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Is Realignment Good or Bad for College Basketball?

C.J. Moore — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:47:47 -0400

If conference realignment has had you confused and in a tizzy the last few years, just wait until next season. It's mostly over; now we just have to learn who is where.

A quick rundown of some of the big basketball-related changes:

Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame are off to the ACC.
Louisville gets to play one season in something called the American Athletic Conference with the likes of Houston and Central Florida before also jetting to the ACC.
Creighton, a school in Omaha (still in the middle of the country last I checked), and Butler (also very much in the Midwest), now play in what is the Big East, only it's not that Big East that you know but a new one.
Memphis and Temple are in the league that (as of now) they're calling the American Athletic Conference, which includes Connecticut and Cincinnati.

It’s like someone decided to mix up the alphabet without any rhyme or reason, mostly just so we could relearn it and get angry in process.

(A big thank you to Chris Dobbertean over at Blogging the Bracket for putting together this handy list of the changes. It’s actually something you can follow.)

The question that was rarely (if ever) asked during all this mess: Do any of these changes make sense for basketball?

The answer is frustrating for basketball fans. No. The motivating factors behind conference realignment have been well-documented: football and money.

Geography, rivalries and history, the realigners simply don’t care about you.

Syracuse and Georgetown, that rivalry was fun, but there’s no need for it. The Border War between Kansas and Missouri, a lot of hatred there, but let’s leave those battles to the message boards. The backyard brawl between Pittsburgh and West Virginia, it made sense for those two to be in the same conference, but not as much sense as West Virginia traveling to Lubbock, Texas every year!

I live in Kansas City, and when Missouri left for the SEC, I had a lot of MU fans tell me that they were happy about the move. It made sense for their school. They needed stability.

I can understand the fear that realignment caused. If Missouri had been patient, the school would have been just fine in the Big 12. Some of those fans have even admitted to me since that they wish they would have stuck around. But I understand what felt like an impending implosion of the Big 12—thanks Dan Beebe—motivated MU to be proactive.

Proactive is a nice way of explaining the motivation for athletic directors and conference commissioners. At least it sounds a lot better than “money grab.”

What has been refreshing in the last year is that some moves are finally being made because of basketball; anything the Atlantic 10 does, for instance.

The new Big East is a basketball league and every acquisition was made because of basketball. But it would not have been necessary for those schools to join forces if the old Big East had been able to stick together.

And that’s what the basketball coaches in that league would have preferred. Ask Jim Boeheim, whose team ended up just fine in the ACC, what he thinks of all the movement, and his answer would still probably be the same as it was last November (via Syracuse.com):

Maybe they should just have a draft. Each conference just draft teams because it doesn’t make any sense who they’re getting anyway. So they might as well just have a draft, except then they’d have to make a decision and they probably wouldn’t be able to figure that out.

… It’s like I said, If these guys were running the United States in Colonial times, Brazil and Argentina would be states. Because they have something we need.

It’s hopefully finished now, as Dennis Dodd from CBSSports.com explained in this piece last month. The ACC joined the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 by its members agreeing to a grant of rights, meaning you leave now and you cost yourself a lot of money. There might be a few moves here and there, but for the power conferences, it should be at a standstill.

Everyone’s needs have finally been met. Everyone is going to get paid. But everyone was going to eventually get paid whether teams realigned.

Was speeding up the process really worth it? Not for college basketball.

NBA Rumors: James Harden's Recruitment of Dwight Howard a Great Sign for Rockets

Richard Langford — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:46:52 -0400

And so it begins. Another offseason, another period of intense speculation over where Dwight Howard will play basketball in the coming year.

This wasn't supposed to happen this year. When Howard was dealt to the L.A. Lakers from the Orlando Magic, it felt safe to assume that the star center would ink a long-term deal and become Tinsletown's new darling.

However, no deal was reached during a tumultuous season in Los Angeles, and it's open season on the league's best center. James Harden is going hunting.

HOOPSWORLD's Alex Kennedy shares this information:

In his article on the subject, Kennedy does not list any of the other players Harden is recruiting, but he does say that, while the start of free agency is still six weeks away, Harden is calling and texting certain players.

He also adds that, "Most free agents, including Howard, are big fans of Harden’s game and have a lot of respect for the up-and-coming shooting guard."

Now, I could sit here and tell you that Harden's recruitment of Howard will be enough to sway the big man to Houston, but I'm not going to speculate on what Howard is thinking. I have no hints at the inner workings of what Dwight is thinking, and I doubt anyone else does. Shoot, Howard might not even know himself.

However, no matter what happens with Howard, this is all a tremendous sign for the Houston Rockets.

After signing Harden to a max deal, Harden rewarded the Rockets with a strong season that led him to the All-Star Game, and his team to the postseason.

At 26.3 points per game, Harden was third in the league in scoring.

Now, instead of resting on his accomplishments accrued during his first season as the top dog in a franchise, Harden is already hard at work trying to get his team better.

Harden could easily pass the buck on this job by relying on the front office to improve the roster. Or, he could just complain to the front office that the team is not good enough and make demands.

Instead, he is taking an active role in the process and doing his part.

This is not only a great sign pointing towards the hope that Harden will help the Rockets land an elite talent, but also that the shooting guard is completely invested in this Houston franchise.

It is essential that the star and a leader of the team sells out to win. It sets an example for everyone else in the organization, and it establishes an environment that makes it nearly impossible for anyone else to give less than full effort.

Whether or not the Rockets are able to land Dwight Howard, Houston fans should be excited about a bright future.

Funniest Moments of the 2012-13 Premier League Season

Michael Cummings — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:46:29 -0400

The English Premier League is not all fun and games—except that sometimes it is.

From the action on the pitch to the managers running the show behind the scenes to the disorder and chaos of transfer deadline day, the Premier League has the potential to create funny moments at almost any time.

Fortunately for us, the 2012-13 season produced plenty of those moments.

Remember when Peter Odemwingie drove to London to join QPR—only to find out he had to return to his old club and face his teammates?

Remember when Jason Puncheon had to take a bathroom break—in the middle of a match?

Remember when Arsene Wenger had trouble with his puffy coat? And remember all those contorted faces Phil Jones made throughout the season?

Those were just some of the funny moments that caught the attention of B/R world football lead writers Will Tidey and Michael Cummings. In this clip, those two discuss some of the funniest moments of the Premier League season; be sure to add yours in the comments below.

Follow @MikeCummings37 and @WillTidey

Can Mark Cuban Make 2013 Free-Agent Splash After 2012 Whiff?

Josh Martin — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:45:16 -0400

How many mulligans can Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks take before Dirk Nowitzki has fizzled as a championship-caliber franchise player?

We might find out this summer.

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the Mavs are shopping the No. 13 pick in the 2013 NBA draft in an attempt to clear cap space for signing one of the league's marquee free agents:

Attempting to pry either Dwight Howard from the Los Angeles Lakers or Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers will be a chore enough in its own right—even more so when factoring in Dallas' spotty history in free agency.

The Mavs failed to lure Deron Williams back to his hometown last summer, perhaps in part because Cuban was off filming an episode of Shark Tank in LA, according to Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com).

The Mavs' case isn't helped by the team's poor treatment of its own free agents over the years.

In 2004, Dallas balked at matching the Phoenix Suns' offer to Steve Nash, only to see the point guard with a bad back blossom into a two-time MVP.

A similar story played out in 2011, when the Mavs had the opportunity to retain the core of their championship team (most notably 2011-12 Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler) but opted not to in preparation for the more restrictive statutes of the new collective bargaining agreement.

That most recent move was made (presumably) with the hope of landing D-Will and, if that fell through, one of the two between Howard and Paul. Both superstars would have to relinquish a significant portion of their potential earnings to sign a four-year deal with Dallas; however, between the two of them, Dwight would probably have the easier time making up the difference with a second max contract down the line.

After all, he'll always be tall and strong, whether or not his back heals completely, while CP3 has long been undersized and continues to skate by on a bum knee.

Perhaps the more pertinent question is, do the Mavs offer either Howard or Paul a better chance to win a championship in Dallas than in LA?

At present, Dallas' roster consists of three big names who are past their respective primes (Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and Shawn Marion), three guards in their mid-20s who are bound to seek out bigger paydays (O.J. Mayo, Darren Collison and Rodrigue Beaubois) and three guys who just finished their rookie seasons (Jae Crowder, Jared Cunningham and Bernard James).

That's hardly title material, especially when you consider that Dallas will likely cut ties with that second group and seek to do the same with Marion.

Granted, the ceilings that Howard and Paul are up against in LA at present aren't entirely championship caliber, either.

The Lakers scrapped their way into the seventh seed this season and will return in 2013-14 with a roster that's old, injury prone, defensively deficient and highly overpaid.

The Clippers, meanwhile, enjoyed the finest regular season in team history, only to see the team's hopes for bigger and better things in the postseason derailed by (among other things) Vinny Del Negro's poor coaching, the childish behavior of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan (via T.J. Simers of The Los Angeles Times) and the inability of anyone other than Paul to contribute with any consistency.

That being said, the Clips will have some flexibility to retool their roster again this summer and will welcome in a new coach after parting ways with Del Negro, according to Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times.

As for the Lakers, they figure to give it another go with Kobe Bryant (once he returns from his torn Achilles), Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and perhaps Howard—which still looks good on paper, assuming injuries don't derail the whole deal again. Even if things don't pan out for the Purple and Gold next season, they can look forward with confidence to the summer of 2014, when they'll be flush with cap space with which to attract more big names.

At this point, Dallas' biggest advantage may well rest with its organizational stability. Head coach Rick Carlisle, who's among the most respected at his position in the NBA, isn't going anywhere. Neither is Donnie Nelson, who's worked closely with Mark Cuban since Nelson's father, Hall of Famer Don Nelson, first came aboard in 1997.

That beats the uncertainty inherent in the Lakers, whose ownership situation remains in flux after the death of Dr. Jerry Buss, and in the Clippers, which seem destined to all but hand over the reins of their latest coaching search to CP3.

Is that enough, though, to convince one of the NBA's elite to leave the sun, fum and surf of southern California for the dry heat and wide expanses of northeast Texas? What if you throw in the savings on income taxes, which (admittedly) would be mitigated somewhat by the higher property taxes in the Lone Star State?

That might be enough to attract a borderline All-Star (Josh Smith, Andre Iguodala if he opts out, Al Jefferson), a niche guard (J.J. Redick, Tony Allen, Monta Ellis) or a high-risk, high-reward prospect (Andrew Bynum, Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans).

But a bona fide superstar? A perennial All-NBA performer? A franchise cornerstone? I have my doubts.

