Bleacher Report - Front Page

UFC Officials Says UFC on Fox 1 in Boston Not in Danger of Cancellation

Jeremy Botter — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:06:43 -0400

The MMA world can breathe a sigh of relief: The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Boston after all.

On Tuesday morning, I passed along a report from the Boston Herald that stated that the UFC's first trip back to Boston since Aug. 28, 2010 was in danger of cancellation due to an issue with foreign-born fighters not meeting a state law that requires a social security card in order to work in the state.

The Massachusetts law has been in place since the sport was first legalized in 2009. Under the rules, state officials are not allowed to issue a fighter's license without a social security card. That poses a problem for fighters such as Mauricio Rua, Thiago Alves, Yuri Alcantara and Akira Corrassani, all of whom are currently scheduled to appear on the Boston card, and all of whom would not be able to do so without a social security card.

If you're a fan in Boston who is considering tickets (or perhaps you've already purchased them), never fear: UFC officials revealed in a statement Tuesday night that their plans to bring Chael Sonnen vs. Shogun Rua to the commonwealth are going forward.

There were some questions that surfaced regarding licensing requirements for mixed martial artists and boxers to have social security numbers in order to compete in the state of Massachusetts. Last week, these requirements were brought to UFC’s attention and we immediately began working to ensure that all athletes affected by this are in full compliance. We are continuing to work on this and anticipate a positive outcome

I suppose that's not exactly a proclamation of a full and complete resolution to the ongoing issue, but it does appear that the UFC is diligently working on securing temporary social security numbers for Rua, Alves, Alcantara and the rest of the foreign-born stars slated to appear on the card. Each fighter must wait out a 10-day grace period before they can receive their temporary card, but there's still plenty of time left before all pre-fight paperwork must be submitted to the commonwealth.

Have no fear, Boston fans: your chance to see Irish wrecking machine Conor McGregor (who says he'll be the next Anderson Silva by the time he's 30 years old) is still right around the corner, and you won't be stuck with a less-than-stellar main event after you've already purchased some very expensive tickets for you and five of your closest friends.

WWE Money in the Bank 2013: What Should Rob Van Dam's Role Be?

Seth M. Guttenplan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:05:57 -0400

During WWE Payback 2013, a commercial aired hyping Rob Van Dam’s return to the company at next month’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view. However, the commercial and WWE.com have not released information on what exactly RVD will be doing at the event.

Will he be wrestling?

If so, will he be a participant in one of the Money in the Bank matches?

In my opinion, Rob Van Dam should not be a participant in either Money in the Bank match. It is exactly what WWE should not be doing right now. There is a plethora of young talent who should be vying for an opportunity at a world title. Money in the Bank was created to push midcard talent to the main event.

Superstars like Wade Barrett, Antonio Cesaro, Big E Langston, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns are just a few of the midcard names that could receive that push.

Rob Van Dam belongs in a situation similar to Chris Jericho. Van Dam is not part of the future, but he can help get the younger talent over like Jericho has.

The Superstar or Superstars who feud with RVD when he arrives depend on whether he is returning as a face or heel. Since Van Dam is another Paul Heyman guy, it would be logical for the two to pair up and have RVD be a heel. However, RVD will certainly have a lot of fans who grew up watching him in ECW and WWE. Like Jericho has the last few years, RVD may spend time on both sides.

If RVD returns as a heel and is managed by Heyman, CM Punk would be the most logical choice for a feud. Although Punk seems to be headed towards a feud with Brock Lesnar, that match may not happen until SummerSlam. Lesnar has been wrestling mainly at the top pay-per-views so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the feud last until August. Until then, RVD could step in and face Punk at Money in the Bank.

If RVD returns as a face, there aren’t many options unless he is in a Money in the Bank match. Fandango is one option, but WWE’s resident dancing heel belongs in one of the Money in the Bank matches. As long as RVD doesn’t win a briefcase, WWE booking will win my vote. However, what is the point of RVD being in one of those matches then?

If he is not wrestling at WWE Money in the Bank 2013, what other options are there?

RVD could be a special guest referee in a Punk-Lesnar match if WWE decides to book it at Money in the Bank. It would be intriguing to see which Paul Heyman Guy RVD sides with. This scenario would dictate whether RVD will be a face or a heel.

Perhaps RVD simply makes an appearance without being in a match. He could interfere in a match to set up a future feud with a Superstar. If he interferes on behalf of Lesnar, he could be the one to face Punk at SummerSlam.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see how WWE uses Rob Van Dam at WWE Money in the Bank 2013. He is a great talent and should be used effectively without interfering with the company’s youth movement. The Rock overshadowed the young talent and was criticized a lot for it. RVD can be used in great angles, if they are booked correctly.

What do you think Rob Van Dam’s role should be at WWE Money in the Bank 2013? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

You can continue the conversation by following me on Twitter (@sethgutt), and check out my site, guttwrenchpowerblog.com.

Like GuTTWrenchPowerBlog on Facebook here.

Jeff Baker Placed on Disabled List after Injuring Himself High Fiving

Dan Carson — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:05:40 -0400

Do you have something you want to tell the class, Jeff? You hurt yourself doing what?

Avoidable injuries and sports seem to go together like Campbell’s chicken soup and roofing mortar—the two should never mix, but for some reason it keeps happening.

The most recent casualty in bonehead sports injuries belongs to Texas Rangers infielder Jeff Baker, who suffered a sprained right thumb after an “over-exuberant” exchange with a teammate, according to DallasNews.com.

Baker has been placed on the disabled list, despite Texans manager Ron Washington promising to not take the infielder out off his active roster.

How’d the injury go down? Celebratory thumb-war? Did he thumbs-up too fast and hyperextend it?

None of the above, it would appear. A botched high five, according to ESPN. Baker explained the situation in sparse terms, unwilling to name the individual responsible for slamming his hand off the field.

“The teammate was a little over-excited, for whatever reason,” Baker said to reporters. “It bent my thumb back. It is what it is. It’s unfortunate.”

Unfortunate is a kind of way of putting it, considering the Rangers have eight players currently on the disabled list. Despite the damage to the lineup, the Rangers are at least trying to have a sense of humor about it all.

The Dallas News Twitter account also had some words of wisdom to share with Baker.

Remember kids—only you can prevent terrible sports high fives. Well, you can’t actually prevent them in the MLB, but you can do your best to look in every fiver that comes your way and try to make solid contact.

On another note, if you’re a high school ballplayer looking to sign a major league deal, tuck your hands behind your back the next time someone comes at you with a hand upheld and a crazy look in their eye.

NBA Finals 2013: Bold Predictions for Spurs vs. Heat Game 7

Benjamin Klein — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:01:06 -0400

Game 6’s result showed that the NBA Finals are completely unpredictable, and you can bet that several unlikely things are going to happen in Game 7.

The sixth game between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs had a little bit of everything in it and yet, when there were a few minutes left in the game, we still didn’t know what was going to happen.

Was Miami going to make a comeback? Could the Spurs prevent such a comeback? Who would be the hero? Well, the Heat came back, the Spurs blew the lead and LeBron James and Ray Allen were Game 6’s heroes.

So, what’s going to happen when the Heat and Spurs take the floor one last time this year? Here are three predictions for Game 7 of the NBA Finals, looking into what’s happened throughout the series and what isn’t likely to happen on Thursday, but will.

Danny Green Goes Cold…Again

Danny Green has been hitting three-pointers during the NBA Finals like it’s nobody’s business. Well, that was before he took the floor for Game 6 in Miami.

Through the first five games of the series, Green set an NBA Finals record with 25 three-pointers made and his shot chart was unreal, according to the official Twitter account of NBA Statistics:

After Green torched the Miami defense and helped give his team a 3-2 series lead, Chris Bosh told David Aldridge of TNT that Green “won’t be open tonight.” Bosh couldn’t keep his promise, though, as ESPN Stats & Info tweeted during the game that Green was still getting some open looks:

But while Green got at least a pair of open shots from downtown during Game 6, it was all for none. Green went cold from the floor and more specifically, where he’d been so hot coming into the game. He made just 1-of-5 attempts from three-point territory and finished the matchup with just three points.

In order for the Heat to win the NBA Championship, they have to continue to make things difficult for Green. If he hits two three-pointers over a short span, he could get hot in an instant. Miami has seen Green play enough that it knows how to defend him. Chris Bosh did a great job down the stretch to keep Green in check.

In Game 7, the Spurs are likely to rely on Green contributing at least a few three balls throughout the game. San Antonio wouldn’t have won three games this series if it weren’t for Green’s deep shooting. The Heat will put as much pressure as possible on Green, trying to make every shot an adventure.

It worked in Game 6 and it will work in Game 7.

LeBron Doesn’t Show Until the Fourth

LeBron James had one of the best games of his career during Game 6, but you wouldn’t have guessed that after watching the first three quarters. Through 36 minutes, James was 3-of-12 from the field and eight of his 14 points came from the free-throw line.

