping to bring in several high-profile stars to help them do that.

Which players could be on a move to Stamford Bridge this summer?

Read on and find out all the latest summer transfer buzz for the Blues.

Wayne Rooney, ST, Manchester United

After Wayne Rooney asked Manchester United for a transfer over the summer transfer window, Chelsea are reportedly willing to pay whatever it takes to sign the England international over the summer, according to The Daily Mirror.

Per the report, Chelsea are willing to pay up to £30 million to land the wantaway striker ahead of Paris Saint Germain as well as match his current salary.

United are adamant that they will not be selling Rooney this summer, but with the former Toffees player reportedly not seeing eye-to-eye with incumbent United manager (and former Everton manager) David Moyes, there are no guarantees that the reigning champions will keep their star player.

Especially if the Blues end up signing Jose Mourinho as manager.

Radamel Falcao, ST, Atletico Madrid

Having been linked for a long time with a move to Chelsea, Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao was the subject of strong transfer rumors that suggested the star striker had signed with Monaco in 2013.

However, according to comments made by the striker, his future remains at the Spanish club for the rest of his contract. The Metro quoted him as saying:

I don't know anything [about the rumors], and the only thing I have in mind is to keep concentrating on Atletico Madrid. I keep myself apart of what is being discussed. It it was up to the press, I would have already been transferred to Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United. I don't find any news that is being said about me to be true, and the only real thing is that I am under contract until 2016. All the rest is only speculation.

Falcao is still being tracked closely by the Blues and is thought to be one of their main targets this summer. The striker would likely cost upwards of £50 million.

Fernando Torres, ST, Chelsea

There is increasing speculation that current striker Fernando Torres will be leaving the club over the summer transfer window. According to talkSPORT, Fiorentina are reportedly eyeing up a move for the striker, should they lose Stevan Jovetic.

However, after Torres finally started to consistently score goals for the Blues and won another European title this season, a departure is far from certain this summer.

The striker was quoted via The Daily Mirror earlier in the week as saying that he's "feeling more important than in the past, so I think the future will be even better."

Torres netted the Blues' first goal in their recent Europa League win over Benfica.

Romelu Lukaku, ST, Chelsea

Having thrived on loan at West Bromwich Albion this season, several Premier League clubs are clamoring to try and sign Romelu Lukaku for next year.

The Belgian international wasn't receiving any playing time at the West London club before the move, and whilst it's not yet known whether that would change under a new manager next year, the fact that the Blues are looking to buy more strikers would suggest that Lukaku isn't their No. 1 priority.

Lukaku would fetch upwards of £20 million on the open market, with Swansea City and West Ham both keen for loan moves next season, according to The Daily Mail.

Cristiano Ronaldo, LW, Real Madrid

One final bit of transfer news for Chelsea, and it's perhaps the most out-there rumor of them all, with the Blues reportedly interested in signing Cristiano Ronaldo.

Yes, that Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Daily Mail reports that the London club are at the center of a bidding war with Manchester United for the £80 million-rated Real Madrid winger, who has been touted as a potential summer departure alongside manager Jose Mourinho in the past few weeks.

Any deal for Ronaldo would likely hinge on the Blues landing Mourinho first.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

Belmont Stakes 2013: Predicting Top 3 Finishers in Triple Crown's Final Leg

Maxwell Ogden — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:21:22 -0400

In what can be described as nothing short of a stunning display of dominance, Oxbow led from start to finish en route to a victory at the 2013 Preakness Stakes. With the win, Orb's pursuit of the Triple Crown was crushed and Oxbow entered his name into the hat of favorites for the Belmont Stakes.

The question is, how will the Triple Crown's final leg play out?

Orb entered the race as the odds-on favorite, but it was Oxbow that was led by multi-time Preakness Stakes winners in jockey Gary Stevens and trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Stevens took home his third career Preakness Stakes crown, while Lukas corralled his sixth.

With both men experiencing success at the Belmont Stakes, another win could be on the horizon.

Just don't sell the field short before the action even begins; some horses that ran well in the Kentucky Derby but skipped the Preakness might contend as well.

Oxbow enters the race in fierce competition with Orb to own the label of the favorite, as both have won major races this season. With Oxbow taking the Preakness Stakes and Orb earning the Kentucky Derby nod, the top two contenders at the Belmont Stakes could be the previous winners.

The question is, how will it all play out when it's all said and done?

Date: Saturday, June 8

Time: 6:40 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Venue: Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

3. Orb

Orb may have finished in fourth at the 2013 Preakness Stakes, but he was starting off of the rail in the No. 1 post. Not only is that unfavorable position, but it's a sign of things to come—no horse has won the event from the rail since 1994.

Even still, Orb finished in strong position considering the way he came out of the gates.

With this in mind, there's no reason to believe that Joel Rosario will be unable to ride Orb to yet another victory. After all, legendary trainer Claude R. "Shug" McGaughey has won at this event before, taking home the 1989 Belmont Stakes title.

The question here is simple—what post position will Orb draw?

If Orb starts in favorable position, there's a powerful possibility that he walks away with the victory. With that being said, confidence and focus is a key here, and Orb cannot be thrilled with the way the Preakness turned out.

Even still, this horse will be in it until the bitter end.

2. Oxbow

Fresh off of a win at the Preakness Stakes, it's not hard to see why Oxbow will be a favorite at the 2013 Belmont Stakes. It certainly doesn't hurt that Oxbow has the supporting cast to lead a charge toward a victory.

Both jockey Gary Stevens and trainer D. Wayne Lukas have each won the event before.

Stevens enters this race having won the Belmont Stakes in 1995, 1998 and 2001. For what it's worth, the 1995 title came alongside none other than Lukas.

The two helped lead Thunder Gulch to the crown.

Individually, Lukas has won the Belmont Stakes on four separate occasions. He won the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes consecutively in 1994 and 1995.

There's a high probability that Lukas' reign of terror continues in 2013 with Oxbow.

1. Mylute

One of the most surprising finishes at the 2013 Preakness Stakes was held by Mylute. Starting out of the No. 5 post, Mylute ended up finishing third and surprising the field by finishing ahead of Orb by a relatively wide margin.

Expect history to be made at the Belmont Stakes.

Mylute is guided by jockey Rosie Napravnik, a 25-year-old from Morristown, N.J. Not only is she one of the fastest-rising jockeys in the world, but she's on pace to reach the height of legends with a win at Belmont.

Napravnik can become the first female jockey to win the Belmont Stakes since Julie Krone in 1993.

Napravnik and trainer Tom Amoss appear to have limitless potential together, which will shine through in Elmont, New York. Together, they could join the ranks of history and place Napravnik in a class of her own in terms of modern riders.

Bank on it.

Can Boston Celtics Build Legitimate Future Around Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green?

Matthew Schmidt — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:20:38 -0400

Regardless of whether or not Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce return next year, it's obvious that the two key pieces of the Boston Celtics' future are Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green.

Rondo, 27, will be the clear-cut best player on the team once Garnett and Pierce leave. It's no secret that a Celtics rebuild hinges on his ability to teach a group of youngsters and lead by example, and some wonder if Rondo has it in him to do that.

Green, 26, demonstrated his ability throughout the 2012-13 campaign. We saw him erupt for 43 points against the Miami Heat and then average 20.3 points per game in the playoffs. The question with Green is not if he can do it; it's if he will do it consistently.

Let me preface all of what I am about to say by stating this: Boston needs more than just Rondo and Green.

