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ACC Baseball Tournament 2013 Schedule: Dates, Times, Locations, TV Info and More

Tim Daniels — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:50:47 -0400

The 2013 ACC Baseball Tournament should include no shortage of drama. A difference of just four games separated the top five teams in the conference play. The parity should make for one of the most thrilling conference tournaments in the nation.

North Carolina enters as the top overall seed and will lead Pool A. Atlantic Division winner Florida State is the top team in Pool B. Defending champion Georgia Tech, which won the event as the No. 8 seed last year, is the No. 7 seed in 2013.

The tournament will consist of two groups of four teams that will complete three games of round-robin play. The winners of each pool will play in the championship game on Sunday. The low number of games leaves the door open for surprising runs like Georgia Tech's last year.

Let's take a look at all the key information for the tournament followed by a full schedule, preview and prediction for which team will take home the title.

Where: Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.

When: Wednesday, May 22 – Sunday, May 26

Watch: Regional Sports Networks (RSN) and ESPN2 (Title Game)

Live Stream: ESPN3.com

Pools

Pool A

No. 1 North Carolina

No. 4 North Carolina State

No. 5 Clemson

No. 8 Miami

Pool B

No. 2 Florida State

No. 3 Virginia

No. 6 Virginia Tech

No. 7 Georgia Tech

Schedule (All Times Eastern)

Game	Team	Team	Date	Time	TV
1	Georgia Tech	Florida State	May 22	11 a.m.	RSN
2	Virginia Tech	Virginia	May 22	3 p.m.	RSN
3	Clemson	NC State	May 22	7 p.m.	RSN
4	Virginia	Georgia Tech	May 23	11 a.m.	RSN
5	Miami	North Carolina	May 23	3 p.m.	RSN
6	Florida State	Virginia Tech	May 23	7 p.m.	RSN
7	NC State	Miami	May 24	11 a.m.	RSN
8	Georgia Tech	Virginia Tech	May 24	3 p.m.	RSN
9	North Carolina	Clemson	May 24	7 p.m.	RSN
10	Virginia	Florida State	May 25	11 a.m.	RSN
11	Miami	Clemson	May 25	3 p.m.	RSN
12	NC State	North Carolina	May 25	7 p.m.	RSN
Title	Pool A Winner	Pool B Winner	May 26	1 p.m.	ESPN2

Schedule information courtesy TheACC.com.

Preview

North Carolina is undoubtedly the most balanced team in the tournament. The Tar Heels ranked first in the ACC in ERA, second in team batting average and third in home runs during the regular season.

The Heels' offensive attack is led by Colin Moran, who hit 13 home runs and racked up 83 RBI in 56 games. The bats are supported by a strong pitch staff. The dynamic starting duo of Hobbs Johnson and Kent Emanuel can match up with anybody in the conference.

Georgia Tech is capable of making another run despite a second straight lackluster regular season. The Yellow Jackets led the conference with 54 home runs. They hope to power their way to another title on the backs of Daniel Palka and Zane Evans, who combined for 31 homers.

Another team with the tools to make some noise in Durham is Virginia. The Cavaliers led the conference in batting average with a terrific .317 mark as a team and also ranked fourth in ERA. Mike Papi is the star to watch after hitting .408 to lead the ACC.

Rounding out the group of top contenders is Florida State. Starters Scott Sitz and Luke Weaver should ensure the Seminoles have enough pitching to make a title run. Getting timely hits from a mid-pack offense, whether it be DJ Stewart, Marcus Davis or an unsung hero, will be the key.

While those four teams have the best chance to win the ACC championship, Georgia Tech showed last season that it all comes down to momentum. The short event gives all eight teams a reasonable chance to emerge with the coveted title.

Prediction

North Carolina has too many weapons to pick against. On offense, the Tar Heels can win by playing small ball, getting on base and using their speed, or simply out-slugging their opponents. And they have a terrific pitching staff to back it up.

The X-factor will be Trent Thornton. The pitcher has filled several different roles throughout the season and handled them all extremely well. He's 9-1 with a 1.43 ERA. His ability to lock down opposing offenses coming out of the pen will help North Carolina capture the ACC crown.

Champion: North Carolina

The Program: Which 3 SEC Teams Are Underrated Exiting Spring?

The Program — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:44:20 -0400

Every year there seems to be a few teams that come out of nowhere and either contend for the division title or become competitive when nobody thought they would.

In 2012, we saw Texas A&M shed the label of a soft team in favor of a more appropriate one—"SEC contender." The Ole Miss Rebels went from doormat to competitive in Year 1 under head coach Hugh Freeze, finishing 7-6 with close losses to Texas A&M, LSU and Vanderbilt.

Which teams flew under the radar this spring and are set to make a splash in 2013?

SEC lead writer Barrett Sallee examines in this edition of "The Program."

Kobe Bryant Tweets About Lakers Offseason, Wants Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol in LA

Dan Favale — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:43:00 -0400

Kobe Bryant has a plan.

With the Los Angeles Lakers approaching their most pivotal offseason in years, the Black Mamba has every intention of ensuring that his will be done. And that will includes convincing Dwight Howard to remain in Hollywood and persuading the Buss family to hold on to Pau Gasol as well.

What, you didn't think Coach Kobe was going to sit this summer out, did you?

The Lakers have a lot riding on this offseason; Kobe has a lot riding on this offseason. Though he's previously said he's not ready to retire, his ruptured Achilles serves as a reminder that time is running out.

If Kobe wants to get that sixth championship ring of his (and he does), he has to make a play for it now, not later. He might not be around for "later."

Naturally, he'll then want a say in how the roster is assembled. Knowing how financially strapped the Lakers are, he understands that they'll have to make the biggest splash by swimming in their own pool.

Los Angeles cannot go out and offer stacks of cash to free agents of its choosing. That's why retaining Howard is so important. If the Lakers cannot sell him on staying, they don't get to take that money and give it to someone else. They'll simply be down one superstar.

But not if Kobe can help it.

Although the two have admitted they're not "best friends," they've reached a mutual understanding. Or at least Kobe has. For him to win now, he knows he needs Dwight. And Pau, too.

Gasol is coming off the worst season of his NBA career and will likely never be the four-time All-Star he once was, but Bryant sees the value in his presence.

The two are incredibly close. Emotions then have stand to cloud Bryant's judgment. At the same time, Gasol is worth more to the Lakers than they whatever they would net in any trade for him. Kobe gets this as well.

These Lakers are headed for an inevitable overhaul—a rebuilding project that Kobe will do everything he can to delay at least one more year.

Follow @danfavale

Marlon Humphrey Mixtape: Highlights of the No.1 CB Dominate Receivers

Full Ride — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:27:36 -0400

Marlon Humphrey is in a class of his own when it comes to cornerback recruits in the 2014 class.

The Birmingham native is 6’1” and 175 pounds of pure muscle, with the ability to break a long touchdown at any given time. The uncommitted prospect is still up for grabs, with schools including Alabama, Florida and Florida State fighting for his talent.

Watch the video to see Humphrey make some ridiculous interceptions against his opponents.

USGA, R&A Ban Anchoring Clubs After Receiving Support from Tiger Woods and More

Mike Chiari — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:26:10 -0400

After several months of debate and discussion golf's governing body--The Royal and Ancient Golf Club-- as well as the United States Golf Association have decided that the practice of anchoring a club will officially be banned starting Jan. 1, 2016.

According to Bob Harig of ESPN.com, the rule change was first proposed on Nov. 28, 2012, but a 90-day grace period was allowed afterwards in order to hear feedback from those affected. Despite the fact that it will cause many high-level golfers to make big alterations, the change is forthcoming.

This news is especially unwelcome to those who utilize long putters and belly putters. Rather than taking a traditional putting stroke, long and belly putters allow golfers to stick the butt-end of the club into their stomachs so that they can better control their swing.

Adam Scott won the 2013 Masters using a long putter and he is none too pleased with the fact that he'll have to adjust over the next three years, according to Harig.

Now we're making rules for the betterment of the game based on zero evidence? Incredible, Scott said. What did they think when they allowed it? You're dealing with professional athletes who are competitive, who want to find better ways.

While Scott and others who have come to rely on anchored putting are angered by the decision, there are plenty of other golfers who are supportive of it. One of them is Tiger Woods, who has been a major opponent of anchoring, according to Harig.

I hope they go with the ban, Woods said Monday. That's something that I've said, that anchoring should not be a part of the game. It should be mandatory to have to swing all 14 clubs.

Although the R&A and USGA have come to a conclusion, this certainly isn't the last we have heard about the anchoring debate. This ruling has major implications for the game of golf moving forward and it will be interesting to see how the players transition.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

The 5 Best and Worst Moves of the San Francisco 49ers' 2013 Offseason

Dan Mori — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:21:05 -0400

The San Francisco 49ers made it to the Super Bowl last season but came up short, losing to the Baltimore Ravens 34-31. Work began almost immediately for GM Trent Baalke, as he had several critical decisions to make in order to retool the 49ers' roster.

Baalke had to weave his way through the free-agent market, determining which players were most attractive to the 49ers. In addition, he needed to make decisions on key 49ers who he felt were not worth what other teams were willing to pay.

Through free agency, the 49ers both acquired and lost some excellent talent.

Baalke also needed to guide the draft process and with the 49ers ultimately selecting 11 players, there was a huge amount of research that needed to be done.

With so many decisions to make, Baalke and the 49ers made some good ones and others that may come back to haunt them. Let's take a closer look at the 49ers' best and worst moves of the offseason.

All stats are provided by www.pro-football-reference.com.

Begin Slideshow

The Miz Needs a New Role in WWE

Drake Oz — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:15:00 -0400

Whatever it is that the WWE is trying to do with The Miz, well, it just isn’t working.

Last December, the company pulled the trigger on a babyface turn for the “most must-see WWE Champion in history,” a turn that fans like me had begged to see and expected to work out really well.

But nearly six months into The Miz’s babyface run, the verdict is in: The Miz has been a terrible babyface so far.

His failures as a babyface aren’t all his fault, though. While part of the problem has had to do with The Miz himself, a lot of the blame can be put on the creative team.

Ever since The Miz went good, he’s done next to nothing to differentiate Miz the face from Miz the heel. In fact, aside from a few minor changes (like teaming with faces or putting down heels instead of other faces), he’s the same brash, arrogant and obnoxious guy that once made him a top heel.

Quite simply, The Miz just hasn’t adjusted well enough to his new role. But you know what? Neither has the creative team.

Instead of genuinely getting behind The Miz by putting him in major matches and entertaining storylines, the creative team has done exactly the opposite. His feuds with both Wade Barrett and Antonio Cesaro left a whole lot to be desired, and he’s gone from WrestleMania headliner to wrestling on two consecutive PPV pre-shows.

What’s even worse, however, is that the babyface version of The Miz is more of a talk-show host than he is an actual wrestler.

Seriously, how many MizTV segments have we seen since The Miz turned face? It’s got to be at least 10, but may even be more like 15 or 20.

You have to wonder what the creative team is thinking with that philosophy. Is that really how you want to get a guy over as a babyface? By making him wrestling’s version of Jimmy Fallon or Jay Leno?

Yes, the WWE is considered “sports entertainment” these days. But wrestling is ultimately still at its core.

The Miz could be the greatest wrestling talk-show host ever (he isn’t), but that wouldn’t matter much because he wouldn’t be getting over where it counts: in the ring. That’s where a babyface Miz will live or die—not hosting some lame talk show that largely only furthers feuds that he isn’t even involved in.

That’s also where the WWE has went so wrong with The Miz.

