Bleacher Report - Front Page

Michigan Football: Adding Walk-on Garrett Moores Smart Move for Wolverines

Jesse Reed — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:11:08 -0400

The Michigan football program added a walk-on quarterback by the name of Garrett Moores on Wednesday—a savvy move that will ensure depth and competition in 2013 for the Wolverines.

Moores announced the move on his Twitter account, and shortly thereafter Tom VanHaaren of ESPN confirmed the move:

Ever since Russell Bellomy went down with an ACL injury earlier this spring, questions have swirled regarding what would happen during the season if Devin Gardner were to unfortunately go down with an injury of his own.

Many thought head coach Brady Hoke would try to find a quarterback by way of transfer, but Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com recently reported Hoke would not be going that route. Hoke told reporters, "I think we're pretty set with what we have."

On the one hand, it's nice to know Hoke has so much confidence in Gardner. The team has high hopes for this young signal-caller, and he has a chance to really make strides this season.

On the other hand, Gardner is a dual-threat quarterback who took some big hits last year. Should he suffer an injury, Michigan's chances of winning games would significantly lessen.

A big quarterback, at 6'4" and 200 pounds, Moores led Catholic Central to the 2012 Division 1 state championship, though the team lost to Detroit Cass Tech. He passed for 221 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in that contest.

According to MaxPreps.com, he was the No. 3 quarterback in Michigan last year. Adding another quarterback like Moores is a smart move by Hoke.

He will now compete with fellow walk-ons Brian Cleary and Alex Swieca, as well as 4-star freshman Shane Morris, to see who will back up Gardner during the season.

Though obviously not highly recruited, Moores is a player worth keeping an eye on going forward.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Kansas' Andrew Wiggins Dunks in His First Scrimmage

Ken Dorset — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:05:31 -0400

Andrew Wiggins made his first appearance as a Kansas Jayhawk Wednesday and he didn't waste any time showing off his talents. ESPN's Jason King shared the above video of the 18-year-old star throwing down on the opening possession of the team's scrimmage.

Here's a great photo of the dunk:

PHOTO: Andrew Wiggins @22wiggins dunks over Cole Aldrich (Photo Credit: @LJWorld) #kubball - pic.twitter.com/oIe4TbI0NL
— RockChalkBlog.com (@RockChalkBlog) June 19, 2013

Jerry Sloan Agrees to Return to Utah Jazz As a Senior Advisor

Tim Keeney — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:04:48 -0400

After leaving the basketball world aghast in 2011 with his sudden resignation, Jerry Sloan is returning to the Utah Jazz.

Jody Genessy of the Deseret News has the story from team CEO Greg Miller:

Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune reports that the position will be that of a senior advisor.

The 71-year-old Hall of Famer is one of the most respected—and successful—NBA minds in the business, and it seemed only to be a matter of time before he returned to the game in some capacity.

As for what capacity that will be in, that's very much up in the air. Genessy reports that Sloan will have a wide range of duties and that he's been working with the coaching staff for the past month.

After coaching the Chicago Bulls—the team for which he has his number retired—for three years to start his head coaching career, Sloan moved to Utah, where he took over for Frank Layden and had an impact on the organization that will likely never be duplicated.

He led the Jazz to 15 straight playoff appearances, including the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998. After missing out on the postseason from 2004 to 2006, he took them back four more times before eventually stepping down in the middle of the 2010-11 season.

When it was all said and done, Sloan had amassed a record of 1,127-682 (.623), including 13 seasons with at least 50 wins, and 19 playoff appearances in 23 years with the Jazz.

Overall, he has the third-most wins of any head coach in NBA history.

And if all of that doesn't fully showcase his immense worth as a head coach, know that in 2004 he carried a Jazz team that was led by a young Andrei Kirilenko, Raja Bell, Matt Harpring, Carlos Arroyo, DeShawn Stevenson and Greg Ostertag, among others (Tom Gugliotta and Michael Ruffin each received over 20 starts that season), to a 42-40 record.

Sloan often receives criticism for his old-school approach to the game, but his results speak for themselves.

It remains to be seen what kind of impact Sloan will have on the franchise, but the Jazz will have one of the game's great minds at its disposal.

The Truth Behind the Ticking Time Bomb of NL West Rivalries

Josh Schoch — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:03:31 -0400

The NL West has become more of a fight club than a division in MLB this season. The bitter rivalries between these teams have been erupting into brawls almost on a nightly basis.

Jesus Guzman of the San Diego Padres sparked yet another bench-clearing brawl on Wednesday against his former team, the San Francisco Giants. This is already the third time teams from the NL West have gotten into serious fights.

The NL West has become extremely volatile, and that could affect MLB as a whole.

Let's take a look at the three biggest feuds of the NL West and what it all means for the baseball world.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres (April 11, 2013)

Less than two weeks into the 2013 season, we saw a fracas break out between the Dodgers and Padres.

After Zack Greinke plunked Carlos Quentin, the two teams got into it, led by Quentin's charge right at Greinke.

Quentin started walking toward Greinke, who appeared to say something before Quentin dropped the bat and sprinted at Greinke, ending with the two lowering their shoulders and smashing into each other.

After wrestling the Dodgers' starting pitcher to the ground, Quentin was mobbed, and both teams got into a huge pile on the infield.

The biggest consequences of the fight did not come from MLB, but instead from the medical staff. Greinke broke his collarbone and didn't pitch for over a month.

This was just the beginning of the bad blood in the NL West, but it sure left its mark.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (June 11, 2013)

Exactly two months after the first brawl, Greinke took the mound again, this time against the Diamondbacks. However, he was not at fault in this case.

Diamondbacks pitcher Ian Kennedy started the fiasco, drilling Dodgers superstar rookie Yasiel Puig in the face.

Greinke and the Dodgers couldn't take this abuse lying down, so Greinke plunked Miguel Montero on the back as expected, and both teams left their dugouts.

Nothing happened at first. The two teams cleared the benches and jawed at each other, but the night was far from over.

When Greinke came to the plate in the next inning, Kennedy decided that he wasn't done. He hit Greinke with another high pitch.

The two benches cleared again, and this time there was more than just talk.

Puig was one of the players in the center of the scrum, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

The Diamondbacks were still talking about Puig’s actions Wednesday, saying that the Dodgers were shouting at him, “No! Not you!” as he kept charging back into the melee.

Nine games into his career, Puig is already that valuable. The Dodgers were fearful of losing him to an ejection (which happened) and a suspension (which almost certainly will follow).

Puig, though, was in a rage.

Kennedy had hit him the previous inning, grazing his nose with a 92-mph fastball. According to several Diamondbacks, Puig kept shouting, “Yo soy Cubano! — “I am a Cuban!” — as he drifted in and out of the fight, at one point landing a haymaker on the back of Eric Hinske’s head.

Puig wasn't the only one who got heated during the fracas. Even the managers were involved. It took MLB three days to finally dish out punishments, headlined by Kennedy's 10-game suspension.

The fallout of this brawl can still be felt today, and it remains the biggest of the year.

San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants (June 19, 2013)

The suspensions from the brawl between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers were still in effect when the latest chapter in the NL West's bloody 2013 campaign was written.

On Tuesday night, Jesus Guzman belted a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning against his former team and showed them up by yelling to his bench.

The Giants weren't pleased.

On Wednesday afternoon, the team sought revenge. Madison Bumgarner threw inside against Guzman, sparking a rage in the Venezuelan outfielder.

Guzman was quickly held back by catcher Buster Posey and home plate umpire Tony Randazzo, but the usually calm Bumgarner had a few things to say to Guzman himself.

As the two got closer and closer, more people stepped in front of them until the benches eventually cleared. Both teams got into it, pushing and shoving each other, although no serious fights broke out.

Guzman would get his revenge, hitting a home run off of Bumgarner in the seventh inning, but the Giants came away with the 4-2 victory.

Luckily, Wednesday was the final game of the series between the two. But this rivalry might not have died with the series, and we will see how it plays out when the two meet again July 11-14.

What This Means

With the latest incident in the NL West coming just over a week after the biggest brawl of the season, everyone in MLB will be paying extra attention to these divisional matchups.

The teams in the NL West have shown repeatedly that they don't like each other, and they're not afraid to get into it.

The first change that we will likely see going forward is from the umpires.

Whenever these teams meet again or play against divisional foes, they will probably be on short leashes. The umpires and MLB as a whole want this nonsense to stop before someone else gets hurt, and umps will likely be told to be very strict with their in-game punishments.

Expect to see any hit batters leading to ejections in rematches from these series.

Secondly, we know that the fighting isn't over.

As much as MLB may do to stop these teams from settling things with their fists, there is no way to truly combat it. There is too much bad blood between the five teams in the division, and the current players on the rosters have their own personal vendettas.

We could still see another brawl before the All-Star Break, and I wouldn't be surprised to see these incidents carry over into the second half of the season.

Finally, we have to watch if the office of Bud Selig steps in.

Obviously the league doesn't want to see fighting because it can lead to injuries (i.e. Zack Greinke's broken collarbone). However, there is a difference between having secret conversations with umps to try to stop it and publicly stepping in.

The biggest offenders in these brawls (and the other incidents from the season that are not listed) will be given severe punishments if it keeps happening.

If Carlos Quentin keeps fighting Dodgers, expect to see him sidelined for up to a month.

If Kennedy pitches against the Dodgers and hits a batter or two and sparks a fight, expect at least a 20-game suspension.

If Guzman and the Giants can't get over keeping him in the minors until he signed with the Padres, then both sides will be in hot water.

As the summer wears on, the heat will rise and so will tempers, and that could lead to a bloody campaign for the NL West in the rest of the 2013 season.

Follow @JoshSchoch

Brazil vs. Mexico: 6 Things We Learned

Christopher Atkins — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:54:39 -0400

A Neymar-inspired Brazil beat Mexico 2-0 in Group A of the Confederations Cup on Wednesday evening, virtually assuring the Selecao of a place in the semifinals.

For Mexico, the result brings a premature end to their challenge at the competition, adding to the pressure on the shoulders of head coach Jose Manuel de la Torre.

While Brazil had their own issues, in a game that often headed towards the mediocre, it was decided by two moments of real quality.

