Bleacher Report - Front Page

Los Angeles Kings' 5 Most Impressive Players During 2013 Playoffs

Jason Lewis — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:33:17 -0400

With the tension rising in a heated series between the San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings that now stands at two games apiece, let's take a moment to reflect back on the playoffs as a whole and talk about some of the team's more impressive players.

It's been all hands on deck as the St. Louis Blues and the San Jose Sharks have played tight checking series that have all but neutralized some of the team's best players. However, the Kings have received stellar play from stars and depth players alike. Moving forward, they will need more of the same if they want to continue the march toward a title defense.

Begin Slideshow

Ranking the 5 Biggest Surprise Stars of the 2013 NHL Playoffs

Nicholas Goss — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:29:33 -0400

Every year we see players who unexpectedly make great contributions to their team's success in the NHL playoffs.

The atmosphere and pressure of the postseason often brings out the best in a lot of role players and rookies, many of whom are eager to make a name for themselves on the game's grandest stage.

Let's look at the five biggest surprise stars of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs thus far.

Begin Slideshow

Penguins vs. Senators Game 4: Score, Twitter Reaction and Analysis

Tyler Conway — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:25:09 -0400

Even on nights where neither Evgeni Malkin nor Sidney Crosby could find the net until garbage time, the Ottawa Senators just cannot keep the high-powered Pittsburgh Penguins attack off the scoreboard.

Instead, it was James Neal who stepped up huge on Wednesday, as the Penguins defeated the Senators, 7-3, in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinals clash. Pittsburgh now has a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The 25-year-old Neal scored two goals on Wednesday, snapping a streak that had seen him go goalless in the Penguins last five playoff tilts. Neal's first- and third-period goals were sandwiched in between scores by Chris Kunitz and Jarome Iginla in the second period.

Pascal Dupuis, Crosby and Iginla's second goal sent the score well beyond reach, each goal coming within the 8:08 and 9:53 mark of the third period. The fusillade of goals led Tribune-Review reporter Josh Yohe to say the Penguins have reached a rarefied mode usually reserved for future champions:

It was a performance that in retrospect will look every bit as dominant as Pittsburgh's Game 1 triumph. Senators' defense came absolutely unglued during the third period, leaving goalie Craig Anderson on an island alone to get pelted with shots.

For those watching, the barrage of shots hitting the back of the net came after a slow build—one that saw Ottawa look like the better team for much of the first two periods.

Perhaps spurred by the momentum of their double-overtime triumph in Game 4, the Senators offense came out on fire. Playing short-handed early after a Sergei Gonchar interference penalty, Senators winger Milan Michalek took a pass from Daniel Alfredsson and blew past the Penguins defense, including Malkin, for a relatively easy goal for Ottawa.

It took a mere 2:29 to send Scotiabank Place into a Game 7-esque tizzy. Senators radio announcer AJ Jakubec noted that Michalek showed no signs of any lingering knee problems in jetting past the Pittsburgh defense for the score.

Ottawa was able to keep the game at its pace for much of the first 20 minutes. Playing physically and fast, the Senators stifled the Penguins' vaunted offensive attack, forcing them into bad, contested shots that had little chance of finding the back of the net.

And then, as they always seem to do, the Penguins found a way to strike. Taking one faceoff, Neal floated a bit toward the center of the attacking zone and sent a rocket-launcher of a wrist shot past Anderson to knot the score at 1-1.

Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted just what good for Neal, who had been struggling mightily before Game 5, was possessing early on:

Kyle Turris made sure Neal's celebration was short-lived—at least for the time being. The Senators star sent his fifth postseason goal rocketing into the Penguins net less than two minutes later, giving the Senators a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

Unfortunately for the Senators, Turris' goal would be the last time they got a shot past Tomas Vokoun during meaningful play.

Pittsburgh's onslaught of the overwhelmed Senators defense took a little more than a minute into the second period to begin. Kunitz took a great pass from Dupuis and sent a wrister past Anderson for an easy breakaway goal. Iginla put the Pens ahead 3-2 less than a minute later on a rebound chance, making Anderson look like a "sieve," per ESPN's David Todd:

Things calmed down for the remainder of the second period, but the floodgates burst wide open in the game's final 20 minutes. The Penguins had scored six unanswered goals by midway through the third period before a meaningless Alfredsson goal finalized the score.

The teams will take a 24-hour reprieve before heading back to Pittsburgh for Game 5 on Friday. The Penguins can close out the best-of-seven series with a win at CONSOL Energy Center, where they won the series' first two contests.

NHL Network's Steve Mears was clear which way he thinks this series is headed:

Following such a dominant performance on Wednesday, it's not hard to see where Mears is coming from. The Penguins were the Eastern Conference's most dominant team all through the regular season and they're starting to look the part again in these playoffs.

MRI Reveals Carmelo Anthony Was Fighting Through Shoulder Tear in Playoffs

Grant Hughes — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:21:46 -0400

During the New York Knicks' 2013 NBA playoff run, we saw Carmelo Anthony do two things on a frequent basis: shoot and grimace. Anthony has always been big on the former, but now we know why he did so much of the latter.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Anthony had been playing with a pretty significant shoulder injury:

The injury had been a source of concern for Anthony since April 14, when he initially suffered it against the Indiana Pacers. He aggravated it a handful of times throughout the postseason, with each new tweak bringing a familiar grab for the joint and an uncomfortable wince.

In Game 5 of the Knicks' opening-round series against the Boston Celtics, things looked particularly bad for 'Melo.

He continued to suit up throughout the playoffs, but he clearly paid for it whenever there was any significant contact with that bad shoulder.

It's hard to know whether the injury, which was to Anthony's non-shooting arm, affected his play. He certainly continued to log major minutes throughout the postseason and had no qualms about firing off plenty of difficult shots. If he truly had been hampered by the injury, you'd think coach Mike Woodson would have devised some way to run an offense that didn't involve such a heavy reliance on Anthony.

No other player came close to matching Anthony's 25.8 field-goal attempts per game in the postseason. So we know that his confidence, at least, remained healthy.

Still, it's interesting to note that after hitting 38 percent of his three-point attempts during the season, his long-range accuracy dropped to under 30 percent in the playoffs. The efficiency dip was the same from everywhere else on the floor, as well:

It might be a little reductive to point to the shoulder injury and assume that it led to 'Melo's reduced accuracy. It's certainly possible, but there's also a case to be made for the defenses of the Celtics and Indiana Pacers, which forced Anthony to take tougher shots.

Plus, Anthony's career shooting percentages in the playoffs (42 percent from the field and 32 percent from beyond the arc) actually aren't all that far off from what he did in this year's postseason.

Looking ahead, Anthony's prognosis is good. According to Isola, the Knicks are going to give 'Melo's shoulder some time to heal on its own. If that works out, he'll avoid surgery and be ready to go in a few weeks. On the other hand, if the shoulder doesn't improve, surgery and a three-to-four-month recovery period would be in the cards.

Either way, he figures to be ready for the 2013-14 season with plenty of time to spare.

The Knicks are coming off their first postseason series win in over a decade. If they hope to make it two in a row next season, they'll definitely need a healthy Anthony to do it.

Credit Anthony for fighting through the pain and giving his team what he could during the playoffs. If the injury indeed hurt his productivity, it's reasonable to give him a pass for his low-percentage performance.

If only there were a similar excuse for J.R. Smith.

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

Rafael Nadal's Dominance Won't Change Unpredictable Nature of 2013 French Open

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:18:31 -0400

Rafael Nadal will attempt to win his eighth French Open title in nine years when he takes the court at Roland Garros this weekend. And if that fact doesn't astound you, then re-read it until it finally starts to sink in—he's won all but one match in nine years at the French Open.

Not one of those titles have come against easy opposition, either, with all but one championship final against a player ranked top five or higher—proving beyond any doubt that he is the king of Roland Garros.

Such dominance has not ever been seen before in men's tennis.

And yet, even with that dominance, the 2013 French Open is still wide open.

The Spaniard will no doubt be the undisputed favorite for the tournament and will definitely not be an easy-beat; that much we can guarantee will happen.

Yet even with Nadal losing just one match since his successful return from injury and even with his strong history at Roland Garros, the tournament is still up for grabs.

Read on to see the biggest reasons why.

Nadal's History Against Novak Djokovic

Perhaps the biggest reason why Nadal can't just be confirmed as a "lock" for the title is the current World No. 1, Novak Djokovic. For despite the fact that clay isn't Djokovic's strongest surface, he's certainly more than capable of pushing the Spaniard and triumphing over him this year.

Proof of that was found at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

Arguably Nadal's favorite tournament, Djokovic was able to finish over the top of Nadal and emerge with a huge clay-court victory in the process.

Now many will be quick to point out here that since that win, Djokovic has done next to nothing, and they'd be 100 percent correct. He was stunned by Grigor Dimitrov and then Tomas Berdych in back-to-back tournaments to leave him without the best of form coming into the French Open, but there's no taking away from the fact that he beat Nadal, on clay, this year.

Nadal will be comforted by the fact that he did secure a key win against Djokovic in the final last year, but even that wasn't as straightforward as it seemed.

Djokovic was starting to assert himself in the match when the rain delay came in the fourth set, and it did kill his momentum somewhat. Even then, he still had a number of chances to win the fourth set before Nadal eventually closed it 7-5, and will take confidence knowing that he can indeed beat Nadal at Roland Garros—even if it's something that he's never done before.

The Serbian has been playing great tennis this year, and his performance at the 2013 Australian Open showed that he hasn't dropped a single step from his 2012 season.

Nadal might hold a career head-to-head advantage over Djokovic, but the World No. 1 has won eight of their past 11 encounters. Moreover, since 2011, Djokovic has taken three finals off Nadal on clay, and has split the head-to-head clay-court record 3-3 in that time.

3-3 against Nadal—on clay, in two years—is definitely a record to be proud of, and Djokovic will surely try to use that to carry him toward the Grand Slam title here.

Key Withdrawals in Men's Field

You'd also have to think that the unpredictable nature of the draw and field this year for the French Open make this one very open.

For not only do we not yet know who Nadal will be facing in the semifinals and the like, we don't even know how the rest of the seeds are going to fall, courtesy of several big-name stars dropping out of the tournament. Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro are the two biggest names to be scratched this year, and it will be fascinating to see how their absence affects the field.

It will give a huge advantage to the likes of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Stanislas Wawrinka and Nicolas Almagro, who will all move up in the seeding and could now find much easier runs to the quarterfinals and semifinals than they would otherwise have had this year.

Interestingly, Nadal has not played anyone ranked outside of the top six in the world in all seven of his French Open finals. He's only played three players ranked outside the top six in the semifinals as well, and has therefore become very accustomed to playing guys closer to his level in at Roland Garros.