When Alberto Del Rio turned face at essentially the same time that The Miz did, the creative team quickly pushed the hell out of him and had him win the World Heavyweight Championship only about a month later.

When CM Punk turned face in 2011, he became the focal point of WWE TV, a constant fixture in the main-event picture and the face of the WWE Championship scene.

But when The Miz turned face, nothing really changed for him.

His face turn happened because he was totally stuck in a rut as a heel, and yet, he’s already stuck in a rut as a babyface. He’s stale, less entertaining and has somehow transformed into someone who talks about five times more often than he wrestles.

That would be OK if The Miz was a part-time veteran like Mick Foley, who appears every once in a while to help build up feuds between today’s biggest stars. But The Miz is a 32-year-old full-time WWE superstar, and it shouldn’t be his role to add to feuds between other guys on the roster.

He should be building up his own feuds and doing so in the ring and on the mic—but not on some terrible, overdone talk-show segment that hardly anyone pays their money to see.

The longer that a babyface Miz goes without having a substantial direction and without having a meaningful feud, the worse his babyface run will get…if that’s even possible.

After all, the Miz’s babyface run has been downright awful so far, a result of what should have been a great new role quickly going bad.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter!

Predicting Which NBA Stars and Coaches Will Sign Extensions This Offseason

Brendan Bowers — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:03:35 -0400

This list is predicting which NBA stars and coaches will sign contract extensions with their current team this offseason specifically.

It features players and coaches who are on expiring contracts as well as those signed through the 2013-14 campaign. Early extension candidates from the 2010 draft class were highlighted, along with those free agents most likely to re-up with their current team.

The stars on this list are more likely to stay with their current team than other free agent stars like Josh Smith are to stay with the Atlanta Hawks.

The coaches listed are also more likely to sign an extension this offseason than Vinny Del Negro, for example, is with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Begin Slideshow

Will Damien Sandow Reach the Next Level in WWE?

Drake Oz — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:02 -0400

There are a lot of assumptions in pro wrestling—one of which is that Damien Sandow will develop into a top WWE superstar one day.

But you know what they say about assuming, right? When you assume, you make “an (non-PG word) out of you and me.”

Perhaps we should stop assuming about “The Intellectual Savior of the Masses” then.

Anytime you read a wrestling blog or news site, you’re bound to hear something good about Sandow. Some say Sandow “is the future” while others think “he’s ready to be in the main event.”

Whether or not he actually lives up to that hype, however, is a bit of a mystery.

After all, there have been countless superstars who have walked into the WWE, made an instant impact and been labeled a future breakout star. Only, we usually see those stars fade to the bottom of the card or even leave the company altogether.

A guy like Drew McIntyre was labeled “The Chosen One” only a few short years ago. Now, he’s slipped into near irrelevancy as an overlooked member of the comedic stable 3MB.

Similarly, who thought that Ted DiBiase would fall so far down the totem pole that he doesn’t even appear on TV these days? Better yet, who thought after Kofi Kingston’s 2009 feud with Randy Orton that he’d still be stuck in the midcard in 2013?

McIntyre, DiBiase and Kingston serve as proof that—no matter what you think a certain superstar will accomplish—nothing is a given in the WWE.

That’s true for Sandow, too.

Yes, he certainly appears to have all the tools. He’s got a unique gimmick, a charming personality, charisma, a good look and the ever-so-important in-ring skills as well.

But as we’ve learned from so many superstars in the past, that guarantees nothing in the constantly changing WWE.

Superstars who aren’t all that great, such as Ryback, can get pushed to the top of the card. Meanwhile, superstars who are incredibly talented, such as Cody Rhodes, can sort of just float around in the midcard.

Sandow should be used in the main event picture or at least at the tip top of the upper midcard. But after seeing how he’s been used over the last six-plus months, the chances of that actually happening seem highly unlikely.

Unsurprisingly, Sandow has been used just like most of the WWE’s other midcard heels: as someone who puts over the company’s biggest babyfaces.

It’s honestly difficult to even recall the last time Sandow won a singles match. Ditto for him in tag team competition, where he and Cody Rhodes have really served as nothing more than a team for Team Hell No to beat.

As a result, the WWE has turned Sandow into a loser of a heel in a company that’s already full of them. That can’t bode too well for his future.

Even though the WWE doesn’t want to realize or admit this, booking a superstar to lose too much hurts his appeal. That’s why Ryback is in a major slump and why—despite being one of the most talented superstars in the company—Antonio Cesaro is essentially a joke these days.

Sandow is no different from Cesaro or Ryback.

He loses all the time, and the more he loses, the less accepting the fans will be of him as a top-tier superstar. It’s simple logic that says that.

WWE officials can be “high on Sandow” all they want. They can think he’s a future star, they can have huge expectations for him, and they can try to make him seem important.

The fact remains, however, that Sandow will only be treated like and receive the reactions of a top superstar when the WWE chooses to truly push him like one. Now, though, the company has to dig Sandow out of the hole he’s been buried in for the better part of a year.

Until that happens, Sandow won’t reach the next level in the WWE.

Instead, he’ll just be another guy who should have made a huge splash, but—thanks to the creative team—ultimately never did.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter!

Barcelona's Pursuit of Neymar Will Define Sandro Rosell's Presidency

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:01 -0400

It's fair to argue that Sandro Rosell's pursuit of Neymar for Barcelona is something of a self-serving exercise.

To many, this Blaugrana circus has become a little vulgar, crass and unnecessary.

Not content with dispensing with over 100 years of tradition by having the first commercial shirt sponsor for the Blaugrana, he is once again risking the wrath of the Barca masses with his single minded desire to secure the Brazilian starlet.

Despite its long-held status as one of the world's biggest football clubs, Barcelona has always been a club of tradition, a club of certain values. A true representative of the working class Catalan.

Owned by it's socio members, Barcelona is "mes que un club"—"more than a club"—a slogan first used by President Narcís de Carreras in his presidential acceptance speech in January 1968, precisely because it has always prided itself on the fact it does things differently.

"The Barca way" if you prefer.

Yet Sandro Rosell seems to be riding roughshod over everything that cules hold dear.

Not a day goes by now without further snippets of Neymar news and the will-he-won't-he saga has become a little embarrassing and irritating.

It's a potential signing that has certainly polarized opinion and you would have to question whether in fact he is actually needed.

Football supporters love a trier. A player who is willing to sweat blood for the shirt. A hard working hero that in some way mirrors their own everyday struggles.

Alexis Sanchez would be such a player. Sure, he's had a disappointing season by his and the club's standards, yet could you question his commitment or desire to exhibit his best work for Barcelona? Certainly not.

He deserves another season to recapture the form that he showed in his first 12 months in Catalonia, and which prompted the Barcelona hierarchy to dip into their wallet to the tune of 26 million euros.

If David Villa is to leave the club this summer as expected, then why not place more faith in the Barcelona youngsters?

Players like Cristian Tello and Gerard Deulofeu are champing at the bit to prove they are the "real deal."

Although he's another whose best form has deserted him for large parts of this season, Pedro is certainly not a player that Tito Vilanova should contemplate selling. Extremely hard working, he has the knack of scoring important goals in the big games.

Therefore, you have four players that are interchangeable between the wide left and right positions, depending on the tactics or formation that Vilanova chooses to employ.

So why the need to usurp all and sundry with a player who might not even fit the Barca model?

The root of Rosell's pursuit can be traced right back to his time working in marketing at Nike when in 1996 Barcelona's current president was given a simple brief: Get a shirt deal with either Barcelona or Real Madrid.

That he eventually managed to do so with Barcelona set the wheels in motion in Catalonia.

Rosell's next directive was to popularise the brand in Brazil, and in so doing he became well respected by those at the home of "joga bonito."

It was this connection and his friendship with the then incoming President of Barcelona, Joan Laporta, which saw Ronaldinho join the club.

And now, some years later, we see a similar scenario playing itself out.

Nike have tried for years to get Barcelona to sign another of their stellar high-profile names, without success.

Make no mistake, the signing of Neymar is as much to do with a marketing strategy for Nike as it is for Barcelona to sign their very own "galactico." Perhaps more so.

Looking forward to the player's expected arrival, one still can't escape the feeling of whether he is truly desired at his prospective new employers.

Aside from the staff issues described above, the jury is still out on what Neymar will bring to the newly-crowned La Liga champions.

Rosell in particular needs Neymar to be his "new Ronaldinho"—a player who has the capacity to beat opponents at will, to execute delicious football skill and to excite the paying punter.

A player who will, along with Lionel Messi, be the spearhead of the new Barca. A marketing "tour-de-force" to rival the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United as the world's richest football club.

There is no denying that the Brazilian has everything in his locker to become the worldwide sensation that many believe he will be. You only need look at the video below to be reminded just how good this boy is—and at just 21 years of age!

Given time to adjust to his new surroundings and time to adapt his game to the more rigorous demands of top-level European football, the signing of the Brazilian could be Rosell's crowning glory.

But what of the reticence to Neymar's signature from Pep Guardiola (Antony Kastrinakis, The Sun) during his tenure?

What of the notion that the player is too individualistic in nature to slot seamlessly into this title-winning team?

What of the petulance and arrogance that Neymar has displayed all too often in the Brazilian league?

What of the rumoured transfer fee of some 60 million euros for a player unproven at the highest level?

Perhaps the most important question of all—what about the opinion of the many supporters that pay their hard-earned each week to follow the Blaugrana far and wide?

All questions that Rosell would do well to acknowledge and consider. Perhaps they are questions that are now largely redundant given that it seems that player's arrival at Camp Nou is imminent.

Rosell's presidential vision is certainly writ clear and large—and Neymar is its name.

We can only hope that this time next year we are looking back at a season where the Brazilian has answered all of the questions in the best possible way—because Senor Rosell, there is a famous old saying you would do well to remember:

"Never forget where you came from. You may have to go back there some day."

Why Real Madrid Are Crying out for Reinvention Post Jose Mourinho

Samuel Marsden — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Three years is a long time in football.

It is an even longer time in the hot seat at the Bernabeu, where president Florentino Perez himself said (via The Guardian): "Sometimes the pressure here goes beyond normal."

Despite that, Jose Mourinho remained in that very seat for three years—he was the longest serving manager in La Liga—becoming only the seventh manager to do so; of those seven, "The Special One" was the least successful.

During that spell the Portuguese has put right several wrongs though.

He led the club to three Champions League semifinals; they'd not got past the last 16 in the previous six years and had become unseeded in Europe's top competition.

The La Liga title also came.

Admittedly only once in three years, but they were competing against a Barcelona side that will be remembered as one of the greatest ever.

In Spain he will be remembered for other things, though:

His constant war of words with the media, his mind games with Pep Guardiola and a squad which, by the end of his reign, seemed bereft of any sort of morale or companionship.

With his departure comes the opportunity for cleansing though, without relinquishing their status once again as one of the continent's major forces.

For the likes of Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Pepe, they can look forward to a clean slate with a new manager, likely Carlo Ancelotti.

The background circumstances should all come naturally, though. Reinvention on the pitch, which is also needed, may take a bit longer.

Real Madrid have become a counterattacking team these last few years, and Perez will be keen to see some changes as they move away from the style described by Sport 360's Spanish correspondent Andy West:

"Mourinho’s teams are relentlessly pragmatic instead of breathtakingly creative. Rather than bewildering the opposition with stylish attacking play, they overpower them and compel them to submit. That is Mourinho’s style and it has been extremely effective."

Ancelotti's PSG side were the opposite of that at Camp Nou in the Champions League.

They attacked, they were stylish and they came very close to knocking out Barcelona. They remained unbeaten over 180 minutes.

