Bleacher Report - Front Page

Chris Bosh Tells Fans Who Left Game 6 Early to Stay Home for Game 7

Dan Favale — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:15:47 -0400

Chris Bosh has a message for the "fans" who filed out of their seats when the Miami Heat were trailing the San Antonio Spurs late in Game 6.

"For all those guys who left, don't come back for Game 7," Bosh said, according to Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun.

Good for Bosh. He showed some backbone at the right time.

More than a few of the Miami not-so-faithful fled from the AmericanAirlines Arena inside a minute to play when it was a two-possession game.

Two possessions. Anything can happen at that point. The Heat were a pair of threes and a botched free throw away from tying it up—which is exactly what they did.

LeBron James and Ray Allen knocked down a couple of treys to tie the game up at 95, and the Heat proceeded to win in overtime to force a Game 7.

Meanwhile, those who began their journey home tried to get back in and ultimately couldn't.

Serves them right, if you ask me.

Down by 10 or more inside of a minute to go during a regular-season game, feel free to head home early. But this wasn't a regular-season game, and the Heat weren't down by 10. It's the NBA Finals; a time when a little hometown appreciation should be shown even in the face of a loss.

Those outside of Miami would be free to call the Heat a failure had they lost Game 6. Alleged die-hard fans have an unspoken obligation to their team, though—the same team that was (and still is) battling through their third consecutive finals.

You don't just leave. You applaud them, maybe offer up a "good job, good effort" if the mood strikes. Don't, under this particular circumstance, leave.

For those who did, I, like Bosh, implore you to watch Game 7 from home, if at all. Plopped down on the couch is where you'll have control of the remote, leaving you free to remain loyal to your team when it's most convenient for you.

Follow @danfavale

Lakers News: Tight Cap Situation Increases Pressure on LA to Succeed Next Season

Matt Fitzgerald — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:59:23 -0400

The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a year in which they faced heavy scrutiny for falling short of massive, championship expectations. After getting swept in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs, the organization finds itself in a precarious position, which is compounded by the team's tight cap situation.

As reported by Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times, this is the first offseason since the new collective bargaining agreement was struck in 2011.

Under the new CBA, teams above the "tax apron" are prohibited from acquiring sign-and-trade players, though are able to ship sign-and-trade players to other teams.

The luxury tax that teams are hit with is extremely penal if the franchise is above the tax apron. Pincus notes that the tax threshold is expected to be at $71.5 million, but there is an allowance of an additional $4 million, which constitutes the tax apron.

Thus, the Lakers can have a maximum of $75.5 million in player salaries for 2013-14 to avoid the luxury tax.

Unfortunately, unless the squad amnesties the contract of Kobe Bryant, there is no feasible way to avoid the massive luxury tax if the Lakers want to re-sign superstar center Dwight Howard.

So what does all this mean, exactly?

Basically, if Howard is brought back into the fold for an expected $20.5 million and the Lakers don't shock the world by letting Bryant go, LA is looking at approximately $100 million in salaries for next season.

Not only do the Lakers have to pay those $100 million in salaries, but they are taxed for every dollar over the projected cap they go, and would have to dish out an additional $80 million in luxury tax expenses.

With the careers of both Bryant and Nash winding down, and the colossal disappointment of last season, this upcoming year could be the last shot the Lakers have in quite some time at raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

It's going to be hard enough for Bryant to get ready after tearing his left Achilles tendon, but the scenario for head coach Mike D'Antoni's bunch is more pressure-packed than ever.

If such a substantial amount of money is utilized to bring Howard back into the fold, keep Bryant and the rest of the current nucleus intact—including Metta World Peace—and the team falls short or even misses the playoffs again, the Lakers could be looking at years of rebuilding.

Both Bryant and star power forward Pau Gasol are also unrestricted free agents after next season, which indicates that the Lakers' reign as a perennial title contender is coming to an end for the foreseeable future.

Even before the extremely pivotal 2013-14 campaign begins, the Lakers' brass have some seriously difficult decisions to make.

However, the pressure is on either way. If all the stars stay put, nothing less than a championship will do. Should Howard go to another team, LA will still likely be over the cap and the expectation to still make a playoff push in what could be Bryant's final season.

Le Mans 24 2013: Route, Start Time, TV Schedule and More

Richard Langford — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:57:27 -0400

Audi is back and looking strong to add another title in the LMP1 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Whether the mighty Audi team dominates the premier class once again or not, the endurance race features a lot for racing fans to sink their teeth into.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the grand race. The occasion is being extravagantly marked by a Louis Vitton-crafted trophy case, and not quite as extravagantly marked by a small eight-car field in the LMP1, according to SPEED's John Dagys.

Take a look at the coverage details and some of the vitals for this event, and below I'll offer up three racing teams worth keeping an eye on.

Start Time: Saturday, June 22, at 9 a.m. ET

TV Coverage: SPEED will bring coverage of this event, which begins on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET and 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET.

Live Stream: SPEED.com on Saturday 2-4 p.m. ET and 7-7:30 p.m. ET

Entry List: View the entire entry list on the event's official website.

Route

Schedule of Events

*All times ET; schedule via SPEED.com.

Sunday, June 16

8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.—Administrative Checks and Scrutineering (Place de la Republique)

Monday, June 17

4 to 11: 30 a.m.—Administrative Checks and Scrutineering (Place de la Republique)

Tuesday, June 18

11 a.m.—Drivers' Autograph Session (Pit Lane)

Wednesday, June 19

On-Track Activity: Practice: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Qualifying 7:10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday, June 20

ACO Press Conference at 5 a.m.

On-Track Activity: Qualifying 2: 1-3 p.m., Qualifying 3: 4-8 p.m.

Friday, June 21

2 a.m. to 12 p.m.—Fan Pit Walk (Pit Lane)
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.—Drivers' Parade (City Center)

Saturday, June 22

On-Track Activity: Warmup: 3-3:45 a.m., Race: 9 a.m.

Sunday, June 23

On-Track Activity: Race Finish: 9 a.m.

Teams to Watch

Audi Sport Team Joest

Audi has won at Le Mans 11 of the last 13 years, and it will likely add to that impressive total this year. Featuring three identical diesel-powered R18 e-tron quattro hybrids.

As SPEED's John Dagys notes, Audi posted the three fastest times during testing with the fastest coming from a driving group headed by eight-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen.

While that group posted the fastest time and Kristensen is the all-time leader in Le Mans victories, it is the group of Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler that is widely considered the favorites.

The defending WEC champions will try to grab their third consecutive win at Le Mans.

Toyota Racing

If Audi is upset, it will almost certainly come as a result of this team stepping up. Toyota has been rapidly closing the gap on Audi, and Toyota ended the WEC last year as the dominant team.

This team will be running the Toyota TS030 Hybrid, which was debuted at this race last year, but as Dagys noted, the gas-powered hybrids added three liters of fuel capacity.

Could this be enough to push Toyota past Audi? It certainly is not out of the question—even though Audi has been faster in testing.

The driver lineup is also the same as last year. This racing team features two groups. The first features Nicolas Lapierre, Alex Wurz and Kaz Nakajima and the other boasts of Anthony Davidson, Stephane Sarrazin and Sebastien Buemi.

Dempsey/Del Piero Racing

Grey's Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey is back for his second run at Le Mans.

In 2009, as noted by the LA Times' Jim Peltz, he drove an AF Corse Ferrari to a ninth-place finish in the GT2 class.

This year he'll be behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR in the GTE Am division. Joining him behind the wheel are co-drivers Joe Foster and Patrick Long.

Long brings some needed experience to this all American group. He is a two-time Le Mans class winner and is the only American Porsche factory driver.

Make no mistakes about it: This group isn't out just for the experience; it aims to win.

MMA's Great Debate Radio: King Mo Lawal, Greg Jackson and Joe Warren

Damon Martin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:57:03 -0400

MMA's Great Debate Radio is back with all new guests and debate topics, including interviews with "King" Mo Lawal and Bellator Fight Master coaches Greg Jackson and Joe Warren, plus debate about the fallout from UFC 161.

