Bleacher Report - Front Page

Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Gunners Now Favorites to Sign Rooney

Simon Edmonds — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:31:38 -0400

Jack Wilson of The Daily Star is reporting that Arsenal are now the shock favorites to win the battle to sign Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney.

The Liverpudlian has been more than public about his current unhappiness at Old Trafford and will allegedly be looking for a move away from the club this summer.

This isn't the first time that Rooney has created ripples at United with talk of a potential move away from the club. I'm sure many fans will remember the falling out that he and Sir Alex Ferguson experienced a few seasons back.

That time Fergie was able to coax the England striker into staying, but with his retirement and the set of new changes that are likely to come in under David Moyes' reign, things might not pan out so well for United again.

However, one side's loss is another's gain, and amazingly it seems now like the side gaining will be Arsenal.

With the Gunners' attempted signing of Fiorentina striker Steven Jovetic falling flat, Arsene Wenger is now left with a cash fund of roughly £70 million.

Unfortunately for Arsenal it isn't all brilliant news. It is unlikely that if the Gunners do find the money to bring "Wazza" to the Emirates, they will have enough left to sign Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

It is possible that both players could arrive, but it would be incredibly tight in regards to funds.

If Arsenal do pull of what will be one of the most shocking transfers of the century so far, then this writer would wager that the eight-year trophy drought will finally come to an end for the Londoners.

Rooney is a proven match- and even cup-winner. His goals and performances have been utterly crucial in most of Manchester United's countless titles during this time at the club, and if he can bring just half of that form and skill to Arsenal, then the Gunner's have a genuine shot at the Premier League crown this season.

Follow me on Twitter: @Eddie_Edmonds

Hakeem Nicks' future with the Giants tied to what Rueben Randle does in 2013

Brad Gagnon — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:31:30 -0400

Victor Cruz has received the lion's share of attention in the world of New York Giants football this offseason, and that's understandable. It's Cruz who has been the team's most productive receiver the last two seasons and who has been holding out as a restricted free agent.

But with Cruz signing his tender late last week, some of the attention has begun to shift to the team's actual No. 1 receiver, Hakeem Nicks. Nicks, who is also seeking a new deal before his rookie contract expires in 2014, missed the voluntary portion of organized team activities for reasons that remain a little mysterious.

He told Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post Wednesday that he didn't want to risk injury in voluntary sessions, which probably is indirectly tied to his contract situation. But he did return for mandatory minicamp and apologized to head coach Tom Coughlin for his absence.

One would have to think, though, that with Cruz also slated to become an unrestricted free agent next March, the cap-strapped Giants are already considering the possibility that one of their two star receivers will take his talents elsewhere in the spring of 2014.

"I really can't speak for my whole career," Nicks told Hubbuch when asked if he thinks he'll retire with Big Blue. "I enjoy being a Giant right now. I'm going to take care of what I can take care of as long as I'm a Giant, but I do understand the business side of football, too."

The Giants would miss Nicks dearly. Yes, he's prone to injury, but the 2009 first-round pick has already gone over 1,000 yards twice and has 27 touchdowns in 44 career starts. At 25, he's a year younger than Cruz and a larger threat as an X or Z receiver.

As things stand right now, the Giants are slated to have a little more cap room next offseason than they do this year, but if they can't find the money to secure Nicks long term, don't expect them to invest in an outside free-agent receiver such as Jeremy Maclin, Eric Decker or Anquan Boldin.

Instead, the focus will be on Rueben Randle, who, like Nicks, is strictly an outside receiver with star potential. Expect the Giants to give the 2012 second-round pick plenty of reps this year as the No. 3 receiver.

They'll want to get a feel for how high Randle's ceiling is before making major decisions regarding Nicks, because there's really nobody else on or off the roster who can step in if Nicks hits the road.

The Giants have to know that without the Eli Manning/Cruz/Nicks trio, they would not have won the Super Bowl two years ago. But Manning is the only indispensable member of that group. He makes those receivers better, not the other way around.

The Giants can't afford to lose both players, but if Randle becomes the player they hoped he'd be when they drafted him 63rd overall, the Giants can have an obvious replacement for Nicks. That's not as clear with Cruz.

There's no reason to panic. The Giants will likely force both receivers to prove their worth one more time this year while keeping a close eye on Randle. Then, they'll have some choices to make—based somewhat on production and somewhat on the state of negotiations—before the 2014 league year gets underway.

Don't be surprised, though, if by the time that decision-making process is over, Nicks is on the outs and Randle is the team's new top receiver.

Juventus Transfer News: Breaking Down The Odds On Latest Bianconeri Rumours

Theo Rowley — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:23:48 -0400

Despite winning their second consecutive league title this season, it is still anticipated to be a hectic summer of transfers at Juventus.

Whilst the eventual chasm between the Bianconeri and their second-placed rivals, Napoli, was nine points, it could have been a lot more. Whilst Juve were not able to replicate the magisterial unbeaten heroics of the previous campaign, they still played in a style that outclassed the opposition.

However, their lack of firepower has proved a concern.

Granted, they did boast the league's meanest defence, something that will be further augmented by the permanent purchase of Atalanta's Federico Peluso, whose arrival has been confirmed for €4.8 million.

But, at the other end, Napoli and Fiorentina out-scored the Turin giants' total goals haul of 71, whilst sixth-placed Roma matched it.

The hierarchy at Juventus recognised the gravitas of this situation in January when they not only acquired French veteran striker Nicolas Anelka on a six-month contract, but they also agreed to sign Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Whilst the former was restricted to just two appearances (and zero goals), Llorente—a player who revels in the target man mould—is the beginning of what many Juve fans will hope to be a revitalisation of their strike force.

With their hopes of conquering Europe next season, the potential addition of a striker who is fresh from winning the treble with Bayern Munich would certainly provide the impetus for the 29-time Scudetto winners.

Fresh from having scored 19 goals in all competitions, German international Mario Gomez is rumoured to be wanted by the team he helped knock out of the Champions League at the quarter-finals stage.

His agent has told Bild (h/t Football-Italia) that Juventus "are interested" in his client.

Whilst they face competition from Fiorentina, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, the acquisition of Gomez—who scored two decisive goals in the German Cup final as Bayern overcame Stuttgart 3-2—would be a fearsome addition.

One player who looks certain to be destined for Italy is Carlos Tevez, who has long been unsettled at Manchester City.

The Independent reports that Juve are now in pole position to sign the Argentinian international, with these rumours being accentuated by the Italian champions appearing to cool their interest in Tevez's compatriot, Gonzalo Higuain of Real Madrid.

With the London Evening Standard pontificating that Tevez would be available for as little as £10 million, Juventus may look to maximise on the indecision of AC Milan—the Mirror claims the Rossoneri also hold an interest in Tevez—as they seek to clarify Robinho's future.

Another Premier League "enfant terrible" who may be bound for Juventus Stadium is Manchester United's Nani.

Having endured yet another inconsistent season at Old Trafford, where he not only had to contend with loss of form but also various injuries, the Daily Mail declares that he looks certain to leave.

Juve or newly promoted and free-spending Monaco in France are his preferred destinations.

With an asking price rumoured to be as low as £8 million—representing a sizable loss on the €25.5 million United paid for him six years ago—Bianconeri manager Antonio Conte should have no trouble convincing his board to bid for a player who, whilst volatile, can thrill.

Not all of Juve's rumoured targets will be from outside of Italy: After securing the signature of Peluso, they are also looking at other domestic players.

One player who has been strongly rumoured to be pulling on the famous black and white jersey next season is Angelo Ogbonna.

Despite playing for the Old Lady's cross-city rivals, Torino, a bid looks imminent.

Gazzetta dello Sport and Tuttosport report (via Football-Italia) that Juventus are compiling a bid that offers cash plus co-ownership in either of their two most promising strikers: Ciro Immobile or Manolo Gabbiadini.

The acquisition of Ogbonna would represent quite a coup for Conte: Having broken into the Italian senior team two years ago, the player has caught the eye of a number of Europe's biggest teams.

Able to adeptly play at either centre-back, left-back or on the left side of midfield, he would offer versatility. A move to Turin would also offer him the chance to gain the attention of Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli.

What are your thoughts? Would Carlos Tevez thrive in Italy? Would Mario Gomez provide the firepower to turn Juventus into a pan-European threat? Which other players could be of interest to the Bianconeri? Let me know either in the comments section below or via Twitter: @LeRowley

Slava Voynov and Drew Doughty are the L.A. Kings' Key to Success Going Forward

Eric McKelvie — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:21:03 -0400

The core of the Los Angeles Kings includes the likes of Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and of course, Jonathan Quick. There are also two young defensemen, Drew Doughty and Slava Voynov, who have the potential to be franchise cornerstones for the next 10, or even 15 years.

The two defensemen are only 23 years old. Doughty was born on December 8, 1989, while Voynov was born just over a month later, on January 15, 1990.

Doughty is set to enter the third year of an eight-year, $56 million contract, which is good through the 2018-19 season.

Voynov signed a six-year, $25 million contract earlier in the week, which carries an affordable cap hit of just $4.16 million (per TSN.ca). So, like Doughty, he is locked up through 2018-19.

Not only do both players have the talent and hockey smarts to play strong, sound defense, they also have the ability to play a significant role on offense. Having two players with this skill set makes GM Dean Lombardi’s job a little easier, as he can look to sign second- and third-line defensemen at an affordable price.

Doughty was born in London, Ontario and grew up a fan of Wayne Gretzky and the Kings. Now standing 6'1" and weighing 208 pounds, Doughty is living out his dream in Los Angeles.

He has a good mix of size and speed, which allows him to play physical, force turnovers and carry the puck through the neutral zone with ease. Doughty averages well over 130 hits per season and is never afraid to put himself in shooting lanes.

He already has five years of NHL experience under his belt and received a Norris Trophy nomination in 2010. Doughty was also selected to the 2010 Canadian Olympic team, much to the surprise of many in the hockey world, as he was just 20 years old at the time.

Meanwhile, Voynov is quickly becoming one of the best Russian defensemen in the NHL. He made huge improvements in his game from 2012 to 2013 and was rewarded with nearly four more minutes of ice time per game.

Although he may be a little undersized, the 6'0", 190-pound defenseman isn’t afraid to take the body. He racked up 83 hits this season, in addition to 48 blocked shots. But Voynov made an even bigger impact offensively, specifically in the playoffs.

Voynov set a Kings record for goals by a defenseman in a single playoff year with six. He also set the mark for the most game-winning goals with four. He and Jeff Carter finished with a team-best six goals and 13 points in 18 playoff games this year.

Even though the Kings have a one of the league’s best goaltenders and great depth at forward, it is Doughty and Voynov who could play a huge role in the team’s success going forward.

They will eat up anywhere from 25 to 30 minutes per game in ice time, help shut down some of the opposition's top lines and play a crucial role in the transition game. Not to mention the work they will do generating offense from the point, especially on the power play.

As for the rest of the Kings defense, only Robyn Regehr is signed through 2014-15, while Willie Mitchell and Matt Greene have one year remaining on their contracts. Alec Martinez, Jake Muzzin and Keaton Ellerby are restricted free agents, making Rob Scuderi the lone unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Kings fans are certainly lucky to have Doughty and Voynov commanding the blue line for the foreseeable future.

Stats courtesy of NHL.com.

Contract information courtesy of CapGeek.com.

Why Clint Dempsey Is Ready to Be the Leader for USMNT

John D. Halloran — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:20:29 -0400

Back in March, heading into the United States men’s national team’s World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named Clint Dempsey the new captain of the USMNT.

Carlos Bocanegra, who had been named the captain following the 2006 World Cup and captained the squad at the 2010 World Cup, was not on the roster for the March qualifiers.

Tim Howard, who had captained the U.S. the month before against Honduras, missed the roster due to a back injury suffered with his club, Everton.

Landon Donovan, who had captained the side on a number of occasions, was still on his self-imposed sabbatical at the time and Steve Cherundolo, who captained the team at the 2009 Gold Cup, missed the roster due to a knee injury.

The only two real choices left on the roster in March to captain the squad were Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey.

Many had expected that Klinsmann would go with the younger Bradley, but in the end, Klinsmann chose Dempsey.

Bradley would have certainly been a fine choice, as he is obviously the heart and soul of the U.S.’ midfield, but he is just starting to reach the peak of his career.

For Dempsey, on the other hand, this World Cup cycle will be his last for the USMNT. At 30 years old, Dempsey will not be around for the 2018 campaign. And knowing that this is his last turn on the international stage, Dempsey has been the perfect choice to lead the squad.

As athletes near the end of their career, their focus naturally turns more towards team accomplishments and the desire to win championships increases. This was obviously something on Dempsey’s mind last summer as he sought a move away from Fulham to a Champions League side. It has also been evident in the way Dempsey has played over the past year for the USMNT. He knows this is his last chance to help the U.S. make a meaningful impact on the world stage.

