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Chael Sonnen: If Anderson Silva Wins at UFC 162, He Is the Best of All Time

Damon Martin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:15:38 -0400

For the better part of two years, Chael Sonnen had one mission in life—the absolute destruction and obliteration of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

Unfortunately, Sonnen fell short in both of his attempts to take Silva's title away from him, losing in the first bout by a late fifth round submission and being stopped by strikes in the second round of their rematch.

Sonnen has moved on since the fights with Silva, and now competes in the light heavyweight division while also spending much of his time behind the desk as an analyst for the UFC on Fox and Fuel TV.

On Tuesday night during a broadcast of UFC Tonight, Sonnen gave his most recent opinion on Silva's upcoming fight against top middleweight contender Chris Weidman. Sonnen has never been shy when taking a dig at Silva, but when giving his unabashed opinion on the fight, he knows the champion is in for a tough matchup.

"You don't have to look too far to see Chris Weidman has the exact skill set to beat Anderson Silva, and he's also got it upstairs. He wants this fight," Sonnen said. "He has a better top game, at least submission wise, than I do. I was able to have some success for several minutes with Anderson from that position.

"Weidman's going to get on top, he needs this, he's never tasted defeat."

Weidman's wrestling background combined with his growing jiu-jitsu arsenal has him becoming quite the popular pick amongst fighters in the UFC. Stylistically, Weidman's best weapons appear to be the areas where Silva is the weakest.

It's hard to ignore, however, that Silva is the best fighter the UFC and MMA have ever seen. He's faced wrestlers and jiu-jitsu practitioners numerous times throughout his career, and continuously came out on top.

The general consensus across the MMA world is that Weidman could be the toughest test Silva has faced to date, and even Sonnen can't deny what a win at UFC 162 would do for the middleweight king.

"Let's also understand, if Anderson Silva wins this fight, the debate ends—he is the best fighter of all time," Sonnen stated.

Sonnen has never bent much on his belief that Silva isn't the greatest fighter in the world, but it appears he's turned the corner knowing the champion has a truly tough fight in front of him on July 6 in Las Vegas.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

Why Tim Tebow Circus is Great News for the New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski

Bill Stoll — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:07:17 -0400

It's hard to find things about New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski that haven't already been said. Best tight end of his generation? Sure. Supreme blend of size, skill and athleticism? Absolutely. Headline machine? Yep. Off the field distraction to his coaches and teammates? Yeah, that too.

Gronkowski and his antics have become notorious to the point where it is difficult not to associate the player, Rob Gronkowski, with his alter ego, Gronk. While he is undoubtedly one of the best players in the NFL, you have to wonder whether his off field issues, most recently culminating in a rather unfortunate series of injuries and surgeries, detrimentally affect the rest of his team.

Luckily for Gronk however, the circus has just come to Foxborough. Last week, the New England Patriots announced that they had signed the enigmatic quarterback Tim Tebow to a two-year contract. The ensuing media frenzy was swift and at times overwhelming. Tebow and head coach Bill Belichick were swarmed with reporters already asking questions like what position Tebow would play and how he would fit into the offense, on only the first day Tebow arrived. What then, does this mean for Gronkowski? That for the first time, he isn't the focal point of media scrutiny in Patriots camp. Rather than focusing on answering tough questions about his injuries and recovery, Gronk can instead focus on getting to play come September.

Before Tebow-mania came to town, much of the talk surrounding the New England Patriots was centered around Gronkowski and his struggles to stay on the field. In his record-setting 2011 season, Gronkowski became the first tight end to lead the NFL in touchdown receptions as well as setting the single-season record for touchdowns by a tight end. And this was only in his second year as a pro. However, in the AFC Championship Game, he suffered a high ankle sprain that limited his mobility and effectiveness in the Super Bowl, which the Patriots would go on to lose.

In 2012, he broke his left forearm against the Indianapolis Colts on November 18th, an injury which forced him to miss the rest of the regular season. Then, when he attempted to return in the playoffs, he only ended up re-breaking the same arm, which at the time was thought to require a second surgery before healing fully.

