Bleacher Report - Front Page

LeBron James Speaks Out on Pacers Head Coach Frank Vogel's Comment

Matt Fitzgerald — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:18:23 -0400

The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers are set to do battle in the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals beginning on Wednesday, May 22, and chatter between the two teams is already adding intrigue to the series.

As ESPN's Michael Wallace reports, Pacers head coach Frank Vogel made a dismissive comment with regard to the defending NBA champions following his team's closeout victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6 on Saturday.

Vogel stated that Miami is "just the next team" in the way of Indiana's quest for the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy, and Heat superstar and reigning MVP LeBron James took issue with that in Sunday's practice.

Wallace documented James' response to Vogel's barb at AmericanAirlines Arena on Sunday:

We're not just another team. I don't understand what he's saying. But we're not just another team. That's not true. He said we're just another team in their way. We're a great team. If we're just another team, you really don't prepare for just another team. You have to prepare for us. ...

We're very confident. We'll be ready for them. We don't need bulletin-board material. We've heard everything, we've seen everything. But I would say we're not just another team, though.

Galvanizing a team as talented as the Heat doesn't seem like the soundest bit of strategy for Vogel to deploy, despite James' contention that his team doesn't need any added fuel in its pursuit of a repeat.

However, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Ira Winderman, who covers the Heat beat, feels the apparent controversy is a manufactured storyline being blown out of proportion by the media:

The Pacers are a hard-nosed defensive squad that did take a 2-1 series lead on Miami in last year's conference semifinals. They were the Association's top rebounding team during the regular season, while the Heat finished last in that category.

For what it's worth, Indiana also beat its impending opponent two out of three times throughout the 2012-13 campaign. As Wallace notes, though, the final double-digit loss drove the Heat to their 27-game winning streak—the second-longest in NBA history.

This series promises to be entertaining, and this exchange in the press between Vogel and James only increases the buzz.

Kobe Bryant Uses Facebook to Hint at Major Announcement

Dan Favale — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:13:24 -0400

Kobe Bryant is full of surprises.

From 81-point outings to five championship rings to ambiguous retirement musings, the Black Mamba lives to shock and awe.

Still rehabilitating a ruptured Achilles, Kobe's mantra hasn't changed. He's still intent on remaining unpredictable.

Knowing that the Los Angeles Lakers' season is over and he is in no shape to ambush us on the hardwood, Kobe is going to different lengths to surprise us; lengths that include unforeseen announcements, not buckets.

On Sunday, Bryant took to Facebook with a cryptic message in anticipation of another message that would inevitably follow.

"You won’t want to miss the Sports Spectacular Livestream Sunday #mambavideo #surprise #announcement," his post read.

Naturally, we're left confused. Is he retiring from the NBA? Eventually being amnestied? Requesting a trade?

Slow your roll.

This isn't going to be the Mamba's version of "The Decision." Unless that decision is something only half-major and non-basketball related, that is.

Had Kobe's impending announcement been a declaration of untold truths or something as groundbreaking as any of the above, chances are we would have heard whisperings of it by now.

But we haven't. It's been all clear on the paralyzing news front. And if it weren't, Kobe wouldn't be holding a "Livestream" to address it.

There would be a press conference, a foray of flashing cameras and likely some hors d'oeuvres as well. There won't be any of that, though. This isn't what that is.

Expect this video to be a menial bulletin then, something that is arguably important but not earth-shattering or worth fretting over.

It could have something to do with any of the charities he is currently working with.

Perhaps he's switched from boxers to briefs and wants to let us know. Or maybe he and Dwight Howard have custom-made best-friend bracelets for one another and he wants to show us.

We just don't know, but we will soon enough.

So please, don't get your boxers or briefs in a bunch trying to figure it out.

Follow @danfavale

What Clinching a Champions League Place Means for Arsenal

Timothy Rapp — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:02:01 -0400

Somehow, they did it.

Despite a slow start to the season and a seven-point deficit to Tottenham on the league table after a 2-1 loss to Spurs on March 3, Arsenal went undefeated in their last 10 games (eight wins, two draws) and secured a fourth-place finish and berth in the Champions League with a 1-0 victory against Newcastle on Sunday.

So what exactly does a spot in the Champions League mean for the Gunners?

For one, it keeps the team's streak of appearances in the premier European competition intact. Arsenal have now qualified for the Champions League for a 16th straight year, a staggering level of consistency for Arsene Wenger's troops.

But Arsenal have another streak that fans are more concerned about—no trophies since 2005's FA Cup triumph.

In an effort to end that streak and return Arsenal to the level of winning titles rather than scratching and clawing in the final weeks just to finish in the top four, Wenger will supposedly have a lot of money to spend during this summer's transfer window.

That will surely be attractive to prospective targets, but so will the opportunity to play in the Champions League. In fact, that's probably the largest benefit for Arsenal—the ability to sell the chance to play in Europe's most prestigious tournament next season.

Without question, the team needs help at holding midfield, could use an upgrade at striker and will probably seek a new right-back as well. Outside of an often-restrictive wage structure, Arsenal can offer prospective players top-notch facilities, a place in the Premier League and the chance to play European football.

It's a nice package to sell.

Plus, Sunday's win ensured that hated rivals Tottenham will be limited to playing in the Europa League next season, which could be the difference between Gareth Bale leaving this summer and sticking around.

Surely, he would have stayed if Spurs had qualified for the Champions League. Now, however, the overtures from wealthier clubs—we see you whispering in Bale's ear, Real Madrid—may be too tempting for the superstar to ignore.

And on the other hand, Sunday's win should ensure that Arsenal's top stars aren't once again poached away. Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere would probably be the most appealing players for European clubs, but each signed contract extensions this year, so it's hard to imagine either leaving anyway.

Arsenal have a nice, young core in place, and this year showed a lot of grit and determination. Plus, the defense was dramatically improved. With an upgrade at striker and a true holding midfielder in place, it isn't hard to see the Gunners competing for a league title next year—maybe making a deep run in the Champions League as well.

Arsenal fans may have become infamously pessimistic in the trophy drought that has nearly stretched a decade now, but there is plenty of reasons for optimism heading into the summer.

Sudirman Cup 2013 Results: Updated Points and Group Standings

Justin Onslow — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:57:37 -0400

The first day of the 2013 Sudirman Cup is in the books, and China has picked up right where it left off with a 5-0 win over India at Stadium Putra. The most dominant badminton team on the planet has won eight of the last 12 Sudirman Cups and is well on its way to a ninth with a win this year.

China wasn’t the only nation to secure a shutout victory, though. Vietnam also posted a 5-0 win in the group stage over Kazakhstan in Level 3, Group B, outshining group counterpart Australia and its 4-1 dismantling of Lithuania.

In Group A (Level 2), the United States was on the other end of a tough loss. With a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Sweden, the U.S joins group counterpart Russia in defeat on Day 1.

Let’s take a look at full results from Day 1 and break down the updated points and group standings for the tournament.

Day 1 Results

New Zealand vs. Philippines	2-3
Turkey vs. Sri Lanka	2-3
China vs. India	5-0
Denmark vs. Singapore	4-1
Russia vs. Scotland	1-4
Vietnam vs. Kazakhstan	5-0
Australia vs. Lithuania	4-1
Thailand vs. Hong Kong China	3-2
Malaysia vs. Chinese Taipei	2-3
U.S.A. vs. Sweden	2-3

Group Standings

Group

Team (Record)

Points

Level 1 - Group A

China 1-0

Indonesia 0-0

India 0-1

Level 1 - Group B

Thailand 1-0

Korea 0-0

Hong Kong China 0-1

Level 1 - Group C

Chinese Taipei 1-0

Germany 0-0

Malaysia 0-1

Level 1 - Group D

Denmark 1-0

Japan 0-0

Singapore 0-1

Level 2 - Group A

Scotland 1-0

Sweden 1-0

U.S.A 0-1

Russia 0-1

Level 2 - Group B

Netherlands 0-0

France 0-0

Canada 0-0

Austria 0-0

Level 3 - Group A

Philippines 1-0

Sri Lanka 1-0

Ukraine 0-0

Turkey 0-1

New Zealand 0-1

Level 3 - Group B

Vietnam 1-0

Australia 1-0

Switzerland 0-0

Lithuania 0-1

Kazakhstan 0-1

*All results and standings courtesy of BWF.com.

Day 2 Preview

Day 2 of the Sudirman Cup will feature 10 more matches across all levels and groups. Each team that was without a match on Day 1 will see its first action, set to begin at 12 a.m. ET.