In this day and age, teams absolutely need a reliable third piece in the NBA. Unless they have a Shaq and Kobe-type of duo (and I don't see anything currently in this league that even begins to resemble that), the teams must have at least three dependable scorers to have a shot at a title.

Now, taking that into consideration, the answer to the original question is a reluctant yes.

I say the word "reluctant" because it is strongly predicated on the C's finding that third wheel. Maybe that third wheel is already on the team. Perhaps it is Jared Sullinger, who also figures to be a significant part of a Celtics rebuild. No matter who it is, Rondo and Green need some support, preferably being in the form of a big man.

That being said, having Rondo and Green is undoubtedly a nice start.

Rondo is unquestionably one of the best point guards in the game, possessing otherworldly floor vision and a tenacity that few players in the league actually have. He is also incredibly unpredictable, making him all of the more dangerous, especially out in the open court.

Green is a Swiss army knife.

He can shoot from the perimeter, put the ball on the floor, explode to the rim and post up. He is also a fine defender, displaying solid shot-blocking prowess this past season and a knack for playing tough, physical defense on opposing small forwards. Green's versatility allows him to man both forward positions, creating mismatches at both spots.

What Celtics fans must understand is that this is going to be a rather difficult transition.

No matter how effective Rondo and Green are, they are not going to be as dominant as the combination of Garnett and Pierce (not to mention Ray Allen) was when the Big Three first formed in Boston back in 2007. That was essentially a once-in-a-lifetime type of team that we'll be lucky to witness again in the near future.

So, Rondo and Green will be good. Just not that good.

Then again, who knows? As has been said ad nauseam, if the C's can add another star to the club while also filling out the rest of the roster, Rondo and Green can do special things. After all, we already know that Rondo and Green will likely comprise a great tandem, given Rondo's affinity for getting out on the break and Green's propensity to run the floor like a gazelle and throw down monster slams.

Rondo also has a bit of a chip on his shoulder.

He definitely heard all of the chatter about the Celtics being better without him this year. People said that Boston's offense actually ran more smoothly sans No. 9, stating that Doc Rivers' squad shared the ball more and ran quicker, crisper sets.

Of course, that talk was thoroughly disproved in the playoffs, as the C's' offense came to a grinding halt without their floor general. Don't think that means Rondo has forgotten all of the criticisms that were thrown his way, however.

The ACL tear could serve as sort of an awakening for Rondo. When tragedy strikes, you really stop and put things into perspective, and we can only assume that the point guard did that and more while watching his brothers go into battle without him from Jan. 27 through the rest of the season.

Green has that chip, too.

The four-year contract he was given by the Celtics last summer was chastised by many, especially by former ESPN writer John Hollinger. Hollinger, who is now the vice president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, called the deal (ESPN Insider required) "without a doubt, the worst contract of the summer."

How about a personal apology to Jeff, John?

While Green does not have the type of stubborn personality of Rondo, you can bet that he has taken Hollinger's words—as well as the comments of everyone else who doubted him—to heart.

It's not just about playing with extra motivation, though. It's also about utilizing your talents to the fullest, and in the right situation, Rondo and Green are both perfectly capable of doing just that.

In the end, there is a large faction of individuals who consider Rondo to be a top-two or top-three point guard in the NBA. There is also the ever-growing Green bandwagon that feels as if we are watching the birth of a new star.

I think I'll take a top-flight point guard and a potential star forward as building blocks for a successful future.

Wouldn't you?

Undrafted Free Agents Who Could Make the Pittsburgh Steelers Roster

Joseph Bruno — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:16:09 -0400

Any team in the NFL can get a good player in the first round of the draft, and the really good franchises are the ones who consistently find steals later on. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the better teams in the NFL in finding players late in the draft from Antonio Brown (sixth), Brett Keisel (seventh) and James Harrison (undrafted) to Willie Parker (undrafted).

In this article I am going to look at five of this year's undrafted free agents that have the best chance at making the Steelers’ 2013 roster.

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IndyCar 2013: Ed Carpenter Still a Long Shot Despite Winning Pole

Tyler Brooke — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:14:41 -0400

Even after winning the pole for the Indianapolis 500, it’s still unlikely that Ed Carpenter actually pulls off the win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Carpenter won the pole position on Saturday, with the Indy Motor Speedway's official Twitter account announcing his victory.

The last win for Carpenter came in September of last year, winning the MAVTV 500 after starting fifth. In the 141 races he has started, he has only won twice.

This is actually Carpenter’s second career pole position, despite racing for 10 years. For a racer who has been in the IndyCar series for so long, you would expect to see more wins and pole positions.

In his career at the Indy 500, Carpenter’s average finish is around 15. That’s not a horrible average finish, but it’s not where he wants to be if he wants to be considered an elite racer. His best finish came back in 2008, where he finished in fifth.

Pole-sitters at the Indy 500 tend to have some success, but it isn’t a guarantee. The last winner who started from the pole position was Helio Castroneves back in 2009. Other winners from the pole since 2000 happened back in 2008, 2006 and 2004.

The competition surrounding Carpenter will be fierce. Previous winners who will be driving include Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti and Buddy Lazier. Other big names will be racing as well, with Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti in the hunt.

At the moment, Carpenter is currently No. 23 in the IndyCar series standings. That’s not a good start through the season’s first four races. In fact, only four drivers are lower in the standings, with only two of them actually racing in all four races.

Carpenter also has a few guys close behind after the qualifying results. According to USA Today, Andretti and Castroneves finished in the top 10 qualifiers as well. Talented drivers like those two will provide plenty of competition for Carpenter early on in the race.

While starting in the pole position is always nice, it likely won’t help out Carpenter much. He’s a driver with few wins in his career, despite racing for a decade. There is likely to be plenty of hype surrounding Carpenter heading into the race, but going the fastest during qualifying doesn’t always transition into a victory.

NASCAR Sprint Showdown 2013 Results: Reaction, Leaders and Post-Race Analysis

Matt Fitzgerald — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:03:58 -0400

Jamie McMurray won the NASCAR Sprint Showdown on Saturday evening at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. McMurray, along with runner-up Ricky Stenhouse Jr., clinched a spot in the forthcoming All-Star Race.

To the surprise of few, Danica Patrick, who finished ninth, won the fan vote to get the 22nd and final spot, per NASCAR on ESPN:

No points were at stake in this precursor to the All-Star Race, but it didn't diminish the excitement or the significance for McMurray, as documented by NASCAR Stats on Twitter:

McMurray finished the first of two segments of 20 laps in front of pole-sitter Martin Truex Jr. by approximately nine-tenths of a second, and he never relinquished his lead. The wire-to-wire victory got McMurray a well-deserved spot in the marquee showcase set to take place later on Saturday.

Below is an overview of the top finishers in the field, followed by further analysis of how the action played out.

2013 NASCAR Sprint Showdown Top 10 Results

Place	Driver	Car
1	Jamie McMurray	1
2	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	17
3	Jeff Burton	31
4	Paul Menard	27
5	Martin Truex Jr.	56
6	Juan Pablo Montoya	42
7	Aric Almirola	43
8	Travis Kvapil	56
9	Danica Patrick	93
10	Casey Mears	13

Casey Mears boldly decided to stay out on the track in an effort to get a leg up on the competition. USA Today's Jeff Gluck wondered if that was the soundest strategy:

Unfortunately, things didn't quite work out for Mears. He couldn't improve upon his career-best sixth-place finish in the Sprint Showdown and wound up in 10th.