Lawal joins the show today to preview his fight on Wednesday night against Seth Petruzelli, while also discussing the recent addition of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson to the Bellator roster and his recent loss to Emanuel Newton.

Bellator's Fight Master reality show also kicks off on Wednesday, and today we welcome two of the coaches from the show.

Joe Warren talks about being the youngest coach on the show and sharing space with three legendary names in the industry, while Greg Jackson explains why Fight Master is a much different experience than anything fans have seen on The Ultimate Fighter.

Finally, today's debate topics heat up with discussion about UFC 161, Roy Nelson's future and much more.

Today's debate topics include:

—How would you rate UFC 161 as a whole on a scale of 1-10?

—Do you believe Roy Nelson will return to the UFC following his loss last Saturday night?

—Can Bellator find the same kind of success through Fight Master that the UFC did through The Ultimate Fighter?

This is MMA's Great Debate Radio for Wednesday, June 19, 2013

(If the embeddable player does not work please click HERE to listen. Don't forget to subscribe to the show via iTunes and listen via Stitcher Radio)

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Stock Up Stock Down for Cardinals' Top 10 Prospects for Week of June 10

Tyler Poslosky — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:48:12 -0400

The St. Louis Cardinals are not only dominating at the major league level, but down on the farm as well. As an organization, the Cardinals continue to develop top-notch talent through their rugged minor league feeders.

Here’s a look at how the Cardinals Top 10 prospects fared for the week of June 10.

Begin Slideshow

Manu Ginobili's No-Call, as Called by Don Draper

Tristan Thornburgh — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:43:28 -0400

Manu Ginobili was pretty upset that he didn't get a call on what he thought was a foul, and he showed it by complaining to the ref.

Well Mad Men's Don Draper wasn't having it.

Vine created by edsbs.

Sarah Attewell represents a bright future for Halifax Xplosion

Mark Staffieri — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:32:14 -0400

As the Halifax Xplosion of the Maritime Women’s Football League work tirelessly toward building a championship—caliber team, Sarah Attewell is emerging as an invaluable component. Part of the hopeful championship blueprint, Attewell is a multiple MWFL All—Star whose leadership and experience make her a leader for the improving franchise.

Like many of her peers in the MWFL, Attewell’s first exposure to the sport came through rugby. In participating at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport level with the St. Thomas Tommies varsity rugby squad, Attewell quickly learned the values of leadership and teamwork. Those values have served her well with Halifax as she is part of a team culture that fosters friendship and belonging.

“When I was young I had an interest in a lot of sports but it was not until I started playing rugby in high school that I really fell in love with a sport. I continued to play rugby when I went to St. Thomas University.

Playing university rugby fostered a real appreciation for team sport and an understanding of what it takes to work as a team. When I moved to Halifax, I wanted to meet new people and be part of a team. I saw a poster about the Xplosion and I got really excited to learn a new sport. I knew nothing about football before I started playing with the Xplosion. The team was so welcoming and I instantly felt like I belonged with them.”

While Attewell is working tirelessly to provide the franchise with a championship, her career has been showered with numerous accolades and honors. Being named to the MWFL All—Star team is a great point of pride in her budding career,

“It is an honor to be selected a MWFL All—Star. I do not play football for awards, I play for the feeling I get when I am on the field and after a game. If my whole body hurts I know I had a great game and that is my motivation.”

Having joined the Xplosion in 2011, her career continues to evolve and grow in one where she employs a stronger leadership role. As the MWFL is a player—run league, many players have to wear the hats of both player and manager. Attewell understands the demands and is displaying true commitment as a team player by also trying to contribute off the field.

“This is my third season playing for the Xplosion and I am finding myself in more of a leadership position on and off the field. There is a lot of work behind the scenes with a football team and I like to help our team out the best I can.

On the field I try to keep a positive attitude and encourage other players. I have had the opportunity to learn different positions and I try to help newer players gain confidence in their spot on the field. I am always ready to go on the field wherever and whenever the coaches need me.”

Still in the prime of her career, Attewell is able to reflect on the frustrations of losing with strong dignity. Not afraid of the responsibilities required to help her team elevate to the next level, Attewell understands that the first necessary change is confidence. In discussing what it will take for the Xplosion to win a championship, Attewell discussed,

“For the Xplosion to win the championship, we need to believe that we can win. I think we are so used to being the underdog, that we do not know how to approach the game as winners. This season has been monumental for our team.

I know we have not put a win on the board yet but I know it will be happening soon. Anyone who watched our games in the past, and then watched our last three games (in 2013) knows we are working for a win. Once we have that first win I think we will be unstoppable. Our coaches have set us up to win. We just have to finish it on the field.”

Despite the lean years of losing, it has not quelled her desire to compete and excel. The motivation to succeed only runs stronger and it has helped to further the appreciation that she has toward other teammates that have helped to put the franchise on stronger footing.

“We have been so blessed to have leaders on our team like Tasha McMaster and Heather Archibald that give of their time and do not give up on us. I am also very thankful for all the time and effort our coaches put into the sport. We could not do any of this without them.

We are lucky to have a great group of women playing on our team that are giving it their all. It is easy to be part of a team when they are winning but being part of a team that is struggling for a win takes real heart. When we have our first win it is going to be the best feeling! I will cry like a baby and I cannot wait.”

With the 2013 campaign signifying the MWFL’s landmark tenth anniversary season, the growing league is currently the only women’s sporting league in Canada to have reached the ten year mark. The opportunity to be part of the historic year is one that provides Attewell with great happiness.

“I LOVE that I am playing in the MWFL's tenth anniversary season. I am thankful for every game that I can lace my cleats up and play this sport. I just love to play. I hate when the game is over and hate even more when the season is over.”

Like many of her peers in the MWFL, Attewell is an articulate and educated individual. Her spirit for the game represents the culture that makes the MWFL an exciting and dynamic league.

As the sport of women’s football continues to grow throughout the world, the MWFL helped to lead the charge in Canada by empowering ambitious and remarkable women. Attewell is part of the next generation of amazing women who are getting the well—deserved chance to experience athletic glory.

“I am very excited for the growth of women's football and women's sports in general. I want every young girl to have a chance to play a sport like football so they can feel empowered by what they are capable of. I would not be half the person I am now if I did not play sports. The great part about our league is that you do not have to be 'young' to play. Anyone who wants the chance to experience football can with us.”

“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”

Serena Williams Apologizes for Reported Comments on Steubenville Rape Case

Timothy Rapp — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:31:33 -0400

After making some controversial comments regarding the Steubenville rape case in a Rolling Stone article, tennis star Serena Williams has publicly apologized.

From her website:

What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved—that of the rape victim and of the accused. I am currently reaching out to the girl’s family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written—what I supposedly said—is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame.

I have fought all of my career for women’s equality, women’s equal rights, respect in their fields—anything I could do to support women I have done. My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent sixteen year old child.

The comments in question came from a Rolling Stone article written by Stephen Rodrick:

We watch the news for a while, and the infamous Steubenville rape case flashes on the TV—two high school football players raped a drunk 16-year-old, while other students watched and texted details of the crime. Serena just shakes her head.

"Do you think it was fair, what they got? They did something stupid, but I don't know. I'm not blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk like that, your parents should teach you: Don't take drinks from other people. She's 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn't remember? It could have been much worse. She's lucky. Obviously, I don't know, maybe she wasn't a virgin, but she shouldn't have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that's different."

Williams caused an immediate stir because of what she said to Rodrick, and she is clearly trying to rectify the situation.

Williams likely had to know that anything she said was fair game to be printed unless specified otherwise. Nevertheless, she wanted to clarify her intentions, and it's evident from her apology that she did not mean for her initial comments to come off as they did.

It sounds as though Williams will later insist that her remarks were misprinted or changed—she doesn't seem convinced the words printed were hers, based on the "what I supposedly said" statement—but for the time being she at least wanted to offer an apology for her words as printed in the article.

