Bleacher Report - Front Page

Spurs vs. Grizzlies Game 3: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis

Ken Dorset — Sat, 25 May 2013 18:47:33 -0400

The San Antonio Spurs aren't going to get ahead of themselves. The Memphis Grizzlies won't be looking back.

Both teams know better.

Of course, the Spurs have to concede that a 2-0 lead certainly gives them breathing room in the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals, but each club knows the series is far from over.

The Grizzlies have opened all three of their playoff series with at least one loss. They faced a 0-2 deficit against the Los Angeles Clippers before rattling off four straight wins to escape the first round.

San Antonio tallied the first two victories of the 2012 Western Conference Finals, but lost the next four games to Oklahoma City.

Tonight, the Spurs will try to be the first road winner at Memphis in this postseason. They lost twice there in two regular-season trips.

Game 3 tips off at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Keep it here for live updates, analysis and highlights.

Junior Dos Santos Will Book Trilogy with Cain Velasquez at UFC 160

Alex Ballentine — Sat, 25 May 2013 18:42:57 -0400

Remember when Junior dos Santos knocked out Cain Velasquez to win the UFC heavyweight title only to have a determined Velasquez come back from the defeat better than ever and reclaim the title?

Dos Santos does. And at UFC 160, he'll look to book his own road to redemption.

Last time we saw dos Santos, it wasn't pretty. Velasquez simply put on the best performance of his career and took the title in convincing fashion. From the outset, he was aggressive, stayed busy and just overwhelmed Cigano.

It would be understandable if folks didn't think that dos Santos was on the same level. But the fact remains that dos Santos is one of the elite heavyweights in the organization.

At UFC 160, he'll remind everyone of that by ending the incredible run of Mark Hunt.

Hunt enters the fight with more momentum that just about anyone in the division. With a four-fight win streak to his name and a No. 9 ranking in the UFC's official media rankings, he believes he's deserving of a title shot if he can beat dos Santos.

Whereas Hunt is hoping that the groundswell of support he gets as a fan favorite and recent success will net him a title shot, dos Santos has already been told he'll be the next challenger if he gets past Hunt.

The Super Samoan isn't a joke. He's a rotund brawler with the knockout power to put anyone away and enough toughness to hang in the pocket with a tough striker. That's why dos Santos will look all the more impressive when he puts his impressive boxing on display.

Hunt's run has been fun—who doesn't love a big man that routinely sends opponents careening off the canvas with massive punches? But dos Santos will show that he's ready to set up the epic rubber match that will be Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III.

After dos Santos' electric knockout of Velasquez in the first fight and the former's thorough domination the second time around, it should be a great matchup.

UFC 160: Octagon Warriors Who Will Become Household Names

Brian Mazique — Sat, 25 May 2013 18:23:18 -0400

On Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a few fighters will use the spotlight provided by UFC 160 to smash their way into the forefront of MMA fans' minds.

While these fighters' previous exploits may have already garnered respect from the hardcore fans, Saturday night's pay-per-view event will take them to the next level.

Be sure to check out the performances of these three men.

"King" K.J Noons

You don't have to win to become a household name. Gray "The Bully" Maynard—who is also in action on Saturday vs. T.J Grant—is forever ingrained in the minds of MMA fans because of two bouts with Frankie Edgar.

The Bully didn't win either of those fights, but the way he fought and pushed Edgar established his reputation with the sport's faithful.

Noons—who is making his UFC debut—is the same type of fighter. This tweet from Noons proves warriors recognize their own:

You won't catch King K.J going for many—if any—submissions. The Strikeforce veteran comes to the Octagon to bang and his UFC 160 matchup with "Cowboy" Donald Cerrone could end explosively.

Cerrone is the more established UFC commodity and has faced a stiffer list of competition.

I picked him to win the bout, but that isn't to say Noons doesn't have an excellent chance to stop the Cowboy. Both men are excellent strikers who never seem to shy away from toe-to-toe battles.

Their chins give them the confidence to fire away in close quarters. Cerrone was stopped for the first time in his last bout with Anthony "Showtime" Pettis. A simply spectacular kick to the mid-section crumpled the Cowboy.

Noons has been stopped only once as well and that came in 2007. Needless to say, he has improved since then.

Cerrone's and Noons' styles will make for an action-packed bout. The battle will reaffirm Cerrone's reputation with UFC fans and establish Noons as a must-see fighter.

Nah-Shon "Rock N Rolla" Burrell

Cool nicknames are important and the Rock N Rolla certainly has one. He also has exciting striking ability which is important if anyone is to care about the alias.

He will battle Stephen Thompson as part of the Facebook preliminaries for UFC 160.

Burrell made his successful UFC debut at UFC 157 by defeating Yuri Villefort via decision. However, you haven't seen him at his best unless you've seen him win by KO.

Per UFC's official Twitter account, boxing legend and Father Time's fiercest competitor Bernard Hopkins gives Burrell a ringing endorsement.

His defeat of Lukas Les at Strikeforce Challengers 18 was his best work. As he makes his second appearance in a featured event, Burrell should be more comfortable.

Expect to see him take a few chances and really let his hands, knees and feet fly. As Burrell tweets here, he is hungry for another fight night bonus—and I strongly doubt he's targeting Submission of the Night.

Khabib "The Eagle" Nurmagomedov

Making Nurmagomedov's name roll off the tongue will take some practice, even if he is impressive on Saturday night.

Nurmagomedov's 19-0 record is beginning to force fans to brush up on their pronunciation of the young Russian's surname.

The Eagle will be facing a very tough and explosive Abel "Killa" Trujillo during the FX preliminaries. Trujillo is 10-4, stoutly built and extremely aggressive.

There is no doubt he represents the most dangerous foe the Eagle has faced in his career. This scuffle at the weigh-in proved he isn't intimidated.

The challenge will only cause Nurmagomedov to elevate his game. He'll show the sound submission techniques that UFC fans have only seen once: in the 24-year-old's UFC debut.

At UFC on FX in Jan. 2012, Nurmagomedov made Kamol Shalorus tap out from a rear-naked choke. Since then, he has shown the ability to win by decision and by KO.

Expect to see him come full circle on Saturday night. He will tap out the rugged Trujillo in a manner that will grab almost as much attention as his then 20-0 record will.

Be on the lookout for an expertly performed triangle choke.

Follow me, because Royce Gracie started me on this MMA path, and now I'm out of control.

Arjen Robben's Champions League Final: From First Half Zero to Second Half Hero

Jerrad Peters — Sat, 25 May 2013 18:13:30 -0400

He didn’t need to say anything at the final whistle. His face revealed everything.

Arjen Robben, after a first half that, in other circumstances, could have been a contributing factor for a Bayern Munich defeat in the Champions League Final, redeemed himself with a second period for the ages, scoring once and setting up another goal as Bayern claimed a fifth European Cup.

“It was an even game,” he remarked after the match. “We had chances; they had chances. It’s not quite sunk in yet, but it will. There’s a lot of emotion. I can’t believe it!” (UEFA)

And no one had as many chances as Robben, himself.

On the stroke of 30 minutes the Dutchman found himself in a one-on-one situation with Roman Weidenfeller, and although the Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper did well to make the save, Robben’s Bayern teammates walked away fuming after he might have squared the ball across goal.

Six minutes later he had a chance to make up for his first blunder, but with his instincts saying “shoot” and everyone else saying “pass” he ended up doing neither, indecisively fumbling the ball off Weidenfeller and out for a corner.

Finally, with just two minutes to go before the break, he accepted a long pass behind defender Mats Hummels, cocked his foot and unleashed a powerful shot, only to see it strike Weidenfeller in the face.

Three quality chances and nothing to show for it.

With the Champions League Final teetering nervously on a knife’s edge, Robben’s flawed finishing might easily have gone down as the decisive factor in a devastating loss. But he had other ideas.

Straight after the restart, Bayern Munich began playing everything through Robben, and with Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger helping to overload the right-hand attacking flank, the 29-year-old found himself with even more touches than he had enjoyed in the first half.

As the hour-mark ticked off the clock, he had already altered the narrative of his performance, threading a delicate pass from Weidenfeller’s extreme right to Mario Mandzukic, who tapped the ball into the back of the net for the opening goal of the contest.

And while Dortmund managed to fight back and equalize from the penalty spot just eight minutes later, Robben still wasn’t finished with his imprint on the match—a mark he would finish carving out just two minutes before the end of normal time.

And what a mark.

Accepting a cute, back-heeled lay-off from Franck Ribery just inside the 18-yard box, he evaded the sliding challenges of Hummels and Neven Subotic before delicately placing his shot to the outside of Weidenfeller that trickled, almost in slow motion, over the goal line.

And as he watched his effort become the winning goal in a Champions League final, he fell to his knees in relief.

His first half, his previous failures—all of it vindicated in an instant, washed away in a flood of emotion only his redemption could bring.

Follow @jerradpeters

Champions League Final: Arjen Robben Exorcises Demons with Brilliant 2nd Half

Brian Leigh — Sat, 25 May 2013 18:10:04 -0400

After the first 45 minutes of Saturday's UEFA Champions League Final, a pervasive air of deja vu came over Bayern Munich supporters and players alike...one man, you would have to think, more so than the rest.

First, a little context: It's been more than a full calendar year since the 2012 Champions League Final, a game Arjen Robben's Bayern Munich side seemed, at multiple times, to have in hand. An 83rd-minute goal from Thomas Muller put Die Roten ahead, but Didier Drogba evened the score for Chelsea with a goal of his own five minutes later. Extra time would be needed to settle the match.

In that extra frame, Frank Ribery earned a foul in the opposing box, resulting, as we all know, in a penalty kick. The number of options Bayern Munich had were manifold: Philipp Lahm, Mario Gomez, Ivica Olic, Bastian Schweinsteiger—they all could have been selected to take the kick. But instead, and hard to fault at the time, it was Arjen Robben who's number got the call.

The rest went down in infamy: Robben's weak, borderline pathetic kick was turned away by former teammate Peter Cech; extra time went scoreless, pushing the game into penalties; Arjen Robben was not selected to kick for Bayern Munich; and Chelsea went on to win 4-3 in PKs, taking home the Champions League title.

For more than a year now, Robben has had to live with the ignominy of that hapless PK—perhaps the lowest point in an otherwise illustrious career. Despite 19 goals in 2011-12, and 12 more in 2012-13, he was subjected to occasional boos from his own hometown fans, who still hadn't forgiven his transgression on the biggest possible stage.

All of which, again, makes us wonder what was going through the Dutch striker's head at halftime of the 2013 Champions League Final, a time when, after being given the unthinkable opportunity to avenge his wrongdoings just one year later, he appeared to be repeating them instead.

You see, Robben didn't look like a man on a mission during the game's first half; he looked like a man overwhelmed by his mission. Two perfect chances came and went on his foot, and Bayern had not a goal to show for it.

