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Phil Jackson Claims He's Consulting for Lakers After Team Sought His Help

Grant Hughes — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:40:42 -0400

Phil Jackson is back with the Los Angeles Lakers, but probably not in the way most people would have expected. And in a turn of events that has to have stroked the Zen Master's considerable ego, his return as a pseudo-consultant came at the team's request.

Apparently, there's no bad blood between Jackson and the Lakers after the organization passed him over for its head-coaching duties in favor of Mike D'Antoni early in the 2012-13 season.

And despite a "casual" relationship with owner Jim Buss, Jackson seems more than willing to help out.

While the 11-time champ has no official title with the Lakers, he and longtime girlfriend Jeanie Buss were front and center at a recent Time Warner Cable event. Plus, there was a conspicuous absence as well.

Jackson and Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak have maintained a strong relationship over the years, and even the messy coaching search that netted D'Antoni didn't come between them. According to Kupchak, the only thing that might have irked Jackson during the process was a late wake-up call.

It seems that everyone's getting along in Lakerland these days. Well, at least as far as the front office is concerned. Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant could very well be at each other's throats at this very moment. But the harmony among the executives doesn't have Jackson convinced that the team is in good health.

In fact, he's already got a few ideas he'd like to implement.

That doesn't sound like someone who's a name-only consultant. Jackson has the experience—and now, apparently the desire—to help the Lakers sort out the financial mess of their current personnel situation.

It turns out all the Lakers had to do was ask.

Oh, and because this is Jackson, one of the most deliberately mercurial figures in NBA history, he planted a subtle seed that his ambitions might someday include a return to the bench.

I'm already enjoying the third go-round in the Jackson-Lakers saga.

Spurs Use Team Dinner After Crushing Game 6 to Clear Heads for Game 7

Jesse Dorsey — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:36:22 -0400

The San Antonio Spurs were dealt a devastating blow in Game 6, but the team went out to dinner together following the game to help clear the air.

It might seem like a small event to get over letting championship slip through their fingers in the span of 30 seconds, but sometimes its the small things that can help bring teams together.

Following the 103-100 loss to the Miami Heat in which they had a five-point lead with 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the big conversation was about how they could possibly bounce back after coming within seconds of a championship.

San Antonio's dinner was a team-bonding moment first and foremost, but it was also a way to keep teammates from going back to the hotel and wallowing in self-pity by themselves.

Tim Duncan hammered home the importance of the players supporting each other after that game, and all the good that the early morning dinner did. Via Lang Whitaker of NBA.com:

It helped, it did. The other option is a bunch of us go back to our rooms and sit there by ourselves and beat yourself up. So it’s always good to be around teammates and kind of get some stuff out in the open. We did exactly that. As I said, we’ll be ready to rock.

However, the most interesting thing to come from the dinner was the story that Tony Parker told the team about his similar experience back in 2005:

It was a great dinner. We shared histories and what happened in different games, and sharing stuff like when I was with the (French) national team, when we were up 7 and lost in 35 seconds, the European Championship. You just share those moments and try to see what you can do better and prepare for Game 7.

Of course, he's referencing the EuroBasket semifinal game between France and Greece from 2005.

Parker's French team held a seven-point lead with 47 seconds left to play and was looking at making its first EuroBasket Finals in nearly 60 years.

Greece scored 12 to France's four in the final 47 seconds and won by a point, leaving France nothing but a chance at a consolation prize in the bronze-medal game.

That French club went out and clobbered Spain for the bronze, winning 98-68.

Parker's team then didn't have a second chance at retribution—it lost and that was it. This time around, it can make up for its folly. Of course, there's no consolation prize either.

No team has won a Game 7 in the NBA Finals on the road since the Washington Bullets back in 1978. Not only that, the Miami Heat have won both Game 7s that they've been involved in since their convergence in 2010.

Hopefully for the Spurs sake, that was one rejuvenating dinner.

Stanley Cup 2013: Suddenly Shaky 'D' Costs Boston Bruins Golden Opportunity

Nicholas Goss — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:18:19 -0400

Failing to put away an opponent in a playoff series when given the opportunity often comes back to haunt a team, and if the Boston Bruins lose the Stanley Cup Final to the Chicago Blackhawks, losing Game 4 6-5 in overtime will likely be remembered as the point where it all fell apart.

Going into Wednesday's matchup in Boston, the Bruins had a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead with a victory going into Saturday's Game 5 in Chicago.

But the Bruins were never able to hold a lead or capitalize on their chances to win the game, and ultimately lost when Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook blasted a shot from the point that found the back of the net nine minutes, 51 seconds into the extra period.

Most surprisingly for the Bruins, it was their normally reliable, responsible and excellent defense that let them down on Wednesday.

"Every game is different," said Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. "Sometimes you feel more comfortable than the other nights and today they had a lot of—we had a lot of breakdowns and they got two-on-ones, breakaway, stuff like that. It’s just a battle out there. Sometimes you just feel more comfortable than the others."

Boston was uncharacteristically awful in its own end in Game 4, committing way too many turnovers, not winning 50-50 puck battles in the dirty areas, failing to clear rebounds, pinching when the safe play was to keep position and taking dumb penalties.

The result was a playoff-high six goals allowed, equaling the total that the Bruins gave up in their previous six games dating back to Game 3 of the conference finals.

"I just think we weren't very sharp in our decision-making," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien postgame. "Where we talked about we having layers, our D’s were pinching, our forwards were not really covering up, weren't totally committed to that part of the game.

"That's when you saw two-on-ones. Sometimes caught a little bit low. We were through the neutral zone, weren't very aggressive. There was a lot of our game tonight that was just average, and average isn't good enough at this stage of the season."

Average would be putting it nicely. Boston was downright horrendous at certain times on Wednesday from a defensive standpoint.

For example, the first goal of the game happened as a result of a lost puck battle in the attacking zone and a failure to back-check fast enough on the ensuing two-on-one breakaway. The result was a shorthanded goal for Michal Handzus.

On Chicago's second goal, Milan Lucic pressured Jonathan Toews from the blue line to behind the goal line but left him when the puck went to the point, allowing the Blackhawks captain to score on a rebound because he was all alone in front of the net.

The Blackhawks' third goal was scored on a rebound by Patrick Kane, who was able to skate from a few feet inside the blue line all the way to the net because three Bruins players were to the right of Rask and not paying attention.

There were also breakdowns and mistakes defensively on Chicago's next two goals, but I think you get the picture by now. The Bruins cannot win games against a highly skilled team like the Blackhawks without responsible and consistent defense.

"Everything together—it was mental, it was positional" said Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg when describing the team's defensive mistakes. "We always talk about layers, right? We just didn’t have those tonight. That’s why things like that happen."

Shutdown defenseman Zdeno Chara was a minus-three and was on the ice for five of the Blackhawks' six goals. Last year's Frank J. Selke Trophy winner Patrice Bergeron was a minus-two. It's rare that these two defensive stalwarts are on the ice for so many goals, but it also illustrates how poorly the Bruins defended in Game 4, even when their best players were on the ice.

In the two games that the Blackhawks have won in this Cup final, they have scored 10 total goals. In losses, they have put only one puck past Rask. Boston isn't built to win a high-scoring game in which it has to find the back of the net four, five or even six times against a great team like the Blackhawks. Boston simply doesn't have the offensive firepower to trade goals with Chicago.

Playing catch-up hockey and being forced to open themselves up offensively to erase a deficit isn't going to result in much success for the Bruins. They had to overcome deficits of 1-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-2 and 5-4 just to force overtime in Game 4.

Luckily for the B's, most of the mistakes made in Game 4 are correctable because they involved positioning, effort, intelligence and a lack of toughness.

The Bruins certainly have the character and resiliency to bounce back from this defeat. They won Game 2 in overtime after losing in triple overtime to start the series, and many of their players were also a part of the 2011 Stanley Cup-winning team that won a championship after being deadlocked at two games apiece following Game 4.

This is a veteran and experienced Boston team that understands how hard it must work to win Game 5 on the road and earn an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup on home ice for the first time since 1970.

"We knew it was going to a tough series, an even series," said Bergeron. "That’s what we’re having. We never said it was going to be easy."

"They’re a great team out there and so are we, so we just got to go out there—like you said, it’s a best-of-three now—and regroup and get ready for Game 5."

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report. He is also a credentialed writer at the 2013 Stanley Cup Final in Boston. All quotes obtained firsthand.

Cost-Effective Moves the Miami Heat Could Make in Free Agency

Peter Emerick — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:07:03 -0400

The Miami Heat are one game away from back-to-back NBA titles, but that doesn't mean it's too early to take a look at this upcoming summer of free agency.

Regardless of whether LeBron James and Co. hoist the 2013 Larry O'Brien Trophy or not, they need to be relatively active this offseason.

With aging players like Ray Allen, Mike Miller, Shane Battier and Udonis Haslem, Pat Riley needs to find some talent not only to bolster the Heat's depth, but also to start building for the future of the franchise.

OK, before we get ahead of ourselves, let's get one thing straight. Pat Riley won't be establishing a future for his franchise via free agency, that is, unless he decides to trade one or two parts of the Big Three—Chris Bosh and/or Dwyane Wade.

Before we get into a debate on whether Bosh or Wade hold any significant value in the trade market, let's refocus on the task at hand—finding cost-effective moves the Heat can make to bolster their roster this offseason.

Chris Andersen, C, Miami Heat

The most obvious move the Heat can make is by retaining the talents of the one and only Birdman, Chris Andersen.

Whether you love him or hate him and his eccentric tattoos, there's no debating that he's the kind of player the Heat need in the paint.

He brings intensity to the court every second he's on the floor, and he's the kind of player who's not going to back down from a challenge or threat—just ask Tyler Hansbrough about that.

Aside from the energy and intensity he brings, Andersen is also a guy who can clean up the glass and be an interior presence on defense at the same time. Andersen has potential to make some cash this upcoming offseason if he wants to pursue his options, and teams are willing to invest in an aging role player.

But the Heat would be wise to lock him up to a mid-level exception the first moment they can, because he's helped them reach Game 7 in the 2013 NBA Finals. Honestly, without Andersen, the Heat would probably be watching the Indiana Pacers take on the San Antonio Spurs—that's how important he is.

Tony Allen, SG, Memphis Grizzlies

Much like Chris Andersen, the next player on this list, Tony Allen, is the kind of guy who can make a difference on the defensive side of the ball–and that's what the Heat need.

He can bang with players bigger than him, and he can run with the best perimeter players in the game.

Not only is Allen an athletic and versatile defender, but he can also find his stroke along the way.

This past season, Allen averaged 8.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in just 26.7 minutes per game. That's the kind of production the Heat could use coming off their bench, especially if Ray Allen decides to exercise the player option in his contract this offseason.

Allen already has a championship ring, though, so enticing him with the thought of winning another NBA title won't be that easy. Let's be honest, though, who wouldn't want to add another ring to their legacy?