This incident is a bad moment for Williams in a year where so much has gone right for her. She's 43-2 on the season and has won six tournaments total, including the French Open.

She hasn't lost a match since February, the final of the Qatar Total Open to Victoria Azarenka.

Her win at the French Open was her 16th Grand Slam title and her third in four slam appearances. She also won the Gold Medal at the 2012 London Olympics and has reasserted herself as the most dominant player in women's tennis.

With Wimbledon scheduled to start on Monday, the red-hot Williams will look to continue her recent play.

Mexico vs. Brazil: El Tri's Confederations Cup Bid Will Be Dealt Fatal Blow

Richard Langford — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:26:46 -0400

After falling to Italy 2-1 in its Confederations Cup opener, Mexico is in a desperate situation as it takes the pitch on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET in Castelao Stadium.

Another loss will put an end to their hopes of advancing, and they are facing Brazil. The hosts look ready to roll through Group A.

Brazil waltzed to a 3-0 win over Japan in the opener. However, it has always been Italy and Mexico who promised to give them a more severe test. After all, it was Mexico that has had the upper hand when these two have met recently.

Check out the Group A standings as these teams prepare to play their second round of games.

Group A

Team	Pts	GD
Brazil	3	3
Italy	3	1
Mexico	0	-1
Japan	0	-3

El Tri defeated Brazil in the gold medal match in the London Games, and they also won the last encounter between the first squads in a friendly last year.

However, times have been changing for both.

Mexico has suddenly encountered a dearth of scoring. In their last four matches (which includes three World Cup hexagonal contests) Mexico has notched a total of just two goals. They have also drawn eight of their last 10 matches.

Considering El Tri's attack features Javier Hernandez and his 33 international goals in 51 games, this lack of production is stunning.

Alas, Chicharito needs some help. When he notched this goal against Italy, he ran his international goal total in his last 11 games to eight:

The Brazil squad that Mexico will face will be vastly different than the last time these two faced off. Not so much for the players on the pitch but the man on the sideline. Gone is Mano Menezes, as he has been replaced by the more aggressive Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Scolari has infused life into the Brazilian attack, and Brazil has won their last two matches by a combined score of 6-0 with a win over Italy to go with the victory over Japan.

While this has led to some brilliant attacking, it has also led to some sloppy defending, however. That offers a glimpse of hope that Mexico can end its offensive struggles.

However, with Mexico's preferred lone-striker attack in a 4-2-3-1, El Tri will not be able to hang with Brazil's firepower.

With players like Neymar, Oscar, Marcelo, Thiago Silva and Hulk all looking to gain revenge on the Olympic defeat, and with Mexico distracted by their struggling attempt to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, this match will be all Brazil.

Brazil will win, 3-1.

Do San Antonio Spurs Have 48 More Minutes of Championship Basketball in Them?

Dan Favale — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:25:46 -0400

Never, ever count out the San Antonio Spurs.

It's a lesson I learned a long time ago and one I continue to brush up on today. It's one you've probably come to grips with as well. At one point or another, we all have.

Doubters have emerged every year since Tim Duncan took his well-rounded game to the NBA. Detractors flocked San Antonio's way in bunches after 2007, the last time the Spurs won a title.

Since then, the Spurs weren't considered capable of contending the way they did previously. They were too old, Duncan couldn't keep playing as well as he had, they were too old, Gregg Popovich's piercing voice would soon go hoarse, Tony Parker would have to win on his own and he wasn't enough...Oh, and they were considered too old. Did I get everything?

The last six years were spent proving the vast majority of the population wrong. Save for a pair of first-round exits, the Spurs have embodied consistency, keeping their streak of consecutive 50-win regular seasons alive.

Still, the world is always one loss away from falling into what has become an all-too-common trap.

Being the reoccurring idiot I can sometimes be, I picked against the Spurs in two of their three playoff series.

I had them beating the Los Angeles Lakers (who didn't?), falling to the Golden State Warriors (to be fair, they were my sleeper team) and then mistakenly picked the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals (crap).

Because I'm a glutton for potential punishment, I went with the Miami Heat in the finals. Once again, they have the opportunity to prove me and a lot of other people.

Never again, though, will I underestimate the Spurs. Never.

In making my finals pick, I had a firm hold on the risk involved, as did many others. Picking the Heat wasn't a sure bet; it wasn't the safe bet. Going against the Spurs (again) could be another mistake.

That's how good these Spurs are, how disciplined they play. They're always in it, never out of it, even approaching a Game 7 on the road after choking away what would have been a title-clinching Game 6.

Perfectly imperfect—that's the Spurs. They struggle like any other team (see the end of Game 6), but unlike most, there isn't an off button.

San Antonio didn't play its best basketball through the final 17 minutes of Game 6. What we saw wasn't even close to the Spurs' best. And they almost won.

It took a transcendent fourth quarter from LeBron James, a few botched free throws by San Antonio, a pair of unlikely three-pointers and some improbable miscues on the part of Gregg Popovich to sink these Spurs.

Some would posit that the Heat didn't beat the Spurs, that the Spurs beat themselves, and they would have a strong case.

Game 5 didn't bring with it the best version of San Antonio, either. Manu Ginobili went off for 24 points and 10 assists, Parker persevered through hamstring issues to drop 26 and five, respectively, and the ever-ageless Tim Duncan was as consistent as anything, notching yet another double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Danny Green (24 points) and Boris Diaw (sensational defense on LeBron) joined the party as well.

That still wasn't the Spurs at their finest. They had 18 turnovers and played suspect perimeter defense for a large portion of the game. Had LeBron and Dwyane Wade not combined to go 9-of-25 around the basket—many of which were easy looks—we'd be talking about their need for improvement down low, too.

But the Spurs won by 10 in a game where the Heat never really threatened until the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. Counting them out now shouldn't even be a question.

Game 6 was an agonizing one to lose. Minutes away from the fourth championship of the Big Three era, the Spurs, well, they choked. Never did they stop swinging, though. Not all their punches landed, but they stayed in the fight. Parker hit big shots down the stretch, and in an overtime period where they scored a mere five points, they were never out of reach, holding the Heat to eight.

Those are the Spurs we've seen all series. Playing resilient basketball is all they know. When they're at their worst or at the lowest of points—like now–they're not done.

San Antonio won't submerge in a pool of self-pity or languish in Game 6 failures come Game 7. The Spurs will come to play.

Parker won't be any healthier, Duncan or Ginobili any younger, Coach Pop any less bitter or gray, but they'll be ready.

No matter what type of game needs to played or which personality of the alarmingly schizophrenic Heat the Spurs face, they'll be ready.

This shouldn't even be a question. But it is, because we have to ask it. We have to respond to it, too. And if it was the only one we had to answer, the Spurs would be crowned champion now. There would be no need to play Game 7.

Other factors are at play, though. There's another team on the floor who is packed with enough firepower to beat the Spurs even when they're at their best.

The Spurs can win Game 7. They may even win Game 7, at which point inquiries such as ours become irrelevant. Just know that if they lose, it won't be because they don't have enough championship basketball in them. They've already proved otherwise.

Instead, if they lose, it will be because the Heat were better. Not that they wanted it more or deserved it more, but were just better. Refuge from any loss can be found there, in understanding that the Spurs weren't incompetent. Rather, they fell to a (potentially) superior opponent.

Follow @danfavale

How Much Coin Can Matt Ryan Command from Atlanta Falcons?

Chris Trapasso — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:23:28 -0400

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is the next NFL gun-slinger in line to be rewarded with a handsome contract extension, one that will likely be worth more than $100 million and could feature upwards of $50 million guaranteed.

Hello, multiple Lamborghinis.

The former No. 3 overall pick led his team to another 13-win regular season in 2012, won his first career playoff game and was 10 excruciating yards away from the Super Bowl.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Ryan will sign a mega-deal sometime during the 2013 regular season, so there's plenty of time to project, predict and speculate—all those fun things—on his contract's bottom line.

What's Ryan really worth?