As should Mark Cuban.

Champions League Final 2013: Under-the-Radar Players Who'll Determine UCL Title

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:45:10 -0400

The wait for the 2013 UEFA Champions League final is nearly over, with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich set to square off for the title this weekend.

Both teams have been incredibly impressive in the European competition this season, and both boast a number of key players to watch out for this year. The likes of Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and so many more will all take the field at Wembley Stadium this year, and it's completely understandable to think that it will be their performances that decide the final.

However, as we've seen before, it's often the under-the-radar players that make the biggest difference on the night—not the world-class stars that we expect.

Will the same be true in the Champions League final in 2013? I think so.

Read on to see which under-the-radar players will determine the title this year.

Kevin Großkreutz, Borussia Dortmund

Kevin Großkreutz wouldn't have been on many people's radars as a key player to watch in the Champions League final this year. After all, there were no guarantees that he would even start for the German giants against the reigning champions, but with Mario Gotze officially out of the final (per The Guardian), it seems Großkreutz will start out on the left flank (per Bundesliga.com).

And he could not be more important for Dortmund.

Bayern's right-hand side is particularly strong, and they will likely look to attack Dortmund from that side a great deal throughout the night. They'll look to use the likes of Philipp Lahm, Thomas Mueller, Arjen Robben or whoever else lines up out wide to pressure the Dortmund defense, and then switch the ball infield to Mario Mandžukić or Mario Gomez in attack.

As we've seen this year, it's been a highly successful tactic for Bayern.

Großkreutz must be on his game to counter that threat. And if he can, he has the potential to become a real X-factor going forward for Dortmund in this one.

He was not quite on the same page with Marco Reus in the semifinal against Real Madrid, but the pair were still very dangerous and created plenty of chances—something they'll no doubt look to do again in this one as they try to hurt the Bavarians on the counterattack.

Luiz Gustavo, Bayern Munich

Finding an under-the-radar player in Bayern Munich's star-studded squad really isn't an easy task. Yet if there's one man who doesn't get the recognition he deserves for his crucial role, it's defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo, who will again play a very key role for Bayern in the final.

With so many attacking players ahead of him, Gustavo might seem like he has it relatively easy when attacking—however, that simply isn't the case against Dortmund.

Jurgen Klopp's side will heavily press Bayern's midfield and try to restrict them from bringing the ball out—which will start with Gustavo. If he can get through that pressing defense, then Bayern will be in a very strong position in their attack; but if not, it could bring lots of pressure on to the German giants.

Gustavo's importance is also the same when it comes to defense.

Jupp Heynckes will likely have his forwards do a lot of defensive work early to try and shut down the likes of Ilkay Gundogan in midfield. That could, in turn, mean that Gustavo becomes responsible for picking up Robert Lewandowski.

Obviously that onus will fall on to Dante and the other defenders at the team, but Gustavo will be the man responsible for breaking up the pass from getting to him in attack. And with Lewandowski in scintillating form this season, there's little doubting just how crucial Gustavo cutting off the Polish striker will be to Bayern's chances.

Roman Weidenfeller, Borussia Dortmund

Without Petr Cech last year, Chelsea would not have won the Champions League. And despite the fact that Borussia Dortmund have been much more attacking-minded this year than last year's champions, the same also rings true for their goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, whose performances so far have been crucial to their success in the European competition.

Bayern's Manuel Neuer might be the more reputable of the two shot-stoppers, but there's little doubting that Weidenfeller will be the more important of the two.

Especially against Bayern's attack and the slew of goal-scoring options that they have to choose from.

Weidenfeller made a number of key saves against Real Madrid and Malaga in the knockout rounds of the European tournament and will be expected to do the same here.

As we saw last year, it only takes one save to completely change the match, with Cech's saved penalty on Robben in extra time the biggest save of them all. Will Weidenfeller have a similar impact in the final this year? We'll no doubt know soon enough.

But, as Transfermarkt's statistics show, Weidenfeller's last saved penalty was against Bayern Munich. Even better—it came against Arjen Robben.

Some food for thought, perhaps.

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

Bayern Munich Will Win Champions League Final vs. Borussia Dortmund

Will Tidey — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:41:04 -0400

CNN FC's Pedro Pinto believes Bayern Munich will win Saturday's Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund. The two German sides meet at London's Wembley Stadium, with Bayern looking to heal the wounds of last season's final defeat to Chelsea.

The match will be Jupp Heyneckes' last in charge of the Bundesliga champions before Pep Guardiola takes over this summer.

Heyneckes won a Champions League title as Real Madrid manager in 1998 and would love to sign off with a second.

Standing in Bayern's way will be a team they know only too well. Jurgen Klopp's youthful Borussia Dortmund team have been hugely impressive on their way to the final and are seeking to add to their 1997 European title.

Watch the clip above to see Pedro justify his prediction.

CNN FC's weekly show, hosted by Pedro Pinto, airs on Thursdays at 5 p.m. GMT in the UK. Visit the CNN FC website to find out more.

Houston RB Charles Sims Reportedly Transferring Before Senior Season

Matt Fitzgerald — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:40:53 -0400

Houston Cougars running back Charles Sims is reportedly leaving the program just ahead of his senior season.

Rob Sellers of CougarsDen.com broke the news on Wednesday:

The 6'1", 213-pound Sims enjoyed a stellar campaign for the Cougars in 2012, running for 851 yards on six yards per carry for 11 touchdowns, while also catching 37 passes for 373 yards and three more scores.

This comes after Sims announced he would return for his final year back in January.

Prior to this past season, Sims was on the preseason Maxwell Award watch list, an accolade that is given to college football's most outstanding player. That hype was justified by his breakout sophomore campaign in which Sims received first-team All-Conference USA honors.

A big reason he didn't receive the same distinction yet again was due to his health, as Sims missed three full games and the second half of three others with injuries (h/t UHCougars.com).

Since Sims has redshirted and already graduated from Houston, he can catch on with another program as a transfer immediately without sitting out a full season, as is typical protocol.

That is what current Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson did in transferring from North Carolina State to Wisconsin in 2011, and he attended graduate school in Madison.

Circumstances are different for Sims in this instance, and it is still a mystery as to precisely why he left Houston. The key is that he's eligible for one more collegiate season, and wherever he lands, he should find a way to see the field

Sims projects well to the NFL because of his size and versatility to catch the ball out of the backfield. Even as a freshman in an offense triggered by Case Keenum, that was evident, as Sims registered 70 receptions for 759 yards.

Examining San Francisco 49ers' Offseason and Key Preseason Positional Battles

Justin Onslow — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:29:36 -0400

The San Francisco 49ers lost in the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history last season, but that loss to the Baltimore Ravens highlighted how far the NFC West powerhouse has come in the last two years.

Alex Smith suffered a concussion against the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 11 that altered the entire course of the 49ers' season. While Jim Harbaugh was criticized for his decision to keep Colin Kaepernick at the helm of the offense when Smith returned, it ultimately proved to be the best decision he could have made.

In his second season with the team, Kaepernick compiled 2,229 total yards and 15 total touchdowns in 13 regular-season games—and somehow played even better in the playoffs.

In three postseason contests, the shifty signal-caller tallied 1,062 total yards and seven more touchdowns, including a 444-total-yard performance against the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional round. With a 28-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game, the 49ers would punch their ticket to New Orleans for a championship showdown with the Ravens.

The story of Super Bowl XLVII has been told and retold. The Ravens got out to a tremendous start with a 21-6 lead at the half, but San Francisco battled back in the third quarter to pull within one of the lead.

Despite Kaepernick’s best efforts, San Francisco was unable to overtake the eventual champions, dropping a heartbreaking contest 34-31.

It wasn’t an easy loss for 49ers fans to swallow, but there’s plenty to be hopeful about this season. San Francisco is well on its way to becoming the preeminent franchise of the National Football League.

With a future superstar under center, one of the best offensive lines in the league and a defense unmatched by any unit in the NFC, the 49ers are in no danger of fading away after last year's Super Bowl run.

Trent Baalke is one of the most forward-thinking general managers in the NFL, and he’s done a tremendous job in setting up San Francisco with sustainability and elite talent. And he added to that talent this offseason.

With the additions of former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey and former Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, an already dangerous defense got even stronger. It remains to be seen if the All-Pro corner can return to form in San Francisco, but Baalke managed to acquire him on a very cap-friendly contract (one year with no guaranteed money, per ESPN).

The 49ers did lose hard-hitting safety Dashon Goldson to free agency, but Baalke and Harbaugh had a plan for replacing him. They moved up to the 18th pick in the first round of the draft to acquire LSU safety Eric Reid—a move that encapsulated San Francisco's draft success this year.

The duo continued to impress with their draft selections, finding tremendous value throughout the weekend. Among the high-value players selected, Florida State defensive end Tank Carradine, Louisiana Tech wide receiver Quinton Patton and South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore.

A shining example of the rich getting richer, the 49ers put together one of the most impressive offseasons of any team in the league, on the heels of an absolutely dominant 2012 season. There’s no reason to believe San Francisco can’t duplicate its success in 2013.

We’ll take a closer look at many of those offseason moves and preview several key position battles this offseason, as well as provide an outlook and predictions for the 2013 season.

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3 Players Tampa Bay Lightning Should Consider Trading This Offseason

Eric Steitz — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:20:16 -0400

The Tampa Bay Lightning have a solid core and a wealth of prospects but very minimal salary-cap space. With so many assets and such little money to work with, Tampa Bay will have to look at trades to free up money and improve the team this offseason.

One target for trade talks this past offseason could have been Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier. His declining performance and injury issues combined with the team’s highest salary-cap hit ($7.727 million) would have made him a prime target. However, Lecavalier has a no-trade clause and mentioned he would like to stay in Tampa Bay for the rest of his career.

There are a few players that the Lightning could shop around this offseason in order to improve the team for a playoff run in 2013-14.

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Indy 500 Lineup: Drivers Most Affected by Qualifying Results

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:19:07 -0400

The Indianapolis 500 is one of the biggest events on the sports calendar, and this year's event features some of the best drivers in the world.

While a number of contenders have a chance to win the prestigious event, the recent qualifying will play a big role in the race. In the last nine years, the driver starting in pole position went on to win four times.

Last year was the first time in seven years that the eventual winner did not come from the first two rows at the start.

This is what makes the qualifying so important, and these top competitors were impacted the most heading into the Indy 500.

Marco Andretti (No. 3)

The Andretti name has a lot of prestige in the racing world, and Marco is the latest to try to make his mark on the sport.

Of course, the young driver has proved that he is more than just his name this season. He is currently third in the championship points standings thanks to a number of top-10 finishes this year.