Let's, then, take a look at six things we can learn from the clash in Fortaleza.

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UFC: Top Five Least Surprising Upsets of 2013

Nate Lawson — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:53:23 -0400

MMA fans, and generally fans of any sport, love an underdog.

There's something refreshing about a competitor defying the odds by pulling out the improbable victory against an assumed-to-be greater, more gifted opponent.

But sometimes, an underdog's victory in mixed martial arts is not so shocking. On occasion, the oddsmakers get the betting line wrong.

2013 has already yielded a great deal of upsets, including Robbie Lawler's unlikely knockout victory over Josh Koscheck, and Jake Shields' split-decision win over Tyron Woodley. But neither of those fights make the list for the "Top Five Least Surprising Upsets" for this year.

Check out the five "underdogs" who flipped the odds and walked away clear winners against their favored opponents.

Final note: no, pick 'em fights are not included, so very slight upset wins, like Shawn Jordan's knockout over Pat Barry at UFC 161, won't make this list.

Odds courtesy of Bovada Sportsbook, stats courtesy of FightMetric.com

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Mexico vs. Brazil 2013: Neymar Puts on Stunning Show in 2-0 Win

Tim Keeney — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:50:12 -0400

With Barcelona already boasting the best player in the world in Lionel Messi, many wondered why Tito Vilanova's squad went and signed Neymar, who, for the most part, plays the same position.

Now flash forward to moments after Brazil's 2-0 Confederations Cup win over Mexico on Wednesday afternoon.

Oh, so that's why.

With Neymar, it has never been a question about talent. Seemingly the next in the line of world-class Brazilian players, there is nothing the 21-year-old can't do with the ball at his feet.

And I mean nothing:

On talent alone, he is already arguably a top-three player in the world.

But there have always been concerning questions surrounding the flashy forward. Is he too selfish? Does he dive and spend too much time trying to persuade calls from the refs? Does he settle for substance and style over production and output?

His deficiencies, in a word, are mental.

As such, you sometimes forget what he is capable of—but on Wednesday he reminded us in spectacular, jaw-dropping fashion.

Most will initially point to his involvement in Brazil's two goals.

In the ninth minute, a poor Mexico clearance found the foot of Neymar at the top of the box, where he sent in a scorching volley just out of the reach of goalkeeper Jose de Jesus Corona:

The deflection was a little fortunate, and it was poor marking on Mexico's part, but that finish was both gorgeous and clinical.

We would have to wait more than 80 minutes until Brazil's second goal, but the wait was undoubtedly worth it.

Stuck near the touch line with two Mexican defenders draped on him, it looked like Neymar had nowhere to go. Suddenly, after lulling the defenders to sleep, he knifed through them both, freed himself in the box and delivered a perfect ball to Jo, who finished easily:

What can you even say about that? That's beyond world-class. That's out-of-this-universe-class.

Moreover, while the time spent in between those two marquee plays wasn't nearly as spectacular or SportsCenter Top-10 worthy, it was productive.

According to WhoScored.com, Neymar was third on Brazil with 64 touches. He fired off two shots on target, completed 31 passes at an 87 percent success rate and was constantly beating opponents down the sideline and delivering in tantalizing crosses.

Neymar was active, involved and interested, and he put on an absolute clinic in every aspect of the game, completely out-classing everyone around him.

This makes him 2-for-2 on spectacular Confederations Cup performances (although he was better on Wednesday than he was against Japan).

If he continues to showcase this kind of focus and determination, he has the talent to produce many more enthralling moments like this with Barcelona and back at home in the 2014 World Cup.

Follow @t_keen

Travelers Championship 2013: Hottest, Coldest Golfers Heading into Tournament

Richard Langford — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:48:50 -0400

The tournament following a major always feels like a bit of a letdown. However, the field for the Travelers Championship has plenty of talent.

That includes U.S. Open winner Justin Rose, who as you may have guessed, has played his way onto the hot list.

Like the U.S. Open at the Merion Golf Club last week, this event is on a par-70 course under 7,000 yards. However, birdies will be a tad easier to come by this week.

Here are three golfers who will look to maintain their current form and three who will look to reverse their current trend.

*All stats via PGATour.com.

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Erik Spoelstra Is Still Vastly Overlooked in Miami Heat's Run of Dominance

Sean Grimm — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:48:40 -0400

It’s time to stop questioning the Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra as a head coach in the NBA. Well, it was actually time to stop doing so after the Miami Heat won their second title in franchise history.

But now, it’s never been more apparent that Spoelstra deserves the credit so many in the general public aren’t willing to give him—regardless of Game 7’s outcome.

Through six games, Spoelstra has gone head-to-head with one of the league's all-time great coaches in San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich. Over the past two weeks, Spoelstra and Popovich have each carefully placed their pawns, knights and queens.

And on Thursday night, one coach will have the opportunity to finally say, “Check, mate”.

With Game 7 on his home floor, Spoelstra, who began with the Miami Heat as a video coordinator in 1995, has put his team in excellent position to win their second straight title.

Sure, he may have LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and oh, the greatest three-point shooter of all time in Ray Allen in his back pocket, but Popovich isn’t exactly playing with house money himself.

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili will be making their way to Springfield in the near future. Danny Green has emerged as arguably the best in the league from beyond the arc, setting an NBA Finals record having already hit 26 threes this series.

On top of that, Popovich also holds the advantage of a considerable amount more of experience than Spoelstra when it comes to the biggest stage.

The Perspective

There are plenty around the league who see Spoelstra for who he is and admire what he’s been able to do with this Heat squad. Even a significant portion of the Heat’s fanbase has begun to soften its stance when it comes to criticizing their team’s head coach.

However, it’s safe to say that for every supporter of Spoelstra out there, there are two or three detractors hiding in the shadows, waiting for Miami to slip and beat their chests as they call for Spoelstra’s head.

The premise for his criticism is rather simple and centers on two particular areas of his coaching.

It’s a common (and flawed) belief that anyone can coach a team with James, Wade and Bosh to multiple titles. A majority of the time, these statements arise from fans that don’t do much more than watch the ball throughout the game.

And that’s fine. No one is asking all fans to become students of the game. Professional sports exist for the purpose of entertainment and there's nothing wrong with leaving it at that as a spectator.

What these fans tend to not understand, however, are the complex schemes, both on defense and offense, which Spoelstra has carefully designed to suit his team’s makeup.

Miami’s defense is elite because it takes tremendous effort, both mentally and physically, on a nightly basis. With two players constantly attacking the ball, everyone else on the court is responsible for upholding their roles as help defenders, while also understanding and staying true to their individual assignments.

Designing and tweaking this scheme is one thing, but instilling the discipline to consistently execute it is another.

Spoelstra has managed to do both.

When it comes to Miami’s offense, Spoelstra’s version of small ball is nothing to scoff at. Uniquely tailored to emphasize James’ strengths, while also creating comfortable environments for both Wade and Bosh, Spoelstra’s design is one of the biggest reasons why this Heat team stands where it currently does.

Not only is the design itself impressive, but it should be noted Spoelstra wasn’t exactly playing it safe when he decided Miami should take the small ball route. He knew there was the risk of failure, but he also understood the potential reward.

He believed in the system, and it’s paid off so far.

On the other side of the street, Spoelstra also gets criticism from the outside regarding his personality. To put it simply, there's a shared perception among basketball fans that he's too soft.

He doesn’t put his stars in their rightful place, they say. He’s not as brash as other coaches around the league, so he doesn’t have the knack for motivating his squad for the biggest moments.

Both of these beliefs are flawed.

As far as the respect factor goes, Spoelstra has had his moments when he’s had to step in and let his players know who’s boss. The most notable moment came last postseason, when he and Wade had a very public confrontation with tensions high in Indiana.

Also, just because a coach isn’t always the most animated on the sidelines when he’s addressing his players doesn’t mean they don’t respect him as their leader. James, Wade and Bosh have repeatedly made it known they believe in Spoelstra as a coach and trust his system.

When it comes to the motivation aspect, you can’t argue with results. Miami has won four straight elimination games and James currently stands 2-0 in Game 7s since he arrived in Miami.

He was 0-2 in Game 7s in Cleveland.

The Opportunity

Is the inability to win consecutive games recently frustrating? Of course it is, but mindset and motivation haven’t always been Miami’s biggest issues.

Against Indiana, Wade was hardly even a shell of himself and the Pacers happened to be a nightmare matchup for Miami.

Now, against a veteran Spurs team with a championship core, the Heat simply find themselves locked into one of the best Finals series in league history. Two very good teams have been trading punches and squeezing every last ounce of juice out of this NBA season.

It doesn’t boil down to much more than that.

Both teams have made their share of mistakes. Each has had their mental lapses. Spoelstra and Popovich have both made adjustments from game to game to put their teams in the best positions possible to win.

In the end, the unfortunate truth is Spoelstra likely won’t garner the credit and respect he deserves anytime soon.

But on Thursday night, he and the Miami Heat have the opportunity to continue chipping away at the bubble of doubt that engulfs his career as a head coach.

If the Heat do manage to pull off the repeat, Spoelstra will become just the ninth coach in league history to be able to say he's led his team to two-straight championships.

Blackhawks vs. Bruins Stanley Cup Finals Game 4: Live Score and Highlights

Ken Dorset — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:39:22 -0400

The Chicago Blackhawks have already faced a 3-1 deficit during this postseason, but coach Joel Quenneville's team does not want to go there with the Boston Bruins.

To avoid that abyss, Chicago needs to win Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals tonight in Boston.

While the 'Hawks managed to climb their way out of a 3-1 hole against the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference semifinals, Boston's suffocating defense and superb goaltending will make it near-impossible for Chicago to equal the feat in these finals.

The Blackhawks will get a badly needed offensive boost as Marian Hossa will return to the lineup after he was a scratched due to an injury during warm-ups in Game 2.

They'll need any boost they can get against a rolling Bruins team that has allowed six goals total in its last six home playoff games.

Game 4 begins at 8 EDT tonight on NBC.