Typically, when a player lobbies for a new contract, he and his agent use the money made by comparable players at said player's position as a starting point.

So, let's compare Ryan to some of the league's most prolific, newly minted quarterbacks.

First, quarterback rating.

Although Ryan's career QB rating is the second-lowest, his 2012 metric is the second-highest, which should be an important bargaining chip.

Breaking down his statistics even further, the individual play of the Falcons quarterback has been on par with Rodgers, Brees and Romo over the last two seasons.

Remember though, Rodgers arguably had the best quarterbacking campaign in NFL history in 2011. Beyond that, Ryan undoubtedly matches up well with the high-volume supremacy of Brees and the sometimes misunderstood Romo, a signal-caller who's been an underrated stat accumulator during his career.

Another important aspect of Ryan's current resume is his steady annual development since 2009.

Impressive, right?

That type of gradual yet noticeable progression is important as Ryan enters what should be his prime.

Taking everything into consideration, Ryan's contract's worth is probably most comparable to Tony Romo's, at least when emphasizing statistics.

Then, consider that Ryan is five years younger than Romo and already has as many playoff wins as the Cowboys quarterback, and an extension that ultimately exceeds that of Romo's seems most fair and reasonable.

Verdict: Six-years, $107 million, $50 million guaranteed

How it will affect the Falcons' future salary cap situation

The Falcons don't have any major contributors set to the hit the market after the 2013 season—outside of Ryan—especially with the thought that tight end Tony Gonzalez will play only one more year.

However, prior to the 2015 season, the contracts of linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, running back Jacquizz Rodgers, cornerback Asante Samuel, defensive lineman Kroy Bierman and most notably wide receiver Julio Jones are set to expire.

One has to expect Jones will garner a huge pay day, and although White will be 33 when his deal is up, it'll be interesting to see how high of a priority Atlanta places on keeping the dynamic trio together.

As it currently stands, according to Spotrac (subscription required), the Falcons roster equates to a total cap hit sum of $96.960 million in 2014, which is well below an expected salary cap of around $120 million.

Spotrac also lists Atlanta's 2013 cap hit total at $116 million, so, if needed, it would have about $5 million to roll over.

Basically, the organization is in a prime position to dedicate a rather large contract extension to Ryan, and depending on how the deal is structured, there should be plenty of room to lock down Weatherspoon, Rodgers and Jones the following year.

There's a chance, though, that if Samuel and White plan to stay around, they'd likely have to do so at a veteran's discount.

Matt Ryan's slowly but surely become one of the league's best quarterbacks, a guy who's emerged as a leader in Atlanta with the ability to throw for over 4,000 yards and toss around 30 touchdowns per season.

In all likelihood, the Falcons quarterback will be the next member of suddenly crowded $100 million/$50 million guaranteed signal-caller club, something he deserves.

Follow @ChrisTrapasso

Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Live Blog: Analysis and Reaction

Matt Warden — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:23:11 -0400

After snapping a seven-game losing streak on Monday night, the Rangers dropped Tuesday's matchup 6-2 against the Oakland Athletics.

Despite striking out 10 in six innings of work, Yu Darvish (7-3, 2.84 ERA) gave up five earned runs while Texas could only manage two runs on three hits. Brandon Moss hit his 13^th homer for Oakland, and is batting .357 with four homeruns and seven RBIs in his last six games.

The win gave the A’s a three-game lead over the Rangers in the AL Central.

Wednesday's game will feature a pitching duel between Justin Grimm (5-5, 5.59) and Tommy Milone (6-6, 3.61).

Grimm is 0-2 with an ERA over 11 in his last three starts for the Rangers. Milone has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his 14 starts this season and is coming off of a strong 6.2 inning start against the Mariners last Friday.

First pitch is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. ET on Fox Southwest but join me at 8:00 p.m. ET as I bring you the action live from Texas.

Tiger Woods Withdraws From AT&T National With Strained Elbow

Benjamin Klein — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:22:47 -0400

Tiger Woods didn’t look like himself this past weekend at the 2013 U.S. Open, and now we know why.

A press release on TigerWoods.com announced the No. 1 golfer in the world has a left elbow strain that will keep him out of the upcoming AT&T National Tournament.

Here is what Tiger said in the statement:

I was examined after I returned home form the U.S. Open, and the doctors determined I have a left elbow strain.

I have been advised to take a few weeks off, rest and undergo treatment. I’ll be ready to go for the British Open, and I’m looking forward to playing at Muirfield. I would like to extend my regrets to AT&T, our sponsors and the fans in the Washington, D.C., area. The AT&T National means a lot to me and my foundation. It’s especially difficult not defending at my own tournament. It’s going to be a great event, and I look forward to being there to provide my support.

Woods had a very difficult time at Merion Golf Club, shooting 13-over for the tournament, which was his worst finish ever. Woods had 10 birdies and 20 bogeys throughout his four rounds and needed 2.7 putts per green in regulation.

After winning the Players Championship in mid-May, Woods played poorly at the Memorial Tournament right before the U.S. Open. There, he shot eight over and—despite making the cut—finished in a tie for 65th place.

Woods mentions that he should be ready to play at the British Open, which is set for July 18-21. Woods is a three-time winner at the Open Championship, last claiming the title back in 2006. Last year, he finished tied for third at three under.

An injury is the last thing Tiger needs right now, and if he isn't able to play the British Open, his quest to break the record for most career major victories would be extended.

Tiger currently sits four behind Jack Nicklaus for the all-time record. Woods needs to be healthy going forward in order to keep his hopes of 19 major victories alive.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on Mourinho, Chelsea and United's Opening Fixtures

Sam Tighe — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:20:49 -0400

Football fans woke up to an air of trepidation on Wednesday morning, knowing that at 9 a.m., the all-important Barclay's Premier League fixture list would be released.

Twitter was awash with predictions, best and worst possible outcomes, hopes, fears and—to an extent—people claiming they'd seen the list already, delivering the information early.

Southampton were already assured to be playing Arsenal away, Norwich at home and Stoke away, while Liverpool were set for bouts against both Aston Villa and Stoke City simultaneously.

Every football fan yearned for 9 a.m., and when it came, the reaction was predictably mixed.

B/R caught up with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to preview the fixtures, and the former Chelsea striker spoke of his old club's good chance of a great start under Jose Mourinho.

SAM TIGHE: As a player, does the opening day of the season hold an extra edge to it? The sun's out and the crowd feels different. Does that translate itself onto the field?

JIMMY FLOYD HASSELBAINK: Yes, it definitely does. Preseason is so long, you're working very hard for six weeks for that first game, making sure you're fit for it.

You see the stadium is full of fans. After weeks of conditioning, it feels a little bit special to be back.

ST: A lot of pundits often talk about the importance of that fabled "good start." Does the dressing room feel that pressure to start well?

JH: It's very important to get the first three points, but how much of an importance there is on securing them in the first game is down to the manager.

It does help, though, to settle the whole club down into the new season. People are on board, they're able to focus and you can go on a run [of results].

Last season, Reading did not secure a win until their 11th BPL fixture. It went on for so long, it's not what you want.

ST: Once the fixtures have been drawn, the players are aware of who they are facing in the big kickoff. Does it come up in training? Do the players talk about it or is it business as usual?

JH: It's largely business as usual. As a player, you know who are you are playing, and the manager might mention it and give specific instruction in reference to the fixture.

Players will think about it but they won't talk about it—the focus is on getting fit.

ST: Is there a certain fixture on the opening day that you'd want to avoid? What's the one to dodge?

JH: It depends what team you are. If you're a midtable club, you don't really want to land (for example) Hull City away on the first day.

You want to play at home—if possible—against the likes of Norwich City or Southampton. It's still going to be a hard game, but they've been in the Barclay's Premier League before and the expectation is a little bit different. The vibe is a little bit different.

If you go to Hull, Crystal Palace or Cardiff City, those places can be rocking. They're in the BPL, everybody is up for it, there's parties in the stands. You want to avoid that if you can.

