Bleacher Report - Front Page

Preakness 2013 Results: Live Analysis and Twitter Reaction

Tristan Thornburgh — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:05:04 -0400

The Preakness often seems to be in the shadow of the more famous Kentucky Derby, but the second jewel of thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown is often a sensational race.

Saturday's 138th Preakness features Kentucky Derby winner Orb, who will be trying to establish his greatness by winning the second of the Big Three races.

If Orb is victorious, he will have a chance to go for the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes in early June. There has not been a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

Orb demonstrated sensational ability in the Derby, coming from near the back of the pack to defeat a 20-horse field. While there are only nine horses in the Preakness, he faces a big challenge because tactics in the 1 3/16ths mile race often determine who wins and who disappoints.

Orb will break from the rail at Pimlico—the Baltimore track that hosts the Preakness—and that could be a problem for a horse that likes to come from behind and does not want to get caught up in traffic.

Post time is 6:20 p.m. ET today on NBC.

HP Byron Nelson 2013: Contenders Who Must Finish Strong to Build on Season

Rob Goldberg — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:51:55 -0400

There are plenty of golfers in contention for the HP Byron Nelson Championship, but some players need a bigger performance than others.

While this event is not the biggest tournament on the schedule, it provides golfers with a great opportunity to gain some momentum as they enter the heart of the season. With the U.S. Open beginning next month and the Open Championship following in July, there are plenty of places for golfers to make their mark.

However, a few players looking to do well in these majors have struggled to this point in the year. A strong showing by these guys in the final couple of rounds this weekend will make a huge difference for the rest of the year.

Keegan Bradley

It appeared that Keegan Bradley was going to be a top competitor at the Masters after he finished in the top 10 of four straight tournaments heading into Augusta. Unfortunately, an 82 in the third round dropped him far out of contention.

Since then, he's completely fallen apart. Bradley missed the cut at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and then missed the cut again at the Players Championship.

The good news is that he seems to have turned the corner this week at Irving with a 60 in his opening round. However, consistency has been a problem all year, and it will be impossible for him to win without posting four strong rounds in a row.

If he can avoid another collapse, he should be able to keep his confidence heading into the rest of the year.

Charl Schwartzel

After winning the 2011 Masters, Charl Schwartzel appeared as though he was going to take a big step toward being one of the top players in the world. While he is consistently in contention, he is rarely on top of a leaderboard.

Since the start of 2012, the South African has only missed three cuts, but he also has only four top-10 finishes in that time.

Heading into the Byron Nelson Championship, Schwartzel had gone 13 rounds in a row without scoring in the 60s. That all changed with an impressive 63 on Thursday that featured seven birdies and no bogeys.

In the final two rounds, he must continue to play relatively mistake-free to finish strong and finish at least in the top 10.

Angel Cabrera

Despite a few years worth of struggles, it is clear that Angel Cabrera still has some very strong play left in him.

The 43-year-old pro lost in the playoff of the Masters to Adam Scott and is looking to build off that performance to get back among the top players in the world. The problem is that he has struggled down the stretch in each of his past two PGA events.

At the Wells Fargo Championship, Cabrera shot an 80 in Round 4. At the Players' Championship, he only managed at 76 in the final round. He has to make sure this does not become a trend.

With many talented young competitors jockeying for position on the leaderboard, Cabrera could end up once again falling behind. He has to avoid a poor round on Sunday to not only stay ahead in this event, but gain more confidence for many upcoming events.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

No-Brainer Adjustments for Every Struggling NHL Playoff Team

Tyler Donohue — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:50:20 -0400

The race for a league championship remains wide open for eight squads still participating in the postseason frenzy. The tournament is especially intriguing this year since no team appears head and shoulders above the fray, leaving the door open for improvement in each locker room.

A few teams in particular have seen their efforts limited by shortcomings of different sorts. Rallying and rising above these issues can make the difference between playoff survival and elimination.

No team is facing dire straits just yet, so there's still time to pull things together and perform at full throttle. Here's a look at corrections that can clearly make a substantial difference in Stanley Cup hopes for several squads.

Begin Slideshow

WWE Extreme Rules 2013: Matches That Will Steal the Show from Main Event

Brian Mazique — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:44:30 -0400

The Extreme Rules pay-per-view isn't getting a great deal of attention, but there are a few matches on the card that could be classic. What some may find strange is that not one of them is the main event.

Ryback and John Cena's clash for the WWE title will drive the primary storyline, but as pure in-ring action goes, these three matches will steal the show from the main event.

Notice the distinct Shield flavor...

US Championship — (c) Kofi Kingston vs. Dean Ambrose

If you want to see one of the best blends of in-ring athletics and theatrics, this is the one match from the event you don't want to miss.

No one in the WWE is as athletic and exciting as Kofi. When he's matched with the right opponent, his moves come off excellently. Aside from Dolph Ziggler—whom the event will definitely miss—no other Superstar sells opponent's moves like Ambrose.

He's an excellent mixture of old-school heelism and new-school feel. This could be the type of match that vaults Kofi into the next stratosphere.

There are so many ways this one could go; the result and drama could be just as compelling as the in-ring action.

This is good stuff.

Tag Team Championship — (c) Team Hell No vs. Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns — Tornado Tag Match

Daniel Bryan and Kane have already been involved with one classic match with The Shield; this will be yet another epic confrontation.

It seems like the time may have come for Team Hell No to drop the titles. If so, giving The Shield some gold would seem like a logical step in their meteoric rise.

Watch the sequences with Rollins and Bryan. It should be classic material.

Fandango vs. Chris Jericho

The theme music of Fandango has gone viral. His dancing machinations and other hype are a cool package, but the guy is pretty solid in the ring too.

Don't sleep on Jericho's ability to entertain, Y2J can still put on a great match. After Fandango and Jericho's first meeting registered about a six out of 10 at WrestleMania 29, this one should be a lot better.

Hopefully they will get 10 to 15 minutes of time to shine athletically and tell a story.

Follow me, because if The Shield win Gold, I'll Happily Tweet About it

Tiger Woods' Resurgence Has Led to Unfair Criticism of No. 1 Golfer

Justin Onslow — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:41:28 -0400

Love him or hate him, Tiger Woods is back atop the golf world, and he’s not going away any time soon.

Those who anxiously awaited Woods’ return to the forefront of the sport have embraced the world No. 1 golfer’s resurgence, heralding his 2013 success as both a positive turn for Woods’ and a boost for the sport.

That faction may not be the majority, however.

Since Woods announced his presence with wins at the Farmers Insurance Open, World Golf Championships and Arnold Palmer Invitational, controversy has followed the 37-year-old from tournament to tournament—including two controversial happenings at the Players Championship last weekend.

On Day 3 of that event, playing partner Sergio Garcia accused Woods of inciting the crowd during his backswing by pulling a club from his bag before Garcia had played his ball. According to James Corrigan of The Telegraph, Garcia had this to say:

Well, obviously Tiger was on the left and it was my turn to hit. He moved all the crowd that he needed to move, I waited for that. You do have a feel when the other guy is going to hit and right as I was in the top of the backswing, he must have pulled a wood and everybody started screaming.

Nothing much came of the dispute (short of Garcia’s Sunday collapse a day later), but that wasn’t the only incident that called Woods’ integrity into question.

On Sunday at the Players Championship, Woods hooked his tee shot into the water at No. 14. A routine drop later, the world No. 1 would play his ball and cruise to a convincing two-stroke victory over a trio of tough challengers.

As it turns out, that drop may not have been so routine after all.

Despite initial reassurance that he had dropped in the right place, Woods has come under fire about his drop placement. According to Bob Harig of ESPN, the 37-year-old should have dropped further from the hole:

All kinds of video sleuths and rules gurus are analyzing the flight of Woods' tee shot, the words of the NBC announcers, and coming to the conclusion that he was in error to drop where he did -- that he should have dropped much farther back, arguably making the hole more difficult.

This comes on the heels of an infamous snafu at the Masters involving another misplaced drop by Woods that resulted in a two-stroke penalty and an eventual fourth-place finish.

In fairness to those who have called Woods’ integrity into question, he clearly made a mistake at the Masters. And if all other reports are true, he may have made a similar mistake at the Players Championship.

But why is so much emphasis being placed on these situations? And why now?

The obvious answer is that Woods has broken the rules on more than one occasion, and if he is to continue dominating the sport in 2013, he should be expected to do so with the utmost integrity of the rules.

But the fact is, these situations happen all the time in professional golf. There is no shortage of examples of players misunderstanding the rules or making a major mistake in drop placement. It’s just part of the sport.