The opening matches include contests between Indonesia and India, Japan and Singapore and Ukraine and Philippines, followed by a full slate of five 6 a.m. ET contests that include matchups between Korea and Hong Kong China and France and Canada.

Here's a look at the full schedule of action for Day 2 of the Sudirman Cup (all times ET):

Indonesia vs. India	12 a.m.
Japan vs. Singapore	12 a.m.
Ukraine vs. Philippines	12 a.m.
New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka	12 a.m.
Netherlands vs. Austria	12 a.m.
Korea vs. Hong Kong China	6 a.m.
Germany vs. Chinese Taipei	6 a.m.
Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan	6 a.m.
Vietnam vs. Lithuania	6 a.m.
France vs. Canada	6 a.m.

Background of Sudirman Cup

The Sudirman Cup is the largest badminton tournament of 2013, held bi-annually as part of the Badminton World Federation. The tournament switches host cities every two years, this year being hosted by Malaysia.

The first Sudirman Cup was help in 1989, and this year's tournament marks the 13th playing of the event. China has won the Cup each of the last four years and eight of the last 12, with Korea having claimed three of the other four titles. The two nations have combined for 14 first- or second-place finishes in the tournament's history.

Teams in Level 1 compete for the trophy, and there is no qualifying stage for the tournament. The winner of the top-level groups go on to complete for the championship, while all other teams get relegated to lower-level groups.

WWE Extreme Rules 2013: John Cena, Brock Lesnar and Here Are Your Winners...

Big Nasty — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:48:58 -0400

WWE Extreme Rules 2013 emanates from St. Louis, Mo. tonight. A plethora of wrestling history has happened under St. Louis' watch. So by comparison, Extreme Rules may come off like Madison Square Garden hosting the Butte County Fair.

Not to fear. Nothing a few dangerous, career-threatening stunts can't solve. And when it comes to dangerous stunts, WWE made sure to line up the best in the business for this one.

During One Night Stand in 2008—the pay-per-view which would eventually be replaced by the Extreme Rules franchise—Triple H countered an RKO by throwing Orton over the top ropes. This led to a shoulder injury that shelved Orton for several months.

Brock Lesnar almost flirted with paralysis at WrestleMania XIX when he attempted a Shooting Star Press on Kurt Angle that went horribly wrong.

Chris Jericho severely chipped a tooth during a ladder match against Shawn Michaels.

Who knows what kind of over-achieving disasters lie ahead in this one? But Extreme Rules tends to be one of those pay-per-views that makes fans appreciate the lengths a wrestler will go to get them out of their seats, not to mention keep them there.

Two matches headline this pay-per-view as John Cena takes on Ryback for the first time ever while Brock Lesnar takes on Triple H for the third time in their history. Somewhere in between all that, Chris Jericho takes on Fandango for the second time since their rivalry began back before WrestleMania 29.

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NBA Playoffs 2013: X-Factors for Each Team to Reach Finals

Steven Cook — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:48:24 -0400

Now that the "final four" of the 2013 NBA playoffs is set, stakes will be higher for the contending teams to execute on their respective X-factors.

Whether it's a certain bench player or a certain aspect of the game, no team—not even the almighty Miami Heat—is exempt from having a key portion of the game that will make or break their chances of reaching the NBA Finals.

We're sure to see two high-powered matchups, as the Heat and Indiana Pacers face off for the Eastern Conference title. The Memphis Grizzlies will make their first Finals appearance against the San Antonio Spurs in the West.

Let's take a look at each team and what they must execute if they want to reach the Finals.

Western Conference Finals

Memphis Grizzlies: Frequency of Post Shots

In just about every matchup they can play, the Memphis Grizzlies are fortunate enough to boast a commanding advantage down low with the burly combination of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

Gasol is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, but he put his offensive skills on display in putting away the Oklahoma City Thunder last round. He's becoming increasingly reliable from 18 feet—punishing teams with a swift jumper.

Z-Bo is no slouch, either. He can punish opponents if they put an inferior player on him at any time, and always steps up his game incredibly well in the playoffs.

It's the matchup the Spurs boast that makes it so important, though. Tim Duncan is reliable and will get his points, but Thiago Splitter is not the answer for either of these Grizzlies stars.

With Mike Conley playing so well in the backcourt and Tony Allen performing out of his mind, Memphis must be wary to not let the game become fast-paced and dominated by the guards. Those two will have huge impacts, but they have to remember where their biggest strength is.

The Grizz must capitalize on this huge advantage to cancel out the impact Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are bound to have if they want to secure their spot in the NBA Finals.

San Antonio Spurs: Wing Players Must Excel and Stay Foul-Free

While Parker, Ginobili and Duncan are still the main core of San Antonio, it's the excellent play they've received from players like Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green that helped them slip past the pesky Golden State Warriors.

That must become a focal point yet again, as it may be the only aspect that the Spurs have the advantage in. And it won't be a big advantage, as Allen, Tayshaun Prince and Quincy Pondexter are all performing incredibly.

When Leonard is able to play his 35-40 minutes, he often makes a big impact on the stat sheet and with his shooting range. But when he gets into foul trouble, it's a different story and it takes him out of his game completely.

Green, on the other hand, had perhaps the most under-appreciated performance of these playoffs in the Warriors series. He averaged 12 points per game while hitting the boards for a team that struggles rebounding at times.

If Green and Leonard can shift from players to playmakers in this series, the Grizz will have no chance.

Eastern Conference

Indiana Pacers: Cover the Three-Point Line

The Pacers play such a unique game and have so many even contributors that it's hard not only to find an X-factor, but to even find an Achilles heel altogether. In that case, we must look at their opponent.

It's almost impossible to stop the Miami Heat, but the best way to do so is to take away the three-point shot.

However, that's much easier said than done—especially against the Heat. You can't focus on just one or two players. You have to be wary of Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and sometimes even Chris Bosh.

You get the point.

If the Pacers want to stifle the three-point line, it will take a few different things. First, they must properly decide when to implement man defense based on the Heat's offense. Also, they'll have to refuse the double-team on LeBron most of the time in order to cover the sharp-shooter that he always kicks it out to.

Just the presence of James and Wade makes it incredibly difficult to defend the long ball while preventing their impact. But if Indiana wants to pull a huge upset in this series, they'll have to figure it out.

Miami Heat: Keep the Balance

Ironically enough, the Miami Heat struggle late in games when they rely on their superstar players.

This isn't about LeBron's late-game struggles (which have been exaggerated) as much as it is about the way Miami usually executes their offense.

It's incredibly rare to ever see anyone play selfishly, and that all starts with their superstars—who play as unselfish as they come. Their best attribute is the ability to handle double-teams and turn it into an open shot on almost every possession.

The Heat are at their best when they're working their system and passing until they find the open shot. While they don't always fall and they may lose a game or two due to cold shooting, they have more than enough talent to dominate this series with open shots.

As much as LeBron James fans would love to see him take over this series to the tune of 40 or 50 points—and he surely could—he gives his team a better chance to win when he's a pass-first player.

The Heat are fortunate enough to have the game's best player, but they also have one of the game's best passers. And he must learn how to balance that act appropriately and spread the rock around if he wants a second ring in 2013.

Follow me on Twitter

Follow @steventerrycook

Newcastle Summer Transfer Guide: What the Magpies Need in the Window

Marley Anderson — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:45:10 -0400

The 2012/13 season has finally come to an end and not a minute too soon for Newcastle United fans.

A 16^th placed finish just 12 months after stunning the Premier League by finishing 5^th is undoubtedly not good enough for the expectant Magpies. Manager Alan Pardew—despite being under pressure from fans who continue to call for his head—will need to strengthen his squad in the summer if Newcastle is to get back to the heights they scaled just a year ago.

But which areas need improving most for the Geordies?

The following slides are a guide to what could happen at St James’ Park over the summer, according to rumours, confirmed departures and personal opinion.

Feel free to comment and give your opinions on what needs to change at Newcastle United this summer!

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Michigan State Basketball: Ranking the 5 Most Hyped Recruits in Spartans History

Adam Biggers — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:42:56 -0400

Ranking recruits is a relatively newer practice in college sports, not having taken off to its height within the past 30 years or so—and it's rapidly growing each and every year with the advent of new sources.

That being said, gauging the "most hyped" prospects in Michigan State Spartans basketball history is somewhat of a challenge. Sure, past greats from the 1950s and 1960s were surrounded by a media buzz, but the media of the past few decades continues to cast more and more attention on the recruits than ever before.