The Heat, however, needed more from James, as they sat 10 points back of the Spurs with just 12 minutes remaining in regulation. Then, LeBron went to work. He started playing with extreme intensity, leaving everything that he had on the floor. He put the Heat on his back in the fourth quarter.

LeBron played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter, hitting 7-of-11 shots for 16 points—and a total of 30. While James didn’t hit the game-tying shot to send the game into overtime, Ray Allen wouldn’t have even had that shot if James hadn’t hit a late three a few seconds earlier. James deserves some credit for the Heat forcing overtime too.

James would finish Game 6 with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for a triple-double. For those wondering, triple-doubles during an elimination game aren’t very common, as shown in the tweet below from ESPN Stats & Info:

In Game 7, LeBron will have a tough time getting going again. Instead of taking forced shots, he’ll look to spread the floor and allow his teammates to do most of the work. If the Heat are down late in the game again, expect to see the same guy we all saw on Tuesday night. LeBron will have 15 points through the first three quarters and then put the pedal to the metal again in the fourth.

Game 7’s Hero Is…Ray Allen

Ray Allen hit the biggest three-pointer of his career on Tuesday night. The three-pointer he made with time winding down and the Heat desperately needing a miracle was absolutely remarkable. If the Heat win Game 7, there’s no question that Allen deserves most of the credit.

Here’s what Allen told Alex Kennedy of USA Today about the shot after the game:

It’s going to be a shot that I’m going to remember for a long time. There’s a lot of shots that I’ve made in my career, but this will go high up in the ranks because of the situation.

Just being able to be in that situation where the ball bounced in our direction. We’ve been a part of many plays where the ball has a funky bounce to it. And I’ve known my whole career sometimes you just get lucky. When you win championships, it involves a little luck. That right there was luck shining on our side.

Some may forget that Allen has had a pretty good NBA Finals too from downtown—not just Danny Green. He’s shot 60 percent from three-point land through the first six games of the NBA Finals and is averaging a pair of three-pointers made per game. His 12.3 points per game aren’t much, but he has played a huge role.

Three-point shooting has been a big part of this series. In Game 7, Allen is going to emerge as the player who led the Heat to a title. He scored 21 points in Game 5, shooting 7-for-10 from the field and was a perfect 4-of-4 from deep.

When the Heat need to go on a run, Allen will step up. Expect a 20-plus point performance from the game’s best three-point shooter en route to the Heat winning back-to-back titles.

Brazil vs. Mexico: Bold Predictions for Epic Confederations Cup Match

Jesse Reed — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:00:00 -0400

There's no love lost between Mexico and Brazil entering Wednesday's showdown in the Confederations Cup. Mexico defeated Brazil in the 2012 Olympic Games to win the gold medal, shocking the heavily favored South American squad.

Brazil have long been one of the most feared national teams in the world, with seven World Cup finals appearances and five titles.

Mexico, on the other hand, have never once been to a final—let alone sniffed a victory.

Therefore, when Mexico defeated Brazil with a 2-1 win in the gold-medal round in London, it was a truly stunning loss for the favored Brazilians.

Brazil will be looking for some sweet revenge on Wednesday in front of its home crowd at Castelão when the match kicks off at 3 p.m. ET.

If Mexico loses this match, it would be doomed to an early exit. If Brazil wins, it is assured a second-round berth with a game to spare.

Here are a few bold predictions for the epic rematch.

Mexico Will Go on the Offensive Early

In an effort to keep Brazil from opening up a big lead early, Mexico will mount an offensive campaign to start the match.

It's not something Mexico have done this past year, having failed to score a single goal in the first 15 minutes of play in any game in the past 12 months, according to ESPN.com's Tom Marshall.

But after losing a game already and facing a superior team, José Manuel de la Torre will urge his men to press the attack early.

Falling into a hole against Brazil early in the match would be a death sentence for Mexico. The only way ensure that doesn't happen is by forcing Brazil to react, rather than reacting to Brazil's explosive offensive attack.

Neymar and Fred Will Combine for the Game's First Goal

Despite Mexico's attempt at scoring early, Brazil will get on the board first.

Neymar and Fred are a dynamic duo capable of scoring at any time. Neymar's ability to dribble into traffic and pass to open teammates is world-class, and Fred has proven to be a brilliant striker.

As Brazil's defense locks down Mexico's attempts to score, fast-break opportunities will present a perfect chance for these stars to put Brazil up in the first half.

Just like that, Mexico's chances of moving on in this tournament will be one step further from reality.

Brazil Will Dominate the Second Half

Only Brazil could be criticized for lackluster play after winning 3-0 over Japan in the first contest. The crowd groaned with disappointment whenever the team failed to capitalize on its opportunities.

This is a team with the highest expectations, given the level of talent on the squad, and nothing other than exceptional play will keep fans and the media happy.

Rest assured, the hometown fans will accept nothing less, and Brazil will give them what they seek. Every player will sell out in this match, and in the end, Mexico will be sent packing with a convincing loss.

Prediction: Brazil win 4-0

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Urban Meyer on National Title Expectations: 'We're Not There Yet'

David Regimbal — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:56:31 -0400

It's hard to find a ranking for the upcoming college football season that doesn't have Ohio State as one of the top five teams in the country.

The Buckeyes return 13 starters to a team that went undefeated last year, including Heisman Trophy candidate Braxton Miller, making Ohio State one of just a handful of teams expected to contend for a national championship.

Just don't tell that to Urban Meyer.

Before speaking at a United Way fundraiser in Youngstown, Ohio on Monday night, Meyer was asked about the national title expectations surrounding his team (via FoxSportsOhio.com).

"We're not there yet," Meyer said. "You worry about it because you're dealing with 18, 19, 20-year-old kids. I'll tell them when they're there, but they're not there yet."

Meyer might not be ready to tab his team a national title contender, especially this early, but he's a lot higher on the Buckeyes going into this season as opposed to last year.

It wasn't the smoothest start for Ohio State when Meyer officially took over. Just three weeks into spring practice, he described his offense as a "clown show" and noted that the team was surprisingly out of shape.

Of course, those issues were resolved by the time the season started. Ohio State's offense went on to lead the Big Ten in scoring (37.2 points per game), only after the team nutritionist shaved over 450 pounds of fat off the Buckeyes and added over 500 pounds of muscle.

With the momentum generated during Meyer's first year, he feels that Ohio State is in a much better place. In fact, he even "loves" the position Ohio State is in going into the season.

"We expect to have a chance to win every game," Meyer said, according to FoxSportsOhio.com. "We're working towards that, working on getting better. Our expectation is the same ... it's very good right now in Columbus."

There's no doubt that things are very good in Columbus, but Meyer will be looking for ways to keep the Buckeyes grounded leading up to and during the college football season.

Preseason praise doesn't guarantee success on the field. Just ask Lane Kiffin and the USC Trojans, who started the 2012 season ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press, but went on to lose six games and finish the year outside of the top 25.

Meyer will look to avoid a similar fate by forcing the Buckeyes to approach this season one game at a time.

"Our first goal is just to go out and work so that on August (31) we can just try to go out and win our 13th game in a row," Meyer said.

If the Buckeyes buy into Meyer's plan, Ohio State stands a good chance of validating its preseason hype.

David Regimbal is the lead Ohio State football writer for Bleacher Report.
Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.

Arsenal: Arsene Wenger and the Abou Diaby Dilemma

Callum Mackenzie — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:54:41 -0400

It's like a recurring dream. Picture the following:

One of your favourite sons starts to run, but as soon as he nears the finish line—every single time—he stumbles and falls, unable to continue.

Doesn't that remind you of Arsene Wenger and Abou Diaby?

Diaby is undeniably talented. When on the pitch—as showcased as recently as early this season, in spellbinding displays in August and September—his deft touch, superb control and insightful vision is only complemented by his physicality, his eagerness and strength in the tackle.

But therein the start of that statement lies his crippling troubles. Diaby is injury-prone—so much so, that since his arrival at the Emirates Stadium in the summer months of 2006, he's suffered a jaw-dropping 17 injuries and has only managed 178 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions since then (via Transfermarkt.de).

Now, when Diaby is healthy, he provides a (mostly) reliable alternative to Mikel Arteta or Jack Wilshere in one of Arsenal's two central midfield roles—while he could play in the attacking midfielder's role currently held by Tomas Rosicky, his especial talent lies elsewhere.

His usefulness to Wenger, and that he features in Le Professeur's plans for next season and perhaps beyond, is evident. As far back as this time last year, Wenger held firm on his belief that Diaby would stay fit, even selling Alex Song to Barcelona insomuch as thinking Diaby could compensate, and for a time, he did.