Both times Robben did well, technically, with the ball, but Borussia Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller did better to knock it away. Still, even if his shot itself wasn't culpable—as it undoubtedly was last year against Chelsea—the narrative would have read the same had Bayern come up short: Arjen Robben bungles chances; Dortmund wins the trophy.

Robben was given one chance, one short half, to direct the legacy of his career back on the longevity of his brilliance, to divert it away from the shame of shrinking from the moment. And what the old Dutch striker did in that half was nothing short of, well...brilliant.

First came the 60th minute, where Robben linked up with Ribery to slip into the box once again. With Weidenfeller charging once again (a tactic that worked in half No. 1), Robben kept his wits about him and calmly slid a nimble ball across to Mario Mandžukić. The Croatian poacher had little to do but tap the ball in for the game's first goal—a goal that, while not attributed to Robben on the goal sheet, was more his doing that anybody else's.

Twenty-nine minutes and one Dortmund goal later, Robben again found himself in position to make history. A back-heel pass from (who else?) Frank Ribery set Robben up near the top of the box, and a patented burst of speed pushed him through, clear on net, with only the keeper in his way. With all the pressure of last year's final weighing down on him, and with a moment of time to potentially over-think himself into a tizzy, Robben instead used his famous left foot to gently slot home the game-winning goal.

Bayern Munich 2, Borussia Dortmund 1. Game. Over.

It's hard to say exactly what would have happened to Arjen Robben's legacy. I'd like to think that time would put things in perspective—that over the years, we would have forgiven his Champions League errors and focus on the breadth of his greatness. But there's no way to know for sure what would have happened had Dortmund stole this game.

All we know, and all we can know, is the result of what actually happened. Arjen Robben won't ever be booed in Munich again.

Bayern Munich: Champions League Title Gives Pep Guardiola Tough Act to Follow

Michael Cummings — Sat, 25 May 2013 18:03:38 -0400

The frightening part is that Bayern Munich might only be better next season. The catch is that their new manager almost certainly can't be that.

Bayern Munich won their fifth European title Saturday with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling and tightly contested UEFA Champions League final at London's Wembley Stadium. Arjen Robben assisted the opener and scored the winner as both he and his team earned redemption for the excruciating failures of the recent past.

Along the touchline, another tale took shape as the outgoing architect, retiring manager Jupp Heynckes, celebrated the second of what could be three trophies won in a profoundly dominant season.

Already champions of Germany in record style, Heynckes' Bayern steamrolled to the Champions League final with authoritative two-legged victories over European powers Juventus and Barcelona in the knockout rounds. And with Dortmund now conquered, only Stuttgart in next weekend's German Cup final can prevent Bayern from claiming their historic treble and a place among Europe's greatest-ever teams.

For his part, Heynckes is not far behind. Also a Champions League winner with Real Madrid in 1998, Heynckes now can claim two European titles, three Bundesliga crowns and much of the credit for Bayern's potential place in history.

Even for a manager of Pep Guardiola's talents, that leaves little room for improvement.

Guardiola, the 42-year-old tiki-taka mastermind who authored FC Barcelona's recent run of 14 major titles in four years, is set to take over from Heynckes a month and a day after Saturday's final (per BBC Sport). And so, for a month and a day, Guardiola will ponder one improbably unlikely fact.

The man who won everything with Barcelona can now do little—if anything—to improve on what Heynckes did this season.

Not that he won't have the ammunition. Bayern have already announced the signing of Mario Gotze from Dortmund in a €37 million deal (per BBC Sport), ensuring their closest competitors in both Germany and Europe will take the pitch without their best player next season. Even better for Bayern and worse for the rest, Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski—scorer of four brilliant goals against Real Madrid in the semifinals—could be next.

Add that to Bayern's productive youth academy and a supremely talented core of players that won the Bundesliga by 25 points: Together, they hint at the strong possibility that Bayern could maintain this level for the next half-decade or more. With Guardiola in charge, the winning will surely continue. And with redemption secured on Saturday, Bayern should now break free from any doubts that remained from 2010 and 2012.

As for Heynckes' legacy, this season's broken records and stockpiling silverware tell the story. Perhaps no man, not even Pep, could have done better and left Bayern healthier. At 68, Heynckes might have more managing in him, but with Guardiola on the way, it won't be with Bayern. And after 34 years on the touchline, a treble would be the most sublime of send-offs.

That last part is still a work in progress, of course. But at this point it seems only a miracle could keep Bayern from finishing off their destiny.

And thanks to Heynckes, Guardiola would need a miracle to top it.

Best Pictures from the Champions League Final

Max Towle — Sat, 25 May 2013 18:00:04 -0400

Bayern Munich achieved redemption inside Wembley Stadium Saturday, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in an entertaining Champions League final.

An 89th-minute Arjen Robben goal was enough for Bayern, who avenged their recent final defeats at the hands of Inter Milan and Chelsea.

The two sides cancelled each other out tactically in a goalless first half, but Mario Mandzukic and Ilkay Gundogan traded strikes in the second to setup a thrilling climax.

With time ticking away, Robben, who had missed several good chances to score earlier in the game, controlled Franck Ribery's neat layoff and turned his shot past a helpless Roman Weidenfeller.

The win confirms Bayern as the premier club team in Europe at this moment and marks their fifth European Cup or Champions League title.

Here are the best pictures from a memorable night in London:

Fans of both clubs gather in a nearby pub:

The pre-match spectacle is one to behold:

The game begins:

The two managers, Jupp Heynckes and Jurgen Klopp, do their best to keep their teams organised:

Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel seems to be having some trouble with the rules of the game:

Franck Ribery and Robert Lewandowski engage in a fierce battle for possession:

The drama is almost too much for one fan:

Man-in-the-middle Mario Gotze watches from the stands:

Flares are lit in the Bayern fans' section:

Dortmund's Marco Reus takes a tumble under pressure:

Robert Lewandowski misses a golden chance:

Mario Mandzukic opens the scoring for Bayern and wheels away in celebration:

Ilkay Gundogan levels from the penalty spot soon after:

Some Bayern players begin to get a sense of deja vu:

Dortmund fans celebrate. A sea of yellow covers part of Wembley Stadium:

Arjen Robben is denied a clear chance from close range:

Sent through on goal in the final minute of normal time, Arjen Robben doesn't miss this time:

The Dortmund players suffer the heartbreak of defeat:

The Bayern bench erupts at the final whistle:

Bayern Munich are the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League winners:

Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates with the trophy:

So there you have it—the defining images from a terrific all-German Champions League final. It's 12 months until the next one. See you then.

Follow @MaxBentleyTowle

Is the 'LeBron James Show' Enough for Miami Heat to Repeat?

Jesse Dorsey — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:56:20 -0400

There's something different about this year's incarnation of the Miami Heat. While they are a deeper, more complex team, they're also relying more on LeBron James and less on Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.

Miami has become "LeBron James and Friends," rather than last year's version which was closer to "LeBron and Dwyane ft. Chris Bosh."

While he's not doing more for the team compared to last season, the disparity between his production and the production of their second-best player has been huge.

Last season, LeBron stormed through the playoffs—averaging 30.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game—but he had plenty of backup.

Dwyane Wade averaged 22.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists, while Bosh picked up 14 points to go along with 7.8 rebounds.

This season, LeBron is averaging fewer points, but they're as reliant on him as ever. He's up to 25.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game.

Comparatively, Bosh is the team's second-highest scorer and rebounder—averaging 13.9 points and 7.5 rebounds. Meanwhile, Wade (and his balky knee) is down to 13.7 points, five rebounds and 5.3 assists.

To get an idea of how much production the "Big Three" were responsible for, I've gone ahead and broken it down.

In 2012, the three amigos combined to score 63.3 percent of the team's total playoff points, 58.9 percent of the team's assists and 48.7 percent of the team's rebounds. That's all with Bosh playing in just 14 of a possible 23 games.

This year, those same three players make up just 52.8 percent of the team's scoring—while they're up to 60 percent of the total assists and 50.9 percent of the rebounds.

Considering Bosh's nine games missed in 2012, the scoring and rebounding percentages from last season would have been bumped up another five percent or so had he played in every game.

The "Big Three" are supposed to be the motor that drives the team, but now it seems the motor needs a few spark plugs replaced and an oil change.

Having a developed core of role players is great, but generally it's those top two or three players who can make or break a game.

Bosh, having a moderate showing last playoffs because of his abdominal strain, was expected to have a bit of an improvement this year. At best, he's stayed consistent with his battered and bruise self of a year ago.

Wade has been the most shocking disappointment. His display this season was a slight downgrade from a year ago, but 21 points per game is nothing to scoff at.

Suddenly, we're in the playoffs and he's averaging 13.7 points on 46.8 percent shooting. That's more than seven points per game fewer, with a five percent drop in field-goal percentage.

In the past, it's been difficult for teams to pick a poison against the Heat.

If they decide to play LeBron straight-up, he could conceivably go off for 30, 40 or even 50 points if pressured.

Decide to go the other way around and double-team LeBron, with help coming every time he tries to drive or take a shot, and you've got two All-Star caliber players to contend with as the primary guys knocking down shots after he looks for a bailout.

This season, at least as far as playoffs are concerned, they seem to be a decidedly weaker team at the top.

Playing LeBron one-on-one is still very much an option, as the Heat have to hope that multiple players are able to make an impact in their own one-on-one situations.

In fact, that almost seems like the more viable option at this point. Wade and Bosh have looked so shaky through the postseason that simply covering them with a solid defender (which Indiana is chocked full of) is effective.

It gives LeBron the much more daunting task of beating a team almost on his own—which he's been forced to do in the past on many occasions, as it happens.

Many people will point to the 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers when talking about LeBron's lack of help, but he was a younger, different man back then.

LeBron averaged 25 points per game in Cleveland's most successful playoff trip at that point, and he was helped out by just three other Cavaliers scoring in double-figures.

When the finals came around, LeBron was put under the microscope. His shooting percentage shriveled and the Cavs were swept.

The San Antonio Spurs knew that LeBron's teammates weren't the ones who would beat them, so they pressured him every step of the way.

This is more like 2009, when LeBron was the man that we know and marvel at today. The defensive focus shifted from him to the guys around him.

LeBron's playoff totals in '09 were legendary (35 points, nine rebounds, seven assists), and it seemed like the rest of the team would be enough to propel them into the NBA Finals. Offensively and defensively, the squad was among the top three in the NBA.

Once the Eastern Conference Finals rolled around, everybody (save LeBron and Delonte West, interestingly enough) shot poorly. Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and the rest of the team took a nosedive.

LeBron averaged 38 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while the Cavs lost in six games to the Orlando Magic.

It seems that Indiana is doing whatever possible to shut down the peripheral Heat players and adjusting the defensive pressure on LeBron on a possession-by-possession basis.

LeBron has scored 30 and 36 points in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals. In Game 1, he was joined by 19 points from Wade as the second-highest scorer and 17 points from Bosh in Game 2.

Indiana is doing its best to take away LeBron's toys every chance they get, and it's working so far.