If the Heat could sign Allen to the mid-level exception of around $3 million, they would be making one of the best steals—no pun intended—of the 2013 offseason.

Chauncey Billups, PG, L.A. Clippers

Adding a 37-year-old Chauncey Billups certainly wouldn't make the Miami Heat any younger, but it would give them veteran leadership in the backcourt, which is something a championship-caliber team can always utilize.

While there's no way the Heat would offer him close to the $3 million he got paid this past season, they could get away with offering him a veteran minimum.

He may not be the player he once was with the Detroit Pistons, but he has a reputation for knocking down big shots time and time again.

Just imagine a small-ball lineup at the end of a game with LeBron, Dwyane Wade, Billups, Ray Allen and Chris Bosh. Talk about having shooting threats all over the court.

Adding Billups would also be a great move for Norris Cole, who could finally learn from a veteran at his position who knows how to win and knows how to control the pace of a game with the best of the best.

Antawn Jamison, PF, L.A. Lakers

There's no doubt Antawn Jamison wasn't happy with his situation early on in the season with the Lakers out West.

He wasn't getting the minutes he was accustomed to, and he wasn't exactly getting that "legitimate shot" at an NBA title like he had hoped.

That all could change if he wants to take his talents to South Beach this offseason.

The Heat need a player who can spread the floor but also be a force in the post and on the glass, and that's exactly who Jamison is.

LeBron James played with him in Cleveland, and while it didn't work out as well as they had hoped there, Jamison could have the shot at redemption his career and legacy needs in Miami.

This past season, Jamison averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game. That production doesn't point to his ability to still take over games with intelligent play on the post and on the glass, and a long-range shot from the perimeter.

Jamison would be a great addition for the Heat; they would just need to get him for the right price.

DeJuan Blair, PF/C, San Antonio Spurs

This one would be an odd move, but there's no doubt DeJuan Blair has some serious potential that hasn't been fully realized yet.

Not only his he a ridiculously opportunistic and intelligent rebounder, but he can also finish around the rim with both class and authority, which is rare for a player with his unique size and skill set.

The Spurs would be foolish not to try to retain his talents this offseason, but that all depends on the growth and maturation of Blair's relationship with Gregg Popovich.

The Heat need to hope that it completely falls apart and Blair wants to head to a team that can give him a shot at a title while getting actual playing time. The Heat is that team, and adding Blair to their roster would be a very solid move.

While the Heat don't have much money to spend this offseason, there's no doubt that talent is out there for them to get.

It's all about being smart with their cash, and they've already proved that they can do just that.

Stars Rescue Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup Dreams in Wild OT Game

Steve Silverman — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:00:11 -0400

The Chicago Blackhawks were desperate to climb back into the Stanley Cup Final. If only they could scratch out a goal or two against Tuukka Rask, they would have a chance to go back to Chicago with the series tied 2-2.

That was the theory before the start of Game 4. However, the Blackhawks and Bruins made mincemeat of that idea and engaged in a track meet of a hockey game that saw Chicago emerge with a 6-5 overtime victory. Brent Seabrook was the game's final hero when he blasted home the winner 9:51 into overtime.

"We did a lot of good things tonight. (We) look at the positives and move forward." -Coach Q says with a smile. pic.twitter.com/CViJU2FkmN
— NHL (@NHL) June 20, 2013

Overtime has become standard in this series, as three of the four games have gone into extra time. This was the Blackhawks' second overtime win, and the series is tied 2-2.

This is the first Stanley Cup Final since the 1993 meeting between the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings to feature three overtime games.

Going into this game, the Blackhawks were getting ready to call the authorities because their stars were missing in action. Jonathan Toews had been invisible, Patrick Kane had one assist and the power play was disastrous.

The Blackhawks remedied all three of those situations in this game.

Toews scored his first goal since Game 5 of the conference semifinal series against the Detroit Red Wings when he made an artful deflection of a Michal Roszival shot past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask early in the second period that gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead.

Minutes later, Kane followed with a goal of his own. Once again, Roszival took a shot from the point. The rebound came out to Bryan Bickell, who fired a quick shot that Rask saved. Kane flashed in, got the puck on his backhand and fired a shot past Rask for a 3-1 Chicago lead.

With Toews and Kane both scoring, the Blackhawks let loose a huge sigh of relief.

Toews said Seabrook has been asking him for a couple days, "What are you thinking about?" Toews' answer: "Scoring goals."
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 20, 2013

The Blackhawks, who had been held without a goal for 122:26 of action following Patrick Sharp's goal in Game 2, suddenly had three in the first 28:41 of action. They would need all of them and more, because the Bruins would fight back hard.

Milan Lucic got the Bruins within one on a backhand shot over Corey Crawford's glove, but the Blackhawks would not relent.

Marcus Kruger finished off a two-on-one after taking a pass from Michael Frolik. Rask was able to kick out Kruger's first shot, but the forward stopped on a dime, recovered and put the puck into the top of the net on a sensational maneuver.

That two-goal lead might have stopped a lesser team, but the Bruins responded with a power-play goal by Patrice Bergeron to get within one before the end of the second period.

The Blackhawks were hanging by a thread between periods because the Bruins had the momentum and they were facing a 3-1 deficit if they lost the game.

Their fears of failing came closer to reality when Bergeron scored again early in the third after a dominating shift by Jaromir Jagr, who ended up with the primary assist.

But that's when the Blackhawks responded with a power-play goal by Sharp. Their power play had failed on its first 14 opportunities of the series—including the first three in this game—but Sharp slammed home a rebound to give them a 5-4 lead.

That lead lasted just 55 seconds, until Johnny Boychuk rocketed a drive past the glove of Crawford.

All five goals that Crawford allowed came to his glove side. Quenneville was unfazed.

"Corey's been great for us all year, all playoffs," Quenneville said at the postgame press conference broadcast by the NHL Network. "He just moves forward. We got the win and he'll be fine."

But despite his problems, Crawford made a big save in overtime on Brad Marchand that kept the Bruins from winning the game. Moments later, Seabrook came through with his second overtime goal of this playoff year. He had eliminated the Red Wings in Game 7 with another blast.

After the Blackhawks had been outworked by the Bruins in Game 3, they came back dramatically in a number of key areas.

They cut their humiliating 40-16 faceoff deficit to 39-38 and had a 13-11 margin in blocked shots after the Bruins had a 17-7 edge in that area in Game 3.

Quenneville wore the smile of a satisfied coach in this game. He saw his team find its scoring touch, its creativity and its battle level.

That allowed the Blackhawks to regain home-ice advantage. That has not been decisive so far in this series, with each team winning on the other's home ice, but it's something that will allow the Blackhawks to feel relieved as they prepare for Game 5.

Why Kevin McHale's Houston Rockets Would Be Perfect for Dwight Howard's Legacy

Luke Petkac — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:59:15 -0400

Some might say that Dwight Howard has a difficult decision facing him this summer, but actually, it's not that tough at all. Because the Houston Rockets would be absolutely perfect for Howard and his legacy. It's a no-brainer.

Talking about Howard's legacy has been popular lately because of the drama he brought to both the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, but that talk's a little silly. Howard's young and has a good eight or nine years of basketball ahead of him. We have no idea what his legacy will look like at this point.

Still, there's no question that Howard's public image and legacy have taken a hit over the past few years, and he'll be looking to repair that damage.

Some, like ESPN's Chris Broussard (Insider only), have suggested that Howard's image will be even more damaged if he leaves the Lakers, but that's simply not true.

If LeBron James has taught us anything over the past few years, it's that winning cures all ills. If Howard plays fantastic basketball and wins a ring or two in his new city, we'll forgive him. That's just the way it works.

And that makes Houston the obvious choice for Howard. He could be incredible there.

Howard is very different from almost every other franchise center in history in the sense that he's never developed a great back-to-the-basket game. Even at his peak in Orlando, Howard's scoring efficiency on post opportunities was ranked around 50th in the league, and his go-to post move (a running hook with either hand) has always looked awkward and clunky.

Howard's primary value on the offensive end lies not in his low-post game, but in his outstanding pick-and-roll ability. And that makes James Harden—far and away the league's best young pick-and-roll ball-handler—the ideal partner for him.

In his Orlando stint, Howard destroyed defenses in the pick-and-roll. He was ranked as the league's first- or second-most efficient scorer as a roll man in each of his last three years with the Magic. And if he can do that well playing primarily with a good—but not great—pick-and-roll guard like Jameer Nelson, then just imagine the things he could do with Harden—a Manu Ginobili-esque passing genius.

Harden's patient, probing style in the pick-and-roll often forces defenses to send help or over-commit to prevent a drive to the basket, something that Howard could take advantage of in a way that Omer Asik simply can't. Howard's quick and explosive enough to get a dunk or a high-percentage shot any time the defense overplays a ball-handler, and with all due respect to Asik, he can't do stuff like this:

To be honest, Houston's also a great landing spot if Howard ever does want to become a dominant back-to-the-basket center.

Don't get me wrong, there's a good chance that Howard is who he is offensively at this point (and that's still enough to make him a top-five player when healthy). But he's an incredible athlete and still relatively young at 27 years old. There's no reason he couldn't be a dominant post presence. Players older than him have reinvented themselves late in their careers.

And if that is something that interests Howard, then what better teacher could he have than Kevin McHale?

To put it simply, McHale had the greatest set of moves on the low block ever. Period. Guys like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon had more unstoppable signature moves, but no one had a bigger arsenal of fakes, turnarounds and up-and-unders than McHale. No one.

He had 30-odd moves, a counter for every one of them and sometimes even a counter for the counter move. If anyone could serve as a mentor for Howard, it's him.

Funnily enough though, even if Howard wasn't able to pick up any moves from McHale, he'd still probably have better scoring opportunities down low with the Rockets than he has in his previous stops. Few teams in the league play more small ball than the Rockets do. They love to throw Chandler Parsons at the 4, run like crazy and hoist up tons of threes.

And that strategy could play right into Howard's hands. The Rockets often force other teams to go small to keep up with their speed, and if there's one thing Howard can do, it's take advantage of smaller defenders.

Obviously teams aren't going to be throwing guards or small forwards out to try and defend Howard on the block, but a bad defensive switch could put Howard in a good spot down low. And the Rockets' constant pick-and-roll attack generates switches like that pretty regularly.

Defensively, we know Howard would fit well with the Rockets because when healthy, he fits with everyone.

Asik did a phenomenal job anchoring the Rockets' defense this season, but he's not Howard, who's led the league in defensive win shares four times in the last six years, per Basketball-Reference.

Howard also could replace, if not improve, Asik's production on the defensive glass.

Asik grabbed 31 percent of all available defensive boards last season, and a healthy Howard rebounds at around the same rate, per Basketball-Reference. Crashing the defensive glass is important for a running team like the Rockets, so the fact that Dwight can match or exceed Asik's production in that area is key.