After that, Mears and McMurray went to pit lane to get all four tires changed, and McMurray's stop was particularly effective, as his team enhanced the control he had on his car in a matter of just six seconds.

Juan Pablo Montoya, an Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing teammate of McMurray's, was penalized coming out of the pits, as the team's official Twitter page documented:

Though he jumped the gun somewhat in that instance, his crew gave him a strong set of adjustment, and he ran all the way to sixth position in the end.

Truex bumped the wall while battling with third-place finisher Jeff Burton with 12 laps to go. That made an indent in Truex's car and caused him to finish in fifth in the end—just outside of automatic qualification for the All-Star Race.

Patrick obviously didn't qualify, and reaction to her selection has been polarizing. On one negative end is Shawn Courchesne of RaceDayCT.com:

It makes some sense, since Patrick has just one Top-10 finish and sits 26th in the Sprint Cup points standings. However, her marketability and appeal are undeniable, and she is popular with the fans.

She will gladly take the spot, and upon hearing the news, Patrick was fired up, according to Claire B. Lang of NASCAR Sirius XM Radio:

The 40-lap thrill ride lent itself to all-out, aggressive styles rarely seen from some of stock car racing's premier drivers in regular races. That didn't deter McMurray from dominating and putting himself in ideal position to succeed against the tougher field he'll face next.

2nd-Round Draft Prospects Guaranteed to Interest the Detroit Pistons

Jakub Rudnik — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:50:18 -0400

In the 2013 NBA draft, the Detroit Pistons will have the No. 8 pick in the second round. Players available that late rarely turn into All-Stars, but the Pistons should be able to find a player who can play valuable minutes in their rotation next season.

The Pistons need to upgrade their starters on the wing, but they also need to find reliable backups at point guard and in the frontcourt. Here is one player at each position that the Pistons should strongly consider drafting in the second round.

Point Guard: Myck Kabongo, Texas

The Pistons only have two players under contract that can play point guard, Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey, and both struggle running an offense.

Texas' Myck Kabongo has very good upside and plays like a traditional point guard.

Kabongo's draft stock dropped a bit after he was suspended for the first 23 games of the 2012-13 season, but there is no question that he is a very talented player. When he was eligible, he led the Longhorns in scoring (14.6), assists (5.5) and steals (2.0) and was second in rebounding (5.0).

He is on the small side, measuring just 6'1" and 180 pounds at the combine, but he makes up for it with great quickness and the ability to finish in traffic. Listen to Texas head coach Rick Barnes break down Kabongo's ability to finish on a fast break:

Kabongo has also shown a willingness to work on the defensive end, something that not all young guards have. That, combined with his ability to run an offense, will make Kabongo a solid backup point guard right away.

Shooting Guard: Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan

If the Pistons don't get a chance to draft Victor Oladipo or Ben McLemore in the first round, they would be incredibly happy to see Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr. fall to them in the second round. Hardaway has the talent to be a first-round pick, but it is not even close to a lock at this point. ESPN's Chad Ford has him ranked No. 34 on his most recent big board.

Hardaway can score in a variety of ways, has NBA three-point range and is a solid athlete. He was the second-best player on a Michigan team that lost in the NCAA championship game and has NBA pedigree, as his dad (Tim Hardaway Sr.) was a five-time All-Star.

Scouts worry that Hardaway is not elite at any aspect of the game, and that he is shorter than a prototypical shooting guard (he measured 6'4.5" at the combine).

Regardless, Hardaway has the talent and athleticism to be, at the minimum, a valuable role player on the wing for the Pistons. With more focus on defense, Hardaway could develop into a starter at some point.

Small Forward: Reggie Bullock, North Carolina

Small forward is another position where the Pistons desperately need to add talent. Reggie Bullock from North Carolina could become a solid 'three and D" player for the Pistons on the wing.

Bullock became a very effective shooter during his three seasons at North Carolina. He shot 48.3 percent from the field and 43.6 from behind the arc in his junior year. He also proved to be an effective rebounder, averaging 6.5 per game.

He is an excellent athlete, but, like many other second-round prospects, Bullock is short for his position (he measured under 6'6" at the combine).

Bullock's offensive game is not as versatile as Hardaway's, but he has better range. His shooting alone will allow him to find playing time on an NBA roster from Day 1.

Power Forward: C.J. Leslie, North Carolina State

The Pistons already have Greg Monroe at power forward, but they have very little depth in the frontcourt. C.J. Leslie from North Carolina State has the ability to play as an undersized stretch-4 in the NBA.

Measuring 6'7.5" at the combine, Leslie is a classic "tweener." He has elite athleticism and can rebound the ball (he averaged over seven in each of his three seasons at N.C.State), but at just 209 pounds he won't be able to guard bruising power forwards in the post.

With two true low-post players on the roster, Leslie could be a great change-of-pace player off the bench for the Pistons. He could also be very useful against teams like the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets that consistently use small-ball lineups.

Center: Lucas Nogueira, Brazil

There will be very few legitimate big men available in the second round of this year's draft. Lucas Nogueira from Brazil is one of them.

Nogueira is a very raw prospect and has little offensive talent, but he has the potential to be a difference-maker on the defensive end.

Nogueira is listed at 6'11" and 218 pounds with a 7'5" wingspan. He is clearly very thin for his position, but that is something that many international prospects address once they reach the NBA.

The Pistons already have Andre Drummond as their starting center of the future, but Nogueira has more potential than any big man available this late in the draft.

ESPN Insider Chad Ford wrote of Nogueira:

Nogueira has excellent potential as a rim protector at the NBA level, and even if he is stashed for another season or two -- he is under contract with Estudiantes until 2014 -- there are few defenders like him in this draft.

At this point in their rebuilding process, the Pistons have more pressing needs than a backup center and will likely want a player that can be on the roster this fall. However, Nogueira could be very valuable down the road.

Preakness 2013: Winners and Losers from Pimlico

John Scheinman — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:41:40 -0400

The overwhelming number of opinions said that Orb was a powerful likelihood to win the Triple Crown, so authoritative was his Kentucky Derby two weeks ago at Churchill Downs.

But what a difference two weeks make.

Orb was nowhere and old-timers were everywhere, as two Hall of Famers, trainer D. Wayne Lukas, 77, and jockey Gary Stevens, 50, teamed to win the 138th Preakness Stakes.

The race was the kind of feel-good spoiler that you can't get too upset about, considering the connections of the winners.

Here are five winners and five losers from this year's second leg of the Triple Crown.

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2013 Preakness Payout: How Top Favorites and Longshots Made out

Tyler Conway — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:34:00 -0400

The owners of Affirmed can crack the proverbial champagne, as the Triple Crown drought will continue pushing into its fourth decade after Saturday's 138th Preakness Stakes.

Starting from the sixth post, underdog Oxbow came from 16-1 pre-race odds (via Bovada) to end Orb's quest for history. The Kentucky Derby winner was unable to find that extra gear against the nine-horse field, getting lost in a sea of horses down the stretch en route to finishing fourth.

The John Velazquez-jockeyed Itsmyluckyday finished second, while Rosie Napravnik's Mylute came in third place.

But Saturday's story was all about Oxbow. Jockeyed by Gary Stevens and trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Oxbow got off to a roaring start. The three-year-old colt took the lead from the opening gate and never once relinquished the advantage for a wire-to-wire triumph. You can take a look at the full results of Saturday's race on the video embedded below.