One doesn't have to go all that far back in time to remember the recruitment of memorable Spartans players. A good portion of the high-end prospects lived up to expectations. Some, though, simply did not.

Nonetheless, this slideshow will highlight the five who had the most anticipated and celebrated arrivals to the Spartans basketball program.

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Mark Richt's 5 Biggest Challenges for Georgia in 2013

Brian Jones — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:28:14 -0400

In order for a college football team to win a conference and national championship, they have to play consistent football and be able to come together as one.

They also have to fight through adversity and no matter how good a team is, they will face challenges that will test their will to win throughout a season.

For the Georgia Bulldogs, it’s almost understood that they will have to go through some tough challenges in order to win the SEC title and have a chance to play in the BCS National Championship because of the conference they play in.

But at the same time, they also will have some obstacles within their own team that they will have to fight through as well.

Here are Mark Richt’s five biggest challenges for the Bulldogs in 2013.

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2013 NBA Draft Breakdown and Scouting Report for Dennis Schroeder

Jonathan Wasserman — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:25:57 -0400

Dennis Schroeder had been making waves in 2013, but his true arrival came at this year's Nike Hoops Summit.

He dropped 18 points and six assists in a win over Team U.S.A., a team consisting of projected top-10 picks in the 2014 NBA draft. Schroeder quickly declared in 2013 after splattering his name across NBA radars.

Schroeder has pretty much locked up a first-round bid, and will enter this year's draft as one of those trendy names capable of catapulting up boards.

Physical Tools

Schroeder makes an impression just by standing there with a jersey on. At 6'2'' with strong shoulders and long arms, you'd think he was an NBA guard if we covered his face with a mask.

As a true point guard, Schroeder has a lightning quick first step he uses to torch perimeter defenses. He's a good athlete, but not a superstar athlete, and will need to put weight onto that 164-pound frame.

Schroeder's footwork is tremendous. He's able to change directions and speeds on a dime. Check out Schroeder tie his man's shoelaces together without making contact:

Ball-Handling

I wish I was able to control anything the way Schroeder controls the basketball. He's got a shake-and-bake handle that puts defenders on ice skates. Between that and his quickness, Schroeder can be a nightmare to stay in front of.

His hesitation dribble is deadly, which goes back to his ability to change speeds.

Here he is using the hesitation dribble off the ball screen to break down the defense and set up an easy bucket for a teammate:

Schroeder is lethal in the open floor. With room to run, he can take it the distance and get to the rack before the defense can set up.

Watch him go coast to coast, turning a potential half-court possession into an easy transition layup:

Creator and Playmaker

Because of his ability to beat his man off the dribble, Schroeder creates four-on-threes and two-on-ones. And as a willing playmaker, he's able to exploit the advantage and set up teammates for easy buckets.

Check out Schroeder burning two defenders before forcing the help and finding the open man:

Shooting

Schroeder shot 40.2 percent from behind the arc for his team in Germany this year, a standout number that he'll need to translate.

What really enhances the threat Schroeder poses is his improved ability to shoot off the dribble. Given his quick first step and athleticism, he's capable of creating separation by stopping and popping. If he can convert these jumpers routinely, Schroeder could end up being one of the tougher covers out there.

Watch Schroeder knock his man off balance with the pull-up off the dribble:

Weaknesses

Schroeder's weaknesses have been linked to his on-court maturity and decision making. This season he averaged 3.3 assists to 2.5 turnovers, not the greatest numbers in the world. However, the NBA style of play is built for Schroeder's game. He's going to have to control his urges at times and learn to efficiently quarterback the offense when the game is slowed down. Being able to control the pace of a game will be his challenge moving forward.

Finishing at the rim could also be a obstacle. At the NBA Combine, Schroeder only got off the ground for a 34-inch max vertical, while many of the other point guards registered verticals over 40 inches.

The good news for Schroeder is his promising frame and near 6'8'' wingspan, a monster number for a 6'2'' guard.

Draft Breakdown and NBA Outlook

Schroeder will be competing for draft position with guys like Shane Larkin of Miami, Michael Carter-Williams of Syracuse and C.J. McCollum of Lehigh. The best thing going for Schroeder is upside.

He has all the tools in order to become a solid starting point guard. He's got the size Larkin doesn't, the shooting touch Carter-Williams lacks and the pass-first mentality McCollum needs to develop to run an offense.

Trey Burke seems to be the consensus top point guard with Michael Carter-Williams at No. 2, but Schroeder should be right in the mix as a potential late-lottery option.

Some have compared him to Rajon Rondo based off his quickness and length. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I'd bet on Schroeder becoming a household name over the next few years.

Manchester United vs. West Brom: What Season's Final Match Meant for Both Clubs

Jake Nisse — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:24:20 -0400

In a game ever so fitting to culminate Sir Alex Ferguson's career, Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion split the points in a 5-5 thriller. Javier Hernandez put United up three goals with 27 minutes to play, but sloppy defending allowed Romelu Lukaku and Youssouf Mulumbu to level the game.

With United already having clinched the title on April 22 with a 3-0 win vs. Aston Villa and WBA sitting comfortably in eighth place, this game had just about no meaning in terms of points implications.

However, despite the fact that United couldn't earn three points, this game served as a tribute to the attacking brand of football that Sir Alex's squads have played for the last 26 years. Even with the playing of stalwarts Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, Fergie made sure to give United fans a glimpse of the club's future in using an obviously experimental lineup.

Among the squad's six changes was the appearance of Jonny Evans and Alexander Buttner in the starting lineup, with Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic watching comfortably from the bench.

Though there were some bright spots such as Buttner's second goal of the season, the inexperienced back line was given major problems by the WBA counter-attack and allowed 20 year-old Romelu Lukaku to tally a second-half hat-trick.

With their title already in the bag, it was expected that Ferguson would give his young guns a chance to fire, but he was knowingly taking the risk of allowing defensive lapses, such as the ones that occurred.

All in all, Sir Alex will be a little disappointed not to have won the match but probably won't lose sleep knowing he didn't have his best squad out on the Hawthorns pitch.

West Brom, on the other hand, will be delighted to have earned a point after trailing by three goals twice in the game. While they may not be in the upper echelons of the EPL just yet, their eighth-place finish is their highest since their re-entry into to the top flight in 2010-2011 (per statto.com).

Considering their last-place finish in 2008-2009, this game, this season and the last three years of (at least) top-11 finishes have marked an impressive ascent from one of the lowliest clubs in the EPL.

Another ascent worth watching has been that of 20-year-old Belgian wonderkid Romelu Lukaku, who capped off an impressive season at the Midlands with three goals in the second period of the match. After dethroning Peter Odemwingie as the club's top scorer and showing his dominance today vs. United, West Brom will certainly increase their attempts to keep their starlet attacker. He is rumored to be wanted back by parent club Chelsea (Daily Mail) or possibly loaned to ninth-place neighbor Swansea (Daily Mirror).

In the end, this game, with its wild finish and 10 goals, represented the parity of the the EPL.

It represented the fighting spirit of a middle-tier club facing champions.

And lastly, it represented the end of a magical 26-year tenure, filled with an abundance of goals and stunning offensive play.

Goodbye, Sir Alex.

(All stats and info via ESPN FC)

UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 5 English Players Who Will Impress the Most

Alana Nassiah — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:16:45 -0400

In years past, the UEFA European Under-21 Championship has showcased the new football stars to the world. Countries send teams filled with talent players who eventually go on to make a name for themselves.

And England is no exception.

England usually sends a team with strong footballers who hope to prove themselves and earn a senior team call-up.

Here are the five English footballers who will impress the most at the Under-21 Championship in Israel and perhaps earn a spot on the senior squad soon after.

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Rome Masters 2013 Results: Rafael Nadal's Win Will Lead to French Open Success

Jesse Reed — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:11:13 -0400

In what was supposed to be a blockbuster men's final, Rafael Nadal made Roger Federer look average (at best) on Sunday, winning the Rome Masters in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. It was Nadal's seventh title at this prestigious clay tournament.

The way Nadal has been playing lately, it seems impossible that he won't win the French Open this year—his eighth career title at Roland Garros and fourth in a row.

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised by this result, as Nadal has been absolutely crushing opponents since returning to the ATP Tour after his seven-month injury layoff. Still, whenever a professional athlete rises so far above his/her opponents, we can't help but be amazed.

Since coming back to the tour in February, Nadal has only lost two matches in eight tournaments—both of which occurred in a final. He has six tournament wins thus far, three more than any other player on the men's tour.