If you're a Rockets fan or even just a Howard fan, you have to admit all of that sounds pretty great.

With that being said, there are a few potential drawbacks to Howard going to Houston, and it's important that they be mentioned.

First, there's the fact that Houston played at the fastest pace in the league this season, per Basketball-Reference. The only team Howard's been a part of that played near that quickly was this year's Lakers squad, and he looked pretty uncomfortable in the Los Angeles system.

This isn't an enormous concern, since Howard was dealing with serious back issues this year, and he's always been outstanding at running the floor for easy lobs or dunks. He would probably be just fine playing at the Rockets' pace, but it's still worth mentioning since there aren't all that many big men who love sprinting up and down the floor.

The second and most important drawback is that Howard would have to sacrifice some post touches. That was mentioned a bit earlier, but the reality is that Howard would be forced to adapt to the Rockets' system.

Howard's accustomed to having between 50 to 60 percent of his touches come in the post, and that simply would not happen in Houston. The Rockets play too quickly.

That would maybe change if Howard did indeed learn from McHale, but as he is now, Howard would have to sacrifice some post touches for the good of the team.

That's it, though. Those are the only real drawbacks to Howard being with the Rockets, and in all honesty, they're pretty small.

No one knows what Dwight Howard's legacy is going to be by the time he retires, but one thing's for sure—he'd have the chance to build a great one with the Rockets. They have the right players, the right coach and—as CBS Sports' Zach Harper recently broke down—the ability to get at least one max player in a Rockets uniform.

The rest is up to Howard.

All stats were compiled via Synergy Sports Technology unless mentioned otherwise.

Bob Stoops' Home Burglarized Wednesday Morning

Alex Ballentine — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:51:19 -0400

Oklahoma University head football coach Bob Stoops was the victim of a burglary early Wednesday morning.

According to Jake Trotter of ESPN, the Stoops' home was burglarized at 3:30 a.m. The family was in the home and sleeping at the time of the break-in. Among the items reported stolen was a vehicle.

Trotter also tweeted out the unfortunate news:

According to Trotter's report, the family discovered the burglary at the home they just moved into last year and alerted the authorities at around 8:30 a.m. The case is being considered a first-degree burglary per Lieutenant Eric Lehenbauer of the Norman Police Department via ESPN.

Lehenbauer also said that he and his department have leads that they are following and no one was harmed during the event.

Stoops and his wife have three children—a daughter, Mackenzie and two twin sons, Drake and Isaac.

The coach is a highly revered figure in Oklahoma history. He'll be entering his 15th season as the Sooners head coach this year and won the school's most recent national championship in 2000.

He has also led the Sooners to eight Big 12 championships, including a share of the title in 2012. He has a career record of 149-37 and a bowl record of 7-7. His 149 wins stands just eight wins behind Barry Switzer for most wins in Sooner football history.

That's a mark that he should eclipse this season. The Sooners have won at least eight games in every season since his debut 7-5 season as coach in 1999.

The State of the Shield: Analyzing the WWE Super Team in 5 Quotes

Jonathan Snowden — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:38:05 -0400

The Shield aren't supposed to be the hottest new WWE act in a decade. Professional wrestling simply doesn't work that way.

Since the dawn of Hulkamania, wrestling stars have been built with performance-enhancing drugs, pedigree and more than a sprinkling of politics.

Wrestling success is traditionally a product of shiny, spray-tanned muscles not suplexes and slams. The kind of physiques that make you snort when someone mentions drug testing with a straight face. Buddy Rose, one of the great talents of his generation, never made a big impact in WWE. The Warlord, a musclebound, immobile and completely underwhelming Road Warriors rip off, got multiple chances to try to get it right.

The difference?

About 70 pounds of Grade A muscle.

WWE owner Vince McMahon is a fetishist. His addiction? Veins and bulges. Most top WWE stars need to deliver in the weight room. Period.

The path to the top is easier to navigate, too, when you manage to get tight with the right crew. The boys in the back can make you or break you. It didn't hurt to be tight with Hogan or the Klique back in the day. It doesn't hurt to nod your head at the right times around The Undertaker or John Cena now.

If all else fails, you better hope your daddy was wrestling royalty. Outsiders have proved unreliable. Goldberg, Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley all got big pushes. None of them lasted. The progeny of wrestlers, it is thought, will be better suited than others to sustain the rigors of the road and the pressure of the politics.

Who you are can trump what you can do.

What's interesting about The Shield's success is how poorly they fit the established mold. For the most part, they're lacking in all three categories. They don't have friends in high places like Daniel Bryan. They don't have John Cena's freak musculature. And none of them descend from wrestling greatness like Randy Orton.

And yet, here they are—a major cog in the system despite being in their first year with the company. Can that last?

Let's take a look, together, at the most dynamic six-man tag team in 30 years. Five quotes over the last week stood out to me as emblematic of The Shield, both their journey and the path they have yet to walk.

"This guy is the powerhouse of The Shield."
—Jerry Lawler

"Yes, yes, yes, yes!"
—Richmond, Va.

"After six months of being beaten up and embarrassed by The Shield, I'd be mad too."
—Dean Ambrose

"The Shield is very stoppable."
—Michael Cole

"You guys remind me of me."
—Vince McMahon

Are they about to be Mr. McMahon's team vs. HHH?

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Why the Giants Were Smart to Diminish David Wilson's Role on Special Teams

Benjamin J. Block — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:35:42 -0400

The New York Giants know very well from experience that tagging David Wilson with full-time kickoff return duties in addition to his primary role at running back would be playing with fire—remember star cornerback Jason Sehorn's 1998 season?

Sehorn's season-ending knee injury that occurred at the end of a 33-yard opening kickoff return in that fateful August preseason game against the New York Jets remains a particularly sore moment in Giants history.

Now it serves as a teaching moment.

Immediately following that meaningless game 15 years ago, Michael Strahan said the only thing that needed to be said.

"To think that it happened on something that he didn't necessarily have to do is what eats at me."

Would Wilson and his NFL league-leading 1,533 kickoff return yards from last season as a rookie make the Giants better on special teams in 2013? Yes.

Do they necessarily have to have him back there all the time? No.

Along with Andre Brown, Wilson is expected to carry the running load this season, so the coaching staff is appropriately looking to preserve his energy and minimize any unnecessary injury risks.

Special teams coordinator Tom Quinn told Giants.com that their decision to use Wilson on kick returns will ultimately depend on the impact that the second-year man has on offense.

Obviously, he [Wilson] would like to do it. He’s done it very well, but we’ll have to see how it all comes down with where he is on the depth chart and what he’s doing on offense. It might be maybe for one or two or you don’t need him for one or two, but we’ve got other guys that we feel good about.

Those other candidates whom Quinn and head coach Tom Coughlin allude to are 22-year-old Rueben Randle and 2011 draft pick Jerrel Jernigan.

Randle, the former LSU standout, fielded 15 of the Giants' 20 punt returns in 2012.

The Giants were good enough for last place in the NFL a season ago, mustering only 144 punt-return yards for the entire year, but Randle was a bright spot, accounting for 108 of those yards.

Jernigan had some flashes of success in 2011 returning kickoffs, amassing 186 yards on just eight return attempts. He only ran back two kicks in 2012 but managed to squeeze 60 yards out of those opportunities.

Jernigan has also only had three career receptions as he heads into his third season in the NFL, and his contribution with the Giants is likely to be felt in the kick-return game.

Quinn also boasts that Jernigan and Randle are among "a bunch of guys that can do the job if it’s not David."

One of those other "guys" will be returning Giant Aaron Ross.

While Ross wasn't really utilized in a punt-return role too much with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season—returning three kicks for 16 yards—the G-Men had effectively used him in that role in 2010 and 2011.

So can the collaborative efforts of Randle, Jernigan, Ross and others match or improve upon Wilson's 1,533 return yards from last season? Maybe.

More importantly, is it a smart move by the Giants to lessen Wilson's role on kick returns and spread the accountability out to others? Yes.

It gives other guys a chance to shine and allows Wilson to concentrate on filling the void left at running back by fan-favorite Ahmad Bradshaw.

Even though Sehorn was a defensive star and Wilson is a burgeoning offensive threat, the misuse of Sehorn in the late 1990s resonates with how the Giants should utilize Wilson.

Big Blue lost Sehorn for the season in 1998, forever compromising his full potential.

The 2013 Giants brass appear to be smarter this time around in protecting their investment in Wilson, reserving their willingness to exploit his kick-return capabilities.

Los Angeles Lakers: No Game 7 Needed, Social Media Champions for 2013

Kevin Goldberg — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:26:38 -0400

Well even though the NBA Finals are coming down to what should be an exciting Game 7, all 32 teams are on an equal playing field when it comes to social media. Payroll, superstars, and a Zen-master coach don’t factor in on the Facebook and Twitter battlefields.

With that being said, the Los Angeles Lakers are crowned the social media champions for 2013!

So even though the Lakers had incredibly high expectations to start the season, which, well, didn’t pan out as expected, they are the best, according to Unmetric.

But how exactly did the Lakers win?

For one, they added an impressive 3.2 million Facebook fans in this past year alone. A reason for this spike could be their engagement levels. Last year they rarely engaged directly with their fans on Facebook, yet this year they have added a more personalized appeal to their page.

Some other interesting findings from the report include:

San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets had the most proactive tweets about their teams (97 percent).
In 2012, the Memphis Grizzlies were the biggest losers. This year the team stepped up its game with the highest number of admin posts and fastest average reply time on Facebook.
Brooklyn Nets dubbed fastest growing team on Facebook, while Toronto Raptors dominate Twitter.
In terms of content, teams posted most frequently about players and game schedules; however, fans were most excited to talk about posts that prompted them to Like or Share.

Interesting to note how unremarkable the Heat’s following is despite their media attention and big-name players. They also do little in interacting and engaging with their fans to promote a bigger following.

It’s also incredibly ironic how social media correlates with the Heat. Though LeBron James has by far the largest Twitter following of any NBA athlete, he can’t hold up the team by himself.

King Mo Lawal Defeats Seth Petruzelli by Vicious KO at Bellator 96

Michael Stets — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:24:41 -0400

Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal returned to action Wednesday, June 19th, for the first time since his devastating loss to Emmanuel Newton back in February. It took him all of one minute and 35 seconds to return to the win column, as he knocked out Seth Petruzelli in the main event of Bellator 96 at Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

After Lawal collided heads with Petruzelli on his first takedown attempt, referee “Big” John McCarthy briefly called a halt to the action.

After the restart, Lawal landed a takedown—something he hadn’t done his last two fights—which led to him standing up in Petruzelli’s open guard. From there, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy threw both of his opponent’s legs to the side to pass before landing the vicious over-hand right that would end the fight:

Petruzelli had talked a lot of trash leading up to the fight, saying he would spoil Bellator’s plans for Lawal to become a champion. Lawal is no stranger to running his mouth, but he didn't have much of a response to Petruzelli’s pre-fight talk, letting his hands do the talking instead.