Of course, he also proved that he can beat a team "by himself" after scoring two go-ahead layups in Game 1 (sans Roy Hibbert in the post, of course).

I'm not against the roster that the Heat have put together, obviously. They won 66 games (the exact same number of games the '09 Cavs won, coincidentally) and have lost just five times in their last 50 games.

However, I'm also a firm believer that a superstar player, even a super-duperstar like LeBron or Michael Jordan, needs a solid No. 2 option in order for the team to be great.

During the regular season, Miami had that in Wade.

Now, Wade is taking a Mo Williams-style plunge in the playoffs, making LeBron look like a great player surrounded by a bunch of very good role players.

It remains to be seen whether or not Wade will be able to break out of this funk anytime soon (or if Bosh will step up), but it would certainly ease a few minds in Miami.

Tyrann Mathieu's High Upside Will Pay Dividends for Arizona Cardinals

Benjamin Klein — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:55:51 -0400

The Arizona Cardinals took a risk selecting former LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft, but he'll make sure they won’t regret it.

Mathieu had an impressive career with the LSU Tigers on the field. In 2011, he took home several awards including SEC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Championship Game MVP, Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP and, of course, the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the top defensive player in the country.

Clearly, Mathieu knows how to play football. The problem, however, was that he had issues off the field, which plagued his draft stock considerably. Mathieu was suspended from LSU after failing the team’s drug policy and was later dismissed from the team for violating team rules. An assistant coach told Jarrett Bell of USA Today that the corner failed at least 10 drug tests.

After missing all of what would’ve been his junior season, Mathieu declared for the NFL draft, hoping that a team would see what he could do on the field while trying to prove that he could control himself off of it.

The Cardinals did just that, taking Mathieu with the No. 69 pick in the draft. The two sides came to an agreement on a four-year deal on Thursday, according to the team’s official website.

But Mathieu isn’t out of the water just yet, as the Cardinals have a strong interest in keeping him clean. That’s why Arizona is only giving him an initial signing bonus of $265,000, according to Dan Hanzus of NFL.com. Mathieu can earn $662,500 through the second, third and fourth years of the deal if he stays on the roster.

As Hanzus reports, “The only way Mathieu won’t receive the full payment is if he’s dismissed from the team for drug use.”

Sources have told NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport that Mathieu has already entered the league’s drug-testing program, which means he could be tested up to 10 times per month, according to Hanzus.

It seems as if Mathieu is already on the right track to getting his life back in order. But not everyone is sold that Mathieu in the NFL is going to work out. Sports Illustrated’s Peter King wrote that the Cardinals don’t have a history of taking players with character problems and that the team will regret drafting Mathieu.

This is a specific situation, though, and not one that can be stereotyped. It doesn’t mean anything that Arizona hasn’t taken a bunch of players in years past with off-the-field issues. Mathieu isn’t going to get paid if he fails a drug test. Isn’t that incentive enough to stay clean?

Mathieu will surely get the help and attention that he needs to stay on the field.

And on the field is where Mathieu will make the other teams in the NFL ask themselves why they didn’t take a chance on him. He was an incredible college talent—as shown by the awards won that were previously mentioned—but just needed a bit of a reality check.

Mathieu is a very good tackler that can lay quite the hit if a receiver doesn’t know he’s coming. He’s quick, which makes him valuable in man coverage, and has a great eye for the quarterback, which Arizona will benefit from when playing zone.

In 26 games at LSU, Mathieu had 136 tackles, six sacks, four interceptions and 11 forced fumbles. If those numbers can translate to some degree to the NFL and he stays clean, Mathieu will turn out to be one of the best picks in the draft.

Don’t worry, Arizona, Mathieu will be just fine.

Jabrill Peppers Announcement Would Mark Brady Hoke's Biggest Signing Yet

Alex Ballentine — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:54:00 -0400

If Jabrill Peppers' announcement on Sunday turns out to be yet another big-time signing for Brady Hoke and the Michigan Wolverines, it will be his biggest signing yet.

Peppers is the kind of marquee athlete that will headline a recruiting class. He's a 6'1", 205-pound athlete that will likely play cornerback but has the versatility to play other positions. He's unanimously a 5-star prospect and one of the best players in the class regardless of position.

The Paramus Catholic (NJ) athlete is expected to make his highly anticipated decision Sunday, May 27 at roughly 5:15 p.m. ET according to 247Sports.

According to the site, the finalists for Peppers include LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers. However, Michigan is listed as the favorite.

Looking at the schools that Peppers is also considering, the signing would be a huge statement for the Wolverines.

Among the schools in contention, Michigan would be beating out an SEC powerhouse in LSU, a national recruiting power in Notre Dame, the local favorite in Rutgers and, of course, inner-conference rivals in Penn State and Urban Meyer's team.

Under Hoke, Michigan has become a recruiting powerhouse. For the Wolverines to be a successful program, he'll have to continue to pull in top-flight talent from around the country. The state of Michigan alone doesn't have the talent to sustain a team that can compete at the level that is expected in Ann Arbor.

Peppers would be a perfect example, coming all the way from New Jersey to be a star in the Maize and Blue.

Hoke's recruiting class for 2014 is already looking strong. It currently ranks as 247Sports' fifth class in the nation according to their composite rankings with seven 4-star and three 3-star commitments. Perhaps more importantly, it's tops in the Big Ten.

Peppers would be the first 5-star commit and could vault them even higher in those rankings.

For a Michigan team that snagged a top-10 class in both 2012 and 2013, an elite talent like Peppers would guarantee yet another outstanding class.

Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers: Game 3 Preview and Predictions

Josh Cohen — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:33:19 -0400

It's official, folks: The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers are going to make the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals interesting.

After LeBron James drove to the rim and stole from the Pacers a Game 1 win they thought they had locked up, there was the sense that Indiana might not get that close again. The underdogs pushed the defending champs and the Heat still pulled it out. Was that as close as Indy was going to get?

That concern flew out the window in Game 2.

Conspicuously missing inside when LeBron hit the game-winner in the opener, Roy Hibbert responded with 29 points and 10 rebounds, disrupting the Heat at both ends of the floor, as Indy bullied its way to a four-point win.

As the Heat travel to the unfriendly confines of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, they are playing without home-court advantage and without a sure strategy on how to beat the Pacers.

James is certainly doing his job. He was spectacular in Game 2, pouring in 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting, even as Paul George challenged him with his second-team All-NBA defense.

That said, LeBron received a troubling lack of support in the loss. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh did not live up to their star reputations, and no other Heat players scored in double digits. With so little else to fear, Indy was able to overcommit to LeBron and force him into two late victory-clinching turnovers in Game 2.

Can LeBron and company put it together on the road, where their opponent has yet to lose this postseason? Or are the Pacers about to defy all expectations and wrest control of the series from the Heat juggernaut?

Game 3 will help us determine the answer.

Time: Sunday, May 26, 8:30 p.m.

Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

Series: Tied 1-1

TV: TNT

Game 3 Key Storyline: Team Depth

The Pacers are giving Miami problems because they are the deeper team in this series.

Of course, no one on the floor is better than LeBron James—as is the case regardless of the opponent—but the next three best players are all Pacers.

George, Hibbert and David West have all been at their very best against the Heat. The Indiana frontcourt has capitalized on Miami's size deficiency, Hibbert and West have hit hook shots at will and George has attacked the rim with authority.

The disparity is even more palpable when the Pacers are on D.

Indiana sported the most efficient defense in the league during the regular season and has been just as imposing against Miami. With Hibbert standing tall in the middle, the perimeter defenders have free rein to pressure three-point shooters—knowing their 7'2" anchor is waiting to contest any drive.

That's brutal for the Heat, who generate their offensive spacing by surrounding LeBron with effective spot-up threats. Unfortunately, those guys just aren't showing up.

Ray Allen and Shane Battier each hit better than 42 percent of their three attempts during the regular season, but they are a combined 1-of-12 from beyond the arc through two games. Neither is liable to do any damage if they put the ball on the floor, so Indy is suffocating them and removing that element from the Heat offense.

That leaves it up to the Big Three to carry the scoring load, but LeBron is the only one pulling his weight.

Wade is clearly still bothered by a right knee bruise. The injury has been nagging him since March and has prevented him from marshaling his trademark athleticism on more than a handful of plays per game.

As for Bosh, his options are severely limited against the Indy bigs. Regardless of which Pacer is defending him, Bosh doesn't have the strength to get to the rim and finish. That leaves him to score solely as a stretch forward, launching jumpers in order to lure Hibbert outside and to open up the lane.

It's okay for Wade and Bosh to score in the teens when Chris Andersen randomly gets loose inside and ends up with 16 points—as he did in Game 1. However, the Heat cannot count on that, and they will need their stars to shine if they want to break the Pacers D.

Series Star So Far: LeBron James

It's not like the Heat can ask LeBron for anything more than he's already giving them.

He is averaging 33.0 points in this series on 59 percent from the field, and he is tacking on 9.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists to boot. Then consider his elite defense and his unparalleled stamina—he has sat just three minutes in this punishing series—and the four-time MVP's performance just gets otherworldly.

So it's no surprise that Miami's plan in the final minute of Game 2 was to send James into the teeth of the defense and let him make something happen. After all, per Grantland's Kirk Goldsberry, there was no more efficient scoring option in the NBA this season than LeBron James going inside.

Even with Hibbert on the floor this time to contest LeBron's late drive, the Heat's rationale was pretty sound: Attack inside with a guy who shot 72 percent from there this season and let him kick out to an open shooter if the defense collapses.

Confident in their team defense, however, the Pacers got exactly what they wanted. Both of James late turnovers came from the superstar getting bottled up and West collapsing into the lane to deflect his passes.

LeBron did all he could, but no one else on the floor scared Indy enough to demand attention. As great as James is he cannot beat the entire Pacers defense himself.

The man needs help.

Projected Starting Lineup for Game 3:

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

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

Heat Injury Report

None Reported

Pacers Injury Report (via CBSSports.com)

Sam Young (ankle), questionable

Heat Will Win If...

They get Roy Hibbert into foul trouble.

Things get demonstrably easier for the Heat when Hibbert is off the floor. Without that giant stopgap looming in the paint, opportunities to attack the basket and drive and kick will be available. The Indiana guards would have to take a step inside to help on the play, which would create room for those open outside looks Miami craves.

That's how it works when Hibbert leaves the floor: His absence in the middle creates vulnerabilities elsewhere as Indiana adjusts to fill the void.

Since the perimeter defenders can't afford to pressure as much with Hibbert out, the Heat are less susceptible to turnovers. That means Indy's offense misses out on precious transition scoring chances—to say nothing of losing Hibbert's post game and offensive rebounding ability.

And on top of all that, Hibbert is the only player who truly bothers LeBron inside; no matter how the Pacers try to adjust, the difference without him is monumental for James. Per ESPN Stats & Info:

Inciting Hibbert to foul is easier said than done; he's adept at going straight up to contest shots while avoiding contact and the ref's whistle. Miami might struggle trying to challenge him inside, but that effort will pay dividends when he is off the floor.