That might seem harder, but it means they're less likely to go for big shots all the time—which is what an outsider might try to do against Nadal if they meet.

We saw in his one French Open loss. Sweden's Robin Soderling went for big shots all the time, and it paid off. And with the unpredictable nature of the draw this year at the 2013 French Open thanks to all the key withdrawals, it could definitely be a storyline worth watching for again this year.

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

What Do the Pittsburgh Steelers Need to Do to Compete in the AFC North in 2013?

Chris G. — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:12:48 -0400

The Pittsburgh Steelers did not meet the standard in 2012. An 8-8 finish left them in third place in the AFC North and on the outside looking in on the playoffs.

But a down season does not change the expectations for the 2013 season. Championships are the standard in Pittsburgh, and that will be no exception this year.

Though not the ultimate goal, winning the AFC North is one way to guarantee a spot in the playoffs.

Pittsburgh had an opportunity to win the division title last season, but injuries, turnovers and failing to make the necessary plays at the critical junctures of the game were too much to overcome.

The Steelers didn’t necessarily have a problem overcoming their opponents—they had a problem overcoming themselves.

So what do the Steelers have to do in 2013 to get back in AFC North contention? Let's take a look.

Healthy Stars

Injuries may have been the single biggest contributor to the Steelers' struggles in 2012.

Troy Polamalu, LaMarr Woodley, Ike Taylor, Antonio Brown, David DeCastro, Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams were just some of the players who missed significant action due to injuries.

The defense was slowed without several of its best playmakers on the field—or at least on the field healthy. As a result, the pass rush lacked and opposing quarterbacks attacked the young, inexperienced players in the secondary.

But even so, the defense held tight and kept things close virtually every week.

The same could not be said regarding the injuries to the offense.

Without Brown, the offense lacked one of its best receivers. Adam’s absence led to a decline in the ground game. Then the Steelers lost Heath Miller at the end of the season with a torn ACL.

But none of these injuries were as significant as Roethlisberger’s.

Roethlisberger was a different quarterback after he injured his shoulder and ribs against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Prior to the injury, Roethlisberger was having one of the best seasons of his career.

He completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,287 yards and 17 touchdowns. During this time, he only threw four interceptions and was sacked just 18 times—including three sacks on the final drive against the Denver Broncos.

After the injury, Roethlisberger wasn’t nearly as sharp. He completed just 56.4 percent of his passes for 978 yards, nine touchdowns, four interceptions and was sacked 12 times.

More important than the stats, the Steelers were 6-3 with a healthy Roethlisberger compared to 1-2 without him in the lineup and 1-3 after he returned.

As long as Roethlisberger is healthy, the Steelers will be able to compete with any team in the league. They may not have one of the prolific offenses in the league, but they will be competitive each and every week.

Improve Production on the Ground

Injuries are an issue that is difficult to control. A balanced offensive attack is not.

While the passing game has been solid for the Steelers, the running game has been nothing short of pathetic.

Last season, the ground game was one of the worst in the league with 96.1 yards per game, and it only produced eight touchdowns.

That put the pressure on Roethlisberger to produce points through the air. While he did throw 26 touchdowns, it was not enough to make up for the lack of production on the ground.

Establishing a strong running attack will be important in 2013.

The Steelers face tough defenses in the AFC North and cannot be one-dimensional if they are going to compete.

Besides this, they are without their top scoring receiver from 2012—Mike Wallace—and may be without their top scoring tight end—Heath Miller—for a portion of the season.

Each player had eight touchdown receptions last year, and the Steelers will have to find a way to match this production.

Neither Antonio Brown nor Emmanuel Sanders have a history of putting up big touchdown numbers, and rookie Markus Wheaton is unproven.

The only way that the Steelers can realistically replace that type of production and improve upon it is to get more points on the ground.

Pittsburgh solidified its offensive line last season by drafting DeCastro and Adams. This year, it added a running back to carry the load.

Le’Veon Bell has the look of an every-down back. Not only is he a physical runner, but he has above-average hands out of the backfield and is a capable blocker.

Between the 20s, Bell’s overall effectiveness will help establish a play-action passing attack. Drawing defenders near the line will help free up the smaller receivers on the outside on downfield passes.

But where Bell is really going to make his money is inside the 20s.

The Steelers red-zone offense has struggled to put the ball in the end zone, but it has improved.

Pittsburgh scored touchdowns on 55.10 percent of its red-zone opportunities in 2012 compared to 50.91 percent of its attempts in 2011, via Team Rankings.

Bell’s efficiency running the ball near the end zone will be the key to the success of Pittsburgh’s offense.

The Steelers' current group of receivers are either easily knocked off the ball or lack the ability to get open in the end zone.

Let’s just say that the Steelers don’t have a savvy veteran like Hines Ward who could find the soft spot between defenders in the end zone.

A balanced attack will help solve that problem. No longer will the Steelers have to depend on the pass to move the ball and score.

It will not be a return to the “three yards and a cloud of dust” offense, but rather a balanced attack that will keep opposing defenses on their heels.

Attacking Defense

The AFC North may be known for its defenses, but the offenses are nothing to be ashamed of either.

There will always be arguments to Joe Flacco’s status as an elite quarterback, but none of that matters right now because he is a Super Bowl champion quarterback.

The Baltimore Ravens have quite a bit of skill on offense with Flacco, Ray Rice, Torrey Smith as well as a pair of talented tight ends that make them dangerous on offense.

They have nothing to sneeze at in Cincinnati either. The Bengals have put together a very talented group of offensive players.

Quarterback Andy Dalton has a ton of talent to throw to this season, including one of the premier receivers in the game, A.J. Green.

Besides green, Mohamed Sanu is an intriguing young receiver to keep an eye on as well as their two talented tight ends—Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert.

These two offenses ranked 10th and 12th in the league last season, respectively, and have potential to be even better this year.

In order to win the division, the Steelers must first and foremost defeat their divisional opponents.

Since they may have difficulty putting a lot of points on the board, the Steelers must once again depend on their defense to keep them in games. Therefore, they must find a way to stop these.

The Ravens and Bengals are going to continue to throw the football and attack downfield with their big-play threats at receiver. One way to stop this is to have an attacking defense.

Pittsburgh’s coaching staff has already made some changes and added talent to make this happen.

Cortez Allen will add a much-needed playmaker in the secondary.

Last season, he showed signs of having a nose for the football with two interceptions and three forced fumbles.

But it isn’t the cornerbacks who make the plays for the defense, it is the linebackers. That is why they drafted Jarvis Jones in the first round.

Jones may not start early, but you have to believe that he will get on the field sooner rather than later. He was one of the top pass-rushers in college football, and the Steelers are in desperate need of a pass rush.

A healthy Woodley will provide a huge boost, but using Jones on pass-rushing situations could make all of the difference.

To force turnovers in this league, defenses have to apply pressure and force the issue. This is an area in which the Steelers have failed in during recent years.

Jones has a history of getting to the quarterback and forcing turnovers. He won’t be another James Harrison in year one, but he can help as a situational rusher.

Besides Jones, Dick LeBeau must continue to adjust his defensive scheme to the players who are going to be on the field.

Having Woodley and Polamalu healthy will help diversify the playbook, and if Jason Worilds can put up 10 sacks, the Steelers “Blitzburgh” defense will be right where it needs to be.

The defense will have to keep the Steelers close as the offense continues to find itself. It may actually even need to steal a game or two for the Steelers.

But if all goes well, the Steelers will be in contention for the AFC North. They must get back to playing “Steelers football,” and if they can play their game for a full season, there is no doubt that they will be a contender in 2013.

All stats courtesy of NFL.com.

Follow @ChrisG_FC

Carmelo Anthony Injury: Updates on Knicks Star's Shoulder

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:12:38 -0400

The New York Knicks may be out of the 2013 NBA playoffs, but that hasn't stopped them from stealing headlines. In fact, the news coming out of New York is not only revealing, but also potentially devastating.

According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Carmelo Anthony is battling a small left shoulder tear.

This comes after 'Melo played 12 postseason games.

Anthony had been favoring his shoulder throughout the playoffs, even wearing a protective sleeve. He fought through the pain, going for averages of 28.8 points on a slash line of .406/.298/885.

With that being said, it's not about what was—it's about what happens next.

If Anthony requires surgery on the shoulder, there's a possibility that the Knicks have yet another offseason in which their stars battle injuries. Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire have yet to complete an offseason in that regard, as each has faced his fair share of ailments.

This latest development could be the most devastating of all, as New York's window of opportunity appears to be closing.

Entering the 2013-14 season, only one player under contract will be younger than 27 years old. Free agency and the draft could help in that regard, but New York is tight in cap space and was built to win with Anthony, Stoudemire and Chandler leading the charge.

Anthony's shoulder injury could be yet another complication in what appeared to be the perfect plan to turn this storied franchise around.

Why Bears Fullback Evan Rodriguez Is an Emerging Star in Chicago

Andrew Dannehy — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:11:57 -0400

Among the Chicago Bears players who has the most to gain with the change in coaches from Lovie Smith to Marc Trestman is fullback Evan Rodriguez, who could become a star in a more creative offense.

Rodriguez is a unique player who should have a unique role, unlike what the Bears gave him last season.

He played tight end and caught 69 passes for 871 yards and seven touchdowns at Temple. Excitement for the rookie grew after a good showing in training camp in which he reportedly put on a "clinic against the team's defense with clutch grabs, more precise routes and a display of athleticism", according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN Chicago.

Yet, when the regular season began, Rodriguez was a forgotten man.

The role general manager Phil Emery saw for him after the draft wasn't one he ended up playing.

"Right role, right fit for the player and team; we see Evan as a combination of a fullback and an F tight end (primarily a receiving tight end). As we analyzed our team needs, we really felt that we had a defined need with the system changes that coach Tice will bring in terms of having a vertical tight end, somebody that could challenge the inside of the defensive structure of our opponent,” Emery said.

Despite the Bears' struggles at the tight end position and their desperate need for someone other than Brandon Marshall to catch passes, Rodriguez was used almost exclusively as a blocking fullback by Tice.

Rodriguez played just 217 snaps last season and was used to block on 169 of those, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He was targeted on just eight passes, catching four of them, according to ESPN.

Rodriguez performed well in that role as he graded out positively on PFF (subscription required) and as the 12th-best run-blocking fullback. However, limiting him to that role is a waste of his skill set and athletic ability.

Coming out of the draft, Scouts Inc. (subscription required) said Rodriguez is a "smooth athlete with loose hips", that he "has the top-end speed to stretch the field vertically" and that he's a "tough runner after the catch". These are all skills that the Bears didn't even attempt to use last season.