His next step is to win the Indy 500, where he has finished in third place twice in his career. However, this will be the first time that he will start in the first row, which gives him an advantage over the field.

Getting a good start should give this talented driver as good a chance of winning as anyone in the competition.

Dario Franchitti (No. 17)

Only A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears have ever won the Indianapolis 500 four times in their careers. Franchitti is looking to join that group after winning for the third time last year.

His 2012 victory might have been the most impressive given that he started at the No. 16 spot. As surprising as this come-from-behind win was, he will try to do it again in 2013 after earning the No. 17 spot at the starting line.

Since World War II, only four drivers have ever won this race while starting from the No. 17 spot or worse. This does not bode well for Franchitti's chances of a repeat.

The British driver still has the skill and experience to be a contender in this race, but the lineup will make it difficult.

Ed Carpenter (No. 1)

Despite competing in IndyCar for parts of 11 years, Ed Carpenter has never been one of the top drivers. In 132 starts, he has two wins and only seven top-five finishes.

If he is ever going to make an impact, now is the time.

Carpenter earned the pole position in the upcoming race after reaching 228.762 mph during the qualifying. He needs to use this to his advantage and do his best to stay in front of the pack for the duration of the race.

The veteran likely would not have gotten a second look with an average qualifying, but this position puts him in the conversation for the top contenders. The Indianapolis native cannot afford to let this opportunity slip through the cracks.

Full Starting Lineup (via Indycar.com)

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

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

The Cyclical Nature of College Football and How Long Alabama's Run Will Last

Lisa Horne — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:18:05 -0400

Seven years.

That is how long the Southeastern Conference has dominated college football.

Alabama has won three of the last four BCS titles. How long will this onslaught last?

That depends on two things—the head coach and the NCAA.

College football is cyclical. But winning programs that incurred a coaching change or NCAA sanctions—sometimes both—saw their dynasties end.

Alabama, Nebraska and Oklahoma were three of the most dominant teams in the 1970s. They won a combined seven national titles.

Alabama head coach Bear Bryant won six national titles before retiring in 1982. Alabama won another title in 1992 under Gene Stallings but would then go on a 17-year drought. The school faced three major NCAA investigations from 1995 to 2009 and was slapped with postseason bans and vacated victories.

Oklahoma faced the wrath of the NCAA in 1988. Head coach Barry Switzer left the program in 1989 because of notorious scandals that occurred during his watch. The NCAA sanctioned the Sooners with postseason and television bans and scholarship reductions.

Nebraska coach Tom Osborne (1973-97) never coached a team that finished with less than nine wins in one season. His teams won two national titles in 1994-95 and shared a title with Michigan in 1997. Since Osborne retired, five Nebraska teams have finished the season unranked by the AP and only three finished in the AP's final Top 10.

The Miami Hurricanes stormed through the 80s as one of the more fearsome teams in the country. They won three national titles in that decade. Nobody could stop the Hurricanes...except for the NCAA. Miami was rocked by scandals including the infamous Pell Grant scandal. In 1995 the NCAA hammered Miami with a postseason ban and stripped its scholarships for the next three years.

USC won two championships in 2003-04 but its 2004 BCS Championship was vacated due to NCAA sanctions. In addition to vacated victories, USC was placed on a two-year postseason ban and stripped of 30 scholarships over three years. USC head coach Pete Carroll left for the Seattle Seahawks at the end of the 2009 season. Since Carroll's departure, USC's record is 32-19.

Florida won two BCS titles in 2006 and 2008 but it hasn't played in a BCS Championship since then-head coach Urban Meyer left in 2010.

LSU won its first BCS title under then-head coach Nick Saban in 2003. Saban left for the NFL's Miami Dolphins on Christmas day 2004. Head coach Les Miles won the school's second BCS title in 2007 but he did that with Saban's senior class—he has not won a BCS title with his own players.

If it is not a coaching change that affects a team's momentum, it is the NCAA's imposing heavy hand. The more a coach wins, the more every school or NFL team wants him. He heads the short list of every athletic director or NFL general manager.

Winning also has another downside. The more a team wins, the more high profile it becomes. More eyes are watching, including those in Indianapolis where the NCAA is headquartered.

So far, Alabama is the team to beat in the foreseeable future. Alabama is no longer on NCAA probation but it still is within that five-year repeat offender window.

If the Tide stay clean and Nick Saban continues to coach at Tuscaloosa, Alabama should keep rolling.

Saban will be 62 years old this October. He's already dabbled in the NFL. Unless the most powerful man in sports is offered an absurd amount of money to coach somewhere else, he's staying put.

The only way we can predict how long Alabama will continue to dominate is to predict how long Saban will be at Alabama. It's that easy.

We're predicting Saban retires after having won his seventh title at Alabama. Saban currently has four BCS titles but one of those belongs to LSU. To catch Bryant, he needs three more. To be the all-time leader, he needs four.

We're giving him five years to win four, just like an NCAA student-athlete scholarship.

Piece of cake.

Note—National champions were determined by using the criteria of an AP, UPI, USAT or BCS title.

Pros and Cons of Cleveland Cavaliers Taking Nerlens Noel with No. 1 Pick in 2013

Jonathan Wasserman — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:06:07 -0400

Though they'll take their time, the Cleveland Cavaliers are essentially on the clock with Nerlens Noel being the likeliest of targets.

It's really one of the more intriguing draft pickles we're ever going to see.

The Cavs will weigh the pros and cons of selecting a player who just recently suffered a torn ACL. You'd think the pros should outweigh the cons by a lot when it comes to a No. 1 overall favorite. But not this year. Not with Nerlens Noel, who will be hoping the scale on Chris Grant's desk tilts slightly in his favor.

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Pacers vs. Heat: Indiana Players Who Will Stun Miami in Game 1

Zachary Krueger — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:05:33 -0400

The Indiana Pacers will look to shock the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight in Indiana. These two teams faced one another last season in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Pacers took the series to six games before falling to Miami after Dwayne Wade's 41 point performance.

Indiana has several players who are capable of making this a difficult series for Miami. Here are two specific players who could stun Miami in the opening game of the series.

Roy Hibbert: Center

Roy Hibbert doesn't exactly fly under the radar. Standing at 7'2", Hibbert is a force to be reckoned with down low, and could create a lot of problems for Miami in the post.

This postseason, Hibbert has averaged 14 points per game, to go along with 9.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. You might recall his massive block on Carmelo Anthony in Indiana's win over the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, displaying his great defensive ability during a clutch moment in the game.

Miami does not have a player on their roster who possesses the size that Hibbert brings to the floor. While Chris Bosh and Chris Andersen have both been solid for the Heat throughout this postseason, they have not had to go up against somebody of Hibbert's size and ability.

While his scoring was a little inconsistent in the series against the Knicks, it would not be surprising to see Hibbert post at least 20 points in Game 1, while hauling 10 to 15 rebounds.

George Hill: Point guard

Indiana's offensive attack doesn't center around big scorers; they have several players who are capable of distributing the ball to make for a balanced style of play. One player who has helped orchestrate their offense this postseason has been George Hill, who could put up great numbers in Game 1.

Some of Hill's success could depend on how Miami chooses to play him defensively. Dwayne Wade has suffered from a knee injury throughout the playoffs, and despite playing through it, appears to still be hampered by it.

Hill is averaging 14.2 points per game this postseason, but has scored 21 points or more in three playoff games. Should Hill find himself being guarded by Wade for most of tonight's matchup, he could flourish offensively due to Wade's injury.

Indiana has many talented players who should be able to push Miami to the limit if they perform to their ability. Look for Hibbert and Hill to play key roles in the first game of this series, giving Indiana a chance to take a 1-0 lead over the Miami Heat.

2013 MLB Draft Prospects: 5 Best First Basemen in the 2013 Draft Class

Zachary D. Rymer — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:55:56 -0400

In the realm of Major League Baseball's first-year player draft, first base is hardly the sexiest position.

The guys who make scouts drool the most are the guys who have either eye-popping fastball velocity or all five tools. The latter typically isn't associated with first basemen, and there's also the reality that great first basemen don't necessarily have to be found. They can be made easily enough, as any guy who's all bat and no glove can be stashed at first base without much fuss.

These sorts of prospects are probably more plentiful than, you know, actual first base prospects.

But actual prospects are certainly out there to be found, and there are a few names with whom you should familiarize yourself as we inch closer to the 2013 MLB Draft (June 6-8).

Behold the following five names.

5. Brian Ragira, Stanford

Brian Ragira could have gone pro back in 2010, as he was drafted in the 30th round by the Texas Rangers. Obviously, he chose not to sign.

That decision should pay off this year, as Ragira's career at Stanford—while not astounding—has served to establish him as a solid first base prospect with a solid bat. He hit .329 in 2011 and 2012, and is once again in that neck of the woods this year at .327.

Baseball America (subscription required) recently noted that some scouts actually like Ragira's bat more than they like teammate Austin Wilson's, who ranks 27th on MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo's Top 100. High praise, indeed.

There's just one question when it comes to Ragira's bat: Will there ever be enough power in it?

First base is a power position, after all, and it's not exactly easy to take a guy who is cut out for first base and move him to another position where his bat would play better. This is a reality that casts a slight cloud over Ragira's future, as the general implication of BA's scouting report is that he may never develop enough power to cut it in the majors.

There is hope for Ragira, however. His .497 slugging percentage at Stanford this year represents an improvement, and Mayo wrote in his write-up about Ragira that he actually has "serious" raw power that just doesn't show up in games.

That sounds about right, seeing as how we're talking about a Stanford hitter. They do things a little differently there, and it's worth noting that similar concerns were voiced (notably by ESPN's Keith Law in an Insider piece) regarding third base prospect Stephen Piscotty last year.

Piscotty, now a member of the St. Louis Cardinals organization, is putting those concerns to bed in 2013. Per FanGraphs, he has a respectable .219 ISO and seven homers in 37 games with High-A Palm Beach.

Ragira isn't going to go high in the draft due to the doubts about his power, but he could follow in Piscotty's footsteps and bust out the power once he gets away from Stanford.

If he does, he could emerge as one of the 2013 draft's pleasant surprises down the road.

4. Ryon Healy, Oregon

There was a time not too long ago when Ryon Healy was a No. 1 prospect.

That is, relative to all other prospects in the California Collegiate League back in 2010. Of all the youngsters he observed, John Manuel of Baseball America had Healy pegged as the best. He was even good enough at the time to invite comparisons to Scott Rolen and Evan Longoria.