The AKA (American Kickboxing Academy) fighter is now 2-1 inside the promotion; he needed a win to avoid further criticism after his embarrassing defeat to Newton back at Bellator 90. Many media members panned Lawal for being overconfident and cocky before getting caught with Newton’s spinning-back fist.

Viacom has invested quite a bit in Lawal, and it would’ve been even harder to promote him in Bellator as well as TNA had he lost back-to-back fights at this juncture of the newest chapter in his career.

“King Mo” will now advance to the finals of the summer series four-man tournament where he will take on Jacob Noe. Noe was also victorious at Bellator 96, by third-round TKO over Renato “Babalu” Sobral.

He may not have said much about Petruzelli, but Lawal had plenty of disdain for Noe during the post-fight press conference:

"I didn't know when the fight was going to end, but I knew I was going to stop him, and I did," Lawal said.

He went on to talk about the Noe fight:

But now it's time for me to fight Jacob Noe. Noe, No, I don't know, I don't care. I don't like him, admitted Lawal. I don't like the gym he trains at. He's fake. He talked a lot of trash behind my back. I hope he's here listening, you all can tell him this because I'm going to beat the brakes off him. I'm going to whip his ass so bad, I'm going to retire him.

The two finalists will meet on July 31 at the Santa Ana Star Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The summer series tournament champion will earn the right to face the winner of the light heavyweight championship bout between current champ Attila Vegh and season eight tournament-winner Newton.

Those two will likely square off at some point during season nine this fall.

Michael Stets is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

Key Similarities and Differences Between Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer Eras

Carl Stine — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:20:51 -0400

The two most recent Ohio State head football coaches are a study.

Jim Tressel, the man that led the Buckeyes to a dominant decade, did so with a fierce defense, conservative offense and a sweater vest that left fashionistas wondering what the heck he was doing.

Urban Meyer's team that went 12-0 in 2012 featured a stout defense, wide-open offense and windbreakers.

Comparing the two is an interesting study, even though Meyer's time at OSU has been limited.

That single year helped prove what many believed—the man knows how to coach. Say what you will about the Buckeyes' 2012, they were the only college football team that finished without a loss.

While much of that is a credit to a stout defense led by Luke Fickell (remember him?) and the sparkling play of quarterback Braxton Miller, it is pretty obvious that Meyer has taken the magic that he had in Florida and transitioned it to Columbus.

Tressel, in spite of his departure in disgrace, had a great run at the head of the OSU football program, dominating the Big Ten and reeling in win after win.

In five of Tressel's 10 seasons at OSU, he won a BCS game. The Buckeyes participated in a bowl game every year, and his postseason record of 6-4 included one BCS championship game win.

There are significant differences, mainly the time difference, the fact that Urban Meyer won his BCS titles at Florida without controversy and the difference in style.

Meyer's offense is predicated on spreading the field, and while a dual-threat quarterback is something the two systems have in common, Tressel's conservative approach that included repeated attempts at that dive off left tackle with the same result every time was enough to put fans to sleep.

Not so with Meyer. The athletes Meyer fields are not reined in and limited by his offensive system and philosophy. As the Buckeyes implement more and more of his system on the offensive side of the ball, guys like Miller will have more opportunities to star with athletic ability.

Miller shined in the offense in his first season last year, providing more highlight-reel plays than any other player in college football.

Expect more of that from him in Meyer's explosive system with a year of experience under his belt.

Miller will be able to obtain accolades and highlights much easier than Tressel's quarterbacks, because he plays in Meyer's system, which allows him to flourish.

But the two also have some things in common that are worth addressing.

Both enjoyed a perfect season early in their career at Columbus. Tressel went 14-0 in his second season, while Meyer finished 12-0 in his first.

They both utilized athletic, mobile quarterbacks at OSU, and Meyer did so while at Florida as well.

Meyer has exhibited a better ability to recruit than Tressel ever did, a trait that will be important in restoring the Buckeyes, and on a wider scale the entire Big Ten, to respectability.

The key characteristic that fans should be concerned about is the winning.

It is all about the wins, and the two of them, while vastly different in recruiting ability and style, both know how to win.

Whether Meyer will be able to surpass Tressel in the OSU annals of greatness remains to be seen; there is no question that the two men have been elite coaches over the past decade.

If that trend continues, Meyer will have more titles to add to the two he already possesses from his time in Gainesville.

But the two have some things in common, and they will continue to do so going forward.

Iconic Accessories of NBA Stars Past and Present

Jesse Dorsey — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:20:20 -0400

LeBron James' headband was the star of Game 6 in the NBA Finals, or at least his lack of a headband was. The stir created brought up the idea of famous accessories through NBA history.

Starting with George Mikan's eyeglasses, rolling all the way through to LeBron's headband, players have always found a way to stick out from the crowd wearing something other than a regulated uniform.

Time and time again, players come up through the league make a name for themselves, and whatever accessories they rock end up taking on a life of their own.

Sometimes, people grow enthralled with individual pieces of cloth so much that a player becomes his accessory, and is remembered more for that stretch bit of cloth than anything else, as was the case with one of the first headband-wearing players, Slick Watts.

Throughout history, star players and role players alike have rocked identifying accessories, and they've continually kept it interesting throughout the years.

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Danny Briere: Ranking the 5 Best Landing Spots for Soon-to-Be Free Agent

Isaac Smith — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:18:19 -0400

Danny Briere will not be playing for the Philadelphia Flyers next season, as he will be bought out per a report by Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com.

Although many teams will likely be interested in acquiring the 35-year-old right wing, Briere will determine where he plays next because he will have the money from the Flyers to accept a pay cut to play for a Stanley Cup next season.

But as not all Stanley Cup contenders need either a right wing or more importantly a forward, his options for teams that he sees as possible contenders next year remains limited.

Here are five teams that will be the best landing spots for Briere, come next season.

"Best landing spot" in this case will be defined as a spot where Briere can be a top-six forward, but also have a reasonable chance of winning a Cup.

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5 Injured MLB Stars Who Shouldn't Be Counted out for 2nd Half

Pete Schauer — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:15:02 -0400

Injuries are something every MLB franchise has to battle through, attempting to keep its head above water, until its key pieces return to contribute.

It's always difficult to predict when a player will return from the disabled list—especially with the possibility of a setback—but the players on this list are all slated to be healthy right around the All-Star break.

Here are five players who shouldn't be counted out for the second half of the 2013 MLB season.

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Jay-Z Gets Officially Licensed to be NBA Agent with Kevin Durant First in Line

Zach Buckley — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:07:00 -0400

Allow him to reintroduce himself: His name is Jay-Z, and he's now an officially licensed NBA agent.

Ron Berkowitz, a spokesman for Jay Z's newly formed sports agency Roc Nation Sports, confirmed the news to ESPN.com's Darren Rovell.

It's still unclear exactly when he can start representing players (he still has not gotten around to selling his minority stake in the Brooklyn Nets, per Rovell's report), but he's already making an impact on the hoops world. Oklahoma City Thunder star and three-time scoring champion Kevin Durant has reportedly already aligned himself with Roc Nation Sports.

Although his agency is still in its infancy stage, the hip-hop mogul's clientele already features a number of notable names. New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, New York Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith, and Tulsa Shock guard Skylar Diggins have all signed with the firm.

Where Roc Nation Sports goes from here is anyone's guess. But sports icons are flocking to him like his rabid fans, as few understand the importance of branding like the Brooklyn native.

Music propelled him to national fame, but that's far from the only egg in his basket now. Roc Nation has its own music division, featuring hit-makers like Rihanna and Shakira among others. His other business ventures have included launching fashion lines, investing in Carol's Daughter beauty products, owning a string of upscale sports bars called the 40/40 Club, and he once served as the president of Def Jam Recordings.

He's not a businessman, he's a business, man.

And now a certified NBA agent.

Boston Celtics: Why Danny Ainge Gets Too Much Blame for the Team's Conundrum

Sterling Xie — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:02:54 -0400

The Boston Celtics are no longer championship contenders. They are, however, old and expensive, which effectively amounts to NBA purgatory. Many have rushed to blame Celtics' general manager Danny Ainge, for reasons including his cap management, personnel decisions and handling of the Doc Rivers saga.

While Ainge has certainly made his share of questionable decisions over the years, from the unpopular Kendrick Perkins trade to the mid-level exceptions spent on Rasheed Wallace and Jermaine O'Neal, he has received too much blame for the Celtics' descent into mediocrity.

Here are three factors to consider when evaluating Ainge's role in how Boston ended up in NBA no-man's land.

Consistent Offseason Decisiveness

At the beginning of the season, Zach Lowe of Grantland had a great article about a theory on contention shared by most NBA executives. Dubbed by Rockets GM Daryl Morey as "the five percent rule," its premise centers on the rarity of even remote championship aspirations:

If you have some pieces, you're almost there, and if you're almost there, you go for it — even if the chances of toppling a superpower are slim. "If you've got even a 5 percent chance to win the title — and that group includes a very small number of teams every year — you've gotta be focused all on winning the title," says Rockets GM Daryl Morey. Mark Cuban, the Mavs' owner, agrees: "One sprained toe or two, and the competitive landscape changes," he says. "You don't want to miss that opportunity. You should always put the best team you can on the floor within the parameters you have set for yourself."

Danny Ainge has lived by this rule the past four seasons. The Celtics have consistently spent to the luxury tax in order to build the best possible supporting cast around their veteran core.

Yes, he's had his misses, but such is the nature of free agency when you can only use a mid-level exception and go bargain shopping for veteran minimums. Teams in similar cap situations haven't exactly fared well either.

At the moment, the Celtics are capped out for the next two seasons because of the moves Ainge made this offseason.

But hindsight is 20-20; many analysts were praising Ainge's free-agent signings at the time. Few expected him to lure Jason Terry away from the comfort of Dallas, and most saw Courtney Lee's acquisition for spare parts as a shrewd maneuver.

Only a tiny minority expected Terry to struggle so much as a catch-and-shoot option instead of a ball-handler, or for Lee to play his way out of the rotation come playoff time. The Celtics game within a game of making the 2012 NBA Finals, and these offseason upgrades gave them the best chance to make it back to that point.

Obviously the team never gelled and suffered a couple debilitating injuries, but no one can deny that at least on paper, the team looked better.

Of course, the Celtics would never have still had hope in Year 6 of a "three-year plan" if not for another one of Ainge's management habits.

Not Giving Away Trade Assets

Some believe Ainge's reluctance to trade Pierce and Garnett (and previously Ray Allen) is a sign of vacillation that has impaired Boston's rebuilding efforts.

However, it's not as if Ainge is unwilling to start over, based on the nonstop trade rumors swirling around the team the last two seasons. Rather, he is like a patient poker player who bides his time, not willing to go broke simply for the sake of action.

