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UFC 160 Results: Junior Dos Santos Defeats Mark Hunt

Brian Mazique — Sat, 25 May 2013 23:49:25 -0400

Junior "Cigano" dos Santos wants the UFC heavyweight title back around his waist. The 28-year-old Brazilian took a huge step in the right direction on Saturday night at UFC 160 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Dos Santos knocked out Mark Hunt with a beautiful spinning kick in the third round that instantly sent the "Super Samoan" to the ground.

The first round started out with both men respecting each other's power, but it didn't take long for each man to make his opponent feel his power. Dos Santos landed an overhand right that rocked Hunt, while Hunt reciprocated by cutting dos Santos.

The first half of the second round played out similarly, with Cigano landing some flush shots before taking down Hunt for the latter half of the round.

The third round would prove to be much more lopsided for dos Santos, as a winded Hunt consistently took damage. When dos Santos uncorked the spinning kick, it was all over.

The win improved dos Santos' record to 16-2 in his MMA career. Hunt's record falls to 9-8. That may seem like a rather unimpressive career tally, but the 39-year-old from New Zealand has lost to some of the best heavyweights in the world.

Hunt has won his share of bouts over esteemed fighters such as Cheick Kongo, Ben Rothwell, Stefan Struve, Mirko Filipović and Wanderlei Silva.

Unfortunately for Hunt, Saturday's defeat puts dos Santos amongst an even more impressive list of fighters who have bested Hunt.

The Super Samoan has lost to Alistair Overeem, Gegard Mousasi, Fedor Emelianenko, Josh Barnett and others.

After suffering just the second loss of his career and yielding the title to Cain Velasquez at UFC 155, dos Santos is set to take on the winner of UFC 160's co-main event. Velasquez and Antonio "Big Foot" Silva battle in the co-feature.

Velasquez and dos Santos may have turned the UFC heavyweight title chase into a two-man game. Velasquez had originally lost the title to dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1 in Nov. 2011. The win at UFC 155 was sweet revenge for the beast from Salinas, Calif.

If Velasquez takes out Silva on Saturday night, he and dos Santos will be on a collision course for a third fight. Velasquez should have an easy time with Silva considering he destroyed him a year ago in three minutes and 36 seconds.

While trilogies are usually a good thing for combat sports, the heavyweight division needs some new blood. If the third fight between Velasquez and dos Santos is made, Velasquez will have fought only two different opponents in his last five fights.

That is a bit excessive, even if we're talking about big-time fighters.

We'll see how this shakes out. At any rate, dos Santos has done his part to remain in the heavyweight title mix.

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

UFC 160: What We Learned from James Te-Huna vs. Glover Teixeira

Steven Rondina — Sat, 25 May 2013 23:40:30 -0400

The UFC has been pushing Glover Teixeira as the next great light heavyweight for a long while now and pushed a match between him and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson extremely hard. His fight with James Te-Huna was actually booked over the lightweight top contender's match.

While he was initially matched against Ryan Bader, he found himself in an easier fight against a lower-ranked opponent whom he matches up well against. In the end, Teixeira would get a guillotine choke in the first round.

So what did we learn?

Glover Teixeira Still Has Terrible Takedowns

Teixeira is very lucky Bader had to pull out of this fight. While he outgrappled both Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, and now, James Te-Huna, he has takedown attempts I can only describe as “casual.”

Not because he gets them effortlessly, mind you. It's simply because he bends over, grabs a leg, then walks forward until the other guy falls down. It isn't explosive, it isn't fast and it wouldn't work against any top light heavyweights.

While he has deceptively good Brazilian jiu-jitsu, it's still doubtful that he would end up in a good enough position to threaten scary opponents.

James Te-Huna has Worse Takedown Defense

So yeah, as bad as Glover's takedown defense is, Te-Huna still fell victim to it. That, really, is not very good.

Te-Huna was a dark horse to end up making a title run, given his solid winning streak coming into this fight. Those title aspirations, though, will not be realized if he doesn't improve considerably.

The light heavyweight division is largely dominated by wrestlers, with five of the fighters in the top 10 of the division coming from a wrestling background. If he was taken down and submitted by Glover Teixeira...it does not bode well for any championship hopes.

Teixeira Still Hasn't Proven the Hype is Deserved

The jury's still out on Glover Teixeira. While he's now 4-0 in the UFC, his only win against a scary, established opponent was when he outlasted Jackson. Even in that fight, though, he did little more than stay a bit more active than the aged, somewhat indifferent Pride veteran.

While he now has Te-Huna on his resume, that proves very little, especially when discussing his chances against any other top-five fighters. I'd favor most of the UFC's ranked light heavyweights over Teixeira at this point.

Te-Huna Still Isn't Done

I wasn't nice to Te-Huna here, but by no means are his fighting days over. He's still relatively young and has the tools and drive to stay relevant in the upper half of the light heavyweight division.

The UFC really wants Te-Huna to succeed, given their desire to expand into Australia, and they are likely going to put him in a position to succeed. A few years from now, we could very well see him in the title picture.

He is an exciting fighter and is a treat to watch (in my opinion). We'll see how it goes.

Andrew Hendrix Must Get Chance to Start with Everett Golson's Reported Departure

Tyler Brooke — Sat, 25 May 2013 23:31:20 -0400

With the reported departure of Everett Golson, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish must give Andrew Hendrix an opportunity to compete for the starting job at quarterback.

The big news came from Angelo Di Carlo, a writer for WNDU in South Bend.

The potential loss of Golson is huge, so now the Fighting Irish must act. They have two potential starting quarterbacks on their roster with Tommy Rees and Hendrix.

Hendrix is coming into the season as a junior, after being recruited out of Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. The scouting report by Scout.com had this to say about the QB coming out of high school:

Big, well built kid with good size for the position. Has a good arm and passes come out of his hand with good velocity. He also can get the ball downfield and make throws on the run. However, he needs to be more consistent with his accuracy. Working with his mechanics at the next level will help that. He also will need to limit turnovers.

At 6’3’’ and 220 pounds, Hendrix has a much more desirable frame for a quarterback than Golson, and a slightly better frame than Rees.

Arm strength is something that Rees has struggled with since high school. He worked in a spread offense in high school, and didn’t consistently make deep throws.

Meanwhile, one of the big strengths for Hendrix is his arm. Not only that, he can make solid throws while on the run. Golson was able to make solid throws out of the pocket, and made some big throws, including this one against Oklahoma.

While Rees has the opportunity to be the starter, the offense was preparing for Golson to play under center. With Rees going in, the offense would likely have to adjust to his strengths in order to succeed.

On the other hand, bringing in Hendrix as the starter would require fewer changes on the offense. While Hendirx has a much bigger frame, both players have solid arm strength and can be threats on the ground and outside of the pocket.

By no means should Hendrix be given the starting job, but Brian Kelly and the rest of the Notre Dame coaching staff absolutely must give Hendrix a shot. If he can prove he deserves the starting job, the team wouldn’t have to adjust as much due to his similar strengths compared to Golson.

MLS Saturday Wrap

Joe Tansey — Sat, 25 May 2013 23:19:30 -0400

On a good night in Major League Soccer, eight goals spread across six matches is considered a decent total, but when eight goals are scored in one match, it is deemed as a must-watch highlight.

That is how Saturday kicked off in the league as Montreal and Philadelphia provided plenty of goals for the fans at Stade Saputo to enjoy.

Elsewhere across the league, 2-0 was the popular result with three matches ending that way.

The most shocking result of the night came from Utah. The Fire surprisingly earned at point at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Read on for recaps of each of the six matches played in MLS on Saturday night.

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T.J. Grant Knocks out Gray Maynard, Earns Next Shot at Benson Henderson's Title

Damon Martin — Sat, 25 May 2013 23:15:04 -0400

At the UFC on Fox 7 post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White announced that the winner of the UFC 160 lightweight showdown between T.J. Grant and Gray Maynard would get the next shot at the belt held by champion Benson Henderson.

"Gray Maynard's ranked No. 3, T.J. Grant is ranked No. 7, these guys are going to fight at UFC 160, May 25," White said in April. "The winner of that fight will fight Ben Henderson next."

On Saturday night, Grant not only earned that shot, but he sent a message to the entire division that he's for real and is the true No. 1 contender.

Facing Maynard at UFC 160, Grant knew that a title shot was on the line and leaving a lasting impression would be the best way to go about earning one. He certainly did that after clipping and catching Maynard early in the first round, hurting the former title contender.

Once Grant smelled blood, he didn't let up until Maynard was on the canvas and wasn't getting up.

The Canadian unloaded a barrage of heavy punches, and Maynard couldn't recover long enough to do anything except absorb more punishment. The referee finally stepped in to stop the carnage, with Grant standing tall as the victor.

Now with five wins in a row since joining the lightweight division, Grant has solidified his spot as the No. 1 contender. He now awaits a showdown with Henderson later this year.

"I know what Dana said, I want to fight Benson Henderson for the title. Nothing but respect, but hey I want to fight the champ. I want to be the champ," Grant shouted after the knockout. "Let's do it."