But making only 11 performances in the Premier League in the 2012/13 season just gone, hampered because of various injury problems, is certainly not what Wenger wants.

So what can Diaby do to prolong his Arsenal career?

He could cut short his international career—having played only 16 games for France since his first cap in 2007, curtailed by those same injury issues that have plagued his Arsenal career, it might seem as if his international career is a lost cause. But still, Didier Deschamps has still been keen to call Diaby into his squad for friendlies and the like, evidenced by trying to call him up earlier in the year.

So while that doesn't seem likely, what can Wenger do on his part?

A squad rotation role could work, seeing Diaby get regular minutes on the pitch but working him back to fitness slowly. It's obvious that Diaby wants to get fit and back to football as soon as possible every time he's consigned to the fitness room—that much is clear by his energetic performances for the club whenever fit—but maintaining that fitness seems nigh on impossible for the Frenchman.

So it would seem clear that this could potentially be Diaby's last season, his last chance to prove his doubters (and doctors) wrong.

With Arsenal constantly linked to another defensive midfield prospect in the same vein of Song or Diaby—the club's rumoured interest in Lyon midfielders Maxime Gonalons and Clement Grenier, as well as looking for a move closer to home for Southampton's midfield general Morgan Schneiderlin, is proof of such—Wenger's intent in the transfer market is becoming clearer as the weeks pass. While the manager may have kept faith in Diaby up 'til now, surely his patience must be wearing thin.

It is clear that Diaby is a loyal servant to the club, and it's clear how desperate the midfielder is to get back on the pitch and stay there. But with Arsenal needing depth—quality in the starting 11 that infuses into the bench and beyond—Wenger needs players he can trust to step in at a moment's notice.

And Diaby, as unfortunate as it is, is not that player.

NHL: Bergeron, Not Rask, Should Win Conn Smythe If the Bruins Win Cup

Michael Smith — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:44:42 -0400

"Bergeron! Bergeron! In Game 7, and the Bruins win the series!"

The climactic words of Bruins' radio play-by-play man Dave Goucher on 98.5 The Sports Hub after Patrice Bergeron scored the game-winner in overtime to complete the epic comeback over Toronto should resonate deeply.

The words can be used in each round of the playoffs so far to describe how important No. 37 is to his team.

He's the team's best penalty killer. He's their most clutch goal scorer. He's their best defensive forward.

He should win the Conn Smythe if his team captures the Cup for the second time in three years.

"Bergeron! Bergeron!" could have been screamed in jubilation after he shut down the star forwards of the New York Rangers in the second round. Rick Nash—whom the Rangers acquired to leapfrog to the Stanley Cup Final—only had one goal and two assists in the conference semifinals against the B's, and Bergeron's smothering defense in his own zone is one of the reasons.

Get to the Stanley Cup Final? Bergeron didn't let the Rangers past the second round.

Tuukka Rask is everyone's safe pick to take home the hardware as playoff MVP if the Bruins can win two more games, and it's valid.

Rask—who was the backup during Boston's 2011 Cup run—has been stellar. He leads the league with a 1.64 goals against average and a .946 save percentage. And, oh yeah, he only allowed two goals in four games to the league's highest-scoring team from the regular season, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In Game 1 against Chicago, he made 59 saves. That's spectacular, no doubt.

But make no mistake. While Rask has been great, the defense in front of him has been just as good, and Bergeron sets the tone for all of Claude Julien's forwards.

"Bergeron! Bergeron!" should be screamed by all Bruins fans in appreciation of the 27-year-old's total humiliation of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the Eastern Conference Final.

The two players many consider to be the best in the world didn't register a point in getting swept by Boston.

I'll write that again. They didn't register a point.

Who was the forward tasked to shut down Crosby? "Bergeron!" Bergeron!"

The Bruins' alternate captain has performed on the other end of the ice as well. He scored the game-winning goal in double overtime in Game 3 against Pittsburgh to grab a 3-0 series lead and eliminate any hope for the Penguins.

And through three games of the Stanley Cup Final, he has two of his team's seven goals and has held Jonathan Toews without a point.

Rask has been great. David Krejci leads the team in points. Brad Marchand leads the team in chirps. But Bergeron has been the best player on the ice for Boston this postseason.

The Blackhawks are 0-11 on the power play so far against Boston, and you know the reason why.

"Bergeron! Bergeron!"

Wimbledon 2013: Top 20 Seeds for Men and Women's Draw Announced

Patrick Clarke — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:44:02 -0400

Eight-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal will be seeded outside the top four of the men's draw at Wimbledon for the first time in 10 years according to The Guardian's James Riach.

You have to go all the way back to Nadal's first Wimbledon appearance in 2003 to find the only other time the King of Clay entered the All England Club seeded lower than fourth. Nadal was unseeded that year and had just turned 17 years old.

2011 Wimbledon champion and current world No. 1 Novak Djokovic will enter the fortnight at SW19 as the top seed in the men's draw. Meanwhile, 2012 Wimbledon finalist Andy Murray will be seeded second after skipping the French Open earlier this summer to rest a bad back.

Seven-time Wimbledon winner and defending champion Roger Federer will be seeded third overall in the men's draw. Federer has struggled more than usual this season, but was able to win his first title of 2013 this past weekend at the Gerry Weber Open, an annual grass-court warm up tournament for Wimbledon.

In the women's draw, defending champion and five-time winner Serena Williams will be the top seed. Williams is in the midst of a 31-match winning streak and is less than two weeks removed from winning her 16th career Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.

Two-time Wimbledon semifinalist Victoria Azarenka will be seeded second, just ahead of 2004 champion Maria Sharapova.

2012 Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska and 2012 French Open finalist Sara Errani round out the top-five seeds in the women's draw this summer.

Here's a look at the Top 20 seeds in each singles draw (courtesy of The Guardian):

Men's Singles Top 20 Seeds

Seed	Player	Country
1	Novak Djokovic	Serbia
2	Andy Murray	Great Britain
3	Roger Federer	Switzerland
4	David Ferrer	Spain
5	Rafael Nadal	Spain
6	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga	France
7	Tomas Berdych	Czech Republic
8	Juan Martin del Potro	Argentina
9	Richard Gasquet	France
10	Marin Cilic	Croatia
11	Stanislas Wawrinka	Switzerland
12	Kei Nishikori	Japan
13	Tommy Haas	Germany
14	Janko Tipsarevic	Serbia
15	Nicolas Almagro	Spain
16	Philipp Kohlschreiber	Germany
17	Milos Raonic	Canada
18	John Isner	United States
19	Gilles Simon	France
20	Mikhail Youzhny	Russia

Women's Singles Top 20 Seeds

Seed	Player	Country
1	Serena Williams	United States
2	Victoria Azarenka	Belarus
3	Maria Sharapova	Russia
4	Agnieszka Radwanska	Poland
5	Sara Errani	Italy
6	Li Na	China
7	Angelique Kerber	Germany
8	Petra Kvitova	Czech Republic
9	Caroline Wozniacki	Denmark
10	Maria Kirilenko	Russia
11	Roberta Vinci	Italy
12	Ana Ivanovic	Serbia
13	Nadia Petrova	Russia
14	Samantha Stosur	Australia
15	Marion Bartoli	France
16	Jelena Jankovic	Serbia
17	Sloane Stephens	United States
18	Dominika Cibulkova	Slovakia
19	Carla Suarez Navarro	Spain
20	Kirsten Flipkens	Belgium

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

EA Sports UFC Game: Interview with Creative Director Brian Hayes

Jeremy Botter — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:43:00 -0400

EA Sports UFC is one of the most highly anticipated sports games being developed for the next generation of home video game consoles.

The XBox One and PlayStation 4 are due out in the fall. And while EA Sports UFC isn't due out until next spring (an eternity to wait for gamers desperate to get their hands on a next-generation fighting game), that hasn't prevented fans from scouring the internet in search of the latest and greatest regarding the UFC's next foray into the digital world.

Bleacher Report caught up with Brian Hayes—the creative director in charge of EA Sports UFC for Electronic Arts—at the recent Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles. E3 is the featured destination for gamers looking to get their hands on the latest and greatest, and Hayes spoke with B/R about everything the fans can look forward to once EA Sports UFC hits store shelves next spring.

Check out the interview above and then let us know which feature you are most excited about in the comments below.

Johnny Manziel's Consideration of Transfer in 2012 Shows Impetuousness of Youth

Brian Leigh — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:38:49 -0400

Johnny Manziel enjoyed an annus mirabilis in 2012, leading his Texas A&M Aggies to an 11-2 record and becoming the first ever freshman to win the Heisman trophy. That's the story we do know. But behind the scenes, before the season even began, Manziel actually considered transferring schools after getting suspended for his arrest in a bar fight.

Kate Hairopoulos of The Dallas Morning News broke the story (h/t College Football Talk), citing a source close to the situation who told her:

A&M initially suspended Manziel for the 2012 season following his arrest in College Station’s Northgate bar district last summer.