Rodriguez will enter his second NFL season with a new coaching staff with hopes of a bigger role. Trestman told the Chicago Sun-Times "he can run well…I'm excited to see more of him and see how far we can go with his flexibility."

At the team's first minicamp in April, Rodriguez was used solely at the fullback position, but that could change, according to tight ends coach Andy Bischoff.

Bischoff told the Sun-Times that had more to do with the number of players they had at each position in camp and that they "certainly recognize his versatility."

Coming into the league, Rodriguez was often compared to New England's Aaron Hernandez. According to the measurements on NFL Draft Scout, Hernandez is slightly bigger, but Rodriguez is faster and more athletic.

Like Temple did with Rodriguez, the Patriots lined Hernandez up at multiple positions, including as a tight end, out wide in the slot and in the backfield.

Here you see Hernandez lined up at fullback in order to get matched up with a linebacker. He wins the one-on-one matchup for an easy touchdown.

It's hard to say if the Bears will use Rodriguez the same way the Patriots use Hernandez. New England—like many NFL teams—rarely use a fullback, but Trestman has used one in the past and it seems that's where Rodriguez has started out. However, unlike last year, that doesn't mean he'll be wasted, just used differently.

In the past, the Bears haven't thrown to their fullbacks much, but Trestman has been successful with that position in the passing game. Larry Centers caught 69 passes when he was the offensive coordinator in Arizona in 1998 and William Floyd caught 47 in eight games when Trestman called the plays for the 49ers in 1995.

Trestman has said numerous times that he adjusts his offense to the talent at hand, and the numbers back that claim up.

Even if he's used primarily as a fullback, he'll likely be moved around. Receiver Earl Bennett said the offense "moves everybody around" on ESPN 1000's "Carmen and Jurko Show." Rodriguez has shown he can line up and play a traditional fullback role. His skills and college tape suggests he can move closer to the line of scrimmage and perhaps even line up wide on occasion.

The Bears enter next season short on proven playmakers. Matt Forte is expected to be used more as a receiver and Marshall can be expected to catch around 100 passes again, but the rest of the plays are up for grabs. Martellus Bennett should help them in their base package, but receivers Earl Bennett and Alshon Jeffery have yet to prove they can be healthy and consistent. If Rodriguez has a good showing in training camp, the Bears may use him more than they use a third receiver.

While many people think of the NFL as a more wide-open passing game, the best teams find ways to use the talent at hand. According to the snap counts on PFF (subscription required) the San Francisco 49ers used tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker and fullback Bruce Miller on more snaps than they played any receiver other than Michael Crabtree.

As you see in the above photo, the 49ers lined Miller and Walker out wide with Davis as the tight end and Crabtree in the slot. The Bears don't have a second tight end of Walker's caliber, but there's reason to believe Rodriguez can be used in a more versatile role.

Below, you see New Orleans option their fullback—Jed Collins—out wide to take coverage away from receiver Marques Colston. The Saints didn't use Collins as a receiver very much out of that formation, but Rodriguez's skill set would give the Bears the option of doing so.

Rodriguez has been putting the work in this offseason as he was in Miami working with Marshall, Jeffery and others. While there, he got himself in a bit of trouble, but that issue has since been sorted out.

Teams can never have too many playmakers, but they have to know how to utilize them. Rodriguez's skill set isn't the same as traditional tight ends or fullbacks, but players with unique abilities are valuable if placed in the proper hands. Trestman has shown the ability to get the most out of the talent he has given, regardless of their positions.

Rodriguez is an unconventional player who was forced in a conventional role last year. If Trestman and his staff can think outside the box, they might have a star their predecessors didn't know how to use.

Miami Dolphins: Offseason Has Changed Perception of Fins, but That's Not Enough

Alan Hubbard — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:03:57 -0400

The current offseason has been very good to the Miami Dolphins. So good, in fact, that it's altered the league-wide perception of the Dolphins as a football destination. General Manager Jeff Ireland considers that the offseason's greatest success, according to an interview with the Sun Sentinel:

I felt like we've addressed some of the things we needed to address, and we got players we wanted. What's great to hear is that the players wanted us, too. I think that's the most important aspect of what we've accomplished this year.

Ireland is right. That is a huge accomplishment. Remember, just a few years ago, the Dolphins were viewed with the same respect as an overflowing garbage dump. People simply did not want to bring their talents to South Beach.

Just a year-and-a-half ago, the Dolphins failed to land Jeff Fisher as their new head coach. He ultimately chose the power offered to him by the St. Louis Rams. Miami's failure to hook Fisher prompted Alex Marvez of Fox Sports to dub the team one of the league's most dysfunctional franchises.

He probably wasn't too far off in his description, especially when you consider Miami's pursuit of Jim Harbaugh a year prior to that. Owner Stephen Ross and Ireland left town to court the popular college coach, leaving then-head coach Tony Sparano to wallow in embarrassment.

The move ruffled many feathers in NFL circles, and when Harbaugh ultimately spurned the Dolphins, Ross and Ireland were left to walk tails-between-legs back to Sparano. He was later fired during the 2011 season.

Needless to say, no one felt sorry for the Dolphins.

Jump back to 2012, when the Dolphins doggedly pursued Peyton Manning. The team was desperate for a quarterback, but the future Hall of Famer never seemed to give it the time of day. Manning made trips to both Denver and Arizona to visit with those respective teams. The Dolphins, on the other hand, had to fly to Indianapolis to get the quarterback's attention.

Miami didn't stand a chance.

That's not all, either. Safety Ryan Clark tweeted his less-than-positive opinion about the Fins organization last March (the tweets have since been removed). He claimed that "No one" wanted to play in Miami:

It's my honest opinion. Not a good guy making decisions.

Former Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder also had some rather inflammatory things to say about Ireland (per NFL.com):

I wouldn't go on a team with Jeff Ireland. I’m not very confident in him. He doesn't know what he’s doing in my opinion. He’s real disrespectful, he doesn't know how to deal with people and the whole Dez Bryant (situation) kind of showed to the world what he’s about, but guys in the building know what he’s really about. He’s not a good person. He has no class, and I wouldn't choose to go back and play there. And I would have to say it’s the only team I don’t want to play for.

Ouch.

So how does a team go about repairing such a poor image?

It started last season, with the hiring of head coach Joe Philbin and the drafting of quarterback Ryan Tannehill. After opening up on Hard Knocks, most people considered the dysfunctional Dolphins were set for another miserable season.

But Miami's two new leaders surprised the league and led Miami to a 7-9 record. Two missed field goals were the only things separating the team from a 9-7 record, which would have been its first above .500 season since 2008.

That set the stage for a high-pressure offseason. Ireland had to supply the team with weapons so they could be more competitive in 2013. By all accounts, the beleaguered general manager has done that. Impressively, he was able to attract a lot of talent.

Just one year removed from missing out on the hottest free agent available (Manning), the Dolphins snagged 2012's top free agent in Mike Wallace. They also lured Dannell Ellerbe away from the Super Bowl champs, brought in former Pro Bowl corner Brent Grimes and even got Dustin Keller from the New York Jets.

Suddenly, the Dolphins appear more attractive than the media-gorged Jets. Talk about a shift in the divisional power.

After a great free-agency haul and phenomenal draft, fans are buzzing about the Dolphins' 2013 season. Excitement has reached a fever pitch.

That's why this offseason is not enough. The Dolphins have reclaimed some of their tattered image by amassing talent in droves. And yes, Ireland has recaptured some (not all) of fans' good will by showing he had a plan all along.

But if the Dolphins don't put it together in 2013 and show marked improvement from last year, it will be all for naught. The time for patience is unfortunately over. Last year was when "wait and see how it plays out" was a viable option.

This year, with a very promising young quarterback looking to build off a surprisingly strong rookie season with a handful of new weaponry around him, and an inspiring, stern head coach at the helm, the Dolphins cannot settle for mediocrity again.

Ireland knows that much. As he said in the same interview with the Sun Sentinel:

We're just names on paper right now, until we start jelling as a football team, but we're excited about the players we've added, we're excited about the players we currently have on the football team, and right now we're just becoming a team, and that's what's important.

Repairing an tarnished image is a tough thing to do in the NFL. The Dolphins have spent the better part of two years trying to do just that. They've done a remarkable job so far, but don't be fooled.

That job is just getting started.

Yankees Rumors: Latest News Surrounding the Bronx Bombers

Jake Singer — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:01:08 -0400

After a spring training riddled with injuries and speculation about how poorly the New York Yankees would play this year, the team has surprised many and sits in first place heading into Memorial Day weekend. The pitching has allowed the fewest runs in the American League, and offensive additions like Vernon Wells, Travis Hafner and Lyle Overbay have provided a spark.

While injuries remain, the hysteria has subsided and trade rumors are less prevalent as the team has gotten into a groove. Here are the latest rumors from the Bronx.

Robinson Cano Extension

When Robinson Cano came to spring training, it appeared that he and agent Scott Boras were ready to test the free-agent waters, as Boras loves to do. But then Cano fired Boras and hired Jay-Z, signaling that he might be prepared to take a contract extension for less money to stay with the Yankees.

The Yankees typically don't negotiate contract extensions before they expire, but Hal Steinbrenner said last week that the team has spoken to Cano's representatives and that they would like to give the MVP candidate a contract extension before he reaches free agency.

I think the sides will eventually agree to an eight-year deal worth $180-200 million, but there's no urgency at this point, so there's no reason to think a deal will get done in the near future.

Andy Pettitte's Timetable

The Yankees placed Andy Pettitte on the disabled list last Friday with a strained trapezius muscle, which has to scare the team and its fans since to date the starting pitching has been the most healthy unit on the club. But the team doesn't seem to be to concerned. In fact, they don't think he will need much more than 15 days to return, meaning he would miss only three or four starts.

Mark Teixeira's Return

Coming back from a wrist injury, Mark Teixeira is in Tampa at extended spring training. According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, he's taking at-bats in simulated games. The next step is a rehab assignment with one of the team's affiliates. At this point, Teixeira is hoping for a mid-June return, although with Lyle Overbay's strong play, the Yankees do not need to rush him back and will probably be conservative with Tex's rehab.

Will Mariano Rivera Return?

The greatest closer of all time is pitching about as well as he ever has in what he has proclaimed his final season. But if he continues to pitch as well as he has, can he really retire? Will he really hang up his cleats and turn down a $15-20 million offer? Time will tell and Mariano Rivera will make up his own mind, but I'll believe he's retired when I see it.

There are your top rumors for the Yankees this week. Admittedly, there's not much juicy gossip going on in the Bronx right now after a hectic, whirlwind spring that saw several important Yankees pieces go down with injuries. Now, reinforcements are starting to come and the team will keep chugging along, hopefully staying in first place.