In the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and even in the early games of the hexagonal, it has been obvious that Dempsey was ready to put the team on his shoulders. With Jozy Altidore still misfiring at the international level, Dempsey scored five goals for the U.S. in the semifinal round and the only two goals for the U.S. in the first two games of the hexagonal.

For a captain to be truly effective, they must have the respect and confidence of the other players on the field. Over the last five years, Dempsey’s total commitment to the USMNT and his desire to help the team play to the best of its ability has been unquestionable. And with the absence of Landon Donovan for much of the last two years, Dempsey’s presence has been the glue that has held the team together.

Dempsey’s style of leadership is no doubt different from what many would envision as a prototypical captain. He is usually not the most vocal player on the field, preferring to allow his game to do the talking. Although, even this appears to be changing. During the U.S.’ recent game against Germany, Dempsey was more than vocal with late-game substitute Terrence Boyd when Boyd lost possession several times when the U.S. was holding onto a late lead.

Dempsey is also not the type of player who runs all over the field. In fact, Dempsey’s preference to let the game come to him has led to some fans in the past calling Dempsey lazy.

To be sure, Dempsey does have a tendency to float in and out of games, but watching him play for both club and country over the past five years as he has hit the prime of his career, it has become obvious that Dempsey’s abilities can only truly be appreciated by watching his contributions over a full 90 minutes.

While Dempsey can, at times, appear to be almost disinterested in the game, he also then has the uncanny ability to pop up in the right place at the right time for the big goal. Against Germany last week, it was tough to pick out the better of his two goals, as both were spectacular.

Dempsey has also scored big goals for the U.S. against Spain and Brazil in the Confederations Cup, England in the World Cup and the game-winner against Italy in a friendly in 2012. He currently has 35 international goals, second only to Donovan.

Dempsey's 23 goals for Fulham a year ago were a record for an American in Europe. He was the third-leading scorer in the English Premier League in 2011-12, despite playing for a mid-table side, and his golazo against Juventus became a YouTube classic.

Dempsey’s six years in England has given him experience at the highest levels of the game, playing with and against some of the best players in the world—exactly the type of experience he can then share with the U.S.’ relatively young and inexperienced squad.

Finally, Dempsey has the toughness, confidence and swagger that a captain needs to have. In the now famous “Deuce Face” incident last September, Dempsey confronted a Jamaican player who had apparently elbowed Jermaine Jones in a challenge for a header. The confrontation not only led to the hilarious posters present later at the October qualifiers, but led Taylor Twellman to remark during the Jamaican game broadcast. “There’s not one single person in this world that that man is going to step down from.”

The USMNT has been in a tough period of transition over the past year. Often missing its most veteran players for one reason or another and trying to integrate a new generation in the middle of World Cup qualifying has been challenging. But Dempsey has been a calming presence during that transition and willing to bear the bulk of the responsibility for the team as the young team gets its footing. And the U.S.’ recent five-game unbeaten streak in qualifying speaks for itself and Dempsey's growing role as the U.S.' leader.

Follow me on Twitter @JohnDHalloran

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Where Is Tom Cleverley Most Useful for Manchester United?

Max Towle — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:20:02 -0400

Tom Cleverley drifted out of relevance towards the tail end of last season.

The Manchester United midfielder was the side's first-choice partner of Michael Carrick in the middle through the first half of the campaign, but saw his number of games dwindle in 2013.

The two worked well together but ultimately lacked command over a vital area of the pitch.

Cleverley has bags of energy and a neat first touch, but his creativity was not at the level it should have been.

Last term he accounted for only two assists in 22 Premier League appearances. Like Danny Welbeck, he is a promising young English player but needs to improve his production fast.

He has had to face too much comparison with Arsenal's Jack Wilshere. Both are of the same generation and are a similar type of player, but they should be allowed to craft their own career paths.

New United manager David Moyes will bring new ideas to Old Trafford, and a new way of utilising a player like Cleverley.

This article will look at the 23-year-old's strengths, how he has been used in the past and where his future might lie in terms of positioning.

A Steady Rise

Signed as a schoolboy, Tom Cleverley was raised at Carrington under the tutelage of the Manchester United coaches.

But it was his loan spells at Leicester, Watford and Wigan, playing regular first-team football, that advanced his development.

At Wigan, under Roberto Martinez, he would play on the left flank as a sort-of marauding attacking midfielder.

It was this standout 2010/11 season that saw him marked out as a future great for the Red Devils upon his return to Old Trafford.

In some ways, that expectation has been met. Cleverley is still young, and he has shown genuine improvement every season.

But in terms of stamping his mark on the first team, he remains in the rotation. It seems that Moyes is in search of a central player in this summer's transfer market, which does not bode well for him.

He only made 10 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils in 2011/12 as ligament damage in his foot kept him sidelined for the best part of the season.

Last season he was excellent in patches but didn't leave that indelible mark that players in his position have to.

How He Has Been Used, Where He Operates Best

When he returned to Old Trafford in 2010, Sir Alex Ferguson began grooming him as a creative link between those behind him and those in front.

It seems this deeper-lying role is his eventual calling. One does not like to compare anyone with Xavi, but an older Tom Cleverley may end up playing in that vein.

Ideally, he should be his team's transition player, roaming back and forth with tremendous speed and energy.

He should be the team's engine. But if there have been criticisms of him, it has not been whether he has the endurance to fulfill this role but rather the authority.

He has been overpowered by the likes of Moussa Dembele and Ramires in past games, succumbing to immense pressure and conceding possession too easily.

On the flip side of that coin, Cleverley can be good at exerting pressure on opponents in the middle of the pitch, even if his tackling is not ideal.

At international level, he has been used as a trequartista, playing behind lone forward Wayne Rooney. But this felt more like an unnatural experiment at the time.

Besides, the Red Devils already have Shinji Kagawa for that job.

Whenever he was pushed out to the flanks by Sir Alex last term, his effectiveness instantly diminished.

There was also the famous diamond formation that made a brief cameo appearance last season, but this too was a mere stopgap and is unlikely to repeated, no matter how effective Cleverley was as one of the side's "runners."

No, if Tom Cleverley is to succeed under Moyes, it needs to be as the creative link. The box-to-box player.

Even if a player like Kevin Strootman or Thiago Alcantara is signed this summer, Cleverley will still get opportunities in the first team. That's how Manchester United works.

The club needs to keep faith in Cleverley. He can be a vital player for the team over the next few years.

Technically, he is an adroit player. If the side's wingers can play a more influential role next season, this will make his linking job a lot easier.

It will be interesting to see how he develops over the next few years.

How do you think Tom Cleverley should be used for Manchester United?

Nigeria vs. Uruguay: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

Tim Keeney — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:15:01 -0400

You won't find many group matches more important than Nigeria vs. Uruguay.

Neither of these countries are expected to be major threats for the Confederations Cup title, but this battle will have important implications on the semifinals.

With Spain expected to easily advance out of Group B and Tahiti expected to provide every opponent with three points, the winner of this one could very well be the second team from the group in the final four.

Let's take a closer look at the crucial match.

Date: Thursday, June 20, 2013

Time: 6 p.m. ET

Venue: Arena Fonte Nova, Brazil

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN App or ESPN3

Nigeria Player to Watch: Nnamdi Oduamadi

It was a dream-like Confederations Cup debut for Nnamdi Oduamadi, who scored three goals against Tahiti, becoming the first player on an African team ever to complete the rare feat, per ESPN's Paul Carr:

Odu is just 22 years of age, but he is blessed with scintillating pace and impressive talent, and more importantly, he is clearly beginning to get accustomed to playing with his national team—before Monday's output, he had just one goal in five international appearances with the senior club.

Things are about to get slightly more difficult, however.

Uruguay presents a much stiffer challenge than Tahiti, but if the burgeoning striker can make an impact against La Celeste, it will be highly impressive.

Uruguay Player to Watch: Edinson Cavani

Luis Suarez will get a lot of the attention, especially if he puts in any more free kicks like he did against Spain, but Edinson Cavani is someone to keep your eye on.

Expected to be at the forefront of transfer talk this summer, the 26-year-old is one of the most dangerous strikers in the world.

He can score from anywhere around the box, he is an aerial threat, and he is adept at making the right pass when necessary.

With Spain controlling a record amount of possession, Cavani—Serie A's top goal scorer this year—wasn't able to get enough positive touches to make an impact.

Look for a bounce-back performance from him on Thursday.

Prediction

Nigeria is higher in the table, but that has a little bit to do with each team's opening-round opponent.

In the end, Uruguay has more talent—especially up front—and will play with the urgency necessary to get the three points.

Nigeria 1, Uruguay 3

USWNT vs. Korea Republic: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

Tim Daniels — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:15:00 -0400

The United States women's national team looks to complete a friendly sweep of South Korea. The Americans scored twice in each half en route to a 4-1 victory over the Korea Republic in the first meeting, which took place on Saturday.

Today's encounter marks the end of the current stretch of international contests for the United States. Along with the first win over South Korea, the U.S. also scored an impressive 3-0 win over Canada in Toronto. Ending on a high note is the last task to accomplish.

South Korea needs at least a draw to consider the United States trip a success. The Taegeuk Nangja were able to keep the first match close until halftime, down just one goal, but couldn't keep pace in the second half. A more complete performance is needed in the rematch.

Here's a look at all the important viewing information for the friendly, followed by a breakdown of key players to watch and a match prediction.

Where: Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.

When: Thursday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC Sports Network

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

United States Player to Watch: Abby Wambach

Wambach moved one step closer to passing Mia Hamm's all-time American scoring record by converting from the penalty spot in the final moments of the first matchup. She now has 156 goals, two behind Hamm's lead at 158.

Since the national team is taking a break after the match, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Wambach start and become almost the sole focus on the attack. Giving her a chance to at least tie the record should be one of the main goals of the rematch.

She's been a vital piece of the team for a decade. Her ability to physically dominate opposing defenders has made her nearly impossible to stop at times. When she does capture the record, it will be a well-earned honor for the veteran striker.

South Korea Player to Watch: Cho So-Hyun

Cho gave South Korea some hope in the first match, scoring just inside the half-hour mark to cut the United States' lead to one. After the ball slipped through a maze of players she connected on a perfect strike to beat Nicole Barnhart.

Even though her team wasn't able to build off the goal, the individual effort warranted praise. Scoring against the top-ranked team in the world is never an easy task. It took a picturesque shot just to take advantage of a rare lapse along the American back line.

The Taegeuk Nangja will need another strong showing from her if they are going to get at least a draw from the trip. Cho is a key piece of an improving side with plenty of potential, but they aren't quite on the United States' level yet.

Matchup to Watch: American attack vs. South Korean defense

Just like in the first meeting, the Americans' biggest advantage will come when they are moving forward. The team's attacking depth is too much to contain for a South Korean back line that lacks experience, especially against elite competition.

Along with Wambach, Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux combine to create a dynamic trio, with Leroux often coming off the bench as a super sub. Midfielders Kristie Mewis, Lauren Cheney and Carli Lloyd all scored on Saturday further illustrating the team's offensive depth.

All the Korea Republic can really do is put 10 players behind the ball and hope to slow down the United States. It will limit the offensive opportunities to counterattacks, but it's the only way to stop the Americans from scoring another handful of goals.

Prediction

United States 3, South Korea 0

Spain vs. Tahiti: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

Tim Daniels — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:15:00 -0400

Spain passed its toughest test of the Confederations Cup group stage with a 2-1 victory over Uruguay in the tournament opener for both sides. La Roja now prepare to face an overmatched Tahiti squad, which was already defeated 6-1 by Nigeria.

The defending World Cup and European champions looked ready for another deep tournament run in knocking off Uruguay. So, given the drop in the level of competition, it wouldn't be a surprise to see head coach Vicente del Bosque give some of his top stars a rest.

Quite simply, Tahiti doesn't pose a serious threat to Spain. While the nation deserves credit for earning a berth in the marquee tournament, a five-goal loss to Nigeria shows the uphill battle its facing. The talent level just isn't up to par for this type of event.

With that in mind, let's check out all the viewing information for what should be a full display of Spain's dominance. It's followed by a closer look at some players to watch throughout the match and a prediction.

Where: Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

When: Thursday, June 20 at 3 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3.com

Spain Player to Watch: David Villa

Villa was left on the bench against Uruguay as Spain went with Roberto Soldado and Pedro atop the formation. The veteran should get back in the mix against Tahiti, which would provide him with a golden opportunity to make his case to start moving forward.

The 31-year-old striker has scored 53 international goals, the most in Spanish national team history. His 89 appearances also rank inside the top 10 of all time. A player with that type of track record is a valuable asset, whether it's as a starter or off the bench in the second half.

Villa also faces an uncertain future with Barcelona, as his name has been constantly involved in transfer talk, as illustrated by Goal.com, since season's end. Strong performances in the Confederations Cup could increase the number of interested clubs or get Barca to reconsider his stance with the club.

Tahiti Player to Watch: Jonathan Tehau

Tahiti understood the challenge it faced upon arriving to Brazil. When Tehau scored against Nigeria in the first match, the Toa Aito celebrated hard despite still being down 3-1 in the match because it was still a major accomplishment.