ST: Looking at the opening day draw, which newly promoted side is in with the best chance of getting off to a great start?

JH: Hull are away to Chelsea, that's very difficult. Cardiff are away at West Ham, that is also going to be a tricky one. Nobody will expect Malky Mackay to get a win there. If he gets a draw it's a great point.

Crystal Palace, though, will fancy their chances against Tottenham at home. Spurs don't always start that well, and Selhurst Park will be bouncing.

Palace will be targeting three points, and they'll want to make a habit of winning at home. For all three clubs, it's very important that they make their home stadiums fortresses.

ST: If you could only watch one of the 10 opening day fixtures, which one would you choose? Which tie is a can't-miss prospect?

JH: I would watch Swansea City vs. Manchester United.

I like how the Swans play, I enjoy watching [Michael Laudrup's] team work. It's also David Moyes' first game as United manager, so it has to be that one.

ST: Chelsea have drawn Hull. Is that the perfect chance for Jose Mourinho to get off to a great start in an important season?

JH: On paper, he couldn't have asked for a better fixture to get things going. He'll be very happy with the draw.

ST: Finally, onto striking matters: You scored a debut goal for Leeds United, and there'll be plenty of pressure on incoming strikers this summer to do the same. Do players feel the need to grab a debut goal?

JH: It helps, it definitely helps. As soon as you score, a lot of weight is lifted from your shoulders. It helps you and everybody and everybody else settles down around you.

Much the same with the first three points—the sooner the better.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was speaking at the launch of the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League fixtures. To hear Phil Neville, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ray Parlour and John Hartson preview the new fixtures, download the exclusive podcast at: bit.ly/BPLfixtures

Tiger Woods: The Road to 19 Has Become a Lot More Difficult

Michael Fitzpatrick — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:20:47 -0400

Tiger Woods was supposedly one of the favorites heading into the 2013 U.S. Open.

Merion was meant to be Woods’ kind of course—a shorter course where he could play small ball and tactically take apart this classical American gem in a manner similar to what he did at The Players Championship just a month ago.

As Woods began to struggle, and then struggle some more, people were actually shocked—“what’s wrong with Tiger?” they asked.

Well, nothing.

Merion may have been shorter than most recent U.S. Open venues, but it didn’t play short and it was still a very difficult golf course. And if you had been following Woods’ career closely, you would have already known that his days of winning U.S. Opens and PGA Championships are more than likely over.

The key to Woods breaking Jack Nicklaus’ record of 19 career major championships will be the Masters and the Open Championship.

It’s of course possible for Woods to catch lightening in a bottle and have an outstanding ball-striking week at just the right time and pick off another U.S. Open or PGA Championship, but he is less likely to win either of these events than at any other point in his career.

Woods needs five more majors to break Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record, and to get there at least four of those five will most likely have to come from the Maters and the Open Championship.

Why?

Because Woods no longer has the game to excel at the U.S. Open and PGA Championship.

Its OK, you can breathe again after reading that last sentence. The world is not coming to an end; we are not going back to persimmon clubs and feathery golf balls; the Golf Channel has not cancelled all programming, etc. It’s all good. We simply have a case of an aging golfer that no longer has the game to contend at these long and grueling U.S. Open and PGA Championship venues.

Since the early 2000s, Woods is one of the few players in professional golf to have actually gotten shorter off of the tee while pretty much keeping the same level of accuracy—or inaccuracy, in the case of Woods.

So while U.S. Open courses have, in some cases, increased by up to 500 yards over the past decade, Woods driving distance has decreased by nearly four yards between 2000 and 2013.

Woods’ injury report also reads more like that of an NFL lineman than a professional golfer.

If it’s not a knee thing it’s an ankle thing, or a neck thing, or an Achilles thing, or a back thing, or an elbow thing, not to mention the mental thing he has been fighting through since striking that fire hydrant back in 2009.

Heck, Woods’ injury report literally stretches from head to toe.

So, while 10-12 years ago Woods used to be able to muscle short irons out of incredibly thick U.S. Open rough, Woods is no longer physically able to do so. In addition, 10-12 years ago Woods was trying to muscle 9-irons out of dense U.S. Open rough on par-fours while today he’s trying to muscle 4-irons or 5-irons out of the U.S. Open rough.

In recent years the PGA Championship has also started to take on an identity similar to that of the U.S. Open.

Tired of being considered golf’s “other major,” the PGA of America now challenges the best golfers in the world on 7,600 yard courses with thick rough and lightning fast greens.

The PGA of America has even been selecting a number of former U.S. Open venues for their championships such as Oak Hill, Hazeltine, Baltusrol and Oakland Hills.

This is not a good sign for Woods.

Sure, Woods can go out and completely dominate events such as the Famers Insurance Open and the Arnold Palmer Invitational where it’s bombs away—and if you happen to miss the fairway it’s no big deal because the rough is cut so low that it could actually pass as fairway at most municipal tracks.

But at 37 years old, with an injury report stretching the length of Merion’s 18th hole and less power off the tee than he had 10 years ago despite huge advancements in equipment and golf ball technology, Woods is no longer long enough, accurate enough or strong enough to truly be considered a favorite at the U.S. Open or PGA Championship anymore.

If you are one of those who believe that Woods will easily break Nicklaus’ record you are probably basing this belief on numbers such as Woods needing to win just five of his next 34 majors between now and his 45th birthday to break Nicklaus’ record.

But, what if those numbers were cut in half?

Based on the current state of Woods’ game, combined with the modern U.S. Open and PGA Championship venues, you can more or less take two majors off of the table each year.

So, that means that Woods will play in 17 other majors (The Masters and Open Championship combined) before his 45th birthday, and he will need to win nearly 30 percent of those to break Nicklaus’ record.

Woods has, of course, gone on streaks where he has won 30 percent or more of the majors he attended. But he was hitting the ball longer than anyone else at the time, he wasn’t 37 years old at the time and he wasn’t walking around with a body that has suffered more damage than most NFL linemen.

Woods’ quest to break Nicklaus’ record was always going to be difficult. But while earlier in his career Woods was looking at a wide open four lane freeway with a full tank of gas, he is now driving on a crowded two lane highway with worn down tires, a quarter tank of gas and a lot of other cars very capable of driving right on past him any given week.

Woods still has time to catch Nicklaus. After all, he is 37 and not 47. But, the road to 19 has become a lot more difficult than many people tend to believe.

NHL Free Agency: How the New Jersey Devils Should Fix Every Issue on Roster

Joseph Kuchie — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:18:42 -0400

When a team loses three key goal scorers in the offseason and suffers injuries to two of their star players in a lockout-shortened season, it's unlikely they will make any sort of run at the Stanley Cup.

For the Devils, 2013 was not kind to the defending Eastern Conference champs. New Jersey finished 19-19-10, good for dead last in the Atlantic Division and 12th in the conference.

It was clear that the Devils were missing Zach Parise, as head coach Peter DeBoer used a number of different line combinations throughout the 48-game season. The team was also sidetracked by the injuries suffered by Ilya Kovalchuk and Martin Brodeur, an issue that led to an 11-game winless streak toward the end of the year.

With the NHL draft and free agency amongst us, this is the chance for the Devils to fill some of the holes they most desperately need to fill. Let's take a look at some of the ways New Jersey can improve on last season.

Begin Slideshow

Alaska Anchorage Hires Thomas as New Head Hockey Coach

Roman Uschak — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:16:24 -0400

The University of Alaska Anchorage has a new head coach—someone who will be moving just up the West Coast, and is no stranger to the college ranks.

The Seawolves have hired former Rochester of Technology Institute center Matt Thomas, who spent the last 12 seasons in professional hockey, most recently as head coach of the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder. The Thunder, an affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, were the ECHL’s Western Conference champions this season before they fell to the Reading Royals in the Kelly Cup Final.

“We're very excited that Matt Thomas will be joining Seawolf Athletics as our new head hockey coach," said UAA vice chancellor Dr. Bill Spindle at goseawolves.com. “Matt's extensive experience as a head coach, coupled with his incredible enthusiasm for rolling up his sleeves and facing UAA's program challenges head-on, make him the right choice to lead the Seawolves as we head into a new league and a new season this fall.”