Ranking the 10 Dirtiest Plays from the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Brad Kurtzberg — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:39:36 -0400

We are midway through the second round of the NHL playoffs and already we have seen plenty of questionable calls, a few suspensions and several dirty hits.

Here is a look at the 10 dirtiest plays so far from the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.They are ranked from 10th through first based on how far outside the rules they actually go.

Feel free to mention some dirty plays I may have missed. If you have a video clip of it, please link it so we can all judge your play for ourselves.

And please don't get me started on the quality of officiating. That is a different article entirely.

Begin Slideshow

Technical on Chris 'Birdman' Andersen Gets Pacers-Heat Feud off to Quick Start

Grant Hughes — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:38:10 -0400

Chris Andersen didn't wait long to christen the Eastern Conference finals series between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers with its first technical foul. Late in the first quarter of Game 1, the Birdman got tangled up with Tyler Hansbrough on the baseline, prompting a quick whistle and the series' first tech.

The contact came as Andersen swooped to the hoop (because swooping is his main mode of travel) to try to tip a ball in as Shane Battier and Hansbrough wrestled underneath. Most of the contact on the play was actually between Andersen and Battier, but Hansbrough took exception.

After a slight extension of Andersen's left arm toward Hansbrough, the whistle sounded, signaling that the officials weren't going to permit much in terms of extracurricular activity.

Andersen had already scored two points and had a major impact on defense, so perhaps Hansbrough was trying to get him to lose his cool in an effort to get him out of the game.

Of course, the Pacers' hyperactive forward isn't really known for doing a whole lot of thinking on the floor. He's usually too busy creating contact, drawing fouls and generally looking like he's on the verge of snapping himself. So any sort of altercation between the two would have been entertaining, but probably a little scary as well.

At least we have more wombat fights to look forward to over the next few games.

Tensions were running high even before the technical foul, though, as Shane Battier went all "Karl Malone" on Roy Hibbert, delivering a solid knee to the center's man region as he drove the lane.

Shortly after the initial tie-up between Andersen and Hansbrough, David West connected with Andersen's nose on a totally inadvertent elbow. The pair were battling on the boards and the Birdman's beak was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

That led to some first-aid that included a couple of cotton plugs jammed up Andersen's nose. What he did next may be difficult to erase from your mind.

This is a series that'll certainly feature plenty of physicality. Indiana has a gritty reputation and something of a chip on its shoulder after losing in six games to the Heat in last year's conference semifinals.

At the same time, the Heat are probably a little on edge themselves. After keeping their cool (for the most part) in a testy series with the Chicago Bulls, they're probably playing with a few frayed nerves.

We know the referees are keeping things under control so far, as LeBron James actually picked up a pair of first-quarter fouls, a true rarity for the King.

The bodies were certainly flying early in this one. Other than a little elbow from Battier to Hansbrough at the end of the third quarter and a hard foul on an airborne James to start the fourth, the rest of the game was a largely incident-free affair.

Don't worry, though; this one's only going to get chippier.

8 NFL Quarterbacks and Their Movie Hero Counterparts

Chris Landers — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:33:21 -0400

Blockbuster season is upon us once again—a time of big stars, big explosions and big box office numbers. This summer will bring us heroes of all shapes and sizes: superheroes, antiheroes, redemption stories, you name it.

As the calendar nears June and fans are begging for any kind of NFL news, it got us thinking: What NFL quarterbacks would be cut out for the big screen?

Begin Slideshow

Who Would Give Andre Ward a Better Bout: Mikkel Kessler or Carl Froch?

Briggs Seekins — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:31:55 -0400

For boxing, it's going to be the good old days all over again in London, England this May 25. When Carl Froch (30-2, 22 KOs) squares off with Mikkel Kessler (46-2, 35 KOs) for the IBF and WBA super middleweight titles, it will be a return to prominence for a weight class that has been among the glamor divisions of the sport in recent years.

From 2009 to 2011, the Showtime Super Six tournament brought together the best available 168-pounders on the planet and set up the framework for them to fight. The tournament gave us some of the most interesting fights in the sport over those two years, and it established a true world champion at super middleweight: Andre Ward.

Froch and Kessler were both major players in the Super Six.

Kessler lost to Ward in the opening round, then came back to beat Froch by unanimous decision in an exciting, competitive fight. But he subsequently withdrew from the tournament due to an eye injury suffered in the loss to Ward.

With new life in the tournament, Froch proceeded to battle his way back through into the finals, where he also lost to Andre Ward in November of 2011.

In September of 2012, Ward put an exclamation point on his tournament victory by TKOing light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson in 10. Since that night, the debate has been whether or not Ward deserves to be viewed as the true pound-for-pound king.

Meanwhile, Froch and Kessler have soldiered on, continuing to demonstrate that they are Nos. 2 and 3 in the division. Last May, Carl Froch exposed previously undefeated Lucian Bute, stopping him in five. Later in the year he knocked out Yusaf Mack.

Kessler stopped both Allan Green and Brian Magee last year. Those two guys may not be world-beaters, but they haven't exactly made careers out of being steamrolled, either.

So two years after the Super Six solved everything, everything has remained pretty much the same. The IBF and the WBA will recognize the winner of this bout as their world champion. But everybody knows the fight is really about establishing who is in second place behind Andre Ward.

As a result, people will speculate on whether or not the winner will fight Andre Ward. If Froch wins, it's natural. After he avenges his first career loss against Kessler, the perfect storyline would be for him to go after Andre Ward next.

Kessler's only other loss came to Joe Calzaghe in November of 2007. Calzaghe would go on to retire undefeated without ever rematching with Kessler.

On the media call I participated in last week, both Froch and Kessler acknowledged that they would like to have a rematch with Ward, though they were understandably more interested in talking about the extremely difficult fight staring them in the face.

But the winner of this fight is going to be spoken about as a possible future opponent for Andre Ward. He might have beaten them both in fairly decisive fashion already, but neither has gone anywhere since.

I am predicting that Froch will win this fight, but I am far from convinced that he will fight Andre Ward next as a result. I think there's a good chance he fights fellow Brit George Groves, an undefeated prospect who looked outstanding against Glen Johnson.

If Froch can get by that one, I think he will have the star power in London to lure Andre Ward across the pond.

On the media call, Froch made it clear that he would prefer to fight Ward in London. “Now it's Andre Ward's turn to travel the world and show he's a true champion,” Froch stated.

Froch made no excuses for his loss to Ward, calling the champion a “top, top fighter who knows how to win boxing matches.” But Froch clearly enjoys his ever-rising stardom in his native country and would prefer to fight keep fighting there going forward.

And for business purposes, it might make a lot of sense to do Froch-Ward II in London. On last week's media call, Bernie Bahrmasel said that Kessler-Froch II had sold 18,000 tickets in about three hours.

If Froch fought a rematch with Ward, I have a hard time believing it would sell as well in Vegas as it would in London.

Froch has the kind of fans who would be able to rally around the argument that he was an even hungrier and more determined fighter than in the past, and that with 20,000 of his countrymen screaming support, he might have a chance to beat the great champion from the states.

In Vegas you are mostly going to meet the hard-bitten realists who know there's no reality-based reason to expect that Carl Froch would be able to beat Andre Ward now. After all, he didn't come close last time.

First of all, I don't believe a lack of determination and focus has ever been a problem for Carl Froch. His problems with Andre Ward mostly stemmed from the fact that Ward had a pretty easy time reading him and reacting. He was able to stop Froch from even getting into position to throw his punches.

Ward is still 29 and has never had a truly hard night's work in his life. So I have no reason to expect him to be anything but completely sharp whenever he next gets in the ring.

And I just don't see Carl Froch ever beating a completely sharp Andre Ward. Still, Froch has looked great since his last fight with Ward, and if a return fight ends up happening in London, I will be excited for it.

But I think Ward will have a pretty easy time outclassing Carl Froch once more.

If Kessler manages to come out on top against Froch, I think a rematch with Ward is the only possible fight he will want. And I think he will struggle even more than he did in the first fight.

Ultimately, I don't think either Froch or Kessler would have much chance at all against Ward. A rematch with Froch would probably do better as a big-time fight.

And it would end up looking a lot like their last fight, except that Ward might win even more decisively.

But this should have nothing to do with how we view the fight this weekend, and true boxing fans know this. In Froch's own words, Kessler-Froch II is “a proper, big fight between two warriors.” Forget about any alphabet soup titles; there is so much pride on the line here between these two that we are guaranteed 12 hard-fought, action-packed rounds.

This should be a night when what happens in the ring will be a lot more important than anything the rest of us can say or write about it.

NBA Draft 2013: Prospects Who Have Potential to Become First-Year All-Stars

Ethan Grant — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:31:04 -0400

Only Tim Duncan, Yao Ming and Blake Griffin have made the NBA All-Star Game as rookies. In fact, only 45 players have done so since 1951, when legendary Boston Celtics starter Bob Cousy accomplished the feat for the first time.

Can any of the prospects in the 2013 NBA draft class accomplish the feat?

It might be too early to tell, but the current collection of draft prospects is littered with steady, consistent guys who will be able to contribute to rosters right away and do so in a manner that should gain national attention.

Remember—making the All-Star Game is no easy task these days.

Fan votes weigh down the actuality of the product on the court, meaning that the most popular players usually get the nod over guys who might be more deserving on a year-to-year basis. The saving grace? The All-Star Game is for the fans and not the players.

However, this draft has a chance to send the 46th player to this honor, even if it is considered devoid of the big-time star and therefore "weak" by some standards. Steady, NBA-ready players might not capture early headlines, but you'd be surprised how far that goes to capturing attention by the time voting is in full swing.

Although extremely difficult to attain, here's a look at three of the current 2013 draft prospects who have the best chance to join this elusive club during their rookie seasons.

Complete 2013 NBA Draft Lottery Order

Pick	Team
1.	Cleveland Cavaliers
2.	Orlando Magic
3.	Washington Wizards
4.	Charlotte Bobcats
5.	Phoenix Suns
6.	New Orleans Pelicans
7.	Sacramento Kings
8.	Detroit Pistons
9.	Minnesota Timberwolves
10.	Portland Trail Blazers
11.	Philadelphia 76ers
12.	Oklahoma City Thunder (via Raptors)
13.	Dallas Mavericks
14.	Utah Jazz

Prospects Who Will Be All-Star Candidates

SF Otto Porter Jr., Georgetown

A consensus first-team All-American and the Big East Player of the Year, Porter became one of the country's most impressive prospects before our eyes during his sophomore season with the Hoyas.

Averaging over 16 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, Porter dazzled fans with his ability to be efficient on offense, run the floor in transition and guard multiple positions for coach John Thompson III during his time in D.C.

Make no mistake—Porter will be drafted to start this June.