Joe Torre's Daughter Harnesses Superhero Power, Catches Falling Baby

Gabe Zaldivar — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:38:20 -0400

If you are in need of quick thinking and even quicker reflexes, it sounds like Joe Torre's daughter is a good person to have around, because she recently caught a baby falling from a window.

The New York Daily News (h/t NBC Sports) reports Cristina Torre—daughter of current MLB executive and former Yankees manager Joe Torre—was in the right place at the right time to save a one-year-old child from serious injury.

Cristina Torre, 44, was walking along Third Ave. near 91st St. when she spotted the baby boy hanging from outside a storefront about 10 a.m., cop sources said.

Suddenly, the child dropped — but he landed safely in Torre’s outstretched arms, the sources and witnesses said.

Someone get this woman a cape.

I have always pondered how I might react in an extreme situation such as this. Thankfully, none have presented themselves.

As for Torre, she proved to have the kind of reflexes that would make her dad, a nine-time All Star and Gold Glove winner, very proud.

The report state the parents—Sam Miller, 23, and Tiffany Demetria, 24—were arrested and face charges such as child neglect and endangerment. The couple's other three kids were then taken in by children's services following this scary ordeal.

As for how a baby gets onto a storefront awning, the working theory is that the child crawled out through a small opening on the side of an air-conditioning unit that had been blocked by a piece of cardboard.

It's just fortunate there was even an awning to keep the child from falling immediately to the pavement. That small piece of overhang then bought enough time for our modern-day hero to step up for a fantastic grab.

Hit me up on Twitter: Follow @gabezal

Fiorentina Summer Transfers: 5 Potential Arrivals to Make Them Stronger

Jack Alexandros Rathborn — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:34:20 -0400

Fiorentina fell painfully close in their pursuit of a Champions League place with Milan denying them with just minutes before the end of the season.

The Viola overachieved to an extent and Vincenzo Montella did a marvellous job in his first season in charge after the Florentine club struggled to avoid relegation just over a year ago.

The potential of the club is huge though and even the sale of their best player, Stevan Jovetic, will not hold them back from competing for a Champions League place again next season.

Money will be made available by co-owner Andrea Della Valle, who demonstrates such passion watching his club each week from the stands.

Here are five players that will help strengthen the squad and give them a better chance of improving on last season.

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Blackhawks vs. Bruins Game 4: Last-Second Keys to Victory for Each Team

Steven Cook — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:31:46 -0400

We're all set for a crucial Game 4 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, and the way that the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins execute their keys to the game will be the biggest telling point in who pulls out the victory.

After the Blackhawks looked poised to continue their roll after a thrilling Game 1 victory that went all of three overtimes, the Bruins finally came together to win a huge Game 2 in overtime in Chicago before a dominant performance from goaltender Tuukka Rask led to a 2-0 Bruins win in Game 3.

Now, Chicago has the chance to steal one in TD Garden to take back the home-ice advantage. But without their best hockey, they'll return home on the brink of elimination.

Let's take a look at the biggest keys to Game 4 for each team.

Boston Bruins Keys to Game 4

Is Tuukka Rask Capable of Another Dominant Game?

So far in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, Tuukka Rask is channeling his inner Jonathan Quick.

Don't get me wrong, Quick isn't some sort of legendary goaltender who every goalie should aspire to be. But his performance in last year's Cup Final was nothing short of spectacular, and his Los Angeles Kings needed every bit of it.

As it seems in this year's finals, the Bruins need every bit of Rask. So far, they seem to be getting it. With the help of a shutdown performance from each of Boston's defensive pairings, Rask is making it nearly impossible to get a rubber disk past him.

NBC Washington writer Adam Vingan gave us a stunning stat to show just how dominant Rask has been:

The 26-year-old has been quietly putting his mark on the Stanley Cup playoffs ever since they began, with not nearly enough credit being directed his way.

Keeping a team like the Blackhawks scoreless is much easier said than done, but don't tell that to Tuukka Rask. He may disagree with you.

Can Jaromir Jagr Continue to Defy Old Age?

Battle-tested veteran Jaromir Jagr hasn't been scoring goals for the Bruins in these playoffs, but he's done just about everything else.

Despite picking up no goals in his 19 playoff games this postseason, the 41-year-old has racked up eight assists, and the Bruins have greatly benefitted from his unique mix of experience and all-time great ability.

At times, Jagr has looked as though he's shaven 15 years off his life by playing with the attacking force and elusive puck movement that has made him one of the NHL's greatest players in history.

His play reached a new level in Game 3, when his cross-crease pass to Patrice Bergeron resulted in a beautiful goal. He fooled everybody on the ice (even Bergeron) with the blistering pass past Corey Crawford, and after taking a moment to settle the puck, Bergeron put it home.

It was just the latest display of the immense impact Jagr has had on this Boston Bruins playoff run. The average fan might look to his lack of goals and assume he is struggling, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Chicago Blackhawks Keys to Game 4

Can They Improve in the Faceoff Circle?

I know what you're thinking: "faceoffs?"

Yes, such an overlooked and insignificant statistic is eating at the Blackhawks as of late. Usually, faceoffs cancel themselves out at about 50-50 and never provide a major boost. But the Bruins have found a way to break the mold.

In Game 3, Boston won 40 of 56 faceoffs, good for 71 percent. Their leading factor in that department was world-renowned faceoff artist Patrice Bergeron, who went an unforeseeable 24-4 in the circle.

On the other side of the coin, Blackhawks center Michal Handzus and Dave Bolland went a combined 1-for-18.

This year's Stanley Cup Final has proven to be so tight that any given game could come down to one possession. One play. And with the Bruins taking an overwhelmingly large amount of possessions away from the Blackhawks with their faceoff success, they're setting themselves up for many more opportunities to make that play than Chicago.

If Chicago doesn't start canceling out their struggles in the faceoff circle, the Bruins will continue to get the extra possessions necessary to win.

Is Marian Hossa Healthy Enough to Do Marian Hossa Things?

Despite missing Game 3 with a late decision, Blackhawks star Marian Hossa is "likely to play," according to Adam Gretz of CBS Sports.

But the likelihood of him being able to return to his usual prowess as a suffocating, two-way star is still very much in doubt.

The Blackhawks replaced Hossa with Ben Smith in Game 3, a player who had appeared in just one game during the 2012-13 season prior to the decision. When replacing one of the NHL's premier players, that's quite the drop-off.

With the way Hossa plays, he uses energy and determination as much as any trait to ensure his advantage. Any player who could put up seven goals and eight assists thus far in the postseason and also emerge as a fantastic defensive forward would need these traits.

But if Hossa is not 100 percent, the questions start piling up as to whether he can handle the physicality of the moment against a hungry Bruins team who is charging toward their second Stanley Cup in three years.

The 34-year-old will have to come out strong and prove that he can make his usual impact if the Blackhawks want any business in winning Game 4.

Confederations Cup 2013: Biggest Questions Surrounding International Tournament

Alex Ballentine — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:31:30 -0400

The 2013 Confederations Cup is underway as host Brazil tries to defend its crown as the 2009 Confederations Cup champion.

The Brazilians once again look strong. A Selecao has already notched two shutout wins against Japan and Mexico to take a commanding lead in Group A.

However, they aren't the only team looking to pick up a big win on the international stage. The tournament boasts some of the best nations in the world, including current world No. 1 Spain. With the World Cup set to take place in Brazil in 2014, this is a tournament that everyone involved wants to win.

Here are the biggest questions yet to be answered in Brazil.

Will Mexico Get Back on Track?

It's been a long summer for El Tri.

First there was the fourth round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying where El Tri quickly went from group favorite of the final six teams to barely staying alive. Despite being ranked higher than anyone else in the group of six, they rank third with one win and five draws.

The Confederations Cup hasn't been much better either. El Tri dropped its first match against Italy and was subsequently blanked by Brazil 2-0.

The most concerning thing has been the offensive output. Aside from Javier Hernandez, no one on the Mexican side has emerged as a scoring threat. They've scored just two goals in five games and appear to be headed toward another disappointing performance.

Can Spain End Brazil's Winning Streak?

Brazil has traditionally dominated the Confederations Cup. They've won more than any other country with three titles and have won the last two.

However, winning this one will be difficult. While Brazil certainly looks to be in good shape with two dominant wins secured, Italy presents a real threat in group play as the No. 8 team in the world while Spain looms as a possibility in the finals.

The Spanish are the No. 1 team in the world and appear ready to defend that distinction in Brazil. They have yet to lose a match all year and have already scored a win over Paraguay to open up play.

Even if Brazil can get past Italy and advance to the finals, winning their third consecutive cup will be a daunting task.

Which Star Will Emerge on the Big Stage?

Neymar has already stepped up for the Brazilians with a two-goal performance against Mexico. But is the 21-year-old primed to be the man of the entire tournament?

That's yet to be seen and there's still plenty of competition for the distinction.

Mario Balotelli has already notched a goal for the Italian side. As WhoScored.com tweeted out, he sees plenty of opportunities to score for the Italians.

Nigeria's Nnamdi Oduamadi also registered three goals for Nigeria in its 6-1 win over Tahiti. While he may not be a long-term contender to be the tournament's most outstanding player, it shows that there's plenty of individual performances that have yet to take place.

Celtics and Clippers Reportedly Discussing Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett Trade Again

Tim Keeney — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:29:01 -0400

The deal that would send Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers from the Boston Celtics to the Los Angeles Clippers isn't quite dead after all.

According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, L.A. reportedly is attempting to once again open up trade talks:

And the back-and-forth continues. Several days ago, the teams were reportedly restructuring the deal they had been mulling over for some time.

According to ESPN's Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne, the proposal would have sent Garnett, Rivers and Courtney Lee (or Jason Terry) to the Clippers in exchange for DeAndre Jordan, the expiring contract of Caron Butler and first-round draft picks.

The Clippers insisted on excluding burgeoning young point guard Eric Bledsoe from the trade.

However, talks broke down on Tuesday and the Los Angeles Times' Brad Turner reported that the Clips had called off the deal.

Moreover, Danny Ainge, per the Boston Globe's Baxter Holmes, reported that the deal was "dead."

But it would appear "dead" didn't actually mean "dead"—it just meant comatose.