Thomas replaces Dave Shyiak, who was released in April after eight seasons at the helm of the Seawolves.

“I have always admired the sense of community and pride that is associated with Anchorage and the entire state of Alaska and our entire family is excited about the move,” said Thomas at uscho.com. It truly is a ‘hockey state.’ My goal is to bring back the passion for UAA hockey and produce a winner for the community, alumni and our fan base.”

The UAA program was founded back in 1979, and has had just four head coaches in its entire existence. Thomas will be the fifth.

Thomas, from Mississauga, Ont., went 163-127-39 (.555) in 329 games in five campaigns with the Thunder, and was also 34-30 in the ECHL postseason in that span, according to the team’s website. All-time, Thomas fashioned a 342-225-80 mark (.590) in 647 career ECHL regular-season games as head coach of the Thunder, the Fresno Falcons and the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. He ranks fifth in league regular-season annals in victories, and is sixth in total games coached.

A former assistant coach at the University of Maine from 2000 to 2002, Thomas played at RIT from 1994 to 1998. He helped the Tigers to three NCAA Division III Tournament berths, along with a national runner-up finish his sophomore season. He also helped them to the NCAAs as an assistant coach in 1999.

The Seawolves last posted a winning season in 1992-93, their first as an affiliate member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, one year after they finished a string of three consecutive NCAA Division I tournament appearances as an independent.The 1990-91 team advanced to the NCAA quarterfinal round, losing to Northern Michigan after beating Boston College, while the 1991-92 squad finished a program-best 27-8-1 (.764) but fell to Lake Superior State in the first round of the NCAAs.

UAA will start play this fall in a revamped WCHA that also includes Alabama-Huntsville, Alaska Fairbanks, Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Minnesota State and Northern Michigan.

Current NHL players who skated at UAA in their careers include Jay Beagle of the Washington Capitals and Curtis Glencross of the Calgary Flames. Mike Peluso was the first former Seawolf to win a Stanley Cup, back in 1995 with the New Jersey Devils.

Aaron Hernandez Reportedly Will Be Sued for Shooting Man in Face

Matt Fitzgerald — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:09:34 -0400

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez will face a lawsuit for allegedly shooting a man after an altercation at a Miami strip club.

TMZ.com broke news of this stunning development, as the lawsuit was filed in Florida federal court on Wednesday—five days prior to authorities searching Hernandez's Massachusetts home for an apparently unrelated homicide case.

The lawsuit for the shooting was originally thought to be dismissed just four days after it was filed, but there was simply an error in the paperwork. Thus, the man who originally filed it, Alexander S. Bradley, still intends to move forward with the legal action and refile the lawsuit today.

At a club called Tootsie's Cabaret on Feb. 13, 2013, Bradley claims he got into an argument with Hernandez before the two left in the same car. While in the vehicle, Hernandez allegedly "aimed his weapon at Bradley...and the gun discharged, striking Bradley in the face," per TMZ.

The major injuries Bradley claims to have suffered from the gunshot wound include the loss of his right eye, and extensive surgery was required to repair his face, which included the use of screws and plates.

Bradley also implied that his right hand and arm absorbed part of the shot. He said that those injuries also needed surgery.

In addition to asking for more than $100,000 in the suit, Bradley asserted that Hernandez did not even have a license for the gun that he shot Bradley with.

Such a development is troubling enough for Hernandez, but the alleged unlicensed gun may spell even more legal trouble in the future.

Hernandez is a key part of the Patriots offense going into 2013. He finished 2012 with 51 receptions for 483 yards and five touchdowns in 10 regular-season games.

Fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski's status is questionable after multiple surgeries, including one on his back on Tuesday, per ESPN Boston's Field Yates, who also notes that Hernandez had surgery this offseason.

Combine that with this legal situation Hernandez currently finds himself in, and unfortunately, New England is in danger of being without two of its biggest playmakers in the near future. However, according to Yates, the Patriots do have five other tight ends on the current roster.

Say You Bought Chipper Jones' House for Only $3.2 Million

Gabe Zaldivar — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:03:57 -0400

Chipper Jones is selling a peach of a Georgia home that has you well taken care of in the bathroom department.

Busted Coverage spotted the listing for Jones' Roswell mansion over at Realtor.com. As with a great deal of these types of sales, the best part is the collection of wonderful images that show off what it's like to be a world-class athlete.

Here are just a few that will have you saying, "I should have been a star third baseman for the Atlanta Braves."

I sincerely hope you enjoy wood floors and paneling, because this house is chockablock filled with the stuff.

Although, I am intrigued by festive soirees you could throw in this giant bar area.

Of course, no self-respecting person would be without a movie theater to catch all the latest straight-to-video hits.

If you are looking for sheer size, you have come to the right place. As you can see, the pool and apparent car park are sizable.

As for the exact size, the listing states the house is a whopping 23,504 square feet and sits atop a 2.52 acre lot, giving you all the privacy you could ever want.

It also has a bathroom for you and 10 of your closest friends. While the house only boasts a paltry six bedrooms, it makes up for it with 11 bathrooms, making pesky lines at family parties a thing of the past.

Besides the movie theater, the house has a dining room that seats 12, an exercise room, six fireplaces and a second kitchen, because one is never enough.

You can have all of this for a measly $3,195,000. I will wait while you go smash your piggy banks for the down payment.

Hit me up on Twitter: Follow @gabezal

NBA Draft 2013: Key Lottery Prospects Who Will Be Massive Reaches

Adam Fromal — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:02:13 -0400

Each and every year, NBA general managers get too excited about long-term potential and end up committing the cardinal sin of making massive reaches in the lottery. Thanks to a few point guards and centers, as well as one forward, the 2013 NBA draft will be no different.

There will certainly be quality players picked in the lottery on June 27, but there will also be more reaches.

Over the last five years, we've had teams fall for the traps set by Austin Rivers, Jan Vesely, Bismack Biyombo, Jimmer Fredette, Cole Aldrich, Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, Michael Beasley, Joe Alexander and more.

The list can go on and on, as the draft sometimes morphs into a glamorized guessing process.

These five players might not reach the "bust" level of Thabeet, Vesely, Flynn and Alexander, but they'll end up failing to make lottery-sized impacts in the Association. For various reasons, they're all set to become massive lottery reaches.

Begin Slideshow

Making the Call on NY Knicks' 5 Toughest Offseason Decisions

Mike Benjamin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:00:18 -0400

On Tuesday night, we bore witness to the best NBA Finals game in 10 years.

It was an amazing display: two titans with an insatiable will to win, giving maximum effort in regulation and beyond. Someone had to win, so Miami did, forcing a Game 7 and a chance to be the first team to win consecutive NBA titles since Kobe’s Lakers did so in 2009 and 2010.

So, where do the Knicks fit into all this hoopla?

Well, it just made their offseason decisions that much tougher to make.

If the Knicks are to avoid being a footnote in NBA history in the early stages of this millennium, company brass has some moves to make.

Begin Slideshow

Breaking Down Manchester City's 2013/14 Premier League Schedule

Alex Gruber — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:51:46 -0400

Manchester City's Premier League fixture list has been released, leaving us to speculate on how things will pan out. Manuel Pellegrini now knows when and where he'll face his first challenges as a manager in the English game.

For a full list of City's Premier League matchups, check out their club website. Then move on in this slideshow to get an analysis of how City should fare. It will investigate the big matches, tough stretches and other considerations.

Begin Slideshow

San Francisco 49ers: 5 Legitimate Concerns Heading Forward to the Season

Peter Panacy — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:49:38 -0400

One would figure that life would be easy for a team that many experts have predicted to win the Super Bowl at the end of the 2013 season.