No matter what happens throughout the rest of the tournament or in Tehau's international career, he can be proud of the fact he scored in a major event. It should make him a star in Tahiti, and will be something he never forgets.

Scoring against Spain would elevate him to another level. It's an extreme long shot, of course. But this tournament is all about small victories for a country that wasn't viewed as a threat. His goal in the opener was one. Now the Toa Aito seek another.

Matchup to Watch: Spain midfield vs. Tahiti defense

In typical fashion, Spain was able to control Uruguay by dominating possession in the midfield. It scored two goals within the first 32 minutes and just played utilized a ball-control approach to secure the three points. A late goal by Luis Suarez made the match seem closer than it was.

Even though La Roja may employ a different group in the middle against a less dangerous Tahiti side, the approach will remain the same. Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla are two players coming off solid campaigns in the Premier League that could get a look for Spain.

Ultimately, the Tahiti back line, led by Nicolas Vallar, will be no match. The only unknown is whether Spain plays hard for 90 minutes to rack up as many goals as possible or backs off in the second half. Either way, it should be a very comfortable triumph for the title contenders.

Prediction

Spain 7, Tahiti 0

Blackhawks vs. Bruins: Biggest Questions Heading into Game 5

Alex Ballentine — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:02 -0400

The Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins are engaged in a series that hockey fans won't be forgetting anytime soon, and Game 5 back in Chicago on Saturday figures to be the next exciting chapter.

After four games, the two conference champs have battled to a 2-2 tie. But while some series can appear even while each team trades blowouts, these games have been as compelling on the ice as the results would indicate.

Chicago's 6-5 overtime win on Wednesday night in Game 4 continued the late-night trend of the Bruins and Blackhawks needing extra periods to settle the score in three of their four games. The action has been as intense and dramatic as any Stanley Cup Final in recent memory.

So what can fans expect heading into pivotal Game 5? Following are the burning questions that will impact who comes out on top.

Will Tuukka Rask Rebound?

Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask has been on fire throughout the postseason. He's sporting a 94.1 save percentage for the postseason and has earned three shutouts—including one against the Blackhawcks in Game 3.

According to ESPN SportsCenter, Rask had not allowed a goal in over 190 minutes of play when Chicago notched its first score of the night en route to beating Rask for six goals.

The whole Game 4 loss, however, can't be pinned on Rask alone. The Bruins' defense allowed far too many quality looks for them to expect a great performance from their goaltender.

This is the biggest moment of the season for the Bruins and it's important that they get a stellar performance from Rask if they hope to shut down the Blackhawks' attack on Saturday.

Can the Blackhawks Beat The Bruins' Penalty Kill Again?

The Bruins' penalty kill was having a historically great run throughout the playoffs heading into Game 4. They had kept teams out of the net in penalty kill situations in seven consecutive games, including a perfect five-for-five in Game 3.

But that all changed in Game 4. As Jesse Spector of Sporting News tweeted, Patrick Sharp scored the team's first power play goal of the series with just 8:41 remaining in the final period:

The Bruins would go on to tie it in regulation, but it was Sharp's goal that allowed the Blackhawks the opportunity to win in overtime.

Beating the Bruins' penalty kill again would be a huge boost to the Blackhawks' chances of winning another game in the series.

Are We In For Another Shootout?

Pace has played an incredibly important role in this series.

When the game is slow and defensive in nature, the Bruins have won. When the Blackhawks are able to push the pace, move the puck and score goals, it plays to their advantage.

That being said, the team that is able to enforce its style of hockey is going to win. In the Bruins' two wins so far, they have outshot the Blackhawks, 35-28, in Game 3 and were actually outshot, 28-34, in their Game 2 win.

However, in the games that they Blackhawks have won, they've outshot Boston, 63-54, in Game 1 and again in Game 4, 47-33. That's a sharp untick in shot attempts.

With both teams using clearly contrasting styles throughout the playoffs, the team that establishes a rhythm early will control Game 5 to take the upper hand.

College World Series 2013: Updated Bracket Following Wednesday's Results

Justin Onslow — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:02 -0400

After crushing Louisville, 11-4, in the loser’s bracket of the College World Series, Oregon State met Indiana in a quarterfinal tilt on Wednesday night to determine who would play Mississippi State in the semifinals.

With both teams facing elimination with another loss, the Beavers rose to the occasion as Matt Boyd pitched the game of his life, going the distance in a four-hit effort to hold Indiana scoreless in a 1-0 shutout.

Catcher Jake Rodriguez provided Oregon State with its only RBI to propel the No. 3 seed into the next round.

Having already lost to Mississippi State on Saturday, Oregon State faces another must-win contest against the Bulldogs in a rematch with a team it fell to 5-4 less than a week ago. If the Beavers can get another pitching performance like they got on Wednesday, they’ll be poised to fight another day in pursuit of a national championship.

Let’s take a look at the final matchups before the championship round and highlight two teams playing tremendous baseball at this point in the tournament.

Quarterfinals

NC State vs. (1) North Carolina

Thursday, June 20, 8 p.m. ET

Semifinals

Mississippi State vs. (3) Oregon State	Friday, June 21, 3 p.m. ET
UCLA vs. TBD	Friday, June 21, 8 p.m. ET

UCLA

UCLA has arguably been the biggest surprise of the College World Series.

The Bruins aren’t an explosive offensive team, but they’ve gotten exceptional pitching throughout the tournament, to find themselves in position to battle for the national title next week with a win in the semifinals over either NC State or North Carolina.

Starting pitchers Adam Plutko and Nick Vander Tuig—as well as reliever David Berg—stifled LSU and NC State in their last two contests, holding both teams to just a run apiece. In both wins, UCLA's pitching allowed a combined total of 10 hits while striking out 12 and walking just three.

The Bruins feature a fairly unspectacular lineup that doesn’t boast a single player batting better than .280, but when they can get pitching like they got against LSU and NC State, hitting really is not an issue.

If No. 1 North Carolina gets past NC State on Thursday, UCLA could find itself in some trouble in the semifinals. As good as UCLA’s pitching staff has been, the Tar Heels are an explosive offensive team with a bevy of big bats, and they present a difficult matchup for a Bruins team struggling to score runs in the tournament.

Mississippi State

There are a lot of ways to win a baseball game, and Mississippi State isn’t picky. The Bulldogs simply find ways to get the job done.

Mississippi State has won each of its last two games by a final score of 5-4. In both contests, the Bulldogs have come from behind with late-inning rallies. If the last two games are any indication, the eighth frame is Mississippi State’s magic inning.

Part of that success has stemmed from timely hitting from a lineup that features four .300 hitters. Part of it also stems from a bullpen that simply doesn’t allow late-inning runs.

In the last two games, Mississippi State reliever Jonathan Holder has combined for two scoreless innings and three strikeouts, allowing just one hit. If the Bulldogs can reach the ninth inning with a lead against Oregon State, the Beavers won’t have many opportunities to even the score.

Teams like Mississippi State are especially dangerous at this point in the tournament. There’s something to be said for momentum and confidence, and the Bulldogs certainly have plenty of both.

Stanley Cup Finals 2013: Blackhawks Must Start Ray Emery in Game 5

Maxwell Ogden — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:02 -0400

The 2013 Stanley Cup Finals continued on Wednesday, June 19, as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins 6-5 in an overtime thriller. The offense was at a premium and the Blackhawks controlled the pace of this game, which has some believing that all is well in Chicago.

The truth of the matter is, it's about time that the Blackhawks make a change at goaltender—they need to start Ray Emery.

It's beyond unorthodox to switch to a new goaltender this deep into the postseason, but that doesn't make the move unwise. While Crawford's postseason totals may be elite, the numbers are misleading in this instance.

Crawford has allowed at least three goals in three of his past five games and can't seem to protect his glove side against Boston's attack.

A concerning sign for a Blackhawks team that is attempting to find any light of day against Tuukka Rask and the Bruins.

Crawford has held his own, and he did win this past game, but his weakness is glaring, and the Bruins are attacking his glove side time after time. While conventional wisdom would say that Chicago should trust their goaltender, they're in a rare position.

Their backup goaltender was one of the best players of the 2012-13 NHL season.

Emery's Extraordinary Success

During the 2012-13 NHL regular season, Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Ray Emery was virtually unbeatable. While some might be labeled in such a manner with a form of hyperbolic praise, Emery actually has a genuine reason.

Emery was 17-1-0, thus boasting the best win percentage of any player with at least 20 appearances.

Emery wasn't just a winner, but he was dominant, ranking second in the NHL with a Goals Against Average of 1.94. Emery was also 10th in save percentage at .922, pitching three shutouts in 19 games started.

While Corey Crawford was equally as dominant, the point here is simple—with Crawford struggling, bringing in a goalie of equal ability is of minimal risk.

If the Blackhawks opt to keep Crawford in goal, they place their season in the hands of a goaltender that cannot flash his glove. If Chicago is to go with Emery, however, they send a spark of energy throughout the squad that suggests that no one is safe.

Not even after a victory.

Past Postseason Success

There is a legitimate chance that bringing in Ray Emery would backfire, as he hasn't played since Apr. 24. There's an equal possibility that the 30-year-old steps in and falters under the bright lights of the Stanley Cup Finals.

With that being said, this wouldn't be Emery's first rodeo.

Emery led the Ottawa Senators to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, starting 20 games in that time. He posted a goals against average of 2.26 and pitched three shutouts as Ottawa stunned the world by running through the competition.

What's the harm in taking a gamble on taking a chance on a repeat performance?

There may be six years between the current series and his previous appearance, but Emery has never played as well as he currently is in Chicago. From his ability to shut down high-octane offenses to his significantly improved fundamentals, Emery has been dominant.

It's time to see if he can step up at home—even if it means pulling Crawford in the middle of this series.

College World Series 2013: What North Carolina Must Do to Reach Semifinals

Jesse Reed — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:02 -0400

North Carolina can't afford another letdown performance on Thursday night when it faces NC State for the right to move on to the 2013 College World Series semifinals.

The No. 1-ranked team in the nation at the end of the regular season, North Carolina has already lost one game in the Series and will be eliminated if it loses its next contest.

Interestingly enough, the team that beat the Tar Heels is their next opponent.

Wolfpack ace Carlos Rodon mowed down the vaunted Tar Heels' lineup in their first contest, an 8-1 win for NC State on Sunday in the Series opener. It was a magnificent performance by the impressive sophomore, who only allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out eight.

NC State, on the other hand, scored its eight runs on 11 hits and five walks. The Wolfpack's Kent Emanuel, who has only lost three games all year, was pummeled early and didn't make it out of the third inning after allowing five runs.

The recipe for winning their rematch will be simple for the Tar Heels: Their bats must come alive.

North Carolina's offense has been largely dormant thus far in this College World Series.

No team in the country could match the Tar Heels' offensive firepower during the regular season as North Carolina's bats produced 529 runs in 67 games—an average of 7.9 runs per contest.

Those are staggering numbers, but in its two World Series games so far, North Carolina has scored only five runs.

While it was encouraging to see the Tar Heels rack up 11 hits in its 4-2 win over LSU in the loser's bracket on Tuesday, the Tar Heels can't afford to leave men on base against NC State like they did against the Tigers.

Colin Moran, Skye Bolt, Brian Holberton, Cody Stubbs and the rest of North Carolina's hitters must start playing like they had all season long.

The Tar Heels have excellent pitching, and if the men at the plate can deliver on Thursday night, then North Carolina will win.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

FIFA Confederations Cup 2013: Complete Preview for Spain vs. Tahiti

Rob Goldberg — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:02 -0400

Some of the most talented players in the world will be on display for Spain as the reigning World Cup champs take on Tahiti.

Spain came through with an impressive win over Uruguay in its first match of the Confederations Cup. With another win on Thursday, it can clinch a spot in the tournament's semifinals.

Meanwhile, Tahiti is clearly just happy to be here after advancing out of Oceania. The squad lost 6-1 against Nigeria, and yet the one goal represented one of the biggest moments in national history. Here is a look at how it was celebrated.

Still, the club continues to fight hard and will be happy to do anything against Spain in the upcoming match.

Where: Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

When: Thursday, June 20

Time: 3 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: Watch ESPN

What They're Saying

Tahiti head coach Eddy Etaeta did not come into this tournament expecting to win based on his roster. Although you can expect them to play hard, as he told the media, with quotes reported by FIFA:

Of the 23 players we have, we have nine players who don't work, who are practically unemployed. Some are delivery men, some are PE teachers, one works in accounting, and I also have a player who is a sports coach.

We won't have the same weapons, technically, tactically, and physically, but tomorrow, we'll certainly have the heart and that's our weapon - our heart and spirit.

This was referring to the matchup against Nigeria, but the match against Spain will be even tougher.

Spain Player to Watch: Pedro

Throughout Spain's dominant run to winning the World Cup and two European Championships, the squad still lacked a consistent threat at forward.

While the midfield has the ability to control possession and create opportunities in the box, the team missed out on potential goals in these international matches because of struggles by Fernando Torres and others.