It's unclear if the details of the potential trade are now different, or if Los Angeles has softened on its restrictions, but Grantland's Bill Simmons offers some insight into why the Clippers could be having a change of heart:

That's the end game.

The Clippers can't afford to lose superstar point guard Chris Paul, and bringing in the tandem of Rivers and Garnett (and possibly Paul Pierce, as well, per Rob Mahoney of SI.com) would nearly assure that he re-signs.

We'll see if Boston uses that leverage and persuades L.A. to sweeten the deal—or if a deal even happens at all.

If we've learned anything, it's that the details in this story can change in a heartbeat.

NBA Finals 2013: Players Who Must Step Up in Deciding Game 7

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:26:21 -0400

The 2013 NBA Finals found their signature moment as the Miami Heat stormed back to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in a thrilling Game 6. As exhilarating a performance as that may have been, however, we're not done yet.

Game 7 remains on the horizon and there are numerous players that need to step up and lead their respective teams to victory.

Ray Allen made the signature play of Game 6, draining a contested three-pointer with 5.2 seconds remaining to tie it up at 95-95. In turn, the Heat forced overtime and the rest was history. Allen later sealed the game with two key free throws and Chris Bosh blocked Danny Green's game-tying attempt.

Don't expect either team to let up come Game 7.

As remarkable as Game 6 may have been, numerous players were at a below-average level per their individual standards. Should they decide to show up for the entirety of Game 7, we could be looking at yet another classic.

Regardless of how the game transpires, however, certain players are under a significant amount of pressure to step up and lead their squad to victory.

Chris Bosh, Miami Heat

Chris Bosh was huge during Game 6, stepping up in the fourth quarter and overtime on a number of different plays. From offensive rebounds to game-saving blocks, we saw it all from the former Georgia Tech star.

The question is, where was he for the first 36 minutes?

In fact, Tim Duncan has had his way with Bosh thus far.

There are a lot of people writing Tim Duncan off as spent, but this is far from his first rodeo. While he may be 37 years old, here's something that we should keep in mind before we call him "amazing for his age."

Duncan was the only player in the NBA, regardless of age, to average at least 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.

If the Heat are to win Game 7, they'll need more than 20 minutes of strong play from Bosh. They'll need him to prove that he's still a superstar and not just a glorified role player.

Keep in mind, Bosh has topped 20 points just twice in his past 25 games.

In Game 7, it's time that we see the player that became a star by averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in Toronto. If he fails to step up, then all of those who make the mistake of writing Duncan off on this stage will see just how slim a margin for error there is.

It's time Bosh earns his money.

Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs

During Game 5 of the 2013 NBA Finals, Manu Ginobili reminded us why he's going to the Hall of Fame by going for 24 points and 10 assists. One game later, Ginobili showed why some have written him off as a player past his prime by scoring nine points in 35 minutes.

The Spurs will need a vintage performance if they're going to win Game 7.

Much has been made of the Miami Heat's extraordinary Game 6 comeback, and rightfully so. The fact of the matter is, Ginobili attempted just five field goals during Game 6 and committed an absurd eight turnovers.

To say the Spurs weren't at their best would be a disturbing understatement.

If Ginobili can give the Spurs a fraction of his production from Game 5, they may have enough to pull out the road win. If he fails to produce offensively, however, the Spurs must consider going with other options.

Ginobili's legacy is safe, but the Spurs will not be if he fails to show up—again.

Danny Green, San Antonio Spurs

For the first time during the 2013 NBA Finals, San Antonio Spurs sharpshooter Danny Green looked vulnerable in Game 6. He went 1-for-7 from the floor and 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, thus marking the first time all series that he failed to make at least three three-pointers.

He'll need to turn things around quickly if the Spurs stand any chance of winning Game 7.

Green doesn't need to put on a shooting spree, but when he's turned to, he must fare better than 1-of-7. The Spurs were helpless down the stretch, failing to score as LeBron James took over and thus allowing the Heat to get back into the game.

Had Green seen at least one more of his seven field goal attempts fall, we may not be having this conversation.

With that being said, there is no time for ifs and maybes, but instead an opportunity for Green to step up when he's needed. Already the Spurs' front-runner for Finals MVP, Green must not let the big stage get to him.

The Spurs live and die by the pick-and-roll, so having shooters is critical to their success—that burden falls in Green's lap for Game 7.

LeBron James, Miami Heat

It's gut-check time.

LeBron James was masterful during the fourth quarter of Game 6, scoring 18 points and leading his team to within striking distance. While Ray Allen's game-tying three-pointer will be forever remembered, it was LeBron's earlier three-ball that made such a shot possible.

Just like we asked with Chris Bosh, however, we must ask with LeBron—where was he for 36 minutes?

LeBron has had a strange NBA Finals series, producing at an elite level but playing at a below-average level per his standards. While the numbers may just win him the Finals MVP award, all unbiased viewers know the truth.

This is the most vulnerable we've seen LeBron in quite some time.

In Game 7, all eyes will be on LeBron, as he attempts to solidify his status as one of the best to ever play. While no one will debate his talent, going 1-for-4 in NBA Finals appearances is a great way to damage your resume.

Fair or foul, this will game decide if the Michael Jordan comparisons ever become valid.

WWE News: Roman Reigns Interested In Pursuing Solo Career

Chris Featherstone — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:23:13 -0400

We have all seen the impact that The Shield have exhibited since their debut at Survivor Series of last year. From sabotaging Ryback's career to defeating a total of eight world champions, WWE immediately decided to make this trio noteworthy. Moreover, within six months, each of them are holding championship gold.

Despite this, one of the members of this dominant group is looking at other options. Shield member and tag team champion Roman Reigns has other goals that he is setting his eyes on other than continuing to run roughshod in WWE with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose.

He wants to be the number one guy.

Reigns appeared on the 4th & Pain podcast via WrestlingInc.com and clearly voiced his desire to breakout as a singles star, stating, "I want to be the absolute top guy in this company." There is no question about it—Roman Reigns is looking to have his own identity as a major player in the WWE.

So, the question is posed: does Roman Reigns have what it takes to be a top star of the company?

I believe there is no doubt that he can be. Roman Reigns, from the very beginning, has mostly been the go-to guy when it comes to bailing The Shield out of a perilous situation to get a close victory. Moreover, he has been the one who drives the nail in the coffin, giving superstars such as The Undertaker, Kane, John Cena and Ryback a powerbomb (with the assistance and Rollins and Ambrose).

As we've seen by the success of Edge and Goldberg, the Spear is a marketable move in pro wrestling, and his execution of that move is getting better by the week. Not only does he have great follow-through with the move, but it looks as if he is a human harpoon when he delivers it. Although Ambrose and Rollins are also good competitors, the Bulldog DDT and the High Knee/Mushroom Stomp, respectively, are not ideal moves for a top guy.

Reigns also has the size and intensity of a main event star. He would do well by competing against superstars such as Kane and Sheamus to excel his dominance as a big man. Plus, let's face it—don't we all desire Sheamus to put someone over? Well, Roman Reigns would be the perfect choice.

Although The Shield is losing a bit of stock, and they need to be together a bit longer for anyone to successfully break off and be a top guy, Roman Reigns has all the tools (with the exception of great mic work, which can definitely be worked on and improved) to be a top guy before the middle/end of 2014.

Are you in favor a Roman Reigns breaking out from The Shield in hopes to be a top guy? Does he have the tools? Sound off, respectfully, below.

Chris Featherstone is a writer for WrestlingInc.com. Continue to show your support on Facebook, Twitter and the PandP Show Tues. at 11 p.m. ET.

Making the Case for Hisashi Iwakuma as 2013 MLB All-Star Game Starter

Jason Catania — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:13:23 -0400

The pitcher who should start for the American League squad at the All-Star Game isn't some exciting young pup tasting his first success in the majors. He doesn't possess a blazing fastball that blows up radar guns while blowing hitters away. And he certainly doesn't fall into the big-name-that-can't-be-ignored category.

It's not Justin Verlander. Or Yu Darvish. Or even Felix Hernandez.

And Max Scherzer can take his 10-0 record and shove it.

No, the hurler who deserves to be the AL starter at next month's Midsummer Classic is none other than...

Hisashi Iwakuma.

Sure, you know the name. And you should at least be able to recognize that Iwakuma pitches for the Seattle Mariners. You may even be vaguely aware of the kind of season he's having.

But unless you're a Mariners fan or perhaps an owner of Iwakuma on your fantasy team—and if so, congratulations—then you probably think this suggestion is ridiculous.

Here's why it's anything but.

First, a little Iwakuma info to help you get to know the guy who may well wind up winding up for the AL team at Citi Field on July 16.

As alluded to above, Iwakuma is no young pup. In fact, he turned 32 back in April. The right-hander, born in Tokyo, spent a decade pitching in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, where he was one of that league's best arms. Last year was Iwakuma's first in Major League Baseball, while this is his first as a full-time starter.

Also as mentioned, Iwakuma's average fastball doesn't even crack the 90-mph mark (per FanGraphs), which makes what he's doing, like stuff in the video below, all the more noteworthy.

Why haven't you heard more about Iwakuma? Probably because he was overshadowed by Darvish as a Japanese import during the 2011-12 offseason.

Beyond that, Iwakuma actually spent the first part of 2012 hidden in the Mariners bullpen for some reason. He only pitched in five of Seattle's first 54 games a year ago, and he didn't enter the rotation until last July.

Also? Not for nothing, but the guy is on the Mariners. Not only are the M's a bad baseball team for the umpteenth consecutive season, they're also on the West Coast. In other words, many of Seattle's games are just getting started after plenty of folks—even real baseball fans—in earlier time zones have already begun dreaming about the latest gem twirled by Clay Buchholz or Chris Sale.

Now, because so few of you actually have a real idea of what Iwakuma's been up to through the first two-and-a-half months of the 2013 season, feast your eyes on this table:

Those numbers cover the most basic stats, and as you can see, Iwakuma basically aces them all.

Let's delve a little deeper, though. Here's a chart showing where Iwakuma ranks among AL arms in some of the more advanced metrics:

Okay, so Iwakuma doesn't dominate these stats quite as much, but he's still in the top 20 in all of them and in or around the top 10 in many.