It was an emphatic statement by Grant to not only beat Maynard, who has been near the top of the lightweight division for the past few years, but to become only the second fighter to finish him in the UFC. The other fighter was Frankie Edgar in their rematch in 2011.

Grant is now in a prime position to challenge Henderson for the belt in a bout that could take place sometime this summer, given his quick win over Maynard on Saturday night. With several cards in August still awaiting main event assignments, a championship bout between Henderson and Grant would fit the bill.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

UFC 160: What We Learned from TJ Grant vs. Gray Maynard

Scott Harris — Sat, 25 May 2013 23:00:25 -0400

T.J. Grant earned a shot at the UFC lightweight title shot with a masterful and vicious first-round technical knockout over Gray Maynard at UFC 160 Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Grant (21-5) landed hard combinations punctuated by heavy right hands and accurate knee strikes to fell Maynard (11-2-1-1) three separate times before the referee finally stopped the action.

UFC president Dana White had previously said the winner of this fight would receive a title shot against champ Benson Henderson.

What We'll Remember about This Fight

That a relative unknown in Grant defeated a higher-profile fighter in Maynard to earn a shot at the lightweight title. Grant, as of the second the referee waved his hands, is for real.

What We Learned about T.J. Grant

The fact that he seemed to know what Maynard was going to do before he did it, then beat him to the punch each and every time. Grant hits hard, but the way he timed the punches and anticipated his opponent's movements were the real power of that fight-ending sequence.

What We Learned about Gray Maynard

He has a solid chin, but the reason he lasted as long as he did was because of a decidedly, uh, generous ref in Chris Tognoni. He gave Maynard several chances to recover, but Grant kept the heat on as Maynard staggered to his feet only to fall again. He was game, but perhaps after such a long time away (this was only his fourth fight in the past three years) he needs to start his climb on a lower rung.

What's Next for Grant

This is an easy call, if not an easy fight. Next up is a title dance with champion Benson Henderson.

What's Next for Maynard

I'd be interested in a scrap with Gilbert Melendez. That's an interesting clash of styles right there. But if that's too stiff of an opponent for Maynard at this particular stage, someone like Tim Means would be an interesting foil.

Red Wings vs. Blackhawks Game 5: Score, Twitter Reaction and Analysis

Matt Fitzgerald — Sat, 25 May 2013 23:00:08 -0400

The Chicago Blackhawks staved off NHL postseason elimination against the Detroit Red Wings in the United Center on Saturday evening, emerging with a 4-1 victory in Game 5.

That cuts Detroit’s lead in the Western Conference semifinals series to 3-2. The Presidents' Trophy-winning Blackhawks will need two similar performances to avoid a disappointingly early playoff exit.

It was a heated battle throughout as the top-seeded Blackhawks finally rose to the physical challenge that has been stymieing their bid for a second Stanley Cup in four seasons.

Sports anchor Rafer Weigel of ABC7 in Chicago made an astute observation during the action:

Particularly encouraging was the power-play goal by captain Jonathan Toews with 4:13 left in the second period that gave Chicago the insurance it needed heading into the third.

To begin the Blackhawks' charge, Bryan Bickell streaked toward Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard and was denied on a backhand shot. A skirmish ensued in front of the goal, and Bickell casually skated around the net before the puck came right to him, and he ripped it past Howard to put the hosting Blackhawks on the board first with under six minutes left in the first period.

It was a scrappy sort of goal, but it was further glorified by what Bickell’s shot did to the goal camera, per NHL.com’s Brian Hedger:

Dan Cleary banged home a rebound during an odd-man rush to even up the score at one apiece. It was his fourth goal of the playoffs, which is particularly surprising since Cleary found the net just nine times in 48 regular-season games.

But from there, the Blackhawks finally picked up the slack with the man advantage. Defenseman Duncan Keith ripped a one-timer from just inside the blue line, which Andrew Shaw redirected to give the Blackhawks the 2-1 advantage.

Nick Cotsonika of Yahoo! Sports could hardly believe it:

Another power play—courtesy of a two-minute penalty for Detroit left-winger Justin Abdelkader—gave the Blackhawks another golden opportunity that they did not let go to waste. Toews took a feed from Marian Hossa and roofed it past Howard from the doorstep for his first goal of the entire postseason.

This type of pinpoint execution is something Chicago struggled with even during the regular season, when it ranked 19th in power-play percentage. Although that's not the best ranking, the unit’s play in these playoffs was far worse entering Saturday, as ESPN’s John Bucigross pointed out:

The Blackhawks converted two of their three opportunities in Game 5, and that was the big difference in extending their season.

Despite the best efforts of Red Wings stars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, Chicago was determined not to lose this one.

Shaw netted his second goal after Viktor Stalberg's shot caromed off the boards behind Howard and sat just in front of the goal. In the right place at the right time, Shaw stuffed it home from point-blank range, putting the game effectively out of reach.

What's Next?

Renowned film critic Richard Roeper summarized the sentiment surrounding the Blackhawks in a succinct, effective manner, as they finally looked like the dominant force they were in the regular season:

It is still desperation time for Chicago, because Joel Quenneville's club still needs two more victories, including one in Joe Louis Arena in Game 6 on Monday evening at 8 p.m. ET.

At least if the Blackhawks lose to the seventh-seeded Red Wings in that contest, it won't be in front of the home fans. However, if Toews can step up again and Chicago can execute its power play effectively, don't be surprised if this series goes the distance.

UFC 160 Velasquez vs Silva 2: Live Updates, Highlights and Analysis

Tristan Thornburgh — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:54:56 -0400

Keep it locked right here as we bring you live coverage of UFC 160!

Quarterback Everett Golson No Longer Enrolled at Notre Dame

Matt Fitzgerald — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:48:53 -0400

Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Everett Golson, who was key in guiding the team to the BCS National Championship game this past season, is no longer enrolled at the university.

South Bend Tribune beat writer Eric Hansen broke the news of this shocking development on Saturday:

NewsCenter 16’s Kevin Lewis and Angelo DiCarlo also confirmed that it was true, citing a phone interview with the same university spokesman. Due to federal and school privacy laws, Brown was unable to comment further on the matter.

Tommy Rees figures to fill in as the starter since he's a senior with prior experience, but he doesn't bring the dynamic athleticism to the gridiron that Golson showcased. Suddenly, the Irish are without a surefire signal-caller ahead of the 2013 season.

Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune addressed the prospect of Golson re-enrolling, but indicated that he is likely out for the impending season:

ESPN.com's Matt Fortuna logged a quote from Golson's father, Wayne, who is uncertain about his son's whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding his situation:

Hamilton then provided more specifics regarding what he's hearing from sources, who say that Golson's academics are to blame for his departure:

As a redshirt freshman, Golson improved throughout the year despite being pulled in certain situations for more experienced backup, Rees. Golson threw for 2405 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2012 while running for 298 yards and six additional scores.

The most significant progress Golson made, though, came when the Irish needed him most to keep their national title hopes alive. ESPN Stats & Info highlights how good Golson was becoming:

Now, it’s down to Rees, Andrew Hendrix and Malik Zaire on the Notre Dame quarterback depth chart, with Gunner Kiel having transferred to Cincinnati last month.

Even with Golson, it was going to be incredibly difficult to emulate last season’s success, which resulted in an undefeated record before a national title game loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Without the Myrtle Beach star running the offense, it’s going to be that much harder for head coach Brian Kelly and the Irish to build off their recent momentum.

Lionel Messi and Barcelona Must Be Patient with Newly Acquired Neymar

Brian Leigh — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:40:40 -0400

On Saturday afternoon, a European club, finally, after an eternity of coquettish negotiation, agreed to terms with 21-year-old Brazilian forward Neymar.

Per FC Barcelona's official Twitter account:

The move is incendiary to say the least. Despite today's all-German Champions League final, and despite Bayern Munich's victory/second straight appearance in the game, FC Barcelona are widely considered the strongest side in the world. That is, you could put them on a neutral field against any club on the globe—Bayern Munich included—and Vegas would probably make them the odds-on favorite.

So it hardly seems necessary for them to poach the top player in the Western Hemisphere. Especially when you consider Neymar's idiosyncratic style. His is a game that relies on both pomp and circumstance—not showy, per se, since he's brutally efficient, but certainly a fan of the flair.

Don't believe me? Take a look for yourself:

On talent and talent alone, Neymar is a season-altering addition for Barcelona, an embarrassing haul of riches for the world's most opulent roster. But maybe, just maybe, his impact won't be as swift as it appears on first glance.

Shoehorning Neymar's brio into Barca's calculated attack will produce some inevitable growing pains. It just has to. If it doesn't, something will have gone horribly wrong. There is a way to fit Neymar's unique skill set into this formation, but that answer needs to come about organically—things need to go wrong before they go right.

For one thing, the young Brazilian needs to learn how to play with Lionel Messi. On first glance that doesn't seem too hard: Messi is, by all accounts—both firsthand and observatory—one of the best people to play with in the world. He always seems to be open, and he never seems to miss an open teammate—what more could anyone ask?