Such claims would make sense after all. The San Francisco 49ers came within one play of that last season, narrowly losing Super Bowl XLVII to the Baltimore Ravens. In the following weeks and months, San Francisco was able to bolster its roster with a number of trades and free agent signings combined with a solid draft. The core of the team remained mostly intact, consisting largely of young and talented veterans paired with a top—notch coaching staff.

Yet the road for a Super Bowl return may not be so easy.

In fact there are plenty of obstacles and question marks that loom large in the 49ers' camp as the team heads toward the regular season. Some of these concerns possess elements that the coaching staff and team can prepare for. Others may be more subtle.

CBS Sports NFL writer Pete Prisco has the 49ers currently ranked second on his NFL power rankings directly behind the Denver Broncos, suggesting that there is a legitimate possibility that San Francisco and Denver meet in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Sure, that is a possibility and one that 49er fans would love to see take place. Yet as stated, for that to happen, the 49ers would have to make best of the scenarios and concerns that may affect the team. Of these, there are plenty.

In addition to the forthcoming slides, there are a number of additional concerns. Will the offensive line, so dominant last year and lucky enough to have all five of their starters start all 16 regular season games, remain healthy over the course of 2013? Will the 49ers' secondary be exposed like it was during the playoffs last year? Can San Francisco's defense, still highly touted as written by CBS Sports analyst Pat Kirwan, remain a dominant force which was so critical to last year's success?

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick will have to meet or exceed his performances from last year. The coaching will have to be just as good if not better.

And then of course, there are the other factors which may play significant roles this year.

Here are five of the most critical concerns that face the 49ers as they head toward the 2013 season.

Begin Slideshow

Chelsea Stars Who Will Not Be Delighted by Jose Mourinho's Return

Garry Hayes — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:47:18 -0400

He's been back at Chelsea for just over a week and already Jose Mourinho is busy making headlines.

Blues fans may be ecstatic at Mourinho's return—after all, he is the man who gave them a first league title in 50 years during his first spell in charge, not to mention making the club one of the most feared across Europe—but some Chelsea players may feel differently.

Rumors of his intentions to take a hard line with Chelsea's star players next season (via Daily Mail) have emerged, but not only that, some of the club's leading players are now being linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge as the Portuguese begins to make his presence felt.

It's going to be an interesting summer in West London, as the Special One reshapes the Blues in his vision. So with that in mind, Bleacher Report looks at some Blues players who may not share the fans' happiness at Mourinho's return.

Begin Slideshow

LeBron James' Post-Game 6 Legacy: An Admittedly Biased View

Kyle Staff — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:40:14 -0400

Let me make something clear right off the bat: I unabashedly dislike LeBron James as an athlete.

I rooted against him in Cleveland, slammed him for The Decision and yelled at him through my TV on an embarrassing number of occasions. So it’s safe to say my opinions on LeBron, Game 6 and his legacy should be taken with a dump truck full of salt. But this is America, so I’m going for it anyway.

LeBron James is, at his best, the greatest basketball player I’ve ever seen. I was born in 1990, so unfortunately my memories of Michael Jordan are limited. I watched as Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant won three straight championships. I saw Tim Duncan win four, and then Kobe two more.

But I’ve never seen anybody do the things LeBron does. He defends all five positions, takes it to the rim at will, passes as efficiently as anyone, blocks shots, snags rebounds—the man does it all.

Except, something seems to be missing. I can’t quantify it. I don’t know if there’s even a word for it. Killer instinct? Cold-bloodedness? Guts? Maybe.

MJ had it. Kobe has it.

At the end of the game, with the season on the line, do you have the gumption to take the last shot without doubting yourself? MJ and Kobe always believed the ball was going in on that last heave. With LeBron, it seems like he’s hoping and praying it goes in so he doesn’t have to face the world after coming up short again.

Last night, LeBron single-handedly brought the Heat back from the brink of elimination with an unbelievable headband-less performance. I’ve never seen anything like it. He looked like a bully fifth-grader trying to impress his friends by facing off against five kindergartners. But then, all of a sudden, the game was on the line. The pressure mounted. And LeBron James made two consecutive and crucial turnovers. The Spurs had them dead to rights.

At this point I’m thinking about LeBron’s tarnished legacy. One win and three losses in the NBA Finals. Two crucial mistakes in the biggest game of the season.

Then Ray Allen bailed him out.

So today, LeBron gets a pass. To his credit, he did record a monster triple-double. But I can’t forget him looking completely lost at the end of Game 6—not to mention his uninspired performance through the first three quarters. Lebron is great. He's really, really great. But legends don’t shrink in the biggest moments. That’s what made them legends in the first place. I’ve seen LeBron shrink too many times to be compared with the likes of MJ and Kobe.

Who knows? Maybe Game 7 on Thursday will change my mind.

I doubt it.

USA vs. Honduras: Jozy Altidore Finally Becoming Striker USA Needs Him to Be

Zach Brown — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:39:36 -0400

The United States finally has its hero.

With the U.S. men's national team locked in a scoreless contest with Honduras Tuesday night, Jozy Altidore was the difference maker, knocking home the winning goal in the 73rd minute.

After a nifty pass from a charging Fabian Johnson, Altidore hit a brilliant left-footed shot low and away from the Honduran keeper that found the back of the net.

Since losing a friendly to Belgium on May 29, the USMNT has now won four straight matches. It is no coincidence that Altidore has recorded a tally in each. In the five previous games where Altidore had not recorded a goal, the United States was just 1-2-2 on the season.

There was plenty of doubt surrounding Altidore as recently as last month. Before finding the back of the net against Germany on June 2, Altidore had gone 16 months without a goal in international competition.

He began showing signs of renewed promise last year when he set the scoring record for an American player in Europe by recording 31 goals for AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie.

But until he broke through against Germany on June 2, Altidore's club success had not translated to the national team.

Stronger play from his teammates has helped Altidore greatly—Johnson's assist on Tuesday night was the second time in two games the duo connected for a goal—but credit Altidore for finishing on his chances, something he had not done for the USMNT for more than a year.

The next few months are key for Altidore. He is rumored to be on the transfer market, as reported by MLSSoccer.com, and needs to land with a team that utilizes him properly. He can only continue to grow as a player if he is getting significant playing time against the best competition.

If he does continue to hone his skills, Altidore could eventually become the greatest striker in U.S. team history.

Come next year, the United States will go as far in the World Cup as Altidore can carry them.

Floyd Mayweather Will Gain Mental Edge over Alvarez from Massive Hype Tour

Brian Mazique — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:37:13 -0400

On Monday, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Alvarez will begin a rare—if not unprecedented—11-city tour to promote their September 14 bout, per Ring Magazine.

A promotional strategy this big is uncommon—even for a Mayweather fight—but if there is a fighter in the world who can handle the hype, it's Money. In contrast, if there is a fighter whose makeup would suggest that the massive hoopla could distract them, it may be Canelo Alvarez.

The 23-year-old super middleweight champion is quiet, reserved and seemingly quite shy in nature. It is easy to see how these events could put him in an uncomfortable space.

Mayweather will use every opportunity to gain a mental edge over Canelo. You never know when Mayweather will turn on the bravado, or hit you with the more introspective and softer-spoken Money we've seen more and more as he's gotten older.

In any case, Mayweather keeps his opponents off balance before the fight about as much as he has during fights over his legendary career.

The tour is set to end on July 2, with stops in Phoenix and L.A. It is nearly two-and-a-half months before the men are set to meet in the ring, but in such a big fight, one has to wonder how an unorthodox event during fight preparations could affect the participants.

There are even more reasons beyond his introverted demeanor that would suggest Canelo may be adversely affected by the tour.

Not only is Mayweather the older, more experienced fighter in major fights, he's also in the more comfortable position of having to add weight to meet the 152-pound weight limit.

Alvarez is already a bigger man naturally, but now he has to come down—albeit just two pounds—to make weight. It is yet another adjustment in the process of preparation.

At such a high level, every little edge counts. Against the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, there will be little-to-no room for error or a lack of focus. The tour equates to just another potential distraction for Alvarez en route to the biggest fight of his life.