Pacers Will Win If...

They slow the pace.

The Pacers are a turnover-prone bunch; no Eastern Conference playoff team coughed it up more during the regular season.

Indy's carelessness with the ball does not bode well against the Heat's deadly transition attack. Miami has taken to hounding George Hill before he passes half court, hoping the point guard gifts them some easy fast-break chances.

It's very difficult for anyone to stop the Heat when they get out and run. For the Pacers and their brutish frontline, it's nearly impossible. Hibbert and West have no chance of running the floor, and Indy relies on its starters too heavily to think they they won't tire out in a track meet.

Playing slow allows the Pacers to be more careful with the ball and deprive Miami of those deadly easy buckets. The pace also saves Indy's legs. It's a win-win-win strategy that would allow host Indiana to play its preferred style.

Prediction:

Only one team has executed its game plan for how to attack its opponent in this series. The other team has LeBron James, and thus can never be counted out.

That's why the Heat are going to keep it close in Game 3, but nothing they have shown so far indicates they're going to be able to solve the Pacers on the road.

Indy is not afraid of mighty Miami. The Pacers are bigger, stronger and totally confident that they can impose their will on the defending champs.

Until the Heat demonstrate they can take at least one of Indiana's frontcourt weapons—George, Hibbert or West—out of the game, or until Wade or Bosh plays like a star again, Indiana is already in control of this series.

After Sunday, the box score will reflect that.

This series is going to be a dogfight, and Miami will likely deal the Pacers their first home playoff loss eventually. But first, Indiana is going to take a 2-1 lead on the Heat for the second consecutive postseason.

Pacers 87, Heat 82

Roger Federer Will Have Little Problem Reaching Finals at French Open

Tyler Brooke — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:29:57 -0400

It appears that Roger Federer received quite a favorable draw heading into the French Open, and that should help him quite a bit when it comes to reaching the finals of this Grand Slam event.

As the No. 3 player in the world, Federer’s draw for the 2013 French Open is quite nice. He is in the opposite half of the bracket that Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic share, so he wouldn’t face either of these players until the final round.

What makes his draw even better this year is that Andy Murray will not play due to a back injury.

It’s hard to doubt Federer in this field. He is a 17-time Grand Slam champion with a victory at Roland Garros in 2009, the only player not named Nadal to win the event in the past eight years.

His career at the French Open isn’t his best Grand Slam event, but he has still had quite a bit of success. He’s reached the final five of the last eight times along with an appearance in the semifinals last year.

The potential path for Federer in the tournament would likely include Gilles Simon and Sam Querrey, who could give him a bit of a test but not much of one.

Things could possibly get interesting in the quarterfinals, where Federer should be going up against Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, the sixth-seeded player in the tourney.

Tsonga was able to beat Federer in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon two years ago, even after trailing two sets to love. However, Federer is looking sharp this season, and should be able to knock off Tsonga.

The semifinals would be interesting as well, as Federer would have to face David Ferrer.

Ferrer is a strong player on clay, with a 15-5 record this season on clay courts. He made it to the semifinals at this event last season, his best finish of his career.

This could be a heck of a match between the two, but Federer is simply the better overall tennis player. His career in Grand Slam events speaks for itself, even at this event. Meanwhile, Ferrer is still searching for his first career Grand Slam title.

The luck of the draw certainly helps out Federer, so he should be the heavy favorite to enter the finals. However, it will certainly be a tough test for him in the finals if he goes up against Djokovic or Nadal.

Bayern Munich Win Champions League: See Robben's Late Goal and Trophy Lifted

Karl Matchett — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:28:57 -0400

Bayern Munich won their fifth European Cup with a 2-1 win over Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund, thanks to a late winning goal from Arjen Robben.

A fantastic match ebbed and flowed, with Dortmund on top in the opening half-hour before Bayern finished the first half strongly. Despite the constant action, the scoreline still read 0-0 at the half-time whistle, thanks largely to the efforts of the two goalkeepers, Roman Weidenfeller and Manuel Neuer.

The game really kicked into life after the break, with two goals arriving within eight minutes of each other just after the hour mark.

First, Bayern took the lead after Mario Mandzukic tapped home from within the six-yard box after good work from Franck Ribery and Robben opened up the Dortmund defence. Marcel Schmelzer was unable to keep the ball out from such close range.

A short time later, Dante nearly chopped Marco Reus in half with a wild, high challenge that led to a penalty kick. Ilkay Gundogan scored the equaliser for Dortmund, levelling the scores with 22 minutes left on the clock.

Both teams had chances to score a second goal in the time remaining, most notably when Robert Lewandowski netted a volley from 25 yards, only to have it called back for handball. Bayern were also denied a second after a last-ditch challenge from Neven Subotic cleared the ball off the goal line.

The Bavarian side—Bundesliga champions and German Cup finalists for this season—were not to be denied though. They likely found motivation from their two recent Champions League Final losses in 2010 and 2012.

It fell to Robben to score the dramatic late winner. He raced into the penalty area and beat the goalkeeper with just one minute remaining on the clock to send the red half of Wembley Stadium into ecstasy.

Dortmund barely had the time or energy to mount a late response, and Bayern saw out the game to lift the Champions League trophy in style.

Follow @karlmatchett

NBA Free Agents 2013: Most Underrated Players Available This Offseason

Brian Leigh — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:17:45 -0400

Free agent classes are defined by their mega-stars, and as such, this summer will likely be coined "The Summer of Dwight" or "The Summer of CP3." But in truth, it's often the less-heralded free agents who come to define the subsequent seasons come June.

Don't believe me? Take a closer look at this year's conference finalists; take heed of their construction:

Beyond its expensive Big Three, the Heat are a mishmash of savvy veterans on bargain contracts. Ray Allen, Shane Battier and Chris Anderson—all signed as free agents—are playing 41.5 quality minutes per game this postseason, and making a scant average of $2.2 million to show for it. Danny Green toiled through the D-League and Slovenia's Premier League A before the Spurs gave him a post-lockout flyer, and eventual three-year deal. For God's sake, Memphis signed Tony Allen to a three-year, $9.45 million contract after he helped Boston win a Larry O'Brien trophy.

Eric Gordon, meanwhile, signed for $58 million last summer, and missed half the season.

So yes: There's a reason Dwight Howard and Chris Paul will receive more attention than other free agents this summer. And it's not just because they play in Los Angeles; it's because they're the two best players. But only a fool would define this free agent class on their courtship alone.

Here are three under-the-radar free agents that could make a big splash in 2013-14.

PF/C Jermaine O'Neal, Phoenix Suns

The NBA's own Beric Dondarrion, Jermaine O'Neal revived himself from the dead this season—not to the level of his peak years, but to a suitable, and certainly respectable facsimile of that production.

Check out the near-perfect parabola his PER has formed the past four years:

Year	PER
09-10	17.92
10-11	9.22
11-12	9.46
12-13	16.76

It went nearly unnoticed—how many Suns games did you watch this season?—but the veteran big man revived his career in Phoenix, and put to rest, at least for the time being, all jokes about his ambulatory corpse.

It will take more than his current sub-$1 million contract to acquire him, but not by much. Especially if O'Neal, who has never won a ring, is willing to take a pay cut and join a contender in his golden years.

Leaving the Phoenix training staff—who may or may not be using some sort of Harry Potter-style charm to keep aging players healthy—is a tad worrisome, but not enough to dissuade most teams from going after him.

O'Neal should be a rotation player on a playoff team next season.

PG Nate Robinson, Chicago Bulls

Nate Rob stepped into an unenviable position this season—helping a myriad of guards assuage the loss of Derrick Rose—and exceeded all possible expectations.

His 17.43 PER was impressive enough, but he also provided Chicago something that doesn't translate directly to paper: a bona fide, confident scorer at the end of important games. On a team devoid of players who can create their own shot, the importance of his late-game heroics cannot be overstated.

Still, with Derrick Rose set to return, almost 18 months after his ACL tear, and Kirk Hinrich in tow to back him up, Chicago shouldn't be able to retain Robinson this summer. Not after the postseason he just had...not after the paycheck he just secured.

There are plenty of offensively challenged contenders out there, all of whom could use a spark off the bench at point guard. Imagine what Robinson could do in a Pacers' or Grizzlies' jersey—especially after the year he just spent learning defense from Tom Thibodeau.

SG Alan Anderson, Toronto Raptors

Much like Jermaine O'Neal—and in stark contrast to Nate Robinson—it was easy to miss Anderson's breakout season in 2012-13. Again: Despite the pre-recorded lust of Kenny Smith on The Basketball Jones, how much Raptor news did you ever really receive?

But after numerous years spent bouncing around Italy and Russia and Israel, Alan Anderson didn't need fanfare to feel redemption; all he needed was another NBA chance.

The former MSU Spartan averaged 10.7 points in 65 games this season, posting an impressive 12.61 PER (at least relative to expectation) along the way. More importantly, he also harassed opposing guards with his above-average defense, a chore that was easier said than done when surrounded by the likes of Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani.

Moving to a contender would afford Anderson a chance to come off the bench, and more importantly to become an afterthought for opposing defenses. In Toronto, the player across from him knew he was looking to score, ready to shoot. But in a more mature system, plugged in next to players with well-established roles, he could see much more room to maneuver on offense.

That assistance might even help Anderson fix his pesky turnover problem.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction

Mike Chiari — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:11:02 -0400

After a heartbreaking loss to Chelsea in last year's UEFA Champions League Final, Bayern Munich was determined to earn redemption. That is precisely what it did, as the Bavarians captured their first Champions League title since 2001 by beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1.

In what was the first all-German final in Champions League history, the rival teams were evenly matched throughout, exhibiting world class skill and putting on a fantastic show for the fans.

The decisive goal game in the 89th minute of play when Bayern attacking midfielder Arjen Robben broke through the Dortmund defense and slipped the ball past helpless Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller:

It was a fitting ending, as Robben has experienced a great deal of heartbreak in recent years. He's been the goat many times both in domestic and international play, but he ended up being the hero for Bayern and will live in FCB history forever.

Although the first half came to an end with no score, Dortmund and Bayern engaged in one of the most entertaining halves of scoreless soccer that you will ever see. There were chances galore on both sides, but goalkeepers Roman Weidenfeller and Manuel Neuer were up to the task, which even impressed Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric:

Dortmund carried the play for the first 15 minutes or so, as Bayern scrambled to gain possession. While the Borussians were able to put five shots on net during the half, Neuer could not be beaten, coming up with a number of impressive saves.

Bayern midfielder Franck Ribery became frustrated with Dortmund's physical play at one point, as he elbowed Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski in the face. Ribery was called for a foul, but he wasn't carded, despite the viciousness of his actions:

*GIF courtesy of 101 Great Goals

The Bavarians picked up their play in the latter stages of the half and had some dangerous opportunities as well. Robben was unquestionably Bayern's most dangerous player, as he failed to convert on two point-blank chances.