Recently though, Pedro has been incredibly efficient in his scoring. and it has made the best team in the world even better.

The Barcelona man must continue to show he can get it done as Spain prepares for the tougher opponents in this tournament.

Tahiti Player to Watch: Marama Vahirua

Although Tahiti had a rough time against Nigeria, Marama Vahirua showed plenty of signs of life in the match.

The midfielder was aggressive near the net with his time on the pitch and led the team with three shots, one of them on net. He made solid runs to get himself open, and he eventually got the assist on the team's only goal.

Vahirua is one of the more veteran players on this roster and needs to be a leader throughout this tournament. Otherwise, Tahiti will have a tough time getting on the scoreboard again.

Prediction: Spain 6, Tahiti 0

In reality, this is not going to go well for Tahiti. In FIFA's latest rankings, Spain is No. 1 in the world while Tahiti is No. 138.

Best case scenario is that Spain gets a few early goals and then controls possession throughout the rest of the match without running up the score. With arguably the most talented midfield in the world, this should not be an issue.

Tahiti will fight hard as usual, but Spain is much more disciplined than Nigeria and another goal is unlikely. The squad must hope for a better opportunity against Uruguay in the next match.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest updates in sports.

Wimbledon 2013: Serena Williams Will Be Impossible to Stop in London

Jesse Reed — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:02 -0400

Serena Williams was unstoppable on the red clay at Roland Garros, winning the 2013 French Open in impressive fashion. The scary thing about her performance in France is that clay is her worst surface, as noted by Ben Rothenberg of The New York Times, who marveled at her perfect record on clay in 2013:

Williams is superb on grass, and it's going to take nothing less than a miracle for someone to beat her at the All England Club in London.

The younger Williams sister is on a legendary tear right now.

She famously lost in the first round of the French Open last summer to Virginie Razzano—an embarrassing loss and her first (and only) first-round loss in a Grand Slam event.

But the loss was a salient moment in Williams' career. Since that time, she's compiled an otherworldly record of 74-3—her last loss coming when she withdrew from the Dubai Championships in mid-February with a back injury.

Since February, Williams has been flawless, compiling a record of 31-0, as noted by Tennis.com:

The answer to Tennis.com's question, as far as Williams is concerned, is an emphatic "No!"

Nobody's capable of stopping her on grass surfaces when she is at the top of her game.

Period.

A five-time champion at Wimbledon, Williams has won a title in London three times in the last four years.

Furthermore, Williams is playing with a renewed passion and fervor these days, and her form is perhaps as good, if not better, than she's ever shown.

Just one day removed from her second career victory at Roland Garros, Williams was already looking ahead to Wimbledon. She spoke with USA Today Sports' Douglas Robson, who visited her in her home in Paris:

I feel like my career is almost beginning again or something. I'm already focused on Wimbledon...I'm playing better. I'm working harder. I'm doing more things. And I feel like I deserve to win because I'm honestly working very hard.

Williams' hard work is paying off right now.

She is in phenomenal physical condition, and her game is honed to a razor's edge.

A powerful server who hits the ball harder than any other woman on tour, Williams' game is suited to the speed of grass surfaces. She will plow through her competition in the early rounds at the All England Club in even more impressive fashion than she did at Roland Garros.

At this point, it seems as if the only person who can stop Williams is Williams herself.

Judging by recent history, that's not an outcome anyone should expect.

Williams will claim her 17th Grand Slam victory by winning the Venus Rosewater Dish at Wimbledon this summer.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

NBA Draft 2013: Projected Second-Rounders Who Will Make An Impact

Brian Mazique — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:02 -0400

For all the talk about the 2013 NBA draft class lacking a superstar, the fact that it projects as a deep crop of NBA talent is being overlooked.

It is true, there aren't many—if any—franchise players in the class, but there are a number of players who can and will play significant roles on NBA teams during their careers.

That depth will extend down into the second round of the draft.

Here are a few players projected as second-rounders by most draft prognosticators who will make an impact in the NBA.

(Height, weight, stat and combine references per Draft Express).

C.J. Leslie, North Carolina St.

As pure athletes go, Leslie is one of the best in the NBA draft. He projects as a second-rounder because at 6'9" 209 pounds, he's seen as too lean for the power forward, yet he doesn't possess the game of a small forward.

The athleticism Leslie displayed at the NBA combine would lead you to believe he can defend small forwards in the NBA. His 10.19-second performance in the lane agility drill was the fastest of any prospect at any position, and he also recorded a vertical leap of 40.5".

At N.C. State, Leslie was forced to play in the post and he did have some success at the position. He averaged 15 points, 7.4 rebounds, a block and a steal per game. Even with that success, his best role would be as a small forward in the NBA.

With uber-athletic lineups taking over much of the league, a player like Leslie should get looks from teams in the second round. If he can prove he can make shots on the perimeter consistently, he'll be able to play the wing position without issue.

If he does play power forward, he could be an asset when a team goes small. In either case, Leslie has a real chance to surprise people with his versatility in the NBA.

Erik Murphy, Florida

Murphy does one thing well, and that's shoot the ball from three-point range. He's not a great athlete, he doesn't put the ball on the floor all that well, but at 6'10", 240 pounds, he's strong enough to defend in the low post.

Offensively, he looks like the quintessential stretch-4.

He shot 45 percent from three-point range for the Gators during the 2012-13 season and his shooting accuracy will translate to the NBA.

Perhaps the best thing about Murphy is that he knows who he is. He's not a power forward who really believes he can be a wing player. He knows his game is to shoot the three and to defend in the post.

He also added nearly 40 pounds of muscle before his senior season in Gainesville. This proves he's a hard working, dedicated prospect who understands the game and knows how to put himself in position to succeed.

That is the makeup of a productive second-round pick.

Erick Green, Virginia Tech

Simply put, Green gets buckets. At 6'3", he could be called a point guard, a shooting guard or a combo guard. But one thing is for sure: When he's on the floor, he's looking for his offense.

The confusion about his position will probably be the reason he doesn't hear his name called until the second round.

At Virgina Tech, Green averaged 25 points per game as a senior. He shot 39 percent from three-point range and made 81.6 percent of his free throws. He did raise his assist total to 4.0, but in the NBA, Green's worth will be as an instant-offense player off the bench.

In some ways his game is similar to the San Antonio Spurs' Gary Neal, but he gets to the basket a little easier than the former Towson standout.

If a team is looking for player who can give their bench scoring punch, Green would be an excellent pick.

Follow me for hoops news, rumors and opinions.

Follow @BrianMazique

NBA Trade Rumors: Deals That Could Go Down During NBA Draft

Benjamin Klein — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:02 -0400

The NBA draft order isn’t completely set in stone, as several teams will be looking to move up and down throughout the night.

Organizations trading picks and players are something that happens nearly every year during the draft. Last year, a few deals got done—mainly in the second round. But there’s a great chance that some teams trade their first-round picks this year, according to the spiraling rumor mill.

What’s going to happen this year, you ask?

Here’s everything you need to know about the teams thinking about playing “Let’s Make a Deal” next Thursday night. If the rumors prove to be true, it’s going to be one of the most exciting nights of the year.

Dallas’ Pick As Good As Gone

The Mavericks want absolutely nothing to do with the No. 13 overall pick in the draft, and for good reason. The 13th pick is obviously bad luck—joking, of course. Dallas is trying to avoid adding to its cap for the rest of the summer, with its hopes high for landing a top free agent.

That knowledge comes via a report from Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News, who wrote that there’s a zero-percent chance of the No. 13 pick being on the roster next season, according to a source. The source also told Sefko that there’s an 80-percent chance that pick is dealt before or during the draft.

Sefko notes that the chance Dallas selects a player who can be kept overseas for next season sits at around 15 percent. The goal, as previously mentioned, is to refrain from taking a player who would take up cap space. But why?

Well, the Mavericks are saving all of their money to try to lure Dwight Howard—the top free agent on the market this summer—to Dallas. It’s certainly a risky move, but it’s one that could pay off. Dallas could be passing up a player who turns into a star, and Howard might not even sign. But if Howard does sign…touché, Mark Cuban.

Cavs Pondering Dealing No. 1

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a lot of options regarding the No. 1 pick in the draft, which they won in the NBA draft lottery. There are several players worth taking at No. 1, and Cleveland could end up dealing the pick as well. That last option may not seem very likely to you, but it is possible.

Here’s what Sam Amico of Fox Sports reported about the Cavs’ intentions:

Trading the top pick is another option the Cavs have explored, and they will likely continue to do so. They’ve also recently taken part in a trade discussions involving “a viable” small forward, according to an FSO source.

Amico also reported that if the Cavs are going to hang onto the first overall pick, they’re likely to choose from Nerlens Noel, Ben McLemore, Alex Len and Otto Porter. While all four of those prospects appear to have very promising futures, the Cavs are smart to take offers on the pick and see what they can get.

There might be a team out there that so desperately wants the first pick that they’re willing to blow Cleveland away with an offer. If someone makes an offer that the Cavs can’t refuse, would anyone really blame them? The Cavs know how valuable a No. 1 pick can be. Remember LeBron James? They’re not going to mess this up.

Philly Might Trade to Take a Center

The Philadelphia 76ers enter the draft with a major need on their minds: a scorer. Jrue Holiday led the team this past season with 17.7 points per game, which was tied for the 21st most in the game. No one else averaged 15 points per night.

But while the 76ers need a scorer, they’ll also apparently look to draft a big man as well, according to Alex Kennedy of USA Today. Kennedy writes that Philly is interested in acquiring a late-round pick in order to draft a big man if they can’t get a good one with the No. 11 pick—where they’d be likely to take a scorer, in my opinion.

In my latest mock draft, I had the 76ers taking Steve Adams, a center from Pittsburgh, with the 11th pick. The problem with that selection, though, is that he doesn’t solve both problems. He’s a center, but he’s not a scorer, and the 'Sixers need both. So, what should Philadelphia do?

Well, the 76ers need to go into next Thursday night with an option and a plan, depending on how things might go. If there isn’t a center that they want at No. 11, they need to have a late-round draft partner. If they don’t have that, they might just have to go with either a big man or scorer—like Adams or someone similar.

NBA Rumors: Latest Coaching Buzz Around the League

Alex Kay — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:02 -0400

With the 2013 NBA Finals set to conclude on Thursday night, it’s time to start looking forward to the offseason and the major personnel changes teams are making.

In this edition of the rumor roundup, I’ll focus on the head coaching vacancies around the league and what the latest buzz is on the likely candidates to fill these positions.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the hottest rumors around the league concerning the most notable openings.

Clippers May Not Be Done Pursuing Doc Rivers Yet

Talks may have broke down between the Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics concerning a potential megatrade involving coach Doc Rivers and veteran forward Kevin Garnett being shipped to L.A., but that doesn’t mean they are done forever.

In fact, if the Clips fail to replace Vinny Del Negro by the time next week’s NBA draft comes along, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times has found that negotiations could resume.

Insider sources believe that the Clippers will remain interested in Rivers until they actually go out and hire another coach. Until that happens, the door will remain open for the 2008 NBA Finals-winning headman to make his way to Tinseltown.

The Celtics refused to back down from their high price of two first-round picks, but L.A. seems to be overvaluing what would likely be selections in the mid-to-late 20’s of the draft.

Doc Rivers could be the difference between superstar point guard Chris Paul staying and departing in unrestricted free agency. He could be the difference between this team being eliminated in the first round of the postseason and making the Finals in the wide-open Western Conference.

Don’t be surprised if the Clippers smarten up and make the wise decision to reopen discussions next week, possibly hammering out a deal that satisfies both parties.

Grizzlies Interviewing Ed Pinckney for Second Time, No Front-runner

The Memphis Grizzlies recently parted ways with Lionel Hollins, the winningest coach in franchise history who was fresh off a Western Conference Finals appearance.

Now they have the unenviable task of interviewing candidates that can hopefully replace Hollins' production and ability to get the most out of his roster, otherwise they will look like foolish failures that made a terrible decision.

One of those candidates that has been invited for a second round of interviews is Chicago Bulls assistant Ed Pinckney, who has been thriving under defensive-minded coach Tom Thibodeau.

CSN Chicago insider Aggrey Sam found that Pinckney’s initial meeting with Griz CEO Jason Levien went swimmingly, and he has made enough of an impression to warrant more consideration.

Former Phoenix Suns head coach Alvin Gentry is also set to have a second interview, while current Memphis assistant Dave Joerger and former Denver Nuggets HC George Karl are reportedly (as per Sam) also in consideration.

With the Clippers job the only other notable opening in the league at this juncture, the Griz should take their time and hold as many interviews as possible to find the right candidate.

If they don’t find the perfect fit, they are going to take a major step back in 2013-14 and their ridiculous decision to cut ties with Hollins will look even more reckless.

Is This Really a Do-or-Die Season for Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland?

Erik Frenz — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:01 -0400

The 2013 season doesn't have to be a make-or-break season for Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland, but it's hard not to view it as such.