That in a nutshell is pretty much everything Perez and Los Blancos fans not just look for but expect from their team.

"The balance of Mourinho's time here is positive," continued Perez in Monday's press conference. "We have made a very important qualitative leap and we are back where this club should be."

Now that they're back to where they should be, they'll look to jump to the next step (whisper La Decima) with a different approach, a different style.

Of course, the same old caveat will always remain.

Reinvention, on and off the pitch, can only bring smiles for so long. At the end of the season it will be trophies rather than style where Madrid are judged. Perez's last words made that clear:

"Maybe for mere mortals [Champions League semifinalists, La Liga and Copa del Rey runners-up] would be enough, but not for a club like us. We are not satisfied because this club is so demanding."

Leandro Damiao: Why Tottenham Would Be a Smart Summer Move for Brazil Striker

Christopher Atkins — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

It has been a rocky past 12 months for Internacional striker Leandro Damiao, with a post-Olympic Games loss of form now having extended for a worrying duration of time.

With each passing month his valuation is beginning to drop, and his Brazilian owners are more than willing to listen to offers. Indeed, only at the beginning of this month, club president Giovanni Luigi told reporters that it was "very likely" that the striker would play in England following the summer window. (ESPN)

The club mentioned by the official, once more, was Tottenham Hotspur.

Many sides have been linked with Damiao over the past two years, but it is the North London side who have been most consistently touted as a destination for the forward. (This recent Bleacher Report article tracks the timeline of the club's interest)

The club's interest in the player is real, while manager Andre Villas Boas has openly stated that he is an admirer of the player. Indeed, it has been said that the Spurs coach is a regular watcher of the Brazilian championship.

His post-January comments regarding no future bid for the striker, then, should probably be taken with more than a pinch of salt.

Marseille have this week been tipped to make a move for Damiao by Sambafoot, although finances may be prohibitive to their attempts, while Napoli are also frequently suggested as a possible destination with the Daily Mail reporting their interest back in February. The striker, though, would be well advised to join Tottenham if he is presented with a choice.

Spurs may have narrowly missed out on the Champions League qualification for next season, but it is clear that Villas-Boas has a side heading in the right direction. Over the past 12 months, they have signed a series of young and talented players and have shown great team spirit to win tight games late in the campaign.

If there were to be criticism of the Spurs side, then, it would be that they have not had a top class centre-forward to spearhead a formidable attacking line. Defoe has done well, but lacks physicality, while Emmanuel Adebayor has been a frustrating figure for much of the campaign.

It was a point made my rival coach Paolo Di Canio only this week, with the Sunderland manager suggesting that Spurs could even launch a bid for the league title if they should add another striker to their ranks.

Damiao, then, would be joining a highly ambitious side who would make him the centrepiece of their attacking unit. It is not an opportunity that will come along too often.

The Inter striker is a fine finisher and has shown intelligence throughout his senior career to position himself well, link with teammates and beat defenders one-on-one. His one deficiency, though, has perhaps been his hold-up play with his back to goal.

In Villas-Boas, he would have a manager who could help him improve in this respect. The Portuguese boss has brought about a noticeable improvement in Jermain Defoe's play in deeper areas, and is known to be tactically astute regarding the roles of individual players.

Given their common mother tongue, he should have little difficulty helping Damiao adapt and improve his game. With just 12 months to go until the 2014 World Cup, such improvements could be decisive as to whether he will play a role at the event.

Having fallen behind Fred in the pecking order for his country, it is now time for Damiao to gamble. At Internacional, he has lost form and still remained at the top of the domestic game. He is now 23 and must look to take his game to higher levels.

Given his size, technical ability and game intelligence, he has the potential to make himself a force at the very highest levels of football. The next step, from being a very good player to an excellent player, will require much hard work and dedication.

If Damiao hopes to make such improvements to his game, while at a club who will hope to challenge for titles in the coming seasons, then Tottenham would be a fine choice. Under Villas-Boas, it is easy to envisage him developing into one of the most feared attacking players in Europe.

Michigan Football: Breakout Candidates for Wolverines in 2013-14

Ryan Rudnansky — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Michigan is coming off an 8-5 campaign and a trip to the Outback Bowl.

While players such as quarterback Denard Robinson, defensive end Craig Roh and receiver Roy Roundtree are no longer with the team, there are some individuals who showed glimpses of their potential in 2012 who figure to break out in 2013.

Here's a look at my top three breakout candidates for the Wolverines in 2013-14.

3. Thomas Gordon, S

In survey of 19 departing seniors conducted by WolverineNation, strong safety Thomas Gordon was one of the names pegged to have a breakout season in 2013-14.

One player said, via Michael Rothstein of WolverineNation:

Thomas Gordon is going to have a really good year next year. He's motivated, understands the system. He gets the defensive system just as well as Jordan Kovacs. He's a great communicator and a guy I expect is going to pretty much take the senior leadership role in the defensive backfield and have some success.

Gordon racked up 81 tackles in 13 starts last season, via CFBStats.com. He was the third-leading tackler on Michigan. He also collected two interceptions, one sack and forced a fumble.

The redshirt senior has already shown he can play with the big boys. In a leadership role, with an extra offseason under his belt, expect him to build on his 2012 campaign and be a high-impact player for the Wolverines.

2. Jeremy Gallon, WR

The emergence of quarterback Devin Gardner has also paved the way for a breakout campaign for Jeremy Gallon.

Gallon caught fire with Gardner under center, posting a combined 511 yards and three touchdowns in Gardner's five starts. That included racking up 145 yards and two touchdowns against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.

Even before Gallon's run, he had posted 107 yards against eventual national champion Alabama in the first game of the 2012 campaign. He averaged 16.92 yards per catch, 27th in the nation, via CFBStats.com.

1. Devin Gardner, QB

After Denard Robinson went down with an injury in October against Nebraska, Devin Gardner was asked to take his spot under center for the Wolverines. He ended up remaining as the starter even when Robinson was cleared to take the field again.

All Gardner did in his first game as a starter was account for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the 35-14 blowout victory over Minnesota. He then accounted for 15 touchdowns in his final four starts (nine passing, six rushing).

Gardner did toss four interceptions in that span, but there's hope that he can take better care of the ball with an offseason to work on his game.

The redshirt junior showed better command with the football in his five starts last season than Robinson did during his career at Michigan. Gardner's composure was particularly impressive, given that he was thrown to the wolves with Robinson going down.

Roger Federer's Recent Inconsistencies Won't Affect French Open Chances

Dan Talintyre — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Roger Federer will come into the 2013 French Open as the No. 2 seed and, by virtue of that seeding, one of the big favorites to take out the Grand Slam title this year.

Roland Garros—like every other Grand Slam event he's played at—has been the home of great success for the Swiss international, and whilst clay might not be his preferred surface, he's still been more than successful on the Paris courts.

So much so, that even despite his struggles and recent inconsistencies, Federer will be just as big of a threat at the French Open as he always is.

You can guarantee it.

Federer's preparation for the second Grand Slam event of the year has been far from ideal; anyone who's watched him at all this year will know that to be true.

Up until the Italian Open that just finished earlier this week, the 31-year-old had not made a final throughout the entire year. His one clay-court appearance before he made the trek to Rome had seen him trounced by Kei Nishikori in the round of 16 at Madrid.

And even though he did make the final in Italy, he was demolished 6-1, 6-3 by Rafael Nadal to highlight that he seemingly still has plenty of work to do.

That statement might sound harsh given the talents of Federer, but the reality is that he isn't in great form right now. He is obviously still one of the top tennis players in the world and is incredibly strong on whatever surface that he's a tough opponent to play in Grand Slams. But in terms of him being "elite," there's a definite argument to be made that the 31-year-old is starting to decline.

Having said all of that, however, there's no reason why Federer won't be more than ready to go for the French Open—despite his recent inconsistencies and form.

He is a proven performer and is more than capable of getting himself up for a Grand Slam when his form leading into the tournament hasn't been great.

After all, he has managed to make it through to the quarterfinals at every Grand Slam event since the French Open in 2004.

That's 35 quarterfinals in a row.

The numbers become even more ridiculous when we up the stakes and focus on semifinals. Only five times in his past 37 Grand Slams has he not made the semifinals.

Out of those, he's gone to make the final on more than half of those occasions.

Despite the fact that the French Open is viewed as Nadal's event, the reality is that Federer has been equally as strong throughout the years.

He hasn't been as strong as Nadal obviously, given that Nadal has won seven of the past eight French Open titles, but the Swiss star has made the semifinals on all but one occasion at Roland Garros since 2005.

Since 2005, Federer has played in five French Open finals.

See, the reality is that Federer has a history of gearing up for Grand Slam tournaments despite the fact that his previous form-line might suggest otherwise.

Especially with an argument to be made that perhaps his recent results haven't been completely indicative of his actual performances.

And given that Nadal is now drawn on to the same side of the draw as Novak Djokovic, Federer is once again looming large as a huge Grand Slam contender—regardless of what his recent form-line might indicate.

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

MLB Power Rankings 2013: Where Each Team Stands After the Season's First Quarter

Justin Onslow — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

The quarter mark of the MLB season represents a time of reflection and thoughtful analysis.

That, or it gives us yet another opportunity to rank every team according to how each has fared through 40-plus games.

In either case, there’s certainly some value in breaking down how each team is playing this season. With more than a quarter of the season in the books, we’re starting to get a pretty clear indication of which squads will be hanging around in September and October.

There’s still plenty of baseball left to play, but the perennial bottom-feeders and top-tier teams in the majors aren’t likely to experience much movement in the final three-quarters of the season. Every team in the middle, however, still has time to prove it deserves to be in the latter category.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at current rankings for each MLB squad and break down what each has done lately to earn its spot.

1. Texas Rangers

I’m starting to believe Texas is one of the most well-run organizations in all of professional sports. The Rangers just keep producing, and with prospects like Jurickson Profar waiting in the wings, that’s unlikely to change any time soon.

2. New York Yankees

The mark of a good team is the ability to overcome adversity and still come out on top. The Yankees have done that this year in fighting through several major injuries to post one of the best records in the majors—and they may just be getting started.

3. St. Louis Cardinals

It takes a combination of offense, starting pitching and relief pitching to be an elite team. St. Louis has all three, and the Cardinals are firing on all cylinders at this point in the season.

4. Cincinnati Reds

As good as Cincinnati’s bats have been at times this year, it’s the Reds’ pitching that has really made its mark. With top-five marks in ERA (3.37), quality starts (26) and WHIP (1.18), it’s no surprise the Reds are hanging with the red-hot Cardinals in the NL Central.

5. Cleveland Indians

There isn’t a hotter team in baseball right now, and one has to wonder if the Indians are actually capable of losing a ballgame in the ninth inning. With yet another walk-off win and a series sweep of the Seattle Mariners Monday, Cleveland improved its record to 18-4 in the last 22 games.

6. Boston Red Sox

Boston struggled in early May, but it seems to have hit its stride since dropping nine of 11 from May 3 to May 14. In the following five contests, the Red Sox outscored opponents 33-14 and walked away with five big victories.

7. Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona’s starting pitching has been masterful thus far, and with so much discord in the NL West, the Diamondbacks are starting to look like the team to beat following the quarter mark of the season.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates

I almost don’t want to say anything positive about the Pirates for fear of jinxing what could be their first winning season in 21 years. Suffice it to say Pittsburgh is playing tremendous baseball right now and aren’t far off the pace of the Cardinals in the NL Central.

9. Atlanta Braves

The Braves are who we thought they were. Despite a couple bad stretches in April, Atlanta has won five of its last seven and has a chokehold on the NL East. If the Braves’ bats reach their full potential, this will be an extremely dangerous team.