His knees, which were seemingly ravaged before his seven-month hiatus, appear to be in better shape than ever before. Nadal is getting anywhere on the court he wants to, and his ability to scramble on clay surfaces is unparalleled.

Though David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych managed to take Nadal to three sets in their quarterfinal and semifinal matches, the man known as "The King of Clay Courts" proved too difficult an opponent to defeat.

Even when Nadal isn't at the top of his game, he's a terror on clay surfaces.

His seven titles at Roland Garros are the most by any single player since Max Decugis won eight back in the early 1900s. At that time, however, the French Open wasn't a worldwide event and was only contested by club members.

Nadal is the most dominant clay tennis player in the modern era, and now that his health has returned he's unstoppable. He's simply overwhelming his opponents right now with his superior athleticism, speed and range.

Next stop, French Open victory No. 8 for Nadal in 2013.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

LA Lakers Should Do Little or Nothing This Offseason

Mannie Barling — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:09:31 -0400

It seems that every article about the Los Angeles Lakers’ future must start with some analysis of last season.

The 2012-2013 Lakers were either snake-bitten or cursed by an old gypsy in a black and white horror movie. It may also be a case of karma coming back after all those lucky, injury-free years of championship seasons. It happened. So, get over it and stop blaming Jimmy Buss, although he certainly shoulders a large portion of blame.

Last year's Lakers started with one foot in the bucket with Howard recovering from back surgery, a worn-out Pau Gasol and a slew of injuries that converted Showtime into an episode of M*A*S*H*. Then, in a moment of being shortsighted, D’Antoni played Kobe as if he were a common plow horse until, like a horse, he broke down in the home stretch.

Now, pundits, sportswriters and nearly every Angeleno in their car listening to talk radio are exercising their divine right to morph into a member of the cast of any of the CSI shows and do a lengthy autopsy on the nightmare season past. The operative question is whether the 2013-2014 Lakers’ team will suffer from the past season or find good health and an offensive system that fits their twin towers.

But, first and foremost, Dwight Howard will re-sign with the Lakers because he has nowhere else to go that can offer him the additional $29 million that the Lakers can offer, plus revenues from advertising and the other financial perks that go with living in Los Angeles or New York.

Lakers fans, on the other hand, need look no further than the NBA playoffs to see the importance of a "traditional" center who can defend, rebound and block shots.

Marc Gasol and Roy Hibbert have demonstrated the need for strong "traditional" center play in the playoffs when the game typically slows down and points in the paint are a premium. Both the Pacers and Knicks gave the Heat fits in the regular season, with more to come from Hibbert in the Conference Finals.

The Pacers took the Heat to a sixth game last year on the strength of Hibbert’s play. This year, Hibbert forced the Knicks into a jump-shooting team and beat them in six games, partly because of Hibbert’s 21 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots. Meanwhile, Marc Gasol turned the Westbrook-less Thunder into a mediocre jump-shooting team by shutting down the paint, rebounding and blocking shots.

A healthy Howard is as good, if not a better defensive player than both of them.

It should be noted that the weakness of the Miami Heat is at the 5 position, where Hibbert, Gasol and Howard excel. The secret to beating the Heat is at the center position, where good big men shut down the drives into the paint and control rebounds.

It also helps to have a strong 4, such as David West, Zach Randolph or Pau Gasol, who can match up with Chris Bosh. When Wade and James cannot drive to the rim, or shoot short jumpers in the paint, the Heat are just another jump shooting team, but with an effective bench.

While going small and spreading the court may produce results in the regular season, it is not a recipe for winning the NBA championships. Fans should look no further than the playoff losses by the Warriors and the Knicks to see what happens to jump-shooting teams in the playoffs.

Defense, rebounding and protecting the paint are the principal ingredients of a title-winning team. Without Howard, the Lakers have simply no chance of winning an NBA title while the Heat play their style of game and Marc Gasol and Roy Hibbert play theirs.

The first change the Lakers should make is to amnesty Metta World Peace. Any Laker fan who thinks that World Peace will opt out this summer fails to see how much he likes the "Hollywood" culture and that he has no place to go. He is now an old, slow one-dimensional player who is worth no more than the veteran minimum.

If the Lakers are going to keep Pau Gasol at the 4, then it is time to experiment by moving Earl Clark to the 3 and playing a power lineup. With Jordan Hill and Antawn Jamison as backups, the Lakers would have a tall, offensive-minded front line that could rebound and play defense. This front line could reduce easy baskets in the paint, rebound defensively and stop the opposing teams’ lay-up line that haunted last year’s team.

The next step would be to clean out the dead weight at the end of the bench and stop experimenting with Darius Morris at point guard. He is not that good a defensive player, cannot initiate the offense and is a horrible jump shooter. Every time he graced the court last season, the Lakers dropped further behind or lost a lead.

Mike Brown made a mistake picking Morris over Andrew Goudelock last year. At least Goudelock can score and is a competitive player. Chris Duhon was worthless on offense and defense, while Devin Eubanks has not panned out despite numerous opportunities.

The Lakers still need to improve their backcourt, where Kobe is now questionable, Steve Nash is entering his senior citizen, injury-plagued years, and Steve Blake, despite a terrific return to action from groin surgery, is another year older and another year slower.

The Lakers would have been better served signing Jarrett Jack as a free agent last year than trading for Nash. That mistake will haunt them for the next two years because of salary cap issues and the lack of availability of a good point guard in free agency.

If point guard is now a problem, then the potential loss of Kobe Bryant, or the Achilles injury turning him into an average player, is the greatest threat to the Lakers’ future. I saw what an Achilles tendon injury did to Elgin Baylor and Dominique Wilkins. It wasn’t pretty.

Kobe may be the only player I have seen with the mental and physical ability to come back from this injury. But he is not invincible, especially at his age.

This brings us to coaching. Mike Brown was horrible, and Mike D’Antoni should have never been hired. His foolhardy attempt to mold the Lakers into something they were not caused them so many losses that the team never recovered. It was obvious to Laker fans by March that the Lakers could go nowhere in the playoffs and it was time to play for next year.

Instead of a common-sense decision to wait until next year, D’Antoni played Kobe Bryant until he suffered an Achilles injury. Had D’Antoni listened for just one moment to James Worthy and Robert Horry on the pre-game shows, when they warned that Kobe's minutes may lead to an injury, fans would not be worrying about Bryant’s health today.

Certainly Worthy knows a little about playing too many minutes. Playing the last part of a season with a bad leg, which doctors told him would not get worse, shortened his career by a few years and damaged the Lakers' post-Magic Johnson transformation for several years afterward. No Laker fan wants to see a repeat of the early '90s teams. They were ugly and not representative of Laker basketball.

The Lakers' problems in 2012-2013 were simple. Howard returned to the lineup way too soon. He should have rehabilitated his injury until at least January before playing. Pau Gasol should have rested more after the Olympics and dealt with his knee issues sooner.

Furthermore, Mike Brown should have been fired in the offseason or the minute he decided to run the Princeton offense with the Lakers line up. Every Laker fan could see the Princeton offense was going to be a disaster.

Mike D’Antoni should not have been hired as a square peg being forced into the round Lakers roster. If D’Antoni is to remain the coach, as GM Mitch Kupchak says, then he needs to reinvent himself and fit his coaching into a style that fits his lineup, like George Karl and Larry Brown have done for years.

Any less will result in failure again. As they say, being foolish is doing the same thing over and over again in the face of failure.

The Lakers need to find a good young point guard to take over for Nash and Blake as soon as possible. Neither Jody Meeks nor Goudelock are tall enough to play the 2-guard position against most other 2-guards in the league. Look no further than Klay Thompson, a 6'8" shooter, who could and would score easily over both of them.

Both could be good backup guards, with Goudelock a candidate to move over to the point guard position, where he could be a fruitful backup at the very least. He was a better candidate to become a point guard than Darius Morris. It is unlikely Goudelock can stay in the league if he must play defense on shooting guards.

The Lakers need to take some lessons from Greg Popovich and the Spurs by making small changes that allow its players to get healthy and play up to their potential, which can easily happen for a Laker team with a front line of Howard, Gasol and Clark.

Their inherent size must be peppered with younger, quicker guards who can shoot. It is the search for young point and shooting guards that will define the Lakers in years to come, or immediately, if Bryant is not effective upon his return to the lineup.