Manziel, entering his freshman season after sitting out the 2011 season as a redshirt, would have felt it was necessary to transfer if the suspension wasn’t overturned on appeal.

The appeal, of course, did prove a success, and the rest is now part of college football lore. But the story serves as yet another reminder that Johnny Manziel, though seemingly infallible between the sidelines, still has a lot of growing up left to do.

It's easy to see why he would be bitter at the threat of suspension. Before last season, he appeared to be the only one who knew how good he was at football; he couldn't understand why (a) Jameill Showers was favored to win the starting job over him, and (b) Kevin Sumlin would levy such a harsh punishment his way. For a kid with Manziel's competitive zest, the whole situation must have been infuriating.

But threatening to transfer—and genuinely considering it—is an impetuous reaction, exactly the kind of myopia that derails potentially fruitful careers. Had he pouted, kicked the dirt and left College Station, the legend of Johnny Football would probably never exist.

This report comes at a scandalous time for Manziel, too, right on the heels of his cryptic tweets about wanting to leave Texas A&M. As its own entity, that was probably a non-story. But now that we know he's thought about transferring in the past, it takes on a whole new connotation. Now it's a repeat offense. Now we have to seriously question his dedication to the school.

The future still holds bright things for Johnny Manziel. He's back for another season and this time it's not just the Heisman, but the BCS National Championship he's chasing. With a second impressive year, he'll have another important decision to make this offseason, as the NFL will surely come knocking at his door.

When it does, there's a good chance he's matured enough as a player to make a leap. But as a man off the field, if this report be any indication, he could use another year of growing up at school.

Chelsea Transfer News: Fernando Torres Shouldn't Close Door on Summer Move

Tim Daniels — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:37:59 -0400

Fernando Torres must keep his options open heading into the summer after another lackluster campaign and the arrival of new manager Jose Mourinho. The striker still has a chance to get his career back on track, even if it doesn't happen at Stamford Bridge.

Torres said he plans to speak with Mourinho after finishing international duty with Spain, with the team currently taking part in the Confederations Cup. Dermot Corrigan of ESPN passed along his thoughts, which center around chasing a Premier League title with Chelsea.

"Chelsea is the club where I am and where I want to be, I want to keep winning big trophies here," Torres said. "Mourinho is a very demanding coach, but who has always guaranteed success. I am confident that he will have something prepared for me. I have three more years on my contract, I expect and want to fulfil those. I want to win the Premier League, which is the only trophy I am missing."

The comments come shortly after Mark Irwin of The Sun reported Barcelona are interested in adding Torres to help replace David Villa, who's expected to move. The report also mentions Chelsea's hope of landing Napoli superstar Edinson Cavani.

The Spanish champs are preparing an audacious £17million bid for the misfit striker—£33m LESS than the British record transfer fee Chelsea paid Liverpool for him two years ago.

Even if the Blues aren't able to secure Cavani, who's one of the most coveted players on the market, their depth up front is growing. That's not good news for Torres.

The club has already agreed to an £18 million deal with Bayer Leverkusen for Andre Schurrle. It will also welcome back Romelu Lukaku from loan with West Bromwich Albion, where he shined, scoring 17 goals in 35 Premier League appearances.

Demba Ba also returns after a strong start with Chelsea following his acquisition in January. He wasn't able to maintain top form in the latter stages of the campaign, but starred for Newcastle before making the switch and should continue to make an impact for the Blues.

For Torres, one of the main reasons Chelsea has been a good fit over the past couple of seasons is the lack of depth up front. No matter how deep his slump became, the club had little option but to keep running him out there and seek better results.

They rarely came. Torres scored 17 goals across Premier League and European play last season. It amounts to his best season with the club, but is still well off the pace he set during his time at Liverpool.

His comments at least make it sound like he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge, but he shouldn't rule out a summer move. It may be his best choice after meeting with Mourinho.

The club's new manager, who returns after a previous successful stint with Chelsea that ended in 2007, will be under a lot of pressure to succeed. In Blues terms, that means contending for multiple trophies, including the Premier League title.

Along with the added forward depth, it leaves far less wiggle room for Torres. If he falls into one of his trademark slumps early next season and other players step up to fill the void, Mourinho will have to stick with the productive forwards.

Ultimately, Torres said all the right things about his Chelsea future. Moving forward, he must keep his own future in mind before making any final decisions this summer. He needs to find a way to regain his previously elite form.

Staying at Stamford Bridge might not provide that opportunity.

Spain vs. Tahiti: Confederations Cup Live Score, Highlights, Recap

Karl Matchett — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:34:30 -0400

FIFA Confederations Cup live coverage

Spain vs. Tahiti

Kickoff Thursday, June 20 at 8 p.m. UK / 3 p.m. EDT

Hello and welcome back folks to another round of live football coverage here on Bleacher Report, as we continue our action from the FIFA Confederations Cup. This game has the potential to be the highest scoring game of the tournament, as heavy favourites Spain take on heavy outsiders Tahiti.

Spain won their opening game 2-1 against Uruguay after an extremely impressive performance, while Tahiti were beaten 6-1 by an unconvincing Nigeria outfit.

The historical moment of scoring their first goal at an official FIFA tournament finals will live long in the memory for Tahiti and their players, but Spain have their eyes on yet more silverware to go with the Under-21 European Championships their youngsters won this week.

It promises to be an entertaining match one way or the other, so make sure you join me from around an hour before kickoff for all the team news, buildup and in-game action.

Meanwhile, here's all the best reading for your to enjoy:

Power Ranking Confed Teams After One Game Each

Most Intriguing Storylines of Spain vs. Tahiti

Projections for Every Confed Cup Side

Predicting Which Teams Will Progress

Teams Who'll Disappoint at the Confederations Cup

Follow @karlmatchett

Premier League 2013-14 Fixtures: First 6 Must-Watch Games

Will Tidey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:33:30 -0400

It says everything about the Premier League's monstrous appeal that the announcement of fixtures is an event in itself these days.

Though the exact dates and times of the games remain subject to change and at the whim of the television networks, Wednesday's release has got everybody excited about England's top flight again.

Just over a month after Manchester United wrapped up Premier League title No. 13, the last of Sir Alex Ferguson's reign, we are already looking ahead to their defence under David Moyes.

There's no time for summer in football.

Elsewhere, returning Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will be scanning the early challenges ahead for his team, as will Manchester City's new boss, Manuel Pellegrini. There are newcomers to assess in the form of Hull City, Crystal Palace and Cardiff, and there are new signings to cast our eyes over everywhere.

Here are my first six must-watch games of the 2013-14 Premier League season.

Begin Slideshow

7 Early Winners and Losers from Kansas City's Offseason

Farzin Vousoughian — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:31:13 -0400

The Kansas City Chiefs had a very busy offseason, and it is no surprise that they made so many moves after a two-win 2012 campaign.

From re-signing players to personnel moves and offseason activities, the Chiefs' front office had a successful offseason. On the other hand, some players were not able to accomplish everything they wanted to and finished organized team activities and minicamp with some question marks.

In this slideshow, I will go over the list of players who had a very good offseason, as well as those who did face challenges since the arrival of the new regime.

Begin Slideshow

CFB Playoff Leaders Still Several Months Away from Naming Selection Committee

Randy Chambers — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:30:51 -0400

Putting together the college football selection committee is one of the final details to getting the college football playoff format set up. It is also one of the most important details and will be treated as such.

SEC commissioner Mike Slive told Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports that finding the right group to select college football's best will be a lengthy process.

"We've got several months to get through the process," Slive said.

This isn't a big deal considering there is nothing but time. The college football playoff doesn't begin until 2014. There is still this upcoming college football season to play, and then a grueling offseason that college football fans are forced to sit through. Time is on their side.

But if you think this is an easy process that the commissioners want to drag out until the final seconds, think again.

Per the report, 10 commissioners of the Football Bowl Subdivision, plus Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, have presented more than 100 candidates who could make up the selection committee. That list then needs to be chopped down to around 12-18 people.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told Forde that it is up to college football playoff executive director Bill Hancock to begin doing the dirty work.

"We give him the names and he'll do the contacting," Delany said. "We're going to get great football people with a lot of experience and credibility. We'll get that at the core."

Have fun running the background checks and skimming through each résumé. The others will be at home if you need them, probably catching up on something called sleep. It's something you won't get much of, Mr. Hancock.

Hancock also told Forde that the likelihood of giving the selection committee a test run this season is slim. He doesn't want the results to overshadow this season and thinks it would be time consuming. Remember, there is enough work on his plate already.

"Don't waste all that time practicing to put on 'The Sound of Music' and then not let them put on 'The Sound of Music,'" Hancock said.