Meanwhile, the run was one of disappointment for Orb, who burst onto the scene with a dominant performance at Churchill Downs. Shug McGaughey's top colt came in as the heaviest favorite in a Preakness since Big Brown and was thought of as a legitimate Triple Crown threat.

However, it was clear that the horse didn't have an extra gear to come from behind as the folks at Pimlico Race Course saw one of the more shocking upsets in the sport's recent history.

As always is the case in major horse-racing upsets, the payout fallout is often as intriguing as the race itself. With that in mind, here is a look at the complete results for the 2013 Preakness Stakes along with the payout for each of the three top finishers:

Pos.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Post	Payout
1	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	6	$32.80, $12.00, $6.80
2	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	9	$7.80, $5.00
3	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	5	$5.20
4	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	1
5	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O'Neill	2
6	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr	Albert M. Stall, Jr	4
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	7
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	8
9	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	3

Results via NBC telecast, payouts via America's Best Racing.

Notable Results

Underdog Oxbow Steals the Show

Of the horses thought most likely to prevent Orb's run at a Triple Crown, Oxbow was at or near the bottom of the list. The D. Wayne Lukas-trained horse was one of three thoroughbreds ending the event for the legendary racing figure and had the second-highest odds of any entrant in Saturday's race.

Then the race started, and it became clear just what fine form Oxbow was in on Saturday. The colt burst out of the starting gate and was dominant from the outset. Oxbow's wire-to-wire win was the first time since Aloma's Ruler captured the 1982 Preakness that any horse has led the entire way, per Derby Contenders' Twitter feed:

Perhaps, we should have seen this coming, though. The 77-year-old Lukas is arguably the greatest trainer in the sports history, a man now with a record 14 Triple Crown victories. Speaking on NBC's telecast after the race, Lukas noted his penchant for shocking the world.

I get paid to spoil dreams," said Lukas (h/t USA Today's Reid Cherner).

And while it's easy to have 20/20 hindsight, Oxbow's post draw also indicated a strong impending performance. As ESPN Stats & Information points out, the No. 6 post has produced the most Preakness winners in the storied race's history:

For those who had faith in history repeating itself from a gambling standpoint, Oxbow was obviously a major win for anyone who took a chance. The $32.80 payout for a win bet is one of the largest in history and a signal that anything truly does happen in horse racing.

Orb Fails to Finish in Money

Oxbow's scamper to a dominant win may have shocked the world, but Orb's fall from grace disappointed it. The Kentucky Derby winner came into Saturday's race with the largest hype of any horse in a half-decade and it felt anticlimactic seeing Orb drop from contention down the stretch.

Granted, Orb was racing against a good bit of history. There hadn't been a Preakness winner from the inside post since Tabasco Cat in 1994—and that's the only one over the past five-plus decades. Even in smaller fields, the inside post is a death knell for plenty of top-notch horses, as opponents scamper to get inside position.

And as Chris Brown's Smart Football Twitter feed pointed out, starting on the inside gate left Orb squeezed a little too tight at a couple different points:

Nevertheless, it was obvious Orb did not have that extra gear on Saturday. Even when Joel Rosario finally got his horse some breathing room, the burst to the front was just not there. A horse that came in as -500 to finish inside the top three (per Bovada) came up one spot short.

Speaking after the race, trainer Shug McGaughey said he was disappointed mostly because of the fan letdown, per John Clay of the Lexington Herald-Leader:

It's a great sentiment from McGaughey, who is one of the sport's most beloved faces. But as we begin the lead-up to the Belmont Stakes, the sport again feels like something major is missing. There was no second triumph for McGaughey, Orb or any of the folks who spent countless dollars riding the hot hand.

Mylute Jockey Rosie Napravnik's Success at Pimlico Continues

Mylute was a fast-riser up the odds boards heading into Saturday's race, and it was likely a little puzzling for those who hadn't been paying attention. The three-year-old colt had run 10 races in its short career and only won twice—and not once during this calendar year.

Mylute's biggest banner performance of the 2013 racing season was a fifth-place spot in the Kentucky Derby. And while that made the Tom Amoss-trained horse the second-highest Derby finisher in this Preakness field, that was something of a backhanded compliment. This field had three different new shooters at the starting gate, all of which put this field in massive flux prior to Saturday.

However, the major reason Mylute being bet hard made sense was the presence of jockey Rosie Napravnik. The 25-year-old Napravnik came into the Preakness Stakes with an intricate knowledge of how Pimlico works. Her first victory was at the legendary track, where the New Jersey native spent much of her youth building up a strong reputation.

You could see that familiarity on display throughout Saturday's festivities. Napravnik expertly navigated Mylute through a sea of horses midway through the race, emerging and blowing past Orb en route to a third-place finish.

While not quite the history-making victory Napravnik was hoping for, she did become the highest-finishing female jockey in Preakness history. And as Amoss points out, Mylute looks like he's only going to get better going forward, per Derby Contenders' Twitter feed:

It's unclear whether Mylute will race in the Belmont, but Napravnik might just make history after all if he does.

Preakness Results: Oxbow and Most Surprising Finishes

Tim Keeney — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:33:15 -0400

If you were disappointed with the Kentucky Derby's lack of surprises, the 138th running of the Preakness more than made up for it.

Oxbow, of course, led the way with one of the most dominant, unsuspecting runs at Pimlico in the history of the prestigious race, but the nine-horse field was littered with unforeseen results.

Here's a look at the final standings, courtesy of NBC's telecast:

Pos.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Post	Payout
1	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	6	$32.80, $12.00, $6.80
2	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	9	$7.80, $5.00
3	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	5	$5.20
4	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	1
5	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O'Neill	2
6	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Albert M. Stall Jr.	4
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	7
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	8
9	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	3

Surprising Finishes

Oxbow (First Place)

With the trip that 50-year-old Gary Stevens made atop Oxbow on Saturday afternoon, you'd think he had been the odds-on favorite, per Yahoo! Sports:

But he wasn't. Oxbow's final line stood at a staggering 14-1, per NBC's telecast, which put him as the second biggest long shot.

But it didn't matter. Oxbow, led by a Hall of Fame combo in Stevens and trainer D. Wayne Lukas, was absolutely dominant from start to finish.

I'm not even sure many were expecting Orb, the odds-on favorite, to run that transcendent of a race, let alone one of the biggest underdogs. The Preakness often goes according to plan—at least more than the other two Triple Crown races—but Oxbow gave us the complete opposite of that.

Orb (Fourth Place)

Unfortunately for Orb, he finds a spot on this list for a different reason than Oxbow.

The Kentucky Derby was expected to trounce an unspectacular nine-horse field, but coming out of the No. 1 post, he got boxed in on the inside and was never able to showcase his closing speed.

It's not exactly warranted, but the surprisingly poor finish has made the unlucky horse the butt of many jokes, much like this one:

Nevertheless, Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey's pride and joy is no less talented than he was at the start of the day, and if Orb goes to Belmont, he will once again be a legitimate favorite.

Will Take Charge (Seventh Place)

In a field of 19 horses at the Kentucky Derby, Will Take Charge finished eighth.

In a field of nine horses at the Preakness, he finished seventh.

I'm not exactly sure you can call that improvement.