10. Detroit Tigers

Miguel Cabrera.

There’s almost nothing more that needs to be said. Cabrera is on pace to shatter his 2012 Triple Crown numbers, and he’s single-handedly keeping the Tigers afloat in an AL Central with which the Indians are trying to run away.

11. Colorado Rockies

Colorado surprised a lot of people with its hot start, and while they aren’t playing at that level right now, taking three of four from the Giants is nothing to sneeze at. If the Rockies can duplicate that feat against San Francisco this weekend, they will be in good position to claim the lead in the NL West.

12. Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore’s recent struggles against the Padres and Rays are troubling, especially with series against the Yankees, Nationals and Tigers on the slate in the next two weeks. If the Orioles don’t turn it around quickly, the AL East will be extremely difficult to traverse.

13. Washington Nationals

Lofty expectations have tarnished what Washington has done this season, but don’t expect one of the National League’s best squads to hover around the .500 mark for very long. There’s nothing scary about the Nationals’ schedule in the coming weeks, save for short series with San Francisco and Atlanta.

14. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays desperately need their pitching to come around in the final three-fourths of the season. With a 4.34 team ERA and just 22 quality starts to match, Tampa Bay’s potent offense is simply going to waste.

15. San Francisco Giants

With series losses to both Colorado and Toronto, San Francisco missed out on a big opportunity to take hold of the NL West. The Dodgers may be floundering, but there’s no shortage of teams willing to take advantage of a wide-open division.

16. Oakland Athletics

Oakland has leveled off after a fantastic start, dropping 10 contests since the beginning of May. Things are starting to look up again after a series sweep of the Royals, though, and a win over Texas Monday night was enough to instill confidence that the A’s can still compete for an AL West title.

17. Kansas City Royals

A pre-season favorite to come away with the AL Central, Kansas City has fallen victim to some big first-quarter performances from the Indians and Tigers. The talent is there, but the Royals have to start putting it all together in a hurry.

18. San Diego Padres

The Padres are a perfect example of a team with tons of potential and not enough established talent to put it all together. It’s still very early, though. With a little more experience and a quite a bit of luck, San Diego could make some waves before the season ends.

19. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies should be incredibly thankful for their starting pitching. With an offense that ranks in the bottom five of the league in most major categories, it could be a lot worse for Philadelphia right now.

20. Chicago White Sox

It’s hard to win games with a .240 team batting average and .293 OBP, but at least Chicago’s pitching has allowed it to remain competitive. Chris Sale has been absolutely dominant of late, and he’s well on his way to a 20-win season if his first-quarter performance continues.

21. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have come up well short of expectations this season, but it’s hard to write off a $120 million-plus roster that has suffered from some bad injury luck. Los Angeles won’t be at the bottom of the NL West for very long.

22. Minnesota Twins

Minnesota’s bullpen has been its saving grace this year, but it’s hard to maintain a corps of relievers that has to put in so much work. If the Twins’ starting rotation doesn’t pick up the slack, it’s going to be a long year in the Twin Cities.

23. Los Angeles Angels

At some point, Los Angeles’ bats have to turn things around. An offense with so much firepower can’t continue coasting, especially with Texas running away with the division.

24. Seattle Mariners

Good teams find ways to win ballgames and bad teams seem to stumble upon ways to lose. With a costly ninth-inning error on Monday, the Mariners joined the latter group in getting swept by the surging Indians at Progressive Field.

25. Chicago Cubs

Don’t look now, but the Cubs could actually be putting something together. With seven wins in their last 12 games (including two series victories), Chicago is starting to claw its way up in the NL Central standings.

26. Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto may be the most disappointing team in baseball at this point in the year. Despite a huge offseason and lofty expectations, the Blue Jays have nothing more to show for it than an 18-26 record.

27. New York Mets

There have been several bright spots for the Mets this season. Unfortunately, there haven’t been quite enough of them to get over the hump. Still, the solid play of David Wright and dominance of Matt Harvey are encouraging signs.

28. Milwaukee Brewers

It has been all about the pitching for the Brewers this season—and almost all of it has been bad. With a team ERA of 4.57 and a WHIP of 1.37, the Brewers will only go as far as their pitching will allow.

29. Miami Marlins

Miami’s offensive rankings aren’t even a little encouraging. The Marlins rank dead last in almost every statistical category, including runs (117), batting average (.220), OBP (.282) and slugging (.317). With numbers like that, their minus-69 run differential isn’t the least bit surprising.

30. Houston Astros

Houston has actually showed signs of life in the last week with three wins in five games, but the Astros can’t erase their 13-32 record with a few good showings. Until Houston can string together multiple weeks of good baseball, it will likely remain at the bottom of every list.

Christian Eriksen: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Daniel Edwards — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Ajax's young midfield sensation Christian Eriksen is among the many players being tipped for a possible transfer in the summer window.

Here's a breakdown of his numbers and a brief scouting guide to the Denmark international, along with a few hints as to where he might be playing next summer.

Age: 21

Contract Situation: Eriksen is signed at Ajax until 2014.

Career Stops: Ajax (2009-present).

Current Campaign Stats

Eredivisie: 33 games, 10 goals.

Champions League/Europa League: 8 games, 1 goal.

KNVB Cup: 4 games, 2 goals.

Video Showreel

Scouting Guide

Eriksen's rise through the ranks of European football, both for club and country, has been nothing short of prodigious. Back in 2010 (at 18), he was the youngest player in the World Cup, while three short years later he has already accrued an impressive 34 caps for Denmark, as well racking up over 150 games for Ajax.

Eriksen's vision, quality of passing and ability to go forward has already seen parallels being made with Ajax stars of the past such as Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart. Eriksen averaged nearly a goal every three games through 2012-13—a terrific record for a midfielder—and at just 21, he is considered one of the brightest prospects in the entire Eredivisie.

Where to Next?

The path from Ajax's legendary youth academy to Europe's biggest clubs is already well trodden, and Eriksen could well be the next talent to make the leap up in quality. According to the Guardian, Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund are ready to open their chequebook for the youngster, who confirmed that he was in talks to move to the Bundesliga.

If not Germany, England could be the next destination for the midfielder. Scandanavian stars such as John-Arne Riise, Daniel Agger and Jan Molby have all made themselves past and present favourites in Anfield, and the Mirror asserts that Brendan Rodgers would like to make Eriksen a priority for the transfer window.

The same source, however, states that the player is frustrated with the pace of negotiations and without new movement on a possible £15 million move, he will turn his back on the Reds.

Gonzalo Higuain: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Daniel Edwards — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain is among the many players being tipped for a possible transfer in the summer window.

Here's a breakdown of his numbers and a brief scouting guide to the Argentina international, along with a few hints as to where he might be playing next summer.

Age: 25

Contract Situation: Higuain's Madrid deal expires in June 2016.

Career Stops: River Plate (2004-06), Real Madrid (2006-present).

Current Campaign Stats

La Liga: 26 games, 14 goals.

Champions League: 9 games, 1 goal.

Copa del Rey: 5 games, 0 goals.

Video Showreel

Scouting Guide

Strong, fast and with a great eye for goal, there is no doubt that Pipita Higuain is one of the best natural centre forwards currently playing in world football. Some teething problems staying composed in front of goal have been solved, and a current return of nine goals in the World Cup qualifiers makes him South America's top scorer.

This electric form for Argentina, however, has not been reproduced in sufficient qualities at club level. The goals continue to come regularly, but Higuain has shown himself more comfortable alongside a creative talent such as Lionel Messi than a fellow goal-minded forward, such as Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Where to Next?

A seven-year veteran at the Santiago Bernabeu after moving from River at the tender age of 19, there have been indications still that the forward's time in the Spanish capital may have come to an end.

Le 10 Sport (via Goal) heard from Madrid general manager Jose Angel Sanchez that the Argentine would be let go in favour of keeping Karim Benzema should a summer clearout at the Liga runners-up come to fruition. The Daily Mail reports that Arsenal is a possible destination during the transfer window, if they are willing to match his club's £22 million valuation.

2014 NFL Mock Draft: Latest Projections For Every Team in 1st Round

Jesse Reed — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

NFL scouts never stop looking ahead. Though training camp has yet to begin for the 2013 NFL season, legwork is already being done to evaluate the 2014 NFL draft class.

Guys like Teddy Bridgewater, Jadeveon Clowney and Marqise Lee are already good enough to be considered as the NFL's next potential superstars. The best part is that they still have another year to improve their stock.

Obviously, there's no way of knowing how NFL teams will fare in 2013, and with that in mind it's fair to say that the order for this mock draft isn't the main concern. Consider the order a mild version of an NFL power rankings, with the first teams picking as the worst in the league.

The real value here, order aside, is that this mock helps to give a sense of where players might be drafted in the first round in 2014.

A few selections will be highlighted in italics for more in-depth analysis.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars—QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

There isn't a more desperate situation at the quarterback position than what the Jaguars face this season. Chad Henne and Blaine Gabbert are once again involved in a quarterback "competition," but truth be told neither is a franchise quarterback.

According to Mark Long of the AP, Gabbert continues to struggle with accuracy on short passes:

Shocking news, this isn't.

As good as Jadeveon Clowney is, and as much as the Jaguars need pass-rushers, it's hard to imagine this team not taking a quarterback in 2014. And should they do so, it'll likely be Teddy Bridgewater, who has all the physical tools to excel in the NFL as a pocket passer.

2. Oakland Raiders—DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

The Raiders might actually have their quarterback of the future on the roster right now. Fourth-round pick Tyler Wilson has reportedly looked really good thus far, and it'll be surprising to see Oakland drafting a signal-caller in the early rounds in 2014.

Thankfully, in this scenario the Raiders get the best player on the board and potentially one of the best pure pass-rushers to enter the NFL in decades.

3. New York Jets—OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan

Whether it's Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith behind center for the Jets in 2014, the team's first priority must be to protect its quarterback. Lewan could have been a top-10 pick in 2013 but decided to go back to school for another year. A franchise left tackle in the making, Lewan would be a no-brainer pick for general manager John Idzik.

4. Tennessee Titans —WR Marqise Lee, USC

Tennessee has some excellent young players on both sides of the ball, but there are still some gaping holes on the roster. Adding the top offensive playmaker in the 2014 draft class would be a smart move as the Titans continue amassing young talent.

5. Arizona Cardinals—QB David Fales, San Jose State

New Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians loves big-armed quarterbacks who can really stretch defenses down the field. He's been raving about Carson Palmer's deep balls of late (h/t ESPN's Merril Hoge), but Palmer is nearing the end of his career.

There isn't a quarterback in this year's draft class with the arm talent to compare to David Fales out of San Jose State. Not only does Fales possess a cannon for an arm, but he's extremely accurate and delivers the ball downfield with confidence, anticipation and excellent timing.

Fales is the perfect quarterback for Arians to groom behind Palmer for another year or two.

6. San Diego Chargers—OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M

Drafting D.J. Fluker was a step in the right direction, but Fluker isn't going to protect Philip Rivers' blind side. General manager Tom Telesco needs to continue building a competent offensive line for the sake of his aging, but still capable quarterback.

7. Buffalo Bills—OLB C.J. Mosley, Alabama

The Bills smartly targeted a linebacker early in the 2013 draft, but Kiko Alanso isn't going to help the team get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Buffalo's 4-3 scheme lacks explosive edge-rushers, and adding a do-it-all linebacker like Mosley would be a smart move to bolster this aspect of the team's defense.

8. Dallas Cowboys—DE Morgan Breslin, USC

The Cowboys will be looking at defenders to plug into Monte Kiffin's 4-3 defensive scheme early in the draft for the next couple of years. Breslin's ability to rush off the edge with his hand in the dirt makes him a perfect player to come in and eventually replace Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware.