But Neymar is used to filling precisely that role. He's been the "Messi" on every team he's ever played on. He was the one dominating the ball, he was the one through whom the offense ran, and he was the one tasked with getting his teammates involved. How will he adjust to having another man run the show? And how will that other man, Messi, react the first time Neymar waves him off and takes a defender on his own?

The answer, as I alluded to earlier, is simple: with time. In time, and only in time, the two diminutive scorers will learn where and when and how to play off one another. They'll learn the intricacies of one another's game and, being two of the most astute footballers in the world, figure the perfect way to amplify them.

At first, things may appear to be ugly. Neymar might have a rough go adjusting to La Liga, to the rigorous precision of Barcelona's attack—a far cry from the avant-garde, go-go-go attack his team employed at Santos. He'll need to readjust some nuances in his game—yes, even a game that good needs some tweaks—in order to become a better fit for his new team.

ESPN's Francesc Tomas, a longtime expert on all things Barcelona, weighed in with similar sentiments to mine, preaching patience and adjustment for a 21-year-old beginning his first stint in Europe:

A word of caution, though: Although 21-year-old Neymar has scored 122 goals in his lpst 171 matches for Santos, and 19 in 31 matches for Brazil, he is likely to need a fair amount of time to adapt not only to the different demands of European football but also to the complex formation mechanisms at Barcelona.

Sure, great players eventually should be able to work together to enhance each other’s games, but such a process can take variable time according to the skills and willingness of the different individuals.

Patience would be a necessary virtue because insanely high expectations wouldn't help anybody....His main priority should be adapting to the team rather than trying to change already-successful routines in order to become the main attacking reference.

Make no mistake about it: Barcelona will be unstoppable in FIFA 14. Your clearly inferior friends will drive you insane by picking them, giving the ball to Messi and Neymar, beating you despite 40 percent possession, then bragging about how much better than you they are. These are things we cannot avoid.

But Barcelona will not be unstoppable in Real Life 2014. At least not yet. There's no way a well-olied machine like the Blaugrana can adapt to such a massive force of entropy that quick.

If they're patient with their development of Neymar, however, and if they continue to grow as a team, there's a chance the 2015 version might be just as good as their pixelated counterpart.

Manchester City Top Chelsea 5-3 in Thrilling Yankee Stadium Friendly

John Greely — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:40:10 -0400

Defense? Who needs defense?

In a game that resembled the soccer equivalent of an And1 mixtape, Manchester City defeated Chelsea 5-3 at Yankee Stadium on Saturday evening.

The match, played in front of a nearly-packed house in the Bronx (official attendance was listed at 39,462), was exactly the kind of spectacle both clubs had to be hoping for.

While Manchester City made waves in American soccer circles this week with the announcement of New York City FC, it was Chelsea who had home-field advantage on the day. The Blues' edge among the crowd was clear as day, illustrating, perhaps, how far City still has to go in the NYC market.

The match was also the last for Chelsea's Rafa Benitez, with a report by Duncan Castles of Sulia saying that Jose Mourinho will be named as his replacement imminently. Many Chelsea fans will undoubtedly be pleased by the report, and in fact, several chants rained down from the stands in support of the self-proclaimed "Special One."

In on-field action, the scoring began quickly after the opening whistle. Gareth Barry put the Citizens in front in the first five minutes after a Chelsea defensive blunder. Samir Nasri doubled the lead in the 29th minute, and the score stood 2-0 at the break.

The action really began to pick up in the second half, as Chelsea's Ramires scored just moments after play resumed. James Milner extended City's lead back to two in the 58th, before a frantic final 22 minutes featuring a whopping four goals.

It was the goal in the 69th minute, in particular, that electrified the crowd. Fernando Torres displayed a lovely bit of skill in the box before setting up an open-netter for Ramires' second. Nasri responded moments later by chipping it over Petr Cech (who had come on at the half), but the goal of the night was the one to follow.

Juan Mata, whose entry in the 61st minute received the largest ovation of the night, struck a brilliant free kick off the bar and in.

But just two minutes later, in the 83rd, Edin Dzeko's long-range effort extended City's lead yet again in what was to be the last goal of the match.

When the final whistle blew, the crowd's thunderous roar of appreciation told the tale. It had been an immensely entertaining game, replete with attacking play and endless creativity. And while the stakes may have been low in this postseason exhibition, it's safe to say that both clubs made some fans at Yankee Stadium on the day. And isn't that really the point?

UFC 160: What We Learned from Donald Cerrone vs. K.J. Noons

Craig Amos — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:39:52 -0400

The UFC 160 main card got under way with a lightweight bout between fight night bonus-hunter Donald Cerrone and Strikeforce import K.J. Noons on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

The fight was billed as a potential striking war, and the action itself lived up to that billing for its majority. In the end, it was Cerrone's edge on the feet, and his ability to mix in a takedown here and there, that earned him a very bloody unanimous-decision victory.

What We'll Remember About This Fight

It was an entertaining one, so it's memorable in that regard. Cerrone's performance was memorable in its own right.

We also may remember it as Noons' unsuccessful UFC debut. If he doesn't turn it around quickly, we aren't likely to remember him at all for much longer.

What We Learned About Cerrone

His back was against the wall coming into this fight, so we learned he has a little clutch in him. And while we already knew his striking was sound, outclassing a tough boxer like Noons was impressive.

Another thing we learned was that Cerrone is more willing to change it up. He's an awesome grappler but has rarely initiated takedowns in the past. Against Noons, he really mixed his attacks nicely.

What We Learned About Noons

Was it Octagon jitters, or does Noons have some cardio issues? Hard to say, but in his defense, he isn't known for gassing.

What is clear is that his striking, while solid, is not enough to carry him through upper-level competition in the UFC. To make an impact, he'll have to refine his overall game.

What's Next for Cerrone

A nice win at UFC 160 should earn him a big fight. Jim Miller poses an interesting stylistic challenge, so that's an option. Another option would be Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is on the same fight schedule as Cerrone, having competed earlier in the night.

What's Next for Noons

Noons' final Strikeforce fight was a dubious decision loss to Ryan Couture. Now that both men are in the UFC and coming off losses, he should get a shot at righting the judges' mistake.

That is, if both he and Couture get a second fight with the promotion.

Torey Krug's 4th Goal in 5 Games Makes Him Biggest Story of NHL Postseason

Joseph Zucker — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:31:39 -0400

It's only taken Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug five postseason games to make NHL history.

It was almost a week ago when Krug was an injury replacement for Dennis Seidenberg. Prior to the playoffs, Krug had been playing with the Providence Bruins. Now the 22-year-old defenseman has been thrust into the spotlight as a result of his goal-scoring heroics. He's been so good that he's entering a zone no other rookie defenseman ever has (h/t Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com):

This is the kind of story that if you pitched to a Hollywood producer, he or she would tell you it's too ridiculous. No player could step into the cauldron that is the Stanley Cup Playoffs and make such an immediate impact.

And yet, that's exactly what Krug has done.

It's much too early to start discussing Krug's potential legacy. He's got so few games under his sleeve it's impossible to predict where his career could go from here.

Of course, the same could be said when another Boston legend came on as a replacement after the starter went down with an injury. Nobody could have expected Tom Brady to become one of the greatest quarterbacks ever when he took over for Drew Bledsoe in 2001.

Could Krug become another legendary Bruins defenseman? Sure.

But there's also the possibility that this is the crowning achievement of his career. If that's the case, there's no shame in it.

At this point, there's no way Claude Julien will freeze him out of the team next season. The Bruins aren't dying for help in the defensive end of the ice—when their players are healthy. Still, the fans will be dying to see what Krug will be able to do with a full season at his disposal.

Even if the Bruins are knocked out of the Eastern Conference Finals in four games, Krug will always his this magical run. Nobody will be able to take away the goals he's scored and performances he's had.

And the further Boston goes, the more Krug's legend will grow. He's already being looked upon as the decisive factor in the team's 4-1 series win over the New York Rangers (h/t Boston Bruins):

If the Bruins manage to knock off the heavily favored Pittsburgh Penguins, Krug won't have to buy himself a drink in Boston ever again.

Normally in a postseason, the biggest talk surrounds which teams and stars have failed to deliver the most. This year has been no exception.

You've got three of the top four seeds in the Western Conference losing in the Conference Quarterfinals, and the Washington Capitals have failed to make it past the Conference semifinals for the sixth straight season.

With Krug's emergence, you've got a great story to cover up all of the disappointment. He has been a welcome story this postseason, and here's to hoping he'll continue this run.

UFC 160: What We Learned from Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story

Steven Rondina — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:27:10 -0400

Two wily welterweight veterans squared off on Saturday night in Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story. The two had a combined 22 UFC fights with a record of 15-7 before throwing down. Story and Pyle entered the fight heading in different directions.

At age 37, Pyle is on an impressive three-fight streak of knocking opponents out (he is actually 6-1 in his last seven fights). Story, who was the hottest prospect in MMA in 2010, is on a 2-3 skid, where his only wins have come against the less-than-memorable fighters Brock Jardine and Quinn Mulhern.

The two combined for a crafty, exciting match that saw some big hits and slick grappling. Pyle ended up getting the better end of a close split decision that had some (but not all) fans displeased.

So what did we learn?