Follow @Randy_Chambers

Brazil vs. Mexico: Complete Viewing Guide for Anticipated Match

Mike Chiari — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:28:59 -0400

Brazil and Mexico will meet on Wednesday during Confederations Cup group play in what could arguably be the most anticipated match of the entire tournament. The two squads have plenty of history between them, and there is no question that they would love to win this grudge match.

Mexico upset Brazil in the 2012 Summer Olympics final, so Brazil likely has revenge on its mind, particularly since it will be playing on its home turf. If Brazil is able to defeat Mexico, El Tri will be eliminated from the tournament in all likelihood as they lost to Italy in the opener.

The Mexicans should have plenty of fight left in them, though, which means that Verde-Amarela can't afford to take them lightly.

Here is everything you need to know about when and where to watch Wednesday's Confederations Cup battle as well as which players you should keep a close eye on.

Where: Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil

When: Wednesday, June 19 at 4 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3.com

Players to Watch

Neymar

As one of the most exciting, young players in the entire world, all eyes seem to be on Neymar during the Confederations Cup. Not only is he arguably Brazil's best player, but he is considered to be one of the fastest-rising stars in the sport. With Neymar making the move from Santos to Barcelona as well, there is a ton of excitement surrounding him. Brazil has only played one match at the Confederations Cup thus far, but he is already living up to the hype.

Neymar scored the first of three Brazil goals as Canarinha shut out Japan to begin the tournament. Neymar is capable of scoring in a number of different ways, and he proved that against the Japanese. After a ball was chested down just outside Japan's box, Neymar allowed the ball to hit the ground once before rifling a wicked volley past the goalkeeper, as captured by 101 Great Goals:

Neymar already has two 40-goal seasons to his credit in club play, but he has been even better as a member of the Brazilian national team. With 21 goals in 35 international matches, including 13 over the past year, there is little doubt that Neymar is the straw that stirs the drink for Brazil. If he plays great on Wednesday, then the probability of Mexico being sent home after group play is quite high.

Chicharito

It is no secret that the Mexican national team has had a difficult stretch since winning Olympic gold last year. Mexico is currently just third in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying behind the United States and Costa Rica as El Tri simply can't buy a goal. The one Mexican player who is capable of scoring more consistently than anyone else, however, is world-renowned striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez.

The 25-year-old star is already among the most prolific scorers in Mexican soccer history, and he could very well top everyone by the time his career comes to an end. Chicharito scored 18 goals for EPL champion Manchester United this past season, and he also happened to post the best goals-per-minute rate among qualifiers, according to Opta Sports.

Chicharito scored the lone goal for Mexico in its 2-1 loss to Italy, but aside from Hernandez, very few Mexican players looked dangerous on the attack. As good as Chicharito is, he simply can't do it on his own. Even if he flies all over the pitch and gives Brazil's back line issues, his teammates must step up and look like threats as well.

Julio Cesar

Brazil has so many great midfielders and forwards that it is often easy to forget about the team's defensive acumen. Brazil's last line of defense is 33-year-old goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who continues to carry the load for the defending Confederations Cup champions. In fact, he and right-back Dani Alves are the only players on the current Brazilian roster who played in the Confederations Cup in 2009 as well, according to Infostrada Sports.

That type of consistency and longevity is more than welcome as Brazil tends to have quite a bit of turnover elsewhere. There are constantly young stars being brought up through the system, but no goalkeeper has succeeded in unseating Julio Cesar. As a two-time Serie A goalkeeper of the year and a former UEFA club goalkeeper of the year as well, Cesar is among the most decorated netminders in the world.

He proved in Brazil's opener that he is still capable of playing at a high level as he recorded a clean sheet against a dangerous Japanese team. Knowing that Mexico has been playing a lot of low-scoring matches lately, this one could conceivably be decided by a single goal. Because of that, there is little margin of error from Cesar's perspective. If he plays as well as he did against Japan, though, there should be no issues for Brazil.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Report: Georges St-Pierre to Defend UFC Title Against Johny Hendricks on Nov. 16

Trent Reinsmith — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:24:08 -0400

The question finally has an answer, and the answer is yes.

Let me fill in a few more details if that is a bit too vague. Yes, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre will fight top-ranked Johny Hendricks.

Yes, the fight does have a date, and that date is Nov. 16.

Yes, the fight has a location: Las Vegas, Nev.

No, the fight does not have a venue as of yet.

Ariel Helwani broke the news of St-Pierre’s impending title defense on Tuesday’s episode of UFC Tonight.

St-Pierre (24-2) last fought at UFC 158, defeating Nick Diaz by unanimous decision in front of a hometown crowd in Montreal’s Bell Centre. The win was St-Pierre’s eighth consecutive defense of the title. It was also his fourth consecutive fight in his home country of Canada.

When St-Pierre steps into the Octagon in Las Vegas in November it will be the first time he has fought outside of Canada since defending his title against Dan Hardy in New Jersey at UFC 111.

The last time St-Pierre competed in Las Vegas was in July 2009. In that bout, he defeated Thiago Alves by unanimous decision.

Hendricks’ (15-1) last fight was also at UFC 158. Hendricks defeated Carlos Condit on that card, running his unbeaten streak to six consecutive fights.

Helwani also noted that the event that St-Pierre and Hendricks will meet at would also serve as the UFC’s 20th anniversary event.

The UFC had hoped that it would be able to hold that event in New York City’s Madison Square Garden, but the failure of that state to legalize MMA made that dream impossible, as Newsday's Mark La Monica explains.

Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Officially Sell Andy Carroll to West Ham

Timothy Rapp — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:16:53 -0400

In news that hardly comes as a surprise, Andy Carroll has been sold from Liverpool to West Ham, according to the Reds' official site.

Liverpool Football Club have confirmed that Andy Carroll has completed a permanent transfer to West Ham United.

The striker spent the duration of the 2012-13 campaign on loan with the Hammers, scoring seven goals in 24 appearances.

Carroll joined Liverpool from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day in January 2011.

In total, he played 58 games for the Reds and scored 11 times.

Everybody at Liverpool FC would like to wish Andy all the best for the future.

The Hammers tweeted out a welcome picture for the big striker, as he returns to the club where he re-discovered his scoring touch.

The club also released further details on the deal:

Carroll joins the Hammers on a six-year contract, with an option for a further two in the Club's favour, for an undisclosed, Club record fee after enjoying an outstanding 2012/13 season on loan at the Boleyn Ground.

The marquee signing represents a significant step for the Club as they prepare to move to the 54,000-seater Olympic Stadium in 2016, with Carroll set to play a central role having committed his long-term future to the Hammers.

Carroll stated, according to the Hammers' official site:

'It's fantastic for me to be here. I really enjoyed last season, and that shows in me coming back and making it permanent,' said Carroll.

'The fans, the lads and the Club itself has been great to me, and what I wanted to do was come back here and play football.

Since the end of the season I've had a lot of time to think, I've missed it and that's why I'm back. Getting promoted the season before last, then finishing where we did - we did great, and it can only get better for us.

The way the Club's being run, obviously getting the new stadium and everything like that, it's only going up.'

Carroll went to West Ham on loan for the 2012-13 season, scoring seven goals and adding four assists in 22 starts and 24 total appearances. He missed a good portion of the season with a knee injury, however, sidelined for nearly all of December and January.

He came back to the club with a bang, though, scoring five goals in his next eight games. After scoring just one goal in his first 10 games and missing two months, he finally offered a glimpse of what he was capable of down the stretch.

Carroll first came to Liverpool in January of 2011 for a club-record £35 million transfer fee after scoring 17 Premier League goals for Newcastle in 2009-10 and adding 11 goals in 19 games in 2010-11. He was brought on to replace Fernando Torres, who was sold to Chelsea that same month.

But much like Torres has struggled at Chelsea, Carroll never found his footing at Anfield, scoring just six league goals in a season-and-a-half for Liverpool. And with Brendan Rodgers taking over at manager last season and instituting a system built around spacing and possession, it became clear that Carroll wasn't a good fit at the club.

Thus, it came as little surprise when he was sent to West Ham on a season-long loan last August, much as it isn't terribly shocking that the move has been made permanent.

When in form, Carroll is a force in the air and can hold up play for the midfield give his size, strength and nimble skill-set. He's a true No. 9 and gives West Ham a target in the box.

If he can stay healthy and out of trouble, Carroll will certainly have the chance to revitalize his once very bright career with the Hammers.

Why NASCAR Needs to Improve the Fan Experience at Tracks

Geoffrey Miller — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:11:43 -0400

NASCAR has long been a spectator sport that has walked the line of being fully fan-friendly.

There are the good parts—most tracks allow coolers full of beer, drinks or food; fans can listen directly to the strategy and emotion of teams and drivers with radio scanners—that help NASCAR stand out. But there are the bad parts, too, like weather extremes hurting the experience, or the general difficulty keeping up with the race's stories or dramas with often poor scoreboards and hard to hear public address systems.