Woods’ polarizing personality and prior indiscretions have made him a target for criticism, though. While other golfers are making similar mistakes and remaining largely out of the spotlight, Woods is enduring the criticism of those who want the world’s best golfer to fail—or at least play poorly enough to give everyone else a chance.

None of these situations would be as magnified were Woods not winning at a torrid pace in 2013. With four wins in seven events this year, there’s no denying his return to the top of the sport.

Much to the dismay of those who enjoyed his absence.

As long as Woods is winning, controversy will continue to follow him. In a sport with so much ambiguity, doubters will always find a reason to call his veracity into question, especially if he is no longer struggling off the tee and missing cuts in major tournaments.

Some of the criticism may be warranted, but if Woods is worthy of the condemnation, so is the bevy of fellow tour players that have made similar mistakes. If all things are equal, so too should the criticism be.

Time will tell if more incidents will plague Woods this season, but if his last two tournaments are any indication, this won’t be the last we hear of Woods making a highly publicized mistake.

Chicago vs. Detroit: Will Lethargic Blackhawks Answer Wake-Up Call?

Steve Silverman — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:38:37 -0400

There's no need for the Chicago Blackhawks to panic after losing 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings in the second game of their conference semifinal playoff series.

However, there is a need for the Blackhawks to wake up.

Chicago and Detroit are tied 1-1 after the first two games at the United Center, and Detroit would appear to have the advantage since they stole a game in Chicago.

However, The Blackhawks were 4-0 against the Red Wings this season and they are very comfortable playing at the Joe Louis Arena (they were 2-0 there). Head coach Joel Quenneville just has to wake his team and then have them play with maximum effort for 60 minutes.

That did not happen in the second game.

It really isn't a surprise, either. The Blackhawks have been celebrated all season as the best team in the NHL. They won the Presidents' Trophy and did it by outskating and outshooting opponents.

The Blackhawks played in Game 2 like they believed their press clippings.

The Blackhawks are not a rough-and-tumble team that wants to pound opponents and that's not likely to change at any point in the series against the Red Wings.

The only way they are going to fulfill their potential and get through the Western Conference playoffs is to outplay their opponents.

They did just that in the first game of the series and they might have thought that the Red Wings were about to roll over for them.

However, Detroit head coach Mike Babcock had a very tired and emotionally spent hockey team on his hands in Game 1. He brought the Red Wings back to Detroit after their Game 1 loss, and when they returned to Chicago for Game 2, they were rejuvenated.

They gave up the first goal of the game to Patrick Kane, but once the Wings tied the score on Damien Brunner's artful deflection in the second period, they dominated the game.

On the other hand, the Blackhawks displayed none of the relentlessness with the puck that they were noted for in the regular season and the first round of the playoffs.

The Blackhawks found themselves on the short end of a 2-1 score after two periods and they never mounted a serious threat in the third period

Brendan Smith scored the game-winner for Detroit late in the second period, taking a sweet feed from Henrik Zetterberg and wristing it past Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford.

Johan Franzen and Valtteri Filppula added goals midway through the final period and that allowed the Red Wings to cruise.

Credit Babcock for putting the skillful and defensively proficient Zetterberg on Blackhawks star Jonathan Toews. The Chicago captain has not scored a goal in the postseason, and that has to be troubling for Quenneville.

However, Toews is always a presence because he is sharp in the faceoff circle and he's very tenacious defensively.

Still the Blackhawks will breathe a sigh of relief when Toews finally gets on the board. He's their best player and leader and the Blackhawks need him to be an offensive factor.

There's plenty of opportunity for him to get there because the two teams have only played two games in their best-of-seven series.

However, if they don't turn things around quickly, the Blackhawks could find themselves playing must-win games shortly.

They need to come out in Game 3 with a much sharper effort. If they find themselves getting punched in the mouth by the Red Wings, they must punch back.

They didn't in Game 2, and they find themselves in a series that is all square.

The Blackhawks have received a wake-up call. Will they answer it?

Preakness Live Stream: When and Where to Catch Saturday's Big Race

Jesse Reed — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:35:54 -0400

Technology has allowed unprecedented access to sports. Thanks to a little thing called a live stream, you can watch the 138th Preakness Stakes from your smart phone, your laptop or your tablet this Saturday.

After winning the Kentucky Derby, Orb is the favorite to win the second leg of the Triple Crown. With just eight other horses to contend with, this race is unpredictable and should make for a stunning finish.

Here's what you need to know in order to catch every second of the heart-pumping action.

Where: Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

When: Saturday, May 18, at 6 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

You can download the NBC Live Extra app from ITunes or simply head over to NBC's Live Extra website and stream from their video boxes directly.

Here's a look at the starting spots and details for every horse entered to race this Saturday.

2013 Preakness Stakes Layout

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
1	Orb	Joel Rosario	Claude McGaughey	1-1
2	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O'Neill	8-1
3	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	30-1
4	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Albert M. Stall Jr.	5-1
5	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	8-1
6	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	15-1
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	12-1
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	10-1
9	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	12-1

* Current odds can be found at horseracingnation.com.

Race Preview

With only nine horses, this year's field at Pimlico is small, even by Preakness standards.

Orb is the prohibitive favorite to win this race, but jockey Joel Rosario will need to employ every trick in his bag to overcome a poor draw. Orb will start from post No. 1, and, according to David Grening of DRF, recent history hasn't been kind to horses starting from this spot:

Weather could be a factor as it's been raining in Baltimore on Saturday. But ABC Washington's Bob Ryan believes the weather actually favors horse racing:

Should Orb defeat the field and the weather (for a second time), he'll have a shot at winning the Triple Crown in June with a victory at Belmont—a feat that hasn't been accomplished since Affirmed pulled off the trifecta in 1978.

Govenor Charlie, Goldencents and Departing all feature sprinters' speed.

Mylute and Oxbow could both win with excellent strategy and some luck, and long shots Itsmyluckyday, Will Take Charge and Titletown Five have experienced jockeys and trainers in their corner.

The biggest keys for this race will be how the jockeys handle their horses and which horse has the most left in the tank for a final push.

The small field will make for as unpredictable a race as possible, and nobody should be surprised if one of the dark horses pulls off an upset.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Boston Red Sox's Andrew Miller Okay After Being Hit in the Head by a Foul Ball

Andrew Martin — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:34:13 -0400

Boston Red Sox reliever Andrew Miller recently dodged a major injury after he was hit in the head by a foul ball while standing in the dugout.

The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham reported that Miller was in the dugout during the top of the ninth inning of Friday’s 3-2 10-inning win against the Minnesota Twins when the scary moment happened. A foul ball off the bat of teammate Jarrod Saltalamacchia ricocheted off a wall and struck the left-hander in the forehead.

Miller had been searching for a piece of gum at the time and never saw the ball coming. He described to the Boston Herald’s Scott Lauber, "I heard something like whistling, and then, the next thing I know, I was like, 'I think something just hit me in the forehead.' I'm fine—I think."

Typically, Miller would have been sitting in the bullpen. However, he had just finished setting down the Twins in order in the eighth inning and was waiting to go back to the mound after the Red Sox finished hitting.

Despite the scare, Miller returned to the game and retired two more batters.

The game marked the southpaw’s finest performance of the year, as he went a season-long 1.2 innings—striking out three without allowing a base runner.

Miller’s performance is part of a hot streak dating back to April 21, when his ERA stood at 6.75. Since that time, he has allowed just three runs and seven hits in his last nine innings (12 games), while striking out 16.

For the season, Miller is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in 19 relief appearances. He has also averaged an impressive 15.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

Since Miller wasn’t hurt by the foul ball, his near miss is something that can be laughed off. If nothing else, he proved that not even a blow to the head can stop his recent momentum towards establishing himself as a dominant reliever.

Statistics via Baseball-Reference

Follow @historianandrew

NBA Playoffs 2013: Spurs' Balance Will Lead Them to NBA Finals

Timothy Rapp — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:30:00 -0400

The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the NBA's most physical teams and best defensive units. The Golden State Warriors were one of the most dynamic offensive teams in the league. The Los Angeles Lakers were, uh, probably the NBA's most dysfunctional.

But in every conceivable way, the San Antonio Spurs are balanced. And that is why the team is primed to reach the NBA Finals this season.

You want good offense? The Spurs were fourth in the NBA in scoring in the regular season (106.1 PPG) and second in the postseason (102.8 PPG). Seven players on the roster averaged 9.5 points or more, led by Tony Parker (20.3 PPG).

And the team has multiple players capable of coming up huge in the clutch or able to facilitate the offense.