Pierce, KG and Doc Rivers (more on him in a bit) are the Celtics' best trade assets, since they will not be part of the rebuilding phase but can still help a contender.

In the past, Ainge has dangled his veterans and only received offers like Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay and, most laughably, Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks. Some of those players have nice name value, but none is the type of player who will propel the C's to anything more than what the Atlanta Hawks have been the past few seasons.

The recent Clippers rumors have to make the Celtics faithful feel queasy. Does anyone really want to see Ainge ship away all of Boston's assets for DeAndre Jordan, a flawed young center with no post game and shakier defense than most realize? Or whose own coach said this about him following a playoff loss? Per Phil Collin of the Daily News:

I don’t know if crossroads is the right (word) but there’s definitely a level you have to play at right now that is much different. He has a much different responsibility now. He understands it. I haven’t seen the consistency that I like. He hasn’t seen the consistency he would like.

I didn’t see him controlling the game the way I thought he needed to, and at that stage you have to go with someone you feel can.

Moreover, Jordan's $10 million per year salary would have only provided Boston with minimal financial flexibility, even while shipping out Terry or Lee. Bad teams need to be young and cheap, and Ainge was wise not to relent simply for the sake of making a trade.

The Doc Rivers Saga

Of course, Ainge was nearly forced into making that trade because of the Celtics' suddenly tenuous relationship with Doc Rivers.

This conflict of interest lies at the heart of the Celtics' conundrum: They are a team that needs to move on, but the $7 million-a-year coach who is supposed to lead onward wants to jump ship instead.

Many point to Ainge as the root of the problem. For one, they argue, handing out an enormous extension to a coach leading a rebuilding effort is generally not the wisest plan, even if the Celtics were in contention for the first half of Rivers' contract. Second, Ainge's relentless shopping of Rivers has now arguably made the locker room a toxic environment.

Regarding the contract, $7 million per year is certainly a lot to pay any coach, let alone one who might be overseeing lottery teams for the next few seasons. Still, Ainge remains convinced Rivers is the right coach for the next era, as reported by Matt Burke of the Metro.

If that is the case, then it makes no sense to save a few bucks on someone like Vinny Del Negro, who would come cheap, but who also would likely leave the team in as bad a shape as he inherited it.

As for the potentially toxic locker room, that is entirely dependent on Doc Rivers' commitment to the Celtics. Rivers is one of the few coaches with the charisma and reputation where he could earn back his players' trust. Ainge was simply doing his job in shopping Rivers.

If Ainge could have stolen Jordan and Eric Bledsoe, plus future picks and meaningful cap flexibility, even the most stubborn Celtics fans would have to concede that deal. Now, with the Clippers rumors reopening as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, it appears the Celtics have the upper hand in leverage. By holding out, Ainge may get his franchise-changing trade after all.

Doc Rivers may or may not be the right man to help the Celtics transition into a new era. But Danny Ainge has already presided over one Boston turnaround, albeit under extraordinary circumstances. Like any championship contender, the Celtics will probably need another stroke of luck to turn around their fortunes. Ainge at least deserves a chance to prove he can do it again.

Breaking Down the Recipe for the Ideal UFC Superstar

Artem Moshkovich — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:01:54 -0400

The world of professional athletics is often ruthless and unforgiving—any given sport is riddled with has-beens and also-rans. One poor performance in the heat of the moment can be as devastating as an embarrassing faux paus during a press conference. Star athletes are forced to walk on eggshells as they tread the fine line separating mediocrity from superstardom.

Mixed martial arts is no different.

Cage fighters must juggle sponsorships, media appearances and their own, public perceptions—all the while striving to increase the number of digits in their win column.

An elite few overcome the odds and somehow manage to secure the illustrious title of champion. Then, of course, begins the struggle to keep contenders at bay—giving birth to the expression, "It's harder to keep the belt than it is to get it in the first place."

Some UFC champions—both past and present—have managed to handle it admirably. But as I've said before, there's a clear line of demarcation separating a mere champion in a series of many from one who propels the sport of MMA to lofty new heights. We have yet to see the ideal superstar that extols the traits of a champion for the ages.

Which ingredients would we need from some of MMA's most iconic figures and, more interestingly, what if we were to throw them in a melting pot in a quest assemble the archetype of an MMA superstar?

Start with a Full Serving of Georges St. Pierre's Signature Professionalism

The French Canadian sets MMA's standard for suave and sophistication—he's practically synonymous with the suit-and-tie look. Always respectful of opponents and attentive to company needs, GSP would represent the core of our dream superstar. All the crucial traits would have to carry over: professionalism, business-oriented attitude, work ethic and even self-promotion.

The ideal MMA athlete would need the right stuff both inside and outside the cage.

Mix in a Good Batch of Sheer Athleticism Courtesy of Jon Jones

Top-tier athletes tend to look the part. This mixture would result in a physically impressive fighter a la Jon Jones. Reach and height would enable nothing short of blinding speed and dexterity. Victories would have to be highlight reel-worthy, with each finish acting as a firm declaration.

Jones knows this to be true—he tends to end his fights in ways that guarantee water cooler talk.

Stir in Equal Amounts of BJ Penn's Raw Talent

There's something to be said for a fighter that has the natural it factor.

Movements would have to be so fluid and natural that even the most casual MMA fans could feel like they were witnessing something special. Penn was not only the first American to win the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships, but also the first to be simultaneously ranked No. 1 in two, separate weight divisions.

Our star would need to be a replicate of the innate talents of "The Prodigy" in order to break such boundaries.

Add a Hint of Ronda Rousey's Magnetism

Enormous media coverage, polarizing interviews and a willingness to cull fans from untapped resources would have to be second nature to a superfighter of the next generation. Ronda Rousey managed to introduce UFC fans to entirely new subset of mixed martial arts—nearly half a million pay-per-view buys isn't too shabby for your first time at bat.

Season it with a Dash of Chael Sonnen's Wit and Intellect

Arguably the most interesting figure—though certainly the most quotable—in all of MMA, Chael Sonnen has mastered the the art of selling a fight. Fans can squabble over his fight game, but few would be foolish enough to argue his skill at self-promotion. Sonnen knows just how to use his mouth to achieve a desired result—so would our superstar.

When the lights shine bright, the camera gains focus and all ears are directed at what our fighter might say, nothing is more promising and pivotal than the delivery. Sonnen has proved it time and time again.

And Then Let it Marinate in Anderson Silva's Aura

The recipe wouldn't be complete without adding Silva's preternatural ability to evoke awe from the crowd. He lost interest in mere victory long ago—cementing his legacy is at the forefront of his mind as he inches toward the conclusion of his record-breaking career.

Our dream combatant would need a certain overwhelming characteristic that words fail to accurately describe. Each fight would need to reverberate throughout his or her career—a special place in history would be reserved for when the curtain closed.

There's little to no doubt that we'd be left with a crazy concoction.

But those individual ingredients—if adhered together as part of a complete package—amount to the epitome of a superstar. Winning streaks would serve as mere stepping stones on the path to the title. And even then, the next-generation champion would be unwilling to rest.

Casual fans would associate his or her name with the entire sport of mixed martial arts—akin to Michael Jordan's effect on basketball or Tiger Woods' impact on the landscape of golf. Boundaries would be broken because this fighter would consider no feat too daunting to attempt.

Sounds like crazy, wishful thinking, doesn't it?

Well, before you toss the recipe aside, just consider that we never saw Jon Jones coming—nor did we see Anderson Silva before him.

The ebb and flow of mixed martial arts is less like a gentle river and more like a violent white-water rapid. Ordinary fighters are routinely swallowed by the rushing tides, whereas the truly extraordinary manage to stay afloat.

Somewhere, somehow and in some random suburb, there is a young, hungry fighter training relentlessly. Posters of MMA's greats adorn his or her walls.

That novice could potentially mature into the realization of this ideal recipe—a genuine superstar in the making.

Blackhawks vs. Bruins Video: Watch Brent Seabrook Score OT Winner in Game 4

Justin Onslow — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:00:25 -0400

No one can say the Stanley Cup Final hasn’t lived up to the hype.

With the Chicago Blackhawks trailing 2-1 in the series, they entered Game 4 facing a must-win scenario—and in stunning fashion, they answered the call yet again.

Defenseman Brent Seabrook found himself in position to break the 5-5 overtime tie and propel his team to a massive victory against the Boston Bruins, and he took full advantage with a slap shot from 45 feet that sailed over the stick of Boston goalie Tuukka Rask.

Rask appeared not to have seen the puck until the last second, presumably bothered by traffic in front of the net. The slap shot made its way past an unsuspecting Dennis Seidenberg and found the side of the net for the game-winner.

It was the third game of the series to go to overtime, the first of which was decided in a triple-overtime Blackhawks victory. If the remainder of the series plays out as it has so far, each of the final games will be must-watch affairs.

With the win, Chicago returns home with a great deal of momentum. Rask has been incredible throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs, but the Blackhawks proved Wednesday night that he isn't unbeatable.

For Seabrook, playing the hero is nothing new. The defenseman also netted the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals. If he plays as he did on Wednesday when Chicago returns home, the Blackhawks could find themselves with a commanding 3-2 series lead in short order.

Game 5 will take place Saturday evening at the United Center in Chicago.

Every NBA Legend's Greatest Finals Game 7 Moment of All Time

Jimmy Spencer — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:00:05 -0400

Legacy is built upon defining moments.

The mention of an NBA legend evokes memories of clutch shots, dramatic plays or championship triumph.

Nothing matches the grandeur of a Game 7, a single game that can define the career of the league’s all-time greats.

It’s win or lose, and the pressure couldn’t be greater. Thursday's Game 7 between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs will be just the 18th Game 7 in NBA Finals history.

Of the previous 17 finals Game 7s, 11 have been won by either the Boston Celtics or the Lakers (Minneapolis or Los Angeles). None have included Michael Jordan or the Chicago Bulls.

The legacy of LeBron James rests on his individual performance and ability to lead the Heat to either a second consecutive title or to his third failure in four finals appearances.

Tim Duncan can earn the fifth championship of his Hall of Fame career and catapult his standing among the game’s elite.

Of course, Dwyane Wade, Tony Parker, Ray Allen, Chris Bosh and Manu Ginobili each have personal narratives on the line, albeit to a lesser degree.

To comprehend the full magnitude of Thursday’s final game to decide the 2012-13 NBA season, it’s essential to look back at what the game’s legends have accomplished when facing a finals Game 7.

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Is Now the Right Time for CM Punk and Brock Lesnar to Get in the Ring?

David Levin — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:00:03 -0400

Monday Night Raw had a little bit of everything for everyone. When we saw Mark Henry deliver what could have been the greatest retirement speech in the history of professional wrestling (sorry, Ric Flair), I did not think it could get any better. Then came the F-5 seen and heard around the wrestling world.