Will Take Charge entered Saturday with some momentum. Not only did he secure an encouraging finish at Churchill Downs, but he was led by the all-star tandem of Lukas and Mike Smith.

Everyone was jumping on the bandwagon, and by the morning, his odds were all the way down to 11-1, according to NBC. That certainly didn't suggest he was going to win the second jewel of the Triple Crown, but finishing in the money wasn't out of the question.

Then this happened:

But while the jockey is disappointed, something tells me the trainer—Lukas—isn't too upset with his day overall.

Follow @t_keen

Updated Postseason Report Card Grades for Every NBA Superstar

Grant Hughes — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:33:15 -0400

Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry have bowed out of the NBA playoffs, but don't worry; there are plenty of NBA superstars left to grade.

The usual suspects are all here, as well as a few unappreciated names who very much deserve recognition as elite players. Because these guys have all led their teams deep into the playoffs, there are bound to be some high marks. And remember, these report cards are based on the totality of each player's postseason contributions.

As we approach the midway point of the postseason, the stakes are higher than ever. So no matter how high these stars grade out, they'll all have to raise their games going forward.

Let's get to it.

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Oxbow a Serious Threat to Win at Belmont After Preakness Victory

Tyler Brooke — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:29:05 -0400

The Preakness featured plenty of excitement heading into the race, but the race itself was completely dominated by Oxbow.

Now that Oxbow has won the Preakness, he has become a serious threat to win at the Belmont Stakes.

According to the Derby Contenders Twitter account, it appears Oxbow will likely race at Belmont.

Right out of the gate at the Preakness, Oxbow dominated. He got off to an incredible start and never looked back. According to a tweet by Yahoo! Sports, it was the first wire-to-wire win in 31 years.

That kind of dominance will likely spill into the third leg of the Triple Crown. The young colt looked very impressive, and it’s hard to think that he will look any less dominant at Belmont.

Surprisingly, the win at the Preakness was only the third win in Oxbow’s career. However, that can likely be explained.

Oxbow bounced from jockey to jockey to start his career but has now stuck with Gary Stevens for his past three races. The transition to the legendary jockey has likely helped Oxbow quite a bit. Stevens now has nine wins in the three races of the Triple Crown, including three wins at the Preakness (h/t ESPN Twitter account).

The duo of Stevens and Oxbow didn’t start out hot, finishing in fifth at the Arkansas Derby. This was likely due to the fact that this was their first race together, and the chemistry was probably a little bit off.

At the Kentucky Derby, Oxbow finished in sixth. The conditions were sloppy due to plenty of rain, and the conditions for the track likely threw off Oxbow and Stevens and gave horses that generally are bred for an off track a chance to pull off the win.

If the conditions are fine at Belmont, Oxbow and Stevens will be heavy favorites. Stevens seemed to ride his horse perfectly, and it resulted in leading the entire race at the Preakness.

D. Wayne Lukas seems to always know what he’s doing, and nothing has changed in that regard with Oxbow. He has done a fine job training Oxbow. Now the horse is looking to win two of the three legs of the Triple Crown. The resume for Lukas tells it all, with six wins at the Preakness and 14 totals wins in the three races of the Triple Crown.

Having two Hall of Famers in Lukas and Stevens on his side certainly helps Oxbow a lot. Although he won’t be a Triple Crown winner, winning two of the three legs would be quite a feat.

Gary Stevens' Incredible Comeback Makes Him a Deserved Preakness Champion

Dan Talintyre — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:28:30 -0400

Had you asked someone prior to the 2013 Preakness Stakes as to which jockey that person thought would ride the winning horse, you'd have received a lot of different responses.

Many would have gone for the in-form Joel Rosario, who guided Orb to a sensational victory at the 2013 Kentucky Derby. Others still might have opted for Rosie Napravnik on board of Mylute or Kevin Krigger on Goldencents—both of whom were looking to create their own slice of history with a victory at the Pimlico Race Course this weekend.

You would have found few people suggesting that Oxbow jockey Gary Stevens would win—especially not riding the long shot horse that he was this year.

And oh, how wrong we all were!

Stevens was able to lead Oxbow to an incredible wire-to-wire victory and consolidate himself even further as one of the great Preakness (and career) jockeys of all time.

Yet whilst Stevens' success might simply seem like another big win for a big-name jockey, the reality was that it was much more than that.

For not only did he become the oldest ever jockey to win the Preakness Stakes with his victory here, the 50-year-old also did it after seven years of retirement.

Plagued by knee problems in the back end of his career (the first time, that is), Stevens was able to push through the pain and shed an incredible 25 pounds and eight percent body fat in two months. As his personal trainer Clark Masterson said to Don Markus of The Baltimore Sun, "Gary was clearly focused and driven... he was ready to hit the ground running and he did."

Which, given where he'd been, was simply astonishing.

His 13 knee operations and other aching surgically repaired parts forced Stevens to quit in 2005, and yet somehow, he was back riding in the saddle once more.

Now he's back in the winners circle in a Triple Crown event and feeling great about his new lease on life, according to comments he made to Markus of The Baltimore Sun.

"To me, 50 [now] is the new 30," Stevens said.

Where Stevens will go from here still remains to be seen, with the NBC analyst no doubt likely to continue that role when he hangs it up for a second time.

He will take Oxbow on to the Belmont Stakes this year and then, well, who knows?

So much of the past few years has been a journey that few thought Stevens would take, and his performances this year have been something that hardly anyone saw coming either—so where he'll go from here could very well be a myriad of different options. But with the taste of success in his mouth once more, you get the feeling that Stevens will no doubt push on for a few more years.

And with 50 being the new 30, he might well chalk up a few more big-race wins like he did this weekend—something that he would completely and utterly deserve.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sport goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

Indy 500 2013 Qualifying Results: Time Trials and Pole Positions

Brian Mazique — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:18:28 -0400

Before the qualifying runs began on Saturday, Mother Nature's intervention delayed the beginning of the time trials by more than two hours at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Once things finally got going, 24 cars qualified for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500. The final nine positions will be determined on Sunday during Old National Armed Forces Bump Day.

Ed Carpenter took the pole position with an average speed of 228.762 mph in the Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka No. 20 car.

Here are the rest of the times from the three rows of the Fast Nine.

Row	Driver	Four-Lap Average
1	Ed Carpenter	228.762
1	Carlos Munoz	228.342
1	Marco Andretti	228.261
2	E.J. Viso	228.150
2	A.J. Allmendinger	228.099
2	Will Power	228.087
3	Ryan Hunter-Reay	227.904
3	Helio Castroneves	227.762
3	James Hinchcliffe	227.070

Per Dave Lewandowski of IndyCar.com, rookie Carlos Munoz's front-row start earned him $50,000 of the Verizon Front Row awards and Marco Andretti was awarded a $40,000 bonus.

Here are the other drivers who have already made it into the field. They are listed with their four-lap speed averages.

Grid Spot	Driver	Four-Lap Average
10	JR Hildebrand	227.441
11	Alex Tagliani	227.386
12	Tony Kanaan	226.949
13	Oriol Servia	226.814
14	Justin Wilson	226.370
15	Sebastien Bourdais	226.196
16	Scott Dixon	226.158
17	Dario Franchitti	226.069
18	Takuma Sato	225.892
19	Charlie Kimball	225.880
20	James Jakes	225.809
21	Simon Pagenaud	225.674
22	Townsend Bell	225.643
23	Ryan Briscoe	225.265
24	Simona De Silvestro	225.226

Big Names Still Yet to Qualify

Graham Rahal

The 24-year-old son of racing legend Bobby Rahal seemed to struggle with his engine all day. After two attempts to solidify a position in the top 24, a noticeably frustrated Graham Rahal decided to regroup and take another shot on Sunday.

