Bleacher Report - Front Page

NBA Playoffs 2013: Previewing Biggest Matchups for Heat vs. Pacers

Jesse Reed — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:46:44 -0400

The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers are getting ready to face off in the NBA Playoffs for the second straight year, and you can be sure it's going to be a physical series.

Both clubs feature synergistic rosters loaded with talented players, but there's no doubt which team has more experience in pressure situations. According to ESPN Stats & Info, only one player on the Pacers roster has ever been in a Conference Finals before this year:

Last year the Heat defeated the Pacers in six games in the Conference Semifinals, winning the first three, losing two and then closing out the series at home in Game 6.

This year, however, Indy has won two of the three head-to-head contests between these two clubs, and given the way the Pacers have played thus far in 2013 this series will be an all-out battle.

Here is a sneak peek at the biggest matchups in this series, which begins on Wednesday, May 22, at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Paul George vs. LeBron James

It's going to be seriously fun watching these two players go mano-a-mano for potentially seven games.

Nobody can match what James does overall for the Heat, but George has been nearly as brilliant an all-around player as King James during these postseason games.

In 12 games during the playoffs, George is averaging 19.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, five assists, 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. In every category besides blocks he's putting up better numbers than he did during the regular season.

George matches up well with James from a size perspective, which is hard to do. Granted, James has at least 30 pounds on him, but George has the athleticism and speed to give him a hard time on defense.

The last time these two players met on the court was in mid-March. They canceled each other out, essentially, as James scored just 13 points and George scored 10.

If George can somehow harass James into making some bad shots or turnovers, Indiana has a chance to pull off a huge upset.

Roy Hibbert vs. Chris Bosh

These two players feature contrasting styles and strengths, and watching them attempt to counter one another's strong points will be fascinating.

Bosh is a highly skilled big man who is just as capable of hitting 18-foot jumpers as he is maneuvering for shots in the paint. His length and skill inside makes him an adept shot-blocker, but he'll be going up against a strong opponent inside against Hibbert.

Hibbert is much more of a natural banger, and his shot-blocking presence inside will certainly be a huge factor in this series. He averaged 3.2 blocks per game against the New York Knicks and will challenge James and the other Heat players every chance he gets.

Bosh will struggle to box out Hibbert down low, but Hibbert will struggle to keep up with Bosh on the perimeter—especially in pick-and-roll situations.

If Hibbert manages to disrupt Bosh's shooting touch, however, he'll take away the second-leading scorer on Miami's roster during the playoffs.

Should Bosh somehow keep Hibbert from owning the glass, it'll turn into more fast-break points for the Heat.

George Hill vs. Miami's Backcourt

Hill will be matched up with different Heat guards throughout the series.

Mario Chalmers will really struggle to contend with Hill's quickness and speed, as will Dwayne Wade on his gimpy knee.

Hill can break defenses down by penetrating into the paint, where he can either finish with authority or find an open teammate for an uncontested jumper.

His biggest strengths, however, can be found on the defensive side of the ball, where Hill's long arms and athleticism allow him to wreak havoc on opposing shooters.

Second-year point guard Norris Cole might see a heavy dose of Hill in this upcoming series, as he has the size and athleticism necessary to defend the gifted player.

In all reality, however, the Heat will be throwing the kitchen sink at Hill to see what works, just as the Pacers will do to James on the other side.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Kane Debunks Internet Rumor That He Will Run for Senate from Tennessee

Bill Atkinson — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:46:22 -0400

There will be no raising Kane in Washington.

The WWE’s Big Red Machine (real name: Glenn Jacobs) tells The Tennessean that he will not oppose incumbent Lamar Alexander in the Republican primary for next year’s U.S. Senate race in Tennessee. Jacobs was responding to a post on the Libertarian website Reason.com that he was considering a run against the former Tennessee governor and Republican presidential candidate.

Fresh off the loss of his World Tag Team title with Daniel Bryan at Sunday’s Extreme Rules, Jacobs tells The Tennessean Monday that “things get a little carried away on the Internet sometimes,” but that he was not thinking about a Senate run “at this time.”

Reason.com claims that Jacobs aligns himself with Libertarian causes and would have added a Libertarian voice in the primary against Alexander.

Of course, adding the phrase “at this time” could be read as meaning that Jacobs has not completely ruled out a future attempt at political office. Reason.com reports that Jacobs has been outspoken against the Internet sales tax.

Should Kane find himself eventually heading down the political road, he could find several mines along the way.

Everyone knows about Linda McMahon’s two failed Senate bids in Connecticut. And of course, there was Jesse “The Body” Ventura’s term as governor of Minnesota from 1991 to 1995. But did you know that WWF legend Nikolai Volkoff made an unsuccessful bid for the Maryland state house in 2006?

While both professional wrestling and politics are circuses in their own right, rarely do you see Ringling Bros. performers jumping ship to Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers and vice versa.

So Jacobs is wise to put any political aspirations on hold until after he hangs up his wrestling gear. And if he is even wiser, he will wait a long time after his WWE career is over to make the jump into the political fray.

In a way, though, a potential Kane run for the Senate could have made for some great theater in an arena that thrives on theater.

According to The Tennessean, Alexander claims his re-election campaign will be run like a “Colin Powell military operation, which is assemble an overwhelming force, focus on a single target and have the stomach to see it all the way through to the end.” Kane just got through with an “overwhelming force” in The Shield, which took those tag team belts off of Kane and Bryan Sunday night. So he would be used to facing something like that.

Also, imagine if Jacobs/Kane actually won the contest and really went to Washington. Couldn’t you just see the pyrotechnics used in Kane’s ring entrances to follow him every time he walked into the Senate chamber? And anyone who dared stand in the way of a Kane-backed initiative would risk getting a chokeslam right there in the chamber.

One more thing: Politics makes strange bedfellows, so there would be the possibility that Kane could hire Zeb Colter as his chief of staff.

Nah. Even Glenn Jacobs/Kane knows there is such a thing as going too far.

Follow Bill Atkinson on Twitter at @BAtkinson1963.

UFC 160: Rick Story Looking to Bring the Fight to Mike Pyle

Duane Finley — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:38:47 -0400

Rick Story has something to prove.

After breaking through into the upper tier of the welterweight division after defeating Thiago Alves at UFC 130 back in May of 2011, the Vancouver Wa.-based fighter experienced a bit of career turbulence.

The six-fight win streak that carried him into the top 10 rankings was snapped after a chaotic opponent shake-up at UFC on Versus 6 when Charlie Brenneman stepped in for Nate Marquardt after the former middleweight contender failed to received medical clearance for the bout due to elevated levels of testosterone.

Facing a new opponent on 24 hours notice is a difficult adjustment for any fighter to make, and the end result was Story coming out on the losing end of the affair.

The 28-year-old would go on to lose three of his next four showings. Suddenly, the fighter who handed Johny Hendricks the lone loss of his MMA career and appeared poised to make a title run, looked as if he may never regain the footing to get his career back on track.

When the Team Brave Legion fighter stepped into the Octagon to face Quinn Mulhern at UFC 158, the pressure was on Story to perform. He was determined to not only face the doubt head on, but stop his backslide once and for all. It was a challenge Story answered in brutal fashion as he battered the Strikeforce veteran to earn a first-round stoppage victory.

"It was pretty awesome in the fact that I was able to make that happen," Story told Bleacher Report. "To have it in your mind and actually going out and doing it are two different things. That fight made it clear in my mind that I have the ability to do it and that I just have to go out there and get it done.

Looking to keep the momentum alive, the Tacoma native will step in for an injured Gunnar Nelson to face Mike Pyle this Saturday at UFC 160. The savvy veteran is also looking to break through into the welterweight division's upper-tier, and Story will try to bring Pyle's current three-fight win streak to an abrupt halt.

"In all of his fights, Pyle is pretty much the same guy," Story said. "He's always sticking and moving. It doesn't matter if it is me fighting him or someone else; it is probably going to be the same Mike Pyle. My style is hard nosed and straight forward. That's what he's going to see.

"He's definitely sharp and has really good counter punches. I have to be ready for everything. His striking is sharp and I definitely have to respect it. He's also shown in the fights that he's lost that he doesn't take punishment very well. And I'm going to try to deal out some punishment to him. Fans can expect to see a tank out there."

Where trying to work his way up the ladder in the quickest possible fashion once led Story's career path astray, he's confident in his steps going forward. The opportunity to fight Pyle may have come on shorter notice than a typical fight-cycle, as there was still plenty of time available for him to fully prepare for the challenges the 37-year-old presents.

This is where he gives credit to his coach Pat White and his Brave Legion Fight Team. With a camp dedicated to making sure Story is ready for what Pyle brings to the table, he believes he'll have all the tools necessary when the cage door closes in Las Vegas.

"I never really sit and dwell too much," Story said. "When the opportunity is there, I jump all over it. That's been the same deal as it's always been. I never turn down a fight. I want to continue this momentum. It isn't a three-week turnaround like it was before when I was supposed to fight [Nate] Marquardt. I had more time to prepare. I still had a month off and time to regather my senses and then start training camp. It wasn't rushed.

"It is a great opportunity for me to catapult myself back into contention. Pyle is a very formidable opponent. He's well known and has been around for a long time. He's defeated tough opponents and it's an opportunity for me to show once again that I belong up at the top of the division."

A victory over Pyle this Saturday would make a strong case for Story to regain the ground he lost since defeating Alves at UFC 130. Nevertheless, he's not willing to look too far ahead and has his total focused locked on his opponent this Saturday.

For Story, the ultimate goal is to become a UFC champion. That being said, the past has taught him that steady progression isn't a bad route to travel, and he's willing to take his climb back up the ladder one step at a time.

"I'm not getting ahead of myself," Story said. "I'm not looking past anyone. Getting the victory in my last fight was something I definitely needed to do in order to get my mind right and to take that step in the direction of contendership again. But anytime I start getting ahead of myself, I end up eating my words. I felt good about the last performance. I felt great about it and it provided extra motivation in this training camp to prepare for Pyle.

"I really don't think that I am," Story replied when asked if he feels overlooked in the welterweight picture. "I think because of who I've beat and how I've performed in the past, that respect is there. Some of my performances were not as good as they could've been and I think it's caused people to wonder which Rick Story is going to show up. If it's the destructive Rick Story...look out. But if it's not, then it's not going to be that exciting. That's the way I look at it.

"My last fight was an eye-opener. Something clicked in that fight. It's like riding a bike where once you've done it, you never forget. I guess we'll find out in my next fight if that is true or not. But I plan on trying to lay some punishment on Pyle."

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Former Arkansas QB Brandon Mitchell Reportedly Will Transfer to NC State

Tim Keeney — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:30:22 -0400

Less than a month after being given a release from the University of Arkansas, quarterback Brandon Mitchell has decided that he will enroll at North Carolina State for his senior season.

The news comes from ESPN's Joe Schad:

Mitchell, a former 3-star recruit out of Amite, La., appeared in 21 games during his three years with the Razorbacks.

He completed 58.1 percent of his throws for 332 yards, three touchdowns and one interception for a solid QB rating of 141.4. In 2012, he showed potential as a receiver, pulling in 17 catches for 272 yards.

Once he was officially beaten out by sophomore Brandon Allen for the right to fill Tyler Wilson's large shoes in 2013, Mitchell decided it was time for new scenery.

Arkansas' loss is NC State's gain.

The Wolfpack finished 7-6 last season after losing to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl, but with the hiring of former Northern Illinois miracle-worker Dave Doeren, expectations for 2013 were still high.

With the departure of Mike Glennon to the NFL, however, the Wolfpack were left with quite a bit of inexperience under center.

Colorado State transfer Pete Thomas and sophomore Manny Stocker were the only incumbents expected to compete for snaps.

But now Mitchell, who has the experience and versatility to serve as an intriguing fit in Doeren's up-tempo offense, will likely step in as the starter. Because he graduated from Arkansas, he is eligible to play immediately.