Those comps don't apply now. Healy was a third baseman, but has gone on to primarily play first base at Oregon. The folks at Baseball America (subscription) think there's at least a chance Healy could be given a shot to play third at the pros, but it sounds like first base is going to be his permanent home.

From here, we'll go right to the power question: Does Healy have enough of it to be a legit major league first baseman?

Somebody asked Keith Law that on Twitter, and he gave a straight answer: "No."

So yeah, there's doubt in at least one corner out there.

But other corners? Not so much.

The guys at BA have Healy down as a hitter who will eventually have "above-average" power, and Nick J. Faleris of Baseball Prospectus more or less thinks the same thing. He has the kind of strength and natural loft in his swing to produce some "over-the-fence pop" once he gets to the pros.

It bodes well for Healy that said pop showed up in 2013 like it hadn't in his first two seasons at Oregon. After slugging .516 in 2011 and .419 in 2012, Healy's slugging percentage jumped up to .556 this year. He's hit 10 homers, two more than he did in 2011 and 2012 combined.

Healy does have the look of a decent power hitter. If you watch him take BP in the above video, you'll see that he uses quite the leg kick as a timing device, but that he doesn't have much trouble staying back with it. I'll also be darned if his swing itself doesn't have a bit of Mark Trumbo in it.

If you want to talk about power, though, you need to take a look at this next guy.

3. Rowdy Tellez, Elk Grove HS in Elk Grove, CA

When you think of power-hitting first basemen who swing from the left side of the plate, you tend to think of guys like Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard and, to a somewhat lesser extent, San Diego-era Adrian Gonzalez.

That's the kind of fraternity Rowdy Tellez could join somewhere down the line.

Baseball America (subscription) has Tellez down as the best left-handed power bat in this year's draft class, and their reasoning doesn't require much of an explanation. Just listen to the sound of the ball coming off his bat in the video on your right.

That's some raw power right there, and it's easy power, too. Tellez makes that sound without a ton of effort.

So...what's the catch?

You may have already noticed one. The folks at BA say that Tellez has worked hard to "tighten up" his 6'5" frame, but he obviously wasn't blessed with the body of a supreme athlete.

A bigger catch is that Tellez's batting practice power can stay stuck in batting practice. BA says scouts actually like Tellez's feel for hitting, but Faleris warned in his write-up that Tellez can be beaten on the inner half of the plate with good velocity.

And that, obviously, is an issue, seeing as how Tellez is going to come across plenty of pitchers who can buzz him inside once he makes his transition into the pros. The power is there, but he'll have to work to polish himself as a hitter.

Not that that's going to scare teams away, mind you. Tellez has some real power, and there will be a team willing to take a chance on it high in the draft and go from there.

2. D.J. Peterson, New Mexico

Here's where we foray into the rarefied air, as the final two guys on this humble little countdown should be going in the first round come draft day.

As an offensive player, D.J. Peterson is arguably the top corner infielder in this year's draft class. Mayo noted in his scouting report that some scouts have seen him as the best pure hitter not just among collegiate prospects, but all prospects.

A right-handed swinger, Peterson pretty much has it all: strength, bat speed, smarts, you name it. Faleris applauds him for always coming to the plate with a game plan, and for his ability to adjust from at-bat to at-bat.

The power would appear to be there, but there's a catch. The Lobos play home games at Isotopes Park, which sits at an elevation higher than that of Coors Field. If ever there was a park for a college hitter to establish himself as a power merchant, well, there you go.

But this doesn't appear to be a deal-breaker. Baseball America (subscription) says scouts feel that Peterson's power is legit, and Faleris is of the mind that he has the potential for plus power.

Given all this, why is Peterson not No. 1 on this countdown?

Because he's not a true first baseman. In fact, I only bothered to include Peterson here because the consensus is that he has little chance of sticking at third base once he gets to the pros, as he doesn't have the mobility to handle the hot corner.

Assuming he does get stashed at first base on a full-time basis, Peterson will have some craft-mastering to do. Even so, his bat is going to allow him to move quickly, if it turns out to be everything it's supposed to be.

1. Dominic Smith, Serra HS in Gardena, CA

We've looked at some fine prospects, but we haven't looked at a guy who has the goods to be a great offensive and defensive first baseman in the bigs.

Until now.

There's no doubting Smith's pure hitting ability. The experts love it, and it doesn't have a whole lot of trouble showing through on videos like the one on your right. Smith has a nice, easy swing, and the consensus is that the power is going to be there. Baseball America (subscription) says he just needs to hit the weight room.

Smith already has some decent pop. If you skip to about the 2:45 mark in the video, you can see Smith showing off his power in a home run derby. The bat speed and the insane power aren't the same, but his swing and follow-through are slightly reminiscent of Josh Hamilton.

Elsewhere, Smith's glove must not be overlooked. Faleris wrote that he's "among the best in recent memory when it comes to picking and footwork," and Keith Law (Insider) has Smith marked down simply as an "excellent defender."

As thing stand now, Smith has the look of a .300 hitter with Gold Glove capabilities at first base. If the power comes, he's going to be a whole lot more than that.

If a team is hellbent on acquiring a long-term answer at first base, Smith is the way to go.

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

Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs: Game 3 Preview and Predictions

Zach Buckley — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:53:35 -0400

Did the San Antonio Spurs finally hit the proverbial playoff wall in Game 2, or did the Memphis Grizzlies finally rediscover their identity 84 minutes into the Western Conference Finals?

Clearly something took place in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night. After compiling a commanding 181-147 advantage over the first seven periods of the series, the Spurs could only scrounge together a mere nine points on 4-of-16 shooting over the final 12 minutes of regulation in Game 2.

That paltry performance forced an extra session to decide the outcome of a game in which San Antonio had led by as many as 18 points and carried a 12-point edge into the fourth quarter.

But Memphis' comeback bid, which ultimately fell short in a 93-89 San Antonio win, was likely thwarted by its own disastrous offensive showing earlier in the contest. The Grizzlies shot 24 percent from the field in the second quarter and closed out the first half by misfiring on 14 straight shots.

So it's back to the drawing board for Memphis coach Lionel Hollins, whose team failed to control the pace of Game 1, then set the tempo in Game 2 but still suffered the same fate.

Will the home cooking in the Grindhouse be the right recipe for the Grizzlies to finally taste the sweet flavor of success in this series, or are the Spurs too hungry and too focused to let this series lead slip away?

Time: Saturday, May 25, 9 p.m. ET

Where: FedExForum, Memphis

Series: Spurs lead 2-0

TV: ESPN

Game 3 Key Storyline: Grizzlies Getting Defensive

Game 2 was physical, gritty and often uncomfortable to watch. There were flashes of beautiful basketball, but for the large part the contest was nothing short of ugly.

In other words, it was Memphis Grizzlies basketball at its finest.

Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol clogged the interior and helped the Grizzlies to a dominant 60-46 advantage on the glass, including a 19-4 edge in offensive boards.

Memphis scorers were generous with the rock, as five different players finished with double-digit field-goal attempts and three others fired up at least five shots a piece. They fully grasped the value of each possession, turning the ball over just 10 times in 53 minutes.

The Grizzlies are who we thought they were, but more importantly they looked like the team that had silenced a pair of offensive powerhouses (Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers) to make it this far.

But the Spurs put their chameleon-like talents on full display, proving that Gregg Popovich's offensive machine doesn't mind getting its hands dirty.

San Antonio has the firepower to overwhelm most defenses and flashed its arsenal with a pair of 30-plus-point efforts in the second and third quarters of Game 2. But when the wheels completely fell off over the final eight minutes of regulation, during which the Spurs scored just two points, Pop's club found its toughness and scrapped to salvage an overtime victory.

The Spurs are younger than you'd think, and even their grizzled veterans have far more in the reserve tank than they're given credit for. When the other nine players on the floor looked completely gassed in the extra session, 37-year-old Tim Duncan looked he was just getting started. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer scored six of San Antonio's eight points in the frame, attacking the basket or doing the dirty work on the offensive glass.

If it's grind time in Game 3, that doesn't guarantee a Memphis victory.

Series Star So Far: Tony Parker

It isn't often that a player can attempt 20 field goals in a game, miss 14 of them and still leap off the box score for a different category.

But that's exactly what Tony Parker did in Game 2, wreaking havoc on the Grizzlies defenders, not with his scoring (although he did manage 15 points) but with his superhuman vision and masterful handling of his supporting staff.

Parker couldn't take a lot of plays off. Not with Popovich feeding him a team-high 41 minutes, and certainly not with Hollins throwing a horde of defenders in his direction.

So Parker accepted the heavy work load, stepped up to the challenges that the Grizzlies presented and focused on making it an easier night for his teammates. He dropped a career playoff-high 18 dimes in the game (with only two turnovers) and is now averaging 17.5 points and 13.5 assists for the series.

Projected Starting Lineups:

Memphis: Mike Conley, PG; Tony Allen, SG; Tayshaun Prince, SF; Zach Randolph, PF; Marc Gasol, C

San Antonio: Tony Parker, PG; Danny Green, SG; Kawhi Leonard, SF; Tim Duncan, PF; Tiago Splitter, C

Grizzlies Injury Report (via CBSSports.com)

None reported

Spurs Injury Report

None reported

Grizzlies Will Win If...

...They can strike the balance between offensive efficiency and defensive execution.

The Grizzlies did a better job of harassing Parker on his drives without sacrificing too much ground to recover to the Spurs' sharpshooters. San Antonio didn't ease up on its perimeter shots in Game 2. The squad attempted 25 but couldn't find the same success rate (36.0) that it did in Game 1 (48.3).

But too often Memphis' gains on the offensive end seemed to come up at the expense of its defensive performance or vice versa. The Grizzlies held the Spurs to just 15 first-quarter points but only managed 13 themselves in the period. When the offensive arrived 12 minutes later in a 33-point third quarter, the defense loosened up, and the Spurs took advantage with a 30-point performance.

Even with the loss in Game 2, there were signs of improvement for Hollins' team. The Grizzlies fought harder on the glass, swarmed Parker when he looked for his own offense and stopped relying on Randolph and Gasol to try to bail them out offensively.

Now it's just a matter of putting it together for the full 48 minutes.

Memphis must charge stronger out of the gate and avoid putting itself in a come-back situation. It has to find a way to get Randolph back in rhythm (he's shooting 7-of-26 from the field in the series), which helps open up space for Mike Conley to find his offense (16.0 points on 42.3 percent shooting through two games).

The Grindhouse faithful should give them an early boost, but the Grizzlies have to make sure to hold on to that momentum and keep the crowd's energy level high throughout the game.

Spurs Will Win If...

...They keep the offense running full throttle.