9. Philadelphia Eagles—QB Tajh Boyd, Clemson

Yes, the Eagles already have Michael Vick, Nick Foles and Matt Barkley, but Boyd to Philly just makes too much sense. An extremely mobile quarterback with excellent poise, leadership and a nice arm, he's the perfect signal-caller to run Chip Kelly's up-tempo offensive attack.

10. Cleveland Browns—OLB Anthony Barr, UCLA

By the time the 2014 NFL draft rolls around, it won't be a big surprise to see Cleveland pondering quarterbacks in Round 1. That said, if Brandon Weeden or Jason Campbell proves to be worthy of the starting spot, the Browns would love to pick up an edge pass-rusher like Barr to throw into their 3-4 scheme.

11. Detroit Lions—CB Bradley Roby, Ohio State

Roby could be selected earlier than this come draft day, but if any team needs an elite cornerback these days it's the Lions. Playing six games a year against the NFC North, Roby would have the tough task of shutting down some elite receivers on a weekly basis.

12. Carolina Panthers—WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson

The Panthers absolutely needed to draft defensive linemen, and the team's selections were sound in 2013. That said, it was a bit surprising that Carolina didn't pick up a receiver. Steve Smith isn't getting any younger, and the team needs to find his replacement before it's too late.

13. Miami Dolphins—DT Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame

Looking at the defensive squad Jeff Ireland has assembled, it almost wouldn't be fair to opposing offenses if the Dolphins landed Tuitt in 2014 to play inside. A diverse lineman, Tuitt racked up 12 sacks last year as a 3-4 defensive end. He'll be a terror inside as a pass-rushing defensive tackle for the Dolphins.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—DT Will Sutton, Arizona State

Speaking of dynamic defensive tackles, Sutton is as ferocious as a badger in the trenches. A bit undersized, at 6'1" and 288 pounds, Sutton tallied 13 sacks as a defensive tackle for the Sun Devils in 2013 and plays the game of football like a man possessed.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers—NT Louis Nix III, Notre Dame

After investing a top pick in pass-rusher Jarvis Jones, who replaces James Harrison, the next logical move for the Steelers in 2014 is to find a stalwart nose tackle to replace Casey Hampton. Adding Nix to Pittsburgh's defense would give Dick LeBeau another young weapon to build around for the future.

16. St. Louis Rams—OG Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State

After finally providing Sam Bradford with protection on the edge by signing Jake Long, general manager Les Snead should consider adding another premier offensive lineman in 2014. Jackson will help the team's running game excel as well as give Bradford extra protection up the middle.

17. Kansas City Chiefs—OT Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama

Should the Chiefs fail to work out a long-term deal with Branden Albert, adding another elite tackle like Kouandjio to play opposite Eric Fisher would be smart. Kouandjio can play on both sides, and he's athletic enough to be a force both on running and passing plays.

18. Minnesota Vikings—QB Aaron Murray, Georgia

Minnesota desperately wants Christian Ponder to become its franchise quarterback, but the early returns on the team's first-round investment haven't been promising. Ponder doesn't have a strong arm, which means opposing defenses don't have to cover the entire field.

Should Ponder fail to take his game to the next level in 2013, the Vikings must explore the idea of drafting another quarterback.

In the event that Rick Spielman comes to this conclusion, Murray would be an excellent quarterback for the Vikings. He has underrated arm strength, is accurate and timely with his passes and has plenty of big-game experience.

19. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins)—TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington

The Rams just signed tight end Jared Cook, but if Bradford were able to play with two explosive tight ends he would be able to demolish opposing defenses with his quick, accurate passes and excellent decision-making.

20. Chicago Bears—CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon

Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings aren't getting any younger, and both players are due for a new contract or an extension after the 2013 season. It would behoove general manager Phil Emery to draft a young corner to replace one or both players, and at the least it would be smart to carry an insurance policy should an unfortunate injury occur.

21. Indianapolis Colts—OLB Kyle Van Noy, BYU

Adding pass-rushers to 3-4 defensive schemes is an yearly exercise. The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best young pass-rushers in the NFL in Aldon Smith, yet they drafted a couple of pass-rushing specialists this year.

As Andrew Luck develops into an MVP-caliber quarterback, the offense he leads will put up points in bunches. The Colts need to have pass-rushers who can take over games in the second half as opposing teams abandon the running game in an effort to score with Luck's offense.

Van Noy is more pro-ready than his former teammate at BYU Ezekiel Ansah. He's already an experienced 3-4 outside linebacker who understands the game and will be ready for action as a rookie in 2014.

22. New Orleans Saints—WR Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt

It's hard to believe that Marques Colston will be 30 years old when the NFL season begins. Lance Moore and Courtney Roby are both older receivers, too, and the Saints need to start bringing in some new blood.

Matthews is a talented receiver with good size who has the ability to make tough plays in traffic. He's also an effective red-zone receiver who has caught 17 touchdowns in his three years at Vanderbilt.

23. Baltimore Ravens—WR Brandon Coleman, Rutgers

After letting Anquan Boldin go for a bag of peanuts to the San Francisco 49ers (alright, it was a sixth-round pick, but you get the point), the Ravens need to restock Joe Flaco's cupboard with talented receivers.

At 6'6", Coleman is a huge receiver. He's caught 16 touchdowns in just 60 career receptions at Rutgers, and he'll be an excellent red-zone target for Flacco in the years to come.

24. New York Giants—OT David Yankey, Stanford

After spending a first-round pick on Justin Pugh in 2013, Jerry Reese would be smart to look at drafting another top offensive tackle to protect Eli Manning's other side. Yankey is a diverse lineman who can play all over the line, and he would be a player who could step in and immediately contribute.

25. Green Bay Packers—S Ed Reynolds, Stanford

Many Packers fans were surprised that Ted Thompson didn't draft a safety this spring, as was I. Should Reynolds still be around when the Packers pick in Round 1 in 2014, Thompson could be compelled to pick him up.

A true ball-hawking safety, Reynolds has the ability to turn routine plays into scoring opportunities. He's a playmaker in every sense of the word and an all-around excellent football player.

26. Cincinnati Bengals—CB Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida

One of the most exceptional athletes in the nation, Purifoy is expected to be a big part of Florida's offense in 2013. He's also an excellent cover cornerback, and Cincinnati couldn't lose adding him to the its already dominant defense.

27. Atlanta Falcons—DE Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas

Looking at Atlanta's roster right now, there aren't many real weaknesses. That said, this is a team that could certainly use more athletic pass-rushers, and Jeffcoat will be one of the best in the 2014 draft class.

28. New England Patriots—WR DeVante Parker, Louisville

Another draft, and another year Bill Belichick refuses to even think about drafting a receiver in the first round. Should Parker fall to this point in the 2014 draft, however, Belichick will be forced to seriously consider selecting him. Parker has a penchant for catching touchdown passes, having tallied 10 last year with just 40 total receptions.

29. Houston Texans—CB Jason Verrett, TCU

With Ed Reed and D.J. Swearinger on the back end, Houston's defense is looking good to defend the middle of the field. The team could still use some help on the corners, however, and Verrett's ability to play the ball in the air will serve the Texans well.

30. Seattle Seahawks—OLB Ryan Shazier, Ohio State

As if Seattle needed more help on the defensive side of the ball...

Seriously, though, don't be surprised if the Seahawks continue adding talented players on defense. Shazier is a bit undersized as an NFL outside linebacker (6'2" and 222 pounds), but this young man can fly around on the field and makes big plays behind the line of scrimmage and in coverage.

31. Denver Broncos—S Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, Alabama

Denver's secondary was exposed badly against the Ravens in the playoffs last year. Champ Bailey is in his last years as a pro, while Mike Adams and Rahim Moore both struggled at the safety positions. Adding a big-time playmaker like Clinton-Dix would give Denver's defense the help on the back end it needs to become an elite overall unit.

32. San Francisco 49ers—DT Daniel McCullers, Tennessee

McCullers is a veritable giant of a man, at 6'8" and 360 pounds. His legs are like tree trunks and his frame is incredibly well proportioned for a man of his incredible bulk. He's the perfect 3-4 nose tackle, and adding him to play in the middle of San Francisco's defense would allow the team's inside linebackers to fly to the ball.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Is Raul Albiol a Potential Successor to Jamie Carragher at Liverpool?

Richard Morgan — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Sunday afternoon at Anfield represented veteran Jamie Carragher’s swan song as a Liverpool player after 17 glorious years on Merseyside, but in football you can never stand still even for a second, and so Reds manager Brendan Rodgers will already have a list of potential defensive replacements for the 35-year-old next season.

In fact, from the moment that Carragher announced his decision to call it quits in February, the Northern Irishman has been linked with a whole host of possible centre backs to take over from the one-time England international, including Swansea City’s Wales international Ashley Williams (via the Daily Express), Feyenoord captain Stefan de Vrij (via the Daily Mail) and highly-rated Vasco da Gama defender Dede (via the Daily Mirror), to name but a few.

However, with Williams appearing to favour a summer move to UEFA Champions League qualifiers Arsenal (via the Mail) instead, De Vrij having just signed a new deal (via Goal.com) that keeps him in Rotterdam until 2015 and Dede now a Cruzeiro player (via the Metro), most of Rodgers’ first choices are no longer available as we approach the time when the transfer window reopens for business on June 1.

All but one of them, that is, as there still remains the opportunity to bring experienced Real Madrid central defender Raul Albiol to the club for next season as a successor to Carragher, a move that the Reds boss and his scouting team must now be giving serious thought to.

Albiol has been linked with a summer move (via the Daily Express) to Anfield in recent weeks and despite having only put pen to paper on a new five-year contract with the Spanish giants at the beginning of this campaign, the 27-year-old’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu is still very much open to debate.

For one thing, the centre back has featured in just 41 matches for Los Blancos in the past two seasons, less than he made in his entire debut campaign in the Spanish capital in 2009-10, and Albiol’s role since head coach Jose Mourinho arrived at the club three years ago has been mainly that of back-up defender to the likes of first-choices Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho and, more recently, Raphael Varane.

As a result, the Reds would not only be securing a vastly experienced and high-quality defender desperate to prove himself by getting much-needed game time ahead of next summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil, but they should also be able to secure his signature for a fee similar to that which Madrid bought him from Valencia for in June 2009, 15 million euros.

If that were the case, it would represent a smart piece of business by Rodgers. This is a player with 38 Spain caps to his name since making his international debut six years ago, during which time Albiol has picked up two UEFA European Championship and one FIFA World Cup winners’ medals.

Meanwhile on the domestic front, the centre back has also won La Liga (2012), the Copa del Rey (2008 and 2011) and the UEFA Cup (2004), and so this is a player with big-match experience who has done it at the very highest levels and at 27, should just now be entering the prime of his career.

And remember that with Rodgers having lost a player with 737 matches worth of experience to his name, he will be looking to bring in a replacement with a similar type of profile, as opposed to a young up-and-coming defender, with Albiol fitting that bill nicely having played more than 300 games for Valencia, Madrid and Spain since 2005.

In fact, Rodgers could even opt to start the next campaign with the central-defensive partnership with which he kicked off this season, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, while Albiol is given valuable and much-needed time to acclimatise to life in a foreign league for the very first time in his career.

However, having slowly been bedded in to and got accustomed to the vagaries of the Premier League, it should not take the Spaniard long to adapt to the physicality and extreme pace of the English top flight, in comparison to what he would be used to back home in La Liga.