The Welterweight Division Is Really, Really Stacked

Mike Pyle came into this fight with 6-1 record in his last seven fights. Rick Story owns wins over Jake Ellenberger, Thiago Alves and Johny Hendricks. Neither Pyle nor Story is close to the welterweight Top 10.

That is absurd and shows how deep the UFC's talent pool is at 170 pounds.

Both Pyle and Story would be champions in any other promotion in the world by now, but they find themselves miles away from a shot at UFC gold. The same, unfortunately, goes for guys like Dong Hyun Kim and Mike Pierce.

That, though, is the blessing and the curse of a crowded division.

The UFC Has a Problem with Mike Pyle

Yeah, seriously. While Pyle is one of the craftiest dudes in the division, there is no way around the fact that he has minimal name recognition and an advanced age.

He just keeps winning, though, and the UFC is running out of ways to keep him from moving toward the belt. It's tough to give an explanation why Pyle shouldn't fight a guy like Nick Diaz or Robbie Lawler next.

Unfortunately for him, he will likely wind up against Nate Marquardt or Siyar Bahadurzada.

Rick Story's Days Near the Top of the Division Are Over

You might not agree with the decision. Regardless, Story is 2-4 in his last six bouts.

It's strange, really. Story, after all, owns wins over Thiago Alves, Jake Ellenberger and Johny Hendricks. Those are elite fighters.

Still, he is racking up losses, and that six-fight winning streak from a few years ago seems further and further in the past. Story's job may be on the line right now, and he will need a win desperately in his next fight, if he isn't cut in the coming weeks.

UFC 160 Is Totally Stacked

Seriously, look at the preliminary card on this event. It's absurd how many established or worth-watching fighters are on this card. If you could watch any card so far in 2013, this would be the one to check out.

While some haven't been happy about how the split decisions have been going, that doesn't mean it has been a bad night of fights. In fact, it's been excellent.

Cleveland Cavaliers Can 'Win Now' with Defense

Tommy McConnell — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:27:05 -0400

There seems to be a "win now" mentality around the Cleveland Cavaliers currently, from both the front office and the fanbase. I'm not sure why that is—losing for three straight seasons is not fun to endure, but jumping the gun and pushing ahead before the time is right could end up being more detrimental in the long run.

That said, there doesn't seem to be a quick fix available to launch the Cavs into contention. The 2013 free-agent class is sparse, and the 2013 draft is devoid of first-year impact players.

Internal growth will play the biggest part, and so will health. Nearly every Cavalier of significance missed huge swaths of time due to injury.

So how can the Cavs contend in 2013-2014? With defense.

Cleveland was a mess defensively, but the hiring of Mike Brown should reverse that trend. Brown is an excellent defensive coach, but he also needs the correct personnel to carry out his scheme.

Let's start with the draft. If we are taking a defensive tact, then Nerlens Noel has to be the choice at No. 1. Ideally, he'll be back in time by 2014, having studied Brown's defense while he was out. Once he's ready, he should be turned loose as a weak-side shot-blocking monster.

Brown should hide him on the other team's weaker post player as he learns but encourage him to roam and make plays above the rim.

At No. 19, the Cavs should grab the best perimeter defender available. Pair him with Alonzo Gee, a solid defender in his own right. Let defense determine both selections.

As far as free agency, there are two superior defenders available: Tony Allen and Andre Iguodala. Cleveland can afford both but will have to overpay.

Give Allen a raise from his current $3.3 million to $5 million.

Iguodala will be more expensive. Assuming he walks away from more than $16 million next season, he has to realize he will not make that annually over a three- or four-year contract. He's trading one big paycheck for smaller, but longer, ones. Perhaps $12-13 million.

That's still too much, but that would be the trade-off.

With the addition of Allen and Iguodala, the Cavs would have two lethal perimeter defenders to unleash in Mike Brown's system, with an elite shot-blocker in Noel backing them up. Throw in Anderson Varejao's energy and hustle all over the place, and it would be awfully difficult to score on those four guys.

The trade-off is an almost excruciating offense. Cleveland would have to rely on Kyrie Irving creating shots, hot streaks from Dion Waiters and offensive rebounds and tip-ins from Varejao.

Any spacing on offense would go away. There's not a single guy to stretch the floor. Irving can knock it down from deep, but he would be the guy with the ball in his hands, not catching it. Iguodala is capable but not reliable. Allen should probably shoot nothing further out than a layup.

That's a recipe for a ton of games with scores of 89-85. But this system would play to Coach Brown's strengths and to Irving's ability to win close games down the stretch.

Would these moves have repercussions? Yes. They would kill the cap space for 2014, when Cleveland really wants to put its dollars to use. And they would result in the opposite of eye-catching hoops.

But the Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers, and to a lesser degree the San Antonio Spurs, have made it to the conference finals behind superior defense with below-average offensive play. San Antonio has combined its stellar D with awesome offense and is two games from playing in the Finals.

If Cleveland wants as many wins as possible in 2013-14, a defensive mentality is its best bet. These moves would hamstring future options, but Cleveland would make a huge leap from cellar-dweller to the playoffs.

Hold Your Upset Proclamations, We've Seen This Story Before with Heat and Pacers

Grant Hughes — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:23:00 -0400

The Indiana Pacers have decisively seized the momentum in the Eastern Conference Finals after an impressive showing in both Games 1 and 2 against the Miami Heat. They're leaving South Beach with a 1-1 split, but before the upset talk gets out of control, remember: We've been here once before.

The Pacers actually took a 2-1 series lead over the Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year. Despite losing Chris Bosh to a strained abdominal in the first half of Game 1, the Heat stormed back to take the series in six games.

Because this Miami team has overcome far longer odds against Indiana in the past, and done so without one of its best players, it's probably a mistake to overvalue the Pacers' Game 2 victory.

One obvious counterargument arises when looking more closely at the Heat's playoff defeat of the Pacers last year.

While Bosh was sidelined, Miami got a string of terrific performances from Dwyane Wade. Anyone who's been watching Wade during this series recognizes how unlikely it is that the Heat guard will average 33 points per game in three straight Miami wins—which is what he did in closing out Indiana the last time around.

Slowed by his advancing age and a balky knee, Wade is simply not that player anymore. Still, there are a few things that clearly favor the Heat in this series, some of which helped them defeat the Pacers last year.

Miami's bench showed up at the perfect time in 2012. In Games 4, 5, and 6, the Heat reserves averaged 38 points per game. This year's supporting cast is better than the one the Heat brought into postseason play last time around, thanks to the additions of Ray Allen and Chris Andersen as well as the surprising growth of Norris Cole. So, it stands to reason that Miami's subs can provide at least as much of a boost this year.

Plus, James took his game to another level when his team ran into trouble last year. His massive Game 4 (40 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists) helped the Heat even the series at 2-2.

And turnovers, still a problem for this year's version of the Pacers, cropped up in a big way in 2012.

Miami's win in Game 6 last year had a lot to do with Indiana's 22 giveaways. Based on what we've seen from the Pacers during these playoffs (they have the highest turnover ratio of any remaining postseason team), a similarly careless performance is not only possible at some point in this series, but likely.

Taking a broader approach, the Heat were flat-out better than the Pacers throughout the regular season. In fact, Erik Spoelstra's boys lost half as many games as Indiana did during the 2012-13 campaign.

Miami won 37 home games to the Pacers' 30 and notched 29 road victories to the Indiana's 19. In addition, the Heat's per-game point differential was nearly twice that of Indiana: plus-7.9 to plus-4.0.

There's a case to be made that while the Heat have proved themselves to be better against the entire breadth of the NBA, they've failed to do so against the Pacers, who amassed a 2-1 regular-season record against them.

There's no getting around that.

In many ways, the Pacers are uniquely designed to give the Heat problems. They're huge up front, always an issue against the brand of small ball Miami favors. Plus, Indiana boasts the league's best defense, preventing the kind of easy buckets in transition and at the rim that the Heat typically feast on.

Most of all, the Pacers aren't afraid of the Heat. They proved last year that they were capable of pulling ahead of Miami, and based on the way they've played so far, they've got every reason to believe that they can win this series.

But the Heat still have the best basketball player on the planet, a better bench and the knowledge that they've come back against the Pacers before. Remember, this series is tied at one game apiece; the Heat won last year after falling behind 2-1.

Indiana has a ton going for them, and there's no doubt that Miami has its hands full. But if forced to make a pick, I'd still take the Heat. There's just too much evidence from last year's postseason and this past regular season that shows they're the better team.

It won't be a complete shock if the Pacers win this series, but it's still far too early to start talking about upsets.

All stats via NBA.com unless otherwise indicated.

How Torey Krug's Emergence Impacts Boston Bruins vs Pittsburgh Penguins Matchup

Nicholas Goss — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:21:50 -0400

For the Boston Bruins to defeat the high-scoring Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Final, they will need the same offensive production from the blue line that they got in their five-game second-round series against the New York Rangers.

Boston leads the playoffs in goals from defensemen with 13, five more than Pittsburgh who ranks second in this category. For a team that lacks elite offensive skill in its top-nine forward group, the Bruins rely so much on their defensemen to generate scoring chances, especially on the power play.