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, he's even a candidate for the No. 1 pick:

Washington, Sacramento, New Orleans and Detroit also all make sense as logical landing spots for Porter come June's draft night, and each would afford him the opportunity to start as a rookie and prove that his improvement from freshman to sophomore can continue when he takes the court next season in the NBA.

If he continues his red-hot shooting from the three-point line (42.2 percent) and is as efficient from the field as he was in college, there's no reason Porter shouldn't be a hot candidate to make the All-Star game as a rookie for the team that selects him this year.

He's not the kind of player who will take over a game or be expected to average 25 points a game for his team to win games. Comparing his game to that of former Piston Tayshaun Prince, Porter can capture the national audience by staying disciplined on defense and asserting himself as an option in the full court when play opens up during the 2013-14 season.

SG Ben McLemore, Kansas

McLemore draws comparisons to Ray Allen for his sharpshooting ability and his penchant for taking the three in big moments during his freshman season at Kansas.

Allen didn't make the All-Star game as a rookie all the way back in the prehistoric ages of the 1996-97 season, but McLemore, in the right system and the green light from whoever is his coach next season, certainly is among the players who need to be mentioned in this conversation.

McLemore exploded during certain points of his redshirt freshman season, posting three games with at least 30 points and a slew of others where he hit the 20-plus point mark. The knock on McLemore, though, is consistency, which will plague him during his rookie season in the NBA, too.

However, if McLemore heads to a team like Charlotte, Orlando or Phoenix next season, he'll have the green light the moment he signs the dotted line on his rookie contract. With that green light, it wouldn't be a surprise to see McLemore shoot more than the 10.8 times he did at Kansas, especially with 49.5 and 42 percent field-goal and three-point percentages backing his claim to his new head coach.

A special talent among the guards in this draft, McLemore should average 20 points per game for whichever lottery team makes him its first-round pick in this draft. Sure, those are lofty standards for a player who will adjust to the NBA game and will have to contend with the deeper three-point shot, but that's how much his game should fit the NBA mold.

If McLemore can improve his isolation situation before he starts his NBA career, he's a no-brainer candidate to both score in bunches and maybe assert himself as a candidate to make the All-Star Game—a claim likely enhanced by Kobe Bryant missing most of the first part of next season with injury.

PG Trey Burke, Michigan

If the National Player of the Year isn't in the conversation for this mantle, who should be?

Burke lit the world on fire during his two years at Michigan. He was a borderline top pick when his freshman season was over and asserted himself as exactly that during his deep tournament run at Michigan last season.

Simply put, he's the best player in the draft this season. As ESPN's Stats & Info reported on Twitter, his ability to make plays is statistically the best ratio of any Wooden winner:

Burke makes plays with his shot, his passing ability and his defense, and he's in the same position as current NBA Rookie of the Year and Portland Trail Blazer Damian Lillard—he's the best point guard on the board and should have full control of whatever team drafts him this season.

If he does get drafted by a team that needs him to sit for a year, then the All-Star dream likely dies.

If he does get a chance to start full-time, though, there's no reason not to expect him to perform the same way he did at Michigan during his two-year stint with the school. Lillard had a legitimate chance to make the team as a rookie, although point guard is arguably the NBA's biggest strength these days.

No matter what happens—these three future professionals should be fun to watch as rookies.

There's always a learning curve in the NBA, and it often swallows up guys from accomplishing this particularly impressive feat. If they fail to do so this year, these three guys should be on your list of guys who could make the game in the very near future, if nothing else.

Sure—this piece errs on the side of optimism for these prospects. But that's what makes the draft (in all sports) special, and it's a great chance to highlight three guys who will be fun to watch at the next level for years to come.

Follow Bleacher Report FC Ethan Grant on Twitter:

How Colin Kaepernick Can Claim MVP Title in 2013

Phil G — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:22:24 -0400

Hopefully many of you enjoyed my previous piece detailing the best quarterback in the NFC West. Now, I shift my focus to Colin Kaepernick and his much anticipated 2013 appearance.

We all know how Colin Kaepernick burst on the national spotlight with a marvelous performance against the stout Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football back in November.

How can we forget?

Funny enough, Kaepernick was more dazzling as a thrower than a runner. In fact, the former University of Nevada product only ran for 10 yards on that faithful night.

It would be remiss of me if I didn't mention the absence of Bears starting quarterback, Jay Cutler. However, that night was more about Kaepernick's arrival than whoever lined up as quarterback for the Bears.

Just in case many forgot, it was former Redskins quarterback, Jason Campbell.

After that 32-7 thrashing by the 49ers, a quarterback controversy brewed: Alex Smith vs. Colin Kaepernick. It invited national debate among analysts and fans alike.

Many Niners fans were aware of Kaepernick as a developmental project at the quarterback position, but his sudden flashes in that Bears game opened up the possibilities of the future becoming the present.

After several media sessions where Harbaugh was spitting out political responses, fans finally got their answer.

Colin Kaepernick was named the starter for the remainder of the season. However, the journey only became harder as expectations rose with Kaepernick under center.

Not only did Kaepernick answer those expectations, he exceed them.

A spectacular performance against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in the first round paled in comparison to the composure he showed when coming back to defeat the upstart Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game.

Yes, the season was capped off with a disappointing Super Bowl loss, but for a second-year quarterback who only started 10 games to lead his team to a Super Bowl, can we really expect any more?

Now, like last season, Kaepernick will have high expectations to not only lead his team to a Super Bowl, but to also come away with a victory.

But why stop there? Kaepernick has the skill set, likeability factor and surrounding talent to be a legitimate MVP candidate in 2013.

Here is the blueprint for Kaepernick to be crowned MVP in 2013:

Just win, baby!

This is an obvious factor, but one that has been pretty consistent over the last few years. The last six MVPs––five of which are quarterbacks—have averaged 13.5 wins for their respective teams.

Its safe to say the 49ers will be one of the top teams in the NFC.

However, no matter how good Kaepernick is individually in 2013, history has shown winning has been the common denominator.

Complete Body of Work

Colin Kaepernick is still developing as a passer. Can he make all the throws? Absolutely, but a true MVP is a consistent threat with his arm.

Kaepernick is nearly their, but he has a few flaws and kinks to work out before reaching his full potential. So, Kaepernick will have to dazzle with both his arms and legs to win this award.

If Kaepernick can throw for nearly 3,500 yards, while also running for nearly a 1,000 yards, he should be in the running for the award. Of course, this is in combination with winning and this third factor...

Stand Out

Nearly every MVP winner in the last few years stood out in some way or another. In 2007, Tom Brady lead the New England Patriots to a perfect 16-0.

Aaron Rodgers was coming off a Super Bowl victory before winning the award in 2011. In 2012, the two front-runners for MVP, Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson, were coming off serious injuries.

Peterson rushing for 2,000 yards also had a lot do with that, but Peyton Manning's 2012 season wasn't anything we should disregard.

Kaepernick has to stand out in some fashion or another. Whether it's a spectacular game against a divisional rival or a highlight level type of play, one thing's for certain: Kaepernick has to separate himself from the crowd.

Team USA Basketball: Why Tom Thibodeau Would Be a Great Hire as an Assistant

Charles Bennett — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:21:55 -0400

It is being reported by ESPN that Mike Krzyzewski has signed on to coach Team USA for the 2014 World Cup of Basketball and the 2016 Olympic Games.

Already, speculation is arising as to whom Coach K will choose to be on his coaching staff.

The New York Post is reporting that Jim Boeheim is in as an assistant for 2016, but Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni is out. That leaves at least one opening on Coach K’s squad.

That opening should be filled by Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. And there are a lot of reasons why.

Perhaps the most obvious is that Thibs is a pretty decent head coach. He was named Coach of the Year in his first season and was runner-up in his second. With a career winning percentage of 68 percent, he recorded 100 wins even faster than former Bulls coach Phil Jackson.

But a better reason is that Thibs is a career assistant. Prior to the Bulls job, Thibs had been an assistant in the NBA for 20 seasons, most under Doc Rivers, Jeff Van Gundy and John Lucas. He was Doc Rivers’ associate coach when the Celtics won their most recent title, and also was on Van Gundy's Knicks for their 1999 Finals run.

Another reason Team USA needs Thibodeau is that he is arguably the best coach of defense still in the game. Teams where Thibodeau was a head or assistant coach nearly always have finished in the upper echelons of points allowed, field-goal percentage allowed, turnovers forced and defensive rebounds.

Thibodeau has been responsible for the development of a number of the NBA’s great defensive players, including David Robinson, Dennis Rodman, Kevin Garnett, Marcus Camby and Joakim Noah.

Finally, it usually helps for a Team USA coach to have a little international experience, either playing internationally, coaching internationally or scouting international players.

While Thibs doesn’t have the international experience of a D’Antoni, or even of Gregg Popovich, it’s worth noting that his primary scorer (Luol Deng) plays internationally for Great Britain, and his primary defender (Joakim Noah) plays internationally for France. Two more of his players (Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer) have played internationally for Team USA.

Bottom line: to replace Mike D’Antoni as an assistant, Coach K should look no farther than Tom Thibodeau.

Tiger Woods, Now's the Time to Take a Stand for Social Change

James McMahon — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:20:30 -0400

Tiger Woods is getting a second chance to make a real difference. This time around, the world's most influential athlete should be ready to stand up and accept the challenge.

The question is, however, whether Tiger has it in him to publicly wage an offensive against racial stereotypes, insensitivity and flat-out bigotry or will he again shy away from the opportunity as he did as a much younger man 16 years ago.

No, Tiger is not obliged to take on the issue, and, yes, doing so could have some adverse effects for the world’s top-ranked golfer. But more important than the obligation or the risk, Tiger has a second chance to step up for the first time, and everyone, including Sergio, would be better off if he did.

Indeed, this is not the first instance Woods has been faced with racially-insensitive remarks made by another PGA Tour star. At the 1997 Masters, it was Fuzzy Zoeller who suggested that Tiger, who was on his way to his first Masters title, not serve “fried chicken and collard greens” at the following year’s champion’s dinner.

It was an off-the-cuff comment just like Sergio’s that subsequently caused a firestorm similar to the one the Spaniard is embroiled in today. Not only did Woods, who at the time was only 21 years old, shy away from the controversy those remarks drew, he took criticism for not being more outspoken in the face of an obvious racial stereotype. Ironically, he also took heat for not bailing out Fuzzy in the wake of the remarks.

Now a much more mature 37-year-old man and a father of two, Woods again has the opportunity to make a difference after Sergio repeated Zoeller’s mistake on Tuesday evening.

It’s not a competitive thing. Nor does it have anything to do with his simmering feud with Garcia. It’s not even about marking Garcia as a racist. It’s likely that Tiger, who isn't exactly Sergio’s best friend, doesn't even think of him as that. But Garcia's comments were racist and certainly display a danger and stereotypical attitude toward African Americans that is still prevalent today but should have no place in our society.