And now for the doozy.

This next table lists all of the pitchers in the Junior Circuit who currently meet all of the following benchmarks...

an ERA of 2.50 or lower
a walk rate of 2.5/9 or lower
a strikeout rate of 8.0/9 or higher
a FIP of 3.50 or lower
an xFIP of 3.50 or lower
a WAR of 2.0 or higher

That's right: Only three AL starters hit each and every one of those standards.

Going by those cutoffs—which are admittedly somewhat arbitrary and yet also extremely impressive—you could make just as strong a case for either Hernandez, Iwakuma's rotation-mate, or the White Sox's Sale.

Sale, though, gets knocked down a peg because, great as he's been, he's also thrown far fewer innings—just 85.1—due in part to missing a start in late May with left shoulder tendonitis.

Hey, when you're splitting hairs, that sort of thing counts.

Of course, many would argue that the pitcher who should start is Darvish, given his otherworldly combination of hype, power fastball, never-ending repertoire—and the fact that he leads all of baseball with 137 strikeouts (12.2 per nine).

That, no doubt, is the sort of arm fans want to watch fire pitches at the best hitters the National League has to offer at the outset of the All-Star Game.

What's fascinating in the Darvish-Iwakuma debate is the coincidence of things.

As referenced briefly above, both Darvish and Iwakuma hail from Japan, dominated the NPB circuit for several years and then came over to MLB in within a couple weeks of each other.

Darvish, you'll remember, was the big name who got the big pub—and the big money, thanks to the $111 million-plus commitment from the Rangers—whereas Iwakuma was basically an afterthought, especially after he had failed to agree with the Oakland Athletics the previous winter after posting.

And here we are, 18 months later, and the All-Star starter debate in the AL may well come down to...Darvish and Iwakuma.

It's worth pointing out that there's still time.

Time for Iwakuma, Darvish, Hernandez, Sale, as well as any of the others mentioned above—or any other stud AL starters you can think of—to take a few more turns and really make their case for toeing the rubber in the bottom half of the first inning of the All-Star Game next month.

But as much as he's flown under the radar, both among his countrymen and his teammates, here's hoping Iwakuma gets consideration.

He deserves it.

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

WWE Money in the Bank: Is Edge or CM Punk the King of MITB?

Ryan Dilbert — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:12:52 -0400

CM Punk remains the only man to have won two WWE Money in the Bank matches, but Edge will always be remembered as Mr. Money in the Bank, as he embodied the opportunistic nature of the concept.

Since 2005, WWE has offered stars on the rise a chance to tilt things in their favor, to topple champions once they have already fallen and decide their own championship destiny.

There have been 12 Money in the Bank ladder matches in that time and names like Rob Van Dam, Jack Swagger and Daniel Bryan have all won one. Punk is not only the sole man who has won two, but he did so consecutively.

Punk outlasted his opponents at both WrestleMania 24 and WrestleMania 25 to win the Money in the Bank briefcase. He turned both of those wins into World Heavyweight Championships, cashing in on Edge in 2008 and on Jeff Hardy in 2009.

The WrestleMania 24 Money in the Bank was a fantastic match, with Punk being a central figure of what was a great, violent piece of theater.

Still, crowning Punk king of Money in the Bank doesn't feel right.

When Edge first won that inaugural match, the concept was fresh and fans didn't know to expect.

A man who built his reputation on his daredevil performances in ladder matches beat out Chris Jericho, Kane, Chris Benoit, Christian and Shelton Benjamin to become the first-ever Mr. Money in the Bank.

The sneaky, wily and calculating Superstar waited until WWE champ John Cena had ended a bloody battle inside the Elimination Chamber before he attacked him. A few spears later, and The Ultimate Opportunist became the first man to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase.

The perfect poetry of that moment, fueled by Cena's vulnerability and the heat-generating move of taking advantage of a gutsy hero, will make the image of Edge clutching the title to his chest one fans will never forget.

As exciting as a cash-in still is, it can't match the thrill of it happening for the first time.

That alone might make Edge the man we most associate with Money in the Bank, but his legacy also includes a theft of the briefcase.

Mr. Kennedy won the Money in the Bank match in 2007, but thanks to Edge, he's one of two men to win the briefcase but fail to gain a championship out of it. Edge used his cunning to convince Kennedy to put the briefcase on the line in a match on WWE Raw.

Edge attacked him before the bell rang, defeated him in dominating fashion and held the Money in the Bank briefcase for the second time in his career.

Just a few days later, Edge cashed in to wrest the World Heavyweight Championship away from The Undertaker. That move made Edge more than just another beneficiary of the briefcase; it forever linked him with the concept.

Being the first man to possess two briefcases, the first to cash in for two different world titles and the first to steal someone else's Money in the Bank victory away from them made Edge a pioneer, a mastermind and a snake.

Van Dam returns on July 14, likely to try his hand at the Money in the Bank match. Should he, Bryan or Swagger win, they would match Punk in wins for this match, but they won't have add the impact on the WWE via the briefcase the way that Edge has.

Notre Dame Football: Offense Won't Take Step Back Without Everett Golson

Jesse Reed — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:11:23 -0400

Many fans have wondered how Notre Dame's football program will perform in 2013 without Everett Golson, but there's no reason for worry.

No offense to Golson, but he wasn't indispensable. The Fighting Irish may actually be better off without him this upcoming season.

In his stead, Tommy Rees will step into a role he's familiar with as the team's starting quarterback, as reported by Dan Murphy of 247Sports:

“I hadn’t gotten a chance to think about Everett not being our starter,” [Brian] Kelly said at his annual charity golf event Wednesday afternoon. “As I got a chance to think about it, Tommy does not have to fight to be the No. 1 quarterback.”

Before Golson earned the starting spot in 2012, Rees had been the team's starter for nearly a year-and-a-half, dating back to the end of the 2010 season.

An arrest and one-game suspension put Rees in Brian Kelly's doghouse and opened up the door for Golson to start.

But Golson wasn't that impressive last year. In fact, it could be argued that the Fighting Irish got to the BCS title game despite Golson, not because of him. If not for the team's stellar defense turning the tide in a few close games, Notre Dame wouldn't have been close to being in the conversation for the title.

Comparing the two signal-callers side by side, it's clear that Rees has a chance to help Notre Dame's offense operate with more fluidity and consistency than Golson did last year.

Rees is more accurate and more comfortable as a pocket passer than Golson. He puts better touch on his passes and is adept at throwing his receivers open, whereas Golson had a tendency last year to only throw the ball after he saw open receivers.

As a full-time starter in 2011, Rees put together a solid overall performance, completing 65.5 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,871 yards with 24 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Golson last season was significantly less accurate and threw for half as many touchdowns. In 12 games, he completed just 58.8 percent of his passes for 2,404 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.

One thing Golson did that Rees won't be doing this year is run the ball effectively. He scored six touchdowns and rushed for 298 yards.

But the offense was the opposite of a well-oiled machine with Golson under center. The team ranked No. 81 out of 124 teams while scoring just 25.8 points per game and scored 20 or fewer points in six games.

Rees won't help the Irish much in the way of a running game, but his ability to see the field and spread the ball around through the air will help Notre Dame feature a balanced offensive attack.

Notre Dame's offense certainly won't take any steps back without Golson in the lineup. If anything, this team will score more points and will move the ball more effectively between the 20s with Rees playing behind center.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

MLB Expansion: Would adding two teams be good for Major League Baseball?

Adam Rickert — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:10:55 -0400

Ahh, the wonders of interleague play.

Houston's move to the American League before the 2013 season had to be done. Before this season, teams from the American League West had a statistically better chance to make the playoffs than anyone else, while teams from the National League Central had a statistically worse chance to make the playoffs than anyone else.

That problem has been solved, but another has arisen.

There are 30 teams in Major League Baseball, 15 (an odd number) in each league. Baseball is different from the three other major North American sports for two reasons. First, it is the only sport in which each team plays six to seven games every week in sets of two, three or four-game series. Second, it is the only sport that has two leagues with different rules.

The American League style of play is based around having a designated hitter. American League games are full of offense, as each team can add a pure hitter into its lineup instead of an offensively challenged pitcher.

The National League differs in the sense that it is all about small ball. It's about bunting, stealing and doing all the little things in order to win games.

It goes without saying that fans have their own opinions on which style of play they like better. But there is a common consensus that when these two styles combine, they create a less entertaining game.

First of all, I would just like to say that I personally don't mind interleague play. There's something fun about heading down to the ballpark to watch my team take on teams that I haven't watched in person before. But many, many fans disagree with that logic.

The issue is that with an odd number of teams in each league, an interleague matchup will happen every day of the week.

Before the Astros swapped leagues, some fans were even calling to get rid of all interleague play whatsoever (other than the World Series, of course). Now it just seems to have gotten worse for fans that hate it so much.

In truth, there is not a significantly larger amount of interleague play in 2013. The difference now is that it's always happening, instead of just going on a three-week free-for-all with all sorts of matchups with absolutely no historical background whatsoever.

Now that it's impossible to eliminate interleague play altogether, there is only one realistic solution: expansion.

Expansion would be a smart idea because it could allow a select few interleague matchups a year in order to preserve certain rivalries (Yankees-Mets, Indians-Reds, Cubs-White Sox, A's-Giants, etc.), but it would not require series against six different teams from the opposite league.

When it comes to expansion in any sport, the obvious question is: where?

Baseball again differs from other sports because there are minor league teams scattered virtually everywhere throughout the country. Good luck finding a somewhat large city without one.

This isn't really as much of a problem as it seems; when the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg in 2011, the Manitoba Moose (an AHL team already playing in Winnipeg) simply relocated themselves.

Another thing that makes expansion easy is that every division currently has five teams—making it possible to put the team anywhere in the country.

Some of the best candidates for an expansion are cities like Indianapolis, Portland, Oklahoma City, Charlotte, Memphis and Nashville.

Portland, while close to Seattle, would likely be the best choice. The NBA's Trail Blazers are the only Big Four team to inhabit the city, and their fans have shown tremendous support for years, based on attendance numbers. A baseball team could easily thrive in Portland and would also have a geographic rival in the Seattle Mariners.