The Lakers succeeded under Jerry Buss by keeping their lineup steady while searching for the missing part. In the '80s, those missing parts ranged from Bob McAdoo to Mychal Thompson. In the '90s, it was Shaq and a teenage phenomenon named Kobe Bryant. A few years ago that missing part was Pau Gasol. Who will be that missing part now?

Who knows, but the Lakers better start searching far and wide, even across Europe, to find such a player. Until then, the Lakers will be close every year, but no cigars. Hopefully, Jimmy Buss will receive an apparition from his father and turn himself into the Lakers leader he has failed to be so far in his brief career at the top.

Though the Lakers have many good pieces in place, they need to amnesty World Peace and improve their guard position with younger, more athletic players this offseason in order to put themselves in a good position going forward.

Cristiano Ronaldo Should Return to EPL After Trophy-Less Year with Real Madrid

Rob Goldberg — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:08:10 -0400

After an up-and-down year at Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo should move on and return to the English Premier League next season.

The Spanish club had a disappointing year compared to its lofty standards. A poor start left the club little chance to catch Barcelona in La Liga, and it finished in second place.

Meanwhile, the team failed to capitalize on opportunities in the UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey and could not win a trophy in either tournament.

In the latter event, the club lost in the finals to Atletico Madrid after Ronaldo was sent off. He was apparently still bitter following the match (via 101GreatGoals.com):

While Real Madrid is still one of the top clubs in the world, it was obvious this season how reliant it is on the contributions of Ronaldo. The forward is currently second in the league with 34 goals, 20 ahead of Gonzalo Higuaín, who is next highest on the squad.

If you thought he was simply the benefactor of the hard work of others, he also tied for the team lead with 10 assists, which ranks fourth in the league. It is difficult to imagine the offense functioning anywhere near as well without the Portuguese star.

Additionally, the defense has been less than stellar all season; Real Madrid has earned only one clean sheet in the past 12 La Liga matches.

Ronaldo has basically carried the club to its level of success, and it is clear he will be able to do this and more with almost any other organization.

Considering he is currently avoiding negotiations for a new contract, he should use this opportunity to move on to the EPL.

The first option for the superstar is to follow his manager Jose Mourinho to Chelsea, although Real president Florentino Perez claims this is not happening, according to Dave Kidd of Mirror Football.

Another possibility is for him to return to Manchester United. He has plenty of familiarity with the club, who has stated it is looking to make one major signing this summer.

With Wayne Rooney attempting to transfer out, there is plenty of room for Ronaldo to join the current EPL champions.

Ronaldo can play alongside Robin van Persie and a number of other talented players to not only defend the league title but also contend for a trophy in the Champions League.

This would be the perfect destination for the Portuguese star, especially if he is truly unhappy in his current situation.

Syracuse Basketball: Setting Expectations for Each Projected Starter

Josh Schoch — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:05:05 -0400

Coming off a trip to the Final Four, the Syracuse Orange are looking to reload after losing three stars to the NBA. The team will need big contributions from each of its starters to have the same success it did last season.

Syracuse's starting five is still a bit of a mystery since the team brings in six new players. It's tough to pick which of the team's many wings and big men will be starting come November, and even tougher to figure out which will be starting in March.

Let's take an early look at the projected starters and how they'll fair this season.

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Coach Sumlin's Biggest Challenges for Texas A&M in 2013

Michael Taglienti — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:02:50 -0400

The Texas A&M Football team turned in a surprising 11-2 record during their inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference in 2012. There are a number of challenges facing Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin as he and his team prepare for the 2013 season.

Sumlin led the Aggies to a top five finish in his first season at A&M. There is not much room for improvement after a season like that.

The Aggies' coach has repeatedly pointed out that the team finished third in the SEC West. The A&M football team will have to make great strides in all phases of the game in order to meed or exceed their performance in 2012.

Texas A&M lost a very talented group of seniors to graduation from the 2012 team. The key to success in the 2013 season is replacing the leadership and play from that group.

This is a look at the various challenges facing Sumlin as the Aggies approach the 2013 season.

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UFC on FX 8: Cowardly TRT Champion Vitor Belfort Continues to Embarrass MMA

McKinley Noble — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:59:53 -0400

Although he refers to himself as a "tyrannosaurus" fighting amongst the young lions of the sport, MMA legend Vitor Belfort came off like a kitten this weekend.

More than that, he looked like a coward in the aftermath of UFC on FX 8, all because of three simple little letters: TRT.

Put "The Phenom" inside the Octagon and he often looks like an unstoppable wrecking machine, pulling off amazing displays of violence like the spinning head-kick knockout shot that put away former Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold.

But just ask Belfort about the testosterone replacement therapy that's fueled his training during camp—or any of his past drug use—and he mentally runs away.

Is that really the way one of the sport's major players wants to present himself?

And yet, that was the scene at the UFC on FX 8 post-fight presser, where the former UFC champion went back to 1992 and told MMA Junkie's John Morgan to "talk to the hand" before threatening to have him physically assaulted for asking about TRT.

Well, it's safe to say Vitor does not want to talk about testosterone. I was shushed for bringing it up. Sorry. I tried. — John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) May 19, 2013

Belfort asked someone 2 beat @mmajunkiejohn for asking about TRT. Rockhold says TRT doesn't teach 2 kick. Belfort refuses to answer Johns Qs — Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) May 19, 2013

It's pretty sad to see that's the attitude that Belfort is continuing to adopt this late in the game, especially since the more he wins, the more TRT will cloud his career.

Even UFC president Dana White and Nevada State Athletic Commission executive Keith Kizer have shined a spotlight on the headliner's performance enhancement, with Kizer telling B/R MMA that Belfort would be unlikely to get approved for a bout in Las Vegas, America's fight capital.

Fortunately for Belfort, that probably suits him just fine.

After counting his winnings and bonus money, he'll simply continue to hide away between Brazil and his training camps with the Florida-based Blackzilians, alongside drug-use suspects like Alistair Overeem and Matt Mitrione, safe from public scrutiny.

That's the mark of someone who's lost touch with reality: an ego inflated by steroids and testosterone shots as much as by dominance in the middleweight division.

Fight Opinion—an MMA outlet consistently ahead of the game on drugs in the sport—outlines "the Vitor Belfort problem" best of all by showing that when it comes to The Phenom, his TRT use has the UFC scrambling to make the best of a bad look:

For those who wanted MMA to be accepted as a mainstream sport, well… the one sport whose drug testing policy most resembles combat sports right now is horse racing. A baseball player gets busted for testosterone and all hell breaks loose. A testosterone user in UFC gets a promotional push.

So, the fighters using testosterone don't want to defend themselves to the press. UFC management policy is supportive of T use but slams usage of marijuana. And the doctors involved in pushing or enabling the testosterone usage don't want to talk and aren't being pressured to talk either in the press or in the court system.

The commissions aren't going to do anything. If anything, the tenuous financial & political nature of these regulatory bodies means they are more prone to allowing testosterone usage in order to get UFC cash.

And, on the Vitor front, Dana White said he would face the winner of Anderson Silva/Chris Weidman… which has prompted Vitor to say that he would like to take a long vacation. Well played. (emphasis added.)

Any way you look at it, the situation is a bad joke, and the idea of Belfort getting a title shot should be a slap in the face to every clean athlete who's ever competed in the sport and every fan who has ever looked upon MMA with pride.

It's a real shame, especially when the sport has more eyes on it than ever.

Hopefully, the UFC comes to its senses and retracts the plan to match Belfort up with the winner of the Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman bout at UFC 162.

Hopefully, athletic commissions make a real effort to ban TRT use with the UFC simultaneously funding blood tests and adopting secondary drug screening to catch those wealthy enough to work their way around the system. (Scaling back marijuana penalties would be great, too.)

And at the very least, Belfort himself might have to start showing at least the barest sense of self-awareness and stop threatening to have MMA reporters beaten up for asking him questions about his new fountain of youth scheme.

Testosterone may give Belfort all the confidence in the world during training and fight week, but that only makes it all the more embarrassing when he can't handle a single mention of the performance enhancing substance outside of the Octagon.

McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist. His work has appeared in NVision, PC World, Macworld, GamePro, 1UP, MMA Mania and The L.A. Times.

Neymar Would Be Crazy to Remain at Santos Until Next Summer

Timothy Rapp — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:55:23 -0400

In general, the top players in the world play for European clubs. Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta play for Barcelona. Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Real Madrid. The list goes on and on.

And then there is Neymar, widely considered one of the top talents in all of football. The Brazilian starlet is wanted by most of the big clubs in the world, yet the 21-year-old continues to ply his trade in Brazil for Santos.