Don't you just love it when folks say they don't have much to say, but then go on a rant:

Pippa Mann

Pippa Mann didn't fare much better than Rahal. She did seem at least encouraged about her chances on Sunday. If positive energy is worth anything, she's in a good space for her run at one of the last nine spots.

Michel Jourdain

Michel Jourdain's times were woefully short of qualifying. It seems very unlikely he'll be able to recover from such a poor performance on Saturday.

Unless he and his team can truly work some magic, it is hard to see a scenario where he works his way onto the grid.

Follow me for Sports Did-You-Knows, News and Spirited Opinions

Stats You Wouldn't Believe from the NBA Combine

Daniel O'Brien — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:14:18 -0400

At the 2013 NBA draft combine in Chicago, top prospects from the NCAA and around the globe posted mind-blowing numbers in the measurements and athletic testing.

One international player registered a jaw-dropping wingspan flirting with eight feet, while a 6'9" forward proved to be more agile than any guard.

Other prospects wowed scouts with their three-point prowess and leaping ability, and some fell surprisingly short in the drills and measurements.

Which ballers made our list of unbelievable stats? Find out as we size up the most ridiculous numbers of the combine.

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Spike Lee Scores 2 Seats to Knicks Game 6 in Indy, Minus the Pacers T-Shirts

Grant Hughes — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:13:35 -0400

Spike Lee's persistence finally paid off: The New York Knicks' most ardent (and visible) supporter managed to secure a pair of tickets to Game 6 in Indianapolis.

You might remember that his efforts to score seats didn't work out so well last time, as an Indiana Pacers season-ticket holder somewhat awesomely turned down the director's offer to purchase his courtside tickets for $40,000.

The Pacers apparently took Lee's money this time, but they didn't miss an opportunity to show their displeasure at his presence. There would be no free swag for the only New York fan in the building:

And guess who facilitated the sale?

It sounds crazy that the Pacers president would have actively helped a rival fan get his hands on such sweet tickets, but remember, Donnie Walsh ran Lee's beloved Knicks from 2008-11. So there's something of a history between the pair.

Lee has been through the war between these two teams since the beginning, so he was smart enough to bring a human shield into the hostile environment with him:

I don't know who the kid in the picture is, but you can bet he's there to deter insults—and possibly a few projectiles intended for Reggie Miller's mortal enemy.

Speaking of which, Lee has been taking every opportunity to irritate Miller, popping up on camera in more than one instance behind the former Pacers great. Reggie might have been the king of the long bomb, but Lee is proving to be just prolific in the "photo" and "video" categories.

In addition to terrorizing Miller, Lee has come up with some pretty odd ways to motivate his favorite team. Anything to get a win, huh, Spike?

Not every Knicks fan is quite so "enthusiastic," though.

It's great that Lee is such a diehard supporter of his team. There's no question about his devotion. It would just be nice if he didn't have to snatch the spotlight so often. The rest of the fans in Indy are there to enjoy a game—not to suffer retinal damage from Lee's neon, Hi-Liter-toned apparel.

Preakness Results: Orb and More Horses That Let Us Down

Matt Fitzgerald — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:03:59 -0400

Oxbow, the 15-to-1 long shot, won the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, putting an end to a Triple Crown bid for Orb, who began at the No. 1 post position and couldn't recover in time, as he wound up in fourth.

Finishing outside of the money has to be an extreme disappointment for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, who has never won the big one at Pimlico Race Course in his illustrious career.

While Orb is going to steal many of the headlines, there were a couple of other horses who were expected to threaten and did not run very well. Goldencents, a sprinter who was thought to benefit from a shorter track at this leg of the Triple Crown, turned in another underwhelming performance.

Also among the letdowns was Bob Baffert's Govenor Charlie, who picked up steam with oddsmakers before the race but wound up next-to-last.

Below is an overview of the entire field, followed by detailed analysis of the horses who fared worse than expected.

Note: Statistics, odds and prior results, unless otherwise indicated, are courtesy of Preakness.com.

Pos.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Post
1	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	6
2	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	9
3	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	5
4	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	1
5	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O’Neill	2
6	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr	Albert M. Stall, Jr	4
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	7
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	8
9	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	3

Orb (Odds: 3-5; Place: 4)

Earlier in the week, Dave Grening of The Daily Racing Form warned those expecting Orb to run away with the Preakness as the unquestioned favorite to tread with caution:

That turned out to be a pseudo-prophetic statement, as Orb was a shade of the horse that ran and won the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. A significant factor was being close to the rail, as well as the pace of the race as it unfolded.

Agree or disagree with his opinions, but ESPN First Take television personality Skip Bayless nicely summarized what went wrong for Orb and prolific jockey Joel Rosario at Pimlico:

Rosario was the winningest jockey and leading money winner amongst all of his peers on the 2013 season entering this race. Unfortunately, it took too long for him to get Orb going. Moving to the outside initially would have been the best move, but there was simply no room.

Orb gave horse racing fans a glimmer of hope at the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, but alas, capturing the elusive trio of accolades was not meant to be yet again.

Goldencents (Odds: 9-1; Place: 5)

Kevin Krigger was bidding to become the first black jockey to win the Preakness since 1898, but he also struggled with traffic issues with his slender but swift Goldencents.

Though the colt won the Grade I Santa Anita Derby in impressive fashion leading up to Churchill Downs, he hasn't been the same since then. Trainer Doug O'Neill had some distressing news to report after the race, per KY Derby Contenders on Twitter:

When victory was out of reach in the Run for the Roses, Krigger wisely pulled Goldencents back in an effort to better prepare him for Saturday's race.

Now it looks like Goldencents will come up empty-handed in all three legs of the Triple Crown. For such a talented horse, it has to be disappointing for the team around him. O'Neill was definitely hoping to mount a better defense of his Preakness title.

As strong of a jockey as Krigger is, he will have more chances moving forward. However, this was a formidable horse with a ton of potential, so it will be viewed as a golden opportunity missed.

Govenor Charlie (Odds: 9-1; Place: 8)

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert didn't have any entrants in the Kentucky Derby and felt that Govenor Charlie was good enough to go after the horse's stellar work earlier in the week.

Apparently oddsmakers were buying what Baffert was selling, because Govenor Charlie wound up knotted with Goldencents as the No. 3 contender in their eyes. That didn't translate to the track, though.

Govenor Charlie sagged behind even the moderate pace that Oxbow set and could never gain any traction at Pimlico.

That may have been a result of rust. After registering the fastest time in stakes history in a romp at the Sunland Derby, Govenor Charlie was held out of competition in Louisville due to a foot bruise suffered while training.

Whether health was still a factor is unknown, but his run in Baltimore with Martin Garcia aboard proved Govenor Charlie wasn't quite cut out for this type of competition.

WWE Extreme Rules: Live Results, Reaction and Analysis

The Doctor Chris Mueller — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:59:07 -0400

Welcome to the Bleacher Report live coverage for WWE Extreme Rules 2013. This year's event will take place at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

WWE has done everything it can do to sell the event at this point, and we know the card will consist of eight matches on the pay-per-view and one on the pre-show.