One player who made a gigantic—and unexpected—impact on the Rangers series from the back end was Bruins defenseman Torey Krug, a rookie who made his playoff debut in Game 1 of the second round.

In just five postseason games, Krug has scored four goals, tying him with teammate Johnny Boychuk and Slava Voynov of the Los Angeles Kings for the league lead in goals scored among defensemen.

"They got a lot of offense from their back end," said Rangers head coach John Tortorella in his final postgame presser of the season after Saturday's Game 5 at TD Garden. "That was another difference in our series, getting offense from the back end, and [Krug] led the way. It’s funny how it works, as guys come into lineups."

Krug is the first rookie defenseman in the post-expansion era to score four goals in his first five NHL playoff games. Krug is also two goals away from tying the team record for goals scored by a rookie blueliner in a single postseason (six, by Glen Wesley in 1988).

"He's played such a big role since he's been up here," said Bruins forward Shawn Thornton.

"He makes hard plays look easy. Not just the points, not just the shots, the breakouts, the poise with the puck, making plays in the neutral zone that many people don't see. For a kid his age, he's got a lot of patience with the puck. He makes a lot of great plays. He plays a lot bigger than his stature."

Against a quick Penguins team with an effective and aggressive forecheck, the Bruins will need to have clean breakouts out of their defensive zone to rush up ice and prevent Pittsburgh from sustaining lengthy offensive zone pressure.

To accomplish this, the Bruins must move the puck quickly, make swift decisions in their own end and use their speed to evade forechecking forwards such as Matt Cooke and Brandon Sutter.

As a player who has the skill set of a traditional puck-moving defenseman (smooth skating, good vision, crisp passing, high hockey IQ), Krug will play an integral role in his team's success against the Penguins in the next round.

Krug's ability to weave through traffic in his own end and skate through the neutral zone leading the rush is a skill that many of Boston's defensemen lack. He's arguably the Bruins' best skater on the back end, and his composure with the puck is tremendous.

Whenever he finds himself in trouble, especially against an opponent with more size and strength, Krug is able to maneuver his way to safety with his skating.

The Bruins also need to capitalize on their power-play opportunities in the conference final because the Penguins have scored the most goals (30) at even strength in the postseason.

Boston's power play was abysmal for most of the regular season and its first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This part of the Bruins' game greatly improved in the second round, and the presence of Krug on the blue line during power-play situations had a lot to do with this success.

Krug's passing skills, vision and poise with the puck on the blue line is a valuable part of the Bruins power play, and the only other player with this kind of skill set in the team's defensive corps is fellow rookie Dougie Hamilton.

He impacts the power play by taking a lot of shots from the point with his quick release and power.

"It’s unbelievable, the poise [Krug] has with the puck," said Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. "He’s got great skating legs and he jumps into the open areas. And you saw those one-timers he had the last couple of games. They’re very nice shots. They’re perfect shots. It’s nice to see a guy like Torey to play so well."

Krug also does a good job of moving the puck quickly and walking the blue line to open up shooting lanes to prevent penalty killers from being able to block shots.

It's this kind of play that earned him a team-high 3:20 of power-play ice time in Boston's series-clinching 3-1 Game 5 victory over the Rangers. His goal on the power play (video below) during the second period of Saturday's game tied the score and swung the momentum in Boston's favor.

"I think obviously that was the turning point for us," said Krug when asked about his power-play goal.

"Getting the shots through, trying to cause havoc in the crease, I think that was a point of emphasis coach made between the first and second [periods]. I think that power play was the turning point for the game."

The Bruins will need the same level of effectiveness with the man advantage that they had in the second round in order to have success against a Pittsburgh team that ranks third among all playoff teams with an 89.3 penalty killing percentage.

If Bruins forwards Tyler Seguin, Chris Kelly, Jaromir Jagr and Rich Peverley continue to struggle and make little-to-no impact offensively (two goals between the four of them) in the conference final, the team's blue line will need to provide consistent scoring.

But against a Penguins offense that leads the playoffs in goals scored (47), goals scored per game (4.27) and power-play goals (13), Krug will need to play well defensively to help prevent Pittsburgh's bottom two lines from providing secondary scoring.

Krug's willingness to block shots, play physical and fight for pucks in the dirty areas has resulted in the rookie consistently earning 15-plus minutes of ice time per game in the playoffs.

New York's forwards are bigger and more physical than Pittsburgh's, and for much of the second round, Krug was forced to play against players such as Brian Boyle, who have impressive size and strength. The rookie passed this test quite well, and in this aspect, he will have an easier time in the conference final against a Penguins forward group that is smaller and less physical.

The 22-year-old defenseman should also be able to keep up with the quick pace of the Penguins offense because his speed is fantastic. If he is out of position, which rarely happens because of his hockey smarts, his recovery speed will help him get back into the play.

Krug is a rookie, but you would never know that by watching him skate at even strength and on the power play. Being able to earn the opportunity to reach the Stanley Cup Final played a part in Krug's decision to sign with the Bruins as a free agent coming out of Michigan State, and he's living this dream right now.

"When I signed, I chose Boston for this reason. I wanted to win a Stanley Cup. I knew that they expected to win the Stanley Cup year after year, and I knew that we were going to be in contention every year," Krug said.

"I’m glad that I just got the opportunity to come in, step in and contribute and try to help the team win."

If the Bruins are going to beat the Penguins in the two teams' first playoff meeting since the 1992 Wales Conference Final, Krug will need to keep contributing at both ends of the ice.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report. He was a credentialed reporter at the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and 2012 NHL playoffs in Boston. He's also a credentialed reporter at the 2013 NHL playoffs in Boston.

Who's to Blame for New York Rangers' 2nd-Round Loss to Boston Bruins?

Steve Silverman — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:19:31 -0400

It was nearly a complete collapse by the New York Rangers in their second-round loss to the Boston Bruins.

New York went down in five games, and although three of those losses were close, it was the Bruins who made nearly all the big plays at the key moments.

If not for the remarkable play of Henrik Lundqvist in the third, fourth and fifth games, several of the games would have likely ended in blowout fashion.

Lundqvist was not at his best in the second game, but you will not find his name on this list of those responsible for New York's defeat.

Remember, the Rangers started the season as one of the NHL's favorites after trading for Rick Nash in the offseason, but they never played in that manner in the regular season or playoffs.

This is the second straight year that the Rangers were taken apart in their decisive playoff series and there are serious questions about this team's future.

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Velasquez vs Silva 2: Keys to Bigfoot Avenging His Loss in UFC 160 Main Event

Alex Ballentine — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:14:34 -0400

After watching Antonio Silva receive a bloody beatdown in his UFC debut against Cain Velasquez, it was hard to imagine that he would ever be part of the heavyweight championship picture.

Yet, here he is, fighting for the heavyweight championship—against Velasquez no less.

Silva bounced back from his demoralizing loss in the most emphatic way possible. As Fightnomics points out, he came through with knockouts in back-to-back fights despite being the underdog in both bouts.

Against Velasquez, Silva once again faces long odds. Here's what it will take to reverse them again.

Avoid Takedowns

This won't be easy.

According to FightMetric, Velasquez completes more than six takedowns per 15 minutes, which is an incredible amount. Once he finds a way to drag opponents to the ground, the round (or fight) is usually over.

Velasquez will rain down strikes until he leaves his opponent completely exhausted or the ref comes in to stop the fight. Silva should know—he didn't even make it past the first round with Velasquez on top of him in their first meeting.

However, the champ only completes 52 percent of his takedown attempts, so turning him away isn't a completely lost cause.

Silva can't afford to be put on his back.

Look for His Own Takedowns

One thing that Silva has on Velasquez is size. If he finds a way to put the champion on his back, he'll offer a challenge that few have been able to bring to the champion.

Velasquez defends 88 percent of takedown attempts, but if Silva abandons takedowns entirely, it could be a short night. Even if Silva fails to complete his takedown attempts, they can at least allow him to clinch and wear down the champion.

Silva has impressive ground-and-pound in his own right. If he wants to reverse roles this time around, he'll have to find a way to get Velasquez to the ground.

Swing for the Fences

There's a reason that Velasquez is the champion and favorite here. He is supremely talented and holds every advantage over Silva.

The one thing that Silva has going for him, though, is power. Especially in the heavyweight division, power can be the great equalizer.

Velasquez hasn't shown many holes in his game, but it's fair to say that a case could be made that his chin is a bit suspect. After all, he originally lost the belt from just one well-landed punch from Junior dos Santos and was caught a few times by Cheick Kongo in their fight.

Silva can't be afraid to let his hands go. His incredible knockout power got him this far, and he must rely on it against the champion.

Just one well-connected shot could shock the MMA world.

Champions League 2013: Players Who Helped Careers with Strong Showings

Tyler Brooke — Sat, 25 May 2013 22:03:27 -0400

Now that the Champions League final is over, it’s time to look at several players whose performances in the tournament helped their careers.

Sure, there were a number of players who were disappointed with how the tournament went, but a few guys came out of the Champions League with plenty to be happy about.

Let’s go ahead and take a look at the players who helped themselves the most.