For one thing, the defender is 6'3" and so a rainy day at Stoke City in December should hold few fears for the player, while Albiol’s all-round physique would also be well suited to the demands of the Premier League, especially the aerial nature of the game in England.

Equally, the centre back’s pace and ease at both bringing the ball out of defence or when operating with the ball at his feet would make him an instant hit at Anfield, while his versatility at being able to also play at either right back or as a holding midfield player are added attractions to signing Albiol.

And do not forget that this was a defender that the whole of Europe were chasing when he came on the market in June 2009, a reputation that soared even higher after his outstanding first season at the White House, and so Rodgers should be looking no further than Madrid when it comes to nominating Carragher’s successor this summer.

Boston Red Sox: Secondary Prospects Working to Improve Their Stock

Andrew Martin — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:47:06 -0400

The Boston Red Sox are deeply invested in player development and flush with a variety of young players who could be seen at Fenway Park in the coming years.

In addition to the bigger names, the team has many secondary prospects who are working to improve their stock this season.

Baseball America’s Jim Callis ranked Boston’s farm system as the fifth-best in the majors entering this season, which is indicative of the depth the team has throughout the organizaton.

Just because a player doesn’t start off on the top of prospect lists doesn’t prohibit their future development. There are many youngsters in the Boston system who are just starting to make names for themselves and should be closely watched by the organization and fans.

Click through for a 2013 season update on the best of the Red Sox’s secondary prospects.

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Tony Romo Injury: Updates on Cowboys QB's Recovery from Minor Back Surgery

Mike Chiari — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:41:29 -0400

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has big expectations ahead of him after signing a six-year, $108 million contract to stay in Big D. It will get off to a late start, as minor back surgery will force the 33-year-old signal-caller to miss organized team activities.

According to Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com, Romo had a cyst removed from his back last month, so he will be unable to takes part in OTAs.

Archer is reporting that Romo will miss at least the next three weeks, but he should be back in action by training camp, assuming his recovery goes well.

Nick Eatman of the Cowboys' official team website confirmed the report and provided an updated timeline for when Romo is expected to return:

The Cowboys are confident their starting quarterback will be ready for training camp when the club leaves for Oxnard, Calif. on July 19.

Romo has not been participating in the Tuesday/Thursday throwing sessions that began last month. And he also hasn’t played recreational golf or basketball like he normally does this time of year.

Romo isn't concerned about the surgery whatsoever, according to David Moore of The Dallas Morning News. In fact, he thinks he could play if he had to, but that obviously isn't necessary with games still a few months away.

If this was the regular season and I had to play next week, I could, Romo said Monday night on the eve of the Cowboys first OTA of the off-season. This is just about being smart.

That’s why I did it now. This will have no effect on training camp. No way will it have an impact. And I still think there’s a good chance I’m on the field for mini-camp.

Although surgery of any kind is obviously nothing to take lightly, there is no indication that Romo will miss a significant amount of time. Considering the fact that Romo is entering his 11th NFL season, missing OTAs shouldn't adversely affect him or the Cowboys as a whole in 2013.

Despite the fact that Romo often takes the brunt of the criticism for Dallas' failures, he has developed into an upper-level starting quarterback, as evidenced by nearly passing for 5,000 yards last season.

If Romo's back issue snowballs for whatever reason and forces him to miss games during the regular season, the Cowboys will be hard pressed to make noise in the competitive NFC East with Kyle Orton at them helm.

Romo's contract makes him the highest-paid player in Cowboys history, so there is no doubt that Jerry Jones and Cowboys fans everywhere are expecting a lot out of Romo this season.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Making Sense of the NBA's Absurd Punishment Scale

Daniel O'Brien — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:35:43 -0400

3When it comes to fines in the NBA lately, something's just not adding up.

It's certainly important for the league to maintain its respectability and image. Every so often, that means dishing out fines to players or coaches who get out of line on or off the court.

If they truly care about doing what's best for the game (which I believe they do), they should put as much effort into punishing flopping as they do to punish post-game comments or unsportsmanlike acts.

In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau was fined $35,000 for critical comments about the officiating.

They weren't outrageous proclamations intended to embarrass the league, nor were they aimed at humiliating any one referee.

He simply disagreed with a few calls, pointed out that the Miami Heat got to the free-throw line a lot, and said that he didn't understand how Udonis Haslem and Chris Anderson weren't whistled more.

"Watching how things are going, I see how things are going," Thibodeau said following Game 3. "I watch very closely. I watch very closely. What I'm seeing is, we'll adjust accordingly.

"When you play this team, you have to have a lot of mental, physical and emotional toughness. Things aren't going to go your way. That's the way it is. We're not going to get calls. That's reality. We still have to find a way to get it done, and we can."

In other incidents of recent hefty fines, Taj Gibson was fined $25,000 for his on-court tirade at officials, Kevin Durant was fined $25,000 for a threatening gesture and Marco Belinelli was fined $15,000 for an unsportsmanlike behavior.

But blatant flopping gets $5,000?

Some folks may not agree the flop fines, because it's fining a non-violent on-court act. But if you ask me, they don't fine the floppers enough, because it cheapens the game.

It's especially puzzling when a critical, yet respectful coach, gets slapped with a $35,000 ticket for disagreeing with a few calls. The league needs to figure out how to even the fine scale, because it's out of balance right now.

It's just a flop, you say?

If it was that simple, the NBA wouldn't have started fining players for doing it in the first place.

Basketball is an extremely difficult sport to officiate, because there's so much split-second contact and subjectivity surrounding foul calls.

It's perfectly acceptable for a player to sell actual contact to draw a whistle, but blatant flopping misleads the referees and makes games even more difficult to officiate than they already are.

The $5,000 fines aren't doing much to keep the acting in check, because embellishment and drama sequences are still widespread around the league. All the mini-flops and nearly-finable flops are making it tougher to determine which instances should be punished and which shouldn't.

Upping the fines would make a bigger statement and deter more of the borderline flops. And less embellishment means less complaining from coaches or tirades from players.

The least the NBA can do is to balance out the gigantic disparity between flopping fines and other offenses.

Dwight Howard Proves Again That It's All About Dwight Howard

Martin Telleria — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:28:18 -0400

Very rarely do I find myself siding with Mike D’Antoni.

His core principles as a coach go against everything I believe is essential in winning a championship.

His disregard for defense and propensity for relying on the three-point shot have ensured defeat endless times throughout his career.

Yet still I find myself siding with him. It’s a strange feeling. One that only a player as entitled and selfish as Dwight Howard could push me to.

What on earth happened? In less than a year, Howard has destroyed his reputation, possibly beyond repair.

We saw signs of this type of behavior during his time in Orlando. The endless waffling of whether he’d stay or go. The silly squabbles he had with Stan Van Gundy. His propensity to throw teammates under the bus. It was never Howard’s doing in defeat yet the praise was always there in victory.

We thought a change of scenery was all he needed. That a move to a storied franchise like the Los Angeles Lakers would push along his maturation. We were wrong.

The waffling has returned, this time with his statement that he is intrigued by the prospect of starting over (again) with the Houston Rockets, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles. The squabbles have remained, D’Antoni replacing Van Gundy in the coach's role. The excuses remain, this time with his declaration that he was used improperly.

The Rockets better think twice before dishing out a big contract to Howard. The Magic and Lakers should serve as cautionary tales about the perils of employing this one-time superstar.

When the going gets tough, Dwight Howard checks out.

For a man who is only a few years removed from garnering praise as the perhaps No. 2 player in the league, it’s been a long fall from grace.

The smiling superstar with the bubbly personality still remains. Yet the smiles are now through clenched teeth, the bubbly personality only surfacing when he is the focal point.

Dwight Howard has proven one thing throughout his career: If it’s not all about Howard, then you won’t get all of him on the court.

It’s not as if the skills that made him renowned throughout the league have left him. Even through injury, we saw glimpses of his brilliance.

It’s the baggage that he puts upon himself and those around him that have made him poisonous to a winning culture.

It really is sad. Howard has turned himself into the NBA’s version of Alex Rodriguez. Two supremely talented athletes who have destroyed their relationships with the fans and their teammates by putting themselves above all else.

We all know what Howard is: the most destructive defensive weapon the NBA has to offer (when motivated). We also know of his limitations on the offensive side of the ball.

Unfortunately for Howard, he craves the glory that offense brings and in the process diminishes what he does best.

It’s not Van Gundy’s or D’Antoni’s fault that they understood exactly what they had in Howard. They saw a player that could lead a team to a championship by being the anchor of the defense. They also saw a player who could make an offense better by staying within himself.

Howard, however, overestimates his offensive abilities. He sees his coaches’ acknowledgments of both his strengths and limitations as slights to him as a player. To quote the great Jack Nicholson, he can’t handle the truth.

The draw to Howard is obvious. He is an absolute force of nature. That is why someone, maybe the Lakers, maybe the Rockets, will throw him a max contract in the hopes that he realizes his potential.

For those that miss out on the Howard sweepstakes, they will eventually consider it a victory in defeat. For the team that does secure his abilities, well, the warning signs were there.

Unless Dwight Howard matures overnight, failure is inevitable. Fortunately for that team, he’ll probably ask for a trade after a year or two.

Whether or not there will be any takers at that point remains unknown.

How Kyle Long Matches Up With Division Rivals

Paul Thelen — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:08:43 -0400

If all goes well in Chicago, Kyle Long will match up with Ndamukong Suh frequently over the coming years. But how does Chicago’s newest first-round selection match up with Suh and other NFC North foes?

The Bears expect their 2013 first-round draft pick to be the team’s starting right guard this season, and for many more to come. The Oregon product will have to be a quick learner to find success against opposing NFC North interior linemen.

For the sake of this article, let's go ahead and assume that Long will win the starting right guard competition and evaluate how his skill set matches up with those of the NFC North’s best defensive tackles.

Ndamukong Suh

Suh is the best-known opponent Kyle Long will face this season and the defensive tackle’s celebrity is well deserved. Suh is dominant as a pass-rusher. The athleticism Suh possesses may be the most dynamic of anyone in the NFL at his position. His quick, explosive movements dictate the movements of his opponent, which allows him to vertically attack the quarterback.

When matched up across from Suh, it is of paramount importance to keep low to the ground. He will try to stand you up and use his speed to swim past his opponents. Below in a 2012 matchup against Chicago, look at how Suh stands up the right guard. Once he gets his opponent upright, he is able to swim left and reach the quarterback. On this play he forced Cutler to throw the ball away.

On paper, this matchup is compatible with the skill set Long possesses. Both Long and Suh are more physical than technical. The greatest criticism of Long is his lack of experience, as he played just one season of Division I football. But against Suh, Long can rely on his athleticism and shadow Suh’s movements. After all, Long is at his best when he is reacting. If Long can stay low he can find success against Suh, who is always looking to get vertical.

Nick Fairley

When Fairley plays he is an active and destructive force, disrupting both the pass and run. Fairley is more versatile than Suh, as he is a more balanced defender. Suh’s vertical aggression finds him out of place on draws and counters.

However, Fairley certainly has weaknesses. He only played 57.6 percent of Detroit’s snaps last season, whereas Suh played 85 percent. Further, Fairley accrued 11 penalties to Suh’s four, and when you consider Suh played 400 more snaps that number is troubling.

Fairley will be a tough matchup for Long. Long can’t rely on his foot speed against Fairley as the Auburn product doesn’t move horizontally. Instead, Fairley employs his powerful initial punch to push his opponent back. Long will have to get better at absorbing initial contact if he wants to find success against Fairley.