He had a ton of space in the Dortmund box and attempted to beat a challenging Weidenfeller, but the Borussia goalkeeper took one for the team, making the save with his face:

*GIF courtesy of IndexFootball.com

Robben has struggled on the big stage in recent years, as pointed out by BBC Sport's James Horncastle:

Despite the lack of offensive fireworks from a goal-scoring perspective, Miguel Delaney of ESPN considered it the most evenly matched Champions League final in five years:

Bayern carried over its strong play from late in the first half to early in the second, putting some pressure on Dortmund. After a 60-minute stalemate, Bayern forward Mario Mandzukic broke through with the first tally of the match:

Ribery found Robben in the box, and the Dutch midfielder managed to clear it across the goal mouth, off a defender and right to a wide-open Mandzukic, who deposited it in the back of the vacant Dortmund net:

FCB's lead was short-lived, however, as Dortmund cashed in on a golden opportunity just seven minutes later. Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus found his way into a dangerous position in the Bayern box, which prompted defender Dante to over-commit and kick Reus in the midsection as he attempted to clear the ball:

A penalty was called and taken by Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who had been wizard-like in his passing up to that point. Gundogan showed that his scoring touch was just as precise on the kick, as Neuer dove to his right and Gundogan buried it to his left for his first career Champions League goal, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Bayern nearly took back the lead just minutes later when attacking midfielder Thomas Muller got around Weidenfeller. Muller had an open net from a wide angle and sent the ball in that direction. Robben was just about to tap it in to make the score 2-1, but Dortmund center-back Neven Subotic slid in and cleared it off the goal line to preserve the tie:

The action was tense, and it looked like the match was destined for extra time before Robben's game-winning tally in the 89th minute.

Grades

Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich): A

Neuer was the hottest goalkeeper in the world entering the match. That was quite apparent throughout, as he was nearly unbeatable. He faced seven shots and turned them all away, with the exception of the Gundogan penalty. Bayern likely wouldn't have gotten this far without Neuer, so it's only fitting that he was integral to their victory.

Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund): A-

While Neuer was ultimately the better goalkeeper in this match, Weidenfeller wasn't far behind. He had to make some incredibly difficult stops in his own right, and he kept Dortmund in the match until the 89th minute. There was nothing Weidenfeller could do on Robben's game-winning goal, but he did over-commit at times and put his defenders in tough situations, so he falls just short of an "A."

Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich): A

After the first half, it wouldn't have been a stretch to give Robben a failing grade, as he was unable to cash in on a pair of golden opportunities. But the second half was a completely different story for the much-maligned midfielder. Robben's first big play came when he set up Mandzukic's goal, and he put a bow on it with a goal of his own, putting forth an unbelievable individual effort.

Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund): A-

Gundogan was easily Dortmund's best player aside from Weidenfeller. He was all over the place, and he set his teammates up in some dangerous scoring areas. He also showed that he possesses the clutch gene, scoring with a confident strike on a penalty kick to tie the match. He likely would have been considered the man of the match had Dortmund won, but Robben ended up stealing his thunder ultimately.

Borussia Dortmund

Player	Position	Grade
Roman Weidenfeller	GK	A-
Marcel Schmelzer	LB	C+
Mats Hummels	CB	C
Neven Subotic	CB	B
Lukasz Piszczek	RB	B
Ilkay Gundogan	DM	A-
Sven Bender	DM	B
Kevin Grosskreutz	AM	C+
Marco Reus	AM	A-
Jakub Blaszczykowski	AM	C+
Robert Lewandowski	ST	B-

Bayern Munich

Player	Position	Grade
Manuel Neuer	GK	A
David Alaba	LB	C+
Dante	CB	D-
Jerome Boateng	CB	A-
Philipp Lahm	RB	B-
Bastian Schweinsteiger	DM	B+
Javi Martinez	DM	A-
Franck Ribery	AM	B-
Thomas Muller	AM	C
Arjen Robben	AM	A
Mario Mandzukic	ST	A-

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Velasquez vs. Bigfoot 2: Weaknesses Cain Velasquez Can Exploit

Dustin Filloy — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:54:35 -0400

A fighter the caliber of Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva consistently makes his opponents work tirelessly to exploit his few weaknesses.

But in his first meeting with Bigfoot, UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez nullified Silva's 4.5-inch reach advantage by grounding him seconds into the bout and never letting him scramble back to his feet.

Velasquez mauled Bigfoot en route to a TKO win at 3:36 of the first round at UFC 146.

One day short of a year later, Velasquez will step in the Octagon tonight at UFC 160 with intentions of once again dismantling Silva with relative ease.

Here are three weaknesses Velasquez must take advantage of against Bigfoot.

Begin Slideshow

Mikkel Kessler vs. Carl Froch: Live Round-by-Round Scoring and Analysis

Alejandro 'A-TRAIN' Burgos — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:54:15 -0400

Mikkel Kessler versus Carl Froch II is underway. The fight is being televised live on HBO in the United States and on Sky Sports in Europe.

The first fight, which took place in 2010, saw Mikkel Kessler beat Carl Froch by unanimous decision. But since then, Froch—the IBF super middleweight champion—has greatly improved and at 35 years old comes in as the odds on favorite (per Tom Craze of BadLeftHook.com) to win.

Can Kessler—the WBA super middleweight champion—overcome the loud, pro-Froch environment and convincingly defeat his opponent for the second time?

Stay locked to Bleacher Report for live round-by-round scoring, analysis and post-fight recap as well.

Champions League Final Match Report: Dortmund 1-2 Bayern, Last-Minute Winner

Karl Matchett — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:51:10 -0400

Bayern Munich have won the 2013 UEFA Champions League after a thrilling final came to a 2-1 end on an 89th-minute winning goal, courtesy of Arjen Robben.

One of the best finals in recent years took place in England between two German clubs, with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern providing a fantastic spectacle to close the season.

After a goalless first half, the match sparked into life with goals after the break from Mario Mandzukic and Ilkay Gundogan, the latter from the penalty spot. Robben scored the deciding goal with less than 60 seconds of the regulation 90 minutes left.

Neither side featured surprises in their starting XI. With Mario Gotze and Toni Kroos missing for either side due to injury, Kevin Grosskreutz and Robben took their respective places.

Both of the German Bundesliga teams went with a familiar 4-2-3-1 system, with Marco Reus moving infield for Dortmund to accommodate Grosskreutz on the flank and Thomas Muller doing the same for Bayern.

With a packed Wembley Stadium in London noisy from kickoff, the first chance of the game came within three minutes after Robert Lewandowski saw his shot blocked behind for a corner. It set the tone for what was a fairly frantic opening without any consistent execution of attacking moves or crisp midfield passing.

Dortmund were the better team in the opening stages of the game, but other than Manuel Neuer taking a high corner confidently in his penalty area, there was little work for either goalkeeper. Quick distribution from the Bayern goalkeeper looked to give them a threat on the break, but Robben and Franck Ribery couldn't make the most of the one-on-one chances they had with the Dortmund defence.

At the quarter-hour mark, Lewandowski ran down the left and fired a fierce shot from range, but Neuer tipped it over and out of bounds. On the ensuing corner, Reus crossed low for Jakub Blaszczykowski to strike a low effort, but that too met Neuer's hands on a smart save.

It was certainly the best chance of the game's opening 20 minutes, and Bayern owed their goalkeeper a debt of thanks.

Sven Bender and Reus also both tested Neuer with low efforts before the half-hour mark, with Bayern struggling to make any sort of impression on the match as an attacking force. That is until, out of nothing, Mario Mandzukic had a header tipped over the crossbar by Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller. Javi Martinez headed the resulting corner over the bar.

Ribery might have been lucky to escape without a card for a flailing arm, which left Dortmund fans irate.

Robben then had a great chance to open the scoring, one-on-one with Weidenfeller, but he could only hit the goalkeeper with his shot.

It looked as though Bayern had weathered the early storm from Dortmund and would finish the half stronger, but Lewandowski almost immediately found himself free on goal—only for Neuer to deny him yet again.

Robben wasted another chance to cross or shoot less than a minute later, and Muller glanced a header wide of the far post. At this point, it was clear Dortmund were struggling to match Bayern aerially on set pieces.

The final big chance of the first half fell to Robben once more, just 10 yards from goal, but he cracked a shot high and straight at the goalkeeper, who made another terrific reaction stop, albeit with his face. Whether by luck or good positioning, Weidenfeller—along with opposite number Neuer— played a big part in the first half remaining goalless.

The second half opened just as frantically as the first 45, but neither stopper was seriously called upon this time until Mandzukic had another unmarked header off a corner just shy of the hour mark. Weidenfeller grasped it quickly, but the threat of Bayern's set pieces was still evident.

And then, on the hour mark, Wembley stadium exploded in a sea of red.

Ribery and Robben combined to get the latter in the area, where he nipped past Wiedenfeller and passed the ball along the six-yard box to Mandzukic, who had a simple task of knocking the ball past Marcel Schmelzer and into the back of the net.

Bayern were then ahead 1-0 with around half an hour to play—but it was a short-lived lead.

Just seven minutes later, Reus got into the box and knocked the ball past Dante, who almost chopped the attacker in half with a wild attempt at a tackle. It was high, late and very definitely a penalty, and the defender was lucky to escape without a second yellow card (and ensuing red).

With Lewandowski having missed a penalty against Neuer recently, Gundogan stepped up to take the spot kick and duly levelled the scores with a fine finish into the bottom-right corner for 1-1.

The match was well and truly alive now. On 72 minutes, Bayern were within an inch of retaking the lead after Muller got around the goalkeeper and fired a cross-shot along the goal line—leaving Neven Subotic to make one of the defensive clearances of the season with a last-ditch sliding tackle on the line.

Robben surely should have tapped it in, but he failed to continue his run at the far post and thus missed a great chance.

Finely poised, the game swung back to the other end of the pitch, where Lewandowski fired in an amazing 25-yard volley which found the top corner of the net—but the whistle had gone for handball.

Just moments later, Muller had a rare chance to run in on goal, but he opted to go to ground rather than try for a shot.

As the game entered its final 10 minutes, the chances noticeably dried up at both ends as neither side wanted to risk the chance of losing a second goal late on. But there was one more to come in the final minute of the game.

A rare high ball was played up to Ribery on the edge of the box. He brought it down brilliantly and laid it off to the onrushing Arjen Robben.

Having fluffed his lines on several occasions during the 89 previous minutes, the Dutchman sped through the last line of defence, faced up to Weidenfeller and finally beat the Dortmund keeper. The shot slipped past and inside the far corner of the net, much to the heartbreak of those in yellow and to the absolute joy of those in red.

A late spate of substitutes from both sides filled three minutes of injury time, but Robben's contribution would ultimately decide the contest. As the final whistle went, Bayern's players sank to their knees in triumph.

With the result, the treble of domestic league and cup and European Cup remains a very real possibility for Bayern Munich—the 2013 UEFA Champions League winners.