That brings us to this summer, and the slew of health issues Gronk has endured so far. Gronkowski underwent two more surgeries on his forearm, which became infected. While this issue finally appeared to clear up, Gronkowski then underwent back surgery on June 18th, as reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. As Schefter goes on to state, since the timetable for recovery is about 12 weeks, it's possible that he will miss some time at the onset of the season. Even if he has a full recovery, several issues are raised about whether or not Gronkowski's level of conditioning will be able to cope with the rigors of an NFL season after missing so much time.

Let's not forget that the Patriots lost receivers Brandon Lloyd and Wes Welker this offseason. Though they signed WR Danny Amendola it still is not clear who will be able to pick up the offensive slack. Especially when you consider Aaron Hernandez's alleged legal troubles, it seemed as if media attention would be placed solely on Gronkowski's ability to recover in time for the season to start. As we saw during the NBA Playoffs, speculation about the return of an injured player (see Derrick Rose), results in nothing but problems for the player, team and fans.

And, just about the time we started to wonder who would be able to replace Gronkowski, the Tim Tebow circus came to town! The topic of conversation switched from whether or not Gronk would be able to return, to things like whether his signing improves the Patriots. Or what role Tebow will play in the new offense. Or even speculation on whether or not Tebow should be used as a tight end.

In the blink of an eye, Gronk went from center stage to sideshow in Tebow's circus. Now, naivety aside, it's obvious that the media will focus some of their attention to Gronkowski, his timetable to return and his impact once he finally returns to the practice field. However, the most compelling storyline engulfing the Patriots has become "Will Tim Tebow Make the Roster?" Unless you don't own a television, if you randomly turned on ESPN in the last year or so, there was probably about a 30 percent chance they were talking about Tebow.

I mean heck, when Tebow-related discussion turns out gems like this, who loses? Certainly not Gronkowski, who now will be able to dodge most of the discussion and recover at his own pace. Rather than face media scrutiny about his return to the field, or really any other issues that could pop up, Gronkowski will be able to recuperate out of the scope of most media attention.

Even while playing with the New York Jets, it took some otherworldly awful play from QB Mark Sanchez to deflect attention for Tebow-mania. Week after week, head coach Rex Ryan was forced to deal with questions about Tebow. This lasted throughout the entire season. Well, no, there was a brief time the media had something else to write about. You know what I'm talking about. The butt fumble.

Tebow coming to town might have made Gronkowski not even the most notable tight end on his own team. And after a couple years of dealing with the glare from the constant media spotlight, for Gronkowski that won't be such a bad thing.

Lakers News: How Kobe Bryant's Return Date Shapes Dwight Howard's Decision

Maxwell Ogden — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:06:50 -0400

During a recent interview with John Ireland and Mike Trudell of ESPN LA 710, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant stated that he's aiming for a return date between November and December. This comes after Bryant tore his Achilles' tendon in April, which thus projects to be an eight-month recovery.

The question is: How will Bryant's potential return date shape Dwight Howard's decision?

As of July 1, Howard will become an unrestricted free agent and thus be able to join any team that he may choose. While some have speculated that he will, in fact, return to the Lakers, there are no guarantees to be made when it comes to free agency.

Even when it comes to a player choosing the illustrious Lakers over an alternate franchise.

With that being said, Kobe's announced return date could have a more significant impact on D-12's decision than one might believe. While the two may appear to be apples and oranges on the surface, there is a direct correlation.

It all starts with becoming "the man."

Becoming D-12's Team

If Kobe Bryant is to be sidelined until November or December, that leaves the Los Angeles Lakers without their star for training camp and the preseason. In that time, L.A. will likely run their practices in a different manner than they would with Kobe available.

How much better of an opportunity could Dwight Howard receive to prove to his teammates that he can be their franchise player?

Even if Bryant were to return for opening day, Howard would have earned the trust of his teammates on the offensive end of the floor. In turn, the Lakers would be more inclined to run their offense through him and allow Bryant to re-enter as the perimeter force.