Parker does it all. Manu Ginobili is just as capable of beating a team with a timely shot as he is setting up his teammates. Tim Duncan is still an efficient offensive player. Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green have been making huge shots all postseason long.

You want good defense? The Spurs allowed just 96.6 points per game during the regular season, 11th-best in the NBA. They've actually been better in the playoffs, allowing just 93.0 points per game. In Duncan, Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw, the team can crash the boards, and, as a whole, the squad plays great team defense.

But perhaps most importantly, everyone knows his role and executes it perfectly.

In Game 6 against the Warriors, future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan—arguably the best power forward in NBA history—was benched for much of the fourth quarter. Did he complain? No. Did he sulk on the bench? Nope. Did he do weird impressions of Kobe Bryant? Didn't happen.

The point is, a player who could easily have a huge ego put it aside and trusted his coach, Gregg Popovich. If you don't think the rest of his Spurs have teammates noticed that, or if that sort of attitude doesn't become infectious, you are sorely mistaken.

San Antonio has experience, humility and players that fulfill specific, important roles. The Spurs are clinical offensively, and they work hard on defense. Somebody always seems to come up with a big shot. In a word, they are balanced.

And that balance will lead them to the NBA Finals.

WWE Extreme Rules 2013 Live Stream: Online Viewing Guide to Epic PPV Card

Alex Ballentine — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:25:39 -0400

Extreme Rules 2013 is shaping up to be a can't-miss pay-per-view for WWE fans. The annual card has developed a reputation for being a quality one and this year's event should continue that trend.

The Extreme Rules theme allows for some fun stipulation matches without feeling too gimmicky, and there's plenty of star power to make this card worth watching.

Headlined by a WWE title match between John Cena and Ryback and an epic steel cage match between Triple H and Brock Lesnar, this is a card that will be full of memorable matches.

This should be the card that really kick-starts the WWE into its summer programming so you really don't want to miss the action. Here's all the information you need to ensure you don't miss the action if you have to catch it online.

Where: Scottrade Center in St. Louis, MO.

When: Sunday, May 19 at 8 p.m. ET

Live Stream: WWE.com has PPV for $44.99

Official Card

John Cena (c) vs. Ryback – Last Man Standing WWE Championship match

Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar – Steel Cage match

Jack Swagger vs. Alberto Del Rio – I Quit match (No. 1 contender for World Heavyweight title)

Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Dean Ambrose – United States Championship match

Team Hell No (c) vs. The Shield (Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) – Tornado Tag Team match for Tag Team Championships

Sheamus vs. Mark Henry – Strap match

Randy Orton vs. Big Show – Extreme Rules match

Fandango vs. Chris Jericho – Singles match

The Miz vs. Cody Rhodes – Pre-show Singles match

Must-See Match: Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar in a Steel Cage Match

John Cena and Ryback's last man standing match may headline the show, but it's the steel cage match between Lesnar and Triple H that you don't want to miss.

These are two proud legends of the business going at it in a rubber match. After Lesnar beat Triple H at SummerSlam and Triple H exacted his revenge at WrestleMania, this is sure to be an awesome match with both men's pride on the line.

The steel cage should add an extra element of brutality, as well as an added element of intrigue.

Prediction: Lesnar

Neither man would really want to end this rivalry by losing cleanly so we can expect this to be pretty even throughout. However, it makes more sense for Lesnar to pull out the win as he's the one that has more time left in the ring.

Superstar to Watch: Dean Ambrose

This could be a huge night for The Shield. All three members are going for a title.

While Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are likely to continue their momentum as tag team partners, Ambrose will have his chance to establish himself as a singles threat in a United States Championship match against Kofi Kingston.

Since The Shield can't stay intact forever, this could be a huge night for Ambrose's future with the company. Kingston is a great athlete and is capable of putting on great matches. If Ambrose rises to the occasion and wins the title, it could be a launching point for his singles career.

Ambrose could emerge as the biggest winner of the night.

NBA Free Agents 2013: Available Players Who Will Transform Franchises

Steven Cook — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:25:27 -0400

There are a handful of stellar NBA players coming out of this year's free-agent class that have served as the focal point of their team and franchise.

Simply said, there's a lot to like in this year's NBA free-agent class, as there are a handful of players who will serve as stars for their respective suitors.

While there is no shortage of talent outside of the top players and many teams will upgrade their rotations tremendously, the real meat lies with the maximum-salary players who have experience as franchise players.

Let's take a look at the top players available in the free-agent class who will transform the franchise that they join.

Dwight Howard, C

If you don't think Dwight Howard is capable of changing a franchise completely, just look at the Orlando Magic right now.

Whether it's his odd antics, dominating post-presence or funny-guy personality, Howard has captivated the entire NBA fanbase at times and shown the ability to create headlines like wildfire whenever he pleases.

The Los Angeles Lakers are still keen on retaining the big man and seem to be the front-runner since they can offer more money than any other team. But his first year in L.A. wasn't all bright lights, as they saw a massively hyped team get swept in the first round by San Antonio.

ESPN personality Mike Greenberg wasn't shy about sharing his thoughts on an interesting team that could be forming in Houston if D12 were to join James Harden and company.

Howard certainly has a lot to think about before he decides whether to stay with the Lakers. And there's no doubting that, by now, L.A. is all in to make him their new franchise player in the post-Kobe Bryant era.

All it comes down to now is if D12 would rather stay on the west coast or join a team like the Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets or other teams looking to make Howard the face of their franchise.

Josh Smith, PF

After years of trade talk and speculation, Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith is finally free to decide where he'll continue his NBA career, and whatever decision he makes will have huge consequences.

Smith has had numerous issues with the Hawks, from inconsistency to a low motor. But that hasn't stopped some of the NBA's biggest franchises from having interest in the power forward.

Despite great players like Al Horford and Jeff Teague playing in Atlanta, Smith has remained the most popular and effective player on the team. His ability to do everything in the post as well as shoot makes him a hot commodity in the free-agent market.

If the Lakers lose out on the Howard sweepstakes, they could go with Smith to fill the post void, and the Celtics are also looking to bolster their frontcourt with a new star. But they're far from the only franchises willing to gamble on Smith.

It's unclear if Smith will remain a star in a new location, but there are definitely teams who are willing to bet that he will be.

Chris Paul, PG

Not to be outdone by Howard or Smith, Paul is likely the gem of the 2013 free-agent class. Unfortunately for 29 other teams, he's also the most likely participant to stay with his previous team.

Chris Paul has game-changing ability and has the most complete game of any point guard in the NBA in some time. His clutch gene is through the roof, and he is a threat to win the MVP each and every season.

There's no doubt that able teams will be backing up dump trucks full of cash to even gain the interest of CP3, but they'll have to bring a lot to the table as far as winning championships for Paul to make the move. He's already in a great spot with the Clippers, where he is surrounded with growing talent.

But it's not an easy decision for a player in his prime who is desperately seeking his first ring, and Los Angeles Times writer Mike Bresnahan was quick to make a not-so-glowing comparison.

Whatever decision CP3 makes this summer will transform not only the franchises it affects but the entire landscape of the league. I truly believe Paul can go to one of the league's worst teams and make them a championship contender in one season.

Andrew Bynum, C

Embattled 76ers center Andrew Bynum joins Howard on this list as a player who brings a lot of risk to the table but the potential reward is so huge that he's worth pursuing.

Sure, things didn't work out for Philadelphia when they lost Andre Iguodala and Jason Richardson in order to gain what they thought was their new franchise player, but that's largely due to a freak injury that happened at the wrong time.

When healthy (which, admittedly, isn't too often), Bynum is a dominant center and a player that you can rely on as the focal point of your offense. Teams that have struggled in their frontcourt offense will be looking long and hard at Bynum, who has one of the most polished postgames in the league.

The fact that he was replaced by Howard isn't a tribute to his skill. In fact, D12 might be the only center worthy of replacing a player of Bynum's skill.

Injury troubles raise a red flag, but despite the issues, Bynum is entering his prime and his game will be better than ever once he can reach full health.

Follow me on Twitter

Follow @steventerrycook

Chris Camozzi Not Feeling "Any Pressure" vs. Jacare Souza on UFC on FX 8

Michael Stets — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:24:39 -0400

Sometimes when you prepare for a huge opportunity before it comes, it’s almost as if you created it for yourself. That is what Chris Camozzi did, in order to land his latest fight on the UFC on FX 8 card vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

“After we left my last fight, I let my management know to tell Joe Silva that I’ll keep training and I’ll stay ready and see if I can get another fight,” Camozzi said recently as a guest on Darce Side Radio. “I actually told them if there was anything short notice, I was willing to step in before this fight was even offered.”