Just know that whatever happens, it didn't have to be this way. That's in the words of Ireland himself, who said that he doesn't feel this is a "make-or-break" or a "do-or-die" offseason for him, while also saying that the team's abundance of cap space and draft picks were not a coincidence, but were by design:

I'd say neither ["make-or-break" or "do-or-die"]. I think it's very, very important time period for this off-season. We've put a lot into getting into this position so we obviously are in this position by design. We plan to use some of our money and plan to obviously draft the best players available if we can and try to address some of the needs and musts we have on our football team.

[...] I feel like I've been aggressive where I need to be aggressive. There have been some decisions that have been smart. I think the decisions that we've made up to this point to get us where we're at in terms of our cap space, in terms of our draft picks, that's all by design. We've got a clear vision of how we are going to help this football team moving forward."

The Dolphins spent $248.02 million total this offseason to bring in new talent, including $157.9 million on free agents. Several of the team's free-agent signees were brought in on one-year deals. They selected nine players in the 2013 NFL draft, and traded up to the No. 3 pick to grab defensive end Dion Jordan to immediately bolster the defense.

They executed their vision, and now, the true test is whether they improved the team. With all the additions, certainly, someone has to pay if things don't work out immediately, right?

Maybe not.

The Philadelphia Eagles went through a little free-agency binge of their own a couple of years back, and while they recently underwent a major house cleaning that saw them fire their head coach and general manager, both were considered safe following the 2011 season despite falling well short of their "dream team" expectations.

In that light, it wouldn't be shocking for Ireland to retain his job even if the Dolphins fall short of their expectations.

The Dolphins still have all seven of their original 2014 draft picks.

Even though they have spent money like like it's going out of style this offseason, they still have a reasonable amount of cap space for next year—around $20 million according to Spotrac, and that's not including a potential $12 million the team has left on their 2013 salary cap which they could roll over to 2014.

Plus, the structure of many of the contracts gives the appearance that this is a two-year deal for Ireland. The contracts are mainly frontloaded in terms of guaranteed money, but several of the team's biggest investments this offseason will earn a majority of their guaranteed money in 2014.

At that point, if things still haven't panned out, the team could cut bait from those players and Ireland in one fell swoop, to allow the next GM freedom to do as they wish with the roster.

Give Ireland credit for pushing his chips to the middle, but it looks like he's still got a few left, even if he loses this hand. Whether he's the one who gets to use those chips or not, that will be up to owner Stephen Ross at the end of the season.

Follow @ErikFrenz

Erik Frenz is also a Patriots/AFC East writer for Boston.com. Unless otherwise noted, all stats obtained from Pro Football Focus' premium section, and all quotes obtained firsthand or via team press releases.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/23/3194972/miami-dolphins-jeff-ireland-says.html#storylink=cpy“I feel like I’ve been aggressive where I need to be aggressive,” Ireland said. “There have been some decisions that have been smart. The decisions we’ve made to get us where we’re at, as far as cap space and draft picks, that’s by design.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/23/3194972/miami-dolphins-jeff-ireland-says.html#storylink=cpy

Confederations Cup 2013 Schedule: When and Where to Watch Thursday's Matchups

Tim Keeney — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Group B action from the Confederations Cup on Thursday is going to be, well, contrasting.

In the day's first matchup, you will probably want to shield your eyes because tournament favorite Spain (three points) will be taking on Oceania representative Tahiti (zero points), AKA whatever the opposite of tournament favorite is.

Going up against an extremely talented Uruguay side in the tournament's first match, Spain put on an absolute clinic.

They knocked the ball around in the midfield, displaying what the beautiful game is truly all about and setting a Confederations Cup record in the process, per Opta Sports:

Luis Suarez's late free kick made the scoreline 2-1 in the end in favor of Spain, but if felt like the defending World Cup champs were up 10-1 with the way they thoroughly controlled the game.

Tahiti, meanwhile, lost to Nigeria 6-1 in the opener, looking sloppy and altogether on a different (lower) level from a talent perspective.

As such, it's no surprise that this is an actual bet, courtesy of Betfair:

The second match from the group, which features Uruguay (zero points) and Nigeria (three points), should be much more competitive.

Essentially fighting for the second spot in the semifinals, each team will be playing with loads of urgency and will likely push forward.

Considering the strikeforce on each side, that should result in a heap of goals.

Nigeria's electric young Nnamdi Oduamadi, who plays for Milan but has been out on loan the past two seasons, netted a hat trick in the opener and made some history in the process, per ESPN's Paul Carr.

But Uruguay counters with Edinson Cavani, Serie A's top goal scorer, and Suarez, who can do magical things like this when he's not biting other humans:

Despite one match undoubtedly headed for a blowout, Thursday should once again feature a lot of entertaining football.

Here's a look at how you can catch all the action.

Note: A complete look at the Confederations Cup schedule can be found here.

Team 1	vs	Team 2	Date	Time (ET)	TV	Live Stream
Spain	vs	Tahiti	Thursday, June 20	3 p.m.	ESPN	ESPN3 or WatchESPN App
Nigeria	vs	Uruguay	Thursday, June 20	6 p.m.	ESPN	ESPN3 or WatchESPN App

Roger Federer Must Cruise Through Early Rounds to Win 8th Wimbledon Title

Jesse Reed — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Roger Federer will be a force to be reckoned with at Wimbledon this year, but his hopes of winning an eighth title will be doomed if he can't sail through the early rounds.

With his 32nd birthday looming on the horizon in August, Federer isn't a young man anymore—especially considering how much competitive tennis he has played over the years.

With a full tank of gas and his A-game, Federer still has the chops to defeat Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic on the grass at the All England Club. But if he limps into the semifinals after winning a few brutal five-set matches, Federer will not have the energy it will take to defeat those top guys.

This dynamic was illustrated to perfection at Roland Garros.

After barely escaping a five-round slugfest with hometown hero Gilles Simon in the fourth round, Federer was swept away by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Tsonga owned Federer, winning the quarterfinals match in straight sets while making his legendary opponent look old and slow in the process.

No offense to Tsonga, but he doesn't hold a candle to Djokovic, Murray and Nadal.

Should Federer burn himself out with one or two long matches early on, all three of those guys will be able to take advantage of his weakness.

Since last year's Wimbledon—a tournament Federer won after a few of these types of rounds—he has been battling through a back injury that kept him out of the game for two months in the early part of this season.

Every extra set he plays is one more opportunity for him to re-aggravate that injury. In order to ensure he has the best chance to win in the latter rounds, Federer must blow past his early opponents.

It's worth noting that Federer is much better on grass than he is on clay. His powerful serve and strong forehand are more dangerous and effective on faster surfaces. Since coming back, however, Federer has yet to fully hit his stride. Even in his latest victory in Halle, Germany, he showed some signs of rust.

Regardless of the surface, Federer needs to be at full strength to defeat the other top players in the world. If he has any chance of winning his eighth title at Wimbledon, he must be dominant in the early rounds.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Why Chicago Bulls Can't Afford to Lose Nate Robinson in 2013 Free Agency

Maxwell Ogden — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 06:58:59 -0400

According to Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago, the Chicago Bulls are not expected to re-sign Nate Robinson this summer. This comes during an odd time for the Bulls, as they're mere weeks removed from Robinson leading them through the postseason.

Plain and simple, the Bulls cannot afford to let Robinson walk.

Robinson was sensational during both the regular season and playoffs, nearly matching a fourth-quarter scoring record set by Michael Jordan and pushing Chicago past the Brooklyn Nets. Even without Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich, Lil' Nate came through.

At this point, however, it appears as if his time with Chicago is running thin:

"You have to look at all the aspects of what we're doing, where we are salary-cap wise, what the market calls for," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Nate had a great year. So we'll evaluate it moving forward."

"The thing is about Nate, and again I thought he had a very good year, but in the last month and a half I thought he and Kirk played extremely well together, and Nate was more at the two. I like that versatility, so I wouldn't rule anything out."

Undersized or not, Robinson was beyond effective.

The 29-year-old finished the season with averages of 13.1 points and 4.4 assists in 25.4 minutes of action. He shot 40.5 percent from three-point range and ranked in the top 20 amongst point guards with a player-efficiency rating of 17.43.

This exceptionally efficient season comes as Robinson was 10th amongst all point guards in usage rate—a sign that the little guard can be used in big doses.

2nd-Unit Spark

The Chicago Bulls have an elite starting lineup, as evidenced by the fact that they reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals without Derrick Rose. With that being said, Chicago has lacked a sixth-man-of-the-year type of player that can step in and provide instant offense while coming off of the bench.

Nate Robinson can be that player.

After the All-Star break, Robinson saw an increase in minutes, and his numbers went up with it. After going for 12.0 points and 4.2 assists in 23.8 minutes, Robinson upped the ante by tallying 15.0 points and 4.7 assists in 28.4 minutes.

Robinson shot better than 40.0 percent from beyond the arc both before and after the All-Star break.

Furthermore, Robinson proved that, regardless of how many minutes he receives, he now knows how to score and facilitate in an efficient manner. That isn't just a one-way deal where he can do more in fewer minutes, but instead a sign that he can take on a heavy burden, as well.

Lord knows Chicago needs a point guard who can offer that type of security.

The D-Rose Factor

Derrick Rose is a former league MVP, a perennial All-Star selection and one of the better clutch performers in the NBA. He's also coming off of back-to-back seasons in which injuries kept him off of the court.

Don't think for a second that the well-documented torn ACL was the only issue he's been battling.

In 2011-12, Rose played in 39 of a possible 66 games for the Chicago Bulls. During that time, Rose battled five separate injuries before he tore his ACL.

I repeat, five separate injuries.

In January of 2012, Rose fell victim to turf toe and thus saw his leg-related issues begin. One month later, Rose went down with muscular damage in his back.

After appearing to finally reach full health, Rose sustained a groin injury and was forced to miss 12 more games. It didn't take long for Rose to suffer separate injuries to his right ankle and foot.

Throw in a season-ending torn ACL, and you have yourself a list of injuries that suggests aggravation is a legitimate possibility—something Chicago cannot let derail its season.

Uncertainty at Point Guard

If Kirk Hinrich can remain healthy for the better part of 82 games and play through the entirety of the postseason, this conversation may not be necessary. Hinrich is one of the best defenders at his position and manages the game as well as you could ask of him.

With that being said, the Bulls are preparing to enter the 2013-14 season with their success resting on the shoulders of Hinrich, Derrick Rose and Marquis Teague—two injury-prone point guards and a second-year player with minimal experience.

Should the Bulls re-sign Nate Robinson, however, they would have the comfort of knowing that a proven postseason performer is on their roster. It's also encouraging to know that Robinson played in all 82 regular-season games.

When it comes right down to it, the Bulls simply do not have enough reason for confidence in their current point-guard situation to let Robinson walk.

Indiana Pacers' Disaster Plan if They Lose David West in Free Agency

Poch de la Rosa — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 06:49:13 -0400

Re-signing David West is the Indiana Pacers' top priority this offseason.

Ever since the Pacers signed West in December 2011, they have made strides in the postseason, making it to the second round and Eastern Conference Finals in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

Aside from his 17.1 points and 7.7 rebounds, West brings his veteran leadership and savvy to the table. These are vital to a young Indiana squad that hopes to emerge as an NBA Finals contender for years to come.

West was adamant he'll stay on with Indiana.

This is my group. These are my guys. I can't see myself going anywhere else.

But what if West does depart?

This is not to say that he'll renege on his promise on purpose. West is a man of character on and off the court. Indiana Pacers fans have every reason to believe he'll sign with the team in their quest to be an elite franchise year in and year out.

However, contract negotiations do hit snags in the NBA and in sports in general. Which is why there has to be a contingency plan for Indiana in the extreme case it loses West to free agency.

Here are some options for the Indiana Pacers.

Start Tyler Hansbrough, Acquire Boris Diaw

Tyler Hansbrough has been in the NBA since 2009. In the event West bids adieu, the time may just be about right for him to start at the 4.

Hansbrough's seven points and 4.6 rebounds off the bench in 2012-13 are not exactly eye-popping numbers, but keep in mind he did an admirable job filling in for West as the starter when he was out from March 18-27 with a lower-back injury.

During that stretch, Hansbrough averaged 14.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game on 48-percent shooting. Although he does play all out, Hansbrough still has limited moves around the post, is very robotic and needs to work on his jump shot.

These are aspects of his game that more playing time can hope to fix.

The Pacers can also take a stab at acquiring unrestricted free agent Boris Diaw. Although not as young and productive as he once was, he brings playoff experience and should provide depth at power forward behind Hansbrough and Jeff Pendergraph, who can also play the 4 spot.

Make a Move For Amir Johnson

Amir Johnson became an unrestricted free agent after the 2012-13 NBA season.

Johnson was a solid contributor for the Toronto Raptors last season, averaging 10 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Johnson is a player with an extremely good shot selection. His .554 shooting percentage from the field in 2012-13 was actually the lowest its ever been since 2006-07, his second year in the NBA.