B.J. Raji

Raji lines up at all three defensive line positions for Green Bay, so Long will certainly face him. Long will see a lot of Raji when the defensemen is lined up on the side of the blitzing OLB. He had zero sacks in 2012, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t interrupt offenses. Raji relies on his quick feet to initiate the trajectory of his opponent. He tries to dictate where the offensive lineman ends up, which by result clogs up the running lanes.

Long’s athleticism makes him a strong matchup. Long is quicker than Raji, so the defensive tackles’ strongest element is rendered less effective when he matches up against Long. Long will try to drive Raji towards the outside, so that he clogs up the blitzer’s path to the quarterback, rather than center of the pocket or the running lane.

Ryan Pickett

Pickett will be a challenge for Long. Pickett lacks athleticism but more than compensates in technique, something Long lacks. Pickett does a fantastic job of staying on his opponent's play-side shoulder. Look at how he attacks the left shoulder of his opponent below.

By getting on the guards left shoulder, Pickett is then able to shed the block and blow up the hole. On this play he did just that, bringing down the ball carrier after a short gain.

Pickett’s technique forces opponents to anticipate his movements and beat him to the point of impact. Pickett’s strong, massive frame is difficult to move once he gets position on you.

Pickett will certainly attempt to expose Long’s lack of experience when the two match up.

Kevin Williams

Kevin Williams lacks Suh’s physical tools, but the two’s energetic style of play is quite similar. Williams’ game has a more cerebral component to it, as he does a fantastic job of masking his moves by compounding them in two steps. On this play against the Washington Redskins Williams does just that, as he employs a double move against his opponent.

He initially attacks vertically by both pushing the guard backwards and, like Suh, standing his opponent up. Once he has the guard in a vulnerable position, he uses his powerful arms to swim into the hole and blow up the run.

If Williams would have initially attacked towards the trajectory of the run, he would have faced more resistance. But by masking his primary move, he is able to reach the hole freely and make the tackle.

Long is a good match up for Williams as Long’s excellent foot speed will help him recover against Williams’ double moves.

Overall, Fairley and Pickett will cause Long the most problems. They will force the athletic Long to anticipate, rather than to do what he does best, which is to react. Suh, Williams and Raji won’t have the athletic advantage they typically possess against offensive lineman, which will allow Long to attack their weaknesses.

Given the skill sets of Long's divisional opponents, it is easy to see why the Bears fell in love him during the scouting process.

Why Thomas Mueller Will Be Key to Bayern Munich's Chances Against Dortmund

Sam Tighe — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:06:18 -0400

The all-German UEFA Champions League final is under a week away, and on paper one team walks into the match overwhelming favourites.

Bayern Munich have absolutely dominated the Bundesliga this season, smashing records left, right and centre. They won the title with a record number of games to spare, conceded just 18 goals but scored 98 and won a whopping 29 out of 34 fixtures.

They have also romped the Champions League, beating Juventus 4-0 and Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate on their way to the final. The team they will take on in the showpiece final just happens to be Borussia Dortmund—a side they finished 25 points clear of in the Bundesliga.

But while all the statistics suggest Bayern will win, Jupp Heynckes knows he has a major battle on his hands.

For the two seasons previous, BVB were the Bavarian side's chief tormentors. Consecutive league wins for Juergen Klopp's men had Uli Hoeness and co. fuming, while a 5-2 defeat in the DFB Pokal final left a sour taste in many fans' mouths.

This season has carried the theme of revenge, and victory over Klopp's charges at Wembley would complete the mission.

And of all the 11 players Heynckes fields on Saturday, May 25, Thomas Mueller has become more key than ever.

Both sides will play loose variations of the 4-2-3-1 formation, and with Toni Kroos ruled out for the season Mueller will step inside once more and play as a No. 10.

Sides who have successfully frustrated Dortmund this season are those who have managed to nullify Ilkay Gunodgan's influence on the game, as he has become the creative hub and source of buildup play for BVB.

The No. 8 can slow up play and bring his side reprieve, charge forward, set Marco Reus off from a deep position or find Robert Lewandowski with a longer pass.

Duda cancelled his influence out and Malaga only just lost to Dortmund, Real Madrid ignored him and lost 4-1.

Mueller will be asked to fulfill the suffoco role, pressuring Gundogan and following him into deep areas to minimise his time on the ball. With man-to-man marking on him, Bayern can force BVB to take a different approach in their buildup play.

For BVB this isn't a massive issue as Klopp often moves the playmaker role from one player to another, but losing the influence of Gundogan will affect their game.

It's that defensive commitment, running and energy that has seen Mueller fully endeared by die Bayern's fans, but he's just as useful on the offensive side of the ball too.

He will look to drift from his central position when Bayern have the ball, creating overloads on the left or right with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. His link-up play with Mario Mandzukic is perfect, and together they will work some neat triangles and pull Dortmund's defenders around.

That movement is integral to how Bayern go forward, but perhaps his finest attribute is his ability to score clutch goals.

If it's 0-0 at 85 minutes, who would you put money on to score the killer goal? Of course it's Mueller, and he's got the pedigree of a UCL final goal against Chelsea in his pocket to suggest he can do it again.

Mueller is the complete package: Movement, footballing brains, defensive awareness and team ethic all rolled into one. He will play in the position that will hurt Dortmund the most should he perform his duties well and has the ability to come up big when needed.

Follow @stighefootball

Ranking Jean Segura Among MLB's Best Shortstops

Zak Schmoll — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:04:20 -0400

Jean Segura is one of the best stories in Major League Baseball this year. He only appeared in 45 games last season and was admittedly very mediocre.

He hit .258 with no home runs, 14 RBI and seven stolen bases. Obviously, that is not terrible for a 22-year-old rookie, but it is not exactly mind blowing either.

This season, he has broken out in a major way.

Through 40 games, he is hitting .361 with seven home runs, 20 RBI and 14 stolen bases. He is on pace for a pretty ridiculous season if he can keep it up.

That is really the question. Is Jean Segura for real? How well does he matchup with his peers?

Here is how I’m going to try to evaluate that.

In baseball as you all know, there are five main tools that matter for position players. You need to be able to hit for average, hit for power, field, throw and run. I am going to try to rank the top 10 shortstops in each of these areas although I am going to put fielding and throwing together. I realize that they are entirely different skills, but they often complement each other.

Ideally, that would be able to help all of us get some idea of where Jean Segura stacks up against other MLB shortstops.

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NBA Draft Order 2013: Teams That Could Pursue Trades on Draft Day

Maxwell Ogden — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

With the 2013 NBA draft just over one month away, 60 of the top young players in the world are prepared to go from prospects to rookies. Before those players find a home, however, we would be remiss to ignore the possibility that trades will shape the way the draft transpires.

The question is, which NBA franchises could pursue trades on draft day?

Certain teams have strong draft position, but unless they win the NBA draft lottery, will be looking to move down. With a generally weak class, it's not hard to see why teams are looking for the greatest value they can find.

Another option is for teams to trade up, as they may covet a specific prospect and not want them to fall out of reach. For those simply looking to add the greatest value possible, they could capitalize on the fact that they possess multiple first-round picks.

Regardless of why they do it, there are multiple teams in line to be active on draft day.

Atlanta Hawks

According to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, the Atlanta Hawks may pursue a trade on draft day. In a draft that is considered to be weak, the Hawks are looking to capitalize on the opportunity to maximize their value.

They're doing so by pursuing the opportunity to trade up.

Meanwhile, the Hawks embark on the offseason with a whopping seven unrestricted free agents, highlighted by power forward Josh Smith. It’s believed that Hawks general manager Danny Ferry is aiming to reshape the entire roster.

The Hawks own back-to-back picks in the first round (Nos. 17 and 18), and may be willing to package them together for the sake of moving up, insiders said.

For a team in a rather immediate rebuilding process, the options are limitless.

This is mere speculation, but there is also the possibility for Atlanta to trade down in the draft. This could be achieved by keeping one of their mid-first-round picks and dealing the other to a team with multiple towards the back end of the first round and early in the second round.

It's all about weighing options for Atlanta, and they have quite a few.

Charlotte Bobcats

According to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer, the Charlotte Bobcats could trade down on draft day. This may come as a surprise, as teams rarely opt to take that route, but Bonnell reports that Charlotte is not alone in this pursuit.

A weak draft class has some franchises wondering how much value they can find.

This might be just zealous due diligence. General manager Rich Cho is meticulous to a fault, so chatting up too many draft prospects could be in his wheelhouse. But there was something that raised my radar about how curious the Bobcats seem to be about players who could be drafted 10th through 20th.

So I asked several writers covering teams with similarly high picks if they thought their general managers were receptive to trading down. “Absolutely,” I kept hearing.

That opens the door for a variety of different trade options.

As it presently stands, the Bobcats hold the rights to the second overall draft choice. That could change at the draft lottery, but until that happens, Charlotte appears dead set on weighing all of their options.

That includes trading down.

Los Angeles Lakers

According to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to trade up in the 2013 NBA draft. This shouldn't come as a surprise, as L.A. lost yet another season due to inferior athleticism.

Going on without a single first round draft choice is hardly the ideal route to take to improve in that capacity.

As for the Lakers, their lone pick doesn’t come until midway through the second round (No. 48 overall). But, as usual, they’re supposedly willing to trade big man Pau Gasol in attempt to get younger. That may mean obtaining a pick, a younger player and a contract.

If they're willing to trade Pau Gasol, one can't help but think that L.A. is thinking big—very big.

Gasol may be aging, but he's still an elite player that can be the difference between a team's contender and pretender status. For a young team, Gasol could be the player that leads them to a postseason appearance.

For that reason, one can't help but imagine that L.A. would be looking for a lottery pick—and an early one at that—if they were to deal Gasol for a draft pick.

Portland Trail Blazers

According to Chris Haynes of CSN Northwest, the Portland Trail Blazers are eying shooting guard Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Hoosiers. Seeing as the Blazers are currently slated to pick at No. 10 and Oladipo could go in the top five, that poses a bit of an issue.

Per Haynes, the Blazers are considering moving up to draft Oladipo—and he wouldn't mind that one bit.

Sources close to the prospect say the Trail Blazers, among a few others teams, “really like him” and are “considering moving up to get him.”

“I would really love to go to Portland, and I'm not just saying that,” he said convincingly to CSNNW.com. “I hope, and I don't think I'm dropping that far, but if they decided to move up somehow, I think that would be a great situation for me. It's a place where you can just concentrate on basketball.”

I've already gone on record as saying that Oladipo is the best player in this draft, so I have no qualms in supporting Portland's attempts.

This would be an interesting move on Portland's behalf, as they currently have two-way threat Wesley Matthews at shooting guard. For a team that ranked dead last in bench scoring and saw their starting lineup fall victim to fatigue, however, creating depth at the 2 is a key.

It's worth noting that Portland owns the No. 10, No. 39, No. 40 and No. 45 draft choices.

Speculation

Take these suggestions with a grain of salt, but there are numerous teams in position to execute trades on draft day. Those squads include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns.

It's all about quantity and need, here.

In the case of the Suns and Pelicans, both teams have perceived stars that underachieved in 2012-13. That statement is in reference to Michael Beasley and Marcin Gortat for Phoenix, and Eric Gordon for New Orleans.

If they target a prospect that appears to be out of reach, a trade could be in sight.

In the case of the Cavaliers and Timberwolves, they're two teams that appear to be far off of postseason contention. Even if they were to remain healthy, their current cores appear to be a star addition away from legitimacy.

Minnesota could trade up—they own the No. 9, No. 26, No. 52 and No. 59 picks—while Cleveland could trade in either direction—they pick No. 3, No. 19, No. 31 and No. 33.