Robert Lewandowski

Before the Champions League, Lewandowski was considered one of the best strikers in the world. Still, the tournament was the perfect stage for the striker to shine, and now even the casual fan knows how good this guy is.

Lewandowski scored 10 goals, finishing second behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who had 12 goals. He scored more goals than both Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller, proving how talented he really is.

The semifinal match against Real Madrid really put him on the map.

He scored all four goals for Dortmund, the first player in the history of the Champions League to do so in a semifinal match.

Even though his team wasn’t able to pull out the win in the finals, Lewandowski has now become one of the brightest soccer stars in the world.

Arjen Robben

As a midfielder, Robben had a solid performance throughout the entire tournament.

However, nothing will help his career more than the late-match heroics that ensued in the Champions League final.

With the match tied 1-1, Robben was the hero for Bayern Munich when in the 89th minute he was able to score the game-winning goal to give Bayern the title.

Robben finished the tournament with four goals and two assists, but nothing will compare to his go-ahead goal. He will be remembered in Germany for quite some time after his last-minute heroics.

Manuel Neuer

Both goalies in the final match played fantastic, but Neuer made a bigger name for himself with the championship victory.

In the UCL final, Neuer had six saves while allowing only one goal on the night. Those six saves were the most he had in a league or UCL game all season.

He finished with 10 wins and only 11 allowed goals in the 13 games played. His fantastic goalkeeping was one of the big reasons why Bayern were able to do so well in the tournament.

Being the goalkeeper on the winning team in the UCL will make you popular enough, but the dominance by Neuer throughout the entire tournament will really help his career.

Gregg Popovich Benches Entire Starting 5 in 1st Quarter After Bad Game 3 Start

Grant Hughes — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:57:32 -0400

With 4:52 remaining in the first quarter of Game 3 against the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had seen enough from his starting unit.

So he benched them. All of them.

Tony Parker had coughed the ball up four times, and the Spurs had committed seven turnovers in the first seven minutes of the game. Combined with a 2-of-9 effort from the field, San Antonio's first five had dug themselves a 16-5 hole.

The Spurs on the floor simply didn't come close to matching the Grizzlies' energy, and Pop's move was designed to avert a potential game-deciding quarter. Well, it was meant to do that and send a message to his starters that this kind of performance simply wouldn't be tolerated.

It's no secret that early series deficits don't bother the Grizzlies. They fell behind in both of their previous matchups this postseason before roaring back to advance. Popovich obviously knows this, and he wasn't about to let Memphis begin its comeback so easily.

Memphis' home crowd was electric, and that enthusiasm clearly got the Grizzlies going early. Tony Allen was energized, Mike Conley was flying all over the floor and Tayshaun Prince's wonky jumper was actually falling.

Conversely, Danny Green took a terrible shot, Tim Duncan was careless and we've already chronicled Parker's epic struggles. In short, the Spurs came out sleepwalking while the Grizz shot out of the tunnel at a dead sprint.

The San Antonio reserves that came into the game actually did play a bit better than the starters, but the Grizzlies still ended the first quarter with a 29-13 advantage.

But really, who cares about the score? It's just unequivocally awesome that Pop took three future Hall of Famers and a pair of terrific young wings and put them on a timeout for misbehaving. No other coach in the NBA gets away with that, right?

Long live Popovich.

WWE: Curtis Axel's Latest Tweet Hints at Potential Friction with CM Punk

Bill Atkinson — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:47:57 -0400

Is the latest “Paul Heyman Guy” starting to get under the skin of the original “Paul Heyman Guy”?

CM Punk and Curtis Axel have launched a Twitter war over, of all things, grammar. And it may be setting the stage for a showdown later this summer.

It all started two days ago. Axel, still basking in the glow of joining the Heyman stable, sent out the following tweet:

Life is good when your a #PaulHeymanGuy!!! @WWE @HeymanHustle

Punk, ever the perfectionist, took some issue with Axel’s grammar and decided to tweet a suggestion:

@RealCurtisAxel: Life is good when your a #PaulHeymanGuy!!! @WWE @HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/vvLkBeNAUZ”You're.

That prompted the following response from Axel:

Love the grammar geeks! Just think, how impressive would it be to correct grammar with one eye after I bust YOUR orbital bone? #nerds

It’s possible that the whole thing is a work, sort of a way to welcome Axel into the fold. But it also could be setting up a storyline for Punk’s eventual return to WWE.

As reported earlier by Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via WrestlingInc.com), WWE is kicking around the idea of having the former WWE champion return from his injury hiatus as a babyface and feud with the other original Paul Heyman Guy, Brock Lesnar.

It has been reported that WWE wants Punk to return at next month’s Payback pay-per-view in Punk’s hometown of Chicago. If that happens, the owners of the Allstate Arena would have to buy a new roof to replace the one that will blown off.

If Punk does come back for Payback, I could see Axel trying to make a name for himself by coming out during the expected Punk return speech and try to start something. That prompts Punk and Axel to start mixing it up in the ring, which ultimately leads to Lesnar coming out and beating Punk down.

This begins Punk’s summer of discontent, which will end up with a match at SummerSlam that could feature Punk against Lesnar (likely) or Punk against Axel (not as likely). But if Punk and Lesnar wind up scrapping, then do not be surprised to see Axel having a major role in its outcome.

And WWE gets a triple treat—a CM Punk return, a big-name feud for Brock Lesnar and a major push for a guy who had waited so many years for his moment in the sun.

Follow Bill Atkinson on Twitter at @BAtkinson1963.

Blueprint to Make an Andre Ward vs. Carl Froch Rematch

Lyle Fitzsimmons — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:47:11 -0400

It was frustratingly reminiscent of election season.

Within minutes of Carl Froch’s beatdown of good friend and ex-conqueror Mikkel Kessler, the producers at HBO correctly saw fit to include Andre Ward in the post-fight fracas.

After all, Ward is the rightful top man at 168 pounds and—17 months ago in Atlantic City—he became just the second to defeat the frisky Brit in a decade-plus pro career. So getting the pair within shouting range of one another in the aftermath of a cracking good fight before 19,000 zealots in London’s O2 Arena was, in TV terms, a no-brainer.

But rather than verbal fireworks between the one-time rivals, the to and fro between them was far heavier on subtle spin than steamy substance.

Play-by-play man Jim Lampley lobbed non-combative softballs at Ward about Froch.

Froch spoke a lot, but said little, in a brief ringside chat with Max Kellerman.

And upon swinging back to Lampley and Ward, the show’s final stages faded to black—sans fireworks.

Left unsaid amid the innocuous blather was exactly what everyone wanted to hear.

What will it take to get Ward and Froch together in a super middleweight rematch?

Based on the conclusions culled from Saturday’s posturing, the main issues are location, location and location.

Though Ward was a one-sided—and many contend, dullish—winner in the initial go-round with Froch back in 2011, the events of the past few months months have conspired to make a return date the best matchup available in a weight class the two have since seized by the throat.

Froch returned within five months of the Ward loss with a TKO of unbeaten Lucian Bute and whipped an overmatched Yusaf Mack in three rounds before downing Kessler on Saturday. Ward, meanwhile, used a belt-seeking Chad Dawson for a virtuoso encore in his first post-Froch fight nine months later, sapping the 175-pound kingpin’s spirit on the way to a 10th-round TKO in California.

He’s been on the shelf since that night with a shoulder injury, lending to the perception that Froch has significantly closed the gap. So much so, in fact, that Team Froch boldly claims Ward needs to take to the road to truly legitimize his street cred.

He’s bad, they concede, but he ain’t worldwide.

“I always said I’d like to fight Andre Ward again. It’s a fight out there that I know I can win,” Froch said to HBO’s Kellerman. “If I do get him in England, I will beat him. Let’s do it here. Let’s get it right.”

Ward, for his sake, didn’t veto the idea…but he didn’t exactly leap at it either.

“At this stage of my career, I’m open to any fight that makes sense,” he said to HBO’s Lampley. “I don’t know if that’s in the U.S. or the U.K. (Froch’s people) need to show me how bad he wants it here. They need to show me why it makes sense for me to come here.”

For his own sake, it’s an option he ought to take very, very seriously.

Though he’s got an Olympic pedigree and a spotless record, Ward barely registers beyond a blip with casual boxing fans, as evidenced by pedestrian domestic interest in the first Froch fight (6,000 tickets) and the subsequent Dawson fight (8,500 tickets)—both of which were on premium cable.

By contrast, Froch—in spite of losing 24 of 36 rounds on the three Ward scorecards—is a proven top-shelf attraction in his native land and warranted enough stateside interest from HBO to send crews across an ocean to get a seat at his hometown circus.

Lampley claimed the din created by the London mass was more penetrating than a Sergio Martinez-inspired Argentine gathering more than twice its size a month ago. And in a debate between factions struggling to hear themselves talk, that volume—and the cash it stands to generate in Europe—should register with everyone.

That money will still be there for the red-hot Froch if he decides on a trilogy with Kessler, as he mentioned was possible Saturday night; or if he agrees with Bernard Hopkins' fight-week assertion that the old Philadelphian should get next on the UK dance card.