Andrew Thompson of Raptors Republic also notes Johnson's defensive prowess. According to Thompson, Toronto had a defensive efficiency rating of 104.9 with Johnson on the floor, good for 12th overall. Johnson also averaged 1.4 blocks per game a season ago.

With him on the bench, the Raptors give up a defensive rating of 111.3, a fraction better than the league-worst Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Bobcats.

If West is not back in an Indiana Pacers uniform in 2013-14, Amir Johnson can definitely fill in that void and contribute offensively and defensively. Johnson can become an integral part of the Pacers' defense, which they take pride in. He also rebounds similarly to West, and he led the Raptors in snaring offensive rebounds.

More importantly, he is just 26 years of age and has an entire career ahead of him.

Bring Paul Millsap Into the Fold

Even before David West became an Indiana Pacer, Paul Millsap was already on the Pacers' radar.

Millsap, just like Johnson, became an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2012-13 NBA season. Indiana was already honing in on him prior to the 2011 NBA Draft, per Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star.

Over the years, Millsap has proven to be reliable in terms of his mid-range game and strength. Although his 14.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists are a notch lower than West's numbers, he should slide into the role of a starter at power forward very comfortably.

Even though his scoring, rebounding and field-goal percentage dipped somewhat from previous years, it does not present an alarming trend. Perhaps a change of scenery (he's been with the Utah Jazz for seven seasons), especially with a championship contender such as the Indiana Pacers, will serve him well.

Millsap is only 28 years old and could prove to be a valuable long-term asset. Plus, just like West, he can also make opposing defenses pay when they try to double-team Roy Hibbert down low.

Moving Forward

Knowing David West, he'll make good on his word and remain an Indiana Pacer for the next few years. However, Indiana better have a backup plan in case things go awry.

Staring Tyler Hansbrough and acquiring Boris Diaw for more depth is an option. If this were the case, Hansbrough needs to polish his low-post moves and mid-range game during the offseason if he wants the Pacers to improve their mediocre offense.

In the long run, acquiring either Amir Johnson or Paul Millsap will be the better choice for the Indiana Pacers. The team can't go wrong with either of these solid performers.

Having either of them don a Pacers uniform will help solidify that starting 4 spot in case the beloved veteran David West departs.

Where Can the Cincinnati Bengals Improve Most in 2013?

Scott Kacsmar — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 06:46:01 -0400

Through their first 45 years of existence, the Cincinnati Bengals have made the playoffs 11 times. In 2013, they will attempt to make the postseason for the third straight year for the first time in team history.

The big question remains: When will the Bengals win a playoff game?

With no playoff wins since the 1990 season, the Bengals have the longest active drought. The 22-season playoff winless streak ranks as the fifth longest in the Super Bowl era.

Cincinnati only has five playoff wins total, which is just one more than their rival Baltimore Ravens registered in this calendar year.

Yet we enter a season for which the expectations are for the Bengals to rise to the top of the AFC North. Pittsburgh is still figuring things out, the Browns are the Browns and Baltimore has a lot of roster turnover to sort out.

This is a good opportunity for a roster that has been building talent through the draft to elevate its performance and take the next step.

It usually takes a great quarterback to turn things around. Andy Dalton enters a crucial third season, while coach Marvin Lewis almost inexplicably enters his 11th year in Cincinnati.

Maxing out at 10 wins and another quick playoff exit should no longer be sufficient. The Bengals have to change the status quo.

When Looking in the Mirror, Cincinnati Sees Houston and Detroit

Maybe it’s fitting the Bengals have lost in the AFC Wild Card the last two seasons to the Texans. When they look in the mirror, they can see themselves in Houston.

Throw in the Detroit Lions, and you have a NFL product that comes in three sizes: small (Lions), medium (Bengals) and large (Texans).

The Texans come in large since they have won playoff games and are 4-0 against Detroit and Cincinnati since 2011.

Yet these three teams share many of the same problems that prevent them from reaching the upper tiers:

They struggle to beat good teams. Part of this stems from a lack of great quarterback play and a suspect job from the head coach.
They use an archaic offensive philosophy of having one dominant wide receiver. This no longer works well in the NFL, regardless of how great A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson are.
Their best defender is a defensive lineman who still needs more help around him. Geno Atkins, Ndamukong Suh and J.J. Watt cannot do it alone.

Let’s start with the quarterbacks. For a team to win a Super Bowl, they must have a guy capable of stringing together good performances against playoff competition. To this point, Dalton, Matt Schaub and Matthew Stafford have not proven they can do this.

Against teams who did not make the playoffs or have a winning record, we see these quarterbacks play well with the talent around them and win most of the time. While we expect a decline across the board against the better competition, things really go downhill here. Schaub takes the most notable hit to his statistics while Stafford has that horrific 1-23 record against winning teams.

Dalton is 2-11 against playoff teams with one of the wins coming in a Week 17 game decided by reserves. A big part of that record comes from his 2011 rookie season when the Bengals were 0-7 in such games (0-8 counting playoff loss). That’s the worst record ever for a playoff team against playoff teams.

For some context, Andrew Luck had two wins against playoff teams after the fourth start of his career. He picked up a third, against Houston, to end his regular season. Even Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman had two comeback wins, against the Packers (11-5) and Saints (13-3), in 2009 as a rookie.

Regardless, Dalton is 4-10 against teams with a winning record, including 0-3 against the Texans with two poor performances in the playoffs. His pick-six thrown at J.J. Watt in 2011 was crushing, while last season his defense helped him out with its own-pick six. Yet Dalton could only lead the offense to six points, missing Green in the end zone on a go-ahead touchdown with 2:51 to play.

The poor throw to Green on 3rd-and-11 completed a day where the Bengals were 0-for-9 on third downs. Dalton had the ball in his hands on eight of those plays. It concluded a season where he was horrific on third downs:

That is just for the regular season. Dalton’s 2012 conversion rate would further plummet to a pathetic 27.0 percent when including the playoff loss.

Situational offense must get better in Cincinnati. Dalton showed some promise in this department as a rookie, but last year he held the ball too long on such plays, as evident by his sack rate nearly quadrupling.

While he did not experience a sophomore slump, his overall stat improvement was more about playing four games against playoff teams instead of seven like in 2011. The Ravens and Steelers were not as tough on defense in 2012. Adjusted for the defense of each opponent, Dalton’s 2011 passing stats were actually a little better, but still the definition of average in both seasons. Dalton also did not deliver as well in clutch situations, like when he led four game-winning drives as a rookie.

Among active starters, note how these three similar quarterbacks rank very closely in their record at game-winning drive opportunities (minimum 10 games):

You have three players at different points in their careers, but there are a lot of the same issues their teams have to overcome.

To help them win against better teams, it is always a benefit to play with a great defense. Stafford waits for one, while Schaub has seen his record improve since 2011 when the team drafted Watt and hired Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator.

Still, there’s little stopping the elite offenses when they play the Texans. It’s not much different for the Bengals. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has done a great job to turn around an increasingly talented unit, but the Bengals were still struggling early last season, specifically against th offenses like Washington and Denver.

Geno Atkins was an All-Pro for the first time in his career after registering 12.5 sacks from the defensive tackle position. He has been a stellar fourth-round pick (2010), but he still needs help from the rest of the defense.

After the Denver loss, the Bengals sat at 3-5. From that point on, the defense did impress with huge performances against the Giants and Steelers. Cincinnati finished 7-1, only losing by one point to the Cowboys after a Tony Romo comeback.

The Bengals allowed 12.8 points per game in the second half of the season. If they can play like this for most of 2013, Dalton could have the best scoring defense in football, giving him few excuses not to win a division title.

When you are the third-best quarterback in your own division, behind Super Bowl winners like Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco, it is tough to take a team far.

Stafford faces a similar problem playing in a division with Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers. Schaub has this experience of being behind Peyton Manning’s dominance of the AFC South with Indianapolis, where they now have Luck coming into his own. Luck outplayed Schaub in the Week 17 finale when the Texans were playing for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

When the game cannot be won with a 17-point output, it can get difficult when so much of the offense is geared toward one great receiver. That is what these three teams have done in the past.

Years ago this method worked great for Dallas with Michael Irvin, but those teams were stacked. They could run the ball at an elite level too. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is no Emmitt Smith.

Today’s Super Bowl winners always have multiple receiving threats, so if one is having an off day, the other can come through with a big performance. This has been true of every Super Bowl winner since the 2006 Colts.

For these teams, it’s been more about feeding that one receiver (full-team passing stats included from 2012):

It does not look so bad for Dalton in that his numbers are closer when throwing to other receivers, but part of that is he forced a few more throws to Green, resulting in interceptions, relative to what the Johnsons had.

Houston finally has addressed its reliance on Andre Johnson by drafting DeAndre Hopkins in the first round. Detroit has so far unsuccessfully tried to add some weapons around Calvin Johnson.

The Bengals were blessed to move on from Chad Johnson’s antics and draft a stud like Green with the No. 4 pick in 2011. He’s been as good as advertised, if not better, with 2,407 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons.

Yet the Bengals have fallen into the trap of not developing another receiver, leaving a young quarterback to force the ball to Green. Sometimes that works, but Dalton’s not the best vertical passer in the game, so he could use more options guarded by lesser defenders.

This is why drafting tight end Tyler Eifert to pair with Jermaine Gresham is a very interesting decision. It may be just what Dalton needs. Matt Ryan welcomed the addition of Tony Gonzalez, followed by Julio Jones in 2011. For Dalton, another tight end that can move around may get him to release the ball quicker and convert more third downs.

Green is still going to get his, but this offense will never take off without another receiver coming into his own. Even a Peyton Manning-led offense did not reach a MVP level until Reggie Wayne had a breakout year in 2003 to go along with Marvin Harrison’s production.

Too often individual wide receiver greatness comes at the cost of offensive success. Quarterbacks, especially those with flaws, need multiple weapons more than one super player.

There have been plenty of dark seasons for the Bengals, Lions and Texans in the past. They have made progress in the last few years to earn a little respect, but there is still much work to be done to ascend to that next tier.

It never hurts to try copying what works for the rest of the league’s best teams.

Marvin Lewis: Shape Up or Ship Out

Can you believe Marvin Lewis is entering his 11th season as the head coach of the Bengals? Not since the reign of Dick Jauron has there been a coach with such little success able to hold onto a job for this long.

It’s not like coaches are not moving around at a record pace. Half of the league currently employs a head coach with less than three full seasons of experience.

After a decade, Lewis holds a 79-80-1 (.497) record in the regular season. According to Pro-Football-Reference, roughly 90 coaches have a better winning percentage (minimum 50 games) than Lewis.

Lewis compares most favorably to Wayne Fontes, who went 66-67 (.496) as Detroit’s head coach (1988-96). At least Fontes won his first playoff game, which is the only playoff win the Lions have since 1958.

Lewis is 0-4 in the playoffs, which is the main reason why it’s so amazing to see him still coaching in Cincinnati. As Chase Stuart of Football Perspective points out, only Lewis and Jim Mora have gone at least 10 years coaching a team without a playoff win.

Both Lewis and Mora also have made the playoffs in 40 percent of the seasons they coached. Roughly 41 coaches (minimum eight seasons) have done better.

Mora was fired by the 1996 Saints after a 2-6 start in his 11th season on the job. He retired with an 0-6 record in the playoffs.

Will history repeat itself if the Bengals fall flat on their faces in September and October?

Starting 1-4 is not out of the question with a game in Chicago and home games against Pittsburgh, Green Bay and New England.

Most owners do not like to fire a coach during the season, but the Bengals are in a rare position in that they may have the right man for the job already on the staff.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has generated buzz as a head-coaching candidate. He has been in Cincinnati since 2008, which is when the team moved away from a pass-heavy offensive approach, behind Carson Palmer, to more of a defensive team.

Should Lewis disappoint again, it would be very Cincinnati-like to simply promote Zimmer to head coach. The Bengals have done it before with Bill Johnson, David Shula, Bruce Coslet and Dick LeBeau. The last three happened in succession during the 1992-02 season before the team hired Lewis in 2003.

Regardless of what happens, it numbs the mind that Lewis has lasted a decade in Cincinnati.

Departures and Arrivals: The 2013 Starters

The following chart of potential 2013 starters was created with the help of Ourlads:

Things remain fairly consistent on offense. Guard Travelle Wharton came over from Carolina last year, but spent the season on injured reserve. He will compete for a job this year, but he wasn’t missed with Clint Boling starting all 16 games at left guard. This is an offensive line built with plenty of premium resources.

The big addition is tight end Tyler Eifert out of Notre Dame. It was a surprise on draft night, as the Bengals already have Jermaine Gresham, but it should be very interesting to see how offensive coordinator Jay Gruden works Eifert into the offense.

New England’s offense changed after drafting Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in 2010. The Bengals will be looking for a similar impact, even if Gresham and Eifert are not exactly as talented and complementary as that duo.

Eifert will likely be closer to Hernandez (hopefully that stays as a strictly on-field comparison) in that he will move around and often play in the slot.