Oklahoma City would likely be the next best choice, as its only Big Four team is another NBA team, the Thunder. Thunder fans have been known to be some of the most loyal in all of basketball, and it is very likely that the inhabitants of Oklahoma City and its surrounding areas would provide a great baseball atmosphere as well.

Let's say Portland and Oklahoma City are the two expansion teams. Who goes to the American League and who goes to the National League?

Portland would have a geographic rivalry with Seattle, making it a plausible candidate for the American League West. Oklahoma City, however, could also play in the American League West, as it is close to Arlington and Houston.

In the end, Portland would make the most sense to be the team in the American League West, while Oklahoma City would fit well in either the National League Central with St. Louis, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and the Chicago Cubs; or the National League West with Arizona, Colorado, San Diego, San Francisco and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Again, however, the problem could arise that it would be statistically tougher for teams in the divisions which contain these two teams to make the playoffs as division champions.

Another solution would be to divide each league into four separate divisions of four teams each, like the National Football League.

The playoffs could be determined in two different ways; either only the division winners make the playoffs or four wild cards could be included.

These divisions (with Portland and Oklahoma City filling the places of the expansion teams) could look something like this:

American League

East Division: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays
North Division: Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays
Central Division: Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers
West Division: Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Portland, Seattle Mariners

National League

East Division: Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals
Midwest Division: Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Oklahoma City, St. Louis Cardinals
Central Division: Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates
West Division: Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants

The National League is a little trickier to figure out since the Cardinals-Cubs rivalry has to be preserved, but expect a realignment to look fairly similar to that—if it ever happens.

Nobody knows what the future of Major League Baseball will be like. Maybe it will include expansion, maybe it won't. Maybe the National League will add the DH, or maybe the American League will take it away. Maybe nothing will change.

But for now, it doesn't hurt to wonder what the next few years could have in store for baseball fans, and maybe a couple of lucky cities.

Calling Fact or Fiction on the Latest Manchester United Transfer Rumours

Will Tidey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:10:22 -0400

New Manchester United manager David Moyes made defender Guillermo Varela his first signing at Old Trafford, but more deals are sure to follow before United begin the defence of their Premier League title.

Among those linked with a move to United are Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who starred for Spain at the European Under-21 Championships and may feel he needs to leave Barcelona to get regular playing time.

Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic is another rumoured to be interesting Moyes. Vucinic has been linked to United in the past, but this time the Reds may find themselves competing with another Premier League club if they are keen on landing his signature.

Finally, we look at United’s reported interest in young Dutch midfield Marco van Ginkel.

In this clip, B/R’s Will Tidey calls fact or fiction on three of Manchester United’s latest big-name transfer rumours. Be sure to leave your opinion on these players and the likelihood of their joining United in the comments section below.

Kobe Bryant Return: Predicting Mamba's Numbers Once He Comes Back from Injury

Benjamin Klein — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:04:13 -0400

Kobe Bryant seems to think that once he’s healthy, he’ll be playing exactly like he has been over the course of his career—and I don't disagree one bit.

The Los Angeles Lakers star underwent surgery on a torn Achilles' tendon back in mid-April and was originally expected to miss six to nine months, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles.

It appears likely that Bryant will be ready to play for the Lakers after around eight months of recovery. Or at least that’s what he told ESPN LA 710 in a recent interview, according to the station's Twitter account. Bryant also said that he’s “fully mobile” and he thinks “it's gonna be more than fine.”

Mark Trudell of Lakers.com sat down to talk with Los Angeles’ athletic trainer, Gary Vitti, last week, and Kobe’s rehab was one of the topics they discussed. Here’s an excerpt from their conversation:

MT: Where is Bryant is terms of his rehabilitation? Do you think he can play in the season opener, as is his hope?

Vitti: We don’t know yet. Kobe looks exactly the way he’s supposed to look at this point in time. Kobe makes you look good as a training staff…we always feel good about how he’s going to recover from anything, and that’s a credit to him. He gets all of it. He’s the one that has to do it. He’s going to be great no matter whom he works with, and right now he’s working with the best, in my opinion, Judy Seto.

While Trudell asked about Bryant’s chances of playing the season opener—which seems nearly impossible at this point—I’m surprised he didn’t ask about how he thinks Bryant will play once taking the court. That’s a question I think everyone wants to know.

So, let’s talk about it.

Before getting injured, there was no question that Bryant was one of the top players in the NBA. He’s been remarkable over the course of his entire career and will be enshrined in Springfield very soon. But Bryant has never suffered an injury like he did this past season.

Bryant shouldn’t be compared to Derrick Rose. But both have suffered serious injuries lately. Rose was cleared to play in March and still didn’t play for the rest of the season. It appears that Bryant can’t wait to play again—which was unclear with Rose—but it just shows how an injury can change someone.

I don’t expect Bryant to have any hesitancy toward taking the floor once getting cleared to play, though. He won’t be the next Derrick Rose.

So, based on what Bryant said about his progression, let’s assume that he plays in his first game of the year when the Lakers take the floor in early December. That would mean that he’d missed roughly 15 or 16 games to start the season. He probably won’t play every single game from thereon out, either.

A lot of Bryant’s projected production depends on what the Lakers are able to do over the offseason as well. If Dwight Howard doesn’t re-sign, Bryant might have to take on more of the load. With Howard, Bryant doesn’t have to score 30 points per night. In other words, Bryant will play better overall with Howard on the team.

When Bryant returns to the Lakers, he will be playing with just as much intensity as anyone on the court. He isn’t going to hold back from sprinting down the floor or jumping up to grab a rebound. His injury will be in the back of his mind, and that’ll make him just as dangerous as he’s always been.

That being said, expect Bryant to put up numbers closest to what he’s done in recent years and over the course of his career. He still has plenty of gas in the tank, and if he’s healthy enough to play, “its gonna be on.”

2013-14 Predicted Stats

60 Games, 25.9 PPG (43.2 FG%, 31.5 3P%, 84.0 FT%), 5.1 RPG, 5.5 APG

Rounding Up the Latest Offseason Buzz Surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals

Sean ODonnell — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:03:46 -0400

The Cincinnati Bengals had a rather quiet offseason—until recently. Over the past week, the Bengals have been involved in a flurry of media-related activity.

Some of the news involving Cincinnati has been on the positive front—but not all of it.

The Bengals have caught headlines for quite a few reasons lately, whether they have been related to issues on or off the field. With a very crucial 2013 season ahead, they cannot afford a great deal of distractions before training camp begins.

Let's take a look at some of the recent activity revolving around Cincinnati and its players.

Begin Slideshow

Arsenal Transfer News: Arsene Wenger Must Make Big Splash on Transfer Market

Justin Onslow — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:57:40 -0400

Arsene Wenger hasn’t exactly been the model of a free-spending manager in his time at Arsenal, but he’s also been strapped with financial constraints as a result of limited Champions League success. It’s been a vicious cycle of spending too little to win enough, in turn having little wiggle room on the transfer market.

But after Arsenal secured a top-four finish last term, the club appears ready to finally start spending some cash—at least that’s what chief executive Ivan Gazidis suggests. As quoted by David Hytner of the Guardian, Gazidis believes Arsenal are now capable of spending at the “highest level”:

We could do that, we could do more than that. We have a certain amount which we've held in reserve and we also have new revenue streams coming on board. All of these things mean we can do some things which would excite you. We can think about all kinds of things.

Gazidis’ remarks are encouraging for fans, but they also put Wenger in a difficult situation. With a veritable blank check with which to work, the Arsenal boss has to put the club’s money where their mouth is.

The problem is this: After years of promising to spend on various players in an attempt to significantly improve the club—and rarely following through—Wenger is the boy who cried wolf. Fans will believe it when they see it.

Wenger doesn’t necessarily have to prove anything, but a big part of maintaining a top Premier League club is keeping the fans happy. There would be no better way to do so than by making a big splash on the transfer market with a marquee signing.

Or at least a few of the top-shelf variety.

As noted by James Riach of the Guardian on June 3, Wenger admitted he wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to sign a player like Wayne Rooney—a player whose transfer fee would far eclipse any major signing under Wenger’s direction.

While that situation is purely hypothetical at this point, Wenger isn’t without other intriguing options. And according to Tancredi Palmeri of CNN, Arsenal may be close to acquiring one of those options:

Gonzalo Higuain may not be on the same level as a player like Rooney, but he would be a tremendous acquisition for a club that needs to start making a splash on the transfer market. If Arsenal can secure Higuain, it will be a massive step in the right direction for Wenger as he attempts to break free of the labels that have followed him in recent years.

Of course, making a splash on the summer transfer market would go far beyond just repairing Wenger’s image. There’s something to be said for paying top dollar for top talent.

It goes without saying that Arsenal need to continue replenishing their talent to keep pace with the giants of the EPL. Expecting to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United without shelling out the cash is simply a pipe dream. It probably can’t be done.

For Arsenal to remain competitive and to top their fourth-place EPL finish last term—as well as break free of the “cheapskate” label—the club has to spend. It’s a vicious cycle of mediocrity and tight finances, and with Arsenal finally out from under it, they can’t afford to not spend this summer.

NBA Finals 2013: Players Who Must Step up to Earn Their Team a Win

Ethan Grant — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:57:38 -0400

For the fifth time since the NBA went to the 2-3-2 format in the NBA Finals, we're going to have a Game 7 to decide the league champion on the final day of the 2012-13 season.

The Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs are knotted at three games a piece in the 2013 NBA Finals, as the two teams played one of the best playoff games we've ever seen in Miami's 103-100 win on Tuesday night.

Thursday now serves as the final proving ground—the last chance for these two franchises to add to an already impressive history of success over the past 15 seasons. After Thursday night, Miami and San Antonio will have combined for seven of the league's 15 championships since 1999.

While the team aspect of this game and basketball itself makes for champions, we can't ignore the fact that individual performances will make or break the outcome of this series.

Take a look at four players from these two teams who need to step up big to get the fourth win of this series and take home the Larry O'Brien trophy on Thursday night.

2013 NBA Finals Information

Who: San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat

What: Game 7 of 2013 NBA Finals

When: Thursday, June 20, at 9 p.m. ET

Where: American Airlines Arena; Miami, Fla.