The match I and many have wanted to see—Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk—was about to become a reality.

Finally (in my most respectful “Rock” voice), the WWE has gotten its head out of its monkey ass and seen the light. The greatest WWE champion of our era is going to fight the beast of all beasts, the man who thinks he can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Yes, Brock Lesnar will try to make the “Second City Saint” tap out.

OK, enough of the poking fun and having a little laugh or two at this, but it is going to happen. My only thought about it, having gone over the scenario in my mind for the past two days is, “Why now is this taking place?”

The WWE rectified a lot of wrongs at Payback on Sunday and continued to show it was moving toward its “New Attitude Era” with a fight for control by the McMahons, a Stone Cold Steve Austin-like effort by Dolph Ziggler and “Steamboat/Savage-like” match between Punk and Chris Jericho.

The WWE may have found its ebb and flow when it followed up the pay-per-view on Monday and had outstanding matches between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton (even when it was stopped), Kane and Dean Ambrose, and then Punk and Alberto Del Rio.

Making Punk a contender for the world title would be the right thing to do, but it also would screw Ziggler out of a title chance. But Punk and Del Rio is a better matchup. The two wrestled when Punk began his 434-day title reign, and both were quite gifted in the ring.

If the WWE was going to see if this feud had legs (and it should), then why interject Lesnar in a good thing?

While the Raw side of things seems to be set with John Cena taking on Mark Henry (oh, I think Henry actually wins), the SmackDown side of things just got a little crazy. Does Punk take the title off of Del Rio and then fight Lesnar at SummerSlam? Again, Ziggler held the Money in the Bank briefcase for almost a year and then loses it basically because of injury.

Please do not misunderstand me and what I am saying—I love the idea of Lesnar and Punk getting face to face. The summer months will be hotter than they have been in years. But the WWE must stick to a game plan that allows for Punk to have a great run with a different program and still have a shot at claiming a title at some point.

And unlike other wrestlers, Punk is a top title guy, he cannot carry the intercontinental title and be a success.

Lesnar is a part-time deal, but for now he is first and foremost on our minds. The WWE needs to take him when he’s on the “menu” and serve him up in the grandest fashion. Punk/Lesnar has a chance to be bigger than Rock/Cena or Punk/Rock.

Yes, it’s that big.

But if it is to happen and work, the company needs to have other angles which take care of the WWE’s supporting cast. If not, this battle fails miserably.

Bruins vs. Blackhawks: Grading Each Superstar in 2013 Stanley Cup Final

Franklin Steele — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:00:01 -0400

Game 4 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final was thrilling, and the Chicago Blackhawks are heading back to the Windy City with a tied series after downing the Boston Bruins in a wild OT game.

With four games out of the way in this final, there's been plenty of evidence with which to judge the star players on each team. Who is bringing it on every shift, leaving it all out on the ice for a chance to lift the Cup? And who is leaving much to be desired?

Here are the grades for 10 of the biggest superstars playing in the Stanley Cup Final.

Begin Slideshow

Will Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez Have More Impact on Yankees When They Return

Josh Schoch — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:55:53 -0400

Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are getting close to returning to the New York Yankees starting lineup.

Both Jeter and A-Rod have taken batting practice and are returning to baseball form, but will either have the same effect on the team that they have had in years past?

Jeter was taking swings and fielding balls on June 10, according to ESPN.

Jeter took 25 dry swings and fielded 20 grounders hit right at him in Tampa on Monday. He also played long toss from 180 feet.

Jeter, who hasn't played yet this season, will continue to gain further clearance with the consultation from the Charlotte-based Dr. Robert Anderson, who performed the procedure last October.

While his timetable is still unclear, Jeter is making progress. He was taking batting practice in Tampa on Wednesday and appears ready for a comeback right after the All-Star Break. I expect to see him in the lineup around July 25 or so.

Jeter will need further time to continue drills in Tampa, followed by a rehab stint, possibly starting with the Yankees' High-A team to start. It will be spring training all over again for Jeter, so it won't be a quickie five-game rehab.

A-Rod, on the other hand, had been working out for a few days before Jeter started, per the New York Daily News.

At the Yanks’ minor league complex, Rodriguez added six sprints around the arc of the back of the infield to his usual workout. In the five weeks he has been working out during his rehab from hip surgery, A-Rod had run only in a straight line. Running along the arc may be a precursor to running the bases.

A-Rod also threw long toss on Friday, took grounders hit right at him on his knees and from a standing position and took about 60 swings in 20-25 minutes of batting practice. The ball came off his bat much better than it did Wednesday — about 14 went over the fence at Field One of the complex — and he hit with power from left-center to right-center.

Rodriguez's return date is even harder to predict than Jeter's, but I'm guessing he'll be back in July as well.

The real question is which guy's return will mean more for the team. The Yankees' long list of injuries is almost a joke, but no one's laughing.

When Jeter comes back he will take over a shortstop position that has been a nightmare for the Yanks. After he went down himself, Eduardo Nunez also found the DL, and now Jayson Nix and Reid Brignac are attempting to fill Jeter's shoes.

ESPN quoted Yankees GM Brian Cashman saying "we are running guys out there" when talking about the shortstop position.

While Jeter will turn 39 on June 26, his return will be met with great joy, as the team has struggled to find a consistent shortstop all year.

A-Rod might not be welcomed back so graciously.

While the Yankees desperately need a third baseman who is better at the plate than David Adams, Rodriguez might not even play this year due to the Biogenesis Scandale, which will "likely" lead to an A-Rod suspension of 100 games.

This leaves Rodriguez's future with the team in doubt, and even if he does return he could be off the roster at any minute.

Howie Rumberg of the Associated Press has said that the distraction of the scandal won't likely affect Rodriguez in terms of play.

A Lightning Rod for all the wrong reasons, none of the off-field distractions — and there have been plenty — have seemed to have had any effect on A-Rod in the past.

It shouldn't be any different this time.

However, the real problem is that Rodriguez might not even stay on the field, and having the knowledge that he could disappear at any time is not something that the team wants hanging over its head.

With Jeter coming back to a position that will be completely his, A-Rod potentially being done for the season due to suspension and the fact that he may not even be able to play the field on a regular basis, there is no doubt that Jeter's return will mean much more for the Yankees.

Follow @JoshSchoch

Why Brandon Weeden Can Be the Answer for the Cleveland Browns

Dan Tylicki — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:42:53 -0400

The Cleveland Browns have undergone a radical change of late. They have a new owner, a new coaching staff, a new defensive scheme and new players at many positions.

Unlike most regime changes, the quarterback position will remain the same. Brandon Weeden, last year's first-round pick, will have 2013 to prove himself after a very hit-and-miss rookie season.

With Jason Campbell brought in as a backup who is capable of starting if needed, it looks like Weeden already has one foot out the door, and the new management has not exactly embraced him as the starter.

Despite the lack of confidence that people seem to have in Weeden, fans included, given that the Browns have not had anything outside of Derek Anderson's one good year in 2007, I actually have high hopes for Weeden in 2013.

Browns fans seeming so eager to ditch Brandon Weeden after one year is surprising. Yes, he had some games where he was flat-out awful (the season opener against Philadelphia comes to mind), and he does overthrow some balls by a ridiculous amount, not to mention the interceptions.

Having Rob Chudzinski and Norv Turner in the coaching staff should make Weeden more comfortable this season, and not only that, but their system and what they bring to the system is also perfect for him.

Pat Shurmur's style of offense was fine for Colt McCoy and his skill set, but it was the worst combination for Weeden. Weeden's strengths lie not in a few short passes, but in stretching the field and spreading out defenses.

Not only will the new offense allow more deep connections with Josh Gordon over the course of the season, but spreading the defense should also create fewer interceptions.

Perhaps most importantly, Chudzinski will likely be utilizing the shotgun a lot more with Weeden, which is his preferred style. Having that extra bit of time to make a read and zip the ball will make all the difference, especially because he does not exactly have the option of running given his lack of speed.

I keep pushing the new system, but it's difficult to underestimate the issues that Weeden had last year because of how the plays were run. The Browns had 27 dropped passes, among the highest total in the league, and there were interceptions that were the result of bobbles by the receivers.

This isn't to alleviate Weeden of any of the blame for how his year went. The Browns would have beaten the Eagles with almost anyone else at quarterback that day. Even Thaddeus Lewis probably would have snagged it.

There are reasons to be optimistic about Weeden himself as well, not just because of the regime change. He did manage three 300-yard games, which included one in December, and that number should increase easily in a new system.

No one is expecting Weeden to be elite all of a sudden, but can he complete 60-61 percent of his passes next year to go along with 25 touchdowns? With the offense the Browns have, I don't see why not.

It is, of course, up to Weeden to not only learn the playbook, but also to deliver. He has the perfect situation around him with a quality running back, perhaps the best wide receiver group the Browns have had since their return, and a solid offensive line to boot.

If Weeden still fails to deliver, then they can snag a quarterback next year and will at least have good pieces in place for that quarterback to work with.

I'm a believer in Weeden in this system. Yes, he looked bad in 2012, but sometimes all you have to do is work with the strengths the players have as a coach and watch them evolve.

Blackhawks vs. Bruins Game 4: Score, Twitter Reaction and Analysis

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:41:46 -0400

The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final Wednesday night, bringing the series to an even 2-2 after Chicago's thrilling 6-5 overtime victory.

In one of the most exciting games of the season, both teams broke through in a major way offensively. The two sides accounted for 11 total goals, with just one player scoring more than once.

When it was all said and done, Chicago had slightly more firepower.

Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook scored the game-winner, while Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane both broke through for their first respective goals of the series. Patrick Sharp, Marcus Kruger and Michal Handzus provided goals as well, while both Bryan Bickell and Michal Rozsival had two assists.

For Boston, Patrice Bergeron scored two goals, including a game-tying shot during the third period. Johnny Boychuk, Milan Lucic and Rich Peverley added the others, helping the Bruins to match Chicago's elite offensive display.

So how did it all transpire?

Early on, the Blackhawks displayed a sense of urgency, relentlessly attacking the Bruins and controlling possession. Unfortunately, that aggression ultimately led to a Johnny Oduya interference penalty at the 5:18 mark, and Chicago was suddenly one man down.

Yet it was the Blackhawks that walked away with the advantage.

Tyler Seguin took the puck just inside the blue line, but Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad met him and walked away with the puck on his stick. Breaking into the open ice, Saad made a crossing pass to get Tuukka Rask out of position and, just like that, Chicago broke through.

Michal Handzus fell to the ice, got the puck off of his stick and found the back of the net to make it 1-0 on a short-handed goal.

Goals have been tough to come by for Chicago, which made the goal ever the more important.

Rask may have let the goal pass, but it was the first time since Game 2 that he'd allowed one in (five-plus periods). As for just how impressive his streak was, note that it lasted for more than five periods.

Now that is what you call impressive.