When the fight was offered, it was only a matter of moments before he said yes.

“It took about two seconds,” Camozzi said. I think my manager was even willing to give the answer for me, because he knew what my answer would be for fighting Jacare.”

After his split decision victory over Nick Ring at UFC 158 on March 16, Camozzi said he “got right back to the gym and stayed on it.” Many fighters struggle to cut weight or get back into gear for a short-notice fight; Camozzi avoided that before earning his first fight against a top-ten opponent.

My weight never went up too high. I stayed pretty low. I actually started dieting a little bit better. This camp I got a nutritionist and everything. All the pieces fit together pretty well, and that had a big part in taking this fight. I was already ready. I was already in shape. Normally in short notice fights, guys come in out of shape or worry about getting in shape in a short amount of time. I was already ready to go. I wasn’t injured in my last fight, so we just kept rolling.

Camozzi is indeed on a roll. The Factory X Muay Thai fighter takes a four-fight win streak with him into Jaragua do Sul, Brazil on Saturday night vs. Souza. He has stated he is physically prepared, but is he ready mentally for the biggest challenge of his career?

“I’m not trying to put too much pressure on myself. To be honest, I don't feel like I have any pressure, Camozzi said. “Jacare is ranked higher than me so I think I have everything to gain in this fight, nothing to lose. I’ve been on a good win streak. I’ve had a lot of experience in the UFC now. I’m looking at it like any other fight, any other day.”

He may be looking at it as any other fight, but it is in fact the biggest fight of his career. These top of opportunities do not come along often. This is just his fifth fight in the UFC, and he needs to seize the moment if he wants to separate himself from the rest of the pack in the middleweight division.

Currently ranked No. 8, Souza is a highly-decorated grappler, and has medaled in the ADCC and World Jiu-Jitsu championships. Nicknamed “Jacare,” which is Portuguese for alligator, he is a dangerous opponent on the ground for any middleweight.

Camozzi explained how he geared some of his training for the grappling prowess of Souza:

“As far as preparing for such a good grappler like him, I train with other black belts and guys that are better than me as well. It’s not like I’m in the gym and I’m the best guy there. I’ve had guys coming in to help me train, and putting me in bad positions and working out of them and breaking things down for me. I’ve had a good camp as far as working a lot of ground stuff and polishing my striking as well. So overall I was working my game. Focusing on me, not what he is going to do.”

Camozzi explained that he needs to be more proactive, then reactive.

“I need to keep the pressure on him and stay in his face and bring the fight to him. Show that I’m there to fight, not just there to get a paycheck, I’m there to win.”

Camozzi is a sizable +400 underdog (according to Bovada) in this fight. The odds makers feel like he doesn’t have much of a chance, but he feels if he executes his game plan it will lead him to victory.

“I think if I go out there and perform and do my job, I think I can walk away with the win,” Camozzi said.

It would be a career defining moment for Camozzi, and in his mind it would “definitely” put him in the Top 10.

With a fifth-straight win over the No. 8 ranked UFC middleweight, it would be hard to argue with him.

Michael Stets is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.

Metta World Peace Is a Weather Man

Jesse Dorsey — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:20:41 -0400

There are two major approaches to being a weatherman. There's the straightforward, "meteorologist" approach, and then there are the guys who try to have fun with the job. Metta World Peace is somehow in a third category on his own.

Metta joined Fox 11 in Los Angeles to do the weather in a way that only he can.

Check out metta's weather on Fox LA @myfoxla
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorldPeace) May 18, 2013

He started out in a yoga pose, obviously, and throughout his minute-long forecast he went through giving us visuals of Earl Clark in a thong, pretended to fart on Los Angeles, and described Robert Sacre's migration from Canada to Louisiana.

He spent most of the forecast with his back to the camera, staring directly at the green screen, which is generally a big no-no when you're on television.

To put it bluntly, it was odd.

If you're wondering why Metta seemed so incredibly polished working the green screen, it's because he's done the weather before.

World Peace showed up on CTV British Columbia about a year ago to do the weather for Vancouver.

Why? I say why not?

Throughout, Metta has no clue what the conversion from Celsius to Fahrenheit is, making assumptions that any low number means it's cold.

He finds a nice place to buy a dirt bike, warns against bears, and observes several times that we are, in fact, on the Earth.

World Peace is a horrible weatherman, but I'd be okay with seeing him do the weather every day regardless.

Brittney Griner Asked by Former Baylor Coach to Keep Quiet About Sexuality

Matt Fitzgerald — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:14:05 -0400

Former Baylor Lady Bears basketball superstar Brittney Griner was told to be publicly mum about her sexuality by her head coach, Kim Mulkey, because it was believed to be harmful to recruiting and reflect badly on the program.

Griner's candid testimony was documented in a report by ESPN, which included excerpts from interviews Griner did with ESPN The Magazine and ESPNW.com's Kate Fagan:

It was more of a unwritten law [to not discuss your sexuality] ... it was just kind of, like, one of those things, you know, just don't do it. They kind of tried to make it, like, "Why put your business out on the street like that?"

I told Coach [Mulkey] when she was recruiting me. I was like, "I'm gay. I hope that's not a problem," and she told me that it wasn't. I mean, my teammates knew, obviously they all knew. Everybody knew about it.

The story produced from Griner's interviews will hit newsstands this month.

As the ESPN report indicates, Griner revealed her sexuality about a month ago, but she had never tried to hide it from friends or family. After going No. 1 overall in the WNBA draft to the Phoenix Mercury, she has been outspoken, and this instance is clearly no exception.

Baylor University is a private Baptist school, and the student handbook dictates that students are expected not to "participate in advocacy groups which promote understandings of sexuality that are contrary to biblical teaching."

Homosexual behavior is one of the perceived actions of misconduct in Baylor's handbook, and perhaps that was Mulkey's reasoning behind repressing Griner in the way she did in college.

Griner led the Lady Bears to the NCAA tournament championship in 2012, was a three-time Big 12 Player of the Year and arguably the most dominant women's player in college basketball history.

An Early Look at 4 Realistic Moves New York Mets Could Make at the Deadline

Sam R. Quinn — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:12:29 -0400

This just in: The New York Mets are unwatchable on days that Matt Harvey isn't pitching.

Terry Collins is working with a lineup that, on any given night, has six or seven automatic outs sprinkled in among a couple of major league hitters. David Wright and Co.—though this is no fault of the captain's—are 28th in the league in hitting and last in on-base percentage, a part of the game that Collins and Sandy Alderson have attempted to make of paramount importance.

His pitching staff, outside of the aforementioned phenom and the sporadic, solid Jonathon Niese start, has been abysmal. The team is 7-2 in games started by Harvey, and 9-22 in others. Outside of Harvey, everyone has been serving up a nice buffet of batting practice and gopher balls.

No team in baseball swoons like the Mets swoon. Their slides are a perfect storm of anemic hitting and pathetic pitching.

But, just as all teams do every summer, the Mets have an opportunity to make improvements at the trade deadline. The team has sat idly by as the deadline has come and gone these last few seasons. Even a marginal improvement is necessary this time around.

While it may be two months before the trade deadline, it's never too early for speculation. Here are four possible trades the Mets could make in late July.

Begin Slideshow

Preakness Odds: Last-Minute Betting Tips for Saturday's Big Race

Jesse Reed — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:07:39 -0400

The 138th Preakness Stakes looks like it's Orb's race to lose according to the latest odds.

After winning the Kentucky Derby earlier this month, Orb is unsurprisingly the heavy favorite to win. As we saw at Churchill Downs, there's been some rain falling at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Unlike what we saw in early May, however, the track at Pimlico won't be as sloppy.

As Bob Ryan of ABC Washington points out, it's "good racing weather" for today's big event:

The second leg of the Triple Crown is contested on a slightly shorter track than the mile-and-a-quarter Derby. It is the shortest of the three races that comprise the Triple Crown.

That said, at a mile-and-three-sixteenths, the Preakness is still quite a test of endurance. Sprinters will be challenged to stay their penchant for jumping out to an early lead.

The field for this year's Preakness is small, featuring just nine horses. After the 19-horse race at the Derby, it seems quite small, indeed, though only 11 horses ran last year at Pimlico, which features a traditionally smaller field.

Here's a quick look at the latest odds being given for each horse.

Post	Horse	Odds
1	Orb	1-1
2	Goldencents	8-1
3	Titletown Five	30-1
4	Departing	5-1
5	Mylute	8-1
6	Oxbow	15-1
7	Will Take Charge	12-1
8	Govener Charlie	10-1
9	Itsmyluckyday	12-1

Live odds can be found at HorseRacingNetwork.com.