And it appears he will do so for at least one more season. Neymar's father told Radio Bandeirantes (via Joe Wright of Goal.com) that the player will stay in Brazil until the summer of 2014:

Our position is to stay until the end of contract. And we have not heard that Santos are in negotiations to sell Neymar. If Santos want then I will talk with my son to see if he really wants to go. We made some plans for Neymar to stay here until 2014. If these change we must be told beforehand.

Barcelona is waiting for Neymar but for 2014. A project is in place to see how he will fit there. They put people next to Neymar to see how he would work. And Real Madrid does the same thing in the same way.

The question is, why? I can understand wanting to stay close to family, supporting Santos for another season and representing his Brazilian roots. But if you were a player of Neymar's caliber, wouldn't you want to take on the top competition the world has to offer?

Wouldn't you want to make your mark in La Liga, the English Premier League, the Bundesliga or Serie A?

While Neymar is already a global star based on his international appearances with Brazil, he'll never take his game to the next level until he's battling the top clubs in Europe over the duration of a full season. Plus, he's also missing out on playing with some of the top players in the world (since it's probably safe to assume he's headed to either Barcelona or Real Madrid).

He's ready for Europe, and this season would make sense to take that jump. At Real Madrid, he could potentially be replacing Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been rumored to be making the jump back to the Premier League.

At Barcelona, he would be the dynamic goal-scorer the team desperately needs to take some pressure off of Lionel Messi if the team is to reclaim its European crown in the Champions League.

Financially, Neymar is just fine. Santos has been paying him far from peanuts, and he's already one of the world's most marketable athletes.

But the trophies that really matter; the prestige that comes with playing European club football; the chance to prove against the world's best that he is an elite talent, all of that still awaits. Most people in his shoes would either be making the jump this summer or would have already taken their talents overseas.

Apparently, Neymar will wait one more year to do so. At this point, it's a bit hard to understand why.

Breaking Down Kurt Busch's Return to NASCAR Sprint Cup Contender Status

Geoffrey Miller — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:55:10 -0400

Driving a race car seemed to be the least of Kurt Busch's worries in 2012. Often, it showed.

Busch wrecked early (at least three race cars required repair after incidents during the season-opening Daytona Speedweeks) and was a participant to incidents often (11 races with incidents in 30 starts) with Phoenix Racing last season. In between, he was desperately trying to repair his image that was tattered when his emotions boiled over in the final race of 2011.

In that scene, Busch unflinchingly berated a waiting ESPN reporter in the Homestead-Miami Speedway garage. A fan recorded the video and posted it online, where today it totals over 1.1 million views. Less than two weeks later, amid pressure from team sponsors, Penske Racing and Busch parted ways—marking the second time Busch left a Sprint Cup race team for matters unrelated to on-track success.

In 2012, while working for Phoenix, Busch's effort at reshaping his image was a mixed bag. He spoke all of the right lines, consistently detailing the "fun" he was having at the "old-school" Phoenix operation. By the end of the season, he shaped a documentary for air on SPEED channel that was a one-sided look at Busch through a "different lens."

The PR campaign needed to be at full swing because the 2004 series champion was still pulling the negativity toward himself. There was the odd Darlington run-in with Ryan Newman's crew, and then a one-race suspension after threatening a reporter at Dover in June. Phoenix Racing nearly dropped him.

But Busch won a Nationwide Series race at Daytona in July and had soon caught the eye of Furniture Row Racing owner Barney Visser. At the time, Regan Smith was piloting FRR's No. 78 to a season below expectations with just a single top-five and three top-ten finishes. Visser pulled the trigger—a controversial one because of the gulf between the reputations of each driver—and Busch raced the final six races of 2012 for the Colorado-based team.

In the season's final three events, Busch matched Smith's season-to-date results with three top-ten finishes.

The story has only been more success for the oft-criticized Busch in 2013. Through 11 races, a year-to-year comparison of Busch and Smith show FRR made the right call. A year ago, Smith drove the No. 78 in an average running position of 23rd and raced just 13.6 percent of the laps of first eleven events in the top-15. Meanwhile, Busch's average running position in the same period his season is better by nearly six spots with 60 percent of competed laps coming in the race's top 15 positions.

Busch also dazzled in NASCAR's All-Star Race for FRR. He won two of the race's segments only to finish fifth in the most important final dash after a disappointed pit stop. All told, Busch has stepped up his game for three reasons: he's handling pressure from all corners better, he's letting his true talent shine and he's taking advantage of technical improvements FRR sought in the offseason.

The result has put Busch back on the map of drivers that have a reasonable shot at winning each week.

Learning to handle the pressure

Busch will never be completely level-headed when he's in competition mode. He exhibits the traits of any hardened competitor—just perhaps a bit more publicly than most. There's an upside to that intense internal desire to succeed, of course, but for many it sits on the wall between "just right" and "too much."

Busch has gone over that wall many times as evidenced by his now famous in-car radio meltdowns and aggressive on-track behavior. But in 2013, the Las Vegas native has shown a shift in his ability to combat frustration.

At Darlington Raceway, where Busch started from the pole, he played a new melancholy role on the in-car radio in situations that in the past had brought him to demonstrative and damaging vitriol. He was upset and complaining, sure, but the exchanges seemed to be more of a release of frustration instead of gasoline on the fire. In the past, Busch would've compounded the problems with his anger. At Darlington, he managed a decent 14th-place finish.

His role was similar during the All-Star event in Charlotte after Busch won the race's first segment and became the only driver eligible for the $2 million payout.

Busch's natural driving talent surfaces

We've known for a long, long time that the older of NASCAR's Busch brothers could wheel a race car. His first NASCAR-sanctioned season came in 2000 in the Camping World Truck Series. Busch didn't win in his first 13 Truck races (he was a runner-up four times), but he then proceeded to take the checkered flag in his 14th and then three more times in the next 10 events.

The pattern was similar, if elongated slightly, in the Cup Series. Busch didn't win in his first full-time rookie season (2001). But by the end of his third full-time year, Busch had eight wins in NASCAR's top series. The very next year he was the sport's champion.

In the No. 78 this season, we're getting to see that Busch is on a different level talent-wise than many in the sport. Smith is no slouch of a NASCAR driver (in a part-time role with Phoenix this year, Smith has two top-ten finishes, no finish worse than 24th and two Nationwide Series wins at JR Motorsports) but Busch brought immediate improvement to the FRR team. Outside of fuel system issues at Martinsville Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, Busch has a legitimate chance to be one the of the top 15 drivers in the point standings.

Growth of Childress/FRR technical partnership

Busch came to FRR amid a growing relationship between that team and longtime NASCAR torchbearer Richard Childress Racing. That's essential for FRR's unique headquarters location outside of Denver. The team claims to be the only Sprint Cup team based west of the Mississippi River—which is a long way from the North Carolina roots for most competing teams.

The teams have shared a technical and engineering partnership for multiple seasons. But in January, the FRR/RCR alliance grew further when FRR's director of competition Mark McArdle doubled his duties to become the director of racing operations for RCR. Suddenly, Busch's No. 78 became a satellite fourth team to the RCR team fielding Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Paul Menard.

In today's NASCAR, such partnerships are crucial for single-car operations because of the increased access to research, data collection and engineering work. For Busch, it's a key part of his resurgence to the competitive standard where he belongs.

Tottenham: Spurs Suffer Another Final Day Disappointment but Can Hold Heads High

Frank Wagner — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:46:34 -0400

As the dust settled on Tottenham's 1-0 victory over Sunderland, fans at White Hart Lane weren't much up for celebrating.

For the second straight season, a home win on the final day saw Spurs fall one point short of arch-rivals Arsenal in the race for Champions League bids.

So much of the final day's script was familiar for Tottenham.

In each of the last two seasons, Spurs have conceded a lead to the Gunners in the run-in.

In both seasons, they entered the final day trailing Arsenal by a point, needing both to win at home and for the Gunners to slip up on the road.

Last year, despite Spurs winning against Fulham, a 54th-minute goal for Laurent Koscielny allowed Arsenal to stay ahead of their north London rivals. This year, it was a Koscielny goal in the 52nd minute that kept the Gunners in the Champions League.

The similarities are eerie.

However, despite all these parallels, the feeling at White Hart Lane should be very different this time around.

Last season's fourth-place finish was the result of Tottenham, for lack of a better term, choking.

With a nice lead in the league heading into their run-in, Spurs hit a terrible spell of form, lost matches they should not have and ended up as outsiders to Europe's biggest club competition.