There are still plenty of question marks surrounding Doeren's squad in his first season as head coach, but the addition of Mitchell has the Wolfpack suddenly looking like a much more intriguing pick in the ACC this year.

Chelsea Transfer News: Blues Must Keep Romelu Lukaku This Summer

Dan Talintyre — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:27:59 -0400

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku spent the past season on loan with West Bromwich Albion, and was simply explosive and incredible for the Baggies.

Don't expect Chelsea to allow him to leave quite so easily this summer.

In fact, you'd have to think that Chelsea would be incredibly unlikely to allow their star striker to leave this summer after watching his performances during the year.

Regardless of who they sign and whether they keep Fernando Torres on their books, Chelsea must ensure that Lukaku is still around come the start of the 2013-14 season. What's more, they must ensure that the Belgian international is getting the starting minutes he deserves to have.

The Blues haven't handled the playing future of Lukaku well so far, but they would be simply mad to allow the striker to leave over the summer transfer window again.

West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster—who played the season with Lukaku—issued similar sentiments via ESPN when asked about the up-and-coming star striker.

He was unplayable. As soon as he came on, you could see that they were physically scared of him. He dominated everything that came his way.

He has done so much for us and I'm really happy for him because he's a nice lad. There's no way he's coming back here next season. Chelsea would be fools to let him come back with the way their forward line is misfiring. He is exactly what they need...

Chelsea originally signed Lukaku in August of 2011 for €22 million according to Transfermarkt, but only gave him four starting appearances all season.

He was then sent out on loan this year to gather experience, and with his first real opportunity, showed just how dominant he can be. He netted 17 goals for the Baggies and picked up a handful of assists also, and was a dominant force at the top of the attack—something that Chelsea dearly missed.

And as such, the Blues simply must keep him for next season—regardless of what other players they sign or how many strikers they have on their books.

Lukaku is simply that good—he must be in their regular starting team.

According to Squawka, Lukaku finished the season with a shot accuracy of 65 percent—significantly above that of Demba Ba, Torres or any other Blues striker.

The Belgian is a big, strong finisher who has a great eye for the goal, and at just 20 years of age, represents a huge player for the future.

Chelsea—for all we know—could well have the next Didier Drogba in their hands, and so, they cannot afford to let him leave for another season.

Chelsea—and all their attacking inconsistencies—must start reaping the rewards of Lukaku's brilliance now and start to give him the opportunities he deserves.

For if not, they could well end up losing the Belgian international and be forced to watch his career blossom into a world-class striker and rue their mistake.

Lukaku is too good to be out on loan again.

He showed against Manchester United on the weekend that he is a premier striker and far better than anything that the Blues have had up front this season.

Moreover, he showed that without the midfield support that he would have at Chelsea, so we can only begin to imagine just how dominant he could be at Stamford Bridge in the near future.

Letting him leave, again, would simply be madness.

Chelsea must not make that mistake again over the summer transfer window.

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

Help Wanted Ad for Charlotte Bobcats' Open Head Coaching Position

Jonathan Munshaw — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:18:34 -0400

Position: Head Coach

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

Company: Charlotte Bobcats, NBA team

The Charlotte Bobcats are a team entering only its 10th year in the NBA. We came into the league as an expansion team in 2004, and have since made the playoffs once, the only season we ever finished a season with a winning record.

The Bobcats are currently searching for a new coach after firing Mike Dunlap, our most recent head coach, on April 23.

Responsibilities and Duties

Assess the current talent on the roster - As we are constantly looking for fresh, young talent to bring to our team, the current roster must be evaluated. There are very few guaranteed positions on the team for next year, including Kemba Walker at point guard and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at small forward. Besides those two players, the rest of the talent needs to be evaluated, especially the power forward and shooting guard positions.

Help Kidd-Gilchrist and Walker grow - Without a doubt, Kidd-Gilchrist and Walker are the two brightest stars on the team, and we are looking for a coach who can help groom them into bona fide stars. Kidd-Gilchrist just completed his rookie year out of Syracuse, but averaged nine points per game. At only 19, the young small forward has endless potential to be a star in this league. Walker needs an equal amount of attention at 23. Walker is the team's best player, and averaged over 17 points per game this season. However, Walker needs to learn to spread the ball around more if he wants to be a standout point guard in this league.

Help the general manager and owner in the NBA Draft - The fastest way for the Bobcats to grow as an organization is by selecting new talent in the NBA Draft this June. We have a 19.9 percent chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick in this years draft, if not the No. 2 pick. No matter the pick order, we need a coach who can work with our front office to select the right player for our future. Possible candidates for the top two selections include Nerlens Noel, Alex Len, Victor Oladipo and Ben McLemore.

Make moves in free agency - With just about $2.5 million in cap space heading into the offseason, and DeSagana Diop, Josh McRoberts and Reggie Williams leaving to free agency, we are looking for a coach who will work with management to make a splash in free agency. While we won't likely be able to sign any major players with a lack of cap room, small acquisitions are necessary to improving this team.

Address the power forward position - Perhaps the biggest position of need on our team currently, a head coach candidate must have a plan to address our power forward position. This year's starter, McRoberts, is an unrestricted free agent. However, McRoberts only averaged six points and five rebounds per game this season after coming over from the Orlando Magic. While McRoberts had several career-highs between Charlotte and Orlando, McRoberts will likely not be our starter next season. Bismack Biyombo is our center, but another big man is needed to complement Biyombo in the paint.

Qualifications and Requirements

Prior experience coaching a NBA team - As we are a generally inexperienced team, we are looking for a coach with prior NBA head coaching experience to lead us into the future. Candidates lacking this experience would likely hold our team back from improving.

An eye for talent - As previously mentioned, we are looking to bring a look to our team, which requires weeding through older talent to determine which players deserve to be on our team.

Strong communication skills - As we are owned by Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player in history, communication with him, along with the rest of management, is necessary. Mr. Jordan has taken a more hands-off approach with the team recently, but constant communication is required to build a healthy and successful team.

Knowledge of the Charlotte Hornets - Prior to returning to Charlotte as the Bobcats, our franchise was previously known as the Charlotte Hornets. Now that the New Orleans Hornets have changed their name to the Pelicans, we plan on switching our name back to the Hornets. This will bring in older fans, requiring any candidate to have a knowledge of our previous teams.

What's Next for Paul Pierce Heading into Uncertain 2013 Offseason?

Josh Martin — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:15:38 -0400

Should Paul Pierce stay or should he go?

The Boston Celtics have got to let him know (to some extent) by June 30. That's the last day on which the C's can buy out the final year of Pierce's contract at a steep discount. Otherwise, they'll be on the hook for the full $15.3 million he's owed for the 2013-14 NBA season.

Unless, of course, Boston opts to ship him out at some point.

The truth about The Truth's future in Beantown is about much more than money, though. Pierce has spent his entire 15-year pro career with the Celtics, playing in two NBA Finals and winning one title along the way. Along the way, he's etched himself prominently into Celtics lore, endearing himself to the team's loyal fans and ensuring his place among the impressive pantheon of franchise legends.

He's also made it clear in the past that he wants to retire in green (via Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald) and that he doesn't plan to hang 'em up this summer (via Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe).

Unfortunately for Pierce, he only has control over the latter. How the C's treat the former may well define the future of the franchise, whichever choice general manager Danny Ainge and his basketball brain trust make in the end. As Ainge put it (via Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com):

"Listen, Paul's been one of the greatest Celtics of all time and that will play part in it. We love what he's done for us, but ultimately we have to do what we think is the best for us from this point forward. And I think that Paul still has a lot of basketball left in him."

Which way should Boston turn? And how would each outcome affect the organization going forward?

2012-13 by the Numbers

By nearly all measures, Paul Pierce had himself about as productive a campaign in 2012-13 as one could expect from him at the tender age of 35. Pierce led the C's in scoring for the 13th year in a row, at 18.6 points per game.

Pierce was particularly effective after Rajon Rondo went down with a torn ACL. He tallied the first of his three triple-doubles on the season in the immediate aftermath of Rondo's injury and hit 41.7 percent of his threes from that point forward. That mark would've counted as a new career-high had it been achieved over the course of an entire season.

Not bad for a guy who's supposedly over the hill. Neither is the fact that the C's went 21-17 after Rondo went down, thanks in no small part to Pierce's efforts to extend himself as a ball-handler and a passer, in addition to his established scoring duties.

To be sure, Pierce was far from perfect, particularly in the playoffs. He shot just 36.8 percent from the field (26.8 percent from three) and turned the ball over 5.3 times per game during the Celtics' six-game loss to the New York Knicks in the first round.

But, considering the circumstances, Paul can hardly be blamed for Boston's first opening-round flameout since Kevin Garnett came to town in 2007.

What They're Saying

Paul Pierce hasn't said much publicly since early May, when he shot down the notion of retirement during the C's series against the Knicks (via Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe):

"Truthfully, I haven't put too much thought into it. The organization is going to do what they're going to do. It's nothing that's stressing me out. That's what it is. Every year they've got decision to make. Those are their decisions. I leave it to them."

"I always been a guy that's said things happen for a reason. I was a No. 10 pick, I didn't anticipate that. I just always feel like throughout my whole career everything is going to fall into the right place for me. I don't really put much thought into after the season but I know at the end of the day whatever they do, whatever I do, it's going to fall in the right place for me."

"Right now it's year-by-year," he said. "I expect to play another year next year and then evaluate after that. I always said I wanted to end my career as a Celtic. But they are the ones (with the decision). I have a year contract for next year but it's not guaranteed so the decision's in their hands. But whatever decision they make, maybe, if they trade me somewhere or I end up somewhere else maybe it could be a situation where I come back for a one-day deal and retire a Celtic."

Of course, Pierce's own silence hasn't stopped everyone else from commenting on his future. Danny Ainge spoke equivocally of Pierce's performance this season while at the NBA Draft Combine (via Gary Washburn):

“Paul’s always battling little things. I think Paul’s healthy, but he played so hard and carried such a heavy load.

“Paul had a terrific year this year, but in the playoffs, New York did a good job of taking away his strengths and taking advantage of some of our weaknesses. But I thought Paul had a terrific year.”

At least one other general manager at the combine seemed to agree that Pierce can still perform effectively in the NBA, albeit while throwing cold water on the notion of him switching teams (via Steve Bulpett):

“Everyone knows KG and Pierce can still play, but if you’re another team, what can you really give up for them? Another coach may want to make that deal, but the GM and the owner probably won’t.”

Stock Watch

According to Basketball Reference, only three players in the NBA this season can claim to have averaged at least 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists. One of them was Paul Pierce.

The other two? LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

This isn't to suggest that Pierce is on their level whatsoever. James is at the peak of his awesome powers and Durant is still figuring out the limits of his own, while Pierce is settling into the twilight of his career.

The point is, if Pierce were, say, two or three years younger than he is, he'd be a highly attractive trade option for any organization on the brink of title contention that's seeking a piece to put its squad over the top.

Heck, that holds true (by and large) even with Pierce's age being what it is. However, the fact that he's in his mid-30s, as opposed to his early 30s, makes him that much more of an injury risk and, in turn, a less attractive option for a team that might otherwise attempt to swing a trade for him.

That is, unless the C's attach a modest price tag to their beloved swingman—one that would entice, say, the Los Angeles Clippers to sacrifice a modicum of their long-term youth for some win-now moxie.

In any case, Pierce's performance in 2012-13 placed him in some rather choice historical company. Only three other players—Elgin Baylor, Larry Bird, and Karl Malone—had ever averaged a line of 18-6-4 over the course of a season at the age of 35 or older, per Basketball Reference.

(Side note: Remarkably enough, Malone pulled it off four times with the Utah Jazz. Say what you want about the Mailman's inability to come through in big moments, but the guy was an ageless wonder.)

That may not be enough to keep Pierce safe in Boston, though it does plenty to cement his legacy as a surefire Hall of Famer.

Contract Situation

If money were no object (and no issue under the new collective bargaining agreement), then keeping Paul Pierce would be much closer to a no-brainer for the Celtics than it would currently appear to be.

Sure, Boston isn't winning a title with its current club, which includes Pierce and Garnett. But dumping those two wouldn't likely drop the C's far enough down the pecking order to put them within range of Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker or Julius Randle in the 2014 NBA Draft lottery.

Assuming those kids all ditch college after one year, and assuming Boston hangs onto the likes of Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green...and doesn't mind either playing Green out of position or letting him learn behind Pierce for another year.

Of course, money is an object in this case—and a rather important one at that. Pierce is owed just over $15.3 million in the final year of his contract in 2013-14.

Should the C's keep him, they would not only be over the NBA's luxury tax line, but also far enough over it to incur the wrath of the collective bargaining agreement in the team's efforts to retool the roster.

Which would be problematic for Danny Ainge, were he to have his sights set on a significant shakeup.

Otherwise, Boston could ease their financial burden in a few ways:

1) Buy out the last year of Pierce's deal for $5 million. That would save Boston more than $10 million in salary obligations and would slide the team under the luxury tax threshold. The C's have until June 30 to make up their minds.

2) Use the amnesty provision on Pierce's contract. The window to do so is only open between July 1 and July 9 this year (per Marc Stein of ESPN.com). Cutting Pierce in this way would put the Celtics right around the initial salary cap limit, though they'd still be obligated to pay whatever share of Paul's salary isn't picked up by another team on the waiver wire.

3) Trade Paul for cheaper pieces and figure it out.

If the C's do, indeed, decide to cut ties with Pierce, they'd likely see Kevin Garnett walk away from the last two years on his deal as well. That would save Boston an additional $12.4 million in 2013-14 and $12 million the year after, thereby freeing up enough cap space to bring in a quality player.

Perhaps even one of Pierce's caliber...

Projected 2013-14 Stat Line

17.9 PPG / 5.4 RPG / 3.5 APG/ .456 FG% / .385 3PT%

Should Paul Pierce still be in a Celtics uniform come fall, he'll likely be called upon to lead the team in scoring for a 14th year in succession.

At his age, though, Pierce is hardly a lock for 20 points a night. He finally is the old man to which his "old man game" has long been tailored, but that doesn't mean he's about to jack up 18-to-20 shots every time he takes the floor.

Nor should anyone expect him to stuff the stat sheet to quite the extent he did this past season. Once Rondo returns, Pierce will no longer be charged with the team's ball-handling and distribution duties. Instead, he'll be able to return to the role of scoring specialist that's been his charge for the better part of two decades in Boston.

The less energy Pierce has to devote to non-scoring pursuits, the more he'll have to spend on his long-time specialty. And the less he has to do to create those opportunities (with Rondo whipping passes around the floor), the more likely his shots are to go in.

Ideally, then, Pierce's shooting percentages would climb, however slightly, in 2013-14, while his counting stats continue to decline.

The Crystal Ball Says...

Paul Pierce stays. The Celtics are pretty much stuck in the NBA's "No Man's Land" for another year, whether they dump Pierce or not. They're either one of the bottom four seeds in the East with him, Garnett and Rondo, or they're finishing between ninth and 12th without him.

All of which is to say, Boston isn't likely to land a franchise-changing talent in the 2014 draft unless it goes for the full blow-up, with Rondo and Green getting the boot as well. Even then, the C's aren't guaranteed a golden ticket.

They, of all teams, should know, after missing out on a top-two pick in the 2007 draft.

For now, it would behoove the Celtics to make the most of the Pierce-Garnett farewell tour at their feet before wholeheartedly retooling around Rondo, who doesn't figure to be completely recovered from his torn ACL until 2014-15 anyway.

Follow @Josh_E_Martin

Bold Predictions for Houston Rockets During 2013-14 Season

Zach Buckley — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:00:13 -0400

After making a series of splashes over the 2012 offseason, any thoughts of the Houston Rockets flying under the radar this summer just flew out the window.

With one superstar already in place (James Harden), a star-gazing general manager still running the show (Daryl Morey) and cap space to burn ($39.3 million in salary commitments, via HoopsWorld.com), Houston was already expected to be a major player in the 2013 NBA free-agent market.

But now that superstar free-agent center Dwight Howard has reportedly taken an interest in H-Town (according to what league sources told CBSSports.com's Ken Berger), it may be a superstar-or-bust approach to the offseason.

Last season was all about finding the Rockets' launch pad. Morey's savvy acquisitions helped snap the franchise's three-year playoff drought, meaning the emphasis of next season has shifted to escaping the realm of mediocrity.

That's never a small task in the always loaded Western Conference. But it isn't an unattainable goal, either.

Morey has the financial flexibility to continue adding impactful talent onto one of the league's brightest collections of youthful, productive talent. And he has a team of sharp, analytically inclined minds to help him identify where those dollars will carry the most weight.

When he has these kind of tools to employ, a splash seems inevitable.

But will those moves be more substance than style; and what will that mean to the franchise's standing in the West?

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Damian Lillard Accused of Watching 2 Fans Get Beat Up for Taking His Picture

Tim Keeney — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:57:08 -0400

Two brothers, Jermaine and Philip Ulinwa, who were beat up in Portland early Saturday morning are accusing Damian Lillard's entourage of the crime.

According to KGW News' Pat Dooris, the brothers took a picture of the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year on the street. Lillard reportedly took offense to having his picture taken, and after a short argument, a group of people—described by the brothers as Lillard's entourage—began beating up the two men:

Two brothers accuse NBA Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard of standing by while his entourage beat the brothers up early Saturday morning in Portland’s Old Town district. According to police, the incident happened around 2:30 a.m. on May 18.

One brother told KGW the beating happened as a result of a picture that he snapped with his cell phone after he spotted the basketball star walking toward a parking lot with several other people.

Here is a look at the picture that supposedly initiated the fight:

After Jermaine took the picture, Lillard allegedly became noticeably upset, and according to Philip, Lillard "instigated" the fight when he yelled and moved toward them.

Although Lillard didn't participate in the physical altercation, his anger, says Philip, "riled up" the other men, who broke Philip's nose with repeated punches and kicks.

Nevertheless, according to Dooris' report, a spokesman for the Portland Trailblazers stated that none of the team's players are considered suspects, and a Portland police officer confirmed that statement.

The officer also went on to say that it was still unknown how the group of assailants are related to Lillard—if they are at all.

Without knowing the full extent of what exactly happened, it's impossible to realistically place blame.

As one of the brightest young stars in the NBA, Lillard, who didn't appear to respond well to the late-night attention based on this report, is only going to earn more fame and attention as he continues his burgeoning NBA career.

His exposure will continue to increase, and as such, avoiding situations like these will be of the utmost importance.

Follow @t_keen

'EA Sports UFC' Game Reportedly Getting First News Update During Xbox Event Day

McKinley Noble — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:55:19 -0400

Several months have passed since the last UFC game hit retail shelves, and despite a promising announcement last year, EA Sports UFC has been nowhere in sight.

That's going to change, with EA confirming on the video game's official Facebook page that the "first news" would appear on Tuesday.

Coincidentally—or not—Tuesday is also the day that Microsoft is expected to reveal the successor to their Xbox 360 console, which was once rumored to carry the "Xbox Infinity" moniker relayed by the International Business Times.

Given the timing, it's fair to assume that EA Sports UFC will be announced for the next Xbox console, either as part of Microsoft's event, or in a separate reveal from EA.

UFC Undisputed 3 released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in February 2012 to wide critical acclaim, but various things have changed since then—most notably, the bankruptcy and dissolution of the game's original publisher, THQ.

Ironically, EA had a previously contentious relationship with UFC president Dana White prior to the release of THQ's first UFC installment, when White detailed his first meeting with the company to seek them as a potential publishing partner (via MMA Junkie):

It's easy to sit on the other side of the table and judge me on how I react to stuff like this. But let me tell you what – I've been in the trenches for almost 10 years, and I've been dealing with all these businesses, and EA was one of them.

EA Sports told us, 'You're not a real sport. 'We wouldn't touch this thing. We want nothing to do with this.'

We put our asses on the line, THQ and the UFC, to make a video-game deal in the worst economy in the world. We go out there and do this thing, and it's successful, and now [expletive] EA Sports wants to do a video game. Really? That's not what you told us a year-and-a-half ago.

You told us you'd never be in business with us. They wouldn't even take a meeting because mixed martial arts disgusted them. This wasn't a real sport. Boy, they got over that real quick, didn't they?

After the success of UFC Undisputed 2009, EA further drew the ire of White by releasing EA Sports MMA, which mainly featured Strikeforce fighters like Nick Diaz and Fedor Emelianenko, with an added controversy over the inclusion of then-UFC fighter Randy Couture.

However, the two companies saw fit to patch things up immediately after EA bought out THQ's license to the video game series.

In a surprise move, White even traveled out to Los Angeles on late notice in order to take the stage at E3 2012, helping announce EA Sports UFC during EA's conference keynote at E3 2012.

Microsoft's Xbox event starts at 10:00 a.m. PST on Tuesday (May 21) and will be viewable both on the official Xbox.com website and online streaming with the "Live Events" hub on Xbox Live—more updates will assumedly be found on the Xbox Twitter account.

Do NHL Referees Have Too Much Power over Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Ryan O'Leary — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:52:30 -0400

If you talk to Jonathan Quick or Mark Eaton or Brian Strait, they'll have plenty to say about the NHL referees in the 2013 Stanley Cup.

Each of these players and, by proxy, each of these player's teams had a result determined by a referees call or non-call.

Strait was called for a questionable interference against Sidney Crosby in overtime of Game 3 in the first round, which resulted in a Penguins power play, a Penguins goal and a Penguins win.

If you ask the Penguins, it was interference and the right call to make regardless of the overtime situation. If you ask the Islanders, it was a dive and a show of favoritism by the league for its superstar in Crosby.

Jonathan Quick was livid over the double standard shown by officials in Game 3 of their second round matchup with the Sharks. Quick was interfered with on Dan Boyle's goal in the first period, but no call was made. Later in overtime, the Kings were actually penalized for goaltender interference, giving the Sharks the man advantage in extra time and the eventual game winner.

So...are referees determining these all-too-critical playoff contests? Should they swallow the whistle and let the players decide or stick to the letter of the law?

We debate this ongoing discussion but also want to hear from you on the topic. Leave a comment below and tweet us: @BR0leary and @CaseyDemarco with your opinions.

CM Punk's Rumored Return at Tonight's WWE Monday Night Raw Would Be a Mistake

Jamie West — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:48:09 -0400

Prior to taking time off from the world of professional wrestling, more specifically World Wrestling Entertainment, CM Punk found himself on the end of a significant losing streak. The longest reigning WWE Champion of the modern era found himself on the end of two straight pay-per-view defeats to The Rock, a loss to John Cena and, of course, a failed attempt at ending the Undertaker's WrestleMania streak.

Pwmania.com reported earlier today that the "Best in the World" is rumored to be returning to WWE tonight:

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri with the fallout from Extreme Rules. CM Punk is rumored to be returning tonight but that’s not confirmed.

Although in the short term it may appear to make sense for Punk to return as soon as possible, especially given that the next pay-per-view, Payback, emanates from his home state of Illinois, it would make more sense for WWE to delay his return for another month or two in order to create greater interest in his comeback.

Of course, Payback will suffer in CM Punk's absence, but leaving his return until later in the summer will be beneficial for both the company and the performer. It was reported that the "Voice of the Voiceless" was burnt out ahead of WrestleMania 29, thus an extended break is exactly what he needs.

The ideal situation for WWE is to have Punk burning to get back into the ring, rather than having to goad him back into their weekly programming because of ratings or pay-per-view sales figures.

Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of CM Punk, but he was not greatly missed from an Extreme Rules event that was full of entertaining matches.

Give the former WWE champion a couple of more months off, allow him to heal mentally and physically and perhaps we'll see a new side of "The Second City Saint" come his eventual return.

Golfer Wins Car with Amazing Hole-in-One, Immediately Breaks Car's Windshield

Gabe Zaldivar — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:46:34 -0400

One golfer proved to be both highly accurate and extremely unfortunate all on the same day.

Busted Coverage spots a story that proves luck can run out in an instant, because one golfer broke the very car he won for hitting a hole-in-one.

LoHud.com has a full report on Mike Miller, a 21-year-old amateur golfer who "aced the 16th hole at Knollwood Country Club during a Lincoln Pro Am Series event, holing out from 165 yards with a 9-iron."

Hitting a hole-in-one is cause for celebration at any course, but to do so at a Pro Am event must have been all the more remarkable for Miller, so we understand his joy when he found out he won a car because of the shot.

Miller gets a two-year lease on a black Lincoln MKZ, a prize that will not hinder his amateur status. Not only that, he gets to upgrade over his Pacifica he claims has over 205,000 miles.

At this point, we would accept a great many things: Miller jumping for joy, shedding tears of happiness or even hugging his car in a restrained manner.

I say restrained because Miller attempted to hug the car in much the same way Rich Beem did in 2007. Instead, Miller cracked the windshield with his butt. Apparently, the young golfer ran to the car and jumped in an effort to embrace his new ride.

“I completely missed the hood and landed on my backside in the middle of the windshield,” Miller said. “I am so thankful it didn’t completely shatter or I would’ve gone straight through.

“The mood went from everyone being all excited to, ‘Oh my God, what did you just do?’ ”

For clarity, here is how one successfully hugs their car, via Rich Beem.

And here is what happens when you do so with far too overzealous an approach.

Per the report, the car is already getting repaired but there is no mention of which party will be forced to pay.

If you are already confounded by the story, it gets better. It seems Miller has aced this hole before and has two other hole-in-ones on his career.

Not only that, he also had two eagles before dropping his car-winning shot on 16. So you can indeed prove to be both extremely talented and incredibly unfortunate all on the same day.

Hit me up on Twitter for more WTF updates: Follow @gabezal

Belmont Stakes 2013: Key Storylines Entering Final Leg of Triple Crown

Maxwell Ogden — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:41:55 -0400

With the 2013 Belmont Stakes is just under three weeks away, the world is raging in anticipation for the final leg of the Triple Crown. While Orb's attempt to win the trinity fell short, the intrigue is still present at Belmont Park.

It's all about the storylines in Elmont, New York.

The hunt for the Triple Crown may be the focus of every horse racing season, but that doesn't eliminate the value of every race. In fact, these races are still more prestigious than most events in the world of sports.

Even if the financial implications are somewhat damaged.

Who would've thought so much could ride on one horse?

Fortunately for those searching for a reason to watch this race, there is a fair blend of history and intrigue to garner your attention. From female riders chasing glory to horses looking for a two-peat, we have it all.

You know, minus the Triple Crown.

Rosie Napravnik Chases History

In 1993, Julie Krone became the first female jockey to ever win a Triple Crown race. Riding aboard Colonial Affair, Krone overcame the heavy 13-1 odds to shock the world and win big.

It just so happens that Krone won the Belmont Stakes.

Twenty years later, Rosie Napravnik has the opportunity to join Krone in the record books by winning that very race. Riding aboard Mylute, Napravnik has already experienced significant success, coming in third at the Preakness Stakes.

The time has never been better for the 25-year-old raises the bar and wins a Triple Crown race.

Napravnik is certainly familiar with the area, as she hails from Morristown, New Jersey. For those unfamiliar with the territory, Morristown is just over an hour away from Elmont, New York.

The area in which the Belmont Stakes will be held.

With the hometown advantage, per say, Napravnik is certain to have the crowd in her favor. With history on the horizon, she's also bound to face the greatest pressure of her young career.

If anyone can do it, however, it's one of the fastest rising jockeys in the world—watch out for Napravnik and Mylute.

Orb, Oxbow Pursue Win No. 2

Entering the 2013 Belmont Stakes, there is a sense of disappointment that no horse will be in the running for the Triple Crown. With that being said, two horses can still compete for the right to own two Triple Crown victories in one season.

A less glamorous, but still impressive feat.

Orb is the first of the notable contenders, as he won the Kentucky Derby behind the guidance of trainer Claude R. McGaughey and jockey Joel Rosario. Orb was the perceived favorite at the Preakness Stakes, but drew the rail.

A position that no horse has won from since Tabasco Cat in 1994.

The other horse is Oxbow, who shocked the world by winning the Preakness Stakes. Oxbow is led by a decorated crew in jockey Gary Stevens and trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Those two men have combined for seven titles at the Belmont Stakes, including the event they won together in 1995.

If either horse wins the Belmont Stakes, it will become the second horse in as many years to achieve the feat. More importantly, it will become the third horse to do so since 2006.

A surprisingly low number based off years past.

Three Separate Winners

From 1994 to 2005, there were just two seasons in which two seasons in which three different horses won the Triple Crown races. In recent years, however, we've seen a complete change in how these horses perform.

Since 2006, just two horses have won at least two Triple Crown races

That's five of seven seasons without a horse winning multiple Triple Crown events, for those keeping track. Assuming Orb and Oxbow come up short, this season could lead to six out of eight years without a two-race winner.

Something unheard of in the horse racing world.

Judging by the way this year's events have gone, it's fair to bet on the field. Orb finished fourth at the Preakness Stakes after winning the Kentucky Derby, while Oxbow was sixth in Lexington.

This could be yet another superstar-less year in horse racing.

Committed 2014 College Football Recruits Teams Wish They Had Right Now

Edwin Weathersby — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:38:55 -0400

Now that spring practices are over, college coaches should have a good idea of where their roster is at for the 2013 season. Positions of strength have been identified where talent and depth is good. However, there are those positions that lack both qualities and are weaknesses for the roster.

That is where college coaches let their eyes wander to the 2014 recruiting board and think "what if" about committed prospects being able to help right now. This piece features Quin Blanding, who Mike London would kill to have in Charlottesville now. Plus players like Tennessee commit Jalen Hurd, Arizona commit Cameron Denson and even an Iowa State commitment.

Here are some committed recruits with teams wanting them to come help in 2013, not 2014.

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Can Real Madrid Actually Do Better Without Jose Mourinho?

Jerrad Peters — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:34:41 -0400

How many managers would kill to have the worst season of Jose Mourinho’s career?

Following Friday’s Copa del Rey defeat to local rivals Atletico Madrid, the Real Madrid boss told reporters the current campaign would go down as his poorest in 13 years of club management.

“With a final, a semifinal, a second place and a Super Cup, for me it is the worst,” he said to Marca, adding, “When things go well it’s because of everyone. When things go bad it is the manager’s fault. For me it is the worst season.”

The 50-year-old went as far as saying that even the previous term, in which Madrid won La Liga and compiled 100 points, had been a failure given the club’s inability to win the Champions League—remarks Florentino Perez hinted at in announcing Mourinho’s exit in a Monday press conference.

“I would have liked Mourinho to stay for many more years,” stated the Madrid president after revealing the Portuguese would be leaving the club at the end of the season, according to Marca. “But,” he continued, “many Madrid fans believe the pressure he was subjected to wasn’t normal and a person can only put up with so much.”

And he certainly did put up with a lot—the club’s demanding fanbase and a core of egotistical establishment players saw to that.

But he created his own drama as well, picking fights with the likes of Iker Casillas and losing his temper when a more statesmanlike approach would have served him better.

After hearing Perez announce Mourinho’s exit, Barcelona vice president Carles Vilarrubi lashed out at the departing Madrid manager, saying he had been “a scourge” to La Liga and that seeing him leave Spanish football was positive because “he had created a negative atmosphere,” per Marca.

It seems the decision-makers at Madrid eventually came around to Barcelona’s way of thinking (something that doesn’t happen often), and one of the first points of business for the new manager will be to restore an element of respect at the Bernabeu.

Enter Carlo Ancelotti.

Set to leave Paris Saint-Germain, it is thought the Italian already has a personal agreement in place with Real Madrid, according to Goal, and his behavioural style is certainly something that would have been considered in approaching him.

A league winner in both Serie A and Ligue 1, Ancelotti is widely regarded as a gentleman. His ability to manage relationships with the media, the club hierarchy, the establishment players and the fans would no doubt settle the nerves of some executives who, in recent seasons, grew increasingly exasperated with what they saw as childish antics from Mourinho.

But Ancelotti, or whomever will be brought in to replace Mourinho, will be expected to win as well, and lifting the club’s 10th European Cup—the elusive Decima—will be at the top of their to-do list.

It’s here that the new manager will struggle to replicate Mourinho’s success. For while he couldn’t quite get Madrid into a Champions League final, he nevertheless brought them into three successive semifinals after six straight years of Round of 16 defeats.

He gave Barcelona a run for their money in La Liga as well, coming second to the Catalan juggernaut on two occasions and finishing nine points above them (and 39 above third-place Valencia) last season.

Even Perez conceded Mourinho had done well from a purely footballing perspective, saying to Marca, “It has been a successful period. Real Madrid is back where it should be.”

Only legendary manager Miguel Munoz, who was in charge of Madrid’s glory years between 1960 and 1974 (nine titles and two European Cups), has delivered more victories for the club than Mourinho’s 127, and only Manuel Pellegrini, who was at the helm only a single season, boasts a better winning percentage than Mourinho’s 72.57.

But Pellegrini was sacked in May 2010 after coming second to Barcelona—something Mourinho would get used to as well.

And it’s Barcelona that is really the quiet influence in all this.

Had Madrid’s archrivals not hit on the magic formula of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta some years back, the capital side would surely have enjoyed a rather more prosperous last few seasons.

What Madrid and their carousel of managers is up against just happens to be the most dominant club side of recent times, and in that light it’s hard to blame them for their desperate scrambling and attempts at quick fixes.

Follow @jerradpeters

Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Should Stop Chase for Ashley Williams This Summer

Dan Talintyre — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:32:28 -0400

Having been linked with a potential move away from Swansea City, defender Ashley Williams has again reiterated his desire to stay at Liberty Stadium this summer.

The Welsh international captain had previously been linked with a potential move to North London over the transfer window, but he told Sky Sports that his focus was solely on Swansea, and that he fully expected to be playing with them next season.

As far as I know [I'll still be at the club next season]. I don't know anything about it, I just read it in the papers like everyone else. I play my football for Swansea City and now I'm just going away and looking forward to a holiday.

The season's been such that since the cup final we've had so much work to do that I haven't really thought about it. If somebody comes in and the club want to do that you have to sit down with the chairman and talk about it.

I can't really think about that at the moment, I play for Swansea City and I would never be disrespectful to the club, the fans and my team-mates.

That's it really, I can't say any more than that.

According to Transfermarkt, Williams was rated as a £5.3 million transfer target and would no doubt have been a strong addition to the Gunners' back line.

Williams was very impressive in central defense this year and was a huge reason behind Swansea's cup victory. He was strong in the air and on the ground, and with excellent passing skills and captaincy credentials, he was seemingly a very strong transfer prospect for any club to pursue.

However, without any real desire to leave Liberty Stadium, Arsenal would be wise to stop their chase for Williams this summer and focus on other prospects.

Not because Williams isn't worth it, but simply because they don't need him.

They are more than covered when it comes to central defenders.

Even with Thomas Vermaelen struggling at times this season, the North London club appeared to find a great combination in Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. The two have very different strengths, but they work very well together and combined well throughout the year. They became a dominant force in defense.

That was shown most clearly in their many clean sheets and the fact that they remain the only central pairing in word football this season to have stopped Bayern Munich from finding the back of the net.

Arsenal are therefore unlikely to sell either player this summer transfer window, and with Vermaelen the club captain, it seems unlikely they'll sell him in 2013.

Thus with three central defenders, there is no real need for another central defender—especially one that would want constant starting appearances and game time.