San Antonio has the defensive chops to sneak out a victory in a low-scoring affair but knows it's walking a fine line by trying to beat Memphis at its own game.

The Spurs have been in this position before. They had a 2-0 lead in the 2012 Western Conference Finals before the Thunder rolled off four straight wins and understand the dangers of complacency this late in the year.

The Spurs need to stick to Popovich's plan. Parker and Manu Ginobili have to continue to attack off screens and do so without any premature ideas of scoring or distributing.

Even a defensive club as supremely talented as the Grizzlies will have difficulty accounting for all of the strikes and counterstrikes built into the Spurs' system. Parker and Ginobili are both smart and talented enough to keep a live dribble as long as possible, forcing the defense's hand and identifying its subsequent point of vulnerability.

If the pace slows down or the Grizzlies grab an early lead, that's OK. It's all about staying disciplined, particularly in the face of adversity.

Prediction

History suggests Randolph will find his way out of this slump. It's been nearly two months since he's produced a lower two-game point total (17) and almost four months since he's had consecutive games with a sub-.350 field-goal percentage.

But just how important would a more characteristic performance from Z-Bo be in terms of producing a victory? He hasn't averaged more than 16 points in either of the last two seasons, and I'm not convinced that would be enough for the offensively-challenged Grizzlies to keep pace with the Spurs' deep, potent attack.

Now, if we're talking about the Randolph that poured in 51 points over the final two games of the Grizzlies' second-round series or the one that averaged 24.8 points in the four Memphis wins in the first round, that might be a different story.

But unless the Grizzlies can find any consistency from its perimeter shooters, which has largely eluded them throughout the season, the Spurs have no reason to stop collapsing their defenders and removing the threat of any interior scoring.

I think the Grizzlies will grind out a victory on their home floor but don't think it will happen before Game 4.

The Spurs know they only have so many years left out of Duncan and Ginobili and will do everything in their power to capitalize on their championship chances in this postseason.

Spurs 86, Grizzlies 83

Russell Westbrook Meets Adorable Fan While Visiting Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Gabe Zaldivar — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:51:00 -0400

The season might be over for Russell Westbrook, but he is doing all he can to lift the spirits of those affected by the recent tornado that destroyed a portion of Moore and Oklahoma City.

Yahoo! Sports brings us a report with the beautiful images we need at such times. It all centers around the Oklahoma City Thunder star doing what he can to lend some support and goodwill to people who need it most.

One image that seems to be making the rounds at the moment is Westbrook slapping five with someone we are confident is his biggest fan at the moment.

If you enjoy that image, The Basketball Jones' Trey Kerby has a GIF that keeps on giving in the smiles department.

As for specifics, Thunder reporter Nick Gallo reports on a Ketchie family whom survived a horrible ordeal. Per the report, Janna Ketchie found out that the day care her two boys—three-year-old Grayson and six-month-old Brayden—were staying at had been destroyed.

Thankfully, she discovered both were at OU Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City. Gallo has more on the story:

[...]

the Ketchie’s story has a happy ending. Both of their children will be okay, and as they were recovering, they were one of the many families the Thunder visited at the Children’s Hospital the day after the tragic storm. Russell Westbrook, Jeremy Lamb, Hasheem Thabeet, DeAndre Liggins and Head Coach Scott Brooks all met with families recovering from the horrific tornado in the PICU. The highlight of the day was when Westbrook, despite being in a wheelchair as he recovers from his torn right meniscus, played with Grayson, exchanged high-fives and blew bubbles.

“He played with Grayson so wonderfully,” Ketchie said. “It’s so awesome. They’re great guys… It’s amazing to see that he’s a professional basketball player who we know from nobody and he’s blowing bubbles with my son to make my son feel better. It’s amazing.”

This is just the most recent example of athletes stepping forward to help those who absolutely need it. The Los Angeles Dodgers' Matt Kemp vowed to donate an additional $250,000 on top of his home run pledge to victims of the tornado.

Westbrook's teammate Kevin Durant pledged $1 million to the Red Cross in a similar effort. While donations are certainly needed, sometimes the tiniest gestures go a long way.

Smiles are in short order at the moment, but Westbrook did all he could to remedy that fact.

Hit me up on Twitter: Follow @gabezal

Free Agents the Atlanta Hawks Must Avoid

Joe Wirth — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:44:44 -0400

With Josh Smith's contract coming off of the books, the Atlanta Hawks will have plenty of cap space to pursue free agents this offseason and take the next step in becoming an elite franchise in the NBA.

Other Hawks whose contracts will be coming off the books include Devin Harris, Zaza Pachulia, Kyle Korver, Johan Petro and Dahntay Jones.

With the expiration of these contracts, Atlanta will be saving $25.5 million, and considering Korver is the only player from that group who averages more than 10 points per game, the franchise will get better value for its money.

It is likely that the Hawks will re-sign some of these players, but it also gives them the ability to have more freedom with their money and play a more active role in the 2013 free-agency scene.

Free agency gives an organization the ability to sign a proven player who can make an immediate impact on the team, but if the money is not allocated properly, the franchise could be stuck with unwanted contracts for years to come.

Here are five free agents the Hawks should avoid signing this offseason.

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Rafael Benitez: Why Former Liverpool and Chelsea Manager Is Ideal for Napoli

Karl Matchett — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:44:43 -0400

Rafael Benitez is set to look for a fresh challenge next season after leaving his successful spell at Chelsea, and the Spanish manager should look no further than Napoli if it transpires the Serie A side are interested in hiring him.

The Italian league runners-up will be looking for a new boss after Walter Mazzarri left upon the expiration of his contract, saying he wanted a new challenge (as per FIFA.com):

The moment has come for me to reflect. Napoli is a marvellous place but I am leaving after four years because the players need some new stimulation. I took this decision some time ago. Out of respect, though, I wanted the players to be able to give their all right to the end, which they did.

I've taken Napoli as far as I can and I've put all my strength into this team and I think I have fulfilled the mandate in the right way, I think it's time to go and sit still for a few months or even try a new challenge. It depends on the offers. Naples has a precious treasure and a solid club which is very healthy, and I think they will have a bright future.

Benitez meanwhile led Chelsea to a third-place finish and the UEFA Europa League trophy after just five months in the job after replacing sacked Roberto Di Matteo, boosting his reputation as a top manager on the continent who can deliver the goods on a regular basis.

The Express have already linked Rafa with a move to Italy to take charge of Napoli, and there are many reasons why the two seem potentially an ideal fit.

Unfinished Business in Serie A?

In 2010 Benitez left his job at Liverpool and immediately took over at Serie A side Inter Milan.

Having enjoyed considerable success in Spain and England, adding trophies while in Italy would have given the manager an enviable record in three of the toughest championships on the continent—but although he won the World Club Cup and the European Super Cup, his time at Inter is considered a failure.

Benitez was sacked after barely six months in the job and cited a lack of investment in players after selling too many as a reason why he had been unable to keep the success of the previous year (when Inter won the treble) going.

Whether now with Napoli or in the future with another club, Rafael Benitez will not want this unsatisfactory spell in Italy to be the sole achievement of his time in that country. Napoli could well offer him the chance to change that record.

Solid Team, European Prospects, Potential Funds

Having finished second in Serie A this season, there can be no arguments that Napoli do not possess a very capable team.

The likes of Edinson Cavani, Hugo Campagnaro and Marek Hamsik have enjoyed another good season and the side have automatically qualified for the group stages of next season's UEFA Champions League, a competition that Benitez has won once and reached the semifinals of on multiple occasions.

It may be that Napoli need to sell on one or two of their players this season, by their own choice or the players', but with the likes of Cavani linked with moves for up to £52 million by Mirror Football, the incoming manager should have plenty of room to manoeuvre in the transfer market. More depth will be required for next term to compete in the Champions League, but Benitez is adept at gelling teams and getting a good tactical balance in his sides.

Benitez has also traditionally worked with a preferred attacking central midfield player as the focal point to build his side around—Pablo Aimar, Steven Gerrard, Wesley Sneijder, Juan Mata—and Hamsik could provide exactly that kind of starting point for him.

Rafa Wants a "Project"

With regards to his next challenge, Benitez has already stated his aims; either to be managing a club with money to spend to aim for immediate trophy success, or else to find a project where he can build a team over a period of time (via Guardian).

Having risen to second in the league under Mazzarri, Napoli might be expecting a new boss to come in and help them take the final steps to challenge Juventus for the league title. A more realistic outlook though, would be to aim for a season of consolidation in the top three, guaranteeing Champions League football beyond this season.

AC Milan, Fiorentina and perhaps Roma and Inter can all be reasonably expected to improve over the summer, while Juve remain far and away the best club in the league, so even maintaining a top-three place will be a tough task.

If Benitez is given the security of having even a couple of seasons to show he can stabilise the success of the team before helping to grow further in his own image thereafter, Napoli could reap the benefits for years to come.

On the other hand, his managerial trophy record of 10 pieces of silverware in the last 11 years—and he was out of work for two of those years between Inter and Chelsea—point to perhaps Napoli being able to see tangible success rather quicker.

Follow @karlmatchett

Andy Roddick Starts Next Phase of Career by Joining Fox Sports 1

Tyler Conway — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:38:48 -0400

As a tennis player, Andy Roddick was rarely a member of a team. Sure, there were doubles competitions and Davis Cup appearances, but for the most part Roddick lived the secular life of a professional tennis player.

There is no "all for one and one for all" in tennis. It's all for me and the rest be damned. Even Roddick's decision to walk away from the sport after the 2012 U.S. Open was ripe with independent spirit. He had just turned 30 years old, which is elderly enough for him to be post-prime, but he was still younger than then-top-ranked Roger Federer.

And with Roddick still being the most famous American men's tennis player in the world despite his downtick in play, no one could have blamed him for continuing well into his 30s. The limelight isn't easy to give up, especially when endorsement deals are banging down your door.

Yet, Roddick moved on. He saw his commitment wavering and his body breaking down and decided it was time for a new challenge.

We officially found out Wednesday what that challenge will be. For the first time, Roddick will be joining a team—a broadcast team. The former top-ranked player will be joining the new Fox Sports 1 network, as announced in a press release on Fox Sports' official website.

Scott Ackerson, who oversees Fox Sports' news coverage, released a glowing statement about Roddick in his release:

It is very rare that you find an exceptional athlete who can step off the field or in this case the court, who has the potential to be as equally talented in an on-air role. Andy is not only an expert tennis analyst, but his knowledge, candor and opinions on all sports are equally as impressive, and that makes him a unique fit for what we have in mind for FOX SPORTS LIVE.

Roddick be on-board with the network starting on August 17, which is when Fox Sports 1 will launch. He will be joining the cast of Fox Sports Live, which is the network's answer to SportsCenter.