This time around, Tottenham's finish in the Europa League spots was not down to their inadequacy but rather their rival's fantastic play.

Through their final 16 Premier League matches this season, Arsenal lost just one match. That loss, no less, was to Tottenham.

Through their final 10 matches, the Gunners dropped just four points, those coming from draws to a plucky Everton and champions Manchester United.

Can Tottenham supporters look back on a few matches down the stretch and rue a few missed opportunities? Of course.

This was no collapse from Spurs, though. This was Arsenal earning fourth through some remarkable form.

As opposed to the end of last year, when Tottenham's disintegration made it clear that there were changes needed at the club, Spurs can hold their heads high after this disappointment.

Yes, Tottenham is stuck in another season of the Europa League, but they are slowly gaining ground on their adversaries.

If they can gain any semblance of stability this summer, that should give the north Londoners a leg up on their main Premier League rivals.

Thus, instead of dwelling on any "would've", "could've" or "should've", Tottenham supporters should instead focus on the summer transfer window.

If the club can offload some dead weight, add in a few key areas and make sure that Gareth Bale's stunning late strike today was not his last for the team, then Spurs' upward trajectory will be undeniable.

This is no doubt a gloomy day, but the future is bright at White Hart Lane.

Follow @Fw1812

Top 5 Tactical Geniuses in the Premier League This Season

Sam Tighe — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:41:01 -0400

The English Premier League season is over, and after 38 games, we've deduced who the tactical geniuses of 2012-13 are.

There are those who do things by the book of basics—Sam Allardyce, for example—and as effective as they are, the five managers we've selected have really stood out.

Who joins Sir Alex Ferguson in the list of tactical geniuses?

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Washington Redskins Starting Secondary Needs to Step Up or Step Aside

John Bibb — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:39:57 -0400

The Washington Redskins made significant additions to their secondary during the offseason, drafting two safeties and a cornerback. If last year's starters don't make a significant impact early, they could be watching from the sidelines soon.

Head coach Mike Shanahan has never shied away from his desire to have a more youthful team and to have a more solid depth chart. During the offseason, the team's primary area of concern was the secondary—which, according to NFL.com, finished at or near the bottom in multiple categories, especially their pass defense.

The Redskins official website does not have the team's depth chart published for the upcoming season. However, many online sites have taken it upon themselves to play the role as a member of the Redskins coaching staff and put forth the Redskins first and second-team's starters by position.

Except for safety Brandon Meriweather, who missed most of 2012 with an torn ACL, the consensus shows last year's starting secondary during their seven-game winning streak to close the regular season all returning to their designated roles.

ESPN.com lists DeAngelo Hall as left cornerback with E.J. Biggers second and David Amerson third. At right cornerback, Josh Wilson followed by Richard Crawford. The starting strong safety will be Brandon Meriweather with Bacarri Rambo second and at free safety is Reed Doughty with Phillip Thomas second.

An interesting twist on that proposed lineup is one put forth by a lesser and relatively unknown site, ourlads.com, who, according to their website, has been "scouting, evaluating, and rating college football talent as it pertains to the NFL Draft since the early 1980's."

The only difference this site has proposed would have cornerback Amerson moving to the right side and at the number two position, ahead of ESPN's suggestion of Richard Crawford.

With this suggested depth chart, the entire second team secondary will be made up of offseason acquisitions—something coach Shanahan suggested adds to the competitiveness of the starting position, in a post-NFL draft press conference April 27 seen on Redskins.com.

"We love competition." Shanahan said with a grin. "When you’ve got competition it doesn’t matter if you are a first-year player, second-year player, or a 15-year player. You’ve got to go out there and prove it every day, every game each week. To me, when you have healthy competition it gives you a chance to get better.”

With the talent the Redskins added over the course of the last month, counting the acquisition of free agent E.J. Biggers March 20, the starters have to realize and recognize their performance will be under the microscope.

With three rookies anxious to prove themselves to coaches, starters and opponents—there has to be a certain level of added pressure to rise up and prove your worthiness as a starter. After all, as coach Shanahan pointed out, "you've got to go out there and prove" you're worthy of that starting spot on the roster.

As an armchair quarterback and pigskin prognosticator, I'm certain that any one of the team's second-team players could start on a NFL team. Each of them have the qualifications.

At cornerback, E.J. Biggers joins the team after four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He will reunite with his then-head coach Raheem Morris who is currently the Redskins defensive backs coach. Last season with the Buccaneers, Biggers started a career-high 12 games, recording 51 tackles, an interception and seven pass deflections.

Also at cornerback, second-round draft pick David Amerson, who officially signed with the team May 17, was recognized in 2011 as one of the top college defensive backs after leading the NCAA in interceptions with 13. He added five INTs last season.

Coach Shanahan had praise for Amerson's instincts and versatility in an interview with the Washington Post April 27.

"He’s got the speed you look for, he’s got some length, just a guy we felt can fit into our system very well. Very smart player.”

Safety Baccari Rambo impressed coach Shanahan during rookie minicamp and adds another defensive threat when in passing situations, recording 16 career interceptions in his college playing days at Georgia.

Fellow safety and fourth-round draftee Phillip Thomas also has a good nose for the ball while defending against the pass—leading the nation while at Fresno State with eight INTs last season.

Both safeties left a lasting impression with Shanahan following their rookie minicamp as well, as reported by the Associated Press on May 5.

“Their ball skills were very evident over the last few days,” Shanahan said of Rambo and Thomas. “We do a lot of different things with our secondary. We put a lot of pressure on them mentally as well as physically. You’ve got be able to play both (strong and free safety). They’ve got the size and the athletic ability to play both positions.”

With this much talent waiting in the wings, you can't help but think that the Redskins starters are going to be looking over their shoulder after plays in which they got beat on defense. Coach Shanahan has put the defensive backs on notice that you might be a starter now, but now you have competition that can step up and step in.

Competitiveness only brings out the best in any NFL player. Coach Shanahan has challenged the team in a non-threatening way while also serving notice that they are replaceable should they not perform to the best of their abilities.

In doing so, the Redskins should have a vastly improved defensive secondary that has quality players with potential and talent. Having said this, the defense has the opportunity to improve upon all of the key statistical categories and their bottom of the league pass defense rankings from 2012.

In my opinion there is one fairly safe bet when taking into account this year's defensive secondary. The Redskins will lead the league in interceptions after nearly claiming the top spot last season, finishing tied for third-most with 21. They trailed only Chicago (24), Arizona (22) and tied with the New York Giants.

Follow on Twitter @JohnBibb and view previous Bleacher Report articles I have written on the Washington Redskins here.

Lucas Matthysse Justified Manny Pacquiao Comparisons in Saturday's Dominant Win

Matt Fitzgerald — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:37:51 -0400

Lucas Matthysse's third-round TKO of Lamont Peterson on Saturday evening confirmed his status as the best junior-welterweight fighter in boxing. It also gave credibility to the comparison that Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Shaefer made following the dominant win.

As documented by Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News, Schaefer did nothing to dismiss the buzz and hype surrounding the explosive Argentine victor, analogizing him to a prolific welterweight:

We have a new Manny Pacquiao from Argentina and his name is Lucas Matthysse. We have just seen one of the most spectacular performances and this was at the highest level against a very good fighter in Peterson. This was a huge statement.

By the time the bout was stopped at 2:14 in Round 3, Matthysse's thunderous punches had dropped Peterson to the canvas three times—including twice in that decisive round.

Despite an orthodox stance, it was two crushing left hooks—one at the end of Round 2, and the other stopping the fight—that drove Matthysse to the unexpectedly early triumph.

That boosted Matthysse's career record to 34-2, with 32 of his wins coming through knockouts. But this was clearly the landmark win of his career, and it sets up a matchup with WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia.

It's not as if Peterson was slouch, either. Entering his fight with Matthysse, the only loss the IBF light welterweight title holder lost was to undefeated American counterpart Timothy Bradley—and it took 12 rounds.

Though Pacquiao is a southpaw, the stylistic similarities between him and Matthysse are visible. Both have lightning-quick hands, optimal agility and reflexes and devastating body shots thanks to sensational hooks—even with their non-dominant arms.

Attacking is the primary strategy on both fighters' minds, which can make them susceptible to punishment, but not when they're at the top of their game.

Both have had their fair share of controversial decisions, too. All three fights with Juan Manuel Marquez that preceded Pacquiao's recent loss to his arch-rival were 12-round, grueling epics, with Pacman getting the nod in two and drawing the other.