Follow @karlmatchett

NBA Draft: Why Cleveland Cavaliers Should Draft Ben McLemore over Nerlens Noel

Patrick Forte — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:49:39 -0400

By unexpectedly winning the NBA draft lottery for the second time in the last three years, the Cleveland Cavaliers are set up nicely for the future.

While Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel is the closest thing to a consensus number one overall pick in a relatively weak draft, he may not be the best selection for a Cleveland Cavaliers team that is looking to win now. While other names such as Otto Porter of Georgetown have been thrown around, the player who may fit best for the Cleveland Cavaliers is Kansas guard Ben McLemore.

First off, there is no doubt that Noel earned his reputation as a potential top overall pick. Before he tore his ACL, Noel was averaging nearly a double-double (10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds) and an astounding 4.4 blocks per game.

He measured 6'11 3/4" at the NBA draft combine—taller than last year's number one pick, Anthony Davis, another former Kentucky big man.

Still, there are concerns that come with taking Noel number on overall. First, he weighed in at the combine at only 206 pounds, which is incredibly thin for an NBA big man, let alone someone expected to play center. For the sake of comparison, New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler, to whom Noel has been compared, weighs 240 pounds. Noel was listed at 220 pounds while he played at Kentucky, so it's entirely possible he has just lost weight while rehabbing his injury. But it's still a concern.

Another concern is Noel's questionable offensive game. Seen as defensive centerpiece, Noel wouldn't be expected to score much in the NBA, but a problem arises for the Cavs should they pair him up in the frontcourt with Tristan Thompson, another big who isn't known for his scoring. Thompson did evolve a lot as a player this year, averaging 11.7 points per game, but that production, coupled with what is expected from Noel, doesn't foreshadow much scoring up front.

Ben McLemore, on the other hand, is a great fit for the Cavaliers for a number of reasons. McLemore averaged 15.9 points per game as a freshman at Kansas this year, while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range. For a Cavaliers team that desperately needs shooting, there is little doubt that McLemore would provide that.

McLemore also fits in very well with the Cavs's current personnel.

One of the biggest knocks on McLemore has been his lack of assertiveness and willingness to take over games. Luckily for him the Cavaliers have Kyrie Irving, who is already the definitive star of the team. McLemore had to carry his Kansas team as a freshman, and he did a very good job of doing so, but on the Cavaliers he would be able to let Irving shoulder the load of being the team's go-to guy.

One other reason people have discounted McLemore going to Cleveland is the presence of last year's No. 4 overall draft pick, Dion Waiters.

However, McLemore joining the Cavaliers would give Waiters the ability to come off the bench, a situation in which he could certainly excel. Waiters actually never started a game during his years at Syracuse, and would help to carry a Cavaliers second unit that was very weak in terms of scoring last year.

Considering his ability to handle the ball, Waiters could come off the bench and play either shooting guard or point guard, giving McLemore and Irving rest when they need it, while providing the majority of the scoring for the second unit. It isn't out of line to think that Waiters could become a Jamal Crawford or Jason Terry-type of player in this position, which would benefit both himself and the Cavaliers.

There is no doubt that the Cavaliers have a great task ahead of them in deciding whom to take with the top pick in June. While many assume Noel is the best selection, picking McLemore would provide the shooting and scoring that this Cavaliers team desperately needs, while also netting them a potential all-star.

Diva Digest No. 16

Erik Beaston — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:41:28 -0400

Diva Digest returns to Bleacher Report after a lengthy post-WrestleMania hiatus.

This past week featured developments in both WWE Divas and TNA Knockouts storylines, including a title change on Thursday night's Impact Wrestling.

Former friends saw their rivalry heat up on WWE programming while, over on Impact Wrestling, a new champion was crowned and the first match of its kind was announced for the promotion's Slammiversary pay-per-view event.

Get caught up on all of the week's news and results, as well as the Diva Digest Fave Five and any news and notes from the past seven days inside.

This is Diva Digest No. 16.

Begin Slideshow

Pacers Are Proving to Be Toughest Opponent in Big Three Era of Miami Heat

David Weiss — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:38:47 -0400

It wasn't until 10:45 was left in the fourth quarter of Game 2 that the Miami Heat captured their first lead of the match against the Indiana Pacers.

It lasted exactly 11 seconds long. The next two leads then came with 7:35 and 3:31 remaining on the clock. The combined length of time Miami was able to maintain those leads wasn't even four minutes.

Now, mind you, this is coming off a come-from-behind Game 1 victory for the Heat that the Pacers were so successfully able to dictate with their style of play that Chris Bosh would later tell the Sun Sentinel of the contest: "We got away with that one, that's how we feel."

Needless to say, this series may only be two games old. And the Heat aren't exactly in a position of weakness despite playing their next two games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where the Pacers have yet to lose in these playoffs. But the reality that should be setting in by now is that this Indiana team is the toughest opponent Miami has faced in the playoffs since the inception of the Big Three era.

Now, on one hand, that isn't exactly a bold statement.

After all, the majority of Miami's playoff battles have come through the Eastern Conference, of which most of its crop has reputably been littered with deficiencies.

Such as the hobbling, aging, in-the-twilight-of-their-prime Boston Celtics.

Or the one-man bands, led by a superstar like Derrick Rose and little else outside of a gritty but over-matched supporting cast.

Or even a team comprised of very good players but no superstar, as the Indiana Pacers were last year when taking a 2-1 series lead against Miami.

But what separates the current Pacers from the 2011 Dallas Mavericks and the 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder are two things.

1. LeBron doesn't undergo bouts of stage fright in the closing moments of games anymore, thereby being the main reason his team loses a series (and no matter how many times Mark the Shark Cuban chooses to deny it, his decision to dismantle the 2011 Mavs spoke volumes).

2. In order to beat Miami, teams have to exploit its size.

Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins were never offensively capable enough to do that.

Roy Hibbert and David West, however, are.

West alone has been a one-man wrecking crew, punishing Miami all season long.

Prior to Game 2, his averages against the Heat were 23.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and a .650 field-goal shooting percentage.

Little side note: No matter which team advances in the East, David West is already a big winner. He couldn't have asked for a better stage or against a better team to drive up his free-agency value this summer. J.R. Smith just cried about that, by the way.

And then there's Hibbert, whose presence alone arguably made the difference between the outcomes of Games 1 and 2.

Did Pacers fans burst into epileptic seizures after Game 1 when Roy Hibbert was substituted moments before LeBron caught an inbounds pass with 2.2 seconds left on the clock, stopped to order a victory pepperoni pizza from Papa John's on his cell phone to be delivered at LIV nightclub, rehearsed a few dance moves from the Heat's Harlem shake dance video and then proceeded to lay the basket in the hoop?

Well, if Bill Simmons' Twitter response was any indication, then probably so:

Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out?
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 23, 2013

But the real revelation of this series has been Paul George, who capped off his initiation into the club of supremely elite superstars with a dunk on Chris "Birdman" Andersen that felt more like a fatality out of Mortal Kombat.

As a result, what was once considered mission impossible by NBA standards—especially after Miami's 27-game win streak—is no longer the case.

Perhaps the most sobering validation of all to how good the Pacers are is that, despite back-to-back Jordan-esque performances by James in the past two games, there was still a game to be won in the closing seconds.

All of this begs the bigger question: How do we digest this grim reality as Heat fans?

And there are really only two ways.

Your first, natural reaction is: "Holy hell, I'm scared crap-less because my team might actually get eliminated and, on top of being an absolute PR nightmare that vultures like Skip Bayless are just salivating over, it would temporarily destroy my sanctity of life."

But then your second reaction—and this is what truly separates the real fans from the bandwagoners—is just as an NBA fan. Someone who appreciates watching their teams face actual adversity and staying tuned in to the series to follow how they respond.

And to be quite frank—after the boring and meaninglessly long regular season that Heat fans were just made to go through—the second reaction should really be the most appealing by now.

We deserve to watch our team finally get their feathers ruffled and see how they respond.

We deserve to watch in anticipation as to whether or not LeBron will rise to the occasion once again as he did in Game 6 last year against the Boston Celtics with Miami on the brink of elimination. Or if he will shrink under the pressure as he did against Dallas in 2011 NBA Finals.

We deserve to watch Dwyane Wade prove his critics wrong, showing he is every bit the dependable superstar even when hampered by injury as he did against Indiana last year. Or validate their argument the way his subpar performance in Game 2 Friday night ultimately did.

If Miami loses this series, it will be a bitter pill to swallow. But the Heat will eventually reload, mindful to address their weakness in the middle via free agency like never before.

But if they win, then the championship that will hopefully follow will be all the more gratifying—probably even more so than the one they won last year.

And really though...isn't that why we love sports?

Follow @Davinchy83

SEC Baseball Tournament 2013 Scores: Final Four Results, Highlights and Analysis

Ethan Grant — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:24:33 -0400

After four days of action-packed baseball at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, only four teams remain with eyes toward winning the 2013 SEC Baseball Tournament.

Both LSU and Vanderbilt won elimination games on Friday afternoon/evening to put themselves in position to reach the tournament's final four teams, joining Arkansas and Mississippi State in the semifinals of the bracket.

No. 2 LSU and No. 3 Arkansas had already faced off earlier in the tournament, with the Hogs getting the best of the higher-seeded Tigers to gain a leg-up on making it through to the final. No. 1 Vanderbilt avenged its earlier loss to Texas A&M on Friday evening, earning the right for a chance to take on the well-traveled Mississippi State squad. The Bulldogs are 3-0 in the tournament so far.

The Tigers and Razorbacks were the first game of the day at 1 p.m. ET, while the Commodores and Bulldogs' first pitch is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET.

With Sunday's championship game in sight, let's take a look at the action from Saturday afternoon in one of college baseball's richest conference tournaments.

No. 2 LSU 3, No. 3 Arkansas 1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
LSU	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	3	9	2
Arkansas	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0		1	1	1

Arkansas got the best of LSU when the two teams played each other during the earlier stages of the 2013 SEC tournament, but the Tigers showed on Saturday afternoon why they are considered one of the best teams in the nation.

LSU put on a pitching clinic and scored timely runs in the late innings. They will move on to the championship game after defeating Arkansas by a score of 3-1.

Five LSU pitchers combined to yield just one hit through nine innings.

Mark Etheridge had the tweet as LSU celebrated it's elimination-game victory:

Freshman starter Hunter Newman, making his first such trip to the mound in SEC play, got the ball for the Tigers on Saturday afternoon. Newman made it through four innings without yielding a hit, but gave up a run in the third after walks and errors plagued LSU's defense.

Jake Wise walked to lead off the frame and a throwing error by Newman put him on second. After a groundout advanced Wise to third, second baseman Mason Katz opened the door for the Hogs after dropping a pop-up. Wise would score, and the Hogs would take a 1-0 lead (via LSU Baseball):

It would be the last run Arkansas would score in the afternoon.