Keep in mind, Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal won three titles by running their offense in such a manner.

This is not the same guarantee that another franchise could give Howard, but no team can offer him as much money or as many years on a contract. Furthermore, no other team in the NBA—sans the Boston Celtics, for basketball purists—has the allure of the Lakers.

Being the man in Los Angeles is quite the attractive opportunity—Howard has that chance with Kobe injured.

Returning to the Rotation

The question that instantly comes to mind is what will come of Dwight Howard once Kobe Bryant does return to the starting lineup. While D-12 may be the league's most decorated center, Kobe is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a member of the hypothetical all-time All-NBA teams.

When you're returning from an injury as severe as a torn Achilles', however, there is a transition process—regardless of whom you may be.

If there's any form of sense in Tinseltown, the Lakers will refrain from running an uptempo offense early in the season. Instead, they'll capitalize on the presence of their two elite big men and let Steve Nash create looks for Bryant and the perimeter players.

Once Kobe does re-establish his ball-handling dominance, Howard will have been granted the opportunity necessary to command touches on a consistent basis. It's then that L.A. will truly run their offense through the combination of D-12 and Bryant.

Per the previously alluded to interview, Bryant does want Howard to remain in town.

"It's not like you have guys like Dwight Howard just walking around every day," Bryant said. "Those guys are hard to find. They don't grow on trees. I think when you have somebody like that, with his talent level, you have to, you have to be able to keep him and lock him in with this franchise, and with the history that this franchise has of having great centers, this would, in my opinion, be the perfect spot for him."

Indeed it would.

At the end of the day, Bryant's reign in Los Angeles is relatively limited due to his age and the severity of this injury. Even if he is the most productive shooting guard in the NBA—Kobe led all players at his position in scoring, rebounds and assists—he's also 34 years old.

Howard has the opportunity to begin his path as a Lakers legend as soon as the 2013-14 season—the silver lining to a devastating Achilles' injury sustained by Kobe Bryant.

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

Jake Lapin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:58:43 -0400

Wednesday night features a rubber match between the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics as each team battles in the AL West. The A's remain three games ahead of Texas for the division lead, but the Rangers will try to change that in the third game of this four-game series.

This series, tied so far at one apiece, is a significant one, as each of these teams are trying to claim the division lead heading into the All-Star break. So far this season, these teams have been pretty even, each winning four games in the season series.

Pitching for Oakland will be southpaw Tommy Milone. Milone has pitched well in his last few starts, but he hasn't gotten enough run support to win those games.

From the other dugout, Justin Grimm will take the mound for Texas. Grimm has not gotten the job done lately, losing two of his last three starts.

This should be a good battle in Arlington. Here are tonight's starting lineups:

Oakland Athletics

1. Young, CF

2. Lowrie, SS

3. Cespedes, DH

4. Moss, 1B

5. Donaldson, 3B

6. Smith, LF

7. Reddick, RF

8. Norris, C

9. Sogard, 2B

Texas Rangers

1. Kinsler, 2B

2. Andrus, SS

3. Cruz, RF

4. Beltre, 3B

5. Berkman, DH

6. Pierzynski, C

7. Chirinos, 1B

8. Murphy, LF

9. Martin, CF

To watch this game, tune in to Fox Sports Southwest or CSN California. First pitch is at 8:05 p.m. ET.

Confederations Cup 2013 Results: Scores and Highlights from Day 4

Rob Goldberg — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:56:57 -0400

After two Confederations Cup matches on Wednesday, the top teams in Group A continued to separate themselves from the pack.

Brazil once again had an impressive effort against Mexico with a 2-0 win in the early match. In the evening contest, Italy and Japan put together a fantastic show, with Italy escaping with a 4-3 victory.

Here is a look at the updated standings of the two groups.

Group A

Team	Pts	GD
Brazil	6	5
Italy	6	2
Mexico	0	-3
Japan	0	-4

Group B

Team	Pts	GD
Nigeria	3	5
Spain	3	1
Uruguay	0	-1
Tahiti	0	-5

Brazil 2, Mexico 0

(Neymar 9', Jô 90' +3')

Neymar continued to show why he is such a highly rated player with another impressive performance against Mexico.