Series Count: 3-3

San Antonio Spurs

SG Manu Ginobili

I personally attempted to get "WhereisManu" trending on Twitter last night, and the question should be extended to the realm of our analysis for Game 7, too.

Game 5's 24-point, 10-assist performance not withstanding, the Manu Ginobili that has been taking the court for the Spurs during the playoffs is not the same player who has been one of the most clutch playoff performers in the history of the league.

Ginobili is shooting a meager 39.2 percent from the floor, 29.7 percent from the three-point line and has even struggled from the free-throw line, where his 72.4 percent mark is more than 10 percentage points lower than his career average of 83.2.

So what's going on with Manu?

If his poor overall stats aren't enough to persuade you to agree that he's had a rough go of it, then maybe his stat line—nine points, eight turnovers, four rebounds and three assists—in Game 6 will do the trick.

If that also isn't enough, look back at the game tape from the first few games of this series. With the anomaly of Game 5 out of the picture, Ginobili looked uncomfortable handling the ball, making decisions in the offense and even playing defense.

Based on what we've seen this postseason, Ginobili will not have a starring role in Game 7. But, he's still one of the best we've ever seen in the playoffs. And being able to handle the backup point guard-type duties might be the difference in San Antonio title No. 5, or the first franchise Finals loss ever.

SG Danny Green

Danny Green already has NBA Finals hardware in the form of his new series three-point record, but the young star-in-the-making was a no-show when the Spurs needed him to provide something down the stretch in Game 6.

After making at least three three-pointers in each of the first five games of the series, Green finished 1-of-7 from the floor on Tuesday. His lone make was a corner three in the normal flow of the game.

Chris Bosh's prediction that Green wouldn't be open came true in a very real way on the final play of the game, too.

Head coach Gregg Popovich ran a play to flare Green to the opposite corner on the final play of the game, but Bosh recovered enough to block (or foul, depending on your assessment of the play) Green's desperation corner three and give Miami life for Game 7.

Simply put—San Antonio got nothing productive for all four quarters from any of their current list of guards who are in Popovich's rotation.

Green has taken on star-level publicity for his role in helping San Antonio win three of the four games necessary to win the title, but the Spurs need more than a 1-of-7 performance from him in the final game of the year to avoid an offseason of regret.

Miami Heat

SF LeBron James

LeBron had a triple-double, the second-biggest three-pointer of the game (behind Ray Allen's) and willed his team to a big victory on a night his legacy was hanging in the balance.

Not enough to not put him on this list again for Game 7.

James is the driving force behind everything the Heat do on both ends. His efforts in this game are too many to count, but a few that stand out are his big three late in regulation, driving to the basket on three or four straight possessions in the fourth quarter and blocking Tim Duncan's shot (the biggest play of the game, in my opinion) to deny another easy SA score.

But that means nothing heading into Game 7.

Considered the world's best player, the Heat won't win this game if LBJ doesn't show up like he did at the end of Game 6.

Dwyane Wade is clearly teeter-tottering between greatness and futility, and his knee issues are obviously still there. Chris Bosh has been better on both ends, but he's still a wild card. Other than James, I would attest that only Ray Allen has the consistency to play second fiddle every night, and we know that isn't happening on a nightly basis.

Big-time players make big-time shots and plays in big moments. James again has a legacy to protect and a championship to win on Thursday night, and no matter the outcome, his legacy is going to slide heavily in one direction or the other.

PG Mario Chalmers

Chalmers has really been the X-factor for the Heat in the NBA Finals so far.

His 20 points, four rebounds and three three-point hits were huge for the Heat on Tuesday, as Wade stayed on the bench for most of the fourth quarter and deferred to the quartet of Chalmers, Mike Miller, James and Allen.

With James attacking the basket, it creates shooting windows for guys like Chalmers. When he does have the ball and runs the Miami offense, Chalmers is solid, too, including an excellent pick-and-roll pass to James in the fourth quarter for an easy dunk.

When the Heat win, there's a good chance Chalmers took on a large role in the offense, had an impact on defense and got a chance to stay on the court late to make the big shot.

In losses, though, Chalmers has been non-existent.

For Miami to survive San Antonio and erase this one-game winning streak trend we've seen through the first six games of the NBA Finals, Chalmers needs to have another stellar game from the floor and on defense for Miami to overcome the San Antonio guards.

If he can't, it will force James to press more, Wade to do the same and allow Bosh more free reign with the ball in the offense (never a good thing when James should be facilitating alongside Chalmers and Wade).

There's a lot of X-factors when it comes to a Game 7, and it's hard to predict which single player will have the biggest impact (positive or negative) on the game. These four guys are a good bet to be involved in some way, so pay close attention to their performances on Thursday night.

Follow Bleacher Report FC Ethan Grant (@DowntownEG) on Twitter.

Ray Allen Proving Why He Is Perfect Fit on This Miami Heat Team

Dan Favale — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:56:08 -0400

Ray Allen is proving he's exactly what the Miami Heat needed.

Spurning the Boston Celtics wasn't an easy decision for Allen. He has spent six years in Beantown and won his first NBA title there. Boston was his family.

Miami was able to offer him something more, something better.

South Beach didn't sell him on the weather or the fans (obviously). The Heat sold him on LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and their victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in last year's NBA Finals. They pointed to their Eastern Conference Finals comeback over his Celtics to show all they could offer him.

The Celtics were incapable of giving him what the Heat could. More than 15 years into his career, it wasn't about the money or necessarily the role. Winning was all that mattered.

Boston wasn't built to contend (see their first-round exit and Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett's attempts to leave) like the Heat were. There was no ring potentially waiting for Allen by if he came back for a sixth term. So he left the Celtics in favor of the Heat.

That Miami also needed Allen was an added incentive. Upon arriving, he wouldn't merely be along for the ride, rather he'd round out a formidable Big Four.

His deep-ball prowess and penchant for draining big shots from the outside was a luxury the Heat weren't afforded. Until this season, LeBron wasn't known as a lethal three-point weapon, Bosh looked out of place beyond the arc and Wade avoided treys like the plague.

Mike Miller was good for the occasional effort put forth in Game 5 of the finals and Shane Battier continued to be money from the corner, but neither of them were Allen.

One easy sales pitch later, the Heat had the future Hall-of-Famer playing in Miami. Landing him began to pay immediate dividends for the dynasty-seeking Heat.

In just the third game of the season, they trailed the Denver Nuggets by one at home inside of 15 seconds to play. LeBron had the ball and attacked the rim like any defense in their right minds would expect him to. Then he did something he hadn't been able to do through his first two years with the Heat—kick the rock out to the left corner where the greatest three-point assassin in NBA history awaited.

Allen caught the pass, went up for the shot and BANG—he drilled it.

Fouled in the process as well, Allen stepped up to the free-throw line and completed the four-point play, giving the Heat a three-point lead and inevitably the victory.

That's when the extent of his value to a team like the Heat was realized. Miami had another big-time baller in the lineup, someone who could shoot them out of tight spots and toward a championship.

Per Kurt Heilin of NBC Sports' ProBasketballTalk, no one in the NBA made more three-pointers with the game separated by five or fewer points inside of five minutes to play in the regular season than Allen.

He added a clutch component the Heat didn't have last season, a dynamic that no one else on the roster was capable of imitating. You can't teach what Allen has, it's just there, as it was for the Heat all season long.

More than eight-months later, Allen is still that same guy. Ask the San Antonio Spurs or his teammates or coach Erik Spoelstra. Better yet, watch footage from Miami's pivotal Game 6.

Trailing the Spurs 3-2, the Heat needed to force a Game 7 or leave the AmericanAirlines Arena with their quest for a second straight title dead. Down by double digits leading into the fourth, doubt began to mount. Could the Heat really come back from this?

LeBron willed the Heat back into the game, but wasn't able to close it out on his own. It was still a two-possession contest with under 30 seconds to play. Pessimism began to take center stage as "fans" began leave.

A LeBron-made three after a missed three made things interesting. Kawhi Leonard went 1-of-2 from the line, leaving the Heat within three. On the ensuing possession, LeBron missed another three, but Bosh was able to grab the offensive board and find Allen in the right corner.

Then BANG.

Just as he had so many times with the Celtics (and Bucks and Supersonics) and with the Heat this year, Allen buried the biggest shot of the night, tying the game. The Heat went on to win in overtime and force a Game 7. Now for a second straight year they find themselves one win away from a championship.

Allen was far from flawless in Game 6, going 3-of-8 from the floor for nine point. He also only attempted two shots in that pivotal fourth quarter—both of which he made and both of which were absolutely imperative.

Allen's first shot of the fourth gave the Heat an 84-82 lead, serving as the ultimate momentum shifter. His second, well, you already know (BANG).

In overtime he chipped in four points, including two huge free throws that helped ice Miami's come-from-behind victory. It doesn't get more clutch than that.

LeBron led the charge in the fourth, but the Heat don't win Game 6 without Allen. Sans him, there is no Game 7, no opportunity for another title. Without him, not even LeBron could have saved the Heat from the loss they staved off.

If the Heat win Game 7, they'll have Allen to thank in addition to LeBron and Wade and Bosh. An enemy turned friend, he's helped shoot, helped lead the Heat to where they are now.

It hasn't been easy. Leaving the Celtics wasn't easy and enduring the criticism that came with joining an arch nemesis wasn't either. Perseverance and a sweet-looking jumper have gotten him through, allowing him to make the absolute best of what was a difficult situation.

Under less than ideal circumstances, he's proven to be the perfect fit.

Play on the Break and Lean on Neymar: Brazil's World Cup Plan for Success

Daniel Edwards — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:54:32 -0400

Brazil's place in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup is already assured. Victory over Japan in the tournament's opening match was followed with a 2-0 reverse of Mexico on Wednesday evening, which gives the Selecao the luxury of qualifying even before their third and final Group A clash against Italy.

But it is no surprise to see the hosts cruise through to the last four in front of their own fans, nor to see them exhibit a style on the pitch typical of coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's time in football.

To put it bluntly, the current Brazil team—continuing a trend that would have past masters, such as 1982 World Cup star Socrates, shaking their heads in despair—play better when they do not have the ball at their feet.