Arsenal have other needs in defense—namely in goals and at right-back—and they would be much better off pursuing those targets.

Especially given that Williams doesn't even want to leave Liberty Stadium this summer.

Just what interest Arsenal had in Williams is something we'll never know, but whatever desire there was, they would be smart to quickly end it this summer.

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

Sergio Martinez and the Landscape of Boxing's Middleweight Division

Justin Tate — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:27:39 -0400

Sergio Martinez went into 2010 with a middleweight title shot against Kelly Pavlik. He left 2010 with the middleweight world championship, a bloody star-making victory over Pavlik and a shocking second-round knockout of an iron-chinned Paul Williams to avenge a close decision loss in 2009.

Fast-forward to 2013, a now 38-year-old Martinez barely escaped a fight in his home country of Argentina with a decision over previously undefeated Martin Murray. Martinez reinjured his right knee and left hand that required surgery in late 2012 after scoring a decision over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

The young and talented of the middleweight division have watched Martinez get knocked down in each of his three previous fights and they smell the blood of an aging king.

Martinez will sit out the remainder of the year due to his injuries and when he returns in 2014, he’ll want to make the biggest payday possible as his career nears its end.

Whoever proves to be the hottest star at the close of 2013 will be a top candidate for Martinez to face.

This opportunity has caused the best of the middleweight division to start calling each other out and taking tough bouts to earn their way into the ring across from the king.

The stars-in-the-making are plenty. The potential for classic fights is immense. Here’s a breakdown of who’s who, where they’re headed next and what do they stand to gain over the next half of the year.

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2013 NBA Playoffs: Questions Abound in Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers Series

Martin Telleria — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:27:04 -0400

Did you see Roy Hibbert dismantle Tyson Chandler? Or Paul George stifle Carmelo Anthony for the majority of that series?

The Indiana Pacers’ strengths will directly affect the way this series plays out.

If logic prevails, Hibbert should have a field day against the small frontcourt the Miami Heat like to employ. On paper, Chris Bosh guarding Hibbert screams mismatch.

If the Pacers hope to defeat the Heat, that matchup will be the one that must translate from paper into fruition. Hibbert must dominate on the glass, keep himself out of foul trouble and in the process attack the lanky Bosh as much as possible.

With Dwyane Wade hobbled, if Hibbert can negate Bosh for the majority of the series, it again puts the onus on LeBron James to lift the Heat into the Finals.

There’s just one problem with that: James will be defended by George for the majority of the series.

I do not expect him to have the same success against James as he did against Anthony. James is on another planet compared to the rest of the NBA.

But I also don’t expect James to be as excellent as he usually is. If George can make James just a great player during this series and not his usual transcendent one, it will put the pressure squarely on the role players to propel the Heat.

Can Mario Chalmers outplay George Hill? Will Wade be healthy enough to win the battle against Lance Stephenson? Can Shane Battier combat David West in the low post?

I’m not so sure.

The West matchup in particular is one that could give the Heat nightmares. With both Hibbert and West in the game, the Heat’s small-ball lineup might be in for some trouble.

If Battier gets into foul trouble, will Erik Spoelstra elect to put James on him? Will James have enough energy to lead the offense and guard the extremely physical West?

The other option would be bringing in Chris “Birdman” Andersen. Again, however, that brings some negatives as well. Andersen is all energy. He’s a fantastic shot-blocker and finisher at the rim. With George pressuring James, there might not be a lot to finish.

George provides the Pacers with their greatest luxury: single-coverage on James. Yes, it might not always work. He might go off for 50 one game. But a lot of what James does revolves around reading what the defense is doing.

If the defense doesn’t help, it turns the matchup into a one-on-one game between him and George. That renders guys like Andersen almost useless on offense and allows guys like Hibbert to protect the paint.

Still, all of that aside, the biggest key to this series will be Wade. His play determines the outcome of this series. I firmly believe that a healthy, attacking Wade signifies victory for the Heat.

If he plays hobbled and can’t take advantage of his matchup with Stephenson, however, I see the Pacers advancing.

The Heat are the favorite and for good reason. When healthy, they boast the most talented trio in the NBA. That trio will be put to the test against the Pacers.

Out of the three matchups—Bosh vs. Hibbert, James vs. George, Wade vs. Stephenson—at least two must be won by the Heat.

James will win his. Not many doubt that. I don’t see Bosh having the strength to win his against the monstrous Hibbert. That leaves it all on the familiar shoulders of Dwyane Wade.

James will be the best player in the series. But Wade will be the most important one.

One thing is clear: We’re in for a long, physical series.

WWE Extreme Rules 2013 Results: What's Next for John Cena After Win over Ryback?

Bill Pivetz — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:22:21 -0400

John Cena retained his WWE Championship last night as the Last Man Standing match was called a no-contest after Ryback drove Cena through the stage lights.

Cena was put on a stretcher and was on his way to the hospital. During the post-show, however, Cena took off a neck brace and walked away on his own.

Although I wasn’t a fan of the finish, this was the best the WWE could do with these two. Cena wasn’t going to drop the title and Ryback couldn’t suffer another pay-per-view loss.

The finish makes Ryback look very strong in defeat, planting the seed that he’s willing to hurt himself in order to get the WWE title.

The question is: what is next for John Cena?

Because of last night’s finish, I expect a rematch next month at Payback. Unfortunately for Ryback, he won’t walk out as WWE champion.

After that, it’s all a blur.

WWE hasn’t built up any credible heels to be the next challenge for Cena. Even if there were, Cena would laugh in their face, brush them off and not take them seriously.

Big Show lost to Randy Orton, Mark Henry possibly injured himself during his match with Sheamus and Jack Swagger lost to Alberto Del Rio. CM Punk is currently on hiatus, with no timetable for his return. Brock Lesnar will probably take a break after his win over Triple H.

Could someone else step up and challenge Cena for the WWE title after Payback? It’s an idea, but who would be the challenger? Will Kane or Daniel Bryan turn heel for the next couple of months?

There was no doubt that Cena was going to win the title from The Rock. However, that looks to be a mistake now. The fact is, Cena has been champion so many times that he’s burned through the entire roster of opponents. Without pushing someone to the moon like they did with Ryback, WWE is in a tough position with Cena as champion.

The next couple of pay-per-views will be important for WWE. It could be a time to either put the WWE title on Ryback, and start some fresh feuds, or hotshot somebody else to the top.

Cena will be champion for the rest of the summer, regardless of who his opponent is. The only two contenders that will give Cena a run for his money as a threat to his title are Punk and Lesnar. Cena and Punk have great chemistry and put on some excellent matches. The previous feud last year between Lesnar and Cena lasted only one month and could begin again at SummerSlam with Lesnar looking to avenge his loss.

In the end, John Cena’s current title run will last many months and he will bury most of the heels in the process. The next thing for Cena to do is to drop the WWE title and take a backseat for a while.

Don Mattingly Dodgers Rumors: Firing Skipper Would be Shortsighted Move

Justin Onslow — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:14:16 -0400

The largest payroll in Major League Baseball history hasn’t quite panned out as expected, and the Los Angeles Dodgers can’t point the finger at manager Don Mattingly.

With a 17-25 record and a 4-6 mark in their last 10 (paired with a recent series sweep at the hands of the Atlanta Braves), the Dodgers are entering dangerous territory in the basement of the NL West. And of course, their skipper appears to be on the hot seat as a result.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports seems convinced the Dodgers ownership group is nearing the end of its rope in regards to Mattingly’s tenure, and he believes the skipper may be out of town in the very near future:

I’ve seen the Dodgers twice in person this season, and both times came away thinking that the team would be OK, that manager Don Mattingly would survive.

Now I’m convinced that Mattingly is going to get fired. And the sooner it happens, the better.

That Mattingly’s days are numbered seems to be the overwhelming speculation at this point, but that doesn’t mean axing the six-time All-Star is the right move.

As Peter Gammons highlighted with this tweet, the Dodgers are in bad enough shape without looking for a new manager:

Mattingly isn’t to blame for Los Angeles’ woes this season, at least no more so than injuries and shortsightedness on the part of the Dodgers front office. Spending enormous amounts of cash on offseason acquisitions never guarantees success, and the talking heads at the top of the chain should have recognized that reality entering the season.

But even if Mattingly is partly to blame for the Dodgers’ slow start, this isn’t the point in the season to make a change. Now is the time to create an environment of stability and confidence.

Firing Mattingly would only further a culture of overblown expectations and unneeded pressure—a payroll of upwards of $220 million doesn’t help matters, either.

With the first quarter of the season in the rear-view, the time to make a managerial change has passed. The time for facilitating a stable environment is now.

There are those who will undoubtedly cite statistics as the basis for their opinion on Mattingly’s failures: Clayton Kershaw’s 1.40 ERA and Adrian Gonzalez’s gaudy .331 batting average, to name just a couple. If Los Angeles’ stars are performing up to standards, why are the Dodgers losing so many games?

Player	Games Played	Salary
Hanley Ramirez	4	$15.5 million
Juan Uribe	29	$7.3 million
Ted Lilly	2	$13.17 million
Chris Capuano	6	$6.38 million

Look no further than the disabled list. Six starting pitchers have made their way to the injury report already this season. All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez has played in just four games this year and Nick Punto (yes, Nick Punto) has appeared in 34 of Los Angeles’ first 42 contests.

I’m inclined to agree with Gammons on this one. Mattingly can’t be blamed for wins and losses any more than he can be blamed for the depth of the Dodgers’ disabled list.

We’ve seen this scenario play out time and again in major professional sports. When a team struggles (especially a big-market team), the first reaction is to fire the coach or manager and deflect the blame to the driver of the owner’s multimillion-dollar car—never mind the fact that said car is running on four flat tires.

Only stability will turn things around for the Dodgers this season. That includes stability in the lineup and at the end of the bench.

If Mattingly goes, Los Angeles can expect things to get a lot worse before they get better.

Rob Gronkowski Has Successful Surgery on Injured Forearm

Jesse Reed — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:10:15 -0400

Rob Gronkowski and the New England Patriots received excellent news on Monday, as the star tight end underwent successful surgery on his left forearm—his fourth surgery since last year on this troublesome appendage.

As Pro Football Talk reported via Twitter, Gronkowski's left arm is now free of all infection, and he's expected to visit with Dr. Robert Watkins in three-to-four weeks about a potential back surgery:

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport believes the Patriots star could be back in time for training camp now, even if he does go through with the back surgery he's expected to have. He reports Gronkowski can rehab from both surgeries at the same time:

Nobody said playing in the NFL was easy.

Though it's by no means a slam dunk that the Patriots could enter training camp with Gronk ready and healthy, this is encouraging news. These latest reports indicate that Gronkowski could be finished with his forearm odyssey—this time for good.

One of the best players in the NFL at any position when healthy, Gronkowski will be a tremendous weapon for Tom Brady and the Patriots once again in 2013, should he fully recover in time for the new season.

A big target in the middle of the field, Gronkowski, at 6'6" and 265 pounds, has incredible hands and is adept at catching balls at their highest point.

Since joining the Patriots in 2010, Gronkowski has used these gifts to put together an amazing start to his professional football career.

In just 38 starts, he's caught 38 touchdowns, which is the most—by far—of any tight end in the league during the same time. His remarkable stats have led to a pair of Pro Bowls and one appearance on the NFL's First-Team All-Pro squad.

Certainly, having a healthy Gronkowski will be a huge key for New England's offense to have success in 2013. Thankfully, based on the most recent news, it appears he will be ready to go once the regular season begins—if not much sooner.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Manchester City Summer Transfer News: Tracking Latest Rumours, Updates

Phil Keidel — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:00:00 -0400

The party just ended for Manchester City Football Club.

As with all parties, whether they are successful or not, cleaning up afterward is invariably unpleasant.

In City's case, tidying up this summer is going to be tedious and occasionally a bit discouraging.

Who threw up in the flower bed? Who chucked the keg into the swimming pool? Why is the IPod playing "Abba Gold" on a loop?

Ironically, City's best hope to fix this mess will come where it all came unglued last summer: the transfer window.

City opted for complementary pieces and glue guys last summer. The club believed that the stars in place (Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Joe Hart et al.) needed only peripheral help.

How wrong they were.

So this summer, with a new manager on the way and a clear edict known to all concerning how second place is no place, watch for City to put away the tack hammer and bring out the sledge from the perspective of financial outlay.

After sissy-footing around and losing Robin van Persie last summer, Sheikh Mansour and Company are probably not apt to make similar mistakes this time around.

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IRB Pacific Nations Cup Preview: Canada vs USA

Jeff Hull — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:55:29 -0400

On May 25, the battle for North American rugby supremacy opens a new chapter as, for the first time, Canada and the United States will play each other as part of the revamped Pacific Nations Cup (PNC). The North Americans will join a tournament which already includes Japan, Tonga and Fiji.

This, the first IRB test match in what is set to be an incredibly busy summer of rugby, will take place in Edmonton, Alberta; it will be the first of three meetings between these two countries in the next few months.

Previously on Bleacher Report, I asked whether North America's two major rugby nations have what it takes to handle their new—and vastly expanded—summer schedules. The answer will soon be upon us.

Click here to see the complete Pacific Nations Cup schedule

The addition of the the PNC tournament to the normal compliment of three summer internationals has the potential to be a huge benefit to the development of rugby in both countries; however, it will force Canadian and American coaching staffs to utilize their expanded depth charts, which is a factor that may lead to unpredictable results.

Both nations have several top-flight professionals unavailable for the opening game of the tournament, as coaches try to provide them some recovery time after a lengthy overseas season. At first glance, it would appear Canada will suffer more heavily from these absences, with the likes of Jamie Cudmore, DTH Van der Merwe and Jebb Sinclair all unavailable, as well as others who are out injured. Meanwhile, the USA Eagles are set to field several of their leading overseas players, in the forms of Shawn Pittman, Eric Fry and captain Todd Clever.

While both Canada and the USA can expect to see their performances improve significantly over the course of a long summer, this match will see the teams take to the pitch with only a limited amount of preparation time.

Canada heads into action as the world's 14th ranked team, according to the International Rugby Board (IRB), while the USA is listed in 16th position. Both countries will have ample opportunity to improve their standing this summer; especially against the two more highly-ranked Pacific Island nations.

As mentioned, the cross-border rivals will meet again for a home-and-away series in August, as part of the Rugby World Cup qualifying process. By then, the composition of the two squads will likely look very different.

Canadian Head Coach Kieran Crowley originally posted a 45-man player pool for this summer's internationals, making it extremely difficult to guess at what the Canada roster for Saturday's clash will look like.

If the Canadians are hoping to significantly advance their IRB world rankings this summer, they can ill afford a home loss against the lower-ranked Americans. With that in mind, look for the Canadians to dress an experienced starting line-up, possibly with a significant amount of young talent added to their bench.

For the Eagles, the picture looks somewhat different. Given the almost impossible travel schedule and challenging opposition assigned to them this summer, this match may well be one of the fixtures being targeted by the USA management. Look for the USA to dress the very strongest roster available to them.

Canada-USA clashes are traditionally defined by their physicality and intensity, so whatever the make-up of the teams, the players will know that they will need to impose themselves physically to be successful.

Final roster announcements will likely take place in the 48 hours prior to the match, in Edmonton.

Click here to see the USA Rugby player pool

Rugby Canada player pool no longer posted

Bleacher Report Prediction:

As this is the first match for both teams since November, a degree of rust and a lack of coordination is to be expected. This will no doubt make for a combative, but sloppy, opening half of rugby.

With very few exceptions, Canada have consistently gotten the better of their American rivals in modern times. Home advantage and a desire to obtain a mental edge against an opponent whom they will play repeatedly this summer, will all be motivating factors for them.

As always, the inspirational Todd Clever will see his team fight hard to the end, but it is unlikely to be enough.

Our Bleacher Report prediction calls for an underpowered Canada to do just enough to get their summer campaign off to a successful start.

Predicted Scoreline: Canada 24 - USA - 21

Jeff Hull is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

To follow the author on Twitter, click on the link below.

Follow @RugbyScribe

Evaluating Experts' Mock Drafts for Vancouver Canucks

Joel Prosser — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:52:39 -0400

The 2013 NHL draft is upcoming on June 30, and the experts are starting to post mock drafts.

The draft order won’t be finalized until the playoffs are completed, but the Canucks can expect to pick approximately 26th overall, as they did in 2012 after a similar first-round loss following a successful regular season.

NHL.com has posted three different mock drafts by Adam Kimelman, Steven Hoffner and Mike G. Morreale. They project the Canucks to take either Nikita Zadorov, Ian McCoshen or Bo Horvat, respectively. Zadorov and McCoshen are blueliners, and Horvat is a center.

Picking a defenseman would be more likely, as the Canucks have taken a winger (Nicklas Jensen, 2011) and a center (Brendan Gaunce, 2012) in the first round of the last two drafts.

Zadorov is a hulking 6’5”, 230-pound defender playing for the London Knights of the OHL.

It would be a steal if he dropped down far enough for the Canucks to take him, as International Scouting Services has him listed as eighth overall on their most recent list of the top 30 skaters eligible for the 2013 draft. But if the Canucks could get him, Zadorov could be an physical power on the Vancouver blue line.

McCoshen is a smaller defender than Zadorov at 6’2” and 207 pounds, but he projects to have more offensive upside. However, he has been playing for the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL, and coming from a lower league than the CHL, he would likely need more development to be NHL-ready.

That may not be an issue, however, as McCoshen has already committed to play NCAA hockey for Boston College next year and therefore would be a long-term project anyways.

The third player projected for the Canucks, Bo Horvat, is a teammate of Zadorov’s with the London Knights. Horvat is a 6’0”, 200-pound center with a reputation for being physical and winning battles along the boards and in the corners.

While a physical center to help on the forecheck and on the penalty kill would be a definite asset for the Canucks, that falls a little too close to the projection for Brendan Gaunce, and it is unlikely the Canucks would draft two such similar centers in consecutive years.

Most likely, the Canucks will pick the best defender that is available when they are picking in the latter half of the first round, and if they are lucky, it will be a potential gem like Zadorov.

Jose Mourinho's Next Club Will Be Defining Moment in Legacy of The Special One

Dan Talintyre — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:49:05 -0400

With the news that Real Madrid have ended their relationship with Jose Mourinho, the most logical landing spot for the manager this summer is Chelsea.

It has been talked about in the press for weeks now and suggested ever since Roberto Di Matteo was fired as the Blues' manager earlier this season.

And now, with Mourinho not attached to a club and Chelsea without a manager for the year ahead, it seems the 50-year-old could be coming to London.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez made the stunning announcement about Mourinho's departure this morning in front of a packed news conference (per BBC).

We've decided to bring our relationship to an end. Nobody's been sacked, it's a mutual agreement. The club and manager agree the timing is right to bring our relationship to an end. On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Jose Mourinho for all his hard work. The team has improved in his three years and we wish him all the best.

Assuming Mourinho does end up signing with Chelsea, it will no doubt be a move well-received by the Blues' faithful. They've endured a tumultuous 12-month period that saw them go from the lowest of lows in the Champions League to a thrilling high in the Europa League Final. What's more, they've endured a managerial circus that has done nothing but cripple the support and belief of the club.

Now, it seems, having Mourinho back would fix some of that.

"The Special One" would return to the club that he last managed in September 2007 as a legend, having won titles in both Spain and Italy since his departure.

However, as great and illustrious as his trophy cabinet may be having chalked up much success over the years, the reality is that Mourinho is by no means the Messiah for Chelsea.

In fact, he would come to the West London club under a mountain of expectation and pressure that, if he fails to live up to, could well see him fall under the wrathful fist of owner Roman Abramovich once more.

For Mourinho would be somewhat expected to have success at Chelsea.

After all, he is the larger-than-life man himself—The Special One, right?

Well, yes, but it must be noted that six years is a very long time to be away from a club. The Blues have had many highs and lows in both England and Europe since then, and whilst Mourinho no doubt boasts the resume to handle whatever the Blues' needs are, six years is still a very long time.

BBC5's Ian McGarry wrote about Mourinho's potential return:

I think he's [Mourinho] romanticized the relationship with the [British] media a little. It wasn't as cushty as he's made out in press conferences over the past few months, when he said he is loved by fans and the media. We do Jose, but for a reason. It doesn't mean you love us all of the time. We've had our fall-outs...

He also went on to state that he would return to a "very different Chelsea team" and a "very different landscape" since he last was in charge, and it's true.

The legends like Didier Drogba have been replaced with the up-and-coming stars of Juan Mata and Eden Hazard. Yet more importantly, Chelsea have slipped from being at the top of England, to being back behind Manchester United once again, and they're now behind Manchester City also.

That's what Mourinho would come back to, and if his time at Madrid is anything to go by, then he would certainly be under a lot of pressure to instantly deliver.

And when it comes to Chelsea, that means trophies.

Mourinho's trophy-resume is impressive, with a long list of titles from around the world. However, it must be noted that since leaving Inter Milan for Madrid, Mourinho has secured just two titles—the Spanish La Liga title and the Copa del Rey.

As far as domestic success goes, Mourinho has delivered nothing but semifinal heartbreak for Los Blancos fans around the world.

That might sound harsh, but we're talking on Chelsea's terms here.

If Abramovich is happy to part ways with the man that won the European competition—Di Matteo—then Mourinho must also be held up to the same standards.

He might be The Special One (or even "The Only One"), but if he cannot deliver for Chelsea what is expected of him, then he will be on the outer once again.

That's the environment that Mourinho would be coming into.

He would be under pressure from the opening whistle next season, and his successes or failures at Chelsea would therefore stand as the defining moment in his legacy.

If he were to lead the West London club back to European success and Premier League domination, then it would be a success. If he were to lead the Blues back to the Promised Land, per se, of being one of the world's best once again, he will have fulfilled his job description in its entirety and Mourinho's legacy as The Special One will go down in Chelsea folklore forever.

But if he were to have another season like he just did at Madrid, or like the Blues just had in England, that legacy and reputation would certainly be put on hold.

And that's the problem with having great expectations for the future.

After all, the reality is that in 2013 Benitez won more titles than Mourinho. Chelsea had the same number of trophies in six months of Di Matteo that Mourinho did in three years at Real Madrid—and that was with a squad boasting Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil and so many other superstar-esque players.

Mourinho arrived at the Bernabeu a legend, and left it a mess.

His legacy as that of The Special One is definitely on the line this summer, and if he chooses Chelsea, he'll have a very tough time justifying that claim.

That's not to say that he won't; just to say that it will be very difficult.

Even for The Special One.

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

2013 MLB Mock Draft: Bleacher Report's 1st-Round Projection Battle

Adam Wells — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:45:24 -0400

The 2013 Major League Baseball draft is just over two weeks away. All the projections and evaluations are starting to take shape; with a few elite high school teams and most college squads wrapping up their seasons, it is time to start putting faces to big league clubs.

Much like last year's draft, there is not a lot of elite talent at the top of the board this year. There are a number of intriguing players at both the high school and college levels, but aside from the top two pitchers, there are a whole lot of questions that don't have answers.

For the second time this spring, Mike Rosenbaum and I have teamed up for a dual mock draft to hopefully sort out of some of the madness.

We are doing things slightly differently this time around, where when we agree on a pick only one of us will provide analysis so as not to keep repeating the same thing you just read about a team and/or selection. When we disagree on a selection, you will get both of our thoughts on why we went the way that we did.

So without further ado, here is the latest MLB mock draft.

Pick	Team	Rosenbaum	Wells
1	Houston Astros	Jonathan Gray	Jonathan Gray
Pick Analysis: Gray's ascent this season will be capped off by being the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft. Not only does he offer the Astros similar upside to Mark Appel, the other player seriously in the mix for the top pick, but he could also come a little cheaper than the Stanford right-hander and allow them to allocate more money for higher-upside, tougher-sign players in the later rounds. To say nothing of Gray's ability to touch triple digits with a knockout slider and workhorse frame.—Wells
2	Chicago Cubs	Mark Appel	Mark Appel
Pick Analysis: As everyone knows by now, the Cubs will take either Gray or Appel with the second overall pick, depending on which player is selected by the Astros at 1-1. In reality, the Cubs are likely hoping that the Astros and Gray cut a deal, as they’ve had their eye on Appel for the last year despite his presumed high price tag as a Scott Boras client.—Rosenbaum
3	Colorado Rockies	Kris Bryant	Kris Bryant
Pick Analysis: Conventional thinking would say that the Rockies need to go after pitching, but the MLB draft isn't like a lot of other drafts. Teams should look for the best player available. Bryant does have some questions about his hit tool, but there is no denying the huge power numbers he has put up at San Diego and how well it translates to the big leagues. In an era where home run numbers are down significantly, Bryant is a luxury at this spot.—Wells
4	Minnesota Twins	Kohl Stewart	Kohl Stewart
Pick Analysis: After adding a host of power arms since last June, including Alex Meyer, Trevor May and J.O. Berrios, Stewart would give the Twins another high-ceiling pitching prospect and fits the mold of their quickly improving farm system. Plus, at this point, the 6’3”, 190-pound right-hander is arguably the best player available.—Rosenbaum
5	Cleveland Indians	Colin Moran	Colin Moran
Pick Analysis: With the exception of Francisco Lindor two years ago, who was lauded for his polish and advanced skills, Cleveland usually plays things (relatively) safe by going after polished college players. Moran has the most advanced hit tool in this class, an incredible eye at the plate and plus raw power. He also has enough tools—plus arm strength, good glove—to stick at third base. He could move very quickly after signing.—Wells
6	Miami Marlins	Braden Shipley	D.J. Peterson
Pick Analysis: The Marlins don't seem likely to go after one of the top high school players and pay him the money he will look for, so a college player seems to be the smart play. I go with D.J. Peterson, who will end up in the outfield and has a solid hit tool with above-average power but not much in the way of ceiling. He is more of a safe, low-risk investment for the Marlins than anything.—Wells Even though they selected a college arm last June (Andrew Heaney), Shipley has considerably more upside than the average college pitching prospect. The cousin of former NFL wide receiver Jordan Shipley, the right-hander is an outstanding athlete with little mileage on his arm and the makings of three above-average-to-plus offerings.—Rosenbaum
7	Boston Red Sox	Clint Frazier	Clint Frazier
Pick Analysis: The Red Sox will be forced to wait and see which top-10 prospect is still available with the No. 7 pick, as they have their eye on several different players. Having been linked to Clint Frazier all spring, Boston is hoping that the dynamic prep outfielder makes it out of the top five. As one of the top hitters in the 2013 draft class, Frazier could move relatively quickly through their system.—Rosenbaum
8	Kansas City Royals	D.J. Peterson	Braden Shipley
Pick Analysis: Kansas City is not opposed to drafting high-ceiling talent (like Frazier or Austin Meadows), but it is clear that the focus of this franchise right now is finding pitching. We saw it with the acquisition of James Shields and drafting Kyle Zimmer in the last 12 months. Shipley has a plus fastball-curveball combination and continues to improve his command and feel.—Wells After dealing Wil Myers, their top offensive prospect, during the offseason, the Royals have asserted themselves as a “win now” organization. Therefore, adding Peterson, who’s widely regarded as having one of the top bats in the class, could give them an impact hitter capable of contributing by the 2015 season.—Rosenbaum
9	Pittsburgh Pirates*	Reese McGuire	Trey Ball
Pick Analysis: The Pirates might play things safe since this pick is unprotected after failing to sign Mark Appel last year, so I can see a player like McGuire going here. However, Ball is one of the most intriguing players in this draft for his upside as a hitter or pitcher. Since he is left-handed and can already touch 93, expect him to be drafted and developed as a pitcher.—Wells Although the Pirates selected a catcher (Wyatt Mathisen) with their first-round pick in 2012, he’s viewed as more of a work-in-progress behind the plate. So, don’t be surprised if they double-down and cut a cost-saving deal with McGuire this year, as he’s an outstanding defender and lock to stay behind the plate.—Rosenbaum
10	Toronto Blue Jays	Austin Meadows	Austin Meadows
Pick Analysis: No player in this class has a ceiling as high as Austin Meadows, the toolsy albeit raw Georgia outfielder. He has an effortless—it can look almost lackadaisical—swing with plus speed, power and defense in center field. The Blue Jays have been known to grab the best available talent, especially in the early rounds. Don't expect that trend to change this year.—Wells
11	New York Mets	Dominic Smith	Hunter Renfroe
Pick Analysis: The Mets may not want to wait as long as it will take Smith, who is a (terrific) first base-only prospect, to get to the big leagues, especially considering the state of their outfield right now, so Renfroe and his exciting all-around skills, including plus power, speed, defense and arm strength will be the choice.—Wells Although the Mets are desperately in need of an impact bat in the outfield, they may be forced to make an exception if Smith is still on the board. He may be a first base-only prospect, but he’s a left-handed one who should hit for both average and power at the next level.—Rosenbaum
12	Seattle Mariners	Ryne Stanek	Ryne Stanek
Pick Analysis: Regarded as one of the top draft prospects headed into the spring, Stanek’s stock has a taken a minor hit this season due to decreased velocity, fringy command and his ongoing inability to miss bats despite flashing two plus pitches. That being said, it’s difficult to envision him not going within the first half of the first round, and 12th overall may mark his floor in this year’s weak draft class.—Rosenbaum
13	San Diego Padres	Trey Ball	Ian Clarkin
Pick Analysis: The pitching-rich Padres really don't lose in either scenario here. If Ball slides to them, he would be an excellent choice for obvious reasons. Clarkin is also a left-hander who attends high school in the San Diego area who can already run his fastball up to 93 with a sharp curveball.—Wells Just as they did last year with Max Fried, the Padres are likely to make a stab at a high-upside prep player, and will have their pick of the litter here just outside the top 10. Ball is the definition of a projectable prospect, both in the outfield and on the mound, and could be a steal if he makes it this far.—Rosenbaum
14	Pittsburgh Pirates	Sean Manaea	Sean Manaea
Pick Analysis: It is really hard to figure out where Manaea might go in this draft. He is a left-hander who has been clocked up to 96 in the past with a plus slider. But his peak came during the Cape Cod season in the summer of 2012. This spring has been different, as he is throwing more in the 91-93 range with two solid-average off-speed pitches. Lefties with above-average velocity, three pitches and pitchability don't usually last this long, so the Pirates would be wise to add him to their stable of arms.—Wells
15	Arizona Diamondbacks	Hunter Renfroe	J.P. Crawford
Pick Analysis: With Arizona's new philosophy at the big league level, you have to wonder what the drafting crew will look for in the draft. Crawford is one of the few true shortstops in this class with a solid hit tool, plus range and very good footwork.—Wells The Diamondbacks continue to be linked to the toolsy Renfroe, as they’re allegedly interested in an impact college bat. And if his junior campaign is a sign of what’s to come, then the D-Backs could be landing a major steal this late in the first round.—Rosenbaum
16	Philadelphia Phillies	J.P. Crawford	Tim Anderson
Pick Analysis: Anderson fits Philadelphia's bill for athletic players very well. He has a good chance to stick at shortstop and become a high-average, line-drive hitter with plus speed.—Wells The Phillies have been rumored to be in on every high-ceiling prep player, including J.P. Crawford, who’s regarded as the top shortstop in the class. However, if he doesn’t make it this far down the board, Tim Anderson could ultimately be their guy.—Rosenbaum
17	Chicago White Sox	Austin Wilson	Austin Wilson
Pick Analysis: Although he missed a portion of the season after suffering a right elbow (stress reaction) injury in Stanford’s opening series against Rice, it seemingly never altered Wilson’s perception as a Day 1 talent. And after deviating from their normal draft strategy in 2012 with the selection of Courtney Hawkins, expect the South Siders to take a safer route this June without sacrificing upside.—Rosenbaum
18	Los Angeles Dodgers	Ian Clarkin	Hunter Harvey
Pick Analysis: Since 2003, the Dodgers have taken a high school pitcher in five of the seven years they have had a first-round pick (not including the supplemental round), and last year they took a high school position player. Harvey certainly fits their model as a right-hander with present velocity—usually in the low 90s—and a lot of projection.—Wells After selecting a pitcher in the first round from 2006-2011, the Dodgers finally took a different approach last year when they selected Corey Seager 18th overall. However, with the amount of pitching prospects expected to still be on the board in the mid-first round this year, expect them to target one of the more projectable prep arms.—Rosenbaum
19	St. Louis Cardinals	Alex Gonzalez	Alex Gonzalez
Pick Analysis: The Cardinals could opt for a higher-ceiling high school arm at this spot, but the risk might be too great, especially considering they have another pick later in the round. Instead, they can add Alex Gonzalez, who has been moving up in this class thanks to his four-pitch mix, including a very good cutter that induces a ton of soft contact, and polish. Not that St. Louis is hurting for young pitching right now, but one more solid arm can't hurt.—Wells
20	Detroit Tigers	Aaron Judge	Chris Anderson
Pick Analysis: The Tigers' philosophy is usually to go after a hard-throwing right-hander in the first round. Why change the formula right now? Especially with Anderson, who has shown plus-plus velocity and a very good breaking ball.—Wells In need of advanced, impact talent due to their lackluster farm system, the Tigers are a safe bet to target a player whom they believe can reach the majors quickly and doesn't come with a high price tag. Although Judge does have his weaknesses, the 6’7”, 255-pound outfielder has huge upside (literally) and could be a steal this late in a weak-hitting draft class.—Rosenbaum
21	Tampa Bay Rays	Devin Williams	Devin Williams
Pick Analysis: The consensus seems to be that Williams will be selected in the second half of the first round, though nobody is exactly sure where. The ultra-projectable right-hander has been heavily scouted by numerous teams drafting within that range, and, in my opinion, he has all the makings of the next young, impact pitching prospect in the Rays’ system.—Rosenbaum
22	Baltimore Orioles	Chris Anderson	Aaron Judge
Pick Analysis: Judge is one of the few players in this draft with plus-plus power projection, so there is a strong chance he doesn't even make it to this spot. But his huge strike zone—Judge is listed at 6'7"—and inability to drive the ball pitched down in the zone do leave questions about his hit tool.—Wells Although the Orioles may ultimately target a premium position player, it’s hard to argue with their recent success in drafting Dylan Bundy (2011) and Kevin Gausman (2012). Anderson’s stock has fallen a bit this spring, but he still has the size and stuff to project as a solid No. 3 starter behind the aforementioned right-handers.—Rosenbaum
23	Texas Rangers	Hunter Harvey	Travis Demeritte
Pick Analysis: The Rangers are another team that goes after tools and projection every single time. Demeritte is going to take a long time before sniffing the big leagues. He is incredibly raw but does have plus power potential and a strong arm for third base.—Wells Hunter Harvey is exactly the type of young pitching prospect that the Rangers tend to covet. With a highly projectable frame and a fastball that’s reached the mid-to-upper 90s this spring, there’s a decent chance he may not make it this far. But if he does, expect the Rangers to shell out some big bucks to sign him.—Rosenbaum
24	Oakland Athletics	Tim Anderson	Matt Krook
Pick Analysis: Drafting Addison Russell last year could be the start of a new philosophy for Oakland, which used to just go after college players with a high floor early. Krook would fit the new mold, as a left-hander with above-average present velocity, a plus curveball and projection.—Wells Although the A’s netted a great prospect last June in Addison Russell, a team can never have too many high-ceiling up-the-middle prospects in its system. Anderson has the athleticism and tools to stick at shortstop, and could conceivably move to center field down the road.—Rosenbaum
25	San Francisco Giants	Phil Bickford	Rob Kaminsky
Pick Analysis: Kaminsky lacks the projection you want in a typical high school pitcher, but he is very advanced for his age, showing very good control and a solid three-pitch mix. Given the Giants' success at developing arms, you would have to trust they will get the most out of Kaminsky.—Wells It’s easy to envision the Giants selecting a top-notch pitching prospect because, well, that’s what they do. But after selecting college right-hander Chris Stratton last June, the organization could stand to go younger with this year’s pick, meaning that the hard-throwing Bickford could be their guy if he’s still on the board.—Rosenbaum
26	New York Yankees	Rob Kaminsky	Eric Jagielo
Pick Analysis: The Yankees can do any number of things in the first round with three picks. Jagielo is a safe option at this spot, both because he won't command a huge portion of the signing bonus and he's an average third baseman with solid hitting skills and plus power.—Wells The Yankees have been linked to Kaminsky all spring, a local product (New Jersey) with a mature arsenal and present pitchability. Even if they don’t take him here, expect the Bronx Bombers to target the left-hander with one of their picks in the first round.—Rosenbaum
27	Cincinnati Reds	Kyle Serrano	Kyle Serrano
Pick Analysis: A high school right-hander with a fastball that sits in the low 90s thanks to tremendous arm speed and a knee-buckling curveball, Serrano is squarely in the first-round mix. He slides down a bit because there are questions about whether he will honor his commitment to the University of Tennessee, where his father, Dave Serrano, is the head coach. He also doesn't offer much physical projection at 6'0", 185 pounds, so a drafting team will be banking on the present stuff, which is very good, and future command.—Wells
28	St. Louis Cardinals*	Cord Sandberg	Billy McKinney
Pick Analysis: McKinney would be a very good value pick at this spot. He doesn't offer much in the way of defense as a fringy left fielder, but he has a beautiful left-handed swing and projects to be a plus hitter with above-average home run power.—Wells After landing two advanced college players (Michael Wacha, James Ramsey) in the first round last June, the Cardinals would benefit from selecting a high school player right here, as they need to begin re-stocking their lower-level affiliates. The only question is whether they’ll be able to offer Sandberg enough for him to pass on his dual-sport (quarterback) commitment to Mississippi State.—Rosenbaum
29	Tampa Bay Rays*	Jon Denney	Hunter Green
Pick Analysis: The Rays, more often than not, will shoot for ceiling in the first round. Green has a projectable 6'4" frame, already sits in the low 90s with his fastball and has the potential for two average off-speed pitches. Considering how slow Tampa Bay plays things with its pitchers, as well as the depth already in the big leagues, the team can afford to wait as long as it has to for Green to develop.—Wells Denney’s stock has slipped this spring due to his inconsistent performance on both sides of the ball, but he’s still showcased the type of loud tools that usually intrigue the Rays.—Rosenbaum
30	Texas Rangers*	Travis Demeritte	Dominic Smith
Pick Analysis: Smith is one of the top hitters in this draft class. He has a great swing from the left side, already showing plus power in games. He is limited to first base, but he is a tremendous defender at the position with soft hands and a plus throwing arm that he won't get to show off very often.—Wells One of several teams linked to Demeritte in the first round, the Rangers would be thrilled if he makes it to them this far in the first round. That being said, there’s also a strong chance that they snatch him with their earlier pick (23rd overall).—Rosenbaum
31	Atlanta Braves*	Marco Gonzales	Marco Gonzales
Pick Analysis: After straying from the usual draft strategy last season when they selected local prep right-hander Lucas Sims with the 21st overall pick, expect the Braves to target a pitchability, high-floor arm, such as Gonzales, capable of a quick but steady ascension through their system.—Rosenbaum
32	New York Yankees*	Billy McKinney	Reese McGuire
Pick Analysis: Here is where the Yankees can play around with some things. McGuire is a potential top-10-15 pick thanks to the strong possibility he will stay behind the plate, plus throwing arm and good blocking/receiving skills. He will have to prove he can hit, however.—Wells Assuming that the Yankees net a top pitching prospect at No. 26 overall, this will be the organization’s first chance to target an impact bat. Although he’s a younger hitter and lacks defensive projection, McKinney’s bat would stand out in their system.—Rosenbaum
33	New York Yankees*	Eric Jagielo	Dustin Peterson
Pick Analysis: Peterson has the makings of an average second baseman at the next level. He has a good swing with above-average bat speed. He is raw and will need to adjust to quality off-speed stuff, but his tools are very exciting and he's a good find at the end of the first round.—Wells If the Yankees do in fact go with high school players with each of their first two picks, expect them to hedge against their investment with an impact college bat such as Jagielo, who offers plus power from the left side of the plate.—Rosenbaum