During NASCAR's enormous rise in popularity during the late 1990s and into the mid 2000s, it was easy for its tracks to look past any deficiencies. The tickets were selling faster than they could be printed. New grandstands popped up like boom towns in the gold rush. The push wasn't about fan experience; it was about packing as many in as possible.

And that strategy worked...for a while.

Now, NASCAR's widespread popularity has diminished from its peak and tracks are in pursuit of ways to sell new tickets. Many have been stuck with a supply of seats that far outstrips fan demand, hurting the sport's feel of prominence when large swaths of grandstands sit empty on race day.

There are many, many factors at play in the decreased at-track attendance that NASCAR—and all of racing, for that matter—has seen in recent years. There's little doubt that the combination of the recent recession and the substantial, consistent rise in fuel prices delivered a punch to the NASCAR fan base's ability to travel to several races per year. The on-track product seemed to lag when NASCAR instituted the Car of Tomorrow platform from 2007 to 2012. Intense rivalries in the sport also seemed to have waned, likely due to the proliferation of multi-car teams and sponsors demanding drivers who are basically high-speed public relations flacks.

Each of those factors are important in the general widespread interest level of the sport. Not all have a direct and telling fix. But one not listed—the at-track fan experience—is an area where NASCAR and its tracks could afford to be more innovative. Some, like the proposed complete renovation of the Daytona International Speedway, seem to be moving in that direction.

It's important in two ways: First, increasing attendance and the general experience will ideally more deeply develop a fan's affinity for the sport, and second the appearance of full, vibrant grandstands will establish the sport's credibility and buzz to the millions of television viewers, encouraging them to seek the at-track experience.

Trackside Social Connectivity is Key

The role of social media to a sport like NASCAR is invaluable. Where fans once had to rely exclusively on the stories and news told by the television provider, the radio broadcaster or the next day's newspaper, the rise of social media has created an instantaneous way to keep tabs on all 43 teams competing in a given Sprint Cup Series race. Whether by industry journalists or team public relations efforts, following all of the race's stories and footnotes is no longer bounded by print space or broadcast windows.

At the track, this means fans should be able to access their social media feeds on smart phones and other devices. Instead of the large-scale crowd overloading existing, unimproved cell networks, tracks need to make it a priority to offer wireless Internet connections. On a series-wide scale, NASCAR should insist title sponsor Sprint either provide more portable cellular towers that can handle increased demand from all providers, or find an exemption that allows other carriers to expand their networks for races.

Substantial Increases in Size, Number and Resolution of Video Boards

Charlotte Motor Speedway made waves in 2011 when it installed what currently stands as the world's largest video screen. The 200' by 80' high-definition screen has been a substantial improvement to the track's experience—both as a way for fans to feel more connected to the pre-race activities and as a dramatic, crystal-clear view of replays.

But CMS is the lone NASCAR venue to have built such a substantial display that incorporates elements typically reserved for viewers at home. Other tracks still rely on screens that are mounted to semi-trucks that are often too small and have a resolution too poor to truly view from a distance. It's no secret that video has become king in other sporting venues—what's taking so long for NASCAR?

Important Statistics and Stories Should Play More Visual Role

At home, fans can use the "second screen" approach to keep abreast of NASCAR races in ways mostly impossible at the track. The social media aspect has already been discussed, but other online tools can provide individual driver lap times, tell which drivers are moving forward or backward and provide instantaneous looks at point standings. Some of those are available in the expensive and clunky Sprint FanVision system available for rent at tracks, but they aren't available to the masses who simply buy a ticket.

To go with those improved video screens, tracks need to more smartly display overall running order (in a static, non-rotating format that can always be viewed at a glance), highlight the fastest car on track for a given lap, show which drivers have gained the most spots since a pit stop or restart and show live split times between leaders or other important on-track battles.

Each of those help tell the race's story to fans in the stands. Even experienced fans can easily get lost in the race's dramatics when leaders start to lap slower cars.

Greater Access to the Race Outside of the Seat

There are many fans who don't mind staying planted in one seat for the duration of race. Undoubtedly, there are many others who like to roam the grandstand areas in pursuit of differing angles or just to experience more from a sports venue. That's why many recent stick-and-ball stadiums have added concourses and other viewing areas where people can gather and still stay in touch with what's happening on the field.

NASCAR tracks need to do the same, and think beyond the single-seat experience. It's important because the length of races often tops that of other sports. Tracks need to build areas where fans can congregate, still see the track if they wish and also have access to multiple televisions. The gratuitous TVs many tracks place above concession stands just aren't enough. For races with mundane periods, an area perfect for a change of pace could be critical for keeping casual fans entertained.

Consider Driver-Specific Cheering Sections

An element of mainstream sports that be so encapsulating is the emotion a crowd feels for the home team. NASCAR is different in that regard thanks to each of its teams competing on the same field of play every week. Tracks should merge these elements by considering driver-specific cheering sections. Imagine the fun that could be had by putting Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans next to Kyle Busch fans as those drivers race for the lead.

The driver-specific seating areas could even offer premium connectivity. Imagine taking the idea some airlines use that allows individual flyers to listen various radio channels via a standard headphone jack and selection knob. Adapt that technology to the seating area by providing fans a chance to plug-in and select from a few listening options like their driver's scanner channel, the radio broadcast or the television broadcast. While we're at it, provide USB connectivity to charge various devices.

NASCAR's live event experience has long been good for those experienced and dedicated enough to fully immerse themselves in the race. But those barriers to entry and overall enjoyment shouldn't really shouldn't be so high. By taking what's working for other sports, being innovative in telling the story of the race and accommodating new fans, the track experience can be improved.

Looking at the empty seats dotting so many tracks today, there's plenty of demand for fresh ideas.

Noah Brown Highlights: Monster Athlete Wants Heisman Trophy

Full Ride — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:10:43 -0400

Noah Brown, the 4-star ATH from Pope John XXIII High School, has set big goals for his future, but definitely has the ability to back them up. The 6'2", 212-pound star recorded a total of 20 touchdowns last season from all different positions on the field.

Brown has over 20 scholarship offers to choose from and has expressed high interest in multiple different schools.

Watch the video to see what Brown says about his conversations with top coaches, and check out a recruiting letter one school sent this top athlete.

Updated 2013 MLB Cy Young Award Stock Watch

Kerry Miller — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:17 -0400

Barring an injury, I can all but guarantee that Yu Darvish will win the 2013 American League Cy Young Award.

You'll have to read on to find out why.

The National League winner is considerably more up in the air, but we at least have a good idea who the key players will be at the end of the season.

It's only been three weeks since Joe Giglio authored our last Cy Young stock watch update, but injuries to some candidates, surges by others and a couple of oversights (sorry, Joe!) necessitated a refreshed look at who ranks where in the race for each league's Cy Young.

*All statistics are courtesy of Fangraphs.com, ESPN.com and Baseball-Reference.com and are accurate through the start of play on Wednesday, June 19, 2013.

Begin Slideshow

Shoeless Mike Miller GIF Gets George W. Bush Shoe-Toss Treatment, Wins Internet

Dan Carson — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:08:04 -0400

Like the postseason, the Internet is an ongoing series of competitions.

People compete on a daily basis to come up with the funniest spoofs on the subject matter du jour, and the most priceless animation, video or picture of the day wins all the kettle corn.

While the Internet cannot be won forever, it can be won for a day or two—which is precisely what Guyism’s World of Isaac did when he made a GIF of Mike Miller throwing his shoe at George W. Bush during Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

The backstory on the Miller shoe-toss that provided the necessary pressure to form this Internet diamond is that the Heat small forward lost his shoe in the early minutes of the fourth quarter Tuesday night.

Miller’s shoe came loose, and with no time time to bend down and lace it back on, he just went, “Welp, hold onto this, bros” and threw it at the Heat bench.

That’s where the glory began—and I’m not talking about the shoeless, three-pointer Miller went on to hit after losing his sneaker. I’m talking about a man taking footage of the Heat’s streaky sharpshooter tossing away his shoe and melding it with video of former U.S. President George W. Bush expertly ducking an Oxford thrown by an Iraqi reporter.

Remember that moment? When a U.S. President went full Matrix during a press conference? It’s 10 times better when it’s a Pokeball.

Regardless of your political or sporting allegiances, Bush dodging Miller's shoe is the equivalent of high art for the Internet. How do you even come up with that?

Ohio State Basketball: Best-Case Scenarios for Projected Starters in 2013-14

Scott Polacek — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:07:28 -0400

Every college basketball offseason is filled with best-case and worst-case scenario projections. The irony is the truth almost always lies somewhere in the middle, albeit at the individual level or for the team as a whole.

That being said, let’s play the optimism card here and discuss what the best-case scenarios are for each projected Ohio State starter in the 2013-14 season.