Either way, the first refusal lies with Ward. And given the anonymity elsewhere in the 168-pound rankings, it seems clear that his only other option is silence.

If he wants to add “fan favorite” to the “world champion” tag he already possesses, it’s time he listened up.

UFC 160: What We Learned from Dennis Bermudez vs. Max Holloway

Scott Harris — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:38:18 -0400

In one of the best fights on the UFC 160 undercard, featherweight Dennis Bermudez used takedowns and some big power shots to punish Max Holloway and score a split-decision victory on Saturday.

For Bermudez (11-3), the win was his fourth straight. For 21-year-old Holloway (7-2), the youngest fighter in the UFC, it was only his second UFC defeat.

Both men fought well, and the decision may spark controversy among fans. Holloway appeared to land more strikes than Bermudez, despite doing less damage. It was a close fight, and both men acquitted themselves well.

What we'll remember about this fight

We'll remember Holloway's game plan. He used his range and a surprisingly good ground game to weather the Bermudez storm. But the raw power and athleticism of Bermudez won the day.

What we learned about Max Holloway

Holloway has much better ground skills than I initially suspected. Bermudez, a ground-and-pound specialist, was able to take Holloway down, but he couldn't hold him there. With his long limbs, Holloway was able to employ a strong and limber guard to keep Bermudez at bay or simply return to his feet. I was sure Bermudez would pin him to the mat and pound him out. I was wrong.

What we learned about Dennis Bermudez

He has the power—as evidenced by the hematoma he raised on Holloway's dome despite landing relatively few big blows—but wasn't able to adjust to Holloway's game plan. Holloway used his long reach to chip away at Bermudez from range and comported himself well on the ground. But credit Bermudez: He kept plugging away and did enough damage, especially at the end of the fight, to convince the judges that he was the better fighter.

What's next for Holloway

Assuming Jimy Hettes can return from his injury some time this year, the young judoka would help separate wheat from chaff in the younger end of the featherweight pool.

What's next for Bermudez

It's time for a bump up in competition. I'd suggest Steven Siler.

Breaking Down Skylar Diggins' WNBA Debut

Alex Ballentine — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:37:16 -0400

After a storied career at Notre Dame, Skylar Diggins made her highly anticipated WNBA debut with the Tulsa Shock on the road against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday night.

The Shock lost to the Dream 98-81, but as former WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw pointed out, Diggins was the main attraction for the Philips Arena crowd.

As the No. 3 pick in the 2013 WNBA draft, expectations for Diggins to step up and be a star will be sky high. If this game is any indication, she's headed in the right direction.

The 5'9" guard's stat line resembled the numbers she used to rack up in South Bend: 34 minutes, 15 points, three assists, two steals, 4-of-13 shooting, 7-of-8 free throws and five turnovers.

While her shooting percentage was less than ideal, Diggins showed a proclivity for getting to the line. She shot more free throws than anyone on either team.

Despite the loss, the Shock should feel as though they are in a better position to compete than last year, when they earned the No. 3 pick in the draft. Second-year guard Riquna Williams also stepped up in a big way, putting up 22 points on 6-of-18 shooting and chipping in four steals.

The Dream, who finished third in the Eastern Conference last season, were in top form. They were led by reserve guard Tiffany Hayes' 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 19 minutes.

Losing is something that Diggins will have to take some time to get used to. She led the Fighting Irish to a 35-2 record last season behind her 17.2 points, 6.1 assists and 3.1 steals per game.

Now she has suffered half that many losses just one game into the season.

Overall, Diggins didn't set the league on fire in her debut, but she did show that she has the potential to be a marquee player. That should lead to steady improvement for the Shock going forward.

Fantasy Baseball 2013: Full List of This Week's 2-Start Pitchers

Nathan Palatsky — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:37:13 -0400

Getting two starts out of a starting pitcher can make all the difference in a weekly fantasy league. While a one-start ace is still an ace, a two-start ace can single-handedly tip the scales. Additionally, two starts can make an otherwise mediocre spot starter into a difference-maker. This list is broken up by tiers, and rankings are based on skill as well as matchups.

The Aces

Yu Darvish @ARI, vs. KC
Adam Wainwright @KC, vs. SF
Justin Verlander vs. PIT, @BAL
Matt Harvey vs. NYY, @MIA
Chris Sale vs. CHC, @OAK
Cliff Lee @BOS, vs. MIL
Madison Bumgarner @OAK, @STL
James Shields vs. STL, @TEX
Gio Gonzalez vs. BAL, @ATL

You would be starting these pitchers regardless. If there is one among these who seems less safe than the rest, it's James Shields. He faces two good teams in the Cardinals and Rangers (in Arlington, no less). With the Royals' offensive underperformance, he may be at risk to lose both games, even with good starts. Meanwhile, Chris Sale's schedule may be the most friendly of this group, but they should all be started without hesitation.

The Next Best Things

Jeff Samardzija @CWS, vs. ARI
Clay Buchholz vs. PHI, @NYY
Hiroki Kuroda @NYM, vs. BOS
Mat Latos vs. CLE, @PIT
Hyun-Jin Ryu vs. LAA, @COL

Unless your fantasy steam is stacked with elite starting pitching, there is no reason to bench these pitchers in any format. None of them have particularly treacherous schedules. The one pitcher on this list who would worry me is Hyun-Jin Ryu. While the Angels have fallen far short of expectations, they still have Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and (such as he is) Josh Hamilton. Ryu then goes to Coors Field to face the Rockies. If you have better options, or a favorable combination of two one-start pitchers, feel free to sit Ryu.

Acceptable, if Unexceptional

C.J. Wilson @LAD, vs. HOU
Jarrod Parker vs. SF, vs. CWS
Jose Fernandez @TB, vs. NYM
Zack Greinke vs. LAA, @COL
Jered Weaver @LAD, vs. HOU
Trevor Cahill vs. TEX, @CHC
Tim Hudson @TOR, vs. WSH
Brandon Morrow vs. ATL, @SD
Ervin Santana vs. STL, @TEX

This is a very intriguing group of pitchers. It includes C.J. Wilson, Zack Greinke and Jered Weaver, pitchers who would ordinarily be in one of the first two groups. Wilson has failed to live up to expectations since arriving in Los Angeles, but he gets to face the woeful Dodgers in their pitcher-friendly confines and then the dumpster fire that is the Houston Astros. Greinke and Weaver are returning from injuries and need to establish their health and comfort before returning to the top group.

The other subgroup of note in this list is that of Jarrod Parker and Jose Fernandez, young up-and-comers, each with their own causes for concern. Parker has struggled to follow up his 2012 breakout campaign. Fernandez has shown flashes of brilliance, but he pitches for Miami, making wins hard to come by, and he has seen his workload limited in recent starts, limiting his per-start upside.

Matchup Plays

Paul Maholm @TOR, vs. WSH
Francisco Liriano @DET, vs. CIN
Zach McAllister @CIN, vs. TB
Jorge De La Rosa @HOU, vs. LAD
Carlos Quintana vs. CHC, @OAK
Jeremy Hellickson vs. MIA, @CLE
Ian Kennedy vs. TEX, @CHC
Jonathon Niese vs. NYY, @MIA
Jhoulys Chacin @HOU, vs. LAD

This list is full of pitchers who may have one favorable matchup (Jeremy Hellickson vs. Miami, Ian Kennedy @ Chicago). Feel free to spot start them as needed, but you should not feel obligated to start them blindly just because they have two starts. For instance, Liriano may be worth benching all week based on the expected matchups. If you must plug and play pitchers on this list, Jhoulys Chacin and Jorge De La Rosa possess the most favorable combination of starts, but Carlos Quintana should also produce a pair of useful outings.

Deep Leagues Only

Ryan Dempster vs. PHI, @NYY
Kevin Gausman @WSH, vs. DET
Phil Hughes @NYM, vs. BOS
Mark Buehrle vs. ATL, @SD
Tyler Cloyd @BOS, vs. MIL
Ross Detwiler vs. BAL, @ATL
Edwin Jackson @CWS, vs. ARI
Jake Odorizzi vs. MIA, @CLE
Mike Leake vs. CLE, @PIT
Dan Straily vs. SF, vs. CWS
Kevin Slowey @TB, vs. NYM
Tyler Lyons @KC, vs. SF
Edinson Volquez @SEA, vs. TOR
Ubaldo Jimenez @CIN, vs. TB

Most of these pitchers are available on the waiver wire and some of them are worth adding for one favorable matchup, but they are all combustible and should only be used under dire circumstances. Two pitchers in this group are particularly interesting for different reasons. Ubaldo Jimenez, before getting blasted by Detroit, had three consecutive starts with eight or more strikeouts and two or less runs allowed. His performances this week may prove if that streak was a flash in the pan or proof of some relevant upside.

Additionally, Kevin Gausman has two dangerous starts, but the Orioles top prospect has electric stuff, and if he impresses against the Nationals and Tigers, he may be worth consideration in a wider array of fantasy leagues going forward.