The Miz vs. Cody Rhodes (Pre-Show)
Randy Orton vs. Big Show (Extreme Rules Match)
Sheamus vs. Mark Henry (Strap Match)
Chris Jericho vs. Fandango
Dean Ambrose vs. Kofi Kingston (U.S. Title Match)
Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns vs. Team Hell No (Tag Title Match)
Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger (I Quit Match for No. 1 Contender to World Title)
Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H (Steel Cage Match)
John Cena vs. Ryback (Last Man Standing WWE Title Match)

There is always a chance WWE could add another match on the fly, but the odds seem doubtful with a stacked card of stipulation matches.

Will The Shield walk out of Extreme Rules with the U.S. and Tag titles? Can John Cena fend off Ryback? Will Brock Lesnar redeem himself for his WrestleMania 29 loss?

Make sure to bookmark this page and come back on Sunday at the start of the pre-show for coverage of all the action as it happens live on PPV.

Follow me on Twitter @BR_Doctor

Power Ranking the Best Available NBA Head Coaching Candidates

Alec Nathan — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:53:00 -0400

As the NBA's elite contend for a title in the closing weeks of the postseason, some of the league's less prosperous franchises are in the market for new head coaches.

Whether it be a franchise in need of total reconstruction (Charlotte Bobcats) or an annual playoff contender that is sick of repetitive results (Atlanta Hawks), a number of teams are chasing a wide range of qualified candidates.

From splashy names to lesser known assistant coaches, there's someone out there for every team in need of a new head coach.

Note: All statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference unless noted otherwise.

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WWE SmackDown, May 17: GSM's Analysis and Aftermath

Graham 'GSM' Matthews — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:45:36 -0400

Two days away from WWE Extreme Rules, Friday Night SmackDown was the final stop before the pay-per-view event on Sunday. As expected, the blue brand did an effective job of hyping most matches on the scheduled card and presented a night of entertaining action as well.

Here, I will analyze each significant segment presented on the show. I will also provide a combination of predictions and wishful thinking about what I hope to see in the coming weeks.

The Miz Hosted Miz TV with Randy Orton, Big Show, Jack Swagger, Alberto Del Rio, Mark Henry and Sheamus

Standard segment to kick off the show featuring Randy Orton, Big Show, Jack Swagger, Alberto Del Rio, Mark Henry and Sheamus. Everyone played their roles well and respectively hyped their matches for Extreme Rules.

It was a paint-by-numbers promo, but it served its purpose in setting up the main event match for later in the night. The only person who didn't seem to belong was The Miz, who hardly spoke at all during the course of the segment.

Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns w/Dean Ambrose def. The Usos

Brief match with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns defeating The Usos. It was only a mere minute long and was nothing more than a glorified squash match.

I would have liked to see the match go a bit longer, especially since The Usos were made to look like equals on WWE Main Event this week. The post-match run-in from United States Champion Kofi Kingston was a logical way of building toward his title defense against Ambrose at Extreme Rules.

Tons of Funk def. Prime Time Players

Throwaway match with Tons of Funk defeating Prime Time Players. Similar to their match on this week's Raw, the bout wasn't given enough time to truly mean anything.

The sole purpose of this match was to give Tons of Funk their win back, which is unfortunate. The in-ring action wasn't bad at all, but it simply felt like an unnecessary waste of time.

Chris Jericho def. Antonio Cesaro

Great match between Chris Jericho and Antonio Cesaro. These two work well together and developed awesome chemistry over the course of the contest.

It featured excellent action that concluded with Jericho forcing Cesaro to tap out to the Walls of Jericho to score the victory. Fandango's post-match attack on Y2J was a nice way of hyping their upcoming match against one another.

The Miz def. Damien Sandow

Good match between The Miz and Damien Sandow. It should have gone longer than just three minuets, but they made the most out of the time they were allotted.

The pre-show matchup at Extreme Rules has zero buildup, so it was nice to see Cody Rhodes on commentary in effort to make the match mean something. I also like the idea of Sandow having his own talk show, which could prove to be extremely entertaining.

Divas Champion Kaitlyn def. Aksana (non-title)

Fine match between Divas champion Kaitlyn and Aksana. These two have worked with one another countless times, so this bout was nothing out of the ordinary.

However, there weren't as many botches as usual and wasn't all that atrocious, which was encouraging. If nothing else, the commentary from JBL, Michael Cole and Josh Matthews was hilarious during this match and is worth listening to if you happened to miss it.

Randy Orton, Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio def. Jack Swagger, Mark Henry and Big Show

Entertaining six-man tag team match with Orton, Sheamus and Del Rio defeating Swagger, Henry and Big Show. They kept the pace consistent throughout the bout and everyone was able to hit their signature spots.

Additionally, the final few moments of the contest were suspenseful and well done. I would have preferred to see the heels go over since I fully expect the faces to go over on Sunday, but that's only nitpicking things.

Overall Show

Overall, a good show that featured enjoyable action and a handful of hype for the Extreme Rules event. There was very little filler and instead primarily focused building the matches on Sunday's card.

Once again, SmackDown outperformed Raw this week, which shouldn't come as any surprise. The blue brand has been the better show for weeks now and certainly sold me on the pending pay-per-view.

GSM out.

Visit my website at Next Era Wrestling and listen to my wrestling radio talk show SAVE US GSM every Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET.

Follow @SAVE_US_GSM

2013 Preakness Winner: Gary Stevens Writes Script Hollywood Wouldn't Buy

Steve Silverman — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:43:56 -0400

Gary Stevens had a gameplan for the Preakness, but he never got around to convincing Oxbow to go along with him.

Stevens, the Hall of Fame jockey, was going to ease his mount into third or fourth place off the start and then try to mount a winning rally.

However, that plan went out the window when Oxbow took off running out of the gate and made the lead easily. "His ears were up and he was happy," Stevens told the NBC Sports Network in interviews after the race. "I was hoping the boss (trainer D. Wayne Lukas) wouldn't be mad at me."

There was no chance of that happening since the fractions in the race were slow. Oxbow held onto his lead without any trouble. He was able to hold it down the stretch.

Oxbow's victory in the Preakness meant there would be no triple crown winner for the 35th consecutive year. Orb, the Kentucky Derby winner, finished fourth and was never in serious contention.

Stevens, 50, became the oldest jockey to win the Preakness. It was his third victory in the classic Baltimore race.

The victory capped a remarkable comeback for Stevens, who had turned to acting and horse racing analysis on television after retiring in 2005.

Stevens had eight Triple Crown victories on his resume, including a 1988 Kentucky Derby victory on Winning Colors that he he had previously described as the biggest thrill in his career.

Stevens had decided to retire because of the damage that had been done to his body by the sport. While there were other injuries, he had particularly bad knees. Don Markus of The Baltimore Sun reported he had 13 operations on his knees.

Stevens fell easily into his second career of acting. He played the role of jockey George Woolf in the 2003 blockbuster hit Seabiscuit and also had a starring role in the HBO series Luck, which premiered in 2012 and was well received by critics.

After the second season of the show was signed and agreed to, the series was abruptly cancelled. Three horses had reportedly died on the set, and HBO pulled the plug.

After the series was halted, the racing siren sang in Stevens' ear. He told his wife, Angie, that he wanted to ride again. He hooked up with kickboxer Clark Masterson, who helped Stevens get into shape.