This combo will give the Bengals a lot more options than what they have had the last two years with Green’s dominance. While it would still be preferable to have a true wide receiver ascend to the No. 2 spot, there’s a good chance Green, Gresham and Eifert account for a massive percentage of the Bengals’ receiving yards in 2013.

As for additional skill players, the team still has wide receiver Andrew Hawkins, who can star in the slot. Running back Giovani Bernard was drafted in the second round out of North Carolina and should earn some carries this year.

With the defense, not much has changed from last season either.

The same defensive line returns, though Carlos Dunlap has been working with the starters ahead of 2012 starter Robert Geathers.

Along with the All-Pro Geno Atkins, Michael Johnson (11.5 sacks in 2012) and Domata Peko, the Bengals’ top five defensive linemen are all home-grown draft picks. The Bengals also drafted defensive end Margus Hunt in the third round this year.

The big-name addition is former nemesis James Harrison at outside linebacker. He is 35 and has battled injuries the last few years in Pittsburgh, but Harrison still has some pass-rushing ability left in the tank. It’s just hard to imagine he still has the potential for double-digit sacks. It will be interesting to see Harrison in a 4-3 defense after starring in Dick LeBeau’s 3-4 zone-blitz scheme.

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and safety Taylor Mays were on the team last year too, but it was Terence Newman and Chris Crocker starting in their place. Crocker is gone, but Newman is still there. Since Kirkpatrick was a first-round pick in 2012, you would expect he has a great chance to start opposite the very solid Leon Hall.

Kirkpatrick played just 43 snaps as a rookie, according to Pro Football Focus. Adam “Pacman” Jones played 608 snaps and is also still on the roster. The secondary is rather full right now, but that’s not a bad thing in today’s NFL.

Zimmer certainly has his share of packages to use this season, but it’s what the offense does with Eifert that remains the most interesting change to the starting lineup. It should also be the most important.

Conclusion: Potential Turning-Point Season in Franchise History

The 2013 season could go down as a critical turning point in Bengals history.

It could be the year a long-time head coach finally had the right roster to win big. The young quarterback could blossom into a franchise quarterback to go along with one of the best defenses in the NFL.

It could also be the final straw for Lewis, who could lose his job after another disappointing result. If he does not win a career-high 12 games or have a competitive playoff run with at least one win, he should be fired. Should Dalton not improve, the hunt for the next quarterback will heat up.

The talent on this team is good enough to start winning bigger games.

Arguing the Bengals must get past teams like Houston may be a tough sell, because just winning those first-round playoff games with any consistency would be a major improvement for Cincinnati.

Cincinnati has only made it past the Wild Card Round in six seasons, and half of those came in an era where the wild card did not exist yet (1970-75).

It has been a long, frustrating wait for this team to return to contention, like when they reached a pair of Super Bowls in the 1980s, losing to San Francisco both times. The 49ers just made a return to glory after a rough eight years (2003-10). They did it with a new head coach and a quarterback drafted one spot after Dalton in 2011.

Look how easy it could have been had Cincinnati landed Jim Harbaugh and Colin Kaepernick in 2011 after Lewis went a fire-worthy 4-12 in 2010. There is so much potential now in San Francisco, with some of it being realized the last two seasons.

In Cincinnati, there are real expectations to do something great this season. Until we see them do it, it is hard to confidently predict they will. Perhaps having the talent and expectations will spark a different result, but this still feels like a fringe playoff team lacking a big-game quarterback and coach.

Scott Kacsmar writes for Cold, Hard Football Facts, NBC Sports, Colts Authority, and contributes data to Pro-Football-Reference.com and NFL Network. You can visit his blog for a complete writing archive, and can follow him on Twitter at @CaptainComeback.

CWS 2013: Breaking Down Remaining Team's Critical Flaw

Alex Ballentine — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:18:47 -0400

Only five teams remain alive in the 2013 College World Series. And none of those five squads can say they're perfect.

Sure, each team has earned the right to be where they are. It takes a special team to advance this far in college baseball's marathon postseason.

But as tournament favorite LSU showed with its surprising first-round exit at the hands of UCLA and then North Carolina, favorites don't matter, and any team can be eliminated. Here's a look at all five teams still fighting for the national championship and the one flaw that just might be their undoing in Omaha.

UCLA

Fatal Flaw: Lack of Firepower in the Lineup

The Bruins have been the surprise team of Omaha. If you had polled all the experts and asked them who was going to win the national title, LSU and North Carolina would have been the overwhelming answer. But the Bruins opened up the tournament by upsetting LSU then upsetting N.C. State after it beat North Carolina in the first round.

UCLA still has a lot of work to do before calling itself a championship team, though. A lack of firepower in the lineup is going to be difficult to overcome at some point.

The Bruins earned both of their wins by a score of 2-1 in the World Series. Manufacturing just two runs works when your pitching staff can hold the opponent to just one run, but it's going to be difficult to keep that up.

The Bruins were 253rd in the nation in batting average at just .251. The Bruins' dependence on squeezing runs out of an innocuous lineup is a flaw that can only be covered up for so long.

N.C. State

Fatal Flaw: Inconsistent Lineup

A look at N.C. State's run production in its 2-1 loss to North Carolina in May gives off a strong yo-yo vibe. The Wolfpack have scored four, one, nine, four, five, eight and one runs in games since then.That's the definition of inconsistent.

Even within the small sample size of Omaha, the Wolfpack have been erratic. After scoring eight runs against North Carolina to win its first game, N.C. State was almost held scoreless against the Bruins.

The Wolfpack will have to fend off their interstate rivals one more time. They had better hope that the offensive powerhouse version of the team shows up. The lineup that went against UCLA won't cut it.

North Carolina

Fatal Flaw: Slow Starts

As the North Carolina Tar Heels' first three innings go, so goes the whole game.

According to Fox Sports Carolinas, the Tar Heels have been incredibly efficient in the first three innings of their tournament wins—with a team batting average of .358 and score of 17-8, the Heels are great when they get things going early.

However, their tournament losses show a team that can't come back from a poor start. They hit just .188 in the first three innings of their tournament losses and have been outscored by opponents 10-1.

The fatal flaw may not be in starting slowly—most teams deal with that from time to time—but the inability to rise above a bad start is something that could prevent the No. 1 seed from hoisting the trophy in Omaha.

Mississippi State

Fatal Flaw: Slow Starts

The Bulldogs have proven they belong among the nation's elite teams—they just take a while to warm up.

The Hunter Renfroe-led team has depended on back-to-back late-game surges to make it to the semifinals against Oregon State. First, they had to score two runs in the eighth inning to get the better of the Beavers in the opening round. Then they needed a three-run eighth inning to beat the Indiana Hoosiers and secure a bid.

Now the Bulldogs get Oregon State again. Relying on a third straight eighth-inning rally will be pushing the Bulldogs' luck. They'll need to figure things out at the plate early on.

Oregon State

Fatal Flaw: Late-Game Pitching

Speaking of the Beavers, they will get their shot at redemption against the Bulldogs thanks to a spectacular individual performance from Matt Boyd, who went all nine innings with 11 strikeouts and just four hits allowed in the Beavers' 1-0 win against Indiana on Wednesday.

The Beavers needed him to go the distance, too. Turning things over to the bullpen has been an issue lately. Oregon State lost to Mississippi State thanks to starter Andrew Moore fading down the stretch and allowing the Bulldogs to get back into it.

Even in the team's 11-4 win against Louisville, three of the Cardinals' runs came in the seventh inning. The Beavers have been good when it matters most, but late in the game is when you want the pitching staff to be at its best.

The late-game struggles could come back to haunt them once again against Mississippi State.

Arsenal: Are the Gunners Better with or Without Jack Wilshere?

James McNicholas — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:00:00 -0400

Jack Wilshere's return from injury was undoubtedly one of the highlights of Arsenal's 2012-13 campaign. He was viewed by many fans as a messiah who could single-handedly save the Gunners' season.

His early form suggested that the expectation levels were justified. Wilshere marked his return from his 18 month lay-off by starting the home match with QPR in October. Instantly, Arsenal fans were reminded of his extraordinary gifts. It was as if he hadn't been away.

By December, Arsene Wenger was heralding the return of Wilshere's "little burst" on the club website:

He is getting closer to the player we know he is and today I think he made a big step. You could see it already this week in training, that he has gained a little burst again, a little zip in the first three or four yards.

The reappearance of that characteristic acceleration was a sure sign that the young midfielder's game was returning to its former glory. Wilshere's performances reached their zenith in January's FA Cup clash with Swansea, as he capped a man-of-the-match display by crashing home the winning goal with a volley from the edge of the box.

However, when Arsenal faced Tottenham in early March, Wilshere suffered damage to his vulnerable ankle.

He missed eight weeks of action before returning in a 3-1 win over Norwich. Even then, Arsene Wenger admitted to the BBC that he had “rushed” the midfielder back in to action.

Between March and the end of the season, Wilshere faded into the background, spending more time on the substitutes' bench than in central midfield.

The reason for Wilshere’s absence was two-fold.

First and foremost, there was a concern over the player’s fitness. Arsene Wenger was evidently keen to protect a player who required minor surgery at the end of the season. Using Wilshere as a substitute allowed Arsenal to postpone the surgery without incurring great risk.

It was also a tactical choice. After the derby defeat against Spurs, Arsene Wenger restructured his side around a midfield trio of Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky. All three players are arguably more defensively disciplined than Wilshere.

Along with the central defensive pairing of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, the new-look midfield established a solid platform upon which a pragmatic Arsenal side would build their successful campaign for Champions League qualification.

The statistics suggest this iteration of the Arsenal XI was more successful than its predecessor:

It’s no surprise to see that Arsenal conceded fewer goals without Wilshere. Even when Wilshere starts in a holding midfield role he is unable to deny his attacking inclinations, and this can lead to the Gunners being caught on the counterattack.

The surprising stat is that Arsenal also scored more goals without Wilshere in the side. This is best explained by the fact that Wilshere’s withdrawal from the first XI also coincided with Santi Cazorla being moved into the front three, where he was able to wreak havoc more freely.

The win ratio of 60 percent speaks for itself. In 2012-13, Arsene were better without Wilshere.

However, this is unlikely to be the case in 2013-14.

Wilshere remains one of the squad’s most talented players and a talisman for supporters. Arsene Wenger must find a way to reincorporate the young playmaker in to his team, as he is destined to be a huge part of the club’s future.

Why Arsenal's 2013-14 Season Will Be Make or Break for Arsene Wenger

James McNicholas — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:00:00 -0400

Arsene Wenger might be immortal at Arsenal, but that doesn’t mean to say he will be manager forever.

As the 2013-14 season approaches, there is a growing sense that this campaign will determine whether or not Wenger’s future lies in North London.

The coming season could be his last.

As things stand, Arsenal’s French manager has just one year remaining on his Arsenal contract. According to the Daily Mail, Ivan Gazidis has expressed his desire to tie Wenger down to a new deal, but the spectre of PSG looms large.

The French giants have thus far been unable to lure a new manager to replace the departing Carlo Ancelotti, and according to The Telegraph they have a long-standing interest in Wenger.

The Guardian suggests the Parisian club are currently looking for a manager on a one-year deal. That would mean that come next summer a vacancy would appear again—Wenger would suddenly reappear on the agenda.

Arsenal will fear the negative impact caused by a season of speculation over their manager’s future.

Wenger’s recent record is far from flawless, but the Arsenal hierarchy will be keen to retain the services of a man who has achieved 15 consecutive top-four finishes. Gazidis will be eager to eradicate any suspicion that Arsenal’s manager is eyeing a departure via the Eurostar, and a new contract is the obvious way to remedy that.

However, even if Wenger decides to sign a new deal and the threat of PSG is assuaged, next season remains crucial.

For the first time in almost a decade, Arsenal are preparing to join European football’s big spenders. Speaking to the BBC, Gazidis said:

We have a certain amount of money which we have held in reserve. We also have new revenue streams coming on board and all of these things mean we can do some things which would excite you, but what excites Arsene isn't necessarily what excites you.

This year we are beginning to see something we have been planning for some time - the escalation in our financial firepower.

Those plans are already coming to fruition. The Telegraph suggest that Gonzalo Higuain is on the verge of completing a move from Real Madrid to the Emirates Stadium. Such a deal would instantly smash the Arsenal records for highest transfer fee and biggest salary.

Higain could be the figurehead of a new-look Arsenal team. The Gunners now have the financial power not just to keep their existing stars but also to augment them with genuinely world-class talent.

2013-14 could be a chance for Arsene Wenger to go out in style. If this is to be his final season in London, he’ll be desperate to redeem himself by ending Arsenal’s extended trophy drought.

Equally, it could be an opportunity to demonstrate he’s the man to lead Arsenal into an exciting future. Having spent so long prudently managing the club’s finances, Wenger might feel he has earned the opportunity to build a side capable of of challenging for major honours.

An Arsenal with financial might and Wenger at the helm could be a force to reckon with in 2013-14 and beyond.