According to Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch, Roddick's role will be that of co-host with Charissa Thompson, who is leaving ESPN at the end of her contract. Fox Sports Live will air in a three-hour block from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. ET and will contain a multitude of programming.

Roddick's role will reportedly focus on analysis of the day's news as part of a panel discussion.

Landing Roddick is just the latest coup for Fox Sports 1. Meant to be a direct competitor to ESPN, the 24-hour sports network has spent the past few months accumulating a gaggle of high-profile talent. Outside of landing Thompson, who was a rising star in the Disney family, Fox Sports 1 will also be the home of Regis Philbin's return to television in Rush Hour, a daily panel talk show with a yet-to-be announced cast.

Roddick, though, is Fox Sports 1's first critical blow in an area where Bristol has always thrived—hiring former athletes as television analysts. The Worldwide Leader has become something of a refuge for retired players and fired/retired coaches, offering secondary careers for those looking for a career in broadcasting.

Roddick was arguably the top free-agent on the market in that limited pool of talent. Known for his quick wit and at times unnecessarily strong opinions, Roddick has long seemed like a natural fit for television. He's one of the most openly opinionated players in tennis' history, and many of his heart-on-sleeve moments came at the expense of the media.

Speaking with Deitsch, Roddick noted that Fox allowing him to express strong opinions played a large role in him taking the gig.

"Throughout the interview process I was very honest," Roddick said. "I was the way I have always been: pretty direct and pretty opinionated. I think that's what they were looking for. I don't know if they were looking for a typical, run-of-the-mill type of show or someone with fabricated opinions."

The question, of course, is whether any of this will work. Sports broadcasting is a tricky business, filled with athletes whose wittiness and openness as pro athletes seemingly tailor made them for a post-playing days career on television.

Sometimes those analysts become Charles Barkley, whose irreverence carried over perfectly to the small screen. Other times they become Tiki Barber, who would have been NBC's biggest bust of 2007 if it weren't for Cavemen.

And on the business side of things, launching a 24-hour sports network isn't what one would call a pre-paved road. CBS Sports Network and NBC Sports Network both rebranded existing networks (CBS College Sports Network for CBS and Versus for NBC) in recent years hoping to compete with ESPN, but we're still far too early in the process to see how that's going.

All superficial signs point toward Roddick being an excellent television analyst and Fox Sports 1's launch to go off well. But Roddick's tennis career was filled with unfulfilled promise, as his early flashes of greatness never quite became the world-beating dominance most American tennis fans expected a decade ago.

That's the problem with judging these hires, you just never know. But for now, Fox has landed the biggest free agent in the sports broadcasting game. We'll just have to wait until August to see how it all plays out.

Follow @tylerconway22

Chelsea Transfer Rumors: Blues Must Keep David Luiz for Long-Term Success

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:38:15 -0400

Despite a brilliant season for Chelsea in both attack and defense, David Luiz has been rumored as a possible departure over the upcoming summer transfer window.

Luiz, who spent time in both central defense and midfield this year, has been touted by The Daily Mail (h/t ESPN) as a genuine candidate to leave this summer under the potential new reign of Jose Mourinho, who has been constantly linked with the vacant managerial post at Stamford Bridge.

According to the Daily Mail, Luiz could be the first casualty of Mourinho's reign, with the Real Madrid boss not a fan of the 26-year-old's defensive abilities. The Mail reports Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid would consider making a move for Luiz if he becomes available in the summer, with Chelsea looking to make a profit on the £21 million they paid for the Brazil international in 2011. While Luiz responded well to a shift into a holding midfield role, Mourinho would aim to recruit a more established player for that position, as well as a defender and a striker.

While it's important to consider all transfer rumors as speculation and understand that the rumor mill doesn't spare any player from finding his name in the papers, the reality is that this is a serious deal for Chelsea, and one that they cannot afford to have come true.

Luiz has been simply superb for the Blues this year, and while he isn't the strongest defensive midfielder in the world, he has certainly justified himself in the position.

And that, it seems, makes this a big deal for the West London club.

Frank Lampard has agreed to another one-year deal, and John Obi Mikel doesn't look like he's leaving any time soon. However, outside of that pairing, there aren't too many other players that can play in the defensive midfield role as well as Luiz can, and with Lampard on the wrong side of 30, it seems that Luiz may be their best option for long-term success in the position.

Of course, Mourinho could bring in someone—like the original report suggests—but it's hard to see that player being any better (or worse) than Luiz this season.

The Brazilian international has offered a great go-forward in attack and has shown to be an exceptional goalscorer at times.

He has thrived with the ball at his feet and has developed a great combination with Juan Mata ahead of him in central midfield—a long-term combination for the Londoners that they would be seemingly mad to try and break up this summer.

Luiz and Mata are the future in central midfield. They're both young, talented and have shown great success at Chelsea—why would anyone want to disrupt that?

Mourinho arriving (assuming it does happen) will be enough of a disturbance for the Blues. Whatever players they choose to bring in will no doubt do the same, and in order to catch the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City in the English Premier League next season, they need to ensure that they hit the ground running in 2013 without any additional problems lingering around.

Selling Luiz, or trying to sell Luiz, would be one of those problems.

His leadership and skill-set is greatly appreciated by Chelsea and to lose him this summer—for any amount of money—would be a huge blow for the club.

Chelsea must ensure that this is just another transfer rumor without a whole lot of substance behind it. For if it isn't, it could well derail their 2013-14 title campaign before it even began—such is the importance of keeping Luiz.

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

NBA Playoffs 2013: Don't Count Out Battered Grizzlies vs. Spurs

Jesse Reed — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:35:37 -0400

After the Memphis Grizzlies fell into an 0-2 hole to the San Antonio Spurs, it would be easy to count this team out of the NBA's Western Conference final.

It would also be foolish.

Looking at what has happened to Memphis thus far in this series, it's eerily reminiscent of the team's first playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers blew the Grizzlies out at home in Game 1 and then eked out another home win in Game 2. Then the Grizzlies finally found their rhythm back in Memphis and won four straight games to move on to the next round.

Winning four games in a row against the Spurs will certainly be more difficult that it was against the Clippers, but winning four of five isn't an unreasonable expectation for this team.

Zach Randolph is the key to Memphis' offense, and he can't play any worse than he did in Game 1.

He couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his shot and wasn't effective on the glass, scoring just two points on 1-of-8 shooting and hauling in just seven rebounds. Tim Duncan, Tiago Splitter and even Boris Diaw had him on lockdown, and he never found a way to break free.

Randolph looked just as bad through much of the early goings in Game 2, but he somehow figured out a way to get the job done—especially as a rebounder inside. He finished the game with 15 points and 18 rebounds, and the Grizzlies almost pulled off an overtime win on the road.

He's starting to get a grip on what he must do in order to effectively help his team. You can expect Randolph to continue playing better throughout the series—especially in the next couple of games at home.

Before this series, Randolph was averaging 19.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in the playoffs and was a catalyst for Memphis' success on offense.

When Randolph isn't playing at a high level, Memphis' offense doesn't function properly. But some home-cooking at the FedEx Forum in Memphis will energize him and the rest of the team to play inspired basketball.

Whether or not this leads to an NBA Finals berth remains to be seen, but one thing's for certain: you shouldn't count out the Grizzlies against San Antonio just yet.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Ohio State Football: National Title Hopes Rest on Urban Meyer's Shoulders

Ryan Rudnansky — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:35:20 -0400

Ohio State isn't the most talented team in the nation.

In fact, you could make a case that the Buckeyes aren't even in the top five when it comes to talent on paper, what with the departures of defensive linemen Johnathan Hankins and John Simon, outside linebacker Etienne Sabino, tight end Jake Stoneburner and fullback Zach Boren.

Why are the Buckeyes considered national title contenders?

No, not just because of dual-threat sensation Braxton Miller.

Because Urban Meyer is the head coach.

We all know what Meyer is capable of. He not only won two national championships with Florida, he also lifted Ohio State to a perfect 12-0 record in his first year as Buckeyes coach last season.

This year, the task will be even more difficult than last season. To be a true national contender, the Buckeyes will need some freshmen to step up.

Sure, these aren't just any freshmen. Safety Vonn Bell was a 5-star recruit, according to 247Sports.com's composite rankings. Four-star recruits such as cornerback Eli Apple, defensive end Joey Bosa and playmakers Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson figure to make an impact in their first years.

But they are still freshmen.

Particularly in the cases of Marshall and Wilson, Meyer will have to use his magic touch to get the most out of his young talent.

Marshall and Wilson are ideal athletes for Meyer to work with. Given their speed, elusiveness and playmaking ability, they could fit wonderfully into Meyer's spread offense. Memories of Percy Harvin at Florida instantly sprout up in the spring.

A coach's job is to make the most out of his talent. Ohio State's youngsters have great potential, but Meyer will need to put them in the right situations to succeed, like he's done with countless players before, including Miller.

The expectations are extremely high for the Buckeyes in 2013-14. Whether they meet these expectations will depend on how well Meyer can mold his young talent into a cohesive unit.

Of course, Meyer has never shied away from great expectations before.

Twins Twitter Travesty: Don't Brag When You're on a Slide

Collin Kottke — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:28:00 -0400

I like analogies. I think everybody does.

This Minnesota Twins team doesn’t really have any good analogous situations to compare itself to.

A horrible relationship? No, everybody had pretty low expectations coming into 2013, and you probably shouldn’t have low expectations at the beginning of a relationship.

A train wreck that you can’t look away from? Not quite. I didn’t really feel like watching any longer after Evan Gattis hit a Vance Worley 3-0 offering out of Turner Field for a grand slam.

Oh, I know what this whole season is analogous to: a tweet.

Yes. If you are on Twitter, you know the feeling of sending out a tweet. At first you don’t think much about it because it’s just a tweet, but then you start getting proud of yourself because you think it’s a really good one...then you realize how bad it is.

That’s the Twins' season in a 140-character nutshell and a lesson they learned after the loss on Wednesday to the Atlanta Braves.

To set the scene, Twins radio broadcaster and former outfielder Dan Gladden has been hanging a Kent Hrbek jersey outside of the Twins Radio Network booth during the whole series against the Braves.

This of course is in homage to the 1991 World Series and more directly when Kent Hrbek may or may not have lifted Ron Grant off of first base in Game 2 and recorded an out.

It doesn’t matter if Hrbek did lift Grant or not, but that’s what our little feud is about.