Former rider Chris McCarron was not the least bit surprised when he heard that Stevens was about to make a comeback. He told the Baltimore Sun:

He's an incredibly competitive individual and I'm sure there were plenty of times when he was sitting on the set at HRTV or NBC and he was watching some rather poor rides out there, scratching his head and wondering "Man, if I was on that horse, I wouldn't have done that." That's the way I've felt [working as an analyst].

When he began his quest to get into shape, he was a pudgy 140 pounds. After he concluded his training, he was down to a rock-hard 114 pounds.

He returned to racing in January and quickly made it back to the winner's circle.

However, while Stevens could dream of winning a Triple Crown race, the reality of it floored him. The cameras caught him talking to himself as he crossed the finished line. He told NBC what he was saying.

"Are you kidding me?"

He was not kidding. Stevens, after nearly eight years of retirement from racing, had just won his ninth Triple Crown race.

Stevens explained how Oxbow had been strong in the warm-up before the race and that he just started running when the gates opened.

"He simply pulled me to the lead and he was running easily," Stevens said. "He managed to hold his position and he was at his best when we got to the head of the lane. I felt good about our chances because he wasn't laboring."

Neither was Stevens. He may have spent most of the last seven years pursuing acting and horse racing analysis, but his heart was never far from the excitement of race day.

And the thought of competing in the Triple Crown races is what stirred his passions more than anything.

He showed that his talents and abilities were still a match for his passion as he came home a winner.

The only thing left now is to figure out who plays Gary Stevens in the movie.

—

Preakness Results: Full Breakdown of Finishers and Payouts

Justin Onslow — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:38:31 -0400

Pre-race 14-1 long shot Oxbow completed an unlikely upset of Triple Crown hopeful Orb with a wire-to-wire first-place finish at the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes Saturday, edging out Itsmyluckyday and Mylute to earn the Black-Eyed Susan Blanket.

Jockey Gary Stevens got his horse out of the gates at a torrid pace and set the tone throughout the race. Oxbow wasn’t slowed by the No. 6 post, avoiding some clustering along the rail that kept Orb from ever bursting free from the pack.

It looked like Goldencents would challenge Oxbow from the No. 2 post, but after staying close to the eventual winner through the first turn, the Doug O’Neill-trained colt faded to a fifth-place finish behind Orb. Despite boasting some of the fastest sprinting speed in the field, Goldencents was unable to break free and keep pace with Oxbow—as was the case with rest of the field.

Place	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Earnings	Payouts
1	Oxbow	D. Wayne Lukas	Gary Stevens	$620,000	$32.80 (win) $12 (place) $6.80 (show)
2	Itsmyluckyday	Eddie Plesa Jr.	John Velazquez	$200,000	$7.80 (place) $5 (show)
3	Mylute	Tom Amoss	Rosie Napravnik	$100,000	$5.20 (show)
4	Orb	Shug McGaughey	Joel Rosario	$50,000
5	Goldencents	Doug O’Neill	Kevin Krigger	$30,000
6	Departing	Albert M. Stall Jr.	Brian Hernandez Jr.	$0
7	Will Take Charge	D. Wayne Lukas	Mike Smith	$0
8	Govenor Charlie	Bob Baffert	Martin Garcia	$0
9	Titletown Five	D. Wayne Lukas	Julien Leparoux	$0

Payouts based on $2 bet. Via America's Best Racing on Twitter ($1 million purse).

Itsmyluckyday was as close to overtaking Oxbow as any horse in the field. Starting from the No. 9 post, the colt merged from the outside and grabbed hold of the stalking position in place of Goldencents. Jockey John Velazquez did his part to position Itsmyluckyday for a late surge, but Oxbow had established too great a lead with his tremendous break from the gate.

Rosie Napravnik set out to make history at Pimlico Saturday but came up just short of becoming the first female jockey to ever win the Preakness. Still, the 25-year-old built on a strong showing at the Kentucky Derby (fifth place) with another quality Triple Crown performance, netting a nice payday for those bold enough to wager on the 10-1 long shot.

One of the biggest stories of the day was Orb’s inability to break free from the pack to secure the second leg of the Triple Crown. Starting from the rail position, Joel Rosario was unable to avoid the clustering of horses on the inside, eventually fading from just off the pace to a fourth-place finish.

Orb was vying to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown. While he was the 3-5 post-time favorite to do so, it wasn’t to be. As is often the case for a late closer like Orb, the inside post position was too much to overcome.

All three New Shooters failed to secure a top-five finish at Pimlico. Departing didn’t participate at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Preakness and was considered a 10-1 long shot to win, though pre-race odds were considerably more favorable.

The late shift in odds was appropriate, though, as the Albert Stall-trained colt was never able to establish good position in the race. Departing remained in the middle of the pack en route to a sixth-place finish.

Will Take Charge, Govenor Charlie and Titletown Five rounded out the final three finishers, respectively, the final two each having missed the Derby. Both New Shooters didn’t stand much of a chance from the onset, though Titletown Five did manage to pull into second place near the halfway point in the race.

With the win, Oxbow becomes the first thoroughbred in 31 years to win the Preakness with a wire-to-wire lead, as pointed out by Yahoo! Sports:

The colt also netted a hefty payday for Bluegrass Hall LLC, taking home the biggest portion of the $1 million purse. Those who were bold enough to bet on the long shot earned (on a $2 bet) $32.80 to win, $12 to place and $6.80 to show.

With Orb’s Triple Crown hopes dashed, all eyes will be on Oxbow as the Belmont Stakes approaches. The final leg of the Triple Crown is up for grabs, and Oxbow will try to prove his run at Pimlico was a sign of things to come.

Official Odds acquired from NBC telecast. Final odds can also be found at Bovada.lv.

Rafael Nadal's Consistency Is Enough to Prove That He Is Back

Rob Goldberg — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:38:20 -0400

It is hard to know when an athlete has returned to his true form after missing time with an injury, but Rafael Nadal is clearly back.

The tennis star missed seven months with a knee injury and then struggled when he returned to the court. In his first tournament in Chile, he went far against the weak field but then lost to Horacio Zeballos in the finals.

At that point, the question remained about whether he would be able to compete at a high level ever again. If he were to get back to that point, fans did not know how long it would take.

However, Nadal has been impressive since then. He won five singles titles and lost only one match in that stretch. While the loss ended his run of wins at the Monte Carlo Masters, one defeat is nothing to be alarmed about.

Instead, it is the consistency that should have fans excited.

Nadal has stepped into the season without missing a beat. He is barely losing any sets on clay, and his statistics are as good as ever. So far this year, he has won 37 percent of return games, which ranks second on the tour.

Additionally, he ranks first in the world in FedEx Reliability Index, which includes every factor of winning and accounts for high-pressure situations.

While the Spanish player has had the advantage of playing most of his matches so far on clay—where he has done so well in his career—the fact that he looks like the Nadal of old is encouraging.

Of course, this success has not come without a bit of struggle. Ernests Gulbis came close to knocking off the King of Clay in the third round of the Italian Open. David Ferrer also provided a tough challenge in the quarterfinals.

Still, his resilience has been impressive. He continued to battle against tough opponents and did what was necessary to come out on top.

In the finals, he is set to face an old nemesis in Roger Federer. Regardless of who wins, Nadal has done enough to prove that he is ready to take on the rest of the world at the French Open.

After winning seven of his last eight appearances at Roland Garros, there is every reason he should be the favorite heading into this Grand Slam event.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg