Bleacher Report - Front Page

This Florida Football Ticket Ad Featuring Will Muschamp Is Phenomenal

Barrett Sallee — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:07:07 -0400

You don't want to get on Florida head coach Will Muschamp's bad side.

The man with the ultra-terrifying stare first became an Internet celebrity when microphones caught him cursing while he was the defensive coordinator for Auburn in 2007, and his intense demeanor hasn't diminished now that he's the head coach at Florida.

During his first two seasons in Gainesville, Muschamp has lost it quite a few times, including after a fumbled punt in 2011 against Auburn, in the 2012 World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party when he stared down tight end Clay Burton and in Florida's 2013 Sugar Bowl loss to Louisville.

Florida is capitalizing on Muschamp's intensity.

The university has embarked on a new ad campaign in an effort to sell football tickets featuring Muschamp's kids giving their impressions of the infamous Muschamp stare while playing catch inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Slow clap for Muschamp and the Florida marketing department for capitalizing on "the stare."

If you cannot laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?

It's just the latest in a series of unorthodox campaigns coming out of Gainesville.

From wide receivers coach Joker Phillips photoshopping images left and right to lure prospects to the program or offensive coordinator Brent Pease doing the same to motivate his quarterbacks, the creativity this offseason from the Gators is phenomenal.

This latest campaign by the marketing staff may be the most creative yet.

Follow @BarrettSallee

Josh Barnett Signs with the UFC: 5 Potential Opponents for the Warmaster

Jeremy Botter — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:05:26 -0400

There was a time, and it wasn't all that long ago, that I believed Josh Barnett would never sign with the UFC.

After Strikeforce was finally put in the ground once and for all, Barnett opened negotiations with the UFC. It seemed like the perfect fit for the former UFC heavyweight champion; after all, there are no other MMA promotions in the world that can pay Barnett the kind of money he wants, and all of the world's best heavyweights are in the UFC's heavyweight division.

For mysterious reasons, however, the negotiations failed. Barnett remained a free agent, and those of us who want to see him back in the Octagon were left disappointed once again.

But good things come to those who wait. On Tuesday night, word came down from the UFC that Barnett had signed a multi-fight agreement to return to the promotion where he once dominated and then left in a cloud of steroid-induced shame.

Barnett is expected to make his return to the Octagon later this year, but it's time for me to start speculating as to who his first opponent in the UFC might be. Today, I take a look at five potential UFC heavyweight opponents for "The War Master," in order from least to most intriguing.

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Boston Red Sox 2013 Mock Draft: Projecting Their Top 5 First Round Targets

Douglas Sibor — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:03:26 -0400

In the last 46 years, the Boston Red Sox have had exactly one pick in the top seven of the MLB Draft. They made the most of that one, drafting the legendary Trot Nixon.

While a run of good play through 2011 meant the Sox have been picking further back in the first round, a silver lining to last year’s horrible season is that they now have the opportunity to grab a top-tier prospect. Many talented players who could help bolster the Sox’s farm system will be available for GM Ben Cherington to choose from, and the challenge for him will be to figure out which needs the Sox need to fill most urgently.

Here’s a look at five players the Sox will target in the first round:

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French Open 2013: Hottest Storylines to Watch for Heading into Roland Garros

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

The 2013 French Open is just days away from getting underway, with plenty of drama and intrigue to be found in both the men's and women's tournaments this year.

From the re-emergence of Rafael Nadal as the hot favorite for the tournament to the dominance of Serena Williams once again, there's certainly no shortage of talking points and storylines to be found. And while the draw and then the results themselves will be the main focus at Roland Garros this year, you can ill-afford to rule out any of the biggest talking loins from having a key impact here.

Read on to see the hottest storylines to watch for in the French Open this year.

Andy Murray's Withdrawal—How Will It Impact the Field?

After battling injuries for the past few days, World No. 3 Andy Murray has officially withdrawn from the French Open, according to BBC Sports' Twitter feed.

The move is a smart one by Murray, as it allows him to properly recover for his stronger grass-court seasons still ahead without pushing himself on a surface that he isn't as comfortable on. But in terms of the draw and potential seeding, the ramifications are huge, and will no doubt have a telling impact.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer remain the same as the No. 1 and 2 seed respectively, but Murray's absence now means Nadal is back to No. 3.

Both Djokovic and Federer will be hoping to avoid him in their half of the draw, and would much prefer to end up playing the No. 4 seed David Ferrer, although even he won't be an easy matchup given his clay-court dominance.

It's hard to truly evaluate just how telling Murray's absence will be until the draw is released, but there's little doubt that it will be a key storyline to follow.

It all depends on where Nadal is drawn now.

Can Serena Williams End Her Clay Court Frustration?

The last time Williams made a final at Roland Garros, Kelly Clarkson won the first ever American Idol contest. My Big Fat Greek Wedding wasn't even released.

It was the year of 2002, and since then, Williams has been incredibly dominant in women's tennis and has seemingly won all there is to win—all whilst maintaining a horror run at the French Open. She hasn't made it past the semifinals since 2003, and after being trounced in the first-round last year, things don't seem to be looking great for the American here.

However this year may just be different for Williams.

She's been in tremendous form leading into Roland Garros this year and has a number of key victories under her belt including wins over Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova in clay-court finals this year. Williams will be hoping to carry that form into France this year, and cement her status as the best women's tennis player in the world; whether she will or not still remains to be seen.

Or Will We Be in For More Upsets This Year?

If we're ever going to see a surprise winner of a Grand Slam, it's most likely to come from the women's field, and it's most likely to come at Roland Garros.

The last six years have seen six different champions crowned at the French Open, and whilst all of them have been seeds, only one of them was the top seed—Justin Henin, who won back in 2007. Since then, no favorite has won the French Open and no two players have won it twice—making this year's tournament a potentially very open affair indeed.

As mentioned above, Williams will be the favorite for the title this year, but history suggests that absolutely anybody could win the Grand Slam this year.

What's With the Form of the Big Three?

With Murray out, it's fairly safe to again refer back to Nadal, Djokovic and Federer as the Big Three. And speaking of the Big Three, what's with their form?

The World No. 1 Djokovic was superb—dominating the Australian Open and then beating Nadal at his favorite Monte Carlo event. And yet he then backed that up with shock losses to Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych in the two tournaments after that, which clearly nobody saw coming.

The same goes for Federer. He appeared in his first final of the year last week against Nadal, and whilst he was beaten in straight sets, he still played very strong in parts.

This, of course, after he was eliminated in the round of 16 weeks earlier.

Or what about Nadal? The man who is playing his first Grand Slam tournament after being out for months due to injury, and he absolutely lights everybody up in the warm-up tournaments? Few would have seen that coming—even when talking about Nadal on clay.

And yet, with that loss to Djokovic, there are still question marks about his form and whether he's again a lock to win the title at his beloved Roland Garros.

It's hard to see the title being won from someone outside of those three players; which player it will be, however, is still a little bit up in the air at the moment.

Even with all of Nadal's dominance.

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

How Stephen Thompson Can Reclaim His 'Wonderboy' Persona at UFC 160

Dale De Souza — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

Stephen Thompson might stand at just 30 years of age, but he still holds the potential to emerge as one of the welterweight division's brightest prospects. With a base in karate and a slick, diverse array of strikes, "Wonderboy" promises to, at the very least, cement his status as a consummate fan favorite due entirely to his flashy style.

That said, the kid still needs work. While he may own better grappling and ground skills than what he showed in his UFC 145 loss to Matt Brown, he must demonstrate those improvements down the line. In the meantime, he will contend with Strikeforce veteran Nah-Shon Burrell. The bout marks Thompson's first in a little over a year.

Burrell recently defeated Yuri Villefort at UFC 157. Like Thompson, Burrell also does his most effective work on the feet. After all, he undoubtedly packs more power in his strikes than most of his foes, and against Thompson, he should showcase the better defense in the striking department.

So, how does Thompson reclaim the "Wonderboy" persona? Think back to his fights with Brown and Dan Stittgen, Recall that in both performances, Thompson mixed up his striking and threw a higher total of strikes than either Stittgen or Brown.

Despite a disadvantage of almost two inches of reach, Thompson can, and candidly speaking, must use that against Burrell. Both men employ solid movement and can use angles when attacking, but Thompson aims for just about every part of the human anatomy when he strikes.

Offensively, he benefits from throwing his strikes with that trademark precision against the power-hitter Burrell. Defensively, his karate-based style allows him to effectively evade the brunt of his opponents' strikes, and so long as he does not stand boldly in front of Burrell, he can move well enough to make Burrell's output look insignificant.

Also, the kid can defend takedowns, lest we forget. While he never did need to defend Burrell's takedown attempts, Burrell also never needed to try to take down an unorthodox striker of Thompson's caliber.

Remember, while the fight appears to sway mostly in Burrell's favor, "Wonderboy" can reclaim his persona at Burrell's expense. If he wants to do that, however, he must do what he does best while ensuring that Burrell plays towards his opponent's strengths.

While Thompson will certainly do his best, he will not get an easy opportunity to do so if Burrell wills to say or do anything about it.

MLB Draft 2013: Pitchers Who Will Reach Majors in a Hurry

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

It usually takes a long time for MLB draft picks to pan out, but there are a few players in this year's class who can help their teams relatively quickly.

The time it takes for stars to reach the majors usually causes fans to ignore the draft completely. A struggling team cannot look to the event to fill needs the way squads can in the NFL or NBA.

However, there are plenty of recent examples of prospects who spent little or no time in the minor leagues before making their debuts, like Stephen Strasburg and Mike Leake.

While these players are still far from reaching their potential, they have the skill necessary to play at the sport's highest level within the next couple of seasons.

Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford

After being one of the top players in the draft a year ago, Mark Appel declined to sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates and returned to school. Since then, he has done nothing but continue to pitch well to keep him near the top of draft boards.

He already has three plus pitches between his fastball, slider and change-up, and all of them can be thrown for strikes. Usually pitchers at this level rely on two offerings, but Appel's control of each will help him beat hitters at a high level.

Additionally, he has a lot of experience after taking the ball for virtually every big game for Stanford over the past three years.

Appel has a great mentality on the mound and has proven himself as a starter. This will help him go far as a professional.

Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma

While Appel might have a more complete arsenal at this point, Jonathan Gray will get by on his fastball for a long time.

The pitch not only reaches 100 mph, but he has kept that speed late into games. Whenever he needs to reach back to get a big strikeout, he comes through with the devastating fastball with enough movement to give hitters little chance of succeeding.

Of course, pitchers cannot get by on just a fastball at the professional level. Fortunately, Gray also has displayed a nice slider and a developing change-up.

If these two offerings can become even averages pitches, they will make the fastball that much better and help Gray move through the minor league levels quickly.

Ryne Stanek, RHP, Arkansas

Compared to some of the other pitchers in the class, Ryne Stanek does not have anywhere near as much upside. Instead of projecting as a future ace, he would be lucky to be a No. 3 or No. 4 starter in a major league rotation.

Still, what makes Stanek so appealing is that he does not need much help to be ready for the top level.

The Arkansas pitcher has four pitches, including both a slider and a curve, which will help him beat good hitters. While his change-up still needs a lot of work, his feel for his pitches will take him a long way.

If he can show a little more control, the talented pitcher could end up being in a rotation by the 2014 season.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

Champions League Final: Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski Continues to Rise

Alex Richards — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:58:05 -0400

To say Robert Lewandowski has taken a progressive step in his career these last 12 months is an understatement. Indeed, since his arrival at Borussia Dortmund in 2010, his entire career has been one of continued progression.

He has quickly moved from Lucas Barrios' back-up to impeaching the Paraguayan in Jurgen Klopp's starting 11, and now enjoys his current standing as perhaps the side's most important player and greatest match winner.

The current 2012-13 campaign will go down as the season in which the Polish international exploded and became widely heralded as one of the premier strikers in world football.

Having won the German league and cup double in 2011-12, scoring 30 goals in the process—including a stunning hat-trick in the cup final victory over Bayern Munich—Lewandowski has improved on that tally despite Dortmund's disappointing defence of their Bundesliga crown, where they lost out to Bayern's unrelenting barrage.

36 goals in 48 matches stands as his tally this time round, during a campaign displayed perfectly in microcosm on April 24, during BVB's Champions League semi-final first leg success against Real Madrid.

With Jose Mourinho's side arriving in Dortmund as favourites to reach the final and in search of the fabled decima, all eyes were on the Spanish giants. At the end of 90 minutes however, the nine-time European champions had been thoroughly decimated, and Robert Lewandowski's ascension into the highest echelons of the European game was complete.

The Dortmund No. 9 created history with a striking performance which oozed quality, simultaneously becoming the first player to score four goals in a European Cup semi-final and the first player to score a hat-trick against Real Madrid in Champions League history.

A complete centre-forward performance from the Pole saw him lead the line with fantastic aplomb, intelligent movement, excellent hold-up play and lethal finishing. The pick of his quadruple was undoubtedly his third, a sensational drag-back doing for Pepe's despairing challenge before a ferocious shot sent high into Diego Lopez's net.

Now Lewandowski arrives at Wembley looking to do to Bayern just as he did to both Madrid and Jupp Heynckes' side 12 months previously in the aforementioned DFB Pokal final.

If various reports are to be believed, it will likely be his final game for Die Borussen, with the Daily Mail reckoning Saturday's opponents Bayern will be his most likely destination. Indeed, the International Business Times goes further, stating that Lewandowski has told the club that he only wants to move to Bavaria.

As such, it adds a little extra spice to proceedings in the all-German clash for European supremacy. Dortmund supporters will no doubt be looking to their main man to do the damage in London, even against what are prospective future employers.

Moreover, given his current form and recent record against Bayern—five goals in his last six appearances—expect Robert Lewandowski to have a major say in the destination of the European Cup this Saturday. If he can add another match-winning performance to his growing portfolio, he'll further cement his place amongst the world's elite.

Sergio Garcia Issues Public Apology to Tiger Woods for Insensitive Remark

Patrick Clarke — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:57:01 -0400

Sergio Garcia wasted no time clearing the air over a recent comment he made about rival Tiger Woods at a European Tour awards gala.

Garcia set up a press conference on Wednesday to offer Woods a public apology for the following response when asked if he and Woods would possibly have dinner at some point during the U.S. Open (via The Guardian's Ewan Murray):

We will have him round every night. We will serve fried chicken.

Garcia originally described his controversial response as a "silly remark," but Woods thought differently, responding to the comments with a series of tweets, including the following one:

Garcia explained himself to a room of reporters on Wednesday, and was sincere throughout.

I want to send an unreserved apology, didn't mean to offend anyone.

Garcia acknowledged that his comment may have been perceived as racist an admitted feeling guilty about it immediately after saying it according to Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch:

The 33-year-old Spaniard also extended an apology to anyone else who may have been offended by his response according to Sky Sports:

Garcia did say that his comments were not racially motivated, admitting that he felt pressured to respond with something funny considering the atmosphere at the gala.

Golf Channel's Jason Sobel summed up Garcia's press conference, accurately suggesting the major theme was one of regret:

Sergio Garcia's public apology is a necessary first step in the wake of his insensitive comments regarding Tiger Woods, but it remains to be seen if he'll be forgiven.

The 2007 British Open runner-up, Garcia's golf resume pales in comparison to Woods, and he certainly hasn't won over any new fans as of late. If his criticism of Woods at The Players tournament a couple of weeks ago didn't damage Garcia's appeal, his recent comment certainly has.

Only time will tell whether Tiger Woods and the public forgive Garcia for his regrettable comment.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

UFC 160: Predicting the Fight Night Bonuses

Scott Harris — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:56:15 -0400

The lure of the knockout is methodically seducing the MMA community into a full embrace of UFC 160. But there also lurks the possibility of some slick submissions and some highly balanced competitions.

And because it's pretty unlikely that the UFC will award a three-way tie for Knockout of the Night (though stranger things have happened), here are some picks for the KO, submission and overall fight that will be worthy of bonus checks after UFC 160 wraps up some time early on Sunday morning.

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Mark Hunt vs. Junior Dos Santos: Preview, Odds and Predictions for UFC 160

Jordy McElroy — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:54:02 -0400

After facing prolonged visa issues, Mark Hunt is finally back in the States and hoping to keep the Cinderella story rolling against a motivated Junior Dos Santos at UFC 160.

The turnaround for Hunt has been nothing short of amazing.

It was only three years ago that fans were questioning his placement in the UFC. He was still eating KFC and riding a six-fight losing streak.

The UFC wouldn't have even picked up Hunt's contract in the first place if it wasn't included in the 2007 purchase of Pride Fighting Championships. UFC President Dana White offered to pay Hunt off instead of actually having him compete in the UFC, but the determined "Super Samoan" refused his offer and opted to step into the cage and resurrect his fallen career.

He has since gone on a four-fight win streak and is quite possibly one win away from earning a shot at the UFC heavyweight title. Unfortunately, the daunting task of defeating Dos Santos is the price of admission.

The former UFC heavyweight champ enters this bout as the deserving favorite. Hunt has reemerged as a legitimate contender, but all of his opponents up to this point in the UFC pale in comparison to Dos Santos.

Despite a lackluster showing against Cain Velasquez at UFC 155, Dos Santos remains the premier boxer in the heavyweight division. His ability to move around in the pocket and put together combinations is unrivaled.

Fortunately, he won't have to deal with the otherworldly wrestling abilities of Velasquez in this bout. He can focus solely on dealing with Hunt's standup-heavy offense.

On paper, this is one of the more intriguing bouts so far this year.

Throughout his career, Hunt has been credited for having a granite chin and some of the most devastating knockout power in all of MMA. While Dos Santos is the better boxer, a case can be made that Hunt, a former K-1 fighter, is actually the more well-rounded striker.

Dos Santos' ground game is still a mystery up to this point. He showed tremendous defensive wrestling abilities in the first round against Velasquez. It'll be interesting to see if he opts to be more offensive with his grappling and take Hunt down to avoid dangerous standup exchanges.

Conditioning may play the biggest role in the outcome of this fight. Hunt has shown a tendency to slow down after the first round. Dos Santos isn't Velasquez by any stretch of the imagination in the cardio department, but he has already shown the ability to push well into the championship rounds.

Betting Odds (via bestfightodds.com)

Dos Santos -420

Hunt +335

Prediction

Look for Hunt to be competitive in the standup exchanges early, but Dos Santos' superior boxing and grappling will be the story of the night as he coasts to a unanimous decision and earns a rubber match with Velasquez (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Evaluating Arte Moreno's First 10 Years as Los Angeles Angels Owner

Jason Catania — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:49:03 -0400

You'll forgive Arte Moreno if he doesn't feel much like celebrating.

Wednesday, May 22, marks the 10-year anniversary of the day that Moreno was officially introduced as the owner of the Angels franchise, but given his club's performance this season, especially relative to preseason expectations, Moreno's probably not in a commemorative mood at the moment.

At 18-27, the Halos own the fourth-worst record in baseball.

Yes, the roster on which Moreno has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the past two offseasons to lure the likes of Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and C.J. Wilson is barely better than the reeling-while-rebuilding Mets, the starting-from-scratch-again Marlins and the how-low-can-we-go Astros.

Instead of focusing too much on what is currently going wrong with Moreno's club in L.A.—er, Anaheim—let's take a look at some of the key events that have transpired since Moreno became the owner on May 22, 2003.

The Beginning

In mid-May 2003, Moreno's $180 million purchase of the Angels was unanimously approved by baseball and he became just the third owner in franchise history, dating back to 1961. So, a new era in Southern California baseball was ushered in.

Right from the get-go, things had a different look from the previous owner—the Walt Disney Company. Moreno, the first controlling owner in MLB history of Hispanic background (he is of Mexican descent but born in Tucson, Ariz.), passed out welcome sombreros to his new employees, complete with the Angels "A" logo on top.

In a way, this was a nod to both Moreno's culture and that of the Angels, who were owned for four decades by singer-actor Gene Autry, who was famously known for his cowboy hat.

The vibes couldn't have been better for Moreno and Angels fans, as not only were they coming off a dramatic, come-from-behind, seven-game World Series win—the franchise's first title—but Moreno also pledged to lower beer prices at the stadium.

That'll bring some goodwill in short order.

A New Name

You may remember back when Moreno came aboard that the franchise was still known as the Anaheim Angels, which was something he wanted to change as part of bringing a new feel and a more widespread identity to the team.

This change was officially made in 2005 and while there was political posturing, a lawsuit and some backlash over the decision, the elongated name—the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim—has stuck around, even though the colloquial "Anaheim Angels" is the more familiar terminology.

In a recent evaluation of all 30 MLB owners, nonprofit investigative news magazine and website MotherJones.com wrote of the Angels honcho:

Moreno's worst move as an owner was his insistence on giving his team its clunky new, multi-city moniker.

If that is, in fact, Moreno's low point, well, that's not so bad.

Winning the Pennant—Repeatedly

No matter the name, the Angels have been one of baseball's best and most consistent clubs from 2003 to now.

In that time, Los Angeles has gone 916-748, good for a .550 winning percentage and fifth-best in MLB since Moreno's first year of ownership.

In case you've forgotten, this is a franchise that wasn't exactly known for winning, to the point where a little movie you may remember from 1994 essentially used "When the Angels win the pennant" to mean ""When pigs fly."

Consider: In the franchise's 42-season history prior to Moreno, the Halos reached the 90-win plateau only five times—or 12 percent. Under Moreno's 10-season tenure? They've hit that mark on five occasions. You don't need a calculator for that percentage, right?

Also in the same stretch, the Angels have had only two seasons in which they finished with a sub-.500 record, with those coming in 2003 in Moreno's first season and then in 2010.

Whatever you want to make of the team's current struggles, the club hasn't needed the likes of Christopher Lloyd and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to help them win ever since Moreno has been around.

Empty Octobers

As for the playoffs, there have been five appearances in the same five seasons as alluded to above. That is rather remarkable for a franchise that has only nine postseason showings in all.

Alas, once the Angels reach October, the results haven't been as rewarding since 2003.

Their five AL West title seasons have led to a mere 10-19 record (.345) in the postseason and only two series wins, both in division series victories in 2005 and 2009.

Of course, things may have been different had the 2005 ALCS against the White Sox not turned on that pivotal, and controversial, dropped-third-strike play involving Chicago's A.J. Pierzysnki in the bottom of the ninth of Game 2.

Fair warning to Angels fans: You may want to avoid watching this replay.

The lack of postseason success is probably the biggest pockmark on Moreno's ownership so far, especially considering he took over a team fresh off a championship.

Keeping the Seats Filled

While the Angels haven't yet reached the promised land in the playoffs under Moreno, the club's overall on-field performance has gone a long way toward making fans happy and keeping them coming back for more.

Until 2003, per Baseball Reference, the Angels had never surpassed the three-million mark in attendance. While that coincides with Moreno's arrival, of course, that just so happened to be the first year after the franchise's only title.

Moreno, though, deserves plenty of credit for keeping the seats filled for a variety of reasons—from continued success to bringing in high-profile players (more below) to giving the fans what they want. Every season since 2003 has brought an attendance figure beginning with a "3," as the chart at the right shows.

In that regard, Moreno is batting a thousand.

The Coach and Front Office

Another big part of Moreno's legacy to this point is tied to his decision-makers.

Moreno has known but one manager during his ownership, as former big league catcher Mike Scioscia has been at the helm since 2000, making him the longest-tenured skipper among active managers in the game, by far.

While things haven't gone quite so smoothly for the pair this season—rumors have swirled that Scioscia may not be long for the job—Moreno has continued to stand by Scioscia, both then and now. Their relationship was a big reason why the Angels inked Scioscia to a 10-year extension in 2009 that could keep him around through the 2018 season.

While Scioscia predates Moreno, the owner has changed general managers twice.

Bill Stoneman was already in that position when Moreno took over in 2003. As GM, Stoneman hired Scioscia and helped construct the World Series-winning 2002 team and he would make it through 2007 before stepping down and turning the reins over to Tony Reagins.

In his first two years, Reagins guided the Angels to two straight postseasons, including the best record in baseball at 100-62 in 2008. After failing to make the postseason in either 2010 or 2011, though, Moreno felt a change was needed and Reagins was replaced by current GM Jerry Dipoto in October of 2011.

That shows shows how much Moreno has raised the standard.

Transaction Time

Speaking of Dipoto, we might as well get to the topic most often associated with the Angels these days—the free agent splash.

Sure, the club made some big moves and decisions, both good and bad, while Moreno was presiding over Stoneman and Reagins. Among them were signing Vlad Guerrero in 2004, trading for Mark Teixeira in 2008, the 2009 draft pick of Mike Trout, acquiring Dan Haren for Joe Saunders, Patrick Corbin and Tyler Skaggs in 2010, dealing Mike Napoli for Vernon Wells in 2011 and giving ace Jered Weaver an $85 million extension in 2011, but the past two winters have been unlike any Angels fans had seen before.

And it's not like Moreno hadn't signed some hefty checks before.

Until 2003, the Angels' payroll had never been higher than $62 million, according to USA Today's salary database. Since then? Well, the chart at right should prove just how much of a factor Moreno has been in transforming the team into a true big-market franchise.

On the whole, Moreno has just about doubled the payroll in his 10 years, which is a remarkable feat and speaks to his desire to win by putting money into the team.

Of course, as we're seeing now, it doesn't always work out quite that way. Not that it's stopping Moreno.

Over the past two offseasons, the Angels have simultaneously been the biggest spenders and the quote-unquote "mystery team" that swooped in to ink the big names such as Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson for a combined $331.5 prior to the 2012 season, and Josh Hamilton for $125 prior to this year.

In fact, a reaction to the Hamilton inking back in December, courtesy of @MLBMeme, shows how Moreno has dominated the past two offseasons.

Growing the Brand

Aside from investing money into talent on the field, Moreno has also done plenty off of it to help the franchise grow.

In 2006, the owner purchased Radio 830 KMXE, the nation's largest Spanish language AM radio station, eventually renamed it KLAA and turned it into the airwaves home for Angels games.

On the television side, Moreno shrewdly opted out of an existing deal and jumped at the chance to sign a 20-year pact in December of 2011 with Fox Sports (the same time he was signing both Pujols and Wilson) that is reportedly worth $3 billion, per the Los Angeles Times.

All in all, in 10 years, Moreno has turned his initial $184 million investment into an estimated $718 empire, according to Forbes.

The Bottom Line

Things appear to be in flux at the moment, given the Angels' poor start in the face of huge expectations, but that shouldn't overshadow the fact that Moreno has overseen undoubtedly the most successful era in Angels baseball by putting his money and business savvy into the team.

That should be reason enough to celebrate after all.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Former Real Madrid President Hints at Chelsea Move

Michael Cummings — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:47:06 -0400

According to the headline attached to a talkSPORT exclusive interview with former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo "could follow Jose Mourinho to Chelsea."

Don't buy it. That's not exactly what Calderon said.

The headline reads nicely, of course, and it must be driving Chelsea fans wild with excitement. The arrivals of Mourinho and Ronaldo this summer, coupled with an already talented squad, would probably make the Blues the undisputed favorites for next season's Premier League title. In fact, they might also make Chelsea a leading contender for the Champions League.

But upon further inspection, it's also a stretch. One only has to hear Calderon's words to recognize as much.

What's more, it's not official that Mourinho will rejoin Chelsea this summer. Speculation is widespread, but as of now there is nothing certain to report.

Instead, it's only that—speculation. With that in mind, let's examine what Calderon really said. For Calderon's full comments in context, be sure to listen to the audio clip in addition to reading the article.

First, Calderon talks about Ronaldo's announcement early in the season that he was said. According to Calderon, this likely had to do with Ronaldo's relationship with current president Florentino Perez and his contention that Ronaldo wanted to "breach" his contract.

Then, when asked where Ronaldo would go if he leaves Real Madrid, Calderon limited his response to three clubs he said would be able to afford the superstar. On the audio version of the interview, a host can be heard prodding Calderon about following Mourinho to Chelsea.

Calderon said:

There are not many teams that could afford to pay him what he deserves and who can pay Real Madrid what they are asking for. There are three clubs—Manchester City, PSG and Chelsea. I don’t think any other club is going to pay that amount of money for a player.

Next, Calderon was asked whether Ronaldo could leave Real this summer. "It's something we will know in a few weeks," he said.

There you have it. Calderon, like the rest of us, is uncertain about Ronaldo's future. Chelsea could indeed be a potential destination, but all Calderon really said is that the Blues are one of only a few clubs that could afford the Portuguese superstar.

Even that, though, could be read as good news for Chelsea fans.

Follow @MikeCummings37

Tim Duncan Becomes 1st Player in NBA History to Record 500 Playoff Blocks

Dan Favale — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:44:53 -0400

All the San Antonio Spurs do is win, and all Tim Duncan does is make NBA playoff history.

The Big Fundamental registered four blocks in San Antonio's 93-89 Game 2 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, the last of which was his 500th career postseason swat, making him the first player in league history reach such a milestone.

Duncan's 500 postseason blocks rank first all time (obviously) and are 24 more than second place Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (476) and 304 more than any active player. Pau Gasol's 196 are the second most among active players.

That means Duncan will stand alone for awhile—a long while.

For his career, Duncan is averaging 2.5 blocks per playoff game, the second highest mark of any player who has appeared in at least 100 postseason contests (his 202 appearances rank seventh all time).

Adding to the significance of his latest feat is how it compares to some of the greats.

Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal—two of the best shot blockers to ever grace the hardwood—recorded fewer total blocks in fewer playoff games. Simply amazing.

Though Duncan won't go down as the greatest shot-blocker the league has ever seen, it's difficult to dismiss him as the Association's best postseason shot-blocker ever. Not merely because he's reached 500 but because of how he's done it.

This is a guy who is averaging 2.2 blocks per game for his career during the regular season (still impressive) and just seemingly turns it on for the playoffs, elevating his play to a whole different level.

As is often the case with Duncan, he doesn't receive enough credit. I mean, no one else is going to hit 500 for a long, long time.

Because we're all into such things, Dwight Howard and Serge Ibaka have the best chance to become the next "Duncan." Howard is 27 and has 166 career playoff blocks, while Ibaka is 24 and has 156.

To put that in perspective, by the time Duncan was 27 he had 224 postseason blocks, which may not bode well for Dwight. At 24, he had 73, so keep your eyes on Ibaka.

Don't lose sight of Duncan, though, either. He's eclipsed the 500-block plateau, but he's not done yet.

Follow @danfavale

*All stats in this article were compiled from Basketball-Reference unless otherwise noted.

Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat: Game 1 Preview and Predictions

Daniel O'Brien — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:25:59 -0400

Last season, the Indiana Pacers gave the Miami Heat a scare in the second round of the playoffs. This time around, they hope to do more than that as they approach Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against LeBron James and Co.

Each squad is stronger than it was a year ago, which should make for an even better version of the matchup. Miami has cruised through the postseason thus far, while the Pacers are coming off a strong six-game triumph over the New York Knicks.

Due to its size and physicality, Indiana is widely regarded as the club with the best shot of ending Miami's season.

But will its best shot be enough? Miami has won 45 of its past 48 games, including an 8-1 stroll through the playoffs. All but one of the Heat's playoff wins has been by double digits, and they won't be taking the Pacers for granted.

Will the superior skills of Miami prevent Indiana from stealing Game 1, or will the Pacers contain South Beach's stars and impose their will?

Time: Wednesday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami

Series: 0-0

TV: TNT

Game 1 Key Storyline: Heat Won't Sleep on Pacers

Even before LeBron James misinterpreted Frank Vogel's statement that Miami is "just the next team in our way," the Pacers had the Heat's attention.

King James, Dwyane Wade and the supporting cast have had nearly a week to rest up, and they've also had time to hear about how Indiana gave them a good run in the 2012 conference semifinals.

The Heat don’t want to turn this into a drawn-out series that gives Indy hope. Erik Spoelstra wants to get the Pacers out of their comfort zone early and often, using his playmakers to break down the defense and stretch the floor.

Miami was 37-4 at home during the regular season, but it dropped the second-round series-opener to the Chicago Bulls. They don’t want to do that again, especially against a healthy Pacers club.

They know Paul George derailed Carmelo Anthony, and Roy Hibbert and company will probably out-rebound them every game. So they'll aim to unravel Indiana in an open-court game featuring their arsenal of shooting threats and the superhuman talents of LeBron.

Star Watch: LeBron James

Basketball's greatest player is shooting just 32 percent from distance and scoring a modest 24 points per game.

Heat fans aren't worried, because this is the round where he usually starts cooking.

Now that the stakes are higher, and the competition is tougher, James will do more to ensure that his squad is in the best possible position to win.

Will we see a 10-assist night, showing Paul George that he can beat the Pacers without scoring? Or will we see a 40-point barrage that proves it doesn't matter who's guarding him?

His approach and level of aggression will dictate Miami’s success.

Projected Starting Lineups:

Indiana: George Hill, PG; Lance Stephenson, SG; Paul George, SF; David West, PF; Roy Hibbert, C

Miami: Mario Chalmers, PG; Dwyane Wade, SG; LeBron James, SF; Udonis Haslem, PF; Chris Bosh, C

Pacers Injury Report (via CBSSports.com)

David West (calf), probable for Game 1

Heat Injury Report

No injuries reported

Pacers Will Win If...

...they pound the paint and draw fouls.

The perimeter play of George Hill is critical, and the playmaking skills of Paul George, Lance Stephenson and others will be vital to Indiana’s success.

However, if they really want to put Miami on the ropes, they must get the ball inside and take advantage of their size and depth.

In Game 6 against New York, the Pacers wore down the Knicks took 46 free throws. It would be greedy to ask for a similar amount Wednesday, but 35 is a realistic goal.

If they can get Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem in foul trouble, that substantially weakens the Heat’s offensive approach. Chris Anderson and Joel Anthony can’t stretch the defense like Bosh and Haslem.

If Hibbert and West simultaneously have big nights, Indiana will have a decent shot at landing the upset.

Heat Will Win If...

...Bosh spaces the floor and LeBron goes to town.

Let’s remember Bosh was sidelined for almost all of last year’s series with Indy.

If he can knock down a few jumpers per quarter, and draw Hibbert and West out of the paint, it will work wonders for Miami’s offense.

The spacing will allow James to operate more freely as a slasher and facilitator, and it will also empower facilitators such as Wade and Mario Chalmers.

When Bosh gets going and LeBron leads a balanced attack, Indy is toast, as it was during the egular-season Heat victory.

Spacing the floor and pulling the post players out regularly also makes the Pacers a more vulnerable rebounding unit, even if it’s only for a few possessions here and there.

Prediction

Lost in all the variables discussed is the constant defensive pressure James and Wade will put on Indiana’s playmakers. Expect Miami’s stars to harass Hill and George en route to some transition opportunities.

The Pacers will try to establish physicality, and they’ll get some results, especially on the glass. That’s what will keep this game close (and potentially the series).

Miami is just too good at home to drop a second straight Game 1, and the Big Three will ensure that the Heat are in the win column. Sound defense, balanced offense and the occasional James heroics will keep Indiana from stealing this one.

Prediction: Heat 99, Pacers 91

Summer Transfer Window Gossip: Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain

Michael Cummings — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:22:21 -0400

We've heard the whispers, read the gossip and entertained the idle speculation for weeks, months and even years. Now, though, it might be time for some real developments in the Neymar transfer saga.

Neymar, the precocious 21-year-old Brazil international forward, has been linked heavily with a move to Europe this summer. The news on his reported destination leads this Wednesday edition of the B/R Summer Transfer Window Gossip roundup.

Inside, we also have updates on Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain, Stevan Jovetic, David Luiz and more. Keep reading for all the details.

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Will Carmelo Anthony's Legacy Ever Live Up to Superstar Billing?

Daniel O'Brien — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:18:21 -0400

When Carmelo Anthony joined the NBA on the heels of his 2003 NCAA title at Syracuse, he was expected to be a career-long rival of LeBron James.

Much like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, we anticipated the two duking it out for the Larry O’Brien trophy every June.

We quickly realized that it’s unfair to compare him to James. However, we still thought ‘Melo would have more postseason success under his belt at the 10-year mark than he actually has.

He’s escaped the first round just twice, and has never truly been close to reaching the NBA Finals. His teams have never possessed a killer instinct, and his current New York Knicks squad was exposed in the playoffs by the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers.

Was Anthony’s college championship the height of his winning ways? Does he have what it takes to lead a squad past all others?

No one questions his talent and superstar status. ‘Melo has nearly 18,000 points, six All-Star appearances and a couple Olympic gold medals. He’s the face of the Knickerbockers franchise, and is a versatile, lethal scorer.

Anthony hasn’t been able to translate that pedigree into postseason success, and he’s increasingly criticized for it.

Does he deserve as much blame as he gets? Probably not, because he’s never had a legitimate championship-caliber supporting cast.

But I’m still skeptical of him as a winner, because his style of play isn’t conducive to overachieving at all.

A couple of his Denver Nuggets teams, along with the 2012-13 Knicks, could have advanced further had they maximized their resources. ‘Melo’s isolation-based tendencies make it extremely difficult to tap into the team’s full potential as a unit. All too often, his clubs live and die with his shots.

He must become a better passer and better defender if he ever wants to win it all. Anthony’s distribution tendencies are inconsistent and depend on the team that surrounds him. In 2013, he recorded his second-worst playoff assists average of 1.6 per game.

If he were an overachiever and a champion-caliber NBA player, it would be the other way around. He’d use his ball skills to create mismatches and find his coach the best possible opportunities, no matter who surrounded him.

It comes down to the little things: Improving as a pick-and-roll passer, being willing to give the ball up to get it back, finding teammates on back-door cuts and much more.

As for defense, well, let’s just say he’s not the type of guy who takes his team to the next level.

In fact, in 2012-13, New York fared better defensively with him on the bench than it did with him on the court. According to 82games.com, the Knicks allowed 108.3 points per 100 possessions when he was playing, and 105.7 while he watched from the sideline.

So we’ve established that he’s not the easiest guy to win with. Is that the end of it? Is there no hope for him?

There is a little hope, if he can somehow surround himself with a better roster.

Let’s be real: Carmelo didn’t have much help the past few weeks, or at any other point in his career.

J.R. Smith is not a championship-level second option (a good sixth man, yes, but not a second option). Tyson Chandler is almost no threat to score in the post. Amar’e Stoudemire is a shell of his former self, and the three-headed point guard attack of Raymond Felton, Pablo Prigioni and Jason Kidd are routinely overmatched physically.

According to Syracuse.com, when ‘Melo’s college coach, Jim Boeheim, was asked about Anthony’s teammates, he was quick to point out they weren’t top-tier performers:

"Those guys weren't great players where they were and now they're asking them to be second and third options," Boeheim said. "In Miami the second and third options are Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Your fourth option is Ray Allen, who is still in good shape. Your fifth option is Shane Battier, who is still a good player. The New York Knicks have who?"

"I said to my son, 'He's going to have to get 50 for them to win,' " Boeheim said. "That's what he needed. Fifty. You're not going to get that against Indiana. They run an isolation offense so he goes one-on-one all the time. It's hard. It's hard work. They need more of an offense where he can get something going. He has to work too hard. That's not his fault. That's how it's set up."

The sheer size of Stoudemire’s contract alongside Anthony’s is going to make it difficult for New York to bring in any kind of substantial help in the near future.

Ultimately, like most things in life, this is a two-way street. ‘Melo needs to improve as a defender, leader and dynamic creator on offense, but he also needs better help and a legitimate second option.

He doesn’t have many years left in his prime, and unfortunately, New York is financially strapped until the 2015 offseason.

The Knicks must either overachieve with the group they have, or Anthony will have to wait a couple more years to assemble a bona fide title contender.

Either way, the odds aren’t looking good for ‘Melo to scale the NBA heights.

2013 MLB Rankings: Top 10 Fastest Players in Baseball

Benjamin Klein — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:18:00 -0400

Speed is one of the core values in baseball that cannot be taught. Players either are or aren’t born with the ability to run around the bases quickly.

So who is the fastest player in Major League Baseball?

I’ve taken a look at a several different ways at measuring how fast players currently in the league are, but nothing was more useful than FanGraphs’ speed score.

FanGraphs averages stolen base percentage, the frequency of stolen base attempts, percentage of triples and runs scored percentages to come up with a speed score. The site notes that a 4.5 is average, a 5.5 is above average, a 6.0 is great and anything 7.0 or higher is excellent.

Other statistics that I took into consideration included weighted stolen base runs (wSB), which measures how many runs a player contributes by stealing bases, as well as well as ultimate base running (UBR), which measures how much value a player adds via base running, both provided by FanGraphs.

Now that I’ve explained how the following players were judged, let’s take a look at who made the top 10.

*All statistics in this article were obtained via FanGraphs unless otherwise noted. All injury information was obtained via Baseball Prospectus. All contract information was obtained via Cot’s Contracts.

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Joakim Noah Gets Down to 'Pump Up the Jam' at House Party

Dan Carson — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:17:59 -0400

Aww wah! Uh plaaace to stay! Get your booty on the floor tonight, and make Joakim’s day.

It’s short, it’s sweet and it’s 100 percent Joakim Noah turning the party out in someone’s backyard to “Pump Up the Jam” by Technotronic.

According to Deadspin, a fellow partygoer recorded the Chicago Bulls star at a dance party in someone’s backyard this past weekend, and I can confirm that the footage of him smoothing it out to early ‘90s Jocks Jams is as nourishing as any meal you will ever eat.

Before we go any further, here’s “Pump Up the Jam.” You’ll want to have it on deck for this.

The best part about this footage isn’t the fact that it’s Joakim Noah dancing—we’ve seen that before.

The most impressive factor of this video is how natural this whole scenario feels. It looks like Noah just wandered into this backyard jam festival, spun into the center of this singalong and no one missed a beat. The only way this gets better is Nate Robinson backflipping into the shot and breaking out the robot.

While we don’t know exactly when this happened, Noah did tweet out something this Saturday that was cryptic at the time, but makes a whole lot more sense now that we have this footage.

No regrets
— Joakim Noah (@JoakimNoah) May 18, 2013

Losing to the Heat in five games in the playoffs probably weighed on Noah, but few things can liberate a man’s soul like losing himself on the dance floor to vintage Eurodance music.

Noah left his baggage at the door on this day. He has no regrets anymore after this. He also presumably “wants no scrubs" on the team now, considering the beautiful amounts of TLC song that were probably spun at this party.

Party with Noah:

Follow @Dr__Carson

Kansas City's Running Back Breakdown: Full Evaluation and Depth Chart Analysis

Farzin Vousoughian — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:16:19 -0400

The biggest bright spot on the team had to be the running game, but that was overshadowed by the team's record—so much so that Kansas City's 352-yard rushing game against the Indianapolis Colts was forgotten due to the team's success.

Predominantly led by Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs finished fifth in rushing. Charles led the AFC in rushing and finished fourth overall last season after suffering a torn ACL injury the season before.

But as strong as the team's rushing appears to be, it has some glaring weaknesses. The Chiefs also have some new running backs, which builds questions about how this team will do under a new coaching staff.

In this slideshow, I will break down the running backs and go over each player on the roster.

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Ohio State Basketball: 5 Burning Questions for Buckeyes' Offseason

Scott Polacek — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:15:39 -0400

The never-ending dog days of summer for the Ohio State basketball offseason are about to begin, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some questions that need to be answered before the ball is tipped.

The Buckeyes are coming off a strong campaign that saw them make the Elite Eight and win the loaded Big Ten tournament in Chicago. Deshaun Thomas declared for the NBA draft and Evan Ravenel graduated, but the rest of the key pieces are back for a run at a conference crown.

Read on to see five questions for the Ohio State offseason that will have an impact on how the year plays out.

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Thiago Alcantara: Would Barcelona Midfielder Be a Good Transfer for Man United?

Sam Tighe — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:12:21 -0400

Manchester United have been credited with interest in Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

According to Spanish daily newspaper Marca, an €18 million bid is under consideration as the Red Devils look to revamp that area of their squad and bolster the quality it possesses.

Per the report:

Manchester United are looking to Thiago Alcantara for next season. [The club] will not even have to enter into negotiations with Barcelona if it stumps up a figure of €18 million.

That is the total for the player's current buy-out clause. Thiago renewed his contract two seasons ago when his release fee was set at €90 million. This amount was reduced, however, to €18 million if he did not play a fixed number of games.

Thiago will be the first to tell you that this season hasn't gone as planned.

Pep Guardiola fought his corner and truly valued him as a wonderful prospect, giving him the chance to shine in the Audi Cup in 2011 and the player never looked back.

He dazzled in Germany that preseason, laying down question marks as to why Cesc Fabregas was even needed at Camp Nou. Guardiola bought the Arsenal midfielder anyway, and Thiago was humble enough to give the new arrival his assigned, famous No. 4 shirt.

He made good progress that season, but he's only made 15 total starts under Tito Vilanova.

Cúles would have been hoping for him to contribute a little more than that, and it's selection—not injury—that's held the 22-year-old back.

You'd be hard-pressed to argue that the Spaniard has improved over the course of this season, such is the sporadic nature of his appearances. Even though Barca sealed the La Liga title weeks ago (and effectively sealed it at Christmas), Xavi is still starting every game.

Circumstances as they are, you can't blame Thiago for looking at other options. At 22, he is no longer that young, and he needs games under his belt to ensure his potential doesn't go unfulfilled.

And don't doubt it: This is a player who has the potential to become one of the best in the game.

He's silky smooth in motion, rarely gives the ball away and boasts decent physical attributes. Thiago can thread the eye of the needle with his passing, change the tempo or force matters himself by going on a mazy dribble.

He's used to slow tempo tiki-taka possession football in Catalonia, but one so raw can adapt quickly and prosper immediately.

Creative midfielder isn't top of Manchester United's shopping list—defensive midfielder is—but this is one of those transfers that comes along every so often and you can't afford to pass up the chance.

Thiago's elite career at Barcelona has been planned out on paper, but this isn't the first time a midfielder has grown disgruntled. Xavi struggled to oust Guardiola as a youngster, and the Camp Nou stands booed him as he was labeled an imposter to Pep's throne.

Xavi isn't showing any signs of slowing down as his game is not dependent on any physical attributes. Could Thiago do what Xavi didn't and jump ship?

Follow @stighefootball

Atlanta Braves 2013 Mock Draft: Projecting Their Top 5 First-Round Targets

Daniel Kock — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:12:18 -0400

The June 6-8 2013 MLB draft is quickly approaching with teams doing final prep work for the event.

So much of the Braves' success depends on having a strong farm system, and building through the draft plays a large role in having just that.

The Atlanta Braves hold the No. 31 pick in the first round of this year's draft as compensation for losing Michael Bourn to the Cleveland Indians (the Braves forfeited their original first pick at No. 29 by signing B.J. Upton).

They could go a number of different directions with the pick.

The Braves have selected pitchers with three of their last four first-round picks with two (Mike Minor, Sean Gilmartin) out of the college ranks. However, over the last 10 years, the Braves have chosen the same number of positional players (4) as pitchers in the first round.

The Braves have also traditionally targeted the state of Georgia and the South in particular in the first round. Three of their past eight first-round picks have been out of Georgia, and the Braves haven't selected a player north of the Mason-Dixon line since Scott Thorman from Canada in 2000.

With the draft a few weeks away, here are a few prospects I see the Braves targeting in the first round.

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Minnesota Vikings Running Back Breakdown: Full Evaluation & Depth Chart Analysis

Mike Nelson — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:11:16 -0400

When it comes to the Minnesota Vikings, one thing is certain: The top two spots in the running back depth chart are locked in and ready to go.

Adrian Peterson is coming off one of the best seasons ever at his position. He rushed for 2,097 yards—nine yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing title—with 12 touchdowns and an impressive 6.0 yards average per carry.

Somehow, some way Peterson returned from a torn ACL to be better, stronger and faster than ever before. At 28 years old, he still has two or three years left of elite play before a slight decline is likely.

Peterson says 2,500 yards is his goal for the 2013 campaign. If that happens, it means one of two things.

First, it could be that Peterson is averaging an unprecedented number of yards per carry (he would have had to average roughly 7.2 yards per carry to rush for 2,500 yards on his 348 carries).

The more likely scenario is that the Christian Ponder experiment has flopped and it’s time for the franchise to recommence the search for a franchise quarterback.

Peterson is a phenomenal talent, but he could improve on his pass-blocking. Minnesota often removed him from the field on third downs because he was a liability.

When Peterson went off, Toby Gerhart came on.

The fourth-year pro from Stanford was supposed to take a large step forward last season after averaging 4.9 yards per carry in 2011. Instead, he fell backwards.

The 2010 second-round pick didn’t run with the same power and aggression that highlighted his 2011 season. He will never be a burner, but that season, he showed Mike Alstott-like abilities en route to rushing for 531 yards while filling in for Peterson in four games.

Gerhart is a more reliable blocker than Peterson and will see more time on third-down situations, like last season. At 26 years old, he’s getting to that make-or-break point. It’s time for him to either step up and become a consistent impact player or fade into obscurity.

While Gerhart is entrenched as the No. 2 back, the Vikings' roster contains four other running backs.

Matt Asiata (5’11”, 220 pounds) was the No. 3 back last season after surprising his way onto the roster. He will have the inside track to assume that position again.

He’s similar to Gerhart in that he’s not a speed back, but rather relies on power and size to move the chains. He had three carries as a rookie for nine yards (3.0 yards per carry) and had a three-yard reception.

The other backs all have never played a regular-season down in the NFL in Joe Banyard (UTEP), Jerodis Williams (Furman) and Bradley Randle (UNLV).

Barring a spectacular display in training camp, those three players are merely using the Vikings as an opportunity to showcase their skills to a team with more of a need at the position.

The depth chart is all but set as follows 1. Peterson; 2. Gerhart; 3. Asiata.

Enjoy it, Vikings fans. You get another year to watch one of the best running backs in NFL history.

Cleveland Indians 2013 Mock Draft: Projecting Their Top 5 First-Round Targets

Dan DiLoreto — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:11:06 -0400

The 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft—also known as the Rule IV Draft—is a little more than two weeks away and the Cleveland Indians will have to be smart with their selection.

The Tribe owns the fifth overall selection this year and it will prove to make or break their draft. After giving up their second-round competitive balance pick because of the signings of Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn in the offseason, the Indians will not make their second selection until pick No. 79.

After that, they will select at 111 before falling into the rotation of every 30 picks until the end of the draft.

That puts a lot of pressure on the front office to get this pick right, so don’t be surprised if the Indians go against the grain and pick someone who may be considered a “safe” pick.

In other words, don’t be surprised if the Indians go after a position player instead of a much-needed pitcher. Here are five prospects that could help the Indians in the future if their scouting reports hold true.

That is 'if' their reports hold true.

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Serie A's Best XI from the 2012-13 Season

Colin O'Brien — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:09:40 -0400

And so another Serie A season draws to a close. 2012-13 has been one of the liveliest league campaigns on the peninsula for some time, with plenty of high-flying drama and under-performing despair from Italian football's main protagonists.

So what of a Serie A best XI? Picking one is no easy task. There are shining examples of the craft at most teams, and as is always the way with a list like this, whoever's left out is bound to cause more discussion than those who make the final cut.

Having lead Juventus to another Scudetto in resounding fashion and acquitted himself honourably in the Champions League, it's only fair that Antonio Conte be named as the coach for these Serie A all-stars. But how many of his Bianconeri outfit deserve to feature? Read on to find out.

NB: For the sake of fashion, we're going with a rough 3-5-2 here, to reflect the league's growing trend of three-man back lines. Some players on the list might not always feature in the position they've been selected in. It's a dream team; compromises must be made ...

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Tiger Woods Comments on Sergio Garcia's Insensitive Remark

Mike Chiari — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:02:27 -0400

Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia have been rivals on the golf course for years, but their feud has continued off the course in recent weeks. Garcia fanned the flames with an inflammatory comment on Tuesday and Woods responded sternly on Twitter.

According to Ewan Murray of The Guardian, Garcia cracked a joke about Tiger at a European Tour awards gala when asked if he and Woods would have dinner at some point during the U.S. Open.

We will have him round every night, Garcia said. We will serve fried chicken.

It's easy to see why some might consider that comment to be racially-charged, including Woods himself who offered his thoughts on Wednesday.

According to Murray, Garcia said that his comment was simply a "silly remark," however, Woods certainly isn't convinced.

Woods also seemingly attempted to put an end to their public spat once and for all as he placed emphasis on golf rather than personal differences.

Although Tiger has often been portrayed as the "bad guy" throughout this situation, he is the one who appears ready to take the high road.

Garcia took to the media on Wednesday in order to offer his side of the story. During a press conference which aired on Golf Channel, Garcia showed remorse for his comment, according to Richard Dietsch of Sports Illustrated.

Garcia apologized profusely throughout the press conference and regretted the fact that he made the comment in the first place, according to Jason Sobel of GolfChannel.com.

In addition to that, Garcia mentioned that he would like to apologize to Woods face-to-face. Until he can do that, however, he offered an apology to Woods during the press conference as well as to anyone his comment may have offended, according to Sky Sports.

While the rivalry between Tiger and Garcia seems to date back many years, it intensified during The Players Championship two weeks ago. According to Michael Bamberger of Sports Illustrated, Woods and Garcia were paired together during the third round of the tournament when things went awry on the second hole.

Garcia hit a poor shot and he later went on to blame the errant shot on Woods pulling a club out of his bag and eliciting a response from the crowd. This incident led to differing accounts of what happened from a number of course marshals and things have seemingly snowballed from there.

While most of the shots fired between Woods and Garcia prior to Tuesday night were related to golf, Garcia may have hit Woods below the belt with his latest comment, and Tiger let it be known that he won’t stand for it.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Rafael Nadal's 2013 Season Shaping Up to Be Most Impressive of Star's Career

Patrick Clarke — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:02 -0400

Rafael Nadal's return to tennis following a seven-month layoff has been met with not only match wins and tournament titles, but domination.

Since returning from a left knee injury last February, Rafa has been simply sensational, reaching eight straight tournament finals and winning six, including three ATP Masters 1000 series tournaments in Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome.

And Nadal will make his first Grand Slam appearance of the season in just days at a venue he has owned over the past decade: The French Open at Roland Garros.

Nadal has won seven of the past eight French Opens since 2005 and boasts an incredible 52-1 record on the red stuff in Paris.

A fourth consecutive championship in Paris this summer would have Nadal off to an unbelievably hot start and in the midst of the most impressive season of his career considering what the 11-time Grand Slam champion has had to overcome over the past year in terms of his health.

If Nadal can close out a brilliant clay-court season with seven more wins in Roland Garros and another shiny trophy, how could you argue with a 43-2 start to the year that includes seven championships—one being a Grand Slam?

While nothing can trump Rafa's 2010 season in terms of Grand Slam success (three major wins, 25-1 match record in those majors), this 2013 campaign can certainly top it in terms of overall dominance.

Nadal only won seven tournament titles in 2010, finishing the year with a 67-9 singles match record. Rafa also only reached three ATP Masters 1000 series finals three years ago, winning all three.

In 2008, Nadal won 82-of-93 singles matches en route to winning eight titles, including two Grand Slams. But remember, Rafa only won three Masters 1000 series tournaments that year.

With the Toronto, Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris Masters still left to play this year, Nadal could potentially win four Masters 1000 tournaments for the first time since 2005 and five for the first time in his career.

Although Nadal is sure to fall back down to earth once he returns to the grass and hard courts, he proved at Indian Wells last March that he can still go the distance on the more demanding, faster-playing surfaces.

Rafa won all five of his matches at Indian Wells, advancing past the third round via a walkover but dropping just two sets on his way to winning the title. Therefore, there's no reason to doubt that Nadal can continue to play superb tennis and win matches and titles once the schedule shifts from clay to grass to hard courts.

While Rafael Nadal's 2013 season cannot be accurately assessed until it's over, there's simply no denying that at the moment it's shaping up to be the most impressive of his career given just how dominant he's been and what he's had to overcome.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

NBA Draft 2013: Players Who Will Impress In Private Workouts

Brian Mazique — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:02 -0400

The NBA combine is a venue for prospects to display their athleticism and professionalism, but some players need direct competition to shine. These are the players who will really impress teams in private workouts.

In these workouts, teams will be looking to get a closer look at prospects. They may have a group of players compete against one another. In some ways, this setting best represents practice environments and the intensity players will face in the NBA.

A handful of prospects will thrive in this situation.

Shabazz Muhammad

There was a lot made about Muhammad's poor shooting at the NBA combine.

He has gone from one of the most coveted players in this year's draft class to one of the fastest fallers. NBADraft.net has Muhammad 16th in their latest mock draft.

It is easy to see Muhammad isn't a freak athletically like C.J Leslie, Victor Oladipo or Ben McLemore. However his speed and quickness totals from the combine weren't embarrassing.

As for the shooting, anyone can have a poor day shooting the basketball.

Beyond that, Muhammad is more of a scorer than a shooter. He'll probably never shoot a high percentage from the field, but what what he will do is get to the line consistently.

He shot 5.6 free throws per game at UCLA. As he improves, he should be in the same neighborhood in the NBA.

The private workouts will have some players competing against each other one-on-one. Because of his strength, will and scoring instinct, Muhammad can hold his own with anyone in this draft class.

He is the type of player who will make general managers and fans say, "I don't know how he does it, but this guy just get buckets."

Part of it is a good natural feel for the game; another aspect is his supreme confidence. Muhammad recently said he believes he is the best player in the draft. While many prospects may utter those words, few of them believe it.

Muhammad actually believes he is the best prospect in the class. While he may ultimately be wrong, it is good he thinks that way. This is how players should be wired.

Obviously, I'm not comparing Muhammad to Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, but do you think The Mamba or King James believe there is anyone in the league better than them—let alone in their respective draft classes?

Muhammad has the look of a kid obsessed with obtaining greatness. Does he have some character flaws? Absolutely, but he works hard and embraces challenges.

He proved that by even participating in the NBA combine.

In private workouts, Muhammad will outwork and outmuscle enough of his fellow prospects to improve his draft stock.

C.J. Leslie

The combine was just the beginning for Leslie. The private workouts may be the first time the 6'9" forward will get an opportunity to prove to NBA scouts that he can really play small forward in the NBA.

Honestly speaking, proving his ability as a wing will be the difference between Leslie becoming a Hakim Warrick clone or an uber-athletic and long small forward.

The latter is far more interesting and lucrative.

If he wants it, his length and athleticism should help him stand out in private workouts. He could compete in groups against both small and power forwards. If he is able to show the aspects of his game that enable him to shine in both spots, he may be able to climb into the first round.

Shooting the ball from distance is a big key for him. He has never shot the ball a ton from the perimeter, but that doesn't mean he can't develop the skill.

Free-agent big man Josh Harrellson was 9-for-29 from three-point range in his three-year college career with Kentucky. In two seasons with the Miami Heat and New York Knicks, Harrellson is 21-for-64 from deep in his career.

Harrellson is a 6'10", 275-pound center, so John Calipari had him playing his role as a traditional center.

Because of size deficiencies at North Carolina State, Leslie was made to play in the post and thus didn't get an opportunity to showcase and/or develop a perimeter game.

Harrellson told Tom Haberstroh of ESPN this in Oct. 2012, "I’ve always been able to shoot the ball, but I really didn’t showcase it at Kentucky because I always played with a lot of great shooters around me."

I've seen Leslie play since high school, he has more handle and perimeter ability than he's given credit for—much like Harrellson's case at Kentucky. This is just a high school mix tape, but the handle didn't just disappear.

In private workouts, I think he'll get a chance to show it off.

Tim Hardaway Jr.

As a second-generation player, Hardaway Jr. knows exactly what to expect, and he'll be ready to impress. You could see it in his demeanor at the NBA combine.

He's confident.

He knows his strengths and he's wise enough to play to them. Although Hardaway Jr's role will likely be as a spot-up shooter in the NBA, the son of former NBA-great Tim Hardaway knows he's a better athlete than many give him credit for.

The vertical leap numbers from the combine support that.

If he's ever invited to NBA All-Star Saturday it won't be for the Slam Dunk contest, but he can rise well enough to do his job.

What's most impressive about Hardaway Jr. is his competitiveness. This kid wants it badly.

When you see a prospect with desire, who hails from a background that presumably isn't one of poverty or financial hardships, it really speaks to their love for the game.

Qualities like that will shine through in private workouts.

Follow me, because I watch more basketball than anyone should admit.

2013 NBA Mock Draft: Highlighting Biggest Risks and Safest Bets of Round 1

Justin Onslow — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:00 -0400

Never underestimate the unpredictability of the NBA draft lottery.

For the third time in the last 11 years, the Cleveland Cavalier secured the first pick in the draft thanks to some favorable bounces from their ping-pong balls. The Cavs jumped the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats to obtain the first selection, with which they are likely to take Kentucky center Nerlens Noel.

Predicting the draft gets a lot easier when the lottery order is set. While this year’s class doesn’t boast a surefire No. 1 option, there are several players nearly assured of a top-five selection.

Let’s take a look at updated projections for the 2013 NBA draft with the lottery order now set, highlighting some picks that are either bold moves or safe selections (order courtesy of Bleacher Report's Twitter account).

1. Cleveland Cavaliers: Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky

It’s almost hard to tell which category Noel falls under. He’s nearly guaranteed of being the No. 1 selection given the Cavs need for a lengthy defender at center, but his limited sample size and recovering knee injury also presents Cleveland with a good deal of risk.

But in this case, the reward probably outweighs the risk. The Kentucky product is an athletic freak with the pure physical skills to be an exceptional NBA center. In a draft with limited frontcourt options at the top of the first round, it would be a shock to see another player selected here.

2. Orlando Magic: Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

If Noel is the first player selected, there’s almost no chance McLemore isn’t the next domino to fall.

One of the purest shooters in recent draft history, the Kansas product not only fits a need for Orlando, but also projects as a potential star at the NBA level.

With ideal size for the two-guard position and an extremely quick release many liken to Ray Allen’s, McLemore is perhaps the safest pick in this entire class.

3. Washington Wizards: Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown

Washington got extremely lucky by landing the third pick. In a draft with some uncertainty at the top of lottery, the Wizards now face a lot less pressure to select a player who might not fit as well as a less highly rated prospect.

But in this case, Washington will likely see Porter fall into its lap. The Georgetown swingman is the perfect fit for the Wizards, who lack a lengthy perimeter scorer and strong on-ball defender.

If Noel or McLemore somehow fall to the Wizards, this pick gets a lot more interesting. But it’s unlikely that will happen, and Washington should be very happy with that.

4. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Bennett, F, UNLV

This is a true “best player available” situation for the Bobcats. Bennett is an athletic scorer with the frame of a power forward and the skill set of a small forward. Regardless of need or fit, Charlotte can find a spot for him.

5. Phoenix Suns: Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana

The Suns have a lot of holes to fill. Most of the top-rated players still available are perimeter scorers, and Phoenix will have a hard time getting away from a player like Oladipo.

6. New Orleans Pelicans: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan

Burke stood out as the best point guard in the nation last season, and he’ll likely parlay that campaign into a top-10 selection on draft day. If New Orleans is looking for a pro-ready guard with massive upside, it won’t have to look any further than the Michigan standout.

7. Sacramento Kings: C.J. McCollum, PG/SG, Lehigh

Sacramento has some talented frontcourt pieces in place, but it could use another scorer at the guard positions. While McCollum doesn’t have ideal size to play the two-guard in the NBA (6’3”), he does have a terrific long-range jumper and enough quickness and athleticism to play either guard position.

8. Detroit Pistons: Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA

The Pistons aren’t too many pieces shy of being contenders in the Eastern Conference. Their biggest focus should be finding perimeter scorers who can spread the floor and offer some versatility at the offensive end. Muhammad fits the bill, and he’s also the best player available at No. 8.

Muhammad may not have the ceiling some expected from him at the start of the season, but he is an extremely safe pick for the Pistons here. Should he realize his NBA potential, the UCLA product will prove to be a steal at No. 8.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

The Timberwolves would probably love for Muhammad, McCollum or Oladipo to be available here, but the options get pretty thin with the trio off the board. Instead of reaching for another shooting guard or small forward, Minnesota can draft one of the best big men in this draft in Cody Zeller.

10. Portland Trail Blazers: Alex Len, C, Maryland

J.J. Hickson may not be back next season and Portland needs to start planning for that scenario. The Trail Blazers will be without another good option at center if Hickson is no longer in the picture.

11. Philadelphia 76ers: Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga

Should Philadelphia choose to not retain Andrew Bynum, it will need to start looking for replacements prior to free agency. Olynyk will be a bit of a project, but he still has the ability to work his way into the 76ers frontcourt rotation in his formative years.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse

It seems redundant for Oklahoma City to add another point guard in the first round, but lack of depth at the position was never more apparent than it was in the playoffs, when Russell Westbrook went down. Without an elite big man still on the board, the Thunder can look to add some depth behind Westbrook and augment a backcourt that looked extremely vulnerable with the point guard on the sidelines.

13. Dallas Mavericks: Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany

One of the most intriguing foreign players in this draft, Schroeder shouldn’t fall past pick No. 15. His quickness and ball-handling skills are tremendous, and any team in need of a dynamic point guard won’t have to look any further than the German product.

14. Utah Jazz: Shane Larkin, PG, Miami

Larkin’s sub-six-foot frame may raise some concerns for lottery teams, but his athleticism more than makes up for less-than-ideal NBA size. Utah is in desperate need of backcourt help, and Larkin is a good option with the last pick in the lottery.

15. Milwaukee Bucks: Mason Plumlee, PF/C, Duke

Milwaukee doesn’t need any more clutter in its backcourt. What the Bucks decide to do with J.J. Redick, Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings will impact what they plan to do in the draft, but there’s a good chance they won’t worry too much about finding a perimeter scorer here.

16. Boston Celtics: Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh

Boston is no longer in good position to contend for a title next season. With a bit of a rebuild in mind, the Celtics can afford to take a chance on a high-upside big man who also has a pretty nice touch from 15 feet and beyond.

17. Atlanta Hawks: Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville

Atlanta will be in rebuilding mode this offseason—perhaps more so than any team in the league. At some point in this draft, the Hawks will have to take a flyer on a big man like Dieng.

There’s a chance Atlanta decides to package its picks to move up in the first round, but as it stands, look for Danny Ferry to add two potential starters with picks No. 17 and 18.

18. Atlanta Hawks (via Houston): Archie Goodwin, SG, Kentucky

Recent Kentucky prospects haven’t all fared well in their formative years, but that doesn’t mean teams are going to shy away from them. While Goodwin could have had a much better season with the Wildcats, he offers plenty of NBA potential.

19. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Los Angeles Lakers): Rudy Gobert, C, France

Even if the Cavs ultimately decide on a big man with their first selection, another center shouldn’t be out of play this late in the first round. Cleveland has a lot of young talent in their backcourt but lacks a seven-footer who can play stout defense in the paint.

20. Chicago Bulls: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia

Chicago needs to add more depth to its backcourt this offseason. Kirk Hinrich and Nate Robinson played well in Derrick Rose’s stead, but the Bulls were without enough depth to sustain a deep playoff run. If they hope to fix that issue in 2013, they’ll have to target a guard in the first round this year.

21. Utah Jazz: Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Michigan

If Utah can manage to land a lengthy shooter like Hardaway this late in the first round, it has to pull the trigger. He has the size (6’6”) and range to be a terrific two-guard in the NBA, especially if he has a little time to develop his long-range jumper.

22. Brooklyn Nets: Dario Saric, F, Croatia

Saric looks to be a bit of a project at this point, but he has tremendous athleticism and ball-handling skills—and a ton of potential to match.

There’s a chance the Croatian goes much higher than this in June, but there’s just too much uncertainty involving his defensive skills and positional fit.

23. Indiana Pacers: Lorenzo Brown, PG, N.C. State

Indiana could use another lengthy guard who can contribute at both ends of the floor. Brown is a versatile scorer who also has the size to be a matchup problem for almost any point guard in the league.

24. New York Knicks: Erick Green, PG/SG, Virginia Tech

The Knicks aren’t in desperate need in any one area, and they have an opportunity to exploit that fact in the first round. A player like Erick Green could provide a lot of depth in New York’s backcourt, and give it a slasher who can open things up from Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith at the offensive end.

25. Los Angeles Clippers: Deshaun Thomas, SF, Ohio State

Deshaun Thomas had a terrific 2012-13 campaign with Ohio State, but he never quite lived up to lofty expectations. Still, he’s a pro-ready perimeter scorer who can log minutes in his formative years, and Los Angeles shouldn’t pass that up near the end of Round 1.

26. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis): Tony Snell, SG, New Mexico

Minnesota needs to add a couple shooters who can take advantage of Ricky Rubio’s slashing and passing abilities. The Timberwolves have some solid pieces in place, but they’re sorely lacking in that department.

27. Denver Nuggets: Jeff Withey, C, Kansas

Denver may try to find a perimeter scorer who can make up for the absence of Danilo Gallinari for part of the 2013-14 season, but there aren’t any players available at this point who can step in and eat up minutes in their rookie season. Instead, the Nuggets can select a seven-footer with excellent defensive skills who can log some minutes and contribute at the defensive end of the floor.

28. San Antonio Spurs: Giannis Adetokoubo, SF, Greece

Regardless of who San Antonio selects here, expect him to be a project. The Spurs aren’t in need of an immediate starter (or depth, for that matter), and Adetokoubo is the kind of player they can develop for a couple years until he is needed.

29. Oklahoma City Thunder: Sergey Karasev, SG/SF, Russia

It never hurts to have an extra perimeter scorer, especially someone with the length and athleticism of Karasev. If the Thunder decide to augment their frontcourt with their first pick, expect a perimeter scorer to be on the radar at No. 29.

30. Phoenix Suns (via Miami): Tony Mitchell, PF, North Texas

At pick No. 30, Phoenix will have the option of targeting a boom-or-bust prospect like Mitchell. He has the raw talent to be a good NBA player in the future, but he’s not quite at that level yet. The Suns can afford to gamble at the end of the first round, though.

The North Texas product’s size and ambiguous skill set are particularly intriguing, but they also make him a risk at any point in the first round. He’s not quite refined enough for the small forward position at this point, but he’s also a little undersized to play the four on a consistent basis.

Claudio Marchisio: Summer Transfer Window Profile and Scouting Report

Nick Akerman — Wed, 22 May 2013 08:58:08 -0400

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio is amongst the many names being tipped with a move in the summer transfer window. Here's a scouting guide and statistical breakdown of the Italian's 2012-13 campaign, along with a few hints as to where he could be playing next year.

Age: 27

Contract Situation: Marchisio's current five-year contract is set to expire in 2016.

Career Stops: Juventus (2006-current), Empoli (2006-07, loan)

Current Campaign: Serie A—29 games, 6 goals, 1 assist; Champions League—8 games, 2 goals, 3 assists

Video Showreel:

Scouting Guide: Marchisio's versatility in defensive and attacking situations makes him one of Europe's most complete midfielders. He plays a thoughtful game that prioritises the retention of possession and keeps his team moving forward. The Italian international can also pop up with important goals when his team are in need.

Where Next? According to Metro, long-term admirers Manchester United are once again looking to sign the £20 million man. Elsewhere, International Business Times also suggest Marchisio could be heading to Old Trafford as a direct replacement for the retiring Paul Scholes.

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