With Boston on yet another power play, Rich Peverley capitalized on an errant Saad pass and immediately put the puck on net, beating Corey Crawford to even the game up at 1-1 and bring the TD Garden to life.

Just like that, Chicago's lead was erased.

During the second period, both teams looked to gain the early edge in this momentous Game 4. While both gave a strong effort, the superstars finally woke up, and the Blackhawks began to pull away in dominant fashion.

It started with 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Toews.

At the 6:33 mark of the second period, the Blackhawks pushed it into Boston's zone with Michal Rozsival at the helm. Handzus put a shot on net, and just before it reached the net, Toews stepped in.

Toews deflected the puck and beat Rask for his first goal of the Stanley Cup Final.

That goal was a long time coming for Chicago's captain.

Just over two minutes later, the Blackhawks were on the attack, again. This time around, Bryan Bickell and Rozsival pushed the pace and found Chicago's other superstar. Patrick Kane found the back of the net for the seventh time this postseason and the first time during the Stanley Cup Final.

This has been a long-awaited occasion for Chicago, as the Blackhawks leaders have produced at a less than acceptable level. With their backs against the wall and a 3-1 hole looming, however, Kane and Toews stepped up when it mattered. It's about time.

With the Blackhawks piling on the goals, the Bruins felt the pressure to respond. Fortunately for those in attendance, Boston did just that, taking it in and bringing the deficit down to 3-2.

Yet another point for Milan Lucic.

Lucic continued his magnificent play during the Stanley Cup Final, finding the back of the net off an assist from Zdeno Chara. In turn, the Bruins pulled to within one goal and further established the dominance of their first line.

A huge response at the 14:43 mark.

Not so fast.

Less than one minute later, the cheers were turned into silence with the Blackhawks' next score. This time around, it was a nearly identical play to what we saw during the first period, but between different players.

And, you know, with a great rebound.

Dave Bolland found Michael Frolik to start the attack, as Chicago yet again pushed the pace to avoid the slow grind that we saw during the first three games. Frolik then crossed it to Marcus Kruger, who went for a backhand but found Rask's pads.

In an extraordinary display of balance and focus, Kruger recovered the rebound, maintained his form and found the back of the net for a 4-2 lead.

Less than two minutes later, however, the Blackhawks saw their level of aggression bite them again with another penalty. With the Bruins on the power play, Boston had a chance to bring the deficit to 4-3.

Patrice Bergeron came through. But he didn't stop there.

Bergeron has been Boston's go-to player during clutch situations, and with his team trailing by two goals, he stepped up in a major way. Not only did he score the previously mentioned goal, but he found the back of the net during the third period to even things up.

What else is new?

The legend continues to grow.

Surprisingly, we were scoreless for more than nine minutes until the 4-4 deadlock was broken. When someone did break through, no one in the NHL community was surprised by who it was.

Patrick Sharp scored for the 10th time this postseason, more than any other player.

Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith were credited with the assists, thus padding the production that the Blackhawks received from their stars in this game. For Sharp, it was yet another example of how he's developed into one of the most under-appreciated players in the NHL.

Most importantly, it was the goal that gave Chicago a 5-4 lead.

Do I even have to say this? The lead didn't last long. Fifty-five seconds, to be exact.

Coming off of feeds from Nathan Horton and David Krejci, Johnny Boychuk struck gold. With just 7:46 remaining in the third period, the defenseman scored his sixth goal of the postseason.

This comes after he had six total points in 44 regular-season games.

From there, we went to a familiar place—overtime.

For all of the attention that the goal-scorers received in this affair, the goalies were on top of their game during the overtime period. Both netminders came up with huge saves, and neither gave up an inch to the opposition.

Until the 9:51 mark. The Blackhawks remained on the attack, placing Toews in front of the net and drawing two defenders to block him. Unfortunately for the Bruins, that strategy backfired, as their players ended up blinding Tuukka Rask.

This allowed Brent Seabrook to fire a slap shot in and find the back of the net for an invigorating 6-5 win.

What Will Orioles Slugger Chris Davis Be Worth if He Continues Torrid Hitting?

Zachary D. Rymer — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:39:18 -0400

We keep waiting for him to stop, but it would appear that Chris Davis either doesn't have an "Off" button or is keeping it very well hidden.

His wallet approves. Or will approve, anyway.

If you missed it, Davis was at it again on Wednesday afternoon in Detroit, slugging two more home runs as part of a 3-for-5 afternoon in a 13-3 Baltimore victory over the Tigers.

The Orioles first baseman is now hitting .337/.413/.720 with a league-leading 26 home runs. Pretty good stuff for a guy who came into the season as a .258/.310/.466 career hitter and a reputation as nothing more than just another slugging meathead.

Davis is so much more than that now, and the article that Grantland's Jonah Keri penned earlier this month made it clear that Davis has himself to thank for that. With a little nudging from Orioles hitting coach Jim Presley, Davis went to great lengths to remake himself into a more complete hitter. Obviously, he's succeeded.

Davis' efforts could pay off in an American League MVP award in the short run. But in the longer run, there's going to be a massive paycheck coming his way eventually. If he refuses to cool down, he'll be your garden-variety slugging first baseman. At last check, they get paid well.

If Davis continues his current pace, ESPN.com projects that he'll end the season with 58 home runs. That would be the most for a first baseman since Ryan Howard also slugged 58 homers in 2006, and it would also be the 12th 50-homer season by a first baseman in baseball history.

Even the more modest projections are still impressive. Per FanGraphs, ZiPS sees a .301/.370/.600 line with 42 home runs at the end of the season for Davis. Steamer sees a .305/.377/.613 line and 39 homers.

No matter which way you slice it, it's hard to see Davis as anything less than a .300 hitter with 40 bombs at season's end. The last few first basemen to hit .300 with 40 bombs in a season were named: Albert Pujols, Howard, Lance Berkman, Derrek Lee, Mark Teixeira and Carlos Delgado.

Pretty good company right there, and putting himself among them will obviously bode well for Davis' future earning power. Pujols, Howard and Teixeira are particularly relevant, as they've all signed contracts worth over $100 million within the last five years.

Davis is putting himself on a path to join them with what he's doing in 2013, but it's not going to be as simple as going from A to B. Even in a sport as liberal with money as baseball, $100 million contracts aren't given to players with only one brilliant season under their belts.

If Davis wants a $100 million contract, he's going to have to keep doing for a few more years. And since he's only under club control through 2015, that means the best bet is that he'll be getting his $100 million contract in free agency rather than via an extension from the Orioles—who aren't in the habit of giving out $100 million deals anyway.

Davis will be off his age-29 season if and when he hits free agency after 2015, and that represents a complication in trying to narrow down a potential free-agent contract. Unless MLB Trade Rumors' transaction tracker is missing somebody, no first baseman has ever signed a free-agent contract worth an excess of even so much as $50 million fresh off his age-29 season.

Teixeira comes close enough, however, as he signed with the New York Yankees off his age-28 campaign in 2008. He got an eight-year contract that will last him through his age-36 season.

That's not a bad target area for sluggers. Carlos Lee's six-year contract with the Houston Astros lasted through his age-36 season. Josh Hamilton's five-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels is also going to last through his age-36 season.

In light of these guys, Davis could turn two more brilliant full seasons in 2014 and 2015 into a seven-year deal in free agency that would last him through his own age-36 season.

As for what the money will be like, I feel safe in assuming that the going rate for a .300 hitter with 40-homer power in the winter of 2015-2016 is still going to be over $20 million per year.

If Davis is still that kind of guy, he actually ought to do even better. Teixeira, Pujols and Prince Fielder all got between $22 and $24 million per year in their deals, and that's the kind of territory Davis will be looking to crack.

Then there's inflation to take into account, and there should be plenty of that going in the next couple of years with Major League Baseball's new national TV deals set to kick in. Those are worth approximately $50 million for each of MLB's 30 teams, and don't be surprised when that money is thrown around this offseason. There will be one more offseason before Davis hits the market after 2015.

There could also be some big spenders eyeing him. The Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers, for example, both lack long-term solutions at first base. They might already be looking at Davis as a solution down the road (assuming the Rangers aren't too busy kicking themselves for trading him).

Factoring in these things, $25 million per year sounds about right, if not conservative.

It sounds nuts now. Frankly, half of me isn't entirely convinced it isn't nuts. I know he's not the player he used to be, but, still, Chris Davis.

But then, we're talking about a first baseman who, in theory, will have been a .300 hitter with 40-homer power for three straight seasons. On top of that, he'll still be on the right side of 30, and he'll be looking for a contract in a market where every team has $50 million to spend thanks to MLB's wheeling and dealing on the TV front.

A seven-year contract at $25 million per year for a total of $175 million? Yeah, it could happen.

As long as that "Off" switch remains hidden, of course.

Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

If you want to talk baseball, hit me up on Twitter.

LeBron James Going Into Defining Game 7: 'I Understand the Moment For Me'

Grant Hughes — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:33:47 -0400

The standards we use to evaluate LeBron James are unfair. In the eyes of many, any season that ends without a championship for his team constitutes a failure on his part. Fortunately, he's well aware of the significance of Thursday's decisive Game 7 tilt against the San Antonio Spurs.

James knows that his legacy is largely at stake. He has already fallen short in the NBA Finals twice—in 2007 against these Spurs, and then in 2011 against the Dallas Mavericks—so a third defeat in the league's championship round could do some real damage to his place in NBA lore.

Again, that's not fair.

James could retire today and he'd likely be regarded as one of the greatest players to ever suit up. The fact that he's made the finals four times already hardly registers as an accomplishment because his talent has led to the perennial expectation that that's what he's supposed to do.

But that's how the NBA, and to a larger extent, professional sports, work: Championship rings have a disproportionate amount of influence.

And if you think any of that analysis is hyperbolic, consider the talk after the Heat improbably avoided defeat in Game 6.

Even when LBJ is largely responsible for the fact that his team survived an incredibly close game (his 18 points in the fourth quarter and overtime helped erase San Antonio's double-digit lead after the third quarter), there's still a sense that with his talent, the game never should have been so close.

Nobody views James as just another good basketball player. Tony Parker was 6-of-23 in Game 6, but nobody said a word about the negative effect on his legacy. Some small part of that probably has to do with the fact that Parker has already won a few titles and a finals MVP.

But the bigger reason is that Parker is merely a very good NBA player. Because James has been so transcendent in most of his decade-long reign, "very good" simply doesn't cut it. He's measured against the all-time greats, not his contemporaries.

So if James scores 40 points in a loss on Thursday, he'll still be viewed as having failed.

That's not the case with any other player.

When James says he understands the moment, he's saying he understands that the deck is stacked against him, that there's really no way for him to exceed anyone's expectations. All he can do is try to live up to the inflated ones he helped create.

Fair or not, James understands what's hanging in the balance in Game 7.