With the U.S. Open nearing, Woods should call the media together for a discussion of racial sensitivity and renew his efforts to bring more diversity to the game of golf—a movement that appears to have stalled the past couple of years.

He could suggest being the front man for public service announcements about what is out of bounds when it comes to hurtful stereotypes and “off color” comments such as the one Sergio authored this week.

As uncomfortable as it might be, he could even sit down with Sergio on NBC cameras and discuss the underlying roots to comments that perpetuate racial myths. Talk about a powerful moment for an important message.

It would make a difference because no other athlete this side of Michael Jordan has owned the capability of sparking public discourse and debate as Tiger does. Yet like Jordan, Woods has typically shied away from wading into the pool of societal debate and, like his "Airness," has taken criticism for it.

Yet in the here and now, Woods has an opportunity to turn controversy into opportunity, inaction directly into action. Jordan passed on making a difference off the basketball court. Tiger still has the opportunity to do it away from the golf course.

Consider for a moment that if a man of Woods' stature, wealth and influence can not once but twice face such publicly racist comments, what must lesser athletes of color and everyday Joes and Janes deal with on a regular basis. The voice they lack can be picked up by a motivated Woods with true convictions on the subject.

Whatever the medium or the method, Tiger could do some real good if he takes the ball mistakenly handed to him by Garcia and runs with it. He could also really help himself in the process.

Woods has already earned points for the way he's handled the feud with Garcia over the past week or so, highlighted by his gracious statements on Twitter in the wake of the now infamous comments. By making this issue his own and keeping the dialogue about racial insensitivity in the forefront, it will show just how much he has matured and how far he has come.

It will also help make the world a better place for his children, who, despite all the advantages of wealth and privilege, will face racism in their lives just as their father has.

Bottom line, we get that Tiger Woods is a professional golfer first and foremost, and a darn good one at that. In a perfect world, the color of his skin wouldn't call him to a higher purpose, but this is anything but a perfect world.

By stepping up, Woods could affect some real change. That’s a legacy that would go beyond career wins and major championships. It’s an opportunity he wasn't ready for when it first presented itself years ago. It’s one he would do well to accept now.

Sharks vs. Kings: San Jose Clearly in Charge Heading into Pivotal Game 5

Jesse Reed — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:19:44 -0400

The San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings are knotted up at two games apiece heading into Game 5, but one team is clearly in control of this series right now.

Here's a hint: It's not the Kings.

After getting hammered in the first two games on the road against Los Angeles, the Sharks have come alive on both sides of the ice. The tempo and level of aggression the Sharks are playing with right now is incomparable to what we've seen from the Kings in the past two games.

At one point during Game 4, Ray Ratto of CSN Bay Area made an astute comment about the different approach on offense between the two teams:

Simply put, San Jose's playing with some serious fire right now on offense. Los Angeles needs to wake up and respond with the same energy and urgency to avoid getting blown away in the next two games.

On the defensive side, Sharks defensemen Marc Edouard-Vlasic and Justin Braun are completely stymieing the front line of Los Angeles. Kings center Anze Kopitar has only managed one power-play assist in the first four games, per Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group.

Perhaps at the center of it all is Joe Thornton, who has come alive in a major way the past few games. Teammate T.J. Galiardi spoke about Thornton's incredible play after Game 4, per ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun:

It’s the best I’ve seen him play. I don’t know what he had for pregame meal today, but I hope he has it again in a couple of days. He was flying. And it’s so contagious; when Jumbo’s going, everybody is going. It’s pretty to watch.

Pretty to watch and pretty darn effective.

Thornton's leadership has San Jose ready to unseat last year's champs. If he and the rest of his teammates come to play with the same kind of intensity as they have the past couple of games, the Kings are doomed.

Honestly, if not for Jonathan Quick's outstanding goalkeeping, the Sharks would have won the last two games by wide margins. Furthermore, if not for some crazy happenings at the end of Game 2, the Sharks would have a 3-1 lead heading back down to Los Angeles.

This series is tied, but right now the Sharks have a huge mental edge on the Kings. The level of intensity the team has been playing with epitomizes playoff hockey, and to this point in the series, it's a level Los Angeles has yet to match.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

WWE Main Event Results: Winners, Twitter Reaction and Analysis from May 22

Tim Keeney — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:14:00 -0400

This week's WWE Main Event from the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb., featured some impressive names and thrilling performances.

Not only did Alberto Del Rio and Big E Langston face off in an anticipated rematch, but Ryback also made an unexpected appearance.

The company's hour-long show will continue to fly under the radar, but this week's event once again proved that it consistently boasts terrific in-ring performances and important moments in certain storylines.

Let's take a look at the complete results.

Alberto Del Rio defeats Big E Langston

This, of course, served as a rematch of Monday night's contest when Langston was able to defeat the world heavyweight title's No. 1 contender:

Del Rio got revenge on Main Event, however, securing the pinfall via rollup after an impressive, back-and-forth match that featured lots of offense.

While this is an intriguing potential rivalry, Del Rio will undoubtedly go back to feuding with Dolph Ziggler once the champion returns from his concussion. The compelling question then becomes simple: what happens to Big E Langston?

Judging by Langston's reaction after the match, however, he's not leaving Del Rio alone anytime soon:

Whether he continues to battle Del Rio or moves on to someone else, most will just be happy to see the big man inside the ring as much as possible. Fans are beginning to take notice of his talent:

As the Brooklyn Brawler pointed out, his unreal strength is unquestionably his most tantalizing trait:

There's just something about watching him lift the 240-pound Del Rio straight over his head that makes for exciting entertainment, and you have to believe the WWE will continue to find plenty of important airtime for the up-and-comer.

The Usos defeat Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre; Ryback "Ambulances" Another

On Monday night, it was Zack Ryder who was the unlucky recipient of a Ryback attack. On Main Event, it was Heath Slater's turn.

During Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre's match with The Usos, Mr. Feed Me More appeared in an ambulance, tossed Slater into said ambulance and drove away.

The WWE Universe then posed an important question:

This is clearly building momentum for Ryback's potential Ambulance Match with John Cena at WWE Payback, but the big man's choice of victims is only creating material for jokes:

On the flip side, The Usos went on to beat two-thirds of 3MB with another solid showing and appear to be gaining more momentum within the WWE world:

If Kane and Daniel Bryan end up separating instead of getting their rematch, someone will have to take on Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. The Usos, who have been receiving a slight push as of late, are an intriguing option.

Breaking Down Alex Len's Full 2013 NBA Draft Profile

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:10:18 -0400

The 2013 NBA draft is one of unparalleled unpredictability, as there appears to be an absence of superstar talent in this year's class of prospects. With that being said, there are a select few players that display the upside necessary to be a franchise player.

One of those prospects is polarizing center Alex Len—a player whose potential can only be defined by a full examination of what he brings to the table.

Len has become one of the most difficult players to project in this year's less-than-stellar draft class. While the physical gifts and basketball skills are in place for him to be a perennial All-Star, Len often lacks the necessary aggression to take over a game.

The question on every general manager's mind is simple—is he worth the risk?

Basic Profile

Position: Center

Age: 19

Height: 7'1"

Weight: 225 pounds

Wingspan: 7'4"

2012-13 Season Averages: 24.04 PER, 26.4 MPG, 11.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 2.1 BPG

Strengths

Alex Len is one of the most physically gifted players in this draft—standing at 7'1" with a 7'4" wingspan. While his 225-pound frame is thin, he does have the body necessary to add muscle and thus bang down low.

Until that time comes, Len has the offensive skills to play a diverse and unpredictable style of basketball.

Len is strong with his back to the basket, as he's capable of scoring with either hand. His greatest strength, however, is the ability to face-up and score both off of the bounce and with his jump shot.

Paired with the uncanny ability to pass out of the high post, this makes Len a dynamic offensive prospect with the upside to be one of the better all-around big men in the NBA.

Defensively, Len isn't the most polished product, but he's made drastic improvements as a rebounder. Not only does he box out better than in recent seasons, but he contests the low post with more patience than he had as a freshman.

Instead of always going for the block, Len appears more inclined to alter the shot without fouling or biting on pump fakes.

Being able to explode at the basket for a block or dunk is certainly helpful, but it's the mental progression that matters most for Len. The game seemed to slow down for him in 2012-13, but there's one question.

Did it slow down too much?

Areas of Weakness

When you realize how physically gifted Alex Len is, there's already reason to invest an early draft choice in him. When you touch upon the fact that he's developed a strong set of offensive skills, you're inclined to believe that he's a sure thing.

Unfortunately, there's one question that has everyone concerned—is he too passive to pan out?

Len has the ability and athleticism to take over games, but it often appears as if he's afraid to step on his teammates' toes. Instead of commanding the ball and pounding it down low, Len often takes what's given to him.

That's the perfect approach for a guard—not so much for a big man.

Len needs to be a more vocal player, and when he has the ball, he must look for his shot first. It's an extraordinary skill to be able to pass as well as Len does, but if a team is drafting a center in the lottery, they likely expect them to be an offensive or defensive anchor.

Until Len displays the killer instinct necessary to take over a game, there's reason to believe he'll fall short of reaching his full potential.

Ideal Destinations

For the average prospect, how their career pans out depends entirely on where they end up. Under the wrong head coach or playing with improper teammates, a supremely talented player can often see their career go to waste due to their misuse and resulting morale.

The question here is, where would the most ideal location be for Alex Len?

Len would be best suited to join a team with an established point guard, as he's more likely to succeed with a teammate creating his looks. He can score from the post, but as a rookie, Len is most likely to find success facing up and attacking, or using his mid-range J off the catch.

For that reason, the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns all make sense as potential top 10 destinations.

Nikola Pekovic could return for Minnesota, but Len has the higher upside of the two—specifically on the defensive end of the floor. Offensively, point guard Ricky Rubio has mastered the pick-and-roll and should have no problem incorporating Len's European style of play.

In New Orleans, Greivis Vasquez is labeled as a player that offers the ability facilitate, but not much else. With that being said, Vasquez wasn't just good, but he was third in the NBA in assists per game without a back-to-the-basket threat to pass to.

As for Phoenix, they have both Goran Dragic and Kendall Marshall running point. Dragic is the more creative playmaker, but Marshall maintains a steady pace and thrives as a facilitator.

Both men would help Len develop in a rather rapid manner.

No team will be the perfect landing spot for Len, unless he manages to fall to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 12. OKC, a team with established stars in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, simply needs a half-court threat to get the interior basket when the jump shots stop falling.

Len could be that player.