Here are a few things for you to consider before placing your bets.

Orb and Post No. 1

From a betting standpoint, it might be wise to stay as far away from Orb as possible.

There's no doubt that Orb has an excellent chance to win, based on his victory at the Derby and the fact that, by all accounts, the horse has been looking fantastic in training leading up to Saturday's race.

That said, recent history suggests starting on the rail could hurt Orb's chances. According to David Grening of DRF, the last time any horse won from this spot was in 1994, and the time before came back in 1961:

Combined with the fact that Derby-winning horses have only won the second leg of the Triple Crown 33 times since 1919, Orb isn't a sure bet this Saturday.

Don't Be Afraid To Bet On Titletown Five

The horse being given the longest odds in this race is Titletown Five.

Looking at the horse's history, it's easy to see why. In seven career races, Titletown Five has only won a single race, which was the horse's Maiden Special Weight victory.

But Titletown Five is trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lucas, who has seen five of his horses win the Preakness. He's convinced that Titletown Five has a shot to win this race, according to Alicia Wincze Hughes of herald-leader.com:

His last two races they put him into the race too much...I'd like to see him relax about 3-4 lengths off (the pace). I don't think he'll be on the lead and I really don't want him on the lead, either...He's a more talented horse than you people realize.

Given the extremely favorable odds being given to this horse, it might be a smart move to consider putting some money on Titletown Five to win, place or show.

Departing's Fresh Legs Could Be a Factor

After Orb, Departing is being looked at as the next-best horse in this race—and for good reason.

In four races this year, Departing has won three. This horse showed in the only race he didn't win—the Louisiana Derby, which was won by Revolutionary and which saw Mylute finish in second place.

Furthermore, Departing didn't race at the Derby and will be coming into the Preakness as a "new shooter," meaning he has fresh legs.

Departing has enough speed and stamina to win this race, and at 5-1 odds you'd be getting a nice little return for your money if he does.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Preakness Picks: Predicting Which Horses Will Finish in Money at Pimlico

Tim Daniels — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:07:05 -0400

Every horse in the Kentucky Derby arrived to Churchill Downs with questions to answer. The only one who passed the test with flying colors was Orb. That's why he enters the Preakness Stakes as the prohibitive favorite and a legitimate Triple Crown threat.

It's an amazing transformation when you consider there were nothing but question marks about Orb through three career races. He hadn't finished better than third in any of those starts and certainly didn't have the look of an unstoppable force.

Yet, when he turned on the jets during the homestretch of the Kentucky Derby and blew past the rest of the field like they were all moving in slow motion, a statement was made. It marked his fifth straight victory after that early slump.

If Orb runs his best race in the Preakness, none of the other eight horses have a chance. He's the best three-year-old contender in the field, and that's why he was installed as the 1-1 morning-line favorite.

As he showed in the derby, his tremendous closing speed gives him margin for error. Add in the very average level of the competition and it would be a surprise if he doesn't cross the finish line first.

The tougher part of projecting the second leg of the Triple Crown is determining which horses will finish in the money behind Orb.

Goldencents is the most talented horse in the race outside of the Kentucky Derby winner. He showed off his tremendous speed at Churchill Downs; it just happened too early in the race and left him without a finishing kick to remain in contention.

A more reasonable early pace paired with a better ride from jockey Kevin Krigger would put Goldencents in contention. The talented colt likes to be near the lead, which is perfectly fine, but he can't afford to race as hard as he did in the first half of the derby.

His run in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, his last start before the Triple Crown, was a better example of the type of race he needs to run to win at Preakness. Even though he hasn't shown that form enough to have confidence he can beat Orb, he should be in the mix.

Triple Crown newcomer Departing has a great chance to round out the Preakness trifecta. He's won four of his five career starts, including the Illinois Derby his last time out. His finishing time in that race was better than Orb's in the Florida Derby, his last race before the Kentucky Derby.

He's never raced against the level of competition he'll face at Pimlico, though. That's the only reason he's only considered as an outside contender rather than a horse with a great chance to dethrone Orb.

When a horse enters the Triple Crown fray in the middle, you always want to see a track record of success. It shows they are a true threat instead of just filling a spot. Departing has that and could sneak into third.

In the end, however, Orb will rule the day once again.

Prediction: 1. Orb 2. Goldencents 3. Departing

Preakness 2013 Horses: Orb and More Contenders to Bet Big

Alex Kay — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:04:19 -0400

Post time of the 2013 Preakness Stakes is quickly coming up, as the 13-race card at Pimlico Race Course is already well underway.

If you are looking for some last-minute advice on how to bet the main event and trying to make the second jewel of the Triple Crown a profitable one, you’ve come to the right place.

I’ve identified a handful of horses that should hit the board on Saturday evening and included some advice on how you should bet each one of them. Let’s take a closer look at this trio of contenders.

*Odds via Preakness.com.

The Long Shot: Govenor Charlie at 12-1

Any time a horse comes into Preakness having run just three times during his prep career and having skipped the Kentucky Derby, there’s a reason to be skeptical.

Still, Govenor Charlie has been nothing short of excellent in the first few races, winning twice and finishing second in the other. He set a track record at the Sunland Derby and looked prime to be a major contender in the Run for the Roses.

Unfortunately, he suffered a hoof injury that forced trainer Bob Baffert to keep him away from Kentucky two weeks ago.

He’s now healed up and looking great in workouts, which is why he’s a perfect bet to fill out exotics. This three-year-old has a good shot of paying dividends for those that back him to show, which is exactly what I’m recommending in this race.

Advice: Bet to show.

Contender: Goldencents at 8-1

Despite a poor finish in the Kentucky Derby, Goldencents should fare much better in this event. While the forecast shows rain in the Baltimore area, it’s doubtful that the slop will be nearly as wet or muddy as it was beneath the Twin Spires a fortnight ago.

There’s also more room for jockey Kevin Krigger to maneuver his mount to avoid kickback, something Goldencents can’t handle well, as the Preakness field only boasts nine horses.

Expect trainer Doug O’Neill to have this horse primed to come flying out of the gate and trying to win it in wire-to-wire fashion, which was a successful strategy during his prep career.

Goldencents is arguably the fastest horse in this competition, and he should have no problem keeping the pack behind him for most of the 9.5 furlongs. I just don’t think he has the stamina to fend off a late surge by the favorite and he will lose by a length.

Advice: Bet to place.

Winner: Orb at 1-1

After being adorned with roses at Churchill Downs, Orb heads to Maryland eyeing another prize: the blanket of Black-Eyed Susans. This event is practically a formality in trainer Shug McGaughey’s bid to win the Triple Crown for the first time since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978.

There’s simply no other competitor in the field that possesses the same combination of speed and closing ability, which means Orb could come from anywhere after the turn and still win by mile. Just look at his Beyer Speed Figure from the Kentucky Derby, as this colt clocked in at a 104, despite abhorrent conditions and immense traffic out of the gate.

With less horses and slightly better surfaces expected at Pimlico, don’t be surprised when Orb runs away with this and prepares for Belmont as a Triple Crown favorite.

Advice: Bet to win.

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Latest Odds
1	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	1-1
2	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O'Neill	8-1
3	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	30-1
4	Departing	Brian Hernandez, Jr.	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	6-1
5	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	5-1
6	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	15-1
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	12-1
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	12-1
9	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	10-1

Preakness 2013: Why Low Payout for Orb Makes Favorite a Bad Bet

Rob Goldberg — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:49:20 -0400

After winning the Kentucky Derby in convincing fashion, Orb enters the Preakness Stakes as the overwhelming favorite. This is not necessarily the best bet to make on Saturday.

According to John Clay of the Lexington Herald-Leader, the horse was listed at 4-5 odds during the afternoon:

This means that a successful bet on the top contender would provide a return of less than your original price. While Orb is good, he is not solid enough to justify this low payout.

Despite winning five straight races, a lot had to go in the horse's favor to continue this streak. One major factor was the muddy track at Churchill Downs, where his experience paid off against some of the other competitors.

Other contenders like Goldencents and Itsmyluckyday struggled in those conditions earlier in the month, but they should be stronger at Pimlico. Newcomers Govenor Charlie and Departing should also be tough to beat.

However, the biggest issue that could hold Orb back from winning the second leg of the Triple Crown is the post position. He will have to start from the No. 1 slot, which could end up being a problem.