For more draft talk, feel free to hit me up on Twitter Follow @adamwells1985

You can also follow Mike Rosenbaum at his link by clicking here.

2014 Recruits That Could Remain Teammates from High School to College

Edwin Weathersby — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:42:43 -0400

High school coaches are lucky to have just one college prospect on their team in a season. Those with two or more bona fide college prospects probably should play the Lotto. This year, schools like Mansfield Timberview in Arlington and Miami Central feature multiple college prospects.

However, Edward Paris and Brandon Simmons are not going to continue their unity in college. Dalvin Cook and Joseph Yearby also will embark on separate college paths. However, Yearby and fellow Miami Central teammate OT Trevor Darling will both play at Miami.

For this read, the focus will be on those prospects who are high school teammates now and may choose to continue playing together in college. Teammates like Michiah Quick and Tashon Smallwood, Speedy Noil and Gerald Willis, plus Erick Smith and Marshon Lattimore are just a few who could be on this list.

Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports & ESPNU.

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Is New York Rangers Coach John Tortorella Still on the Hot Seat?

Nicholas Goss — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:42:21 -0400

John Tortorella is the most controversial head coach in the NHL, and like all coaches of this nature, there comes a time when their fiery style no longer benefits the team.

That time may come in the near future for Tortorella, who, for the most part, has underachieved during his tenure as head coach of the New York Rangers, which began in the 2008-09 season.

The Massachusetts native is currently in a challenging second-round playoff series with the Boston Bruins, one in which the Rangers have been completely outplayed in the first two games at TD Garden. As a result, the Blueshirts are facing an 0-2 deficit going back to Madison Square Garden for the second consecutive series.

"We don’t want to lose two games here. No one does," said Tortorella after his team lost 5-2 in Sunday's Game 2. "But there’s no give in the team. There will be no give in this team. Again, we need to go win a game. Not look anywhere else, just try to win our first home game this series."

"You always have to try to be better as a team, and if we’re going to win a game, and that’s all we’re looking at—we’re going to have to be better."

Tortorella is on the hot seat, but it's not burning just yet. A second-round sweep or a five-game series loss to the Bruins would revive the debate on whether or not Tortorella is the right coach for the Rangers, but the the chances of him losing his job are likely small now that his team is out of the first round.

After a grueling shortened season and a lot of roster turnover from the 2011-12 squad, Tortorella will probably get another chance to help the Rangers reach their potential. Injuries and a lack of depth prevented him from having a roster that was suited for his style of play for a full year.

But a lackluster 2013-14 season could spell the end of Tortorella's tenure with the Rangers.

Rangers general manager Glen Sather has shown a lot of faith in his head coach, and you could even argue that his construction of the team's roster was poor given the lack of depth and talent New York had until it made a few moves at the trade deadline in April.

However, if poor playoff results and distractions continue to mount, his time in New York should not last much longer.

Tortorella is not an easy coach to play for, and there are a number of reasons why.

He's a very intense coach and isn't afraid to speak his mind privately and publicly. His criticism is direct and honest, and some guys, regardless if they are a star player or a third/fourth-line grinder, are better motivated with more encouragement than harsh criticism.

His comments about Rangers forward Carl Hagelin on Saturday were unprofessional and unnecessary. Here is what Tortorella said about his young winger:

He stinks, I don't know why. I wish I could put him on the power play, but every time I put him on he stinks.

I think he’s too quick; I think he’s a jitterbug and he screws it up. But I may use him, I’d love to. And I’m not trying to be a smartass. He stinks on the power play every time I put him on there.

First of all, Hagelin is far from the biggest problem on the power play, evidenced by the fact that the team has converted on just two of its 36 opportunities with the man advantage during the playoffs, including an 0-for-20 success rate on the road.

To embarrass Hagelin in front of the media when he's not even the real issue in the team's inability to score on the power play was a poor decision from Tortorella, and this is a good example of why his style of coaching can often be counterproductive.

Instead of criticizing a young player such as Hagelin, Tortorella should look at a veteran like Brad Richards, who has one goal in the playoffs, no power-play points and is getting paid a team-high $12 million (via Capgeek) to produce offensively (which he has failed to do in 2013).

We are now in an era where the players have the majority of the power. Very rarely do we see players shipped out of town before coaches are fired. Tortorella's my-way-or-the-high-way kind of style isn't the best way to interact with this generation's players. This is why he's unique in today's NHL—there are no other coaches like him.

In addition to his poor methods of handling his players and the media, Tortorella's style of play also makes it hard to come to work every day.

The high amount of shot-blocking that he demands from all of his players and the rigid defensive system he uses gets tiresome, both physically and mentally, after a while. It's tough to come to work every day when the players' roles requires the kind of physical wear and tear that results from Tortorella's style of hockey.

While his style of play has resulted in the Rangers achieving some impressive regular-season success (171-115-29 record since 2008), it also increases the chances that his players will deal with injuries when the playoffs finally arrive. Playing this style of hockey for a full season, plus the playoffs, is incredibly difficult, and it's one reason why the Blueshirts have advanced past the first round just twice with Tortorella as head coach.

Another concern about Tortorella is his inability to help correct the Rangers' weaknesses offensively. They have scored the second-fewest goals of the eight remaining playoff teams, and he changes his lines way too much, including the foolish decision to play Richards on the fourth line when he's struggling.

Even though he has more offensive skill at his disposal than most coaches in the NHL, Tortorella's team has struggled to score goals consistently all season. Since Tortorella is unable to find ways for his best players to produce offensively, the team has to rely on star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist way more than it should.

Sooner or later, the players' belief in Tortorella's message will start to decline if the team fails to get to the "next level" and make a Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Criticizing players publicly and asking them to play a physically demanding style of hockey only works for so long, especially when the team continues to fail in the postseason.

Fierce coaches like Tortorella often have a short shelf life with each team that employs them, and if he fails to adapt and change his style a bit so the Rangers are better prepared to win in the playoffs, he shouldn't have a job in New York beyond the 2013-14 season.

This team has the potential and enough talent to win a championship right now, and if Tortorella is unable to get the most out of his players and reach to the Stanley Cup Final, Sather will need to find someone who can before the franchise's championship window begins to close.

Nicholas Goss is an NHL lead writer at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter. Nick was a credentialed reporter at the 2011 Stanley Cup final and 2012 NHL playoffs, and he is also a credentialed writer at the 2013 NHL playoffs in Boston. All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.

UFC Rankings for Each Weight Division Following UFC on FX 8

Sean Smith — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:39:25 -0400

Vitor Belfort could be looking at his third UFC title shot in as many calendar years after scoring his second straight knockout win in the UFC on FX 8 main event against Luke Rockhold.

The final Strikeforce middleweight champion, Rockhold would have been a strong candidate for a title shot of his own had he defeated Belfort in his UFC debut. However, after finishing Rockhold and Michael Bisping before him, Belfort is now at the top of the heap of 185-pound contenders.

Heading into Saturday's fights, Belfort was ranked No. 2 in the middleweight division behind upcoming title challenger Chris Weidman. Did that change with the results from UFC on FX 8?

With UFC on FX 8 in the books and UFC 160 ahead, let's take a look at the latest official UFC rankings.

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