Regardless of where he ends up, there will be a learning curve and fans will, inevitably, question whether or not Len deserved to be a lottery pick. When it's all said and done, however, Len should be a high-quality NBA big man.

It's all about finding the coach and teammates that can help him develop a more aggressive approach to the game.

10 Twitter Accounts for Manchester United Fans to Follow

Gregory Wakeman — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:09:38 -0400

Social media has now exploded to an almost unfeasible extent.

Almost everyone on the planet lives their lives through the likes of Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter, and most people only receive their news through these means.

Of course, soccer fans are no different. Whether you are looking for inside information from players and fans, official statements from the club or transfer rumours regarding the Red Devils, there are dozens of Manchester United Twitter accounts available to keep supporters informed.

Here are 10 Twitter accounts that Manchester United fans need to follow.

Begin Slideshow

Phil Jackson Takes over the World...Because He Can

Jesse Dorsey — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:05:45 -0400

Phil Jackson's new book Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success is on shelves now, and we know that because Jackson has appeared on every television and radio show of merit in the past week, and every step he's taken has been documented.

And he remains the hottest free-agent basketball mind. Whether he's looking to become a consultant, a general manager, president, head coach, part owner, mascot, cheerleader or popcorn salesman, Jackson could join any team in the NBA.

Over the course of the past week, Jackson has revealed just that. Not only that there are job offers, but there are offers that would let Jackson come in and do whatever he wanted.

One of the coolest and perhaps least appreciated Jackson-related media to be released this week has to be the New York Times Magazine release of Sam Anderson's "The Rembrandt of Basketball."

It wasn't specifically about Jackson's book, but it was probably the coolest release of the week.

Anderson wrote about the beauty in the seemingly precise yet abstract plays that Jackson drew up over the course of his career, even publishing a handful of old plays along the way.

From that we got to see the final two plays that Jackson drew out for the 1998 NBA Finals: Jordan's layup, and the final shot of his career with the Bulls.

Jackson has been talking about his book for months now, but his book tour really kicked off about a week ago when he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which could only be described as a bombshell-dropping 10 minutes.

It was one of the first times that he publicly rehashed the debacle that went down when he was asked if he wanted to coach the Los Angeles Lakers. He talked a little Michael Jordan vs. Kobe Bryant and he told Leno that he would have been interested in working in Seattle had the Sacramento Kings been moved.

In essence, it was the perfect kickoff point for Jackson.

Leno's interview was lighthearted and fun, Adam Sandler chiming in every once in a while with a quip here and there.

While there was no huge bombshell from his appearance on Leno, it was the first time that he publicly spoke about not getting the Lakers coaching job.

A few days later, ESPN got its hands on an excerpt from the new book. The biggest piece of information dropped in that case was Jackson's dream about spanking Kobe and smacking Shaq.

I wasn't pleased with the meeting. I worried that having everyone's complaints on the table without any resolution would have a negative effect on team harmony. In the days that followed, we lost four out of five games, including a 105-81 "massacre" by the Spurs in the Alamodome. One night that week I had a dream about spanking Kobe and giving Shaq a smack. "Shaq needs and Kobe wants -- the mystery of the Lakers," I wrote in my journal.

He could have stopped there and countless people would have been ready to go out and buy the book upon its release, but he kept things going with a huge Tuesday following the release of his book.

Jackson seemingly started things off with a long, soul-baring interview with Dan Patrick that was essentially the exact opposite of his interview with Leno.

Patrick went deep into the Michael vs. Kobe debate, and not in a way that ever hinted toward the two even being equivalents, just that the two were similarly minded players coached by one of the greatest basketball minds of all time.

It really is one of the best interviews you could hear with Jackson. I would definitely suggest checking it out in its entirety (it's about a half-hour chat between the two).

Jackson gets into the psyche of both Jordan and Kobe, talks a bit about music with Patrick and admits that he was most intrigued by job offers from the Brooklyn Nets and the nonexistent Seattle Supersonics.

From there he went on to sit down with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, scooping up the eyes that likely wouldn't have caught him on Leno.

With Stewart, Jackson was similarly adamant that he was done coaching in the NBA, a sentiment that he echoed all week long.

Phil Jackson takes book tour to The Daily Show on.cc.com/13H18r6 via @thedailyshow
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) May 23, 2013

Finally, Jackson took to the ESPN side of the radio with an appearance on Mike and Mike in the Morning, going through everything yet again.

After a week of appearances, there wasn't much new to be heard, but there was an additional quote regarding the Lakers passing on him as their head coach this past season.

Jackson talked about how he reacted when Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak informed him that Mike D'Antoni was given the job instead: "I laughed. It was humorous to me when Mitch said that we think that Mike is a better coach for this group of guys."

It took barely more than five days, but Jackson ran the gamut. He appealed to the old folks slowly nodding off to Leno, picked up some love from the younger bunch on The Daily Show and then grabbed a bit of love from the ESPN fans and non-ESPN fans alike with appearances on Mike and Mike and The Dan Patrick Show.

I think the only thing he missed was a drop-in on The Price is Right and a bit of a jig on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The old fellow is going to more or less finish things off on May 23 with a discussion in Chicago where he'll sign a few copies of his new book and talk with Chicago Tribune writer K.C. Johnson.

More than anything, this shows just how important Jackson is to basketball over the course of the past 25 years.

It's not just that he's coached four of the 25 best players in the history of the game in that time (although that certainly helps), or that he's racked up 11 rings along the way (ditto).

Instead, it seems that he's so interesting because of his vast knowledge of an athlete's mentality.

Put aside everything else and you've still got a man who can talk about how relationships impact people who are in close proximity on a day-to-day basis.

There are few people in the world, let alone the NBA, who are anywhere near as interesting as Jackson.

UFC 160: Who's on the Hot Seat Heading into Velasquez vs. Bigfoot Silva 2 Card

Trent Reinsmith — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:00 -0400

In most sports, a loss can be shaken off pretty quickly. After all, in most sports, the loss only lingers for a few days or maybe a week. In MMA, the memory of a loss can linger for months, and in a sport where an individual is only as good as his last performance, a loss can be devastating.

Looking at things in that way, you could say that every professional mixed martial arts fight puts the combatants on the hot seat, but sometimes the seat is just a little bit hotter.

Heading into this weekend's UFC 160 fight card, a handful of fighters will be feeling a bit more heat than others.

Who are those fighters, you ask? I'll let you know.

Begin Slideshow

Is Realignment Good or Bad for College Basketball?

C.J. Moore — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:47:47 -0400

If conference realignment has had you confused and in a tizzy the last few years, just wait until next season. It's mostly over; now we just have to learn who is where.

A quick rundown of some of the big basketball-related changes:

Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame are off to the ACC.
Louisville gets to play one season in something called the American Athletic Conference with the likes of Houston and Central Florida before also jetting to the ACC.
Creighton, a school in Omaha (still in the middle of the country last I checked), and Butler (also very much in the Midwest), now play in what is the Big East, only it's not that Big East that you know but a new one.
Memphis and Temple are in the league that (as of now) they're calling the American Athletic Conference, which includes Connecticut and Cincinnati.

It’s like someone decided to mix up the alphabet without any rhyme or reason, mostly just so we could relearn it and get angry in process.

(A big thank you to Chris Dobbertean over at Blogging the Bracket for putting together this handy list of the changes. It’s actually something you can follow.)

The question that was rarely (if ever) asked during all this mess: Do any of these changes make sense for basketball?

The answer is frustrating for basketball fans. No. The motivating factors behind conference realignment have been well-documented: football and money.

Geography, rivalries and history, the realigners simply don’t care about you.

Syracuse and Georgetown, that rivalry was fun, but there’s no need for it. The Border War between Kansas and Missouri, a lot of hatred there, but let’s leave those battles to the message boards. The backyard brawl between Pittsburgh and West Virginia, it made sense for those two to be in the same conference, but not as much sense as West Virginia traveling to Lubbock, Texas every year!

I live in Kansas City, and when Missouri left for the SEC, I had a lot of MU fans tell me that they were happy about the move. It made sense for their school. They needed stability.

I can understand the fear that realignment caused. If Missouri had been patient, the school would have been just fine in the Big 12. Some of those fans have even admitted to me since that they wish they would have stuck around. But I understand what felt like an impending implosion of the Big 12—thanks Dan Beebe—motivated MU to be proactive.

Proactive is a nice way of explaining the motivation for athletic directors and conference commissioners. At least it sounds a lot better than “money grab.”

What has been refreshing in the last year is that some moves are finally being made because of basketball; anything the Atlantic 10 does, for instance.

The new Big East is a basketball league and every acquisition was made because of basketball. But it would not have been necessary for those schools to join forces if the old Big East had been able to stick together.

And that’s what the basketball coaches in that league would have preferred. Ask Jim Boeheim, whose team ended up just fine in the ACC, what he thinks of all the movement, and his answer would still probably be the same as it was last November (via Syracuse.com):

Maybe they should just have a draft. Each conference just draft teams because it doesn’t make any sense who they’re getting anyway. So they might as well just have a draft, except then they’d have to make a decision and they probably wouldn’t be able to figure that out.

… It’s like I said, If these guys were running the United States in Colonial times, Brazil and Argentina would be states. Because they have something we need.

It’s hopefully finished now, as Dennis Dodd from CBSSports.com explained in this piece last month. The ACC joined the Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 by its members agreeing to a grant of rights, meaning you leave now and you cost yourself a lot of money. There might be a few moves here and there, but for the power conferences, it should be at a standstill.

Everyone’s needs have finally been met. Everyone is going to get paid. But everyone was going to eventually get paid whether teams realigned.

Was speeding up the process really worth it? Not for college basketball.

NBA Rumors: James Harden's Recruitment of Dwight Howard a Great Sign for Rockets

Richard Langford — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:46:52 -0400

And so it begins. Another offseason, another period of intense speculation over where Dwight Howard will play basketball in the coming year.

This wasn't supposed to happen this year. When Howard was dealt to the L.A. Lakers from the Orlando Magic, it felt safe to assume that the star center would ink a long-term deal and become Tinsletown's new darling.

However, no deal was reached during a tumultuous season in Los Angeles, and it's open season on the league's best center. James Harden is going hunting.

HOOPSWORLD's Alex Kennedy shares this information:

In his article on the subject, Kennedy does not list any of the other players Harden is recruiting, but he does say that, while the start of free agency is still six weeks away, Harden is calling and texting certain players.

He also adds that, "Most free agents, including Howard, are big fans of Harden’s game and have a lot of respect for the up-and-coming shooting guard."

Now, I could sit here and tell you that Harden's recruitment of Howard will be enough to sway the big man to Houston, but I'm not going to speculate on what Howard is thinking. I have no hints at the inner workings of what Dwight is thinking, and I doubt anyone else does. Shoot, Howard might not even know himself.