Fighting Mayweather is as much about mental preparedness as it is about physical execution. The mind games and psychological warfare begin the moment he acknowledges an opposing fighter's presence on his radar.

It continues through the pre-fight negotiations and after the fight has been agreed to. Few can match Mayweather when it comes to trash talk. Alvarez isn't even close in that regard. This tour is only going to make that point more obvious.

Poise and patience will be a key if Alvarez is going to have a chance to best Mayweather. Money's psyche games over the course of an eight-day tour could get under Alvarez's skin and make him abandon his game plan in the ring.

Before Mayweather fought Robert Guerrero, he completely dismantled him in their face-to-face promotional meeting. Money also duped his opponent into thinking he'd slug him toe-to-toe.

This didn't happen and while this trickery wasn't the primary reason Money destroyed Guerrero, it worked as a small piece to a masterfully assembled puzzle.

The platform this tour creates will allow Money ample time to prep the subject of his next masterpiece.

Follow me for boxing news and opinions.

Michigan Basketball: Which Version of Mitch McGary Will Show Up in 2014?

C.J. Moore — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:29:26 -0400

The best big man in the NCAA tournament spent most of the season coming off the bench and averaging 6.0 points per game.

The big man in the NCAA tournament had six regular season games when he scored only two points and was shut out once.

The best big man in the NCAA tournament was Mitch McGary, the shoo-in for preseason first-team All-American. That other guy was Mitch McGary, a project big man.

The assumption is that based off six games in the NCAA tournament that McGary is going to be much closer to the guy he was in those final six games than the one he was the first 33.

That’s what happens when you perform the way McGary did on the biggest stage, averaging 15.3 points and 10.7 boards in the tournament.

Here’s what we know is a certainty regarding McGary’s game. He is an elite rebounder. He proved that from start to finish last year. He ranked 10th in offensive rebounding percentage (per KenPom.com—subscription needed) and grabbed 22.4 percent of available defensive rebounds. That should continue in 2013-14.

What we’re assuming based off the tournament is that he can be an elite offensive threat as well.

The challenge in that regard is continuing to produce without the services of National Player of the Year Trey Burke. In the tournament, Burke assisted on 13 of McGary’s 40 buckets. McGary also benefited from the penetration of Tim Hardaway Jr., who assisted on nine of McGary’s baskets in the tournament.

What made McGary so valuable in John Beilein’s offense—and why McGary sparked the March run—is that he could finish what his guards created. McGary took 70 percent of his shots at the rim and shot 70 percent at the rim, according to Hoop-Math.com’s data. With Burke's ability to draw defenders, that made life in the paint pretty simple.

McGary is now spending the offseason working on creating more for himself.

Michigan assistant coach Bacari Alexander recently told Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press that the plan is to move McGary from center to power forward, which would give him some more freedom in the offense.

McGary showed against Syracuse in the Final Four that he can work in space. Working from the middle of the zone mostly, McGary had six assists.

Alexander told Snyder:

As he showed a maturation to shoot it when you’re open, pass it when you’re not and make accurate passes and balance and things of that nature, now we can entertain that plan that we originally planned for previously. In addition to that, increasing the shooting range is something that’s going to be a critical asset for him. But the not-so-much-talked-about aspect of making a position change is what you do defensively.

Michigan’s defense will be at its best when he’s able to protect the rim, but Alexander’s point is that in order to defend fours—many of whom are stretch fours in today’s college basketball—he has to be comfortable away from the paint. McGary has the quickness to defend outside. He just needs to show Michigan’s coaches he can do so without fouling.

The Wolverines pride themselves on fouling less often than any team in the country and McGary committed 4.8 fouls per 40 minutes last year.

As Alexander pointed out, the other area of McGary’s game that he could improve is his outside shooting. The ideal scoring big man in Beilein’s offense is one that can shoot it—think Kevin Pittsnogle.

McGary did not shot one three last year, but he did show an ability to hit the mid-range jumper in the tournament. McGary knocked down nine of his 18 jumpers in the tournament, according to CBSSports.com’s shot charts. This was an improvement from the regular season when he made approximately 34.7 percent of his jumpers, according to Hoop-Math.com’s data.

The final key to McGary putting up numbers is how well incoming freshmen guards Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton create. Beilein can try to run some offense through McGary, but he is still going to be at his best when he’s on the receiving end of a nice drive and dish.

If those guards can captain the offense right away like Burke did his freshman season, McGary should be able to live up to the expectations he created for himself in six productive games.

7 Reasons the McMahon Family Drama Does Not Belong on TV

Sharon Glencross — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:26:42 -0400

Ah, yes. WWE Raw. Or as it has recently become known, "The McMahon Family Drama Show."

Stephanie is a high-powered business woman! Triple H doesn't belong in the ring anymore! Vince McMahon is just concerned about his family! Stephanie and Triple H are having marital problems! Triple H wants to beat up his father-in-law! Oh, and now they're hugging it out!

Is this wrestling or Days of Our Lives?

So, let's just look at a few of the reasons that Vince, Stephanie and the rest of the family need to be kept off of our screens.

Begin Slideshow

Tim Tebow Must Emerge as Primary Backup in Order to Stay on Patriots Roster

Benjamin Klein — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:23:01 -0400

Newly signed New England Patriots' quarterback, Tim Tebow, must prove that he’s better than Ryan Mallett during training camp and throughout the preseason unless he could find himself jobless yet again.

Tebow had a tough time finding an organization that was willing to take a chance on him until the Patriots singed him to a two-year deal around a week ago. Tebow now has the opportunity to backup Tom Brady each week and potentially get some time on the field as well.

Tebow’s exact role has yet to be determined, but you can bet that he’s going to have to play remarkably well in order to make the final roster. The Patriots don’t really need to keep three quarterbacks on the team and Tebow must make it his mission to secure the No. 2 job over Mallett.

Two of my friends over at NESN, Doug Kyed and Luke Hughes, recently did a 53-man roster projection and most of the focus was on Tebow. Kyed left Tebow off his roster and the quarterback just barely made the team for Hughes—and both kept Mallett. Both agree that it won’t be easy for Tebow to make the final squad.

Mallett, a third-round pick in 2011 by New England, has rarely taken the field since joining the Patriots. He only has four career pass attempts and eight rush attempts on his resume. Backing up Brady doesn’t require a lot unless he goes down with an injury—like when Matt Cassel took over when Brady hurt his knee.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said in a question-and-answer session in February that the Patriots have been impressed with Mallett during practice (Insider subscription required). Tom Curran of Comcast SportsNet New England reported before the NFL draft that New England hadn’t had conversations about dealing the backup QB.

Now that the draft has come and gone, nearly every team knows whom their quarterback for the upcoming season will be. But that doesn’t mean that everything is going to go according to plan once Week 1 is set to start. Injuries happen all the time and sometimes derail quarterbacks for extended periods.

If Tebow plays well up until the regular season, and there’s a market for a player like Mallett, New England could feel comfortable trading him and keeping the former Florida Gator as the No. 2 guy.

Is that a stretch? Sure it is. But it’s certainly a possibility.

Regardless of what happens with other teams, Tebow needs to focus on playing well once the Patriots take the field. He isn’t going to have many opportunities to succeed before the Patriots need to make a final decision as to who will be on the final roster and who will be cut.

Last year, Mallett had 67 preseason pass attempts. Brian Hoyer—who was eventually cut—had 47. Brady threw the ball 27 times in two games. With Tebow fighting for a spot on the team, we should expect him to throw at least 40 preseason passes. If his mechanics are poor and he isn’t making plays, he’s gone.

Let me say this again: The Patriots don’t need three quarterbacks on the roster.

Tebow must play better than Mallett in order to have any shot at making the team. Keep in mind that he signed a deal that doesn’t include any guaranteed money (h/t USA Today). The Patriots won’t owe him anything if they decide to let him go at the end of the preseason.

You don’t have to call it a quarterback competition, but Tebow will be looking to take Mallett’s backup job. His spot on the team is nonexistent if he doesn’t.