We saw at the Kentucky Derby what jockey Joel Rosario wanted to do with his mount. From the No. 16 post, he did not even try to get into good position at the start and was very comfortable sitting behind the pack. It was not until the final turn that Rosario pushed the horse to the front.

Unfortunately, this strategy might not be possible at the Preakness. Starting close to the rail will force Orb to get a good start; otherwise, he could end up being trapped inside with no room to maneuver. This will especially be true with the fast-starting Goldencents starting at No. 2.

Additionally, history is not on Orb's side entering the prestigious race, according to David Grening of Daily Racing Forum:

The Kentucky Derby winner will have to overcome a long list of failed runners at this event. Based on the competition around him, it will not be too easy.

Orb is likely the most talented horse in the race, but that does not always lead to a win. There are too many factors at play that can prevent him from entering the winner's circle.

With this in mind, it would be a smarter move to place a bet on one of the other contenders that could hopefully bring a better payout.

Rafael Nadal Will Cruise to 7th Career Rome Masters Final Win on Sunday

Patrick Clarke — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:48:39 -0400

There's never been a player as dominant on clay or at the Rome Masters than Rafael Nadal, who will be gunning for a seventh career title at the Italian Open on Sunday.

Nadal will face the the greatest champion in the history of men's tennis in this weekend's final, but even Fed doesn't stand much of a chance going up against the 26-year-old Spaniard on his favorite surface.

The defending champion at this tournament and a six-time winner in the past, Rafa has reached the final in Rome for the eighth time since 2005. And while Federer is a 17-time Grand Slam champion, he's just 2-12 against his archrival on clay all time.

Plus, Fed has never won this tournament before, coming closest in 2003 and 2006, when he finished as runner-up on both occasions. And while Fed has been playing arguably his best tennis of the season this May in the Italian capital, his history against the King of Clay is discouraging.

Fed hasn't beaten Nadal on clay since the 2009 Madrid Masters final. That was a straight set win, but the Swiss legend was also just 27 years old at the time, rather than 31 going on 32.

Meanwhile, there might not be a single player on the planet capable of slowing the seven-time French Open champ at the moment.

In Saturday's semifinal win over Tomas Berdych, Nadal was outright dominant, winning 100 percent of his second-serve points (10-of-10) to take the match in straight sets, winning 6-2, 6-4 in just under 80 minutes.

The Czech star made plenty of unforced errors, but credit Nadal for capitalizing.

Nadal also won 42 percent of his return points, compared to Berdych, who won just 18 percent of his return points for the match. The win bodes extremely well for Rafa on Sunday and quite terribly for the rest of the men's field as the French Open draws closer.

While Nadal did look human in wins over Ernests Gulbis and David Ferrer, he was able to overcome both men despite leaving his A-game at home. It's victories like those two that prove Rafa is in a class by himself when it comes to the red stuff.

Keep in mind that Rafa is 27-1 in his last 28 clay-court matches dating back to last February. The lone loss coming to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo. Djokovic, meanwhile, was bounced in the quarterfinals of Rome on Friday, losing to none other than Tomas Berdych.

Roger Federer will likely go down as Rafael Nadal's greatest rival, but he's no longer the same player he was four or five years ago. Nadal has taken 11 of the their last 15 meetings dating back to the start of 2008.

More importantly, Rafa is 7-2 against Federer in tournament finals over that time.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

WWE Extreme Rules 2013 Card: Non-Title Matches Guaranteed to Impress

Mike Chiari — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:45:57 -0400

While titles can certainly add to matches and make them feel more important, they aren't necessary in order for a match to be great. Several championships will be on the line at Extreme Rules; however, the non-title matches could ultimately steal the show.

Many of the matches on the Extreme Rules card are interesting as they involve stipulations that fans don't get to see too often. All signs point to this being a fantastic pay-per-view, and the non-title matches will likely have a lot to do with that.

Here are three particular non-title matches that are guaranteed to impress viewers at Extreme Rules on Sunday night.

Full Extreme Rules Card

Match	Stipulation	Title
The Miz vs. Cody Rhodes	Pre-Show	N/A
John Cena vs. Ryback	Last Man Standing	WWE Championship
Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H	Steel Cage	N/A
Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger	I Quit	WHC No. 1 Contender
Sheamus vs. Mark Henry	Strap	N/A
Team Hell No vs. Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns	Tornado Tag	Tag Team Championships
Kofi Kingston vs. Dean Ambrose	N/A	United States Championship
Randy Orton vs. Big Show	Extreme Rules	N/A
Chris Jericho vs. Fandango	N/A	N/A

*Card courtesy of WWE.com

Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H

Brock Lesnar and Triple H have been engaged in one of the WWE's bitterest rivalries for more than a year, and it appears it will reach its conclusion at Extreme Rules. Lesnar beat Triple H at SummerSlam, but The Game prevailed at WrestleMania XXIX, so this one is for all the marbles. To make things even more exciting, Lesnar and Triple H will do battle inside a steel cage, so there is a lot to like about this contest.

Even if there isn't much on the line, Lesnar and Triple H have made it seem like they really hate each other, so both of them are going to go all out in order to entertain the fans. Their first two matches were fantastic brawls and there is no reason to think that their Extreme Rules match will be any different. In fact, it could very well be better as the cage will allow them to do some different things in comparison to their previous encounters.

Extreme Rules is all about taking things to the next level and that is precisely what Lesnar and Triple H will do. Although this is nothing more than speculation, it wouldn't be a surprise if there was a little blood involved. That is so infrequent in the WWE these days due to how dangerous it can potentially be, but Lesnar and Triple H are two veterans who will likely be trusted to do it the right way.

Sheamus vs. Mark Henry

While few wrestling fans consider Sheamus or Mark Henry to be in-ring technicians, both men know how to brawl and that is exactly what they'll be asked to do at Extreme Rules. Sheamus and Henry have engaged in an "anything you can do, I can do better" feud of sorts since WrestleMania as they continue to attack each other and compete in events such as tug of war and arm wrestling. They will finally prove who is the better man on Sunday night.

Even a normal match between these two combatants would be interesting, but the fact that they'll be duking it out in a strap match is even better. Strap matches used to be fairly common in the 1980s, but you simply don't see that stipulation used much anymore. There may not be any two superstars more perfect for it than The Celtic Warrior and The World's Strongest Man, though. It's tough to say who is going to come out on top, but Sheamus has talked plenty of trash on Twitter.

The feud has already been extremely physical as Henry even used a belt to leave welts on Sheamus' back a couple weeks ago. Both men feel as though they have a lot to prove, and they will do so at Extreme Rules. It probably makes more sense to give Henry the win since he is coming off a WrestleMania victory over Ryback, but the result is anyone's guess.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger

Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger were initially set to face World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler in a Triple Threat Ladder match for his title at Extreme Rules, but an errant kick from Swagger on SmackDown caused Ziggler to go down with a concussion. Since he hasn't been medically cleared to compete, Del Rio and Swagger will instead go one-on-one in an "I Quit" match to determine the No. 1 contender for Ziggler's world title.

Although the fans already saw Del Rio and Swagger face each other at WrestleMania and have seen them wrestle a few times since then as well, there is still plenty of reason to be optimistic about this match. Both Del Rio and Swagger are underrated from an in-ring perspective and they seem to have pretty good chemistry. Also, the fact that they each have devastating submission finishers means that an "I Quit" match will add a different dimension to their rivalry. Swagger's manager Zeb Colter doesn't believe his protege will have any trouble coming out on top, though.

Del Rio is likely to win since the WWE probably won't go through with a heel vs. heel feud between Swagger and Ziggler, but the match promises to be solid nonetheless. It seems like there aren't many fans talking about this contest or expecting much out of it, but Del Rio and Swagger have worked well together in recent months and will continue to do so at Extreme Rules.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

The Bengals Pipeline: From Georgia to Cincinnati

Kyle Battle — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:43:26 -0400

One of the novelties of the NFL is that occasionally the small school player emerges to make a huge impact.

Jerry Rice out of Mississippi Valley State.

Terrell Owens out of Chattanooga.

Ray Rice out of Rutgers (before Greg Schiano turned the program all the way around).

The Bengals have found a few gems from small schools in recent years but, more often, the powerhouse schools are represented most fully on NFL rosters: Southern Cal, Florida, Texas, Tennessee.

And then there's Georgia.

There's something about the boys that play in the red clay that just works at the next level in Cincinnati. Since head coach Marvin Lewis came to Cincinnati in 2003, the Bengals have drafted a total of 91 players (excluding the 2013 class who has yet to see the field; 2013 had 10 draft picks). Of those draft picks, 19 of them never saw the field during a regular-season game as a Bengal. Either they were cut during training camp, battled injuries or simply weren't good enough to make it at the next level.