However, no matter what happens with Howard, this is all a tremendous sign for the Houston Rockets.

After signing Harden to a max deal, Harden rewarded the Rockets with a strong season that led him to the All-Star Game, and his team to the postseason.

At 26.3 points per game, Harden was third in the league in scoring.

Now, instead of resting on his accomplishments accrued during his first season as the top dog in a franchise, Harden is already hard at work trying to get his team better.

Harden could easily pass the buck on this job by relying on the front office to improve the roster. Or, he could just complain to the front office that the team is not good enough and make demands.

Instead, he is taking an active role in the process and doing his part.

This is not only a great sign pointing towards the hope that Harden will help the Rockets land an elite talent, but also that the shooting guard is completely invested in this Houston franchise.

It is essential that the star and a leader of the team sells out to win. It sets an example for everyone else in the organization, and it establishes an environment that makes it nearly impossible for anyone else to give less than full effort.

Whether or not the Rockets are able to land Dwight Howard, Houston fans should be excited about a bright future.

Funniest Moments of the 2012-13 Premier League Season

Michael Cummings — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:46:29 -0400

The English Premier League is not all fun and games—except that sometimes it is.

From the action on the pitch to the managers running the show behind the scenes to the disorder and chaos of transfer deadline day, the Premier League has the potential to create funny moments at almost any time.

Fortunately for us, the 2012-13 season produced plenty of those moments.

Remember when Peter Odemwingie drove to London to join QPR—only to find out he had to return to his old club and face his teammates?

Remember when Jason Puncheon had to take a bathroom break—in the middle of a match?

Remember when Arsene Wenger had trouble with his puffy coat? And remember all those contorted faces Phil Jones made throughout the season?

Those were just some of the funny moments that caught the attention of B/R world football lead writers Will Tidey and Michael Cummings. In this clip, those two discuss some of the funniest moments of the Premier League season; be sure to add yours in the comments below.

Follow @MikeCummings37 and @WillTidey

5 Biggest Problems New Jersey Devils Must Solve This Offseason

Alex Bacon — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:45:46 -0400

After a disappointing 2012-2013 campaign, the New Jersey Devils have a lot to work on during the offseason.

Not only does the team need to worry about 12 potential free agents, it also needs to avoid missing the playoffs next season. If the Devils do miss the playoffs next year, it will be the first time the franchise has failed to make the postseason for two consecutive years since 1987.

In order for the Devils to once again make the playoffs, there are a few things that need to be addressed during this offseason.

Begin Slideshow

Can Mark Cuban Make 2013 Free-Agent Splash After 2012 Whiff?

Josh Martin — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:45:16 -0400

How many mulligans can Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks take before Dirk Nowitzki has fizzled as a championship-caliber franchise player?

We might find out this summer.

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the Mavs are shopping the No. 13 pick in the 2013 NBA draft in an attempt to clear cap space for signing one of the league's marquee free agents:

Attempting to pry either Dwight Howard from the Los Angeles Lakers or Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers will be a chore enough in its own right—even more so when factoring in Dallas' spotty history in free agency.

The Mavs failed to lure Deron Williams back to his hometown last summer, perhaps in part because Cuban was off filming an episode of Shark Tank in LA, according to Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com.

The Mavs' case isn't helped by the team's poor treatment of its own free agents over the years.

In 2004, Dallas balked at matching the Phoenix Suns' offer to Steve Nash, only to see the point guard with a bad back blossom into a two-time MVP.

A similar story played out in 2011, when the Mavs had the opportunity to retain the core of their championship team (most notably 2011-12 Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler) but opted not to in preparation for the more restrictive statutes of the new collective bargaining agreement.

That most recent move was made (presumably) with the hope of landing D-Will and, if that fell through, one of the two between Howard and Paul. Both superstars would have to relinquish a significant portion of their potential earnings to sign a four-year deal with Dallas; however, between the two of them, Dwight would probably have the easier time making up the difference with a second max contract down the line.

After all, he'll always be tall and strong, whether or not his back heals completely, while CP3 has long been undersized and continues to skate by on a bum knee.

Perhaps the more pertinent question is, do the Mavs offer either Howard or Paul a better chance to win a championship in Dallas than in LA?

At present, Dallas' roster consists of three big names who are past their respective primes (Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and Shawn Marion), three guards in their mid-20s who are bound to seek out bigger paydays (O.J. Mayo, Darren Collison and Rodrigue Beaubois) and three guys who just finished their rookie seasons (Jae Crowder, Jared Cunningham and Bernard James).

That's hardly title material, especially when you consider that Dallas will likely cut ties with that second group and seek to do the same with Marion.

Granted, the ceilings that Howard and Paul are up against in LA at present aren't entirely championship caliber, either.

The Lakers scrapped their way into the seventh seed this season and will return in 2013-14 with a roster that's old, injury prone, defensively deficient and highly overpaid.

The Clippers, meanwhile, enjoyed the finest regular season in team history, only to see the team's hopes for bigger and better things in the postseason derailed by (among other things) Vinny Del Negro's poor coaching, the childish behavior of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan (via T.J. Simers of The Los Angeles Times) and the inability of anyone other than Paul to contribute with any consistency.

That being said, the Clips will have some flexibility to retool their roster again this summer and will welcome in a new coach after parting ways with Del Negro, according to Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times.

As for the Lakers, they figure to give it another go with Kobe Bryant (once he returns from his torn Achilles), Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and perhaps Howard—which still looks good on paper, assuming injuries don't derail the whole deal again. Even if things don't pan out for the Purple and Gold next season, they can look forward with confidence to the summer of 2014, when they'll be flush with cap space with which to attract more big names.

At this point, Dallas' biggest advantage may well rest with its organizational stability. Head coach Rick Carlisle, who's among the most respected at his position in the NBA, isn't going anywhere. Neither is Donnie Nelson, who's worked closely with Mark Cuban since Nelson's father, Hall of Famer Don Nelson, first came aboard in 1997.

That beats the uncertainty inherent in the Lakers, whose ownership situation remains in flux after the death of Dr. Jerry Buss, and in the Clippers, which seem destined to all but hand over the reins of their latest coaching search to CP3.

Is that enough, though, to convince one of the NBA's elite to leave the sun, fun and surf of southern California for the dry heat and wide expanses of northeast Texas? What if you throw in the savings on income taxes, which (admittedly) would be mitigated somewhat by the higher property taxes in the Lone Star State?

That might be enough to attract a borderline All-Star (Josh Smith, Andre Iguodala if he opts out, Al Jefferson), a niche guard (J.J. Redick, Tony Allen, Monta Ellis) or a high-risk, high-reward prospect (Andrew Bynum, Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans).

But a bona fide superstar? A perennial All-NBA performer? A franchise cornerstone? I have my doubts.

As should Mark Cuban.

Champions League Final 2013: Under-the-Radar Players Who'll Determine UCL Title

Dan Talintyre — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:45:10 -0400

The wait for the 2013 UEFA Champions League final is nearly over, with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich set to square off for the title this weekend.

Both teams have been incredibly impressive in the European competition this season, and both boast a number of key players to watch out for this year. The likes of Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and so many more will all take the field at Wembley Stadium this year, and it's completely understandable to think that it will be their performances that decide the final.

However, as we've seen before, it's often the under-the-radar players that make the biggest difference on the night—not the world-class stars that we expect.

Will the same be true in the Champions League final in 2013? I think so.

Read on to see which under-the-radar players will determine the title this year.

Kevin Großkreutz, Borussia Dortmund

Kevin Großkreutz wouldn't have been on many people's radars as a key player to watch in the Champions League final this year. After all, there were no guarantees that he would even start for the German giants against the reigning champions, but with Mario Gotze officially out of the final (per The Guardian), it seems Großkreutz will start out on the left flank (per Bundesliga.com).

And he could not be more important for Dortmund.

Bayern's right-hand side is particularly strong, and they will likely look to attack Dortmund from that side a great deal throughout the night. They'll look to use the likes of Philipp Lahm, Thomas Mueller, Arjen Robben or whoever else lines up out wide to pressure the Dortmund defense, and then switch the ball infield to Mario Mandžukić or Mario Gomez in attack.

As we've seen this year, it's been a highly successful tactic for Bayern.

Großkreutz must be on his game to counter that threat. And if he can, he has the potential to become a real X-factor going forward for Dortmund in this one.

He was not quite on the same page with Marco Reus in the semifinal against Real Madrid, but the pair were still very dangerous and created plenty of chances—something they'll no doubt look to do again in this one as they try to hurt the Bavarians on the counterattack.

Luiz Gustavo, Bayern Munich

Finding an under-the-radar player in Bayern Munich's star-studded squad really isn't an easy task. Yet if there's one man who doesn't get the recognition he deserves for his crucial role, it's defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo, who will again play a very key role for Bayern in the final.

With so many attacking players ahead of him, Gustavo might seem like he has it relatively easy when attacking—however, that simply isn't the case against Dortmund.

Jurgen Klopp's side will heavily press Bayern's midfield and try to restrict them from bringing the ball out—which will start with Gustavo. If he can get through that pressing defense, then Bayern will be in a very strong position in their attack; but if not, it could bring lots of pressure on to the German giants.

Gustavo's importance is also the same when it comes to defense.

Jupp Heynckes will likely have his forwards do a lot of defensive work early to try and shut down the likes of Ilkay Gundogan in midfield. That could, in turn, mean that Gustavo becomes responsible for picking up Robert Lewandowski.

Obviously that onus will fall on to Dante and the other defenders at the team, but Gustavo will be the man responsible for breaking up the pass from getting to him in attack. And with Lewandowski in scintillating form this season, there's little doubting just how crucial Gustavo cutting off the Polish striker will be to Bayern's chances.

Roman Weidenfeller, Borussia Dortmund

Without Petr Cech last year, Chelsea would not have won the Champions League. And despite the fact that Borussia Dortmund have been much more attacking-minded this year than last year's champions, the same also rings true for their goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, whose performances so far have been crucial to their success in the European competition.

Bayern's Manuel Neuer might be the more reputable of the two shot-stoppers, but there's little doubting that Weidenfeller will be the more important of the two.

Especially against Bayern's attack and the slew of goal-scoring options that they have to choose from.

Weidenfeller made a number of key saves against Real Madrid and Malaga in the knockout rounds of the European tournament and will be expected to do the same here.

As we saw last year, it only takes one save to completely change the match, with Cech's saved penalty on Robben in extra time the biggest save of them all. Will Weidenfeller have a similar impact in the final this year? We'll no doubt know soon enough.

But, as Transfermarkt's statistics show, Weidenfeller's last saved penalty was against Bayern Munich. Even better—it came against Arjen Robben.

Some food for thought, perhaps.

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