As noted by SEC Sports, it was the Hogs that led the nation in ERA coming into the ballgame, but the LSU pitchers dug deep and managed to give Arkansas a taste of its own medicine the rest of the way:

Arkansas had chances to score in both the fourth and the fifth inning, largely because walks and wild pitching gave the Hogs chances they didn't deserve based on the hit column. However, Newman and Kevin Berry managed to keep Arkansas at bay with timely pitches to get out of both frames.

LSU then came alive in the sixth.

Katz walked to lead off the inning, moved to third on a single by Raph Rhymes and would score on Christian Ibarra's hit to left field during the next at-bat. The Tigers weren't done, as Ty Ross' bunt moved the runners into scoring position on the next play. Tyler Moore then beat out a double play to score Rhymes from third.

Arkansas pitcher Brandon Moore was charged with both runs in the inning. All the while, the Razorbacks couldn't mount any threat, totaling only one baserunner over the next three innings.

The Bayou Bengals added an insurance run in the seventh, when Ibarra's double scored Katz again to give the Tigers their final run of the afternoon. As noted by Bob Holt, it likely would have been 4-1 without Rhymes' mistake:

LSU threatened again in the eighth inning, but Alex Bregman struck out with a runner on third to end the Tiger threat. Missing out again in the ninth, the Tigers turned to closer Chris Cotton to close out the Razorbacks, and close them out he did.

Just like he did against Alabama on Friday, Cotton shut the door on the Hogs—getting two fly balls and a strikeout to help the Tigers move on to the SEC Tournament championship game on Sunday afternoon.

Ibarra and the five pitchers that took the mound were the heroes for the Tigers on Satuday. Ibarra went 3-for-4 with two of the team's three RBI on the afternoon, while Newman, Cotton and three others combined for the one-hit shutout victory.

For Arkansas, its fate now lies in the hands of the NCAA selection committee for the College World Series. No Razorback was on base more than once in this game, as LSU thoroughly shut down the Hogs' offense all afternoon. The Hogs went down in order each of the final three innings.

LSU will await the winner of Vanderbilt and Mississippi State in the night cap.

The tournament championship is scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Ethan Grant on Twitter:

New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins Game 5: Live Score, Updates and Analysis

Franklin Steele — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:21:53 -0400

The second period of Game 5 between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers is underway, and Torey Krug has pulled the B's even with a power-play goal.

The Blueshirts were trying to hold a one-goal lead after Dan Girardi scored a power-play goal in the first, but could not do so.

Boston Bruins 1, New York Rangers 1 (2nd Period)

Jabrill Peppers Will Make Instant Impact No Matter What College He Attends

Matt Fitzgerald — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:15:39 -0400

Five-star football recruit Jabrill Peppers is a rare athlete with the versatility and playmaking ability to shine at whatever college he chooses—even as a true freshman.

Though he ran for 1552 yards and 18 touchdowns and had an additional five receiving scores, Peppers projects as a top defensive back at the collegiate level, and has all the tools to thrive immediately.

The pride of Paramus Catholic High School in New Jersey racked up 80 tackles and four interceptions this past season. He is the No. 3 prospect in the country in the 2014 class, according to 247Sports.com's composite rankings.

247 Sports' 33 experts all believe that Peppers will attend the University of Michigan, but he's not set to make an announcement until Sunday between 4:45 and 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU, per NJ.com's Todderick Hunt.

In the above report by Hunt, Paramus Catholic head coach Chris Partridge discusses what makes Peppers so special beyond his phenomenal physical skills:

Jabrill is an extremely valuable in terms of on and off the field thing. He's a hard worker, he's an unselfish player, he's really smart and he's a good leader. So he has all the intangibles that make you a great player, not just his skills. He's extremely valuable to us in all aspects.

Peppers runs a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash and is already 6'1" and 205 pounds entering his senior year for the Paladins. That is simply off the charts, and is an exceptional size and speed combination for even a current top-flight college player.

In fact, during a track meet on Saturday, the young star was putting that swiftness to the test, and proclaimed on Twitter that he broke the meet record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.56.

Let's not be confused, though. Some track athletes happen to be football players, and some football players are de facto track athletes.

Peppers is the latter—born to be a force on the gridiron.

As can be seen in his junior highlight tape, this special prospect may be too good not to use on both sides of the ball.

The success of the read-option may cause him to enter games as a Wildcat quarterback; what really stands out when the ball is in hands is Peppers' lateral quickness, seamless change of direction and agility.

But those enviable capabilities all apply to the defensive side, too. Whether Peppers lines up at cornerback or safety, he can shine by properly utilizing them.

Quick hips are key for defensive backs in coverage, and Peppers is certainly blessed with those. Also noteworthy is how he attacks when the ball is in the air. Not only can Peppers snag the ball at its highest point, but he is aggressive and strong when competing for it.

The instincts Peppers shows are as impressive as any aspect of his game. Showcasing the ability to diagnose plays at such a young age is an extremely positive sign for the coaches hoping for the opportunity to continue Peppers' development.

A defensive back like Peppers who is so physical and willing to step up in run support is going to be embraced by whomever his impending teammates will be.

Combine that with a strong set of intangibles, a seemingly bright football IQ and rare physical gifts, and Peppers should have no trouble having a prolific maiden college campaign.

Note: Measurements and statistics are courtesy of 247Sports.com.

The Shield: 5 New Tag Teams to Challenge Rollins and Reigns for the Titles

Seth M. Guttenplan — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:11:55 -0400

The Shield’s Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns did what no other tag team in WWE was able to do—defeat Team Hell No for the tag team titles. As The Shield continue their dominance over the company, are there any current tag teams that will be able to stop them?

Probably not.

Let’s face it. The tag team division is still very weak, despite Team Hell No attempting to change that last year.

After Kane and Daniel Bryan, the division is made up of jobbers and more jobbers.

That is why I am proposing five brand new tag teams who would at least have a chance against Rollins and Reigns. Chances are The Shield will hold the titles for a lengthy period, but perhaps these teams will make fans wonder who will win.

Begin Slideshow

WWE SmackDown, May 24: GSM's Analysis and Aftermath

Graham 'GSM' Matthews — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:10:34 -0400

Mere days removed from the WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view, Friday Night SmackDown provided all the fallout from the extraordinary event. The night's awesome in-ring action, combined with successful storyline progression, made this a show worth watching.

Here, I will analyze each significant segment presented on the show. I will also provide a combination of predictions and wishful thinking about what I hope to see in the coming weeks.

The Miz hosts Miz TV with Fandango and Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett

Solid segment to kick off the show, with Intercontinental champion Wade Barrett and Fandango appearing on Miz TV. Everyone involved played their respective roles well and provided good mic work.

It was effective in leading into the subsequent Intercontinental Championship match and giving it some significance. All in all, this was probably the best edition of Miz TV we've seen in quite some time.

The Miz def. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett by Disqualification

Decent match between Intercontinental champion Wade Barrett and The Miz. Although it was rather brief, they made the most out of the time they were allotted.

That being said, the match should have gone much longer than it did given the fact they have had some great matches together in the past. Fandango's interference was logical and helped insert him into the intercontinental title picture while also making the belt feel somewhat relevant for the first time in ages.

Daniel Bryan w/Kane def. Jack Swagger w/Zeb Colter

Great match between Daniel Bryan and Jack Swagger. These two had excellent chemistry with one another and put together a nice matchup while it lasted.

I'm thoroughly enjoying Bryan's aggressive antics as of late, as it makes his matches much more engaging in my opinion. I was surprised to see Swagger take the loss here merely due to the fact that he lost at WWE Extreme Rules and on Raw the next night.

Sheamus Answered Damien Sandow's "Gordian Knot Challenge"

Throwaway segment involving Damien Sandow and Sheamus. While I'm usually entertained by Sandow's promos, this was a rare exception.

He wasn't given anything good to work with, and adding Sheamus into the mix didn't exactly save the segment. To make matters even worse, The Celtic Warrior once again displayed heel antics by randomly attacking both Sandow and Matt Striker.

What was this segment supposed to accomplish anyway?

Chris Jericho def. Big Show by Count-out

Good match between Big Show and Chris Jericho. Show was able to score quite a bit of offense over Jericho while Y2J played the underdog role to perfection.

The count-out victory was effective in protecting Show while allowing Jericho to score a victory over a notable name. I'm not sure how they plan to use both guys going forward, but it was still a fun bout for what it was worth.

Curtis Axel w/Paul Heyman def. Sin Cara

Nice match with Curtis Axel defeating Sin Cara. Axel's pre-match promo was an improvement over the mic skills displayed on Monday's Raw, but he still has a ways to go before he can engage in a a verbal exchange with another Superstar.

As for the match, it was used to further Axel's momentum and for him to showcase his in-ring abilities. On a side note, I found it humorous that Axel lost to Sin Cara on last week's edition of WWE Superstar while still under his Michael McGillicutty moniker, only to defeat him the following week on SmackDown after being repackaged.

Kofi Kingston def. United States Champion Dean Ambrose by Disqualification

Brief match between United States champion Dean Ambrose and Kofi Kingston. Needless to say, the sole purpose of the match was to set up the six-man tag team match that followed.

However, the two provided an enjoyable exchange before being ultimately interrupted by Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Furthermore, I liked how this match was given major hype throughout the show, as it was the first time in a long while that a U.S. title match actually felt significant.

United States and WWE Tag Team Champions The Shield def. Kofi Kingston, Randy Orton and Sheamus

Entertaining six-man tag team match with United States and WWE Tag Team champions The Shield defeating Randy Orton, Sheamus and Kofi Kingston. Not only did the bout receive great bout, but the action was fast-paced and nonstop.

The Shield never cease to impress this viewer with their consistently awesome matches with this contest being a prime example. Sure, The Shield winning was a foregone conclusion, but the match was excellent enough that the predictability of the finish hardly mattered.

It goes without saying that the treacherous trio continue to be the best booked and hottest act in all of WWE at the moment.

Overall Show

Overall, a good show with a substantial amount of awesome action and successful storyline progression. Some matches were rather random, but there's still quite a bit of time to build towards next month's WWE Payback pay-per-view.

There was hardly any filler on the show, which helped the two hours fly by. WWE Extreme Rules and this week's Monday Night Raw were great as well, so it is perfectly fitting to end the week in wrestling on a high note with an enjoyable edition of SmackDown.

GSM out.

Visit my website at Next Era Wrestling and listen to my wrestling radio talk show SAVE US GSM every Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET.

Follow @SAVE_US_GSM

Indy 500 2013: Underdogs with Best Chance to Steal IndyCar Spotlight

Tim Daniels — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:03:34 -0400

Winning the Indianapolis 500 is a career-defining moment. It's a chance for a driver to go down in racing history alongside some of the all-time greats while also potentially boosting his or her career to new heights. The race carries that much weight.

Most of the focus heading into the race has been on pole-sitter Ed Carpenter and former champions like Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves. At the same time, it's important not to lose focus on the long shots capable of stealing the spotlight.