The Twins' official Twitter account has been tweeting out some pictures of the Hrbek jersey that can be seen from the stands at Turner Field, which resulted in the following tweet from the Atlanta Braves' official account:

OK. That’s funny. The Braves are a very good team, and they just swept a not-so-good team in the Twins. We can laugh and make fun of ourselves, right?

Nope.

The Twins responded with another picture of their own:

Let’s brag about a World Series that was won in 1991—a World Series that was over 20 years ago.

It’s not a scandal by any means this tweet. It’s not in the ballpark of what happened to cross the Los Angeles Kings’ Twitter account last night, but this tweet is ill-advised.

For one, you got swept. Let the Braves make the jokes.

Two, the Atlanta Braves have won a World Series more recently than the Minnesota Twins. You don’t ever exactly get over a World Series loss, but that does definitely make this joke worse.

Third and finally, your current Twins team stinks. Don’t go and brag about something that happened before Aaron Hicks even turned two years old.

I am aware that the guy who controls the Twins’ Twitter account doesn’t have control over the players and how well they perform, but you need to take that into account before pressing send.

You are on an eight-game losing streak and you just sent down your Opening Day starter to Triple-A.

You are in trouble and don’t have any time to be bragging.

Grab a laptop and start researching prospects or try to sell some tickets.

It’s the selling-tickets-to-batting-practice controversy all over again.

Where Does Stephen Curry Rank Among the Top Point Guards in the NBA?

Andy Hu — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:23:54 -0400

Before the 2012-13 season started, there were only a few point guards who could've been argued as the best in the NBA.

As the season progressed, Chris Paul was the major name that came up in most people's heads when discussing who the best point guard was. The Los Angeles Clippers were in the midst of their best regular-season campaign in franchise history, and Paul was the engine running their success.

Stephen Curry, on the other hand, was merely an afterthought during the beginning of the season. He was healthy, which was a plus, but nobody had ever labeled him as an elite point guard.

However, one regular season and an unexpected playoff run later, and Curry has now solidified himself not just as an elite point guard, but also one of the best players in the entire league.

Here is a table comparing the individual statistics of Curry and some other point guards that are considered at the top of their position (all stats from Basketball Reference).

	PTS	AST	FG%	3P%	TO	PER	WS/48
Stephen Curry	22.9	6.9	45.1	45.3	3.1	21.3	0.180
Chris Paul	16.9	9.7	48.1	32.8	2.3	26.4	0.287
Rajon Rondo	13.7	11.1	48.4	24.0	3.9	18.1	0.108
Deron Williams	18.9	7.7	44.0	37.8	2.8	20.3	0.184
Russell Westbrook	23.2	7.4	43.8	32.3	3.3	23.9	0.195

Scoring

In terms of scoring, Curry is one of the best, if not the best among all point guards. Before this season, he was recognized as just a shooting point guard with limited abilities in other scoring areas.

This season, he has improved his offense and can score in a myriad of different ways—from fancy ball-handling pull-ups to crafty floaters.

His 22.9 points per game average is second for his position, trailing only the explosive Russell Westbrook. However, Curry is a better pure shooter than any other point guard in the NBA.

His 45.3 percent from beyond the arc is already amazing in its own right, but when you consider the fact that he set the record for most single three-pointers made in a season (via ESPN) while shooting at a high volume, it's even more incredible.

Passing

Curry's primary role on his team is to score, so naturally his assists and assist percentage would be lower than that of Chris Paul or Rajon Rondo.

He's not as much of the typical point guard who sets up the offense for his team as he is a shoot-first, pass-second player.

As a result, his assists average will never be as high as some of the pass-first point guards in the league.

This doesn't mean that he's any less effective though. He has shown his ability to create plays for his teammates when he wants to, and his improved passing this year has made him into an even bigger threat on offense.

Efficiency

Curry's PER is third among the five point guards listed on the table. He has registered a career-high PER of 21.3 this season and demonstrated his improvement in all areas of his game.

Additionally, his true shooting percentage of 58.9 percent this year is phenomenal when you consider the volume of shots he takes every game.

As Curry continues to develop, his shooting efficiency will improve and he will only get better from here on out.

Conclusion

Offensively, Curry is as good as any other point guard in the NBA.

After a fantastic regular season and postseason run, Curry's name has been in discussion among the elite point guards in the league. There weren't many times in history where one player changes the perspective of an entire position.

But as great of an offensive player that Curry is, his individual defense is still short of spectacular.

During the regular season, opposing point guards registered a PER of 16.5 when Curry was defending them (per 82games.com).

Furthermore, Mark Jackson had to hide Curry on defense a lot during the series against the San Antonio Spurs in the conference semifinals, trusting Klay Thompson to guard Tony Parker instead.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Continuing to Build on Their 2012 Base in 2013

Tom Au — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:19:46 -0400

The Pittsburgh Pirates appear to be meaningfully ahead of where they were in 2012, a year in which they were contenders for about a month and a half on either side of the All-Star Game before a late-season collapse took them into loss territory.

That's because the Bucs' surge into positive territory started about a month earlier, around April 20th instead of May 20th. Therefore, they stand to do better than last year's sub-.500 result, although it's not yet clear they are championship material. That's because there are potential grounds for both optimism and pessimism. Summing up, here are some of the team's pluses and minuses.

Reasons For Optimism

1.The rotation is doing very well. A.J. Burnett is repeating as a legitimate ace. Jeff Locke is turning into a quasi second starter of the Paul Maholm variety, and on a faster timetable than I anticipated. Jeanmar Gomez is also showing unexpected strength, after the initial disappointment of Jonathan Sanchez. All this means that Wandy Rodriguez is great for a de facto No. 3 or 4 starter. And Francisco Liriano hasn't been a disaster.

2. Starling Marte has joined Andrew McCutchen as an offensive threat. Although McCutchen is playing well, he is nowhere near MVP caliber as he was last year—meaning he has lots of room for improvement. The same is true for Pedro Alvarez and, to a lesser extent, the Neil Walker-Jordy Mercer tandem at second base.

3. Russell Martin is a decidedly better catcher, both offensively and defensively, than Rod Barajas.

4. In addition to maintaining a relatively strong showing against strong teams, the Pirates are starting to beat weak teams that others can beat, including the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers.

5. A maturing Pirates team has gotten off to a strong start in road games and Interleague Play, with a winning record in both categories.

Reasons For Concern

1. The late-inning bullpen combo of Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli have a combined ERA of about 1.00 so far. They can't possibly keep this up for a whole season, can they?

2. The right field platoon of Travis Snider and Jose Tabata is playing above historical levels, and they are likely to regress.

3. Michael McHenry is still only second catcher caliber, not having made much progress since the latter part of last year.

4. The Pirates are only 4-3 against the Brewers because of four home games. The sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers and one-run games against a weak Houston team spell trouble ahead against other weak teams, such as the San Diego Padres or the Miami Marlins, and even against Los Angeles and Houston later in the season.

5. A still-young Pirates staff will start losing away against stronger Interleague opponents and on the road, as the season progresses.

Overall, the Pittsburgh Pirates are building on last season. Specifically, I expect them to win 80-90 games in 2013. Only ONE of those scenarios (80 wins) would have them finishing below .500, and only one more (81 wins) will prevent them from having a winning season.

If they produce at the high end of expectations, a Wild Card slot would not be out of the question. And if a disproportionate number of wins occur against the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds thereby suppressing those division opponents' win totals, a division title would even be a possibility.

Manchester City Star Samir Nasri on Gareth Bale, Radamel Falcao Summer Transfers

John Greely — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:18:09 -0400

Samir Nasri has big ideas for Manchester City's summer transfer window. Namely, he's keen on Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale and Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao. The two superstars have been the subject of constant transfer speculation in the buildup to the window, and City are one of the few clubs that might just be able to afford them.

"[Gareth Bale] has so much pressure, because he's the main guy of the team," Nasri told Bleacher Report during a charity event in New York City. "Maybe a move to Manchester City would be good for him. Same for Falcao."

The event, held at Staten Island's St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, was organized by the club to donate soccer equipment to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Nasri, along with five of his Manchester City teammates, participated in drills with and signed autographs for local kids.

He and striker Edin Dzeko took time out of the festivities to chat about the transfer window, their American tour, charity work and more. Check out the video above for their comments, and leave your own below.

Tony Parker Injury: Spurs Must Push for Sweep to Give PG Time off Before Finals

Richard Langford — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:11:17 -0400

Tony Parker is headed for an MRI, but don't fret, Spurs fans—it's not as bad as it sounds.

Typically, when an athlete is scheduled for an MRI, the best-case scenario is that a few weeks of rest is all that will be needed to heal an ailing ligament and not surgery, which requires a lengthy recovery process.

In this case, Parker's need for the MRI, on his left calf, is simply precautionary.

The Associated Press, via the USA Today, reports that the dynamic point guard doesn't envision missing any game time, and that:

...the MRI is "just to make sure" he's improving on schedule from the injury, which limited his effectiveness in the final two games of the Spurs' second-round series against the Golden State Warriors.

On the court, Parker is showing no signs of anything limiting his performances. In a Game 2 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference final, Parker went for 15 points and a playoff career-high 18 assists while playing 42 minutes.

Obviously, it was an excellent performance, but it was not without its flaws. Parker was just 6-of-20 from the floor. It's impossible to say if this was the result of his calf, or simply an off night. In Game 1, he was 9-of-14 on field goal attempts, to tie his best shooting percentage of this playoff run.

In other words, Parker is showing no ill effects from his injury.

However, Parker is 31, and calf issues, like hamstrings and quads, can be re-aggravated in a split second. The more Parker plays on his calf before it is fully healed, the more likely he is to suffer a setback.

Parker makes a good point while talking about his injury in the Associated Press piece as he notes his calf is feeling better and that it is the "perfect time" for this series to not resume until Saturday.

Game 4 of the series is scheduled for Monday, and if the Spurs win the next two, it will be onto the NBA Finals for Parker and his teammates.

That is exactly what the aging Spurs need to do. This is a team that needs all the rest it can get. Now, with Parker still in the process of nursing a sore calf, that is more vital than ever.

When the finals begin depends on how long the two current series last (the Heat and Pacers are battling for the Eastern Conference title).

Game 4 of the East will not be played until Tuesday. So, no matter what happens in the East, if the Spurs sweep then they will have an extra day rest. This will be at a premium for the Spurs. Not just so they will have fresher legs as a team, but so Parker can avoid extra miles on his sore calf.

A sweep would give Parker more time to let his calf fully heal, and attack the finals with reckless abandon. And the Spurs are going to need Parker to be at his best if they want to win the championship.

Both the Pacers and the Heat can pressure the ball and force offenses into sloppy possessions. With the Spurs' excellent ball movement, they are well suited to handle that kind of defense. However, that fluid offense all begins with the penetration and distribution skills of Parker.