After scoring in the third minute against Japan, he slowed down a bit by needing nine minutes to get his first goal against Mexico. It was quite an impressive display on a volley with his left foot from outside of the box.

Although Brazil struggled to get opportunities for the rest of the first half, Mexico did not have many more chances in the final third.

In the final 45 minutes, the host squad continued to control possession until finally getting a second goal thanks to another solid effort by Neymar, who tallied an assist on the play.

This performance certainly has people excited for the young player to join Barcelona next season, including ESPN:

For Mexico, this is a continuation of the squad's offensive struggles that have plagued El Tri throughout World Cup qualifying. As ESPN's Paul Carr notes, it is has been a while since the team has scored:

Giovani dos Santos scored on a penalty shot against Italy, but that is not quite cutting it for this squad.

Still, Brazil is clearly having no such problem as it looks to win the Confederations Cup for the third time in a row.

Italy 4, Japan 3

(Keisuke Honda 21' PEN, Shinji Kagawa 33', Shinji Okazaki 69') (Daniele De Rossi 41', Atsuto Uchida 50' OG, Mario Balotelli 52' PEN, Sebastian Giovinco 86')

This battle, which featured a fantastic effort from both sides, was one of the best international matches you will see in a long time.

In the early going, Japan saw big contributions from its star players. Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was called for a foul in the box, which led to a penalty shot for Keisuke Honda. The midfielder drove the ball in to give his side the 1-0 advantage.

Shinji Kagawa then showed his skill by tapping a volley past the world-class keeper to go ahead 2-0.

Unfortunately, that lead did not last too long. Daniele De Rossi cut the lead in half with a score just before the half, but it was a number of mistakes by the Japanese defense that truly turned around the match.

First, the squad suffered an own goal by Atsuto Uchida in the 50th minute. Then, a handball in the box allowed Mario Balotelli to give Italy a 3-2 advantage on a penalty kick.

Tommy Smyth of ESPN notes how quickly things changed in this matchup:

However, this back-and-forth match did not end there. Japan was once again able to get the equalizer when Shinji Okazaki headed a ball in at the 69th minute.

The 3-3 score remained and it appeared as though it would end in a draw. That was until Sebastian Giovinco recorded the go-ahead goal in the 86th minute.

A late offside eliminated a fourth goal for Japan, and Italy was able to hold on for the amazing victory. In the end, the Twitter account @SoccerrProblems might have said it best:

Fans can only hope that the rest of the Confederations Cup can be as exciting.

What's Next?

The Confederations Cup continues with all of Group B in action. Spain takes on Tahiti at 3 p.m. ET in the early match before Nigeria and Uruguay battle at 6 p.m. ET.

By the end of the day, we could have a very good idea of which teams will be advancing to the next stage of this tournament.

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

Jose Mourinho Needs Impressive Start to Compete for EPL Title in 2013

Alex Ballentine — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:51:09 -0400

Jose Mourinho may not want to follow in the footsteps of Roberto Di Matteo in his second stint with Chelsea, but he will need to replicate his early-season success to compete for an EPL title.

In the Blues' last campaign, Di Matteo led the club to an impressive start in the first two months of the EPL schedule. The club collected seven wins and a draw before losing their first EPL match against Manchester United on October 28.

From there, the wheels really came off for Di Matteo. Draws with Swansea City, Liverpool and a loss to West Brom coupled with a Champions League loss to Juventus highlighted a poor run that led to Di Matteo's demise.

This time, getting off to a dominant start will be a tougher task—but one that would set up a run at the Premier League title.

Here's a look at the full 2013-14 slate for the club, per Chelsea's website.

Date	Opponent	Home/Road
Aug. 17	Hull City	Home
Aug. 24	Manchester United	Road
Aug. 31	Aston Villa	Home
Sept. 14	Everton	Road
Sept. 21	Fulham	Home
Sept. 28	Tottenham	Road
Oct. 5	Norwich City	Road
Oct. 19	Cardiff City	Home
Oct. 26	Manchester City	Home
Nov. 2	Newcastle	Road
Nov. 9	West Bromwich Albion	Home
Nov. 23	West Ham United	Road
Nov. 30	Southampton	Home
Dec. 3	Sunderland	Road
Dec. 7	Stoke City	Road
Dec. 14	Crystal Palace	Home
Dec. 21	Arsenal	Road
Dec. 26	Swansea City	Home
Dec. 28	Liverpool	Home
Jan. 1	Southampton	Road
Jan. 11	Hull City	Road
Jan. 18	Manchester United	Home
Jan. 29	West Ham United	Home
Feb. 1	Manchester City	Road
Feb. 8	Newcastle	Home
Feb. 11	West Bromwich Albion	Road
Feb. 22	Everton	Home
March 1	Fulham	Road
March 8	Tottenham	Home
March 15	Aston Villa	Road
March 22	Arsenal	Home
March 29	Crystal Palace	Road
April 5	Stoke City	Home
April 12	Swansea City	Road
April 19	Sunderland	Home
April 26	Liverpool	Road
May 3	Norwich City	Home
May 11	Cardiff City	Road

If the Blues can escape without a loss until October 28 in this campaign, they'll be in great shape to compete for the title.

In the last 15 games of the season, the Blues get eight opponents that were either in the bottom half of the table last campaign or newly promoted. Of the opponents that are in the top 10, only two (West Brom on Feb. 11 and Liverpool on Aug. 26) will take place away from the Bridge.

With almost every difficult challenge at home and plenty of teams that Chelsea should be heavily favored against, the schedule lends itself to a strong finish for Mourinho. The key will be getting off to a hot start.

Getting off to that good start will be on Mourinho. After taking over the club on June 3, he has a short time to bring in the transfers he wants and put his system into place.

Mourinho already brought in German forward Andre Schurrle, and other rumors have been swirling around the club including a possible Juan Mata exit (via the Daily Mail). It's clear that he's not afraid to leave his stamp on the club as soon as possible.

He'll need to hit the ground running, though. Chelsea's campaign depends on a good start.

Ranking the 10 Most Overrated Drivers in the Sprint Cup Series

Michael Guadalupe — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:47:49 -0400

NASCAR is filled with with talented drivers.

Some drivers though, are not as good as they seem to be. Not everyone can be a Jimmie Johnson or Matt Kenseth, but there are a handful of drivers who get paid way too much money—for doing very little.

Other drivers simply haven't bee relevant in years and continue to slip further away from relevance.

Then there are the drivers who simply don't live up to the hype and fail to win races in the Chase regardless of how well they run during the regular season. They crack under the pressure and fail to win when everything is on the line.

To even get into NASCAR is a huge accomplishment and proves that you are a top stock car racer.

These 10, though, are the most overrated drivers in the Sprint Cup Series.

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3 Clubs Abroad with Strongest French Presences

Nicholas McGee — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:46:11 -0400

Ligue 1 continues to export top talent across world football and, although Spain has dominated the international picture in recent years, there are still a number of clubs in Europe with strong French presences in their set-up. Bleacher Report takes a look at three of the biggest.

Arsenal

Although Arsenal do not possess as many French players as they did in the early part of the 2000s, there can be no denying that the Gunners still have a heavy French presence at the Emirates Stadium.

Olivier Giroud enjoyed an impressive first season with the club after joining from Montpellier, while Bacary Sagna—despite struggling with injury—remains one of the better right-backs in the Premier League.

Gervinho developed his still very much unrefined talent at Lille, while centre-back Laurent Koscielny, who has gone from strength to strength since joining the club, learned his craft at Lorient.

At the head of it all is club legend Arsene Wenger, who since taking up the role of manager in 1996, has led the North London club to seven major trophies and has ensured that they remain a major force in English football.

Real Madrid

What defines a big presence? Is it the sheer number of players from a country, or is it the quality and stature of players from that nation that you possess? If it is the latter, then Real Madrid can certainly be considered to have a sizeable French presence at the Bernabeu.

Los Blancos are often led up front by former Lyon striker Karim Benzema, who, despite performing poorly for France in recent times, continues to find the net consistently for Real.

Benzema scored 16 times in all competitions for Madrid last season, and yet his contribution was overshadowed by compatriot Raphael Varane.

Varane, the 20-year-old defender, has established himself as a regular in the starting lineup, and impressed a number of observers with his performances, particularly in the Copa del Rey against Barcelona and in the Champions League against Manchester United.

Real's campaign may have been one of failure last term, but there can be no doubt that with Varane at the back and Benzema in front of goal, they have a French spine capable of challenging for honors next season.

Newcastle United

In terms of sheer numbers, then Newcastle United have arguably the biggest French presence outside of Ligue 1 in world football.

As many as 10 French players can all claim to be in the first-team squad at St. James' Park, with a number of Gallic talents well ensconced in the reserve and academy ranks.

France internationals Yohan Cabaye, Mathieu Debuchy, Moussa Sissoko and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa are all an integral part of the Newcastle set-up, while the extremely talented Hatem Ben Arfa often provides the flair for the Magpies.

Newcastle's policy of buying French led to a fifth-placed finish in 2011-12, but they narrowly avoided relegation last term following a season of unrest.

There can be no denying that Newcastle possess the quality to finish in the top half of the Premier League, but following the uproar created by Joe Kinnear's appointment as director of football, it remains to be seen how many of their French recruits will be on Tyneside at the start of the new season.

Wisconsin Football: How Donnell Vercher's Admissions Denial Impacts Secondary

Dave Radcliffe — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:45:58 -0400

It's becoming the curse of the safety position with the Wisconsin football program. First, wide receiver-turned-safety Reggie Mitchell bolted for Pitt, and now, junior college recruit Donnell Vercher has been denied admission to Wisconsin, according to BadgerNation.com, and will instead sign with his hometown team, Fresno State.

It's not the end of the world for Vercher, who played his JUCO ball at Fresno City College, but the real news here is that the Badgers are extremely thin at the safety position. Even under the assumption that Mitchell and Vercher were both going to be on the roster this fall, Wisconsin was scrambling to get more bodies at safety. Running backs Kyle Zuleger and Jeffrey Lewis were both shifted to the position.

Mitchell and Vercher were expected to compete for the starting safety job alongside senior Dezmen Southward. It was Mitchell who worked as the starter during spring camp before Vercher's anticipated arrival this summer, but now both are gone, leaving the Badgers in a bind.

There is plenty of concern at the cornerback position as well.

After losing both Marcus Cromartie and Devin Smith to graduation, Wisconsin lacks experience at corner and plans on starting junior Peniel Jean and sophomore Darius Hillary next season. Neither player has had starting experience prior to 2013 other than playing as a nickel corner.

Behind them, the best option is likely a true freshman in Sojourn Shelton, who made an impression in the spring game. Beyond Shelton, it’s anyone’s guess, as both Devin Gaulden and Hugs Etienne are recovering from surgery.

But at least the Badgers have a pretty good idea of who will be contributing at cornerback. We're already midway through June, and head coach Gary Andersen and safeties coach Bill Busch have yet to anoint a starter at safety, let alone select the top candidates for the job.

Luckily, Wisconsin went out and found another JUCO defensive back to wrap up his 2013 recruiting class—Tekeim Reynard.

Reynard was recruited as a cornerback, but he transitioned to safety while playing at Independence (Kan.) Community College. Originally, it was believed that Reynard would step in and compete for a starting cornerback job, but now we could see him get reps at safety.

He would be challenging junior Michael Trotter and sophomore Michael Caputo, two players who gained starting experience last season with Shelton Johnson sidelined.

Trotter racked up 24 tackles and one pass breakup while Caputo had 10 tackles, but there's a reason these two weren't originally in the plans at starting safety entering the Andersen regime. Both had their problems last season in terms of tackling and field vision, and who's to say those issues have magically resolved themselves?

It should prove to be a wide-open race with Zuleger and Lewis in the mix as well, but the Badgers lose a lot with the admissions denial of Vercher. He played a great center field at the JUCO level, leading the nation in interceptions. Considering how the new Wisconsin 3-4 defense is predicated on an aggressive approach, Vercher would have been a welcome addition, especially after Mitchell's departure.

Fortunately, the Badgers still have two-plus months to recover from this disappointing news, but the effect of Vercher's loss has already been felt before he even arrived.

Details Emerge on Rob Van Dam's Return to WWE

Sharon Glencross — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:37:40 -0400

One report has emerged revealing the details of Rob Van Dam's return to WWE.

As you have undoubtedly heard, WWE revealed at Sunday's pay-per-view that Rob Van Dam would be returning to the company after a near-seven year absence.

On paper, it could be seen as a dubious decision. Van Dam is getting older: he's 42 now. There's a question of how much more he can offer WWE.

His three-year TNA run left a lot to be desired: Van Dam looked bored, tired and solely there for the cash for most of his time there. Granted, the booking never did him any favors—he was frequently treated as an afterthought—but that still doesn't excuse his largely apathetic performances.

His original 2001-2007 WWE had its problems too: most notably when his first—and so far only—WWE Title reign in 2006 ended embarrassingly when he was busted for marijuana possession and lost the belt soon after.

So why has the company made the call to bring him back?

In this week's (subscribers-only) Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer discusses the motivations for WWE in bringing back the star, noting that the company felt it was lacking in sufficient star power, particularly on the blue brand side.

The basic feeling was there was a weakness of the former Smackdown tour when it came to what is perceived as main event star power. The New Age Outlaws have been used on several tours just to have more people the fans think of as big names there. Van Dam in WWE was always more over with the fans than his push.

Meltzer also revealed details of the deal:

Van Dam’s deal was described to us as similar to that of Chris Jericho. The idea is that he’ll be put in a similar position, since he’s starting roughly the time Jericho is leaving. We didn’t get clarified how long it was, other than it’s a several month deal where he’ll work TVs and PPVs, and some house shows, but not a full schedule.

We'll have to wait and see if Van Dam can justify the first-class treatment.

As noted, his lacklustre TNA run soured many on him. But it's very possible that being back in the big-time and being placed with a better class of opponent—there's a big difference between Daniel Bryan and someone like Gunner, who RVD was often put with—will bring out the best in him.

Let's hope so.

Oakland A's: A Very Early Look at Potential 2014 Free-Agent Targets

Daniel Mano Herberholz — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:37:10 -0400

You may think it's too early to check out potential Oakland Athletics free-agent signees for the 2014 season, but that means you haven't seen how extensive the list of players who could possibly be gone is.

Even considering that many of the A's whose contracts end before next year were in a similar situation last season—since they inked only one-year deals—it's a scary group to consider for Oakland fans.

Jed Lowrie, Brandon Moss, Josh Donaldson, Derek Norris, Josh Reddick, John Jaso, Scott Sizemore, Nate Freiman.

And that's just the position players.

There's also Grant Balfour, Bartolo Colon, Tommy Milone, A.J. Griffin, Jarrod Parker, Ryan Cook, Sean Doolittle, Dan Straily, Pat Neshek, Jerry Blevins.

Pretty much the entire team, beside Yoenis Cespedes. Even Coco Crisp, Brett Anderson and Chris Young will be club options.

So clearly the A's will be in the market for some free agents this coming winter. Anywhere from all to few of the previously mentioned A's could stay with the team. But just in case, here's a handful of potential choices—albeit entirely speculative—which Billy Beane could look into signing.

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A Fan's Guide for Cheaters to Overcome a Baseball Scandal

Zachary D. Rymer — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:34:07 -0400

Nobody likes a cheater.

Especially not baseball fans, as you can tell by the way they treat players who have only even been linked to performance-enhancing drugs. For baseball fans, juicers are subhuman monsters