There is no more Deshaun Thomas in place to lead the Big Ten in scoring, so the Buckeyes could use the actual production to mirror these hypotheticals if they want to challenge for another Final Four.

Begin Slideshow

Spurs vs. Heat Game 7: Complete Viewing Guide for Epic 2013 NBA Finals Matchup

Alex Kay — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:06:41 -0400

Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals will have to be one of the most intense and magnificent games of basketball ever played if it lives up to the bar set in Game 6.

Fortunately, with the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs involved, anything is possible. These are clearly the two best teams in the league and they bring out the best in one another.

They have one final chance to match up, this time with the series tied and a single game deciding which side will hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy and which will leave the arena feeling nothing but disappointment.

Let’s take a look at where you can watch this thrilling contest, highlight a key player and stat to keep in mind, make a prediction on the final score and more.

When: Thursday, June 20 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, Fla.

Watch: ABC

Player to Watch: LeBron James

After King James’ headband-less assault on the Spurs in the fourth quarter of Game 6, everyone is now waiting to see which version of the league’s reigning MVP will show up on Thursday.

Will it be the timid, hesitant LBJ who wasn’t able to keep his team from falling into a double-digit hole after three quarters who shows up, or will we see the new-look, aggressive, foot-on-your-throat James who used his sheer force of will and world-class talent to keep the Heat alive?

Don’t be surprised if it’s a bit of both, as James has yet to display the sort of cold, calculating dominance that allows players like Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan to take over an entire game.

However, in the fourth quarter, expect James to once again shed his headband—literally or figuratively, possibly both—and exert his will on the action.

Key Stat: Home Team Hasn’t Loss Game 7 since 1978.

The Washington Bullets were the last team to take Game 7 on the road, way back in ’78. Wes Unseld led his squad to a championship over the Seattle SuperSonics, back when the format was still 2-2-1-1-1.

However, no other road team since has been able to capture Game 7, especially with the daunting 2-3-2 format.

After tying things up in front of their fans on Tuesday, the Heat now get a second-straight game in South Beach and are looking to continue the tradition of home-court advantage trumping the opposition.

The Heat will look to prove that playing hard throughout the year and earning the best record in the regular season pays off, as they are in the driver’s seat with history on their side going into Thursday night’s contest.

Prediction: Heat Defend Their Crown

Despite a valiant effort from the Spurs—especially Tony Parker and Tim Duncan—they just don’t have what it takes to emerge with a “W” after being absolutely drained in Game 6.

Manu Ginobili, one of the long-time leaders in San Antonio, admitted as much. The Argentinian superstar told the press (h/t ProBasketballTalk) after the heartbreaking loss:

I have no clue how we’re going to be reenergized. I’m devastated. But we have to. There’s no Game 8 afterwards. We’re going to have to play our best game, even better than today. Shoot better, better defense, less turnovers in my case, but, yeah. There’s no secret recipe for bouncing back.

It’s unlikely that coach Gregg Popovich is going to be able to get his players motivated and ready to give it all, considering the Spurs left it all out on the court in this one and came up short.

The Heat are going to win and win big, destroying the Spurs and proving that they are still the NBA’s powerhouse.

Heat 104 – Spurs 90

Chelsea's EPL Fixture Schedule Offers Title Advantage over Rivals

John Baines — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:01:47 -0400

After weeks of anticipation, the Premier League fixtures for 2013/14 were released on Wednesday morning, and as suspected each of the 20 teams will play the other 19 twice—once at home and once away between August 17 and May 11.

In that regard there is absolutely no advantage to one side or another, but when you look deeper into the scheduling of games and who plays who when, then the much-fabled "fixtures computer" has churned out some fairly friendly sequences for Chelsea. The full fixture list can be found on the official club website.

Newly promoted Hull City will snip the ribbon on Jose Mourinho's second spell as manager of the Blues when they visit Stamford Bridge for the season opener, and given Chelsea have won 10 of their last 11 curtain raisers, you'd fully expect "The Special One" to kick-start things with an ordinary accumulation of three points against Steve Bruce's Tigers.

After that Chelsea face a visit to champions Manchester United for David Moyes's home bow in the Red Devils dugout, and personally I don't think there's a better time to face the post Sir Alex Ferguson era Reds.

United aren't particularly noted for lightning-quick starts to the season; could they possibly maintain the same aura of invincibility throughout the campaign without their long-time leader?

Mourinho will know the importance of getting one over your rivals early doors, and the Portuguese gaffer can call on ample big-game experience pitting his wits against sides likely to be in the shake-up whereas Moyes, quite simply, cannot.

After that it's Aston Villa at home in a tie Chelsea usually do well in, before it's back up north to a traditionally tricky venue that may not have the same pitfalls due to another managerial change.

Clashes at Goodison Park aren't usually for the faint-hearted but with Everton now under the command of Roberto Martinez rather than Moyes, how well will the Toffees be acclimatising to the new ball-playing approach their Spanish boss will instill?

From there on it's Fulham at home and Tottenham away, and indeed, before the halfway point Chelsea face away trips to several grounds that can often prove problematic for the visitors.

Before the turn of the year, the Europa League winners must travel to United, Everton, Tottenham, Newcastle, West Ham, Stoke and Arsenal, but although that looks like a bit of a handful, the flip side, of course, is that the return legs over the more arduous second half of the season will all be played on home soil.

It's also worth pointing out that Chelsea have some comfortable tasks following Champions League activity between September and December. The Londoners will barely have to stray out of the capital following midweek duties, with five home games against Fulham, Manchester City, West Brom, Southampton and Crystal Palace—as well as an away game at Norwich City—all following on from European action.

That's in direct contrast to champions United, who have to face City and Arsenal at home in addition to away clashes with Sunderland, Tottenham and Aston Villa.

Manuel Pellegrini will also have to succeed where Roberto Mancini failed at home as well as abroad, and that cause won't be aided by travelling to United and Chelsea, as well as hosting Arsenal and bogey team Everton after returning from Europe.

So it's fair to say Chelsea have an advantage over their competitors in that respect, and I think they've also got a decent stretch over the business end of things too.

United, Arsenal and Tottenham will all have to come to Stamford Bridge past the turnaround, with Chelsea's most difficult away tasks being City, Liverpool and Aston Villa, mixed in with meetings at the likes of Southampton, Hull, Fulham, West Brom, Crystal Palace and Swansea.

United on the other hand must go to Chelsea. Stoke, Arsenal, West Ham, Newcastle and Everton, whilst City will need to deal with days out at Newcastle, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton.

It's also worth looking at Chelsea's run-in over the last six weeks of the season when climaxes of multiple competitions can come to a head, and from the beginning of April until the end of the campaign, Chelsea face Stoke (H), Swansea (A), Sunderland (H), Liverpool (A), Norwich (H), Cardiff (A). There have been harder itineraries.

Which way round you play your games is, of course, academic if you don't win them, but on paper, at least, it looks as though Chelsea have been dealt a decent hand by the fixtures computer.

What do you think? Will this schedule aid Chelsea's quest to be crowned Premier League champions, and whose set of fixtures would you rather have?

Leave your comments below, or hit me up on Twitter @bainesyDiego10

College World Series 2013: Offenses That Will Carry Their Teams to Victory

Ryan Rudnansky — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0400

Pitching is obviously important in winning the College World Series, but you also need to have a bit of offense.

There are several teams in the 2013 College World Series which have won big games by exploding at the plate, whether it's a team ranked in the top 10 in the nation in runs or a team that seems to pick its spots at just the right moments.

With six teams remaining in the 2013 CWS, here are the two offenses that will do the most damage moving forward.

*Statistics via NCAA.com

Indiana

Indiana was ranked 12th in the nation in runs through Monday's games. The Hoosiers scored 15 runs against Austin Peay in the regionals and a combined 21 runs in two games against Florida State in the super regionals.

Indiana's offense will be tested against Oregon State's dynamic pitching on Wednesday, but I expect the Hoosiers to score just enough to edge the Beavers. This should be a low-scoring game, but the better offense—Indiana—should pull it off.

If Indiana beats Oregon State, it will play Mississippi State. Indiana lost a thriller to the Bulldogs on Monday, but Indiana has been just a bit better at the plate throughout the season, which I believe will come back to bite Mississippi State.

North Carolina

North Carolina hasn't looked as dominant in the tournament as it did in the regular season, but its 4-2 victory over LSU may have lit a spark under the team.

LSU left-hander Cody Glenn, who was outstanding all season, allowed three runs in two innings in that game, including a two-run homer in the first inning to catcher Brian Holberton.

Don't forget, North Carolina ranks first in the nation in runs this season. A 12-11 win over Florida Atlantic in the regionals was a reminder of that. Colin Moran and Cody Stubbs rank first and third in the nation in RBI, respectively. Getting to Glenn early may have been a sign that the Tar Heels' offense is revving up.