Parker is always essential to the Spurs attack, and that will amplified in the finals. Now, the Spurs must do everything they can to make sure he is healthy, and that starts by sweeping the series they currently lead 2-0.

Will Cleveland Cavaliers' Promising Future Be Enough to Lure LeBron James Back?

Josh Martin — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:10:37 -0400

It was 10 years ago today that the Cleveland Cavaliers secured the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft lottery. The Cavs went on to spend that selection on an 18-year-old, Ohio-born phenom by the name of LeBron James, who, as you probably know, has gone on to fashion for himself quite the pro career.

The Cavs find themselves in a strangely similar position as the 2013 draft approaches. They own the top choice (for the second time in three years, no less) and may be able to use it to land LeBron again, albeit indirectly.

At least, that's what Twitter's reaction to Cleveland's lottery luck would have you believe.

There were plenty of parody accounts crowing about LeBron wanting to leave the Miami Heat for the cold, dingy climes of Cuyahoga County. Even Grantland's Mark Titus, known for his tongue-in-cheek basketball analysis, offered his two cents on the subject:

But the excitement and speculation regarding a Lord of the Rings-like "Return of the King" to Cleveland in 2014, when James will be free to opt out of his current contract, seeped into some of the more reputable reaches of the Twittersphere. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated came right out and said what was on everyone's minds:

Ira Winderman, who covers the Heat for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, insinuated as much:

Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio looked ahead to what the Cavs could have in store while still maintaining some sense of restraint:

The sort of restraint that was seldom found in Twitter reaction from Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld:

And New York Knicks broadcaster Alan Hahn:

Not that anyone should be blamed for making such bold prognostications. A potential move by the best player in any sport is bound to break the Internet, the newspaper business, TV, radio and just about any other form of media you could think of.

Even more so if that player is LeBron James, whose case is of particular interest because:

1) He's well on his way to becoming the first-ever billion-dollar athlete.

2) He might be considered the greatest to ever lace 'em up in the NBA before his career is through.

3) He may well have a championship three-peat under his belt by the time the summer of 2014 rolls around, and

4) He's already broken Cleveland's collective heart in the most humiliating way imaginable (see: Decision, The).

But would the confluence of Cleveland's recent luck and Miami's aging, cap-strapped roster be enough to convince LeBron to pull off the most dramatic homecoming in the history of professional sports?

In a phrase, probably not. But before we dismiss LeBron's return entirely, let's consider the details of what might draw James back to the franchise that drafted him.

For one, the Cavs figure to have themselves an intriguing young nucleus with which to pique LeBron's interest.

Come 2014, Kyrie Irving, who clarified his path to superstardom during All-Star Weekend this year, will be entering his fourth season as a pro. He'll be joined in the backcourt by Dion Waiters, who topped the 20-point plateau 14 times as a rookie in 2013-14.

Up front, the Cavs will tout Tristan Thompson, who has already shown flashes of being a productive rebounding big man, and (probably) Nerlens Noel, who has the potential to be a rim-protecting defensive dynamo as a pro, as his injury-shortened year at Kentucky would suggest.

Not to mention Anderson Varejao, who played with LeBron for six seasons and will be under contract through the 2014-15 season.

Varejao aside, Cleveland's core players will all be in their early-to-mid-20s in 2014. That confluence of youth and talent portends longevity among the NBA's elite, so long as there's another superstar (like LeBron) in the mix.

The same can't be said of the Heat—not by a long shot.

Including LeBron, Miami will have just eight players under contract for 2014-15. Of those eight, only three (LeBron, Norris Cole and Jarvis Varnado) will be under the age of 30 before that season tips off. Among the other five, Dwyane Wade and Mike Miller both have long, troubling histories of injury, while Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony have had their own (already limited) abilities decay considerably over time.

For what it's worth, Chris Bosh's jump shot is more or less impermeable to the deleterious effects of time.

More importantly, that incomplete squad will cost the Heat approximately $78.4 million according to ShamSports. Assuming the luxury tax line doesn't move up drastically between now and then, Miami will be severely limited in its ability to restock and refresh a roster that could see Mario Chalmers calling for a raise and Ray Allen and Shane Battier courting retirement.

That is, unless Pat Riley can convince James, Wade and Bosh to all opt out and re-sign at even steeper discounts next summer. All three have early termination options built into their current contracts.

Which could grant the Heat flexibility enough to reload...or leave them short a superstar or two for 2014-15.

And if the Big Three show any signs of breaking by then, you can be sure that LeBron will once again be on the lookout for a situation that better suits his desire to rack up rings.

The Cavs could be in the mix in that regard, especially with the gobs of cap space they'll have at their disposal. Cleveland could have upwards of $20 million in flexibility to spare by then, depending on how much this year's top pick ends up earning and whether or not Varejao has been shipped out (per ShamSports).

As encouraging as all of that sounds to still-jilted Cavs fans, there remain a few reasons to doubt that LeBron would walk away from the Heat to make good on his as-yet-unfulfilled promise to bring a championship to Cleveland.

To start, the Cavs won't likely be anywhere near playoff contention by the time LeBron might come around to check out his old stomping grounds. Cleveland's offense improved somewhat last season, but its defense has ranked among the bottom five in efficiency in each of the three years since James skipped town.

And it wouldn't yet appear to have the proper personnel in place to develop enough to compete at the highest level.

The rehiring of Mike Brown could change that, though. He's long been regarded as something of a defensive guru—a designation that his Cavs only bolstered during his successful run in Cleveland.

But does Brown's presence make the Cavs look better or worse in LeBron's eyes? That's tough to say. He expressed a measure of approval when word first broke that Cleveland had brought Brown back into the fold, according to Matt Moore of CBSSports.com.

Then again, the Cavs fired Brown back in 2010 in an ill-fated attempt to persuade LeBron to stay. Who's to say James would want to play for his old coach now, especially after seeing how overmatched Brown was during his short stint with the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers?

Or is Brown truly a championship-caliber coach?

Beyond that, there's the not-so-small matter of LeBron's quality of life. By all accounts, he's enjoyed living in Miami, with his wife and kids basking in the spoils of their mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay. Playing alongside two of his close friends in Wade and Bosh has probably made James' life that much more pleasant, too.

Would LeBron really leave all that behind to replant his roots in Ohio with a Cavs team that could still be a ways off from title contention?

Again, probably not.

But who knows? Maybe LeBron's circumstances will shift considerably over the next 14 months. Maybe the Heat will more closely resemble a fading empire than they do a burgeoning dynasty. Maybe the Cavs will shock the world and mature into a competitive club under the guidance of Mike Brown.

Stranger things have happened...like, say, the same team winning the lottery twice in the span of 24 months.

Follow @Josh_E_Martin

Ben McLemore Will Likely Fall in NBA Draft Due to Lottery Results

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:05:26 -0400

The focus of the NBA draft lottery is on the teams moving up and down in the draft order, but Ben McLemore was one of the biggest losers on Tuesday.

Based on the reverse order of the standings, things looked good for the shooting guard. The Orlando Magic were in need of a good perimeter player with the first overall pick, and the Charlotte Bobcats could have used anything with the No. 2 pick.

At this point, virtually every analyst had McLemore and Nerlens Noel going first and second in the draft in some order.

However, the results of the lottery have changed things up a bit. The Cleveland Cavaliers won the first pick in the lottery and will be followed by the Magic, Washington Wizards and then the Bobcats (via ESPN).

The problem with these teams is the lack of need for a shooting guard. Last season, the Cavaliers drafted Dion Waiters with the No. 3 pick, and the Wizards took Bradley Beal with the No. 4 selection. Both players were selected to the first-team All-Rookie team this season.

While there is certainly a possibility that Cleveland looks to utilize Waiters off the bench, it does not make much sense to draft two players at the same position in consecutive years. The team is much more likely to fill a need somewhere in the frontcourt.

This leaves Orlando as the best spot for McLemore. Unfortunately, even that is far from guaranteed. ESPN's Chad Ford writes in his latest mock draft, "The Magic need a point guard but might have been reluctant to take [Trey] Burke at No. 1. What about at No. 2? I think there's a good chance."

Victor Oladipo is another possibility with his impressive defensive ability. The Magic could look to add more of a sure thing instead of someone with risk but more upside like McLemore.

The good news is that the former Kansas star will find a home somewhere. The guard was fantastic as a freshman last season and showed the ability to score in a number of different ways. He has the skill and athleticism to be a very good scorer at the next level.

If he slides down to a team like the Bobcats or Phoenix Suns, one of those teams will be very fortunate to get one of the most talented players in the entire draft.

Although the lottery results will certainly cause McLemore to lose some money on his rookie contract, he should still have a very successful NBA career. Whichever team is lucky enough to grab him will get excellent value after the first few picks of the draft.

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Andre Schurrle: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Garry Hayes — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:58:27 -0400

As ever, the fashions and trends in football are evolving, and right now, the latest fad is the Bundesliga and German players in particular.

It seems every major club across the continent must have one within its ranks, and Andre Schurrle is just one of the many German names being linked with a big-money move this summer.

He is certainly a talent, but coming with a price tag in the region of £20 million, will he prove good value for whoever persuades him to leave current club Bayer Leverkusen?

Age: 22

Contract Situation: Like many Bundesliga clubs, Leverkusen are very astute when it comes to their transfer dealings. Knowing the talent they had on their hands when they signed Schurrle from Mainz in 2011, the club put him on a lengthy five-year deal, meaning he still has three years to run. It gives the club all the bargaining power it needs when negotiating a fee for his services.

Career Stops: Mainz (2009-11), Bayer Leverkusen (2011-current)

Current Campaign: Bundesliga: 34 games, 13 goals, seven assists; German Cup: three games, one goal, one assist; Europa League: six games, two goals, one assist

Video Showreel:

Scouting Guide: During his two seasons with Bayer Leverkusen, Schurrle has shown himself to be a versatile player, featuring on the wing or through the middle when required.

He has bags of skill and pace to burn, too—a combination that, when put to good effect, often sees defenders lagging behind, especially as he is direct.

The 22-year-old has shown plenty of promise in domestic competition, while his seven goals in 22 Germany appearances is also a record not to be dismissed.

What's Next? The rumors have been rumbling on for the best part of two months that Schurrle will be landing in West London with Chelsea this summer.

BBC Sport reports a deal has been long done for the young German, while the Mirror, among others, echoes those sentiments.

Jose Mourinho is expected to return to Stamford Bridge this summer, so we can expect any potential deal for Schurrle to be announced in the aftermath of his appointment.