Victory over the Tri, for whom the tournament is now over following their second consecutive defeat, was an example of Felipao's game plan carried out to perfection. The North Americans dominated possession throughout the 90 minutes, according to Goal's statistics compilers, taking 56 percent of the ball compared to 44 percent for their hosts.

In distribution, Mexico outstripped their rival, making 334 passes to Brazil's 260. To put that in context, against Uruguay on Sunday, Spain put together an outrageous 925 passes, almost four times the amount managed by the Scratch in this latest triumph.

So what is the key to this team advancing steadily through the Confederations Cup?

Just as in the successful 2002 World Cup campaign, hitting fast and hitting hard on the break is Scolari's favourite.

When the likes of David Luiz and Thiago Silva in the middle recover the ball deep in their own half, consolidating possession in the style of Spain is far from their thoughts. The play is directed almost instantly, within three passes, long and down into the corner, utilizing the pace of Neymar and Hulk. More often than not, it is the latest signing to the Camp Nou who is the target.

This is no coincidence. Neymar's acceleration, speed and trickery on the ball are an indispensable part of his team's effort when they are going forward. With the ball, we see him pop up on the left flank, always looking to beat his marker while taking care not to ignore Marcelo coming up in support. If he goes past his rival, Brazil are one step from goal. If he is taken down, a free-kick aimed at the Selecao's aerial threats is little respite for a defending team.

When the ball goes right and Hulk uses his physicality to hold up possession, bringing Dani Alves or Oscar into the game, Neymar drifts into the penalty area. He is an opportunist like few others in the danger zone, as we saw in the first goal; just nine minutes in, Dani Alves' cross was deflected into his path by the unfortunate Jorge Torres and the youngster did not err with a stunning left-foot volley that marked his second goal of the tournament.

One ahead so early into the game, Felipao had the Mexican side just where he wanted them. The away team put in a sterling effort to try and come back, but that advantage in possession and territory counted for nothing when put against a stout Brazilian backline that is a model of solidity.

The best chances continued to fall for the hosts when they broke forward in numbers, and fittingly it was a moment of individual magic from Neymar that ended the match as a contest. The Santos idol bamboozled his defenders out wide before putting in a delicate cross, and it could not have been easier for substitute Jo to tap in unmarked and confirm the triumph.

That final point is important.

This insistence on discipline and functionality from the coach does not mean Neymar, Oscar and Lucas Moura are prohibited from showing off their talent on the ball. Dribbles and flicks may be forbidden in the middle of the pitch, but the ever-pragmatic Felipao knows that in and around the box they are as effective a tool as any on the way to goal.

But let us not be fooled by those fleeting moments of magic; playing without the ball for large spells and waiting for gaps to appear, Brazil's Joga Bonito this is not.

Daniel is a football journalist based in Buenos Aires, who specialises in covering the South American game. You can follow him on twitter at @DanEdwardsGoal

Rating the Brazil Players Against Mexico

Dan Colasimone — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:53:54 -0400

Brazil did enough to see off Mexico 2-0 in their Confederations Cup clash, but the home side will need to improve if they are to get past the top sides in this tournament.

Two moments of brilliance from Neymar book-ended a fairly unimpressive performance from the samba boys, with the new Barcelona-signing volleying a superb goal in the ninth minute then setting up Jo for Brazil's second goal with some electrifying dribbling two minutes before the final whistle.

In between, the Mexicans gave their hosts quite a tough time of it, exposing some flaws that coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will have to work on before Brazil's final group match.

Here we take a look through Brazil's formation to rate each individual's contribution.

Begin Slideshow

Brazil vs. Mexico: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction

Timothy Rapp — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:50:52 -0400

Neymar may not have scored as early as he did against Japan, but the star's ninth-minute strike was all Brazil would need to defeat Mexico in a Confederations Cup clash, 2-0.

Of course, Neymar wasn't satisfied with simply a goal, as he would also set up Jo's 93rd-minute tally as well. It was a performance to remember for the 21-year-old, who has lived up to the hype and then some in the tournament's first two games.

The win all but assures Brazil will advance to the next round, and an Italian win or draw will send them through. Meanwhile, Mexico can only hope Japan defeats Italy and keeps their extremely slim semifinal hopes alive.

The Brazilians started the game with a fury, creating several early chances and even scoring a goal in the fourth minute that was called back after Neymar was deemed offside before he sent in a cross. Mexico was reeling early.

And Neymar would strike once again for Brazil, this time in the ninth minute.

Dani Alves attempted to send a cross into the box for Fred, but it was headed away. Unfortunately for Mexico, it landed on the left foot of Neymar and the Barcelona star didn't disappoint, sending his volley into the back of the net.

Brazil didn't let up, but it was Mexico that nearly equalized in the 16th minute. Hiram Mier ripped a shot from the right side of the box across the face of goal, but his screaming attempt missed just wide.

Neymar nearly made it two in the 23rd minute. Fred sent a diagonal pass to Neymar above the box and the young star brilliantly chested it down and let fly with his left foot. But he just got under the ball, and his blistered shot sailed just over the net.

Just 23 minutes into the game, it was obvious that Neymar was in the mood, as Tyler Duffy of Big Lead Sports noted:

Mexico managed to slowly decrease the game's pace and control a greater percentage of possession. But when Mexico did have opportunities on the counterattack, they simply couldn't properly execute, as Jorge Arangure of The New York Times noted:

Mexico looked their most dangerous off of set pieces, including Giovani Dos Santos' deep try in stoppage time that flew just over the bar, though Júlio César appeared to have it covered. But Mexico couldn't get the final touch needed on one of those attempts in the first half, and Brazil led 1-0 after the first 45.

Still, Mexico had to have been pleased at how they finished off the half after a rocky start, especially given that Brazil had just one touch in the attacking third after the 32nd minute, according to Bob Ley on ESPN's halftime show.

It looked as though Brazil again struck early on Neymar's free kick, as the ball deflected to Thiago Silva and the Paris Saint-Germain defender sent it into the back of the net in the 47th minute. The play was ruled offsides, however.

Hulk failed to capitalize on a huge opportunity in the 55th minute. He played a one-two with Neymar and the latter chipped a perfect pass over the Mexican defense, leaving Hulk alone on goal to the left of the box. But somehow, the brawny forward pushed his shot wide to the left.

It was a bad miss, as Michael Cummings of Bleacher Report noted:

A minute later, Neymar was at it again, this time streaming down the right side of the box and blasting a shot, though his effort skimmed across the face of the goal and went wide as well.

And he continued his active afternoon in the 65th minute, ripping a shot from the left side of the box that keeper Jose de Jesus Corona was able to get a hand on and deflect out of play for a corner.

Second-half substitute Pablo Barrera nearly made his mark in the 80th minute. After Dos Santos found him in space on the right flank, Barrera whipped in a dangerous cross. But Javier Hernandez just missed getting his foot on the pass and Brazil managed to knock the ball out of play for a corner before Mexico could equalize.

And much like he started the game with a bang, Neymar would finish it in style as well.

Taking the ball on the left flank, he deftly dribbled through two Mexican defenders into the box and sent a low cross to second-half substitute Jo, who put home Brazil's second goal.

It was another moment of pure genius from Neymar, who completely and utterly dominated this match.

Grades

Neymar, Brazil: A+

If you've been wondering what all the fuss was about, go back and watch this match.

Yes, the goal was spectacular, but it seemed that he also spearheaded every attack and threatening moment for Brazil. He showed off a dangerous left foot, which is scary because it's his weaker option, and the Mexican defense couldn't deal with his pace or pristine ball control.

The goal may have been beautiful, but his move to set up Jo's goal was astonishing. The always colorful Ray Hudson put it best:

Neymar owned this game, folks, and Brazilian fans will be hoping it is a sign of things to come at next year's World Cup.

Javier Hernandez, Mexico: C

He played, right?

Yes, but you couldn't always tell. According to Who Scored, he had just one shot and 18 total touches. While that isn't entirely his fault—his teammates didn't exactly give him support or find him in dangerous positions in or around the box—Hernandez must find a way to involve himself in the game.

Otherwise, Mexico will continue to struggle.

Giovani Dos Santos, Mexico: B+

Dos Santos looked dangerous playing behind Hernandez in this contest. He's clearly the creative spark on this Mexican team and always poses a threat on the counterattack. Like his teammates, he couldn't find the final pass or touch needed in this game, but he was one of the few bright spots for El Tri.

David Luiz, Brazil: B+

While Mexico looked the most threatening on set pieces, David Luiz was a force in the air throughout much of the contest, getting his head on several crosses and corners and generally providing the answer to Mexico's aerial questions. Bloody nose and all, Luiz was excellent in defense for Brazil in this one.

Brazil Grades

Position	Player	Grade
G	Júlio César	B
D	Dani Alves	B
D	Thiago Silva	C+
D	David Luiz	B+
D	Marcelo	C+
M	Neymar	A+
M	Oscar (Off 62')	C
M	Luis Gustavo	C+
M	Paulinho	B
M	Hulk (Off 78')	C-
F	Fred (Off 82')	C+

Substitutes
M	Hernanes (On 62')	B-
M	Lucas Moura (On 78)'	B-
F	Jo (On 82')	B+

Mexico Grades

Position	Player	Grade
G	Jose de Jesus Corona	B-
D	Francisco Rodríguez	C
D	Héctor Moreno	C
D	Hiram Mier	C
D	Jorge Torres (Off 70')	C
M	Gerardo Torrado (Off 88')	B
M	Giovani Dos Santos	B+
M	Andrés Guardado	C
M	Gerardo Flores (Off 58')	C
M	Carlos Salcido	C
F	Javier Hernández	C-

Substitutes
D	Hector Herrera (On 58')	C
M	Pablo Barrera (On 70')	B
M	Raul Jimenez (On 88')	C

What's Next

Brazil will face Italy in their final group game, though it may not matter if Italy beats or draws against Japan, which would send Brazil into the semifinals. Meanwhile, Mexico awaits Japan and will have to hope the Japanese side defeats Italy, which would technically keep El Tri alive for the knockout stage.