Others with Two Starts

Hiram Burgos vs. MIN, @PHI
Scott Diamond @MIL, vs. SEA
Jeanmar Gomez @DET, vs. CIN
Jason Hammel @WSH, vs. DET
Aaron Harang vs. SD, @MIN
Jordan Lyles vs. COL, @LAA
Brandon Maurer vs. SD, @MIN
Bud Norris vs. COL, @LAA
Mike Pelfrey @MIL, vs. SEA
Willy Peralta vs. MIN, @PHI
Rick Porcello vs. PIT, @BAL
Ross Wolf @ARI, vs. KC

Feel free to ignore this group for the most part. Brandon Maurer has a tempting pair of starts, but nothing thus far has made any of these players trustworthy in fantasy leagues.

Manchester City Reload with Aguero—the Dethroned Champions' Best Player

Jerrad Peters — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:33:12 -0400

Not everything about running a football team is glamorous.

The big-money signings during the summer and champagne showers the following spring after winning a trophy sometimes make it seem that way, but what the very best sides have come to know is that the nitty gritty of day-to-day club management—maintaining a stable organization and retaining the best players in the squad—is just as important as the big splashes.

On Saturday, Manchester City did a neat little piece of business, extending Sergio Aguero’s contract an extra season to the end of the 2016-17 campaign. The Argentine will be 28 years old when the pact expires, which means he’ll be playing out his prime years at Etihad Stadium.

“I’m very happy at City and I feel very appreciated,” the forward told the club’s official website. “It’s been barely two years since I’ve arrived and sometimes I feel like I’ve been here all my life.”

Aguero, who played five seasons at Atletico Madrid following a 2006 move from Independiente, joined City in 2011 for a whopping £38 million and instantly became one of the club’s key attackers.

He scored 23 Premier League goals in his first season at Eastlands—the 23rd coming well into second-half stoppage time on the final day of the campaign to seal a memorable title win for City. Injuries limited him to only 29 appearances and 12 goals in 2012-13, but with his knee and hamstring problems behind him, he is anticipating a return to full effectiveness next term.

“Now I am looking forward to next season and pushing hard to win the title again,” he said.

And to regain it, City will need him to be what he has shown every sign of becoming: their very best player.

At his best, Aguero is one of English football’s finest dribblers—a player who can take the ball from the centre of the pitch to the attacking third in a matter of seconds. He also uses his teammates well—averaging nearly 25 passes per match—and isn’t afraid to pull the trigger from just about anywhere.

In 2011-12 he took an impressive 135 shots (only Gareth Bale, Clint Dempsey, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie had more attempts), and despite making considerably fewer performances this past season, he still had a go on 82 occasions.

But it is his ability to come up big when the chips are down that City will really be counting on as they look to win back the title from Manchester United.

Aguero’s goal against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of last season was his eighth match-winner of the campaign—a category only Rooney and Van Persie bested him in. City came to expect heroics from him, and more than any other player in the squad, he delivered them.

With Carlos Tevez’s future up in the air heading into the summer and Edin Dzeko likely exiting the club, Aguero’s importance to the cause figures to be even greater going forward. While City are likely to sign one or two strikers in the transfer window, they already have their No. 1 man under wraps for the next four seasons.

City have proved they can acquire some of the biggest names in world football. On Saturday, they showed they can hold on to them as well.

5 Free Agents the Detroit Pistons Must Avoid

Jakub Rudnik — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:29:40 -0400

The Detroit Pistons will have over $20 million in cap space this summer, and their front office needs to be careful not to repeat the mistakes they made in 2009.

Similar to the summer of 2009, the 2013 free agent class is filled with good, but not great players. Beyond Dwight Howard and Chris Paul (who have shown no interest in playing in Detroit), there are very few All-Star caliber players available to the Pistons.

The Pistons have several good young players on the roster already, and there will be temptation to sign a big-name player in order to become a playoff team. Joe Dumars needs to have patience this summer and make sure to use their cap space on the right player, not just someone who fans will recognize.

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Neymar Will Fit Perfectly with Barcelona

Jeremy Fuchs — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:25:58 -0400

Brazilian star Neymar will join Barcelona, according to the club's official Twitter feed:

This is a perfect move for both Neymar and Barcelona. Neymar has the kind of talent that will make Barcelona the elite club in La Liga. He will fit perfectly.

With David Villa set to leave the club, Neymar could find a home on the left side. A trio of Neymar, Messi and Pedro would be absolutely lethal.

In addition, Barcelona's players have expressed interest in Neymar. Dani Alves told NDTV Sports that the combination of Messi and Neymar would be a huge coup for Barcelona:

In some games they have marked Messi a lot and Neymar would help unbalance defences more. We have lacked a little continuity up front and the objective looking forward to next season is to continue competing for everything.

Neymar is an incredibly creative and electric player. At just 21, he has great technical skill and shows maturity on the field beyond his years. He has remarkable passing ability and can finish from anywhere. He's a star and already one of the best players in the world.

Paired with Messi, his already prolific goal scoring would increase.

Neymar scored 43 goals in 47 appearances in 2012 and has 13 goals in 20 matches this year. With Messi feeding him the ball, and with defenses unable to focus all their attention on Neymar, the Brazilian should put plenty of balls in the back of net.

For his part, Messi seems excited about the prospect of adding Neymar. He told FootballTips that:

I do not know if he will end up at the club or not. However, it is true that he is a player who would bring a very different dimension to the team. Of course he would be a wonderful addition.

The combination of Messi and Neymar will have Barcelona fans salivating. Both are tremendous goal scorers and tremendous passers. Defenses will have a tough time trying to stop them. Throw in Pedro, a fine player in his own right, on the right side, and Barcelona is going to score a lot of goals.

Neymar will also take pressure off of Messi. Messi will no longer have to do all the work. Instead, the combination of Messi and Neymar means that if one has a bad night, the team won't suffer.

All in all, this is a terrific move for Barcelona. They get one of the best players in the world and give Messi another top player with whom to work. The combination makes Barcelona the instant favorite in La Liga, and beyond.

French Open 2013: Predicting the Men's and Women's Finals Matches

John Rozum — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:24:47 -0400

The 2013 French Open is set to begin on Sunday, and the field of competition is rather interesting to say the least.

Rafael Nadal is the No. 3 seed on the men's side; however, he's an obvious favorite since the Spaniard has won at Roland Garros seven of the previous eight years. That said, the men also are without two strong contenders in Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro.

Murray, according to BBC Sport, is out from a back injury:

Del Potro, on the other hand, has an illness as reported by Tennis World:

World No. 7 Juan Martin del Potro becoming the second big name to withdraw officially from the second grand slam of the season.

Potro flew back to Argentina on the week to get treated for a respiratory illness.

Flip to the women's side and Serena Williams sits atop the WTA rankings, although she has not claimed the French Open since 2002. Her elite counterpart Maria Sharapova, though, looks to be the first woman to repeat since Justine Henin won the hat trick from 2005 through 2007.

So, with the second Grand Slam of the season about to get underway, let's predict each final matchup.

Note: View of men's and women's brackets courtesy of RolandGarros.com.

Men's Bracket

Rafael Nadal (3) over Tomas Berdych (5)

This tournament is Nadal's to lose. Trying for an eighth French Open title, Nadal has a favorable draw to begin. Despite contenders such as Benoit Paire, Stanislas Wawrinka and Jerzy Janowicz having upset potential, Nadal is far better than anyone they have faced on clay.

Thereafter, Novak Djokovic is the expected challenger in the semifinals.

And although Djokovic defeated Nadal in Monaco, that also occurred in early April. Since then, Nadal has continued to dominate, whereas Djokovic was upset in Madrid and Italy. The man who refused to give up against Djokovic in Rome was Tomas Berdych.

Berdych is not an appealing pick for the final, but his draw is capable of making a strong run.

He won't face any elite competition until David Ferrer and Berdych has more confidence entering France. Along with the aforementioned win over Djokovic, Berdych defeated Murray in straight sets in Madrid and Roger Federer in Dubai's semifinals.

The common denominator between Ferrer and Berdych has mostly been Nadal. So, the winner here has the talent to outlast Federer. And given the Swiss' struggles versus top players this season, Berdych's chances are better than at first glance.

It's just defeating Nadal that will continue to be an issue for everyone at the French Open.

Women's Bracket

Serena Williams (1) over Maria Sharapova (2)

Here we have a colossal showdown between the No. 1 seed Serena Williams and the No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova.

Williams doesn't necessarily have the easier road, because for one, she has not made it past the quarterfinals since 2003 (semifinals). In addition, Williams has Ana Ivanovic and Sara Errani on her side of the bracket: Each are capable of pulling the upset.

Ivanovic won at Roland Garros in 2008 and was the 2007 runner-up. As for Errani, she was 2012's second-place finisher to Sharapova. Fortunately for Williams, those two are on the same section of the top bracket: Meaning, she would only have to face one before the final.

Switching gears to Sharapova, the most legit competition resides on the other section of her bracket. Na Li and Victoria Azarenka would have to face off in the quarterfinals for the chance to knock off the defending champ.

Given Sharapova's record against the field on clay, though, Williams is her only true challenge. Three times this season, Williams has defeated Sharapova and twice in straight sets.

So until Sharapova proves to overcome Williams, the American wins her second Roland Garros.