Look for North Carolina to avenge its prior loss to N.C. State on Thursday.

5 Struggling First-Half Pitchers Most Likely to Turn MLB Seasons Around

Benjamin Klein — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:56:04 -0400

Several top major league pitchers have struggled mightily through the first half of this season, but there’s still plenty of hope that things will turn themselves around.

It takes some starting pitchers a little bit more time than others to get acclimated after the offseason concludes. A couple of starts in spring training aren’t always enough, and a few bad starts to begin the year can cause more poor outings. When a pitcher doesn’t have confidence, things can get ugly fast.

It’s important to look at how these pitchers usually do throughout the year. Are they better during the first or second half of the season? In most instances, as you’ll see, some of the best pitchers in baseball are considerably better in the second half. That’s what should give fans hope for better starts as the season continues.

Which starters are going to rebound after scary-looking starts? Let’s take a look at five major league starting pitchers who are bound to be better in the coming months.

*All statistics obtained via FanGraphs unless otherwise noted. All contract information was obtained via Cot’s Contracts. All injury information was obtained via Baseball Prospectus.

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Dallas Cowboys: Top 5 Candidates to Succeed Jason Garrett as Head Coach

Christian Blood — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:53:27 -0400

Despite the fact that owner and general manager Jerry Jones has stated otherwise, it's widely believed that head coach Jason Garrett is coaching for his life in 2013.

If this is true, here's a look at the top five candidates who could replace Garrett as the ninth head coach in franchise history—the eighth such hire for Jones.

If this scenario comes to pass following the 2013 NFL regular season, there are a few directions that Jones can take. He has taken each one before.

Jones could opt to dip into the college ranks to find his next man. There is big splash potential in this direction. Jones could also look for a previous NFL coach who's not currently employed, and there's a reasonable short list of options.

Jones could also promote from within the organization as there's a plethora of head coaching experience and credentials already on staff that dwarf fourth-year veteran Garrett. There's also the possibility that Jones could look around the league at other coaching staffs, but I doubt this will be preferred, especially if the candidate has no previous head coaching experience.

I may regret it later, but I'm leaving off the name Bill Cowher for two reasons.

First off, Cowher hasn't coached since the 2006 season and having just turned 56 as of May, I'm having more and more doubts that he'll end up coming back to the NFL to coach. That broadcast booth is pretty cozy by now—and so is that paycheck.

Second, I can't imagine Jones and Cowher being able to work together in the same room. Granted, I never would have thought that Jones and Bill Parcells could unite either, which they obviously did. Cowher just doesn't seem like a likely candidate despite the fact that he's easily the best one.

But there's still names out there from each category mentioned above, and if a move is made next offseason, remember these potential replacements for Garrett.

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Manchester United: Defensive Issues for David Moyes to Resolve This Summer

Sean Butters — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:53:11 -0400

All stats are courtesy of Transfermarkt unless linked otherwise.

Despite finishing with an 11-point gap between themselves and second-placed rivals Manchester City, while the goal difference itself—43, the highest in the league—makes for comforting reading, Manchester United and David Moyes will be well aware that was mostly down to the forwards.

Naturally, having Robin van Persie is a blessing for any manager, and the fact that the Dutchman scored over a quarter of his side’s league goals is not as worrying as it may seem—take away his 26, and United still have the seventh-highest tally in the Premier League. But at the other end of the field, in several different ways, the situation is not so ideal.

Moyes has already begun to address the back four with his recent signing of Guillermo Varela as understudy to the ever-improving Rafael, but is it enough, or will there be more bolstering work done over the next couple of months?

Rafael is basking in the warm afterglow of his best season to date, which saw him notch three goals and four assists in the league, the highlight being a brilliantly struck shot from outside the area against Queens Park Rangers. The low point unfortunately came in what turned out to be his final game of the season, when a loss of temper brought about an unnecessary kick on Chelsea’s David Luiz with a resulting red card.

However, while the young Brazilian is far better defensively than he was two or three seasons ago, there are some underlying stats that will cause his manager some concern. Out of 28 league starts in 2012-13 for Rafael, United conceded at least two goals nine times; in the 10 games he didn’t play there were only two in which they conceded twice or more, one of which was the end-of-season 5-5 thriller against West Bromwich Albion when United had already secured the title.

It's obvious from the signing of Varela that Moyes does not see Phil Jones or Chris Smalling as suitable deputies at right-back, but, with a bare minimum of playing experience behind him, no matter how many plaudits fly in, the Uruguayan youngster is not yet the answer.

While Rafael has shown that he can play 40 games a season, if not more, United can’t account for injury, and if the 22-year-old were laid off for a few weeks they would need a capable understudy to call on. Jones and Smalling have both shown their adeptness at right-back, but Jones is viewed by many (including himself) as destined to sit at the heart of the defence, while Smalling has proved somewhat injury-prone.

This is where the experience of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic come into play, with the defenders aged 34 and 31 years old respectively.

If, as expected, Varela is sent out on loan next season, then Jones or Smalling will be forced to deputise in the event of Rafael getting injured, as Marnick Vermijl is looking increasingly like a fringe player who will be moved on sooner rather than later.

Obviously there is the benefit of making the young Englishmen into more versatile players, but if Jones, as thought, is to end up at centre-back, then surely both he and Ferdinand are at the ages where one should be slowly replacing the other?

It’s all very well having a good repertoire of positions, but Jones should be careful that he doesn’t fall victim to the “jack of all, master of none” syndrome. Despite Jones being the better player, Jonny Evans currently looks the most likely to partner Vidic once Ferdinand’s late rush of form withers or his age catches up, for the simple reason that Evans has more experience in the role and performed solidly throughout the season while Jones was busy being switched between defence and midfield.

So when Ferdinand retires in the next year or so, even if Evans becomes the first-choice centre-back alongside Vidic, there is still the inevitable drop in form and ability that will strike the Serbian over the course of the next two or three seasons to worry about. Smalling’s regular injury problems are why it’s important to focus on preparing Jones for a career at centre-back as thoroughly as possible, before it’s too late.

In that respect, the signing of Varela is a good move, but if he goes out on loan—unless there is someone else on the horizon—Moyes will be very reliant on Rafael and risk stunting the development of Jones as a centre-back if the Brazilian gets injured.

But what about the left side of defence, which has been dominated by Patrice Evra for the past six years but is now in uncertainty as the French international reached the age of 32 last month?

Firstly, although he is returning from a season loan at QPR, Fabio will be very fortunate to make next season’s squad.

The twin brother of Rafael did make 21 league appearances last season, but the manner in which he made them is not quite so encouraging, and his performances even less so. After starting the first three games of the season under Mark Hughes—which saw QPR concede nine goals—he picked up a hamstring injury during the fourth, and on his return he couldn’t really establish himself under Harry Redknapp, with seven of his remaining 16 appearances under the new manager coming from the bench.

Back in Manchester, it is hard to tell if Alexander Buttner looks more promising, though on what we’ve seen he does appear to be a more rounded player than Fabio.

The 24-year-old made a sublime start to his Manchester United career, with a decent performance topped off by a scintillating goal during his debut match against Wigan, though he didn’t really build on that, making only 13 first-team appearances in 2012-13. Granted, Patrice Evra's form was unquestionably good last season, and Buttner's two goals in five league games is an excellent ratio for a defender, but don’t expect it to become a regular occurrence.

However, if Buttner’s strength is going forward, then his weakness is definitely his defensive positioning, which was often put to the question, especially in—albeit academic—Champions League games against Galatasary and CFR Cluj.

In summary, if Patrice Evra had not recovered from his dire run of form in time for last season, then United would have had the impossible dilemma of either playing an experienced left-back who was badly out of sorts, or an inexperienced left-back whose performances could go either way—not the depth in talent we have come to expect from the title-holders. That, and the 43 league goals conceded could have been far more.

And as long as Evra keeps playing like he is, Buttner will have his work cut out trying to showcase and develop his talents, which could have a detrimental effect once Evra retires and Buttner faces the prospect of having to step up as first-choice left-back. But the idea of Moyes allowing that to happen is fairly inconceivable, which makes the signing of Leighton Baines or another top left-back this summer or the next seem more plausible.

Back on the right side, Rafael has shown that he has a special quality and should be allowed to retain his role as first-choice right-back, but this presents a headache for the manager: He could send Varela out on loan and risk having to call on either Jones or Smalling as deputies and hypothetically hinder their long-term development as centre-backs. Alternatively, he could keep Varela as the understudy, which would naturally deprive the 20-year-old of the regular game time he needs to reach his full potential.

With all these issues to resolve, if there’s one thing that Moyes doesn’t have, it’s an easy first summer at his new club. Oh, and then there’s the simple matters of the midfield and Wayne Rooney situations to sort out.

Good luck then, old sport, good luck.