The Good, Bad and Strange from Bellator 96

Duane Finley — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:32:39 -0400

Redemption was the theme of the night as Bellator kicked off its 2013 Summer Series in Thackerville, Okla.

Highly touted light heavyweight contender Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal returned to action for the first time since his stunning knockout loss to Emanuel Newton back in February. The former Strikeforce champion was a shoe-in to run the table in the 205-pound tournament. After his misstep in the second round, Lawal came into Bellator 96 looking to not only get back into the win column, but make a statement in the process against Seth Petruzelli.

And that is exactly what he did. While the king may have stumbled previously, on Wednesday night, he returned to the throne with a thundering knockout over the "Silverback."

The other half of the redemption theme was carried by Renato "Babalu" Sobral. Unfortunately for the savvy veteran, he wasn't able to stop the backslide, and Sobral came out on the business end of his tilt with Jacob Noe.

Plenty of action of all varieties were to be had at the Winstar World Casino, and let's take a look at the good, bad and strange from the event.

The Good

No fighter under the Bellator banner needed a big win more than Muhammed Lawal. The organization has pumped a significant amount of time and money into promoting the former All-American wrestler, and the pressure was on "King Mo" to deliver.

When the cage door closed and the action got underway, Lawal once again proved why he is the fighter to watch on the Bellator roster. After putting Petruzelli on his back, the former Oklahoma State wrestling standout clipped his opponent's power switch with a brutal left hand from top position.

Petruzelli received a stiff case of the "robot arms," and Lawal got back into the win column.

While Bellator's heavyweight division is typically the basis for chuckles around the MMA community, two bright spots were on display on Wednesday night.

Undefeated Russian Vitaly Minakov kept his record untarnished as he knocked the stuffing out of Ron Sparks on the televised portion of the card. The Kentucky native charged forward and paid the price as a blistering right hand from Minakov laid Sparks flat on the canvas. With the victory, Minakov will move on to face a fighter who has been a pleasant surprise inside the Bellator cage in Ryan Martinez.

Following his upset knockout victory over Travis Wiuff back in March, the heavy-handed 25-year-old stepped up on short notice to fight Rich Hale at Bellator 96. While the fight started with a brief feeling-out period, it didn't take long for Martinez to complete his night of work as he pounded out Hale on the canvas.

The victory over Hale makes it three consecutive wins under the Bellator banner and eight out of the past nine for Martinez.

The final entry into the category comes courtesy of War Machine. The mercurial veteran finally made his long-awaited debut inside the Bellator cage on Wednesday night, and after shaking off the rust of a year-long layoff, the 31-year-old made good on his debut by scoring a stoppage victory over Blas Avena.

With everything he's been through outside of the cage, the victory over Avena should lift the weight off War Machine's shoulders for the time being.

The Bad

There was no hiding the fact Renato "Babalu" Sobral had a lot on the line going into his fight with Jacob Noe. The 37-year-old Brazilian was coming off a disappointing knockout loss to Mikhail Zayats back in January and needed to a victory at Bellator 96 to keep the pulse on his career.

While "Babalu" started out with solid footwork and landing clean shots, he was also taking bombs as well, and those punches began to take their toll early in the third round. Despite his opponent showing major signs of fatigue, Sobral continued to wade into heavy punches and eventually ate one too many midway through the round.

After catching a left hook from Noe, Sobral took his eyes off his opponent to look at the fight clock just as a right-hand bomb from Noe found its mark. The punch caused Sobral to stumble around the cage, and because of his condition, the referee stepped in and called off the fight.

The loss makes it two straight for Sobral and three of his past four. While it wasn't shown on the broadcast, cageside commentator Randy Couture announced the former PRIDE and UFC veteran ceremoniously retired after the bout.

Although Seth Petruzelli wasn't included in the night's ongoing redemption theme, he was certainly in need of a big showing on Wednesday night.

The 33-year-old Florida native has competed in nearly every major MMA promotion to hit the states in the past decade and has failed to gain traction in any of them. Coming into his bout against Lawal at Bellator 96, Petruzelli had an opportunity to make his mark on Bellator in a major way.

Despite mocking Lawal's king theme at the weigh-ins and putting forward strong words in the pre-fight build-up, Petruzelli had little to offer once the action began. Lawal was able to put him on the canvas with ease, and after one huge shot with Petruzelli's back on the mat, the "Kimbo Killer's" night ended violently.

The Strange

I'm all for hyping up different aspects of a fighter for promotional reasons, but touting Sobral as an "MMA Legend" is a tough bit to swallow. Don't get me wrong, Sobral has absolutely stepped into the cage with a collection of the best fighters to ever compete in mixed martial arts, but losing to great fighters doesn't make you a legend—at least in my opinion.

Following his loss to Zayats, Bellator could have easily dropped said tagline from his promo and the world would've been right again. But that didn't happen, and once again, Sobral failed to advance in the light heavyweight tournament, leaving Bellator's promotion of him as an MMA Legend to serve as fodder to be written about.

Also, it is never a good thing to shove a referee inside the cage, and Sobral's post-fight antics and fight night showing were a bad look to end his MMA career.

One of the key missions for Bellator's production on Wednesday was to promote its new fighter-based reality program Fight Masters. Throughout the broadcast, the show's four coaches sat in as guest commentator's and called the action alongside the regular team.

While the revolving cast did a solid job during the bouts, the camera shots in between fights left something to be desired. Showing coach Frank Shamrock with a cocktail in hand as he cut it up with his fellow coaches was certainly something that could have been avoided.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a good time, but when you're on location to work—even intermittently—maybe you instruct the stars of your new series to wait to enjoy an adult beverage or two until after the live television broadcast is over.

Masterful Matt: Oregon State's Boyd Pitches the Beavers to CWS Final Four

J.P. Scott — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:31:13 -0400

On Wednesday, Oregon State punched the ticket that will keep them in town long enough to outlast half of the 5 remaining teams in the field.

Pitcher Matt Boyd tossed a complete game shutout for the Beavers, allowing only four hits in the process. He was nearly untouchable on his way to a 1-0 win, striking out 11 Indiana Hoosier batters.

Making Boyd's feat all the more impressive is the fact that Indiana had not been shut out all season.

Indiana shortstop Michael Basil had high praise for Boyd after the game.

"He was spotting his fast ball and he was getting his breaking ball on the first strike. It really kept us off balance a lot, and we wanted to jump on his fastball, but a lot of times when his fastball was in the zone, it was right on the inside corner, outside corner. Didn't really leave too much right over the heart of the plate. Just really spotted the fastball and kept us off balance."

Basil had one of Indiana's four hits.

Indiana's Aaron Sleger pitched a complete game of his own, giving up one run on seven hits. He struck out five batters on the night.

Oregon State's lone run came when Kavin Keyes scored from third base off a Jake Rodriguez sacrifice fly in the top of the 4th inning.

It looked as if Indiana was going to tie the game up when Hoosier catcher Kyle Schwarber crushed a ball to right field in the bottom of the ninth, only to have it die in the tough outfield winds of TD Ameritrade Park. It was the second consecutive game in which the elements looked to have robbed Schwarber of a round tripper.

Oregon State will move on to play the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Friday afternoon at 3 pm EST. The Beavers will need to defeat the Bulldogs twice to advance to the CWS Championship Series.

The Indiana Hoosiers head home to Bloomington after winning one of the three games they played in Omaha.

J.P. Scott is a Senior Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand via the postgame press conference.

Sleeper Draft Prospects That Need to Be on Brooklyn Nets' Radar

Andrew Kipp — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:27:07 -0400

The 2013 draft isn’t loaded with a lot of top-level talent, but it does have a compelling amount of depth. This is great news for the Brooklyn Nets, who own the 22nd pick and probably won’t have a shot at selecting a highly touted player.

The Nets should, however, have the opportunity to find value near the end of the first round, where a quality sleeper could be available.

There isn’t a ton of separation in the ability of the players projected to be taken in the latter stages of the first round, so it’s all about finding the right fit. Certain general managers will be looking to fill a particular need, while others will simply look to take the best available player on the board.

If Billy King’s top options are gobbled up early on, he may look toward a player who’s flown under the radar over the past couple of months.

A few sleepers who should be available for Brooklyn at No. 22 include point guard Isaiah Canaan of Murray State, center Mike Muscala of Bucknell and Louisville point guard Peyton Siva.

Isaiah Canaan

Canaan was the floor general for a Murray State team that went a combined 50-12 over the last two seasons. The 22-year-old led the Racers to an NCAA tournament appearance as a junior and finished No. 6 in the nation in scoring as a senior.

A four-year college player, Canaan averaged 21.8 points on 43 percent shooting in 2012-13. During his junior season, the 6’1”, 195-pound point guard shot 45 percent from beyond the arc and nearly 47 percent from the field.

Despite his lack of size, Canaan has a 6’4” wingspan and is an elite athlete with an exceptional handle. He’s also one of the best shooters in the draft at his position. He appears equally comfortable shooting off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot situations.

Canaan was a shoot-first guard in college, which means he has the potential to become a combo guard at the next level. According to Ben Couch of NBA.com, he was supposed to work out for the Nets on Wednesday but couldn’t participate due to an injury. He is projected to be a late first-round or early second-round selection.

Mike Muscala

Muscala might be one of the most underrated players in this year’s draft. The 6’11”, 240-pound center was the best player on a Bucknell team that made the NCAA tournament this year for only the sixth time in school history. On March 6, 2013, Muscala became the Bison’s all-time leading scorer.

Muscala didn’t get a lot of attention from NBA scouts because he played in a small conference. But he performed well against big-time programs, posting 25 points and 14 rebounds against Missouri. During his junior season, he accounted for 20 points, nine boards and four blocks in an NIT game versus Arizona.

The 22-year-old averaged 18.7 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks for the Bison in 2012-13. He possesses a smooth face-up shot and a variety of post moves, including a devastating lefty jump hook.

Most importantly, Muscala brings a ton of effort and energy on both ends of the court. He gets up and down in transition and rebounds at a high rate. He also shot above 80 percent from the free-throw line throughout his college career.

Peyton Siva

It seems strange calling Peyton Siva a sleeper. He was, after all, the point guard of the team that won the NCAA national championship this year.

But Siva gets little respect from many so-called NBA draft gurus, who believe he lacks the size to compete at the NBA level. Most mock drafts have Siva being taken at the end of the second round, and some have him going undrafted.

Siva is listed at 6’0”, but he’s more like 5’11” on a good day. Either way, he makes up for his lack of height with incredible athleticism. He uses his explosive quickness to get to the rim and leave defenders in the dust. He also possesses exceptional leaping ability, which he showcased on an alley-oop finish in the national championship game against Michigan.

Siva averaged just 10 points and 5.7 assists during his senior season, but he excelled in other areas, averaging 2.3 steals for the No. 1-ranked defense in the country.

Siva was one of 10 players who participated in the Nets' NBA draft workout on May 23, and reportedly turned a few heads, according to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.

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