With that in mind, let's examine some contenders who aren't getting much respect from the oddsmakers, but who could very well win the season's biggest race. All odds are courtesy of Bovada. For a complete look at the starting grid, visit the race's official site.

Takuma Sato (20-1)

Sato, who currently leads the IndyCar Series in points, isn't generating more attention for two reasons. Most importantly, he's starting from deep in the pack (18th). He's also struggled in this race, finishing no better than 17th in three prior starts.

Even though he wasn't able to contend in those prior appearances, Sato still gained valuable experience. That will come in handy this time around when he should be a much bigger threat. Learning how to handle Indianapolis Motor Speedway is often an overlooked factor.

That said, the main reason Sato can't be forgotten is how well he's been running recently. He's coming off a second-place showing in Sao Paulo after winning the Grand Prix of Long Beach. No driver enters the race with more momentum.

J.R. Hildebrand (25-1)

Two years ago, Hildebrand had an Indianapolis 500 victory within his grasp and let it slip away on the final turn. The aforementioned experience factor played a key role, as he struck the wall and couldn't recover to save the race.

After a disappointing performance last year, Hildebrand appears ready to make an impact once again. A very solid qualifying run will allow him to start inside the top 10. A few minor adjustments and his car will certainly be good enough to contend.

Unfortunately, that mistake in 2011 is going to stick with him until he wins the Indy 500. He needs to get redemption in order for that lowlight to fade away. It wouldn't be a surprise if the 25-year-old American got the monkey off his back on Sunday.

Graham Rahal (33-1)

Rahal had a poor qualifying run that will force him to start 26th. It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise, however, because it was made clear the car needed some adjustments to succeed. Luckily for him, 500 laps is plenty of time to make up ground.

He finished third in 2011 and hasn't finished outside of 13th over the past three years. So Rahal clearly knows how to handle the track. It simply comes down to getting the car to peak at the right time. It's a process that begins on the first lap.

The biggest obstacle for Rahal, at least early, will be avoiding any collisions. Drivers often get a little overzealous trying to make up ground right way. If he's patient, there will be chances for him to move up and get into the mix by the end.

French Open 2013: Showcasing Most Intriguing Day 1 Matches

Patrick Clarke — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:00:30 -0400

Two top contenders will be in action on Day 1 of the 2013 French Open. Both Roger Federer and Serena Williams will begin their journey to what they each hope is a Grand Slam title on Sunday.

But while both Federer and Williams are expected to cruise through to the second round, there are some other under-the-radar matches that offer much more for tennis fans.

Here we'll bypass Fed and Serena, instead showcasing the most intriguing Day 1 matches to watch for on Sunday.

Gilles Simon (15) vs. Lleyton Hewitt

At age 32, former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt is done winning Grand Slams, but that doesn't mean he can't upend 15th-seeded Gilles Simon on Sunday in the two players' opening match in Paris.

Sure, the Aussie veteran has never fared all that well at Roland Garros, but he's a relentless player who always seems to make things interesting. Meanwhile, Simon is playing at a high level on red clay coming in, which should give him plenty of confidence in the early goings.

As Lindsay Gibbs points out, this is a first-round match with the potential to go the distance.

Simon has owned Hewitt in the head-to-head over the course of their careers, but these two have never met on clay before. Just another reason to watch.

Urszula Radwanska vs. Venus Williams (30)

After missing the French Open in 2011 and bowing out in the second round at Roland Garros a year ago, Venus Williams will look to keep her solid season going with a win over Polish youngster Urszula Radwanska on Sunday.

If the last name Radwanska sounds familiar, it should. Urszula's older sister is world No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska, who reached the final at Wimbledon last year, ultimately losing to Venus' younger sister, Serena.

That said, there will certainly be no shortage of storylines heading into this first-round battle.

It seems Williams should have the edge against Radwanska, considering that she boasts tons more experience than the 22-year-old. But based on the fact that Radwanska has been able to pick up big clay-court wins over Dominika Cibulkova and Ana Ivanovic this season, look for Agnieszka's little sister to pull off the upset on Sunday.

Milos Raonic (14) vs. Xavier Malisse

Twenty-two-year-old Canadian sensation Milos Raonic has a monster serve that can give any player on tour trouble, but the red stuff is notorious for taking the sizzle off shots and forcing big-serving players to adjust.

Raonic's first-round opponent, Xavier Malisse, is 10 years older and has seen just about everything there is to see on a tennis court. Unfortunately, the Belgian hasn't seen much success at Grand Slams over the course of his career, reaching the semifinals just once at Wimbledon in 2002.

He hasn't been past the fourth round at a major tournament before or since.

But don't expect Malisse to just bow down to Raonic on Sunday. Keep in mind that the 14th-seeded star is making just his third career appearance in Paris. He fell in the third round in 2012 after exiting in the opening round in 2011.

This is another classic matchup of young vs. old that fans won't want to miss on Day 1.

Click here to view the entire Day 1 order of play via RolandGarros.com.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Dwight Howard Rumors: Latest Buzz on Lakers Star's Most Likely Landing Spots

Brian Leigh — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:58:29 -0400

Dwight Howard's disastrous first season in Los Angeles—generously deemed "the Dwightmare," but actually much more toxic than a dream—screeched to a halt in the playoffs' first round. And now, even with the future's of Kobe Bryant's Achilles and Pau Gasol's employment hanging in the balance, only one story will dominate the back pages in Hollywood this summer:

Is Howard willing to return for season two?

The Lakers' divisive big man is a free agent once again this summer; free to sign with any team he chooses. Howard has endured alleged rifts with his coach and shied from the Tinseltown spotlight since arriving, and thus appears eager to explore those options diligently.

Grantland overlord Bill Simmons was sardonic about Howard's potential return to Los Angeles, issuing 10 realities about his situation that, ultimately, made another season with the Lakers seem like a farce. And even if the rest of the world doesn't see through Simmons' cynical, often contentious lens, it's hard not to agree with much of what he had to say.

Four major players have emerged as suitors for Howard, each making a unique play to lure him out of Los Angeles. Here's the latest scoop surrounding each of those teams' pursuit:

Golden State Warriors/Atlanta Hawks

The two presumptive dark horses in Dwight Howard's courtship received good then bad news the past couple of days, a veritable roller coaster ride of hope and bleakness.

First came Thursday's report, via the Long Beach Press-Telegram, that Golden State and Atlanta were securely on Howard's "short list" of destinations:

A source familiar with Howard's thinking says he plans to test free agency and has considered the Lakers, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Golden State.

But subsequent news has regressed the Hawks' and Warriors' positions. First, Warriors beat writer Marcus Thompson laid out a number of compelling obstacles standing between Howard and Golden State, and Saturday, ESPN's Ric Bucher laid out equally persuasive arguments against Howard joining either side:

On Golden State:

Asked specifically about the Warriors being one of the teams Howard would be willing to join...[my] source said the only connection between the player and team was when the Warriors expressed interest in Howard after he made it clear he wanted out of Orlando a year ago.

And on Atlanta:

Despite interest from his home-town team, the Hawks, sources have repeatedly said Howard, like many players, are wary of the demands and distractions of playing where they grew up.

Neither team's attempt to woo Howard is complete, and reports like these are oftentimes fickle at best. Whether or not they remain at the bottom of Howard's prospective quintet remains to be seen.

All we can say for sure is that Howard joining either club, at least of this current moment, would be a major, not minor, upset.

Dallas Mavericks

Mark Cuban and Co.'s infatuation with Howard is hardly a secret at this point. Tyson Chandler, who has since been named the league's Defensive Player of the Year, was allowed to walk on the heels of his best season, a season where he helped secure a championship, all as a means of creating cap space for a potential run at Howard a couple of summers ago.

Now, with Howard's name conveniently back on the market, Dallas appears ready to shed some cap space again. Per ESPN's Chad Ford:

Ford's report comes on the heels of a similar assertion from ESPN's Marc Stein, a former Mavericks beat writer, who gave the team a "10 percent chance" of luring Howard to Dallas:

...Cuban has clearly been preparing for this and working for this, and the Mavs must think they have a chance given the way they operated the team this year and had everybody on 1-year deals and didn’t take out any money as the season went on...

Cuban has struck out, rather uncharacteristically, on his last few free agent endeavors—not just in pursuit of Howard, but also in his courtship of point guard Deron Williams. He was (begrudgingly) content to let his team of one-year contracts fade to the background this season, but two years out of the spotlight is more than Cubes can bare.

He'll try to make Howard an offer he can't refuse.

Houston Rockets

The prohibitive favorite outside of L.A., Houston, like in-state rival Dallas, has always had a soft spot for Dwight Howard's services. The man known as Dork Elvis, general manager Daryl Morey, made a shrewd move in acquiring Omer Asik (for $8.38 mil per year!) this summer, but his eyes might still be set on a higher, sexier acquisition in the middle.

According to reports, the MIT man and his Houston Rockets certainly have Howard's attention. Per USA Today:

...According to a person with knowledge of his situation... [Howard is] torn between the idea of Laker life or the notion of joining a Houston Rockets club that looks so much more appealing with James Harden & Co. in tow.

That Howard would consider straight-up signing in Houston—enough that he's allegedly "torn"—is obviously a welcome sign. Even if the Lakers choose to pursue a sign-and-trade (receiving a package of, say, Asik and Chandler Parsons is hardly a pittance in return), it's nice to know that Howard would giddily accept his new, twangy hometown.

In the afore-referenced Grantland article, Bill Simmons called Houston the one franchise that makes sense for Howard—Lakers included—laying out a number of reasons why the city would benefit him so greatly compared to L.A.:

We have overwhelming evidence that Howard can't handle carrying a big-market franchise, that he's better off in a more laid-back situation — ideally as the running mate for someone who could shoulder the superstar burdens for him. That's why the Rockets make so much sense. That's an underrated destination city for NBA players: no state income tax, great barbecue, fun nightlife, low cost of living, a diverse population, and best of all (for Dwight, anyway), decidedly less pressure. Football rules the roost in Texas. The Houston media wouldn't pick Dwight apart. Rockets fans would be happy to have him.

If Howard can return, even partially, to his 2011 form, the combination of him and James Harden would immediately make Houston a top contender out West. And the thought of that might be too much for Daryl Morey to pass up—even if it costs him an already promising young core.

Stock Watch for the Top Soon-to-Be NHL Free Agents

Franklin Steele — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:50:41 -0400

The second round of the 2013 NHL playoffs are nearing an end, and the conference finals could be set by the end of the weekend. That means that fans of 26 teams will be watching from the sidelines while the final four squads go at it for the right to play for the Stanley Cup.

Which, in turn, means that a majority of NHL fans will have at least one eye towards the offseason, where one or two outstanding moves could place their favorite team on the road toward the Cup in 2014.

This particular free-agency period will be made more interesting by the possibility of players like Brad Richards and Roberto Luongo being bought out and hitting the open market. Even if no big names are relieved of their contracts, there are still some difference-makers available via free agency.

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