Report: Possible Undertaker Match at SummerSlam Revealed

Imaan Jalali — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:33:06 -0400

According to the rules of the WWE Universe, The Undertaker may be the most accomplished and decorated superstar in history.

No other performer has had his longevity, jaw-dropping bouts, inclusion in memorable storylines and a win-loss ratio that is second to none.

For the past few years, though, "The Phenom" has slowed down his in-ring activity to a halt, gracing only the WrestleMania stage where his streak has taken on mystical proportions.

Plagued by year-round injuries or not, "The Deadman" has hit indelible home runs in his last several WrestleMania classics with Shawn Michaels, Triple H and, most recently, CM Punk.

But just when one thought The Undertaker would dial it back even more, the 48-year-old decided to get his hands dirty with The Shield on WWE TV following WrestleMania. Unfortunately for the legend, it culminated with him being triple-powerbombed through the announce table.

The Shield may not have gotten the last laugh, however, if the Undertaker chooses to ramp up his involvement this year even more, as reported by Dave Meltzer of the members-only Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required):

A match floating around for SummerSlam, if Undertaker will work the show, is Undertaker & Kane vs. The Shield. They already shot the angle since The Shield gave Undertaker a triple team power bomb on his last appearance, which is the storyline reason for him being gone.

Certainly, it would be a treat to see Undertaker in action at SummerSlam again, which, not counting his surprise appearance in 2009, last happened in 2008 against Edge.

Not to mention, if the slated match does come to fruition, it will likely prove to be a stellar affair not unlike the rousing six-man tag on April 22, which saw Undertaker's team barely fall short.

In addition, from a storyline standpoint, The Undertaker's continued involvement against The Shield would make sense in that it would be out of character for the former to decline the opportunity.

Furthermore, there probably isn't a more deserving group of wrestlers backstage than The Shield, who should be rewarded for rising to the occasion the moment they appeared at Survivor Series 2012.

Thus, as he gets ready to go off into the sunset, the right decision for The Undertaker would be to accept the proposed SummerSlam match.

It goes without saying that it would be a great way for him to give back to the new generation of stars without the drastic measure of relinquishing his fabled streak.

Follow me on Twitter @ImaanJK

Manchester United Lose Millions on Irish Property Deal

Willie Gannon — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:30:00 -0400

Manchester United are still paying the price for one of the worst financial deals in the club's history. The Red Devils' are still paying rent on their Dublin Megastore in Ireland—11 years after the store closed its doors for the last time.

According to Jack Fagan of The Irish Times, United have spent €520,000 per year on rent since they first bought the store in 1999—the year they famously won the Treble.

Considering that the failed venture closed in 2002, just over two years after first opening its doors, this, in the fullness of time, can be seen as nothing but a dreadful deal gone wrong. So confident were United in 1999 when agreeing to rent the landmark Lafayette building, that they agreed to a 15-year lease of €520,000 per year.

Add their rent together since 1999 and you come up with a cool €7.8 million. On top of which the Red Devils must pay a further €390,000 penalty fee to finally end the leasing arrangements. The total sum United will have paid out by August 15, 2015, when the lease finally ends, will be a whopping €8.2 million.

The famous six-storey landmark building, on the corner of Westmoreland Street and D'Olier Street, will go on sale next week for just €3.5 million.

The Dublin Megastore opened to huge fanfare in November 1999, with Roy Keane, Sir Alex Ferguson, Gary Neville and Mark Bosnich all coming over to Ireland for the grand opening. At the time, a United spokesman described the shop as the "closest experience you can get to actually going to a game" for United fans. Time would prove how wrong he was.

Part of the enticement to get fans to shop in the store was live Premier League Manchester United matches. Fans would also get the chance to buy the official match program, which would be flown in especially for matchdays.

However, the store proved to be an unmitigated disaster despite the club having a rich and long history with Irish players and coaches. Former Ireland and Manchester United legend Roy Keane was captain of the side when the Irish store opened in '99.

Somewhat embarrassingly, the much-vaunted 15,000 square foot Megastore closed in February 2002 amidst poor sales and the club's plummeting stock price. Since then the famous building has been used as a clothing store, cafe and in 2011, as lease holders, United helped renovate part of the old shop into the Lafayette cafe and bar.

The backdrop to this failed property venture began in September 1998 when BSkyB tried to buy the club for £623 million.

United, on the verge of an unprecedented treble, saw how the potential deal could send the club into the stratosphere and began to expand rapidly across the world. They opened over 20 stores across Europe and Asia and announced a further 150 such ventures. It is worth noting that Dublin was the first such Megastore outside the Old Trafford HQ.

The proposed sale to BSkyB was eventually turned down by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

The government-based body found that a merger between the Premier League broadcaster and United would give the club an unfair advantage when negotiating broadcasting rights.

Upon being turned down by the MMC, BSkyB immediately lobbied the government for approval.

However, on April 9, 1999, just two days after United drew 1-1 with Juventus in the first leg of the semifinal of the Champions League, the Department of Trade and Industry followed the MMC's recommendation and barred Rupert Murdoch and BSkyB from buying the club.

The end result was seen by many fans as a major victory against corporate football. The government's decision, however, cost Manchester United an estimated £85 million. Fifteen percent was wiped off their stock value after the DTI's announcement.

The off-the-pitch announcement did little to deter the team on the field of play. Led from the front by Keane, United stormed to the Premier League title, the FA Cup and Champions League and went unbeaten for 33 games after Christmas.

The 1999 team is still hailed today as one of the greatest English teams of all time. They set the precedent for all the United players and teams that followed. They also put the club back on the map as a world power instead of just being a massive club.

Today, Manchester United is owned by Malcolm Glazer after the American tycoon won control of the club in 2005 with a £790 million takeover.

On the field, the club could not be more different.

Sir Alex Ferguson has departed and has been replaced by ex-Everton boss David Moyes. The club also took a huge stock market hit when the Scot announced his decision to retire. United lost almost five percent of its value in the first 10 minutes of trading on the New York stock exchange on May 8.

Most of that money was recouped when Moyes was announced as his successor, however.

Moyes will find that he is now under an unscrupulous microscope. His every move and decision will be analyzed to the nth degree like never before—especially his transfer dealings.

One thing is almost for sure: He won't make a deal that will still haunt the club in 15 years—or will he?

Statistics from PremierLeague.com

You can follow me on Twitter @WillieGannon.

And listen to me on the Hold the Back Page podcast.

MLB Prospects Update: Hottest, Coldest Hitters at Every Minor League Level

Jason Martinez — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:42:03 -0400

The last edition of this feature included Wil Myers and Xander Bogaerts as the "Who's Hot" in Triple-A and Double-A so it's not surprising that both have earned promotions since.

Myers debuted with the Rays on Tuesday and is 2-for-12 with a double and two runs batted in thus far. Bogaerts, a 20-year-old shortstop who is easily the top prospect in the Red Sox system, homered in his second Triple-A game but only has five hits in his first 23 at-bats.

On the flip side, it seems that I've also motivated the pair of "Who's Cold" hitters from the same levels. Giants center-field prospect Gary Brown has turned it on since a rough start with 17 hits in his last 41 at-bats, including five homers and five doubles for Triple-A Fresno.

My Double-A pick, Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed, is doing what he can to turn his season around. He still has a long way to go, but he's raised his average to .183 with 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats, including a homer, triple and three doubles.

Triple-A

Hot
OF Nick Castellanos, Detroit Tigers
Season stats: .296 BA, 10 HR, 38 RBI, 21 2B, 35 BB, 57 K, 3 SB in 74 games

One of my recent predictions for the "Next 8 Top Prospects To Make Their MLB Debut," Castellanos continues to make a case for the starting left field job in Detroit while Andy Dirks is clearly losing his grip on the gig (.448 OPS in June).

The 21-year-old can still have the occasional game where he looks far from being ready—he went 0-for-9 with eight strikeouts on June 15-16—but his overall numbers tell a different story. He's hitting .317 with seven homers, 28 runs batted in, 12 doubles, 26 walks and 34 strikeouts over his last 47 games.

At the least, he should be platooning with Dirks early in the second half. If the current trend continues, the job will be his much sooner.

Cold

IF Carlos Sanchez, Chicago White Sox
Season stats: .227 BA, 0 HR, 19 RBI, 10 2B, 3B, 18 BB, 43 K, 9 SB in 64 games

The switch-hitting infielder rose up the prospect ranks in 2012 quickly as he went from High-A to Triple-A with a stop at the Futures Game on the way.

After hitting well over .300 in 122 games between High-A and Double-A, Sanchez struggled in a late-season 11-game stint with Triple-A Charlotte. The 20-year-old appeared close, however, so it's surprising that he's continued to struggle at the level in 2013.

Double-A

Hot

OF Reymond Fuentes, San Diego Padres
Season stats: .332 BA, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 14 2B, 2 3B, 31 BB, 50 K, 23 SB in 63 games

Acquired from the Red Sox in the Adrian Gonzalez deal, the former first-round prospect fell completely off the prospect radar after two mediocre seasons with the organization (.711 OPS in High-A in 2011; .604 OPS in Double-A in 2012).

But the 22-year-old Fuentes, who is the cousin of Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran, is finally starting to live up to his potential in a repeat of Double-A. If he finishes out the year strong, the Padres could end up with one of those good problems to have with Fuentes knocking down the door to the majors by 2015 and current center fielder Cameron Maybin signed through the 2016 season.

Cold

3B Kaleb Cowart, Los Angeles Angels
Season stats: .209 BA, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 11 2B, 3B, 22 BB, 60 K, 7 SB in 68 games

When the Angels signed third baseman Alberto Callaspo to a contract extension this offseason that pushed his free agency back to the end of the 2014 season, I was not a fan of the move.

For starters, Callaspo is not a highly productive third baseman—he had a .692 OPS in 2012 and has a .682 OPS this season. And then there was Cowart, the top prospect in the organization and "Third Baseman of the Future" who was coming off of a strong season between High-A and Low-A (.276 BA, 16 HR, 103 RBI, 31 2B, 7 3B, 67 BB, 111 K, 14 SB).

Why block his chances of breaking through to the majors in 2014 by bringing back Callaspo?

Well, this is why. And by "this," I mean he is completely overmatched in Double-A, which is a good test for any prospect. At 21 years old, Cowart is not proving to be ready. It doesn't mean he won't be a good big leaguer, but expecting him before 2015 is unrealistic.

High-A

Hot

SS Alen Hanson, Pittsburgh Pirates
Season stats: .291 BA, 4 HR, 27 RBI, 14 2B, 5 3B, 24 BB, 49 K, 19 SB in 63 games

Low-A teammates Alen Hanson and Gregory Polanco proved in 2012 that the Pirates didn't just have elite pitching prospects in their system. Hanson, a switch-hitting shortstop, finished the season with a .909 OPS, 62 extra-base hits (16 HR, 33 2B, 13 3B) and 35 stolen bases, while center fielder Polanco showed off his plus tools with a .910 OPS, 48 extra-base hits (16 HR, 26 2B, 6 3B) and 40 stolen bases.

It's been more of the same in 2013 with Polanco so impressive that he earned a call-up to Double-A after just 57 games. The 20-year-old Hanson, who struggled in April (.654 OPS), had a big May (.840 OPS) and is now doing what he can to rejoin Polanco with an even better June (.920 OPS).

Cold

OF Luis Domoromo, San Diego Padres
Season stats: .198 BA, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 7 2B, 3B, 12 BB, 54 K, 2 SB in 50 games

One of the top prospects in Latin America when the Padres inked him to a seven-figure deal in 2008, Domoromo has been a bust thus far with only one decent season under his belt (.740 OPS in Low-A in 2011).

The 21-year-old is now struggling for a second consecutive season in the hitter-friendly High-A California League, which usually means the end of the line for a minor leaguer. If you can't hit there, it's not a good sign, although the Padres will probably be more patient with him considering the investment made.

Low-A

Hot

OF Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
Season stats: .344 BA, 8 HR, 52 RBI, 15 2B, 8 3B, 40 BB, 51 K, 29 SB in 64 games

The 19-year-old is clearly a man among boys in the Midwest League, dominating in all facets of the game. It's not a stretch to think he's the top prospect in all of baseball after his impressive run.

Between Buxton and power-hitting third baseman Miguel Sano, the Twins also probably have the top prospect duo in all of the minors. Both could reach Minnesota as 21-year-olds in 2015.

Cold

3B Dante Bichette Jr.
Season stats: .201 BA, 4 HR, 36 RBI, 7 2B, 3B, 20 BB, 66 K in 63 games

A second-round pick in 2011, Bichette looked like the second coming of his father, Dante Bichette Sr., the former member of the Rockies' famed Blake Street Bombers, after he posted a .952 OPS in 52 rookie league games.

But the 20-year-old third baseman is having trouble with Low-A pitching for the second consecutive season—he had a .653 OPS there in 2012. He's only 3-for-44 in the month of June and could be a candidate for a demotion to short-season ball so he can try to get some confidence back.