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Biggest Takeaways from Saturday's NHL Playoff Action

Steve Silverman — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:41:21 -0400

Home domination for the Presidents' Trophy-winning Chicago Blackhawks?

Not any longer.

The seventh-seeded Detroit Red Wings showed they weren't just happy to be there. Instead, they wanted to make their presence felt and win a game on the Blackhawks' home ice.

Not only did Mike Babcock's team accomplish its goal, but Detroit did it in convincing fashion in a 4-1 win.

In the other Western Conference semifinal, the San Jose Sharks showed the Los Angeles Kings they are not going to go away easily, either. They beat the Kings 2-1 in overtime at the Shark Tank and got back into the series.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Saturday's games.

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Vitor Belfort's Win over Luke Rockhold May Cause More Problems Than It Solves

Damon Martin — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:29:29 -0400

For the second straight fight in a row, Vitor Belfort finished an opponent with a devastating head kick, this time around putting away former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold.

With just over two minutes gone in the fight, Belfort launched a quick, spinning heel kick that landed flush on Rockhold's jaw sending him crashing to the mat.

The spinning kick was similar to the ones landed by UFC lightweight Edson Barboza (finishing Terry Etim) and former Ultimate Fighter finalist Uriah Hall (putting away Adam Cella). Rockhold deserves some credit because he's the only one of the three who had the kick land and didn't get completely knocked out from the impact, but Belfort didn't need much more besides a few punches to put Rockhold's lights out and pick up another win at 185 pounds.

Belfort is actually undefeated at middleweight outside of one loss, and that's where his win creates a big problem in the UFC's 185-pound division

The Brazilian has now knocked off two top-five contenders in a row with Rockhold, and Michael Bisping in his previous fight. For any other fighter it, would almost seem a lock for him to receive a title shot in his next bout, but for Belfort that assumption can't happen just yet for a number of reasons.

The first obstacle is UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

Belfort and Silva met already at UFC 126 in 2011 and ended in one of the most stunning knockouts in mixed martial arts history. Silva threw a front kick that landed straight into Belfort's mouth, knocking him to the ground in dramatic fashion.

Add to that the knockout happened in the first round in a one-sided fight that Silva controlled and no matter what streak he's on currently, it's hard to put Belfort back in against the champion a second time. Silva has never been keen on rematches although he did grant one to both Chael Sonnen and former UFC champion Rich Franklin since he's been middleweight champion.

Silva next faces Chris Weidman at UFC 162. With a win, he would seem poised to focus on fights that would define his legacy like bouts against welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre or light heavyweight king Jon Jones. It's unknown if Silva would have any interest at all in taking on Belfort a second time.

The other major obstacle for Belfort right now is his use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

While the treatment is 100 percent legal by all standards in mixed martial arts, fighters are required to receive a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) by any state commission to be able to use TRT leading up to a fight. Belfort has now openly been using TRT for his last two fights, but he's only fought in Brazil while being on the controversial treatment.

In the past with cards in Brazil, the UFC acted as a governing body to test athletes who competed on the fight cards. Recently, a commission was formed in Brazil and it also allowed Belfort to continue using TRT before his fights.

If Belfort fights in the United States or other areas with recognized commissions, he would have to be approved to use TRT in those areas before a fight could happen.

Unfortunately for Belfort, he tested positive for steroids after competing in a Pride Fighting Championships bout in 2006 in Las Vegas. While there's no proof why Belfort has low testosterone, which is why he's on TRT in the first place, steroid abuse is a known cause of the problem in men.

Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer spoke to Bleacher Report in March and stated that because of Belfort's past conviction for steroid use, it's unlikely they would grand him an exemption to use TRT in that state.

"I don't see Vitor Belfort getting a TRT exemption from us," Kizer told Bleacher Report. "I really don't and I feel kind of bad for him in some ways because if he has learned from his mistakes and now he's trying to do it the right way and his levels are low with the treatment good for him and I hope he is doing that. The rules are the rules and you have to draw the line somewhere."

The line in the sand for TRT usage seems to be a past suspension for steroids, and that could prevent Belfort from using the treatment in a fight that takes place in Las Vegas or some major areas of the United States if other commissions follow suit.

It would mean that Belfort's fights would have to continue to take place in Brazil or England or other areas where the UFC acts as the governing body and would allow him to stay on TRT leading up to the show.

If that's the case, it's going to make a title fight with Belfort involved a hard sell especially with the lion's share of major UFC championship fights taking place in the United States or Canada.

The only other scenario would be Belfort discontinuing his use of TRT all together.

At the post-fight press conference in Brazil, according to Tatame reporter Guilherme Cruz, who was at the event, Belfort didn't seem too interested in talking about TRT or a potential matchup with Silva down the road anyway.

Belfort's best hope for a title shot might be to begin rooting for Chris Weidman when he takes on Silva at UFC 162, and then ask for the fight to take place in Brazil. Otherwise, Belfort may have to settle for big fights taking place in his native country with no title implications on the line.

It's not an ideal spot for any fighter to be in, but at 36 years of age, Belfort could certainly earn a nice living being a part of major cards in Brazil time and again, but another shot at UFC gold may never happen in his career.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report.

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race 2013 Results: Reaction, Leaders and Analysis

Rob Goldberg — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:54 -0400

In a race featuring the best in the sport, Jimmie Johnson came away with the win at the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. This exhibition win gives him a nice payday of $1 million.

Johnson becomes the first person ever to win the all-star race four times in his career.

This year's event featured some interesting rules for the 90-lap race. The race began with four different 20-lap segments, with the winners of each getting a head start for the final 10-lap sprint. The best average finish sets up the order for the final sprint.

While there was plenty of competition from Joey Logano late and Kyle and Kurt Busch among others throughout the event, no one was able to catch Johnson by the end of the race.

Here is a look at the final standings from Saturday's event:

Place	Driver	Car
1	Jimmie Johnson	48
2	Joey Logano	22
3	Kyle Busch	18
4	Kasey Kahne	5
5	Kurt Busch	78
6	Denny Hamlin	11
7	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	88
8	Jamie McMurray	1
9	Matt Kenseth	20
10	Carl Edwards	99
Other Notable Results
11	Kevin Harvick	29
12	Jeff Gordon	24
14	Tony Stewart	14
18	Clint Bowyer	15
20	Danica Patrick	10

With this short of a race, it is not surprising that there was drama right from the start in the opening segment.

Three laps in, Brad Keselowski had to go into the garage with a bad transmission. While he was not happy about it, the driver seemed to understand the situation, according to NASCAR on SPEED:

However, things started to get worse for the entire field as rain started to come down during Lap 13, causing a long delay in the action.

At least Hendrick Motorsports knows how to entertain themselves in the poor weather:

After about a 45-minute delay, the skies cleared and the action once again picked up on Charlotte Motor Speedway:

When the race continued, Kurt Busch took control of the race as he had from the start. He led for each of the first 20 laps and finished on top at the end of the first segment.

In the second segment, this became a family affair as Kyle Busch decided to take over as the leader. The brother got off to a nice advantage and ended as the winner after 40 laps, guaranteeing him a spot near the front of the final sprint.

This was not a great moment for all of the drivers, unfortunately. During Lap 25, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. lost control and bounced off the wall directly into Mark Martin (via NASCAR):

The veteran eventually got back onto the track, but this was not what he was expecting in the first half of the race.

Once the next segment started, Kyle Busch went right back after the lead. He continued to fight hard, and the No. 18 car also was able to get yet another win in segment three. By this point, he had lead an impressive 29 of the 60 laps of the race.

It was obvious who was showing up to this exhibition to win, and these brothers fought hard to beat each other throughout the event. NASCAR's Twitter account pointed out the success of the family:

The action continued to pick up in the fourth segment, as Kasey Kahne got out to a strong start. However, he was once again passed by another Busch as Kurt ended as the leader.

This caused the 81st lap to begin with Kurt Busch, then Kyle Busch followed by Kahne in third and Clint Bowyer. However, the championship was completely up for grabs once the cars went in for a final pit stop.

As noted by Hendrick Motorsports, Kahne was the first one off of pit road going into the final restart:

After that, however, it was a complete shootout. Jimmie Johnson quickly took the lead and never gave it up. This was the second win in a row at the all-star race, and he proved once again that he is truly one of the best ever to compete in this sport.

Here is a look at the driver celebrating in victory lane (via Team Lowe's Racing):

Kurt Busch only managed a fifth-place finish after doing so well throughout the race.

Carl Edwards had a bit of a disappointing run after starting in pole position. The 2011 winner was never really in contention and finished in 10th place.

The fan-vote winner Danica Patrick finished in 20th place, although she does have the honor of being the first female in the all-star race's history.

Despite all of the action, this event was for the fans. It featured the best drivers in the sport and the most popular ones as well.

You could see from the introductions that this was not a normal race, with each competitor and the pit crews coming out in dramatic fashion, as captured by Sunoco Racing:

Johnson took away the big paycheck, but there were a lot of winners during this exhibition event.

Carmelo Anthony Shouldn't Be Scapegoat for Knicks' Playoff Elimination

Tyler Conway — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:02 -0400

Suffice it to say, things could have gone better for Carmelo Anthony in the fourth quarter of Saturday night's Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

The embattled forward finished with 39 points and seven rebounds in the Knicks' 106-99 defeat, but was continually unable to come up down the stretch. Facing a Pacers defense that increasingly shaded their help in his direction, Anthony shot 2-of-7 from the field and turned the ball over three times as Indiana broke open a game that was deadlocked through three quarters.

The final 12 minutes were an amalgam of everything fans deride about Anthony. He consistently tried making plays where they weren't, attempting difficult passes out of pick-and-rolls and taking impossible shots with defenders—mostly Paul George—draped all over him. New York imploded as a result, the final few seconds draining down as disgusted faces adorned the Bankers Life Fieldhouse floor.

The loss sends the second-seeded Knicks packing and the third-seeded Pacers on to take on the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

For a different team, a different city, this loss might be a time to reflect. To look back on how this team won 54 games in the regular season—its most since 1996-97—and how this 'Melo-led bunch gave the Knicks their first postseason series victory since 2000.

The Knicks aren't most NBA franchises, and New York City isn't one to reflect positively on a second-round playoff exit. Instead, the focus will immediately shift to what went wrong—and that conversation will likely start with some jumping to denunciate this team's controversial star. ESPN personality and notable contrarian Skip Bayless was one of the first—but certainly not the last—to say 'Melo's legacy will be hurt by this loss:

All it takes is a quick Twitter search of Anthony's name to find plenty more where that came from. Even after nearly hitting the 40 mark and being sensational for the game's first 36 minutes, folks are jumping at the opportunity to throw Anthony under the subway.

Why? Because blaming 'Melo is easy. Blaming 'Melo sells newspapers, gets clicks on a website and garners television ratings.

Blaming 'Melo is also ridiculously lazy—especially considering how many people involved with this team underperformed versus Indiana.

Let's start with Knicks coach Mike Woodson, who was pretty much played like a speed bag by Frank Vogel this entire series.

Throughout the series, Woodson failed time and again to find a set rotation—a playoff coaching 101. There was the miserable decision to start a Kenyon Martin-Tyson Chandler front line to counteract David West and Roy Hibbert in Game 4, a move that went against everything these Knicks did well this year. The lineup cratered as expected and was quickly abandoned.

Game 4 was also known as the game that Pablo Prigioni played just four minutes. As anyone who watched this series and the entire postseason knows, the Knicks became a completely different team with Prigs playing extensive minutes. They scored a full 16 points per 100 possessions more with the Argentine guard on the floor than they were with him on the bench heading into Saturday night, per NBA.com.

And keep in mind that while he played just 11 minutes in Games 5 and 6, Jason Kidd had to nearly decompose in front of Woodson for the loyal coach to sit him. The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer went scoreless for New York's final 10 postseason games, all while averaging about 20 minutes a night.

Remember those glowing per-100 possessions stats we used to discuss Prigioni? The opposite is true for Kidd. The Knicks scored 89.1 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor this season, a rate that would have been far and away an NBA worst during the regular season, per NBA.com.

That's all without mentioning Woodson's inane refusal to play Chris Copeland until it was panic time. Copeland is a defensive minus, but his ability to play both forward positions stretches out defenses and gave a Knicks team desperately searching for points a spot-up option from beyond the arc.

Don't get me wrong, Woodson did make some nice adjustments from Round 1 to Round 2. The iso-ball vortex that everyone complained about versus Boston was gone, replaced with some very nice ball movement before pick-and-roll sets.

But this series was a bad look for Woodson, who was very good during the regular season.

Speaking of those who performed well in the 82-game slog before falling off a cliff during the postseason, let's discuss J.R. Smith. And let's do so quickly because that's all his performance merits.

If 'Melo was bad in this series, Smith was an abomination. The NBA's Sixth Man of the Year shot a laughably bad 28.9 percent from the field in this series while taking 15 shots per game. Smith's struggles date back to his one-game suspension for elbowing Jason Terry in the face against the Celtics, and you could literally feel the life being choked out of the Knicks offense when he was on the floor.

Finally, let's just credit the Pacers. Indiana was the league's best defense throughout the regular season—arguably one of the best ever—and did more of the same against the Knicks. Paul George was suction-cupped to Anthony this entire series, fighting through a constant barrage of pick-and-rolls and off-ball screens. If George hadn't already made an All-Star team, I'd be pounding on the desk for that to happen already. He's a borderline superstar.

And while Roy Hibbert is already known as one of the league's best interior defenders, he again proved so in this series. His block on 'Melo Saturday night was arguably the turning point in the entire contest.

These Pacers are for real and may give the defending champs real trouble next round.

In essence, this series was a perfect storm. The Pacers, with athletes all over the perimeter and two strong big men inside, were the elixir to New York's regular-season potion.

Did Anthony have the best series of his career? Of course not. He took bad, contested shots over great defenders. But that's 'Melo. That's who he's been his entire career, and the Knicks have hitched their wagon to him going forward. You can't cherry-pick bad performances as being selfish and then laud him when the shots go in.

It's fair to say Anthony could have taken fewer shots and looked to get his teammates into the action more. But blaming him for the entire elimination is lazy, shortsighted and frankly wrong.

Let's be better than that in the coming days as Knicks fever hits its apex.

Follow @tylerconway22

What Have Indiana Pacers Learned Since Last Series vs. Miami Heat?

Grant Hughes — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:58:01 -0400

The Indiana Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks in Game 6 on May 18, giving themselves a chance to prove they've grown enough over the past year to do more than make a decent showing against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

LeBron James and Co. knocked the Pacers out of the postseason in six games last year, but the team that fell in the Eastern Conference semifinals hardly resembles the one that'll be taking the floor this time. Changes in personnel and philosophy, not to mention the general maturation of the club, have created a Pacers team that is far better equipped to handle the imposing Heat.

For starters, the player who made headlines for all the wrong reasons during last year's postseason run is making them for the right ones this time around.

Lance Stephenson got plenty of attention for making a "choking" gesture toward James in Game 3 of last year's series. At the time, Indiana's shooting guard was little more than an end-of-the-bench reserve. In fact, he logged a grand total of seven minutes in the six-game series between the Pacers and Heat last year.

Now, though, Stephenson is a starter and an integral part of what Indiana does on both ends of the floor.

His hustle sets the tone for Indiana's scrambling defense, and even though he's not the most skilled offensive player, he has proved himself capable of doing serious damage as a cutter and in transition.

If the Heat have any doubt about how much Stephenson has grown, they'll only have to look at his Game 6 performance against New York, in which he piled up 25 points, 10 rebounds and three assists on 9-of-13 shooting.

Plus, he's gone nearly a full year without giving a "choke" sign to any opposing superstars. Clearly, he's learned to let his play (and not his sophomoric gestures) do the talking.

Stephenson's not the only Pacer to have experienced major growth since last year's postseason clash with the Heat.

Paul George was officially recognized as the NBA's most improved player this year, an honor he earned by taking on the leadership role vacated by an injured Danny Granger. George developed into one of the NBA's premier perimeter defenders during the 2012-13 campaign, and his value as a defensive option against James can't be overstated.

In last year's series, George was only the Pacers' fifth-leading scorer, accumulating nearly as many personal fouls (18) as made baskets (19).

In his most recent postseason action, though, George has proved that he's become nothing less than a dominant two-way star. In the just-completed series against the Knicks, George averaged 19.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and five assists per game while hounding Carmelo Anthony into a number of ugly shooting performances.

And during the 2012-13 season, George did a better job than anyone in his efforts to slow James down. Nobody can handle LBJ alone, but George now comes closer than most.

Speaking of defense, one of the biggest things the Pacers have learned over the past year is that they'll go as far as their scheme and defensive discipline can take them.

Two years ago, Indiana allowed 100.4 points per 100 possessions, which ranked 10th in the NBA. But this past season, Frank Vogel somehow got his team to buy into his defensive plans hook, line and sinker.

The result has been a team that almost never permits open threes from the corner or easy looks at the rim. George Hill, Stephenson and George are now experts at running shooters off of the line and forcing them into Roy Hibbert's space, where the big man gobbles up penetrators like a 7'2" "Hungry, Hungry Hippo."

Put those things together and it's easy to see why Indiana made an improvement of nearly four points per 100 possessions and easily led the NBA in defensive efficiency in 2012-13.

Objectively, Indiana is not yet on Miami's level. The Pacers' bench is still woefully thin, and if the Heat push the tempo at all, Hibbert loses a great deal of his effectiveness. All that notwithstanding, the Pacers did take two out of three from the Heat this year, including an impressive 87-77 win on Jan. 8 in which George outscored and out-rebounded James.

Ultimately, the Pacers have learned a few things since they fell to the Heat in last year's playoffs. But more importantly, they've seen their young players blossom, their defense morph into an elite weapon and their confidence explode.

All season long, it has seemed like the Pacers were the team that could give Miami the best run for its money in the East. Now, a year older and still nursing the pain of last year's bitter defeat, the Pacers will get their chance to do just that.

*All stats via NBA.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.

UFC on FX 8: 5 Fights for Jacare Souza to Take Next

Nathan McCarter — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:56:46 -0400

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza took care of business against Chris Camozzi on Saturday night.

Jacare was originally slated to fight Costa Philippou, but he had to drop out due to a cut.

Camozzi is a quality middleweight, but he found out what the elite of the division are like against Souza. Once Jacare took the fight to the ground, it was over. He worked diligently and controlled the action. Once Camozzi opened up the small hole, Souza snatched the arm triangle and finished. Impressive stuff.

The win will earn him a bigger fight in his next outing.

Here are five fights that Jacare should be prepared for when he is set to take on another fight.

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NCAA Men's Tennis Championship 2013: Final Four Bracket, Teams, Schedule, More

Dan Talintyre — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:54:35 -0400

The 2013 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship is certainly starting to heat up now with the prospect of being crowned champion this year down to just four programs.

UCLA, Ohio State, Georgia and Virginia will battle it out in the Final Four for a spot in the National Championship.

And given the caliber of tennis that we've seen from some of the top college players in the country thus far, it's shaping as a very intriguing final week.

Read on for a full preview of the 2013 NCAA Tennis Championship Final Four, including all the key information as well as a tournament bracket and more!

2013 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship: Final Four Bracket

Note: A full tournament bracket can be seen via the official NCAA website.

Semifinals	Semifinals
[1] UCLA vs. [5] Ohio State	[3] Georgia vs. [2] Virginia
Monday, May 20 at 2 p.m. ET	Monday, May 20, at 2 p.m. ET

The Road to the Final Four

UCLA comes into the tournament as the No. 1 seed and has proven it thus far with four consecutive 4-0 wins over UMKC, Drake, Vanderbilt and Duke, respectively.

They'll take on Ohio State, which hadn't dropped a matchup until its quarterfinal against USC, where the Buckeyes were able to knock off the No. 4 seed with a 4-3 win.

Virginia too hasn't dropped a game all tournament and looked very impressive in its quarterfinal win over Tennessee. Georgia, on the other hand, needed five matches to get past No. 14 seed Oklahoma in the round of 16 and six matches to get past No. 11 seed Pepperdine in its quarterfinal.

Breaking Down the Final Four Matchups

[1] UCLA vs. [5] Ohio State

UCLA is the top seed in the tournament this year and has been simply phenomenal this season, dropping just one match all season in its impressive 24-1 record.

The Bruins dominated the Pac-12 this year, but face an interesting matchup in Ohio State. There's little doubting that Ohio State is very good at home—having not lost there in over a decade—but these final-round fixtures aren't being played at home. They're over six hours away in Illinois.

UCLA should be too strong in the singles matchups here, and I see them moving through to the National Championship with a 4-1 series victory.

[3] Georgia vs. [2] Virginia

Georgia has been very consistent in men's tennis for the past decade or so—winning its 36th SEC title and achieving its 10th straight season of 20-plus wins.

It finished with a 22-4 record for the year, and despite having a slight hiccup or two in the qualifying stages, has made it to this far in the tournament and into a Final Four matchup against Virginia.

Virginia dominated the ACC this year, winning its seventh consecutive title and its ninth in the past 10 years. The Cavaliers are perfect through the tournament so far.

The Cavaliers only just lost their No. 1 ranking to UCLA earlier this year and have been one of the form teams of the competition thus far. If they can find the form that they showed earlier in the year, they should prove too good for the Bulldogs in this one and could well chalk up another 4-0 victory.

2013 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship Final

Matchup	Date	Start time	Prediction
[1] UCLA vs. [2] Virginia	Tuesday, May 21, 2013	2 p.m. ET	Virginia wins 4-2

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

English Premier League Final Day Live Score, Highlights, Recap for All Games

Michael Cummings — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:50:04 -0400

The final day of the 2012-13 English Premier League season is here, and we're covering all the action for you live in one place.

All 20 clubs kick off simultaneously Sunday at grounds across England (and one in Wales). Here in the United States, game time is set for 11 a.m. ET, with television coverage on both Fox and ESPN.

The title race is long finished and all the relegation spots are settled, but Arsenal and Tottenham are still competing for a place in the top four and Champions League qualification.

Who will win the race? Join us here from 10 a.m. for live commentary continuing through all 10 matches.

Follow @MikeCummings37

Newcastle United vs. Arsenal: Premier League Live Score, Highlights and Recap

Charlie Melman — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:45:53 -0400

Arsenal will travel north to play Newcastle in a game that has one team with everything to play for and one simply cruising into the summer.

It might not actually be that simple, however. Alan Pardew, in his infinitely misplaced grandiosity, declared to the UK's Chronicle that the Magpies would need to put on a show for their fans in the final game of the season.

But it will be difficult to do that against an Arsenal side that will certainly not lack motivation. The math is simple for the Gunners: Win and they're into the Champions League next season, barring a catastrophe in a qualifier match.

There is an outside chance that they will have to play a playoff game against Chelsea, depending on how the final day's results turn out, but simply winning, in any manner, will be at the fore of Arsenal's mind.

Like every game on the final day of the Premier League season, kickoff is at 11:00 a.m. ET. But make your way here at 10:30 and I'll bring you live team news, analysis and the best of Twitter.

Follow @charliemelman

New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers: Game 6 Postgame Grades and Analysis

Daniel O'Brien — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:45:15 -0400

Monster games by Lance Stephenson and Roy Hibbert overcame a 39-point performance by Carmelo Anthony, as the Indiana Pacers topped the New York Knicks, 106-99, to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

A 52-20 advantage in the paint helped Frank Vogel's club overcome a 16-point third-quarter barrage by Iman Shumpert, as Indiana outlasted the Knickerbockers in an intense battle.

The Pacers' size, physicality and aggressiveness earned them 46 trips to the free-throw line, a major factor down the stretch.

Although George Hill's return was a psychological boost, Stephenson's career night was the game-changer, as his 25 points and 10 rebounds supercharged the blue and gold.

How did everyone else fare, and what were the positional keys that led to Indiana's triumph? Find out as we hand out grades for this series-clincher.

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J.R. Smith's Playoff Disappearance Hurts His Market Value

Brian Mazique — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:43:31 -0400

Things were going so well for J.R. Smith—at least until the second-round series with the Indiana Pacers began. It seemed he was in line to shake some of the negative on-court labels he'd been given in his career.

Moreover, Smith seemed destined to get paid once he exercised his player option during the offseason.

He'll still get a raise from his 2012-13 salary of $2,932,742, per Spotrac, but he likely lost a few million with his performance against the Pacers.

After a regular season that saw him earn the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award, he was less-than-award-worthy when his team needed him.

The New York Knicks were dispatched in six games, and Smith's numbers were down from the regular season in nearly every category.

	PPG	RPG	FG%	3PFG%	FT%	APG
Regular Season	18.1	5.3	.422	.356	.762	2.7
Conference Semifinals	13.5	5	.288	.230	.740	1.3

In the deciding game of the series, Smith was an abysmal 4-of-15 from the field and 2-of-9 from beyond the arc.

He had just 15 points.

New York desperately needed a consistent second scorer to take pressure off Carmelo Anthony, but Smith was anything but consistent.

Melo struggled with his shot most of the series. A big reason for that was the defense of the abundantly underrated Paul George. Smith was the man who needed to pick up the slack.

The Pacers didn't have another elite perimeter defender to throw at Smith. He had good looks throughout most of the series; he simply couldn't knock down his shots.

This may have seemed like a breakout season for Smith, but what he did in the Pacers series was more in line with what he has done in the playoffs throughout his career.

	PPG	RPG	FG%	3PFG%	FT%	APG
Playoff Numbers Prior to 2012-13 Season	12.6	3.6	.407	.318	.729	2

Teams who are eyeing deep postseason runs want players who raise their game in the second season. Smith didn't do that. In fact, his comments before Game 6 sounded like a man prematurely resigned to his fate.

To his credit, he did play hard on Saturday night; that was evidenced by his 10 rebounds. However, the Knicks would have gladly traded a couple of those boards for two three-pointers.

It may be possible to accept Smith's unpredictable behavior and potentially problematic off-the-court antics. That said, teams would like to at least benefit from stellar play.

While Smith delivered that through the first 82 games, his play in the second round has to make potential suitors wonder if he's worth the trouble.

Follow me, because I'll be tweeting pictures of me singing Phillip Phillps' Gone to the Knicks all weekend.

New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers Game 6: Video Highlights and Recap

Maxwell Ogden — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:37:12 -0400

The 2013 NBA playoffs continued on Saturday, May 18, as the Indiana Pacers hosted the New York Knicks in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series.

The Pacers entered this game with a 3-2 series lead, winning both of their previous home games. The Knicks, however, took Game 5 in rather convincing fashion, utilizing George Hill's absence as impetus to pull out the win.

In Game 6, Hill was back in the starting lineup.

Even as Hill struggled from the field, he tallied 12 points, five rebounds and four assists in 41 minutes. The true star, however, was Lance Stephenson, as he tallied 25 points and 10 rebounds on 9-of-13 shooting.

Paul George added 23 points, while Roy Hibbert dominated the paint with 21 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.

On the opposite end, Carmelo Anthony erupted for 39 points and seven rebounds on 15-of-29 shooting from the field. Iman Shumpert added 19 points, while J.R. Smith picked up 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The question is, were the Knicks able to upset the Pacers in Indiana to extend the series? Or was Hill's return enough to motivate the Pacers into closing out the series at home?

Check the video provided above to find out.

UFC on FX 8 Results: What We Learned from Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold

Michael Stets — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:31:24 -0400

Vitor Belfort finished Luke Rockhold by knockout at UFC on FX 8, making that his 11th first-round finish in his UFC career. After connecting with a vicious spinning heel kick, Belfort then immediately followed that up with five unanswered punches before referee Leon Roberts halted the action at two minutes, 32 seconds of the opening round.

What we’ll remember about this fight

Belfort shocked everyone—not by winning in the first round—but by the fashion in which he did so. It was the second spinning heel kick he threw in the round, something you would’ve expected from Rockhold not Belfort.

What we learned about Vitor Belfort

When he fights in Brazil, he wins. This was Belfort’s fourth career fight in his native country, dating back to 1998 when he finished Wanderlei Silva at UFC Brazil. Belfort continues to defy his age and is still diversifying his striking.

“I have a great team, the Blackzilians,” Belfort told Jon Anik in the post-fight interview, after being asked about the win.

What we learned about Luke Rockhold

It isn’t that Rockhold wasn’t ready for the bright lights of the UFC or that he had the infamous Octagon jitters. He simply just ran into a wall Saturday night in the form of Vitor Belfort's left foot. We will see what the former Strikeforce middleweight champion is made of in his next fight.

What’s next for Vitor Belfort

“I don’t pick fights, I accept fights,” Belfort told Jon Anik, upon being asked about facing the winner of Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman.

After finishing the No. 4- and No. 5-ranked middleweights back-to-back, there is no way for Dana White to justify not giving him a title shot.

What’s next for Luke Rockhold

The surfer from Santa Cruz may have to hit some waves and clear his head after this fight. He still has to prove he deserves his ranking. Michael Bisping is coming off a win, but the rest of the division is tied up with fights at the moment. It makes sense and would be an interesting matchup.

Michael Stets is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Watch Roy Hibbert's Crunch-Time Stuff on Carmelo Anthony Spark Pacers Run

Stephen Babb — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:28:34 -0400

With just over five minutes remaining and facing a two-point deficit in their pivotal Game 6, the Indiana Pacers had precious little time to put the New York Knicks away and even less momentum with which to do it.

That's where Roy Hibbert came in. The All-Star center delivered his fifth and finest block of the evening, this time against Carmelo Anthony—who wound up with 39 points in his club's 106-99 loss to the Pacers. To say nothing of what the block seemed to inspire among Hibbert's teammates, it was an impressive physical display in its own right.

Anthony had the ball all but dunked, attempting to muscle it through even after Hibbert's big mitt got in the way.

Roy Hibbert's 5th block of the night on Carmelo Anthony may just end up in the #SCtop10.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 19, 2013

After the game, coach Frank Vogel described Hibbert to reporters as, "the best rim protector in the game," an arguable point that's a lot harder to argue after Saturday's clutch rejection.

More importantly, though, the defensive stand fueled a club that had grown sluggish and allowed the Knicks back into the game after controlling it throughout the first half. Indiana outscored New York 16-7 over the course of those final five minutes, a veritable offensive explosion by this series' standards.

Roy Hibbert's block changed the entire outcome of the game.. Extraordinary timing against a star closer around the rim..
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) May 19, 2013

Even Anthony knew this was no ordinary block.

Melo: "It was a helluva block, big play by Hibbert...That block I think spearheaded that momentum run that they made."
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 19, 2013

Just as it's done throughout the season, Indiana prevailed because of its defense. It may not look that way after dropping 106, but getting to that 106 might not have happened without Hibbert changing the tone in this one.

Fact vs. Fiction from Miami Heat's NBA Playoff Performance so Far

Sam Richmond — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:25:11 -0400

The Miami Heat have won eight of nine games to start the 2013 NBA playoffs. That's not a surprise. But some of the reasons they've had such success might be a little unexpected.

Miami is rebounding the ball well, but now turning the ball over. Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers and Ray Allen have struggled from beyond the arc, but Norris Cole can't miss.

So, let's play a little game of fact or fiction with these mentioned seemingly surprising elements of Miami's postseason, and others, and determine if these trends will continue.

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New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers: Game 6 Score, Highlights and Analysis

Michael Walsh — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:15:10 -0400

Game 6 was an emotional roller coaster for both the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. Each team went on runs that looked to put the other away, but in the end, the Pacers ran away with the game and the series, 106-99.

The Pacers looked to have things in hand through the first half, but an outrageous three-point bonanza got the Knicks right back into the thick of things.

It was only some lockdown fourth-quarter defense, holding New York to just 18 in the final frame, that pushed the Pacers to the next level.

Carmelo Anthony put up 39 on 15-of-29 shooting, but that won't be what New York fans remember. Anthony scored just four points in the deciding quarter as the Pacers pulled away.

The Pacers' bruising style is what won out in the end, with Roy Hibbert and Paul George making clutch defensive plays and pounding the paint on offense.

Hibbert went for 21 points and 12 rebounds, contributing majorly to the Pacers' 52 points in the paint.

George finished with 23 points, going 9-of-15 from the field. He was also partially responsible for J.R. Smith's 4-of-15 performance.

Neither player was the biggest story of the night, however. It was New York-born Lance Stephenson who had the clutch play to grant the Pacers a conference-finals berth.

Stephenson missed only four shots en route to a team-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. He was relentless through the final buzzer, scoring nine points in the final five minutes.

The Pacers rode some of the best basketball Stephenson has played in his pro career to a 55-47 lead at halftime, as the young shooting guard put up 16 points and seven rebounds before intermission. That included a tough three-point play with seconds remaining.

The Knicks went on a three-point-shooting barrage late in the third quarter. Iman Shumpert netted three straight from beyond the arc, and J.R. Smith's trey with 3:10 remaining knotted things up at 72.

Another Shumpert trey tied things up at 79 with 48 seconds left. That bucket gave Shumpert 16 points in the quarter, and 19 overall, the most he had scored since March 13. From there, Anthony and George traded hoops to knot things up at 81-81 entering the fourth quarter.

The three-point bombardment continued with Chris Copeland in the fourth quarter. His second trey of the quarter put the Knicks up, 87-84, with 10:10 to go.

The two teams continued playing their own games through the fourth. The Pacers worked things inside for layups at one end, while Smith netted yet another three for New York. Hibbert came up with a monster block on an Anthony dunk and then had a layup at the other end. Stephenson's and-one with 3:55 remaining pushed the Pacers ahead, 95-92.

Stephenson again attacked the rim, and this time drew Tyson Chandler's sixth foul. Chandler had been struggling all game as it was, managing an unproductive minus-16. He took his two points and six rebounds to the bench for the remainder of the game. Stephenson made both freebies, putting Indiana up, 97-92

Stephenson just kept it coming, while Anthony committed three straight turnovers. Smith got a pair of free throws to bring New York within four, at 101-97 with just 1:15 remaining.

Anthony got to the rim for a dunk, possibly the only easy shot he had all night. The bucket kept the Knicks within four, 103-99, with just 49 seconds to go. It was only Anthony's second basket of the fourth.

Copeland missed a three with about 30 seconds remaining in the game. However, the Knicks waited until there were just nine ticks left to foul.

George went to the line with the opportunity to really ice the game over. Unfortunately, he bricked both freebies, but, like they had done all night, the Pacers got another rebound. Sam Young came up with the grab and hit one of two free throws, finishing off the Knicks for good.

The Pacers advance to face the waiting Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Every 2012-13 NBA Playoff Team's Finest Hour

Kelly Scaletta — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:13:59 -0400

Only one team will ultimately win the NBA title. The number of teams who can potentially claim that gradually dwindles down, as now only four teams can make that claim. That doesn’t mean every team failed, though. Every playoff team has its own finest hour.

One team’s accomplishment is another team’s disappointment. For one team, merely being in the postseason defies expectations, while for another, winning a title is this year’s goal. For more, it’s getting one round further than the previous year.

Regardless of who they are, every team had that moment, that shot, that run, or that little stretch of games where they believed, surpassed expectations, and were greater than the sum of their parts.

Since accomplishments can’t be compared or ranked because of differing expectations, they are listed in alphabetical order. This is merely a chance for fans of all the postseason teams to feel good about their teams for a moment. They all have reason to be.

Believe, fans! If not for this year, for the next, or the one after that.

Begin Slideshow

Rory McIlroy's Decision to Start Management Firm Will Help Him Achieve Greatness

Jesse Reed — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:05:08 -0400

Rory McIlroy is one of the brightest young stars on the PGA Tour, and he's made a decision that will serve him well in the future.

According to a report by Karl MacGinty of The Irish Independent, McIlroy has decided to leave his old management firm Horizon Sports and will now be managed by his own firm, run by family and close friends.

McIlroy's good friend and fellow pro golfer Graeme McDowell confirmed MacGinty's report, via Karen Crouse of The New York Times, saying:

Management is a funny thing, and when things are maybe not going 100 percent on the golf course it’s natural to question everything you are doing from relationships, business and just everything you do. Sometimes we decide to make choices and decisions and take new paths.

For McIlroy, this move lines up perfectly with what's best for his future.

The Northern Irish star has been around for a few years, but at the age of 24, he's still younger than many of the young players on the PGA Tour. In his eight years as a professional, McIlroy has won six PGA Tour events—two of which just so happen to be major championships.

Not only is McIlroy an exceptionally gifted golfer, but he's also quite charismatic. When he's on his game and playing well—his smile on full display for the world to see—McIlroy's charisma shines through like a beacon.

Fans want to love him, and major corporations want to use him.

Fans get too caught up in what players do from shot to shot, from week to week on tour. Fans are also fickle, and many turn on players at the drop of a hat when results haven't been exemplary for a few weeks.

"How can this guy call himself a professional golfer," they might say after McIlroy misses the cut for the second straight week. They'll inevitably come up with all sorts of "logical" excuses for why the young man suddenly isn't playing up to expectations—most of which couldn't be farther from the truth.

Tiger Woods destroyed the perception that golf is actually a really hard game to play by making it look easy for years.

His heyday ruined how fans view golfers.

The truth of the matter is that golf is not an easy game, and there aren't many people in the history of the world who could put up a 10-year run to rival Tiger's best.

That said, in the long run McIlroy's immense talent will inevitably lead to a career of consistent success, and he's already proved he is a marketable star. At the start of this new year, McIlroy signed a lucrative five-year contract with Nike that was worth over $100 million, according to Crouse.

Entire commercial markets have been created and destroyed because of our society's penchant for instantly falling in love with athletes to the point where we want to buy stuff attached to their names.

McIlroy will get plenty of other opportunities to sign huge endorsement deals with other major companies as he continues to improve as a professional golfer. Winning more majors will certainly help him increase his demand, and from what we've seen of this young man, he's more than capable of adding to his total.

But as his marketability increases, so does the pressure to stay on top.

McIlroy likely feels that his family and friends are more concerned with his future than a big marketing firm, which is surely why he made the switch.

Golf is such a mental game, and when your mind is troubled—however minor it may feel on the outside—it's a game that is difficult to play.

Perhaps this is why other elite athletes such as Tiger Woods, tennis star Roger Federer and world football player Lionel Messi have made a similar life choice to be managed by close friends and family, via MacGinty.

Looking at the career paths of these three megastars, the strategy has seemingly paid off.

Handing over the financial and personal decisions that will inevitably shape one's career is a daunting task. Professional athletes must be able to focus solely on their craft in order to achieve greatness.

With people in place McIlroy knows he can trust, he'll be able to completely let go of any worry or concern he may have about his future plans. This will allow him to simply put his mind toward what he has on his plate from day to day.

McIlroy's future as a professional golfer is just getting started.

With this added bit of mental security, he will continue to rise up as one of the best golfers and most marketable athletes on the planet.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78.

Why Venus Williams Needs to Retire from Singles Competition

Nick McCarvel — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:03:20 -0400

Venus and Serena Williams have never been held to the same standards as other athletes in their sport. They were the ones who were meant to win rooms full of trophies in singles, doubles and mixed—most of which they did—and in turn have become two of the most storied tennis players in the history of the game.

But as Venus, now 32, has hobbled along a 2013 schedule littered with disappointing losses and a flurry of last-minute withdrawals due to a nagging back injury, the standard she can’t help be compared to is the one she helped develop herself: Serena.

At 31, the younger Williams sister has continued to be the dominant force in women’s tennis, each week entering into another tournament as the “one to beat;” some calling her the greatest of all time.

So while Venus might have a few years—and desire—left in her tank, it’s time for her to hang up the laces on the singles court, unless she wants to risk marring what has been one of the most dominant careers the game has ever seen.

The numbers tell much of the story for Venus. Between 1998 and 2005, she won 33 of her 44 career titles. But since then—in the last seven years—the American has captured just 11, including none in 2011. It marked the first time since 1997 that Venus hadn't won at least one title on tour. Fourteen years.

And while Venus' star has continued to wane, its Serena's that has continued to shine, and extremely bright.

It’s that simple: If there were no Serena, then Venus should play on. But fact is there is a Serena (there always has been) and with the now 15-time major champion (to Venus’ seven) showing no sign of slowing down, the gap between the sisters is growing in a host of categories, including ranking (1 to 24), titles (50 to 44) and overall tennis talent (Serena thumped Venus the last time they played in April 6-1, 6-2, the most lopsided match in their 24 meetings).

It was a marked event, that match in April. The media played it up as a massive showdown as the sisters would meet for the first time in four years, but it was also the first time they faced one another since Venus was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome, which has left Venus sapped of energy at times on the court, trying to fight an aging body that also is downright exhausted at times.

In Charleston, the sisters played a day after they had played back-to-back matches because of rain, and Serena noted that Venus was more tired from the schedule than she'd admit.

"I mean she'll never admit it, ever, but I don't think she was 100 percent," Serena told reporters. "But you will never get that out of her, and quite frankly, three matches for her is much tougher than three matches for me. And so you know, it's definitely not easy, because I'm struggling, and I can't imagine what she must be feeling."

Yet tennis fans should not fear: Venus has proclaimed that she wants to play through the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, which she should—but only in doubles, and mixed doubles at the Grand Slams.

Last year, she and Serena captured gold in doubles at the London Games in a moment Venus described as one of the best of her life. Together, the sisters have won 13 majors alongside one another, still the force to be reckoned with in tennis’ team game.

That’s the lifestyle Venus needs: continuing to grow her EleVen fashion line in tennis and beyond, managing new off-court ventures like her Jamba Juice stores, her interest in Billie Jean King’s World TeamTennis and play the occasional doubles match.

Not just play. Win. Venus Williams is a winner. It’s just time for her to walk away as such, and keep one foot on the (doubles) court while figuring out that her life outside tennis is much richer than losing in the first round in Rome, like she did this week.

Andy Roddick shocked the tennis world by walking away at the US Open last summer, but for many—myself included—it was the right time for Andy to hang up his racket. He knew his time had come.

Olga Puchkova. Elena Vesnina. Those are just two names of many that Venus has lost to in the last year—and beyond—that she just shouldn’t have. She can’t hold herself to the same standard anymore, so step away, V; it’s the right thing to do.

Liverpool Transfer News: Players Reds Could Use to Beef Up 'Shallow' Squad

Dan Talintyre — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:01:22 -0400

Asked what his main goal with Liverpool over the summer transfer window would be, manager Brendan Rodgers' response was simple.

"I think there will be a natural transition in the summer because we need to improve our depth because the squad was very shallow," Rodgers said, via ESPN. "You want to do your business as early as you can and we will look to reinforce but come the beginning of the season we would hope to have a squad ready to challenge."

With a transfer kitty reportedly around £20 million, Rodgers will have plenty of options available to him as he seeks to build that squad over the summer transfer window.

Read on to see some of the players he could use to beef up his "shallow" squad in the offseason, and which names could have a huge impact at Anfield next year.

Christian Eriksen, Ajax

Perhaps the biggest name linked with a move to the Reds recently has been Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen, who would no doubt be a great signing for Liverpool.

He would seemingly fill the centre-attacking midfielder role that Rodgers would love to solidify next season—allowing him to play around with the likes of Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge at the top of the attack. Moreover, it would create great depth in midfield and allow for a seamless transition when Steven Gerrard opts to end his career at the Merseyside club.

The latest reports from The Daily Mirror suggest that Liverpool are in a close battle with Borussia Dortmund for the £15 million-rated Danish playmaker.

And with Dortmund left possessing a lot of money from their Mario Gotze deal, Liverpool will seemingly have to move fast if they want to sign Eriksen.

Asmir Begovic, Stoke City

Many don't like the move here to say that Liverpool need another goalkeeper, but the reality is that neither Brad Jones nor Pepe Reina are world-class players. And whilst the man mentioned here—Stoke City's Asmir Begovic—isn't that either, he is probably an upgrade on either shot-stopper this summer.

The key for me, however, isn't that he's an upgrade.

Reina has long been linked with a move away from Anfield this summer, and if that transpires, Rodgers will need to have a ready-made replacement.

Brad Jones simply isn't a replacement, and the Reds can ill-afford to start the season without a legitimate No. 1 goalkeeper. If Reina leaves late in the transfer window, that could very well happen, and Liverpool must therefore be ready to sign Begovic if the opportunity is there from the Potters.

Stoke signed Jack Butland over the winter transfer window, so there's no issue for them in terms of having a goalkeeper to turn to if they lose Begovic.

The biggest question will just be as to whether Liverpool will pull the trigger on Begovic or not, and whether Rodgers is prepared to pay £15 million for him.

Christian Tello, Barcelona

Barcelona striker Christian Tello has reportedly fallen under the watchful eye of Rodgers this summer, with the Reds' manager fancying a move for the 21-year-old.

According to David Maddock of The Daily Mirror, Tello "has a release clause in his contract priced at around £8.5 million, and, after failing to force his way into the starting line-up at Barca on a regular basis this season, will seriously consider his options in the summer."

As far as Liverpool is concerned, it's a great deal all around if they can manage to pull it off. He's young and relatively inexpensive and comes with a great skill set that the Merseyside club would no doubt be able to use in the seasons ahead.

Suarez and Sturridge are the future of the Reds' attack, but there isn't a whole lot of depth in terms of striker behind that. Rodgers will know that, and having already highlighted his desire for depth, could well be encouraged into making a move for the Barcelona star over the summer transfer window.

And what a good move it would be indeed.

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

NBA Playoff Stars out for Redemption

Ben Leibowitz — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:59:29 -0400

As the 2013 NBA playoffs inch ever closer to the finals, some of the league’s biggest stars are out for redemption.

The Miami Heat’s big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh aren’t on the list of players out for “redemption,” because they won it all last season. They’ll certainly be under a great deal of pressure. Therefore, proving they’re the best again by establishing league dominance is their goal over redeeming anything.

Players on teams that have been counted out all season long, however, will be looking to prove themselves.

The Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs will battle it out in the Western Conference Finals, while the Indiana Pacers will move on to face the Heat.

NBA teams remaining in the postseason have already proven a great deal, but a collection of players are out to redeem events of the past.

Begin Slideshow

New York Knicks Eliminated from NBA Playoffs After 106-99 Loss to Pacers

Tim Keeney — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:57:26 -0400

With a 106-99 Game 6 win, the Indiana Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks from the postseason and clinched the last spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Frank Vogel got a balanced offensive effort from his team, but Lance Stephenson was undoubtedly the superstar of the night.

After making some monumental plays down the stretch to propel the Pacers to the home win, the third-year guard out of Cincinnati poured in a career-high 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting to go with 10 rebounds, three assists and a steal.

In the loss, Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 39 points and seven rebounds.

Fueled by Stephenson's 16 first-half points, the Pacers entered the locker room up by eight points and seemingly en route to a dominant, series-clinching win.

But the third quarter belonged to Iman Shumpert and the Knicks. With New York down 10, Shumpert drilled three-straight treys and immediately injected some fire back into his team:

He would go on to score five more points—including his fifth three of the game—in the quarter, and we headed to the final period locked at 81.

With the Knicks up 92-90 with with five minutes left, Roy Hibbert came through with this game-changing block (via Bleacher Report):

Then the Stephenson Show started up again:

The young guard got to the rim at will during the next few possessions and scored the game's next seven points to put the Pacers up 97-92 with just under three minutes left.

Anthony and J.R. Smith kept the Knicks close, but the Pacers were able to knock down their free throws in the waning seconds to close out the series.

Indiana will now take on the Miami Heat for a trip to the NBA Finals, while the Knicks officially begin their offseason, where they will attempt to find creative ways to improve with very little salary coming off the books.

UFC on FX 8: The Real Winners and Losers from Belfort vs. Rockhold

Jeremy Botter — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:56:22 -0400

Saturday night's UFC on FX 8 card marked the return of the Ultimate Fighting Championship to Brazil.

Two years ago, that would've felt like a big deal. Today, the UFC seemingly takes its circus on the road to Brazil every two or three months, so a bit of the novelty is lost. This one wasn't even the usual pay-per-view offering; it aired on cable television.

But it was a televised card with plenty of intrigue, at least in the top two fights of the night. The main event between Luke Rockhold and Vitor Belfort featured two of the world's best middleweights, and the co-main event saw the UFC debut of Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. That was a moment plenty of us have been waiting a long time for.

Who were the biggest winners and losers on the night? That's what I'm here to discuss. In the following slides, I'll name the fighters who gained the most and the athletes who were knocked down a few pegs by their performances.

Keep in mind that these aren't the winners and losers of each fight, though it often ends up working out that way. If someone wins a fight but looks terrible in doing so, the chances of them appearing on our list of winners is slim to none.

Let's get started, shall we?

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Indiana Pacers: The Rebirth of a Franchise and a New Mentality

Tyler Brooke — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:53:55 -0400

After defeating the New York Knicks, the Indiana Pacers are now heading to the Conference finals to play the Miami Heat.

This win was much more than that.

Winning this series officially brings the Pacers back into the elite group of NBA teams. The win makes a statement not only to the league, but to the fans that they are finally back.

Gone are the days of Reggie Miller and Co. paving the way in the Eastern Conference. However, this new team has rebuilt after so many seasons of mediocrity and controversy. Now, they are heading to their first Conference finals series since 2004.

The "Malice at the Palace" was the beginning of the decline of this franchise. For the next few seasons, the team was in disarray. Issues on the court were problem enough, but serious problems off of the court that included multiple shooting-related incidents and players constantly coming in and out created a real disconnect from the community.

The Pacers began turning things around slowly, working on forming a team around Danny Granger, but the team wasn't able to take the next step.

Then Frank Vogel came in.

Vogel was named the interim head coach during the 2010-11 season, and the team was able to make the playoffs under Vogel for the first time since 2006.

The very next season, the Pacers finished with a 42-24 record and made it to the Conference semifinals before falling to the Heat. The addition of David West provided some real leadership to the team.

This season, everything has changed.

The Pacers finished the regular season with a 49-32 record while finishing first in their division for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

No longer is there a team of players the community dislikes. The current roster consists of a rising superstar in Paul George, a hometown hero in George Hill, a talented big man in Roy Hibbert and an established veteran leader in West.

Even though the Pacers still had one of the lowest average attendances in the league, according to ESPN.com, the community is finally starting to fill in the stands. The team is no longer mediocre, but they are now one series away from the NBA Finals.

How fitting it is that the Pacers head to the Conference finals after beating Reggie's old rivals in the Knicks. With Spike Lee in attendance, they were able to stop Carmelo Anthony and head to the next round.

Regardless of how the season ends for the Pacers, the fact that they have now made it this far shows that this team has finally rebuilt. The community is now fully behind the team, and it seems that the state of Indiana is once again fully focused on basketball at all levels.

The fans ended Game 6 with a "Beat the Heat" chant, and it certainly seems like this team has a shot of doing it.

Logan Couture Injury: Updates on Sharks Center's Leg

Tyler Conway — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:40:11 -0400

The San Jose Sharks were already facing an uphill battle in their Western Conference Semifinals matchup versus the Los Angeles Kings, and now the underdogs might be hemorrhaging on offense.

UPDATE: Sunday, May 19, at 12:10 a.m. ET by Ian Hanford

Not only did Couture return to the ice Saturday night, but, as ESPN's Pierre LeBrun noted, he scored the game-winning goal in overtime:

---End of update---

UPDATE: Saturday, May 18, at 10:53 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

According to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, Couture is back on the ice:

---End of update---

According to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, center Logan Couture left Saturday night's Game 3 action at HP Pavilion after crashing hard into the boards:

LeBrun notes that the San Jose star was heavily favoring his left leg, though it's unclear what part of his leg was injured:

Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun noted that Couture was unable to put any weight on his leg heading back to the locker room.

Couture left the ice midway through the second period with the score tied 1-1.

San Jose came into Saturday night's action down 2-0 to the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings. Buoyed by the excellence of goalie Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles was able to stifle a Sharks attack that struggled for long stretches during the regular season.

Things will would only get worse if Couture is out an extended period of time. The 24-year-old center isn’t mentioned among the Sidney Crosbys of the NHL, but has fast become the Sharks’ most reliable offensive threat. Couture had nine points in six playoff games heading into Game 3, which was tied with seventh among all players.

That performance falls in line with Couture’s strong finish to the regular season. The fourth-year pro finished the 2012-13 campaign with 37 points, including a team-high 21 goals.

While an assist is all he has to his name versus Los Angeles, Couture’s mere presence is a threat that has to be accounted for every time down the ice. Without him in the lineup, the Sharks will have to make major adjustments to their lines, ones that could prove critical against a Kings team peaking at the right moment.

The Sharks are yet to release an official statement on Couture’s condition.

Can the Indiana Pacers Win an NBA Title in the Near Future with Current Core?

Poch de la Rosa — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:21:20 -0400

The Indiana Pacers are making great strides in the 2012-13 NBA playoffs, but is the core of this team capable of winning a title?

Will Pacers fans eventually relish an NBA championship with the likes of George Hill, Lance Stephenson, Paul George, David West and Roy Hibbert in the mix?

The first and only time Indiana made it to the NBA Finals was in 2000, with the likes of Mark Jackson, Reggie Miller, Jalen Rose, Dale Davis and Rik Smits representing Pacers blue and gold. Indiana lost, 4-2, to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Being a small-market team, the franchise is hungry for glory and recognition. Nothing less than a championship would suffice.

For the purposes of this article, several crucial factors within the context of the five most recent NBA champions (2012 Miami Heat, 2011 Dallas Mavericks, 2009 and 2010 Los Angeles Lakers and 2008 Boston Celtics) will be analyzed:

Offense
Defense
Rebounding
Turnovers
Bench

Offense

Based on the website Basketball-Reference.com, only one of the past five NBA champions (the 2012 Miami Heat with 98.5 points per game) failed to average at least 100 points per game.

In terms of offensive ranking, the 2009 Los Angeles Lakers finished third in the entire NBA with 106.9 points per game. The same team's 2010 version had the lowest offensive ranking among the past five champions, finishing 12th in the entire league with 101.7 points per contest.

It's also interesting to note that four of these five championship teams had at least one player average at least 20 points per game. The only exception was the 2008 Boston Celtics, whose leading scorer that season, Paul Pierce, tallied 19.6 points every night.

The 2013 Indiana Pacers lagged far behind when it comes to offensive output, finishing just 23rd in the NBA with 94.7 points per game. In addition, not a single Pacer averaged at least 20 points during the season. Paul George led the team in scoring with 17.4 points per outing.

Based on these findings, recent NBA champions average above the 100-point mark more often than not and rank no lower than 12th when it comes to offense. One guy on the team also scores at least 20 points. The Indiana Pacers do not meet any of these criteria.

A healthy Danny Granger can really help in this regard (assuming he'll be in top form when he returns). Granger, an eight-year veteran, has three seasons in which he averaged at least 20.5 points. If there's also one guy who's poised to become a consistent 20-point scorer, it's none other than 2013 NBA Most Improved Player Paul George.

Defense

The 2013 Indiana Pacers are mediocre offensively. However, they thrive defensively.

During the regular season, Indiana finished second behind the Memphis Grizzlies in terms of points allowed at only 90.7 per game. The presence of defensive stoppers such as 2013 NBA All-Defensive Second Team member George and Hibbert (2.61 blocks per game) really helps the Pacers' cause immensely.

The fact they only allow only 90.7 points really bodes well for them in terms of their championship aspirations. The 2008 Boston Celtics held their opponents to only 90.3 points per game. As far as the most recent champion teams are concerned, the worst defensively were the 2009 Los Angeles Lakers who gave up 99.3 points each night (although they did outscore the opposition by almost eight points).

Clearly, championship contenders do not allow the other team to routinely score 100 points against them. Judging by the Pacers' stats this season, they are more than capable as a defensive juggernaut.

A recent article written by Mike Prada of SB Nation gives the casual fan an idea of how Indiana plays defense. The picture below from Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks shows how each Pacer stays with the opposing shooters while watching the ball at the same time.

Indiana does not opt for the weak-side zone in the event that Carmelo Anthony decides to kick the ball out to a teammate for the jump shot.

Rebounding

Another Indiana Pacers' specialty

Nobody rebounded the ball better than the Pacers in 2012-13. They averaged 45.9 boards per contest, asserting their dominance in this department. Hibbert and veteran David West lived up to their billing in the frontcourt.

However, seeing either small forward Paul George or shooting guard Lance Stephenson snag 10 rebounds in the postgame stat sheet wasn't uncommon. That's how good the Pacers are in cleaning up the glass.

Among the five recent NBA champions, each team averaged around 41 rebounds per game.The 2010 Los Angeles Lakers were the best of the bunch with an average of 44.3 while the 2012 Miami Heat bottomed out with only 33.5.

Surely, the Heat won the 2012 NBA Finals because they played to their strengths (namely the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh) in spite of there shortcoming on the boards. The Pacers, on the other hand, are poised to become championship contenders if the sole category for consideration is rebounding. However, it's plain and clear this is just one aspect.

The video below demonstrates Indiana's tenaciousness on the boards courtesy of veteran warrior David West. Notice how great his nose for the ball is. Big man Hibbert takes a 14-foot jumper and misses, but West manages to beat three Cleveland Cavaliers in the paint for the offensive rebounds and successful putback.

Turnovers

The Pacers' Achilles' heel

Indiana finished 22nd overall in terms of turnovers, averaging 14.5 per contest. Third-year man Paul George was the worst offender with an average of 2.9.

However, hope looms in the horizon in the form of the 2008 Boston Celtics, who were 27th in the NBA that season with an average of 15.2 turnovers per game. This team had a lot of miscues, but leaned on their areas of strength (second in points allowed, fourth in field-goal percentage, fifth in three-point percentage and fifth in steals as per Basketball-Reference.com).

Among the other champion teams, the 2010 Los Angeles Lakers took care of the basketball the best, as they finished sixth in the league with only 13.4 turnovers.

The video below, featuring Pacers coach Frank Vogel after the loss to the New York Knicks, 90-80, on April 14, describes how Indiana's 26 turnovers gave the game away to New York, which committed only 11 miscues.

Bench

Another weak area of the Indiana Pacers

Prior to the 2012-13 NBA season, Indiana locked up shock troopers D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green in an attempt to fortify its bench strength, but to no avail. The bench has largely been a disappointment all year long with the Pacers ranking 29th in terms of bench scoring (25.3 points per game) as per Hoops Stats.

However, as alarming as this may sound, this should not deter the Pacers in their quest for a championship.

Two of the last three NBA champions ranked in the lowest percentile when it comes to bench scoring (both the 2012 Miami Heat and 2010 L.A. Lakers finished 28th in the NBA). Among the past five NBA champions, it was only the 2011 Dallas Mavericks (second overall) who cracked the top 10.

This tells us an NBA champion team does not rely too much on its bench as far the trend has been in the last five seasons. However, with the Pacers' weakness when it comes to offense as mentioned previously, they sure could use a spark off the bench to help get them to the next level.

Conclusion

To recap, the Indiana Pacers are on track to become championship contenders because of their main strengths—defense and rebounding. These are facets of the game which Indiana is better at than most of the recent NBA champions.

However, some holes definitely need to be plugged.

The fact that the 2008 Boston Celtics were worse when it comes to turning the ball over doesn't mean the Pacers should be okay with where they are now in this department. You simply don't win championships if you cough up the ball way too much. That being said, there is no better time than now to take better care of the ball.

Even though the bench may not be a major issue based on recent championship trends, Indiana still needs somebody to step up from its rotation in order to boost its mediocre offense, one of the main impediments in its quest for its first title. So far, that hasn't happened.

Based on our findings, retaining the current core plus the return of a healthy Danny Granger or an offseason acquisition who can provide an additional scoring punch (and doesn't turn the ball over) will be a good recipe for an Indiana NBA championship.

It's an achievement which we hope will come sooner than later.

Unless noted otherwise, stats are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and ESPN.

Belmont Stakes 2013: Lack of Triple Crown Threat Diminishes Marquee Race

Matt Fitzgerald — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:14:40 -0400

The 2013 Belmont Stakes is still a few weeks away, but the outcome of the second leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday unfortunately diminishes the significance of one of horse racing's marquee showcases.

Hall of Fame tandem of trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Gary Stevens teamed up to push 15-to-1 long shot Oxbow to victory at the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. That thwarted a Triple Crown bid by Kentucky Derby winner Orb, who encountered traffic problems and finished in fourth.

The luster of the Triple Crown achievement is what drives casual interest in horse racing, which is unfortunate in a sense. As Courier-Journal contributor J.J. Hysell highlights, the competition could make for an exciting race:

Golden Soul and Revolutionary played second and third respectively at Churchill Downs, but unfortunately the majority of outside observers don't particularly care for also-rans in this industry.

When ESPN's Darren Rovell was asked earlier in the week about the potential impact an Orb loss would have for Belmont Park on June 8, the consequences were revealed to be dire:

The Run for the Carnations in Elmont, New York is a grueling 1.5 miles that tests the endurance and strength of the competing thoroughbreds.

Though Oxbow is considered more of a sprinter, Rick Snider of the Washington Examiner documented Stevens' comments after the race, which indicated he may have had even more in the tank with Oxbow:

Even with Lukas setting an all-time record with 14 Triple Crown victories and Stevens winning his third Preakness to match his three triumphs at Churchill Downs and Belmont Park, the hype will be significantly diminished without horse racing's ultimate honor on the line.

An Orb victory would have boosted the sport's national relevance and profile for the Belmont Stakes and would have been a wonderful development for anyone who had an interest in the event.

Affirmed remains the last horse to win the Triple Crown in 1978, and that's bad news for those who were looking forward to witnessing a shot at history. There is nothing quite like a thrilling finish involving a premier horse chasing the Triple Crown and an upstart thoroughbred trying to deny him.

Belmont Stakes ratings were actually up by 13 percent last year from 2011, when I'll Have Another was bidding for the Triple Crown. However, he was scratched at the last minute, and that was part of the reason why viewers stuck around.

Betting is always a rush that comes with horse racing, but the decreased significance brought on by Orb's letdown is going to cause ratings to drop from their encouraging upward trend of 2012.

NHL Playoffs: Why Chicago Blackhawks Need Viktor Stalberg vs. Detroit Red Wings

Derek Wolff — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:11:52 -0400

For all of the supposed depth the Chicago Blackhawks possess throughout their talented lineup, such didn't seem to be the case Saturday as they were thumped by their biggest rivals in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

The visiting Detroit Red Wings came into the United Center and turned the tables on the hometown 'Hawks, cruising to a 4-1 victory while stealing a game to even the series at 1-1. Chicago was flat-out beaten in every area of the game and looked lethargic after taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Blackhawks, who seemingly skated in circles around the Wings in their 4-1 win in Game 1, were nowhere to be found during Game 2, and the United Center crowd reflected that. I haven't heard the building that quiet since the days of "Dollar Bill" Wirtz, an era before Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews revived the franchise and made the "Madhouse on Madison" a rocking place to be again.

Speaking of Kane, he finally got off the schneid with his first goal since April 2011, but the 'Hawks couldn't hold the lead and looked awful in the final two periods as the Wings scored four unanswered goals.

The sudden lethargic attitude stemmed from an inability to adjust, as the vulnerable Detroit defense from Game 1 made adjustments to stymie the prolific Chicago forecheck. The roles reversed, Chicago simply shut down and played one of its worst games, if not the worst game, of the year. And while the Blackhawks don't need to panic at all, they do need to make some changes before playing Game 3 Monday night in Detroit.

Enter Viktor Stalberg.

Stalberg, who played in all five games of the Blackhawks' first-round series victory over the Minnesota Wild, has been a healthy scratch for the first two games of the Detroit series. While there has been no direct indication as to why he hasn't suited up against the Wings, it's likely that Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville wasn't impressed with his energy level in the week off that the Blackhawks had while they waited for their second-round matchup.

Stalberg was limited to just one assist in five games against the Wild, but brings an unparalleled speed game to the Blackhawks that the Wings won't be able to match. Lining up on the wing with Dave Bolland and Bryan Bickell as his linemates, the 27-year-old Swede scored nine goals and added 14 helpers in 47 regular-season games, tied for fifth on the team with 23 points.

The winger played well against Detroit in the regular season, scoring one goal and adding two assists while going plus-two over four games. But the thing Stalberg brings the most to the table, aside from his blinding speed, is his solidification of the third line. Andrew Shaw's chippy and aggressive play have kept him on the third line alongside Bolland and Bickell after the former returned from injury at the start of the Detroit series, but it's time for Coach Q to again juggle the lines.

While it's not fair to be overly critical of Bolland, a main staple in the Blackhawks' success over the past five years, he had an awful Game 2 against Detroit, racking up eight penalty minutes on four minor calls. While the 'Hawks penalty kill remained stellar in another brilliant special teams showing, the penalties Bolland took in the game were, in a word, dumb.

Worse, while the Wings power play failed to convert, the 'Hawks burned valuable five-on-five time to kill them off. Shaw served one of the minors when Bolland took two minutes for roughing and another two for slashing at 14 minutes, 45 seconds in the first period. While Shaw remained clean in Game 2, his overaggression twice put the Wings on the power play in Game 1.

Daniel Carcillo, who played with Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger on Chicago's fourth line, took a cross-checking penalty shortly after Damien Brunner tied the Game at 1-1 early in the second period. This penalty was unmerited and selfish, putting the Blackhawks again at a man disadvantage and killing any rally after the Brunner goal.

With both Bolland and Bickell playing on the third line as natural centers, Shaw has been moved to the wing. Inserting Stalberg back into the mix in his usual spot on the third line would most likely see Shaw replace Carcillo alongside Frolik and Kruger on the fourth line, which would benefit the Blackhawks as well, giving them more scoring talent and increasing the depth. Better yet, Shaw's grit would benefit his linemates, who play more of a speed game and are crucial to the 'Hawks' penalty kill success.

Inserting Stalberg into the fray would inject some much-needed life into the Blackhawks, who will no doubt come out hungrier on Monday, looking for a chance to steal back home-ice advantage. Fans would be hard-pressed to find a faster skater on Monday night than No. 25 for Chicago, nor a player who wants to help his team win more.

Stalberg told the Chicago Tribune that Quenneville had not been happy with his play and that he understands he'll need to pick it up to receive more ice time and remain a constant in Chicago's lineup. Plus, he'll be playing for a new contract, since he becomes a free agent when the 2013 season is over.

Certainly he'll want to help the 'Hawks extend that deadline as far as they can.

Chicago lost back-to-back games just four times in the regular season. Expect its intensity to be much better come Monday night.

Belmont Stakes 2013: Orb's Preakness Loss Takes Excitement out of Storied Race

Tyler Conway — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:08:55 -0400

Those planning their weekend of June 8 around seeing horse racing history at the 2013 Belmont Stakes should probably consider making secondary plans.

The nearly four-decades-long Triple Crown drought continued in Saturday's 138th running of the Preakness Stakes, as 16-1 underdog Oxbow shocked the world at Pimlico Race Course. Kentucky Derby winner Orb, who came into Pimlico as an overwhelming favorite, finished fourth.

It was a result that baffled some and shocked nearly all.

And with Belmont lingering in three weeks, race officials have to be wondering how they'll drum up excitement for the Triple Crown capper. Because for right now, Orb's loss feels like one massive pulling of the rug by a sport that's continually done so since 1978.

What makes this latest rug-pulling so dejecting is that—for arguably the first time since Big Brown in 2008—it felt like Orb had a legitimate shot at taking the whole thing. His Triple Crown odds were down to plus-225 on Bovada's sportsbook heading into Saturday's race, which is an astounding number for a horse that had just a third of the journey down.

Everyone felt like something was special in the air with Orb.

The three-year-old colt had already become the first since Big Brown five years ago to win from the favorite at Churchill Downs and was an overwhelming favorite at Pimlico. At 5-7 odds, Orb was getting bet on heavily by those in the public and those in the know.

Even opposing trainers couldn't help but marvel about Shug McGaughey's ascending colt. Doug O'Neill, trainer of Goldencents, said prior to the race that Orb had a very good shot at capturing the Triple Crown.

"I definitely think it's well within his range. He's a Triple Crown threat, for sure," said O'Neill, per USA Today's Gary Mihoces.

The legendary trainer Bob Baffert went one stop further, saying that those not rooting for Orb had "something mentally wrong with them," per the Lexington Herald-Leader's horse racing feed:

This is a good time to remind you that Baffert had a horse, Govenor Charlie, in this field. Even those who stood to financially gain from Orb's misfortune were rooting for Orb, so you can only imagine the public's feelings heading into this race.

Of course, we knew there were plenty of mitigating circumstances working against Orb. Starting on the inside post, he was looking to become the first thoroughbred since Tabasco Cat in 1994 to win starting from the No. 1 position. And he also became the fourth straight Derby winner since the turn of the century to lose in a field of nine or fewer horses, per Jay Privman of Daily Racing Form.

It didn't matter for most. This was the horse that would finally break free and win all three races because it had to be.

Horse racing's journey to find the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 has become sports' version of chasing the proverbial dragon. Every year casual and hardcore fans alike desperately cling to the hope that this could be the year. That competitive fields and the increased sophistication of trainers and owners hasn't created a parity-driven sport out of one that was once predicated on individual transcendence.

Parity works for the NFL. It doesn't for a niche individual sport.

So you'll forgive most if they were a bit dejected over Orb's failure on Saturday. Following the race, most took to Twitter to express their feelings—good and bad—about what just transpired.

Some, like Eric Stangel of the Late Show w/ David Letterman, understandably went right to the humor well:

Others, like Chris Brown of Smart Football, made astute observations about why things went wrong for Orb:

The rest, well, we can't print those. Suffice it to say the worst possible side of social media comes out when folks don't get their way.

This entire amalgam of emotions eventually comes at the expense of the Belmont. Without a Triple Crown threat, this five-week span of races limps to its death—the sport's superficial embodiment of breaking a leg. Sure, the race will go on and some people will watch, but the intrigue has been sucked almost completely dry.

Perhaps it was David Steele of the Sporting News who put it best:

It's ultimately a bit unfair to the people involved at Belmont. Even without a potential Triple Crown, the Stakes are one of the more interesting races in the entire sport. The mile-and-a-half-long track is a titillating test of endurance, especially for three-year-olds that have already hit the starting gate twice in such a short span.

Again, it doesn't matter. Trying to drum up excitement for this year's Belmont is like trying to save a broken marriage. You can try to talk yourselves into things like couples counseling or forced date nights, but you're only going through the motions before the inevitable, sweet end.

And that's likely what we'll be doing in these coming weeks. Perhaps we'll be able to drum up some pseudo-excitement if Orb and Oxbow both head to New York or if Rosie Napravnik again tries to make history.

Just know that we'll be happy to sign our divorce papers with the 2013 Triple Crown season come June 8.

Follow @tylerconway22

Manchester City Reportedly Agree to £54M Transfer Fee for Radamel Falcao

Dan Talintyre — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:04:34 -0400

Manchester City have reportedly smashed the British transfer-fee record by agreeing on a £54 million deal for Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao.

The Daily Mirror was first to break the news:

Radamel Falcao will become Manchester City's first signing of the Manuel Pellegrini era after the Etihad club agreed a British record transfer fee for the Atletico Madrid striker. City have met the £54 million buy-out clause in the Colombian's Atletico contract to snatch him away from incoming Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

The report goes on to say that Falcao is expected to sign on a deal worth more than £200,000 per week, though no official details are known about the reported deal.

Falcao recently guided Atletico Madrid to a stunning upset over rivals Real Madrid in the 2013 Copa del Rey final and was quoted after the match as saying that his mind was solely on his future at the Spanish club. However, despite more than two years still remaining on his contract, City's triggering of his buyout clause will reportedly see him head across to the Etihad Stadium next season.

The Colombian international has netted 28 league goals in 33 appearances this season and was named in the 2012 FIFA World Team of the Year.

Whilst the news has not yet been confirmed or denied by either club involved in the deal, if true, it would no doubt have a profound impact on the power structure in both England and Europe next season as Manchester City try to make up for a disappointing 2012-13 season in both competitions.

It would also put an increasing spotlight on the futures of both Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko, who have both been linked away from Manchester City earlier this week, per Goal.com (via Yahoo! Sports) and the Daily Mail, respectively.

The summer transfer window formally opens on July 1.

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