The most intriguing option here is the Thunder, as they own the No. 12, No. 29 and No. 32 overall selections. Not only could they trade up to the middle of the first round with their second and third picks, but they could trade into the top 10.

The rich could get richer.

Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Breaking Down Latest Summer Transfer Buzz for Gunners

Dan Talintyre — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

With the end of the 2012-13 Premier League season, the summer transfer window (and the subsequent rumor mill that accompanies it) is seriously starting to heat up.

Clubs can't technically sign players until the end of the final game of the season—the 2013 UEFA Champions League final for Premier League clubs—but that doesn't mean they won't be looking to try and wrap up deals for certain players right now, so they can sign them come July 1.

And being a strong club with a serious transfer budget this summer, Arsenal has been linked with moves for a slew of different players this transfer season.

Who are the latest players linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium?

Read on for all the latest summer transfer buzz for the Gunners.

Lukas Podolski, Arsenal

Having signed with Arsenal over the 2012 summer transfer window, Lukas Podolski is being touted as a possible departure as soon as this summer, with the German forward refusing to rule out a possible move to Italian champions Juventus despite his current contract at Arsenal.

Podolski was quoted in Bild vi a Goal.com as saying:

Of course I feel honored [to be linked with Juventus]. But, the fact is, I have a contract with Arsenal. There's no reason to leave the club. However, in the football-business, a lot of things are conceivable.

Whether that helps or doesn't help calm the fears of Arsenal fans still remains to be seen, but it appears unlikely that Podolski will leave this summer.

The German international is under contract at the club until 2016.

Ashley Williams, Swansea City

Swansea City defender Ashley Williams has reportedly quelled speculation about his possible departure this summer, telling Sky Sports that he has no desire to leave the Liberty Stadium in 2013.

As far as I know [I'll still be here next season]. I don't know anything about it, I just read it in the papers like everyone else. If someone comes in and the club want to do that you have to sit down with the chairman and talk about it. I can't really think that at the moment, I play for Swansea City and I would never be disrespectful to the club, my fans and my team-mates.

Williams had previously been linked with a move to Arsenal over the summer, and with the Daily Mail reporting the future of captain Thomas Vermaelen is in doubt, centre-back could be a position the Gunners look to strengthen in 2013.

The 28-year-old Williams is under contract at Swansea until 2015.

Yaya Sanogo, Auxerre

According to comments made by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, the Gunners are reportedly very close to signing up-and-coming French striker Yaya Sanogo over the summer window. Wenger was quoted via The Daily Mirror as saying that talks were very "advanced with him" and that he was "very confident" that the transfer will take place in the next few weeks.

Sanogo is currently playing for Ligue 2 side Auxerre but is a big and powerful forward who has shown he has some serious talent and a great future ahead of him.

The 6'3" striker set a goal-scoring record in the French national under-16 team, and has netted nine goals in 19 games (including seven in two games) this year.

Arsenal will reportedly only have to pay a small compensation fee for Sanogo.

Luke Shaw, Southampton

Arsenal are reportedly set to miss out on highly-coveted Southampton defender Luke Shaw, with the south coast club unwilling to sell him over the summer transfer window.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino has said via The Daily Mirror that Shaw will be at the Saints next season "for sure." The teenage defender is currently rated as a £10 million prospect and has already attracted the interest of several other Premier League clubs such as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

Julio Cesar, Queens Park Rangers

With the Gunners reportedly looking to try and sign a new goalkeeper over the summer transfer window, they could well end up making a move for Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar. Rangers were relegated this season from the Premier League and have all but confirmed that Cesar will leave the side as a result, with Arsenal the most likely landing spot.

The Daily Mirror reports that because the Hoops want Cesar off their books quickly, they are prepared to work through a cut-price deal for the shot-stopper this summer.

Cesar, 33, has the advantage of already being based in London, though it is not yet known whether Arsenal will make a move for the Brazilian international.

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Manchester United Transfer Rumors: Red Devils Must Keep Wayne Rooney

Dan Talintyre — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Manchester United will head into the summer transfer window with a mountain of history behind them, but also the chance to start afresh under new manager David Moyes.

The former Everton boss will no doubt have plenty of grand plans for his time at Old Trafford, but his immediate focus must be on the summer transfer window. And from United's point of view, his first point of difference needs to not be bringing players in, but ensuring that the current squad remains.

And that, it seems starts with striker-turned-midfielder Wayne Rooney.

Earlier in the season, Rooney officially asked then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson for a transfer. Ferguson revealed the news via FoxSports after his final game at Old Trafford, and while the England international has not said anything about his future, the transfer rumors have started to begin.

Reasons behind Rooney's desired departure are not 100 percent known, with early reports suggesting that it may have been about working under David Moyes again.

However, as The Guardian reports this week, the desire is more about not being guaranteed first-team football and playing in his favorite forward position as Ferguson experimented with the formation. And as the reports go on to state, keeping Rooney will be Moyes' main priority this summer as he seeks to prove to Rooney that he is indeed pertinent to the Red Devils' long-term plans.

David Moyes is minded to keep Wayne Rooney at Manchester United and the new manager is hopeful he can convince the striker that his long-term future remains at the club. Rooney played under Moyes when he started his career at Everton in 2002 and the forward is open to discussing a fresh start at United.

Most importantly, there is a desire on the part of Moyes to keep Rooney at United. Rooney has two years remaining on his deal – the usual point for renewing terms – and, if he decides to stay, his salary of about £300,000 a week means any negotiations regarding a fresh contract could be lengthy.

Rooney was played as more of an attacking midfielder this season under Ferguson than a striker, with the Englishman forced to make way for Robin van Persie in attack.

And while the duo achieved great success—both individually and collectively—it appears that Rooney isn't so keen on playing that "secondary" role behind the Dutchman, meaning that Moyes will need to convince Rooney he is needed up front.

How this will impact Van Persie, Shinji Kagawa and any incoming transfer prospects still remains to be seen. It could mean that United shift back towards a 4-4-2 formation with Rooney and Van Persie at the helm, or perhaps even towards a 4-3-3 formation with Rooney deployed out on the left.

Even a 4-1-3-2 or a 4-3-1-2 formation (with Rooney and Van Persie) at the top could work for United if Rooney is hell-bent on not playing as a No. 10 next year.

Either way, there are options and ways that Moyes can convince Rooney, and it seems that if any manager is going to do it, Moyes could be the man.

Reports had suggested that Rooney and his former manager don't get on that well, but it's hard to see there being no connection. Moyes was the man who got Rooney to United and, at one level, made him into the footballer that he is today.

Thus as much as they might not see eye-to-eye at the moment, there must still be some level of professional respect between the men in question.

And that could be all it takes to keep Rooney at United.

Having seen him dominate both up front and in behind Van Persie this year, there's little doubting that Rooney's absence would be a huge blow for the Red Devils.

The work that Rooney gets through in both attack and defense is incredible, and even at the top of the attack, he still constantly continues to intercept passes, pressure defenders and make tackles.

He is, in every sense of the forward, a dominant forward whose presence is unmatched.

Should he leave, United would have a huge hole in the middle of the field and wouldn't necessarily be able to replace it with the purchase of another player.

They would have to change their tactics and formations, and while all of this is possible under a new manager and with world-class players, it would be much simpler for United if they kept their star player. For then they wouldn't have to worry about trying to be ready for the start of the season; they would know that they were ready for whatever challenges lie ahead in 2013.

And with their current squad, they would be more than ready to deal with them.

So while losing Rooney would not be the end of the world, it would be a huge blow for United, and Moyes must make keeping Rooney his No. 1 transfer priority.

For regardless of who United buy and what bargains they might get, if they can't manage to keep Rooney, then the summer transfer window will have been a failure.

There's no doubt about it.

NHL Draft 2013: Highlighting Best Pro Prospects in This Year's Class

Richard Langford — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

There is a scintillating mix of talent at the top of the 2013 NHL draft, which bodes well for the Colorado Avalanche.

Coming off of a 16-25-6 year, the Avalanche have the first selection, and they need it. While the Florida Panthers had an even less successful season and lost out in the lottery, they will still be able to add a truly potential difference maker at No. 2.

Take a look at the order of the June 30 draft. Then I'll offer up a look at the top three prospects in this class.

Note: Draft order will not be set until after season. The following projection is based on better-seeded teams winning out.

Pick	Team	2012 Record
1	Colorado Avalanche	16-25-6
2	Florida Panthers	15-27-6
3	Tampa Bay Lightning	18-26-4
4	Nashville Predators	16-23-9
5	Carolina Hurricanes	19-25-4
6	Calgary Flames	19-25-4
7	Edmonton Oilers	19-22-7
8	Buffalo Sabres	21-21-6
9	New Jersey Devils	19-19-10
10	Dallas Stars	22-22-4
11	Philadelphia Flyers	23-22-3
12	Phoenix Coyotes	21-18-9
13	Winnipeg Jets	24-21-3
14	Columbus Blue Jackets	24-17-7
15	New York Islanders	24-17-7
16	Buffalo Sabres (from Minnesota Wild)	21-21-6
17	Toronto Maple Leafs	26-17-5
18	Calgary Flames (from St. Louis Blues)	29-17-2
19	Columbus Blue Jackets (from NY Rangers)	24-17-7
20	Ottawa Senators	25-17-6
21	Detroit Red Wings	24-16-8
22	San Jose Sharks	25-16-7
23	Washington Capitals	27-18-3
24	Vancouver Canucks	26-15-7
25	Montreal Canadiens	29-14-5
26	Anaheim Ducks	30-12-6
27	Columbus Blue Jackets (from L.A. Kings)	24-17-7
28	Boston Bruins	28-14-6
29	Calgary Flames (from Pittsburgh Penguins)	19-25-4
30	Chicago Blackhawks	36-7-5

Seth Jones, Defenceman, Portland Winterhawks

Seth Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, is an athletic prototype for a defenceman. He is 6'4" and 206 pounds, and at 18, he will undoubtedly add bulk and muscle to his frame.

He is such an exciting prospect that Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports is already interested in signing him.

Jones moves great for his size, and he has tremendous body control. He will drop pinpoint passes to start the offense and he has a great slap shot to go with his excellent defensive instincts.

Jones had 56 points in 61 games for the Winterhawks this year, and he displays good leadership skills.

He will be one of the game's elite right-shooting defenceman, and if he stays healthy, he will be a franchise cornerstone for the next 15 years.

Nathan MacKinnon, Center, Halifax Mooseheads

While it's been widely assumed that Seth Jones would be going No. 1 overall, Nathan MacKinnon is closing that gap.

This certainly helped:

Now, you obviously don't change a whole scouting report by one play, but that certainly showed that MacKinnon can score on anyone, and he was dominant that whole game.

Halifax beat Jones' Portland Winterhawks in round-robin play of the Memorial Cup, 7-4. In his first Memorial Cup game, MacKinnon had three goals.

MacKinnon's puck skills are well beyond his 17 years, and he is a great skater. He is a natural goal scorer, and he can drop some nice passes.

Also, he has a nice edge to him. MacKinnon isn't afraid to get physical and has the body to hold his own.

Jonathan Drouin, Left Wing, Halifax Mooseheads

As good as MacKinnon is, it isn't even a universal assumption that he is the best player on his own team.

To the left of MacKinnon is wing prospect Jonathan Drouin. He is a dynamic and speedy playmaker. In 66 games for the Mooseheads this past year, Drouin recorded 140 points.

He has tremendous hands, great feel for the flow of the game, will make quick reads and can put the puck anywhere he wants.

Drouin is great on his skates, and his passing skills are already at an elite level. However, at just under 6'0" and only 175 pounds he will have to add some strength, but he he's definitely got the skills.