Ironically, it was Bradley who won a polarizing split decision to win the WBO welterweight title.

Matthysse has had his fair share of letdowns. His two prior losses were to Devon Alexander and Zab Judah—both split decisions.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reports that Matthysse is pleased with the Pacquiao comparisons, but essentially feels that talk is cheap unless they compete against each other:

What made Matthysse's coming out party all the more impressive—and proved he is on a rapid rise to boxing prominence—were the trials and tribulations he endured just to reach the ring in Atlantic City, New Jersey's Boardwalk Hall.

CraveOnline.com's Tim Smith reported earlier in the week that Matthysse was robbed in his native land by someone he did not know, and the burglar cut up his passport.

That prevented Matthysse from arriving to the United States earlier in order to acclimate to the different environment and prepare for the fight. It didn't seem to matter when the lights came on Saturday, though, because Matthysse was punishing.

Showing that sort of mental fortitude despite turbulence in his personal life has also been a defining characteristic of Pacquiao throughout his illustrious career.

Though Pacquiao's past of gambling and heavy drinking were self-inflicted, it still compares to Matthysse's fire and passion to overcome adversity and perform at such a high level as a fighter.

The 30-year-old Matthysse is entering the prime of his career. Garcia is a perfect 26-0 with a recent victory over Judah to his credit, but it's hard to bet against Matthysse moving forward after Saturday's display.

It's also difficult to dismiss comparisons between Matthysse and even someone with the gaudy status of Pacquiao, because that is his ceiling.

Note: All statistics and bout history for all fighters, unless otherwise indicated, are courtesy of BoxRec.com.

Cold Hard Fact for Sunday, May 19, 2013

Daily Cold Hard Facts — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:34:30 -0400

Hall of Fame pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter garnered his nickname after Oakland Athletics owner Charles Finley made up a story that Hunter had caught a large catfish as a boy.

Bleacher Report will be bringing sports fans the most interesting and engaging Cold Hard Fact of the day, presented by Coors Light.

Rome Masters 2013 Final: Rafael Nadal Will Continue Dominance at French Open

John Rozum — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:31:33 -0400

Rafael Nadal ran through the Italian Open and that will hold true in the 2013 French Open.

Although he was minutely challenged by Ernests Gulbis of Latvia and fellow countryman David Ferrer, Nadal hit another level in the semifinals and finals.

Facing Tomas Berdych after Ferrer, Nadal won in straights sets 6-2 and 6-4, which set up a bout with Roger Federer. There, he continued to smash and swept Federer 6-1 and 6-3 for the win.

Despite Federer's age (31), along with his obviously declining play in recent years, this is still a remarkable victory for Nadal. The Swiss continues to be one of the best around. So, any time he gets rolled we can only appreciate the production of that particular opponent—in this case, Nadal.

Refusing to drop a set against Berdych and Federer is simply quite impressive, even for Nadal. For his sake, the guy also enters this season's Roland Garros with incredible momentum. As Kevin Mitchell of the Guardian writes, even Nadal sounded a bit struck by his performance:

Nadal said: "If anyone had told me [that] when I came back I would win six titles, I would have told them they were crazy. It has exceeded my wildest dreams." The No. 5 seed was diplomatic when asked if he was surprised at the ease of the win. "It was surprising. I cannot expect to win against Roger 6-1, 6-3."

Regarding the French Open, Nadal looks for his fourth consecutive title and eighth in nine years. Even better, his confidence leading in with consistent play has been much better than the top competition.

Novak Djokovic was upset in Round 2 of Madrid and then failed to put Berdych away in Italy's quarterfinals.

Andy Murray, on the other hand, may not even compete in the Roland Garros. According to Russell Fuller of BBC Sport, Murray has yet to make a decision after withdrawing from the Rome Masters:

The Briton will make a decision about his participation at Roland Garros on Wednesday after talking to specialists.

Murray endured a miserable 26th birthday as a lower-back problem forced him out of his second-round tie.

Now mesh all that with Nadal's three wins over Ferrer this year, as well as the convincing victories over Berdych and Federer. Only Djokovic appears to be the best of competition on clay, as evidenced by defeating Nadal in Monaco.

That said, the tides have since turned and Nadal is on the upswing. Include his win over Djokovic during last year's French Open in four sets, and this is Rafa's tournament to lose.

Tottenham vs. Sunderland: Gareth Bale's Heroics Highlight His Summer Value

Justin Onslow — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:29:59 -0400

With an Arsenal win on Sunday, Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Sunderland was all for naught. Despite Gareth Bale’s late-match heroics that netted Spurs the victory, the writing may now be on the wall for the tremendous 23-year-old midfielder.

A Champions League berth may have been the only thing keeping the Spurs star at Tottenham, and that’s no longer in the cards. As it stands, it seems Bale could be open to other options.

Bale emphasized how important winning—specifically in the Champions League—is to him, as quoted by Shane Farrington of Goal.com:

It gets asked a lot at the moment, but it is something I am not thinking too much about at the moment. My mind is not wandering anywhere. Winning is a massive thing and playing against the best teams is what a footballer wants to do. Champions League is a massive thing. We have been there before, playing against the best teams in the biggest stadiums, testing ourselves.

“We” may no longer mean Bale and Spurs, however.

With so much potential interest on the transfer market this summer, Bale is going to have plenty of options finding a winning club in need of a young, dominant talent. Not that he needed it, but his performance against Sunderland was the perfect audition for those clubs.

In that match, Bale once again took his club on his shoulders—something he has been forced to do all too often. With the match on the line and in desperate need of a victory to have any chance of securing a top-four finish, Bale delivered as he always does.

The tremendous left-footed strike proved meaningless, but it highlighted why Bale will be a top target on the transfer market this summer. There are players who come close to matching his talent, but few come through in the clutch as often as the Welshman.

Several top-shelf clubs will be vying for Bale’s services this summer, including Spanish juggernauts Real Madrid, who, according to John Cross of the Daily Mirror, will be prepared to “make a big push” for the Spurs star:

Perez is prepared to offer a straight cash deal of £45m or a player-plus-cash deal, which will include either striker Gonzalo Higuain or winger Angel Di Maria.

Real are understood to have already made discreet enquiries - and have been sent packing by the north Londoners, who are determined to keep Bale.

Spurs may be determined to keep him, but those prospects are increasingly unlikely with the disappointing end to their season. Bale simply finds ways to win, and there’s a good chance he’ll be hoping to find a club that can help him do so next term.

The biggest question mark is how much potential suitors will be willing to pay for the star. Though Madrid is seemingly willing to give up a marginal sum for Bale, their rumored offer probably isn’t close to what some other top-tier clubs would be willing to part with.

According to Matt Law of the Daily Mirror, Premier League giants Manchester United could be willing to offer £60 million for Bale:

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy values Bale at £60million and may well attempt to stop the Wales winger joining another English club.

A new £170,000-a-week contract offer is also being drawn up.

United are prepared to sweeten their bid by offering Spurs the likes of Anderson and Nani—two players Villas-Boas is known to admire.

None of the rumors are particularly surprising—in fact, it wouldn’t be a shock to see either club up the ante when the summer transfer period arrives. If his performance this season is any indication of future potential, no price should be too steep to acquire Bale.

The Best Coach in the History of Every College Football Team

Alex Callos — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:22:56 -0400

College football has been around for over 140 years, and there are now 125 FBS schools. While some programs are more storied than others, each program has had a coach that stood out from the rest.

Even though some schools have only had college football programs at the FBS level for a few years, while others have been around for far longer than a century, there is at least one excellent coach to choose from at each school.

With so much history and tradition at certain schools, there have also been dozens of coaches at certain programs.

Here is the best coach of all time at each college football program.

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Norwich City: What Win over Manchester City Tells Us About Next Season

Andy Ward — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:21:25 -0400

Norwich City managed to finish the season in the best possible fashion courtesy of an enthralling 3-2 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The Canaries played with a refreshing freedom and bundles of ambition to secure a superb 11th-placed finish in the Premier League for this campaign.

It's the type of victory that should live long in the memory and give players and fans alike an extra skip in their steps as we head into the summer.

What's more, it's the type of eye-catching result that could act as a springboard to kick the club on again next season, with a top-10 assault certainly not out of their reach.

Here's what the win could mean for Norwich City's hopes in season 2013/14....

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Grizzlies vs. Spurs Game 1: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis

Ken Dorset — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:19:40 -0400

Keep it locked right here as we bring you live Grizzlies vs. Spurs coverage!