Of the remaining 72 players that were drafted since 2003 and played a game in a Bengals uniform, seven are former Georgia Bulldogs: Robert Geathers, Odell Thurman, David Pollack, Clint Boling, Geno Atkins, A.J. Green and Orson Charles. It should also be noted that backup tackle Dennis Roland is also a Georgia product although he wasn't drafted by Cincinnati.

Seven out of 72 isn't that impressive—just under 10 percent. However, if we look at the impact of those specific seven players, we see that the Bengals front office might be on to something. Those seven players have started in 76 percent of the games they've played in.

Here's a look at the history of Bulldogs in Cincinnati during the Marvin Lewis era.

Begin Slideshow

Mike Krzyzewski Reportedly Considering Returning as Team USA Coach in 2016

Justin Onslow — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:30:32 -0400

Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has made quite a mark on the USA Basketball team since he assumed the head coaching position in 2005. Despite remarks to the contrary, it now seems Krzyzewski could remain at the helm through 2016.

According to Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated, Coach K has “reversed course” in admitting he is considering a return:

BREAKING: Coach K reverses course and tells @sinow "there's a chance" he coaches USA Basketball again. sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basket…
— Pete Thamel(@SIPeteThamel) May 18, 2013

Thamel reports that Krzyzewski, 66, and chairman Jerry Colangelo have been discussing the ongoing nature of the former’s relationship with USA Basketball.

Colangelo commented, "I think it's very close to being resolved. That's all I can say for sure. Give it another week and it should be resolved.”

USA Basketball hasn’t always been a top priority for the NBA’s brightest stars. After a lull in success prior to Krzyzewski’s arrival, the team has been a dominant force in international play, compiling a 62-1 record in that span. His tenure also includes Olympic gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Games.

While nothing is finalized, the fact that Colangelo didn’t find an immediate replacement is telling. According to Thamel, the chairman held off naming a new coach at the beginning of the year in hopes of convincing Krzyzewski to retain his position to lead the team in the coming years.

Coach K was the architect of USA Basketball’s most recent Olympic gold medal in 2012 at the London Games—a run that included a perfect 8-0 record and a 107-100 victory over Spain in the gold medal game.

USA Basketball also won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, but that may not have been possible without Krzyzewski at the helm. The year before Coach K took over (2004), the team produced a disappointing third-place finish at the Athens Olympics.

Should he agree to remain with the team, Thamel suggests Krzyzewski’s final run could encompass both the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Sacramento Celebrates Saving Their Kings

Jesse Dorsey — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:30:22 -0400

As the Sacramento Kings prepare to delve into their future, past the uncertainty of the 2012-13 season that cast doubt on where they would play next season, the city and the fans celebrate a team that won just 28 games this season.

It's hard to imagine that anybody in basketball is happier than Kings fans simply for the privilege of still having a professional basketball team in their backyard. It's probably a pretty good feeling to have some new owners on the horizon as well.

The Kings started to give thanks to the people that helped them stay in Sacramento with a simple 90-second clip that plays when you go to the team's official website.

Fans chanting "Here we stay!" along with Chris Webber and Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson are joined by clips of the good old days accompanied by some sappy music and a voiceover by play-by-play man Grant Napear to create a clip that easily sums up the fight that the city went through to keep their team.

They haven't been in Sacramento forever, but the people in the city have grown to love the team, and moving them would have been a tragedy.

Now, with some solid young talent, a few good drafts and ownership that doesn't blatantly squeeze every penny, the Kings should finally be on the rebound and on their way back to the days when Arco Arena was the loudest place in the NBA.

Exit out of the video and you'll see what every team no longer playing is advertising: season ticket sales.

However, right above that, smack-dab in the center of the screen it reads "Sacramento Kings: 1985-Forever."

We certainly hope so.

Liverpool vs. QPR: Premier League Live Score, Highlights, Recap

Karl Matchett — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:23:01 -0400

Live Premier League coverage

Liverpool vs. QPR

Kickoff: Sunday May 19, 4:00 p.m. (UK)/11:00 a.m. (ET)

Hello again, football fans. For the final time this season, welcome to another round of live Premier League action here on Bleacher Report.

This time, we bring you the match from Anfield between Liverpool and Queens Park Rangers. There's only one real storyline here, that of the final match of legendary defender Jamie Carragher before his retirement. The No. 23 will captain Liverpool as he plays his 737th, and final, match for the Reds.

Liverpool will end the season in seventh position, with QPR relegated and likely finishing bottom of the table. But there'll likely be plenty of entertainment and excitement on show on the final day of the Premier League season.

Make sure you join me, your regular commentator, Karl Matchett, for all the team news, buildup and in-game action as we bring the curtain down on Carra's career, beginning around an hour before kickoff. Meanwhile, here's all the latest reading for you:

Jamie Carragher's Best LFC Moment in Videos

Why Raul Albiol Isn't the Man to Replace Carra

Tactics: Could Liverpool Play a Back Three for 2013-14?

Six Goalkeepers who could Replace Pepe Reina

Transfer Window Advice for Liverpool

Follow @karlmatchett

NCAA Lacrosse: Cornell Advances to Final 4; Blows by Ohio State 16-6

Dave Giancola — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:08:23 -0400

The No. 3 seed Ohio State Buckeyes got all they could handle and more in the quarterfinal round today. The Cornell Big Red used a huge first half on the offensive end to blow out OSU 16-6.

Cornell took the lead early and never let up. The Big Red were able to maintain possession throughout the first half and were able to limit the production of the Buckeye offense. Cornell took an 11-3 lead into the locker room at halftime and never looked back.

Tewaaraton Trophy finalist Rob Pannell was tremendous on attack for Cornell, while his roommate Steve Mock had a career high seven goals in the win. Pannell finished with eight points, leaving him just six shy of the single-season NCAA record as he heads for the semifinal round. His two goals and six assists today certainly made a statement as he looks to take home the player of the year award this year.

Ohio State really struggled throughout the contest, and its inability to produce defensive stops proved to be the difference. The Buckeye defense gave Steve Mock way too much room near the crease, and was unable to pack it in tight and let its goalie try and stop shots from further out. Goaltending was a problem for OSU, but the Cornell attackers were taking quality shots from close quarters every time down the field.

Cornell was able to score at will, but the Big Red's defense was equally as impressive. Ohio State scored 16 goals just a week ago in the first round, but was held to just five by Cornell today. The Cornell defense was aggressive, and was quick to slide and double-team some of the Buckeye's better players.

This game was a yawner to start the quarterfinal round. I thought Cornell would win, but certainly not by 10 goals. Cornell was relentless today, and seems to be playing its best lacrosse at the right time. With Pannell and Mock running on all cylinders, it will be tough to defeat the Big Red in this year's tournament.

Cornell will face the winner of the Duke-Notre Dame game in the Final Four next weekend in Philadelphia.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for continuous coverage of this weekend's quarterfinal matches.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Sunderland: Premier League Live Score, Highlights, Recap

Thomas Cooper — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:00:59 -0400

Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League season comes down to this.

Beat Sunderland and, with a little good luck elsewhere, they will finish in fourth place and enter the qualifying stage of the 2013-14 Champions League.

The specter of Arsenal's game versus Newcastle United will be hanging over White Hart Lane on Sunday. Just like last year, a win on the road for the Gunners will see them finish above their North London rivals.

On that occasion, Spurs won their final match against Fulham, but they still lost out on third place after Arsenal comfortably dispatched West Bromwich Albion. With Chelsea winning the Champions League a week later, the Blues took Spurs' place in the competition for the following year.

The situation is not much simpler this season. With both Sunderland and Newcastle United safe from relegation, they might not be fighting for their lives, but they may be battling to avoid accusations of not trying.

Spurs know what they have to focus on, and their manager, Andre Villas-Boas, is certainly saying the right things.

“We have to win and it’s not that straight forward," he told his club's official website. "The ingredients of the game are dangerous. We have to be aware. We have to focus on our task."

It is impossible to know which version of Paolo Di Canio's suitably unpredictable Sunderland side will turn up. Spurs cannot rely on it being the lazy Black Cats, and they will have to work hard to avoid Sunday becoming a needlessly tense affair.

Aiding those attempts should be an almost fully fit squad for Villas-Boas to choose from. Benoit Assou-Ekotto is fit again after missing the Stoke City win with a knee injury. Only long-term absentees Sandro, Younes Kaboul and William Gallas are unavailable.

Sunderland will have to make do without the ineligible Danny Rose, who, as of last Monday, has returned to his parent club. Craig Gardner and Stephane Sessegnon are also unavailable because of suspension, though Connor Wickham is available.

Tottenham came away from the Stadium of Light with all three points when they beat 2-1 Sunderland in both club's final game of 2012. Aaron Lennon scored a second-half winner shortly after a Carlos Cuellar own goal put Spurs level following John O'Shea's opener.

Mosley vs. Cano: Preview and Prediction for Sugar Shane's Comeback Fight

Tim Daniels — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:00:12 -0400

Shane Mosley returns to the ring Saturday night to face Pablo Cesar Cano. After a brief retirement and more than a year between fights, Mosley must prove he made the right decision to return with a strong performance against a fighter 18 years his junior.

"Sugar Shane" was originated slated to return against Paulie Malignaggi last month, as reported by Dan Rafael of ESPN. Before the deal fell through, Mosley talked about his desire to return to the sport after some promising sessions in the gym.

I was thinking about it and running a little bit and I said, "You know what? I think I can do this." I'm holding my own in the gym no matter who I work with. I really love this sport. I love to do it. When I am in the gym, I can see myself improving.

Even though there's a major difference between the gym and the ring, Mosley clearly felt good enough about his form to give it another go. Since an agreement with Malignaggi couldn't be reached, he'll face off with Cano instead.

The biggest question mark for Mosley heading into the bout is his speed. It was one of the attributes that made him so difficult to face in his prime. Like all aging fighters, however, he's lost some of that quickness as his career has dragged on.

It's one of the main reasons why Mosley has three losses and a draw in his last four fights. He continued to go up against top-end competition like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, but he wasn't able to keep pace with those superstars of the sport.

In his last fight, which came in May 2012, Mosley wasn't able to make any type of inroads against rising star Saul Alvarez. It was a thoroughly lackluster unanimous-decision loss that sent a clear signal he wasn't ready to fight opponents of that caliber.

Cano represents a clear drop in the level of competition. The 23-year-old Mexico native lost to the aforementioned Malignaggi in his last fight, albeit by split decision.

Mosley must be prepared to handle Cano's power. Cano possesses enough striking ability to turn the fight into a one-sided demolition if the veteran isn't ready to defend.

At the same time, Cano is susceptible to the counterattack and hasn't faced a fighter with the type of experience and track record Mosley possesses. It's new territory for him. Mosley must capitalize on that early in the fight.

Ultimately, it's a very winnable fight for Mosley. Cano is an opponent who doesn't feature the elite quickness that's been giving him trouble in recent fights, and "Sugar Shane" clearly believes he's still got a couple wins left in the tank.

Whether he does or not will probably be pretty obvious by night's end. While this fight could go either way, Mosley gets the benefit of the doubt one more time.

Prediction: Mosley by unanimous decision

5 Early Surprise Teams That Have the Best Chance of Making Playoffs

Jason Lempert — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:57:51 -0400

Before the beginning of each regular season, supposed experts and gurus from around the sport make predictions, guessing on who they think will make the postseason in the coming year. Many of these predictions are made based on expectations of teams, primarily looking at the talent that resides on the roster.

Of course, baseball is mostly an unpredictable sport, so any predictions can be considered "bold". And every year there is at least one team that surpasses expectations, making these experts look uninformed sometimes.

In 2012, the Oakland A's and Baltimore Orioles both unexpectedly made the playoffs. Neither club was supposed to be relevant in the standings, but nevertheless played baseball in October.

With about a quarter of the 2013 season in the books, let's take a look at some of the big surprise teams that have the chance to be this year's version of the A's and O's.

Begin Slideshow

Preakness 2013 Jockeys: Highlighting Riders of Top Challengers

Justin Onslow — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:53:55 -0400

There’s a lot more to thoroughbred racing than fast horses and exciting finishes.

As with any sport, training, strategy and skill are critical to finding success on the track. The horse may be doing most of the work, but it takes a skilled jockey to harness that physical ability and turn it into a winning performance.

Joel Roasrio did just that with Orb at the Kentucky Derby, and he’ll look to do the same Saturday at the Preakness Stakes. He’ll be facing some tough competition, though.

Goldencents and Departing enter the Preakness as two of the favorites to upend their Triple Crown bid, each hoping to make history on Pimlico’s storied track. If Rosario hopes to keep the dream alive, he’ll have to outrace counterparts in Kevin Krigger and Brian Hernandez Jr.

Let’s take a look at three of the top horses in the field and highlight each challenger’s jockey as they attempt to find a big payday at Pimlico and the 2013 Preakness Stakes.

Post	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Odds
1	Orb	Shug McGaughey	Joel Rosario	4-5
2	Goldencents	Doug O'Neill	Kevin Krigger	9-1
3	Titletown Five	D. Wayne Lukas	Julien Leparoux	33-1
4	Departing	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	Brian Hernandez, Jr.	7-1
5	Mylute	Tom Amoss	Rosie Napravnik	17-2
6	Oxbow	D. Wayne Lukas	Gary Stevens	18-1
7	Will Take Charge	D. Wayne Lukas	Mike Smith	12-1
8	Govenor Charlie	Bob Baffert	Martin Garcia	12-1
9	Itsmyluckyday	Eddie Plesa Jr.	John Velazquez	10-1

*Odds acquired from Bovada.lv

Joel Rosario (Orb)

Rosario has been one of the most dominant jockeys in the sport this year, tallying wins in the $10 million Dubai World Cup and 2013 Kentucky Derby, not to mention another 38 wins at the Keeneland spring meet that broke Randy Romero’s single-event record, as outlined by Joe Drape of The New York Times.

Rosario is modest about his success this year, but it’s no coincidence that he’s had the golden touch in 2013. Tim Sullivan of USA Today quotes Rosario as saying, “I think it's not me. I think it's the horses. If you have good horses, you're going to run good.”

Running well and winning the Kentucky Derby over a field of 18 challengers are two different things. Rosario is one of the best jockeys at Pimlico this weekend, and trainer Shug McGaughey acknowledges that, according to Drape.

I think Joel will get him where he wants him to be, and we’ll take it from there — he’s riding like he’s seeing things before they happen. I know if Orb goes over and runs his race, I’m quietly confident that he’ll be tough to beat.

That premonition McGaughey hinted at is what makes the Rosario-Orb combination so deadly. There aren’t many horses as talented as the Derby winner, and few jockeys as tuned in to their horse as Rosario.

Kevin Krigger (Goldencents)

Krigger looked to make history at the Derby, but his bid came up short with Goldencents’ 17th place finish on May 4. He won’t have to wait long for redemption, however.

With a win at the 138th running of the Preakness, Krigger would become the first African-American jockey to win the prestigious event in 115 years.

The 29-year-old isn’t a long shot to do so, either. With 25 wins this year ($1.3 million in purse earnings) and a horse who is much better than he looked at Churchill Downs, Rosario will be looking over his shoulder from the rail position.

Krigger will be taking Goldencents from the No. 2 post, right next to Orb along the rail. The former is among the fastest pure sprinters in the field, and Krigger may find himself in good position if he can coax Goldencents to a hot start from the gate.

But whether he wins or not, Krigger seems to have his career in focus. This won’t be the last Triple Crown event the 29-year-old takes head-on. Quoted by Kristian Dyer of Yahoo! Sports, Krigger says:

It isn’t an easy road, to get here period. It’s not an easy road. It took me 12 years to get here. I’m finally here and hopefully I can continue to have the success to make it here every year. That’s my goal from here on out, to find that Derby horse, that Triple Crown horse every year.

Brian Hernandez Jr. (Departing)

The most talented of the New Shooters in this race, Departing is one of the heavy favorites to challenge Orb and secure the second leg of the Triple Crown.

With four wins in five events (including three on tracks a mile or longer), the colt is in tremendous position to earn the Black-Eyed Susan Blanket ahead of Orb, especially with a jockey like Hernandez on his back.

Hernandez was the architect of all four of those wins, including Departing’s most recent victory at the Illinois Derby on April 20. That 1 1/8-mile run was the perfect warm-up for Pimlico’s 1 3/16-mile dirt track.

The 27-year-old boasts an impressive record aboard some extremely talented thoroughbreds. He rode 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra to two wins in her first five starts as a two-year-old and also took down the 2012 Breeder’s Cup Classic for his second Grade 1 victory.

Hernandez has proved he is capable of winning big races, and he’ll be taking one of the best in the field into the Preakness this year. Look for Departing to turn some heads with in Hernandez in control, potentially taking the No. 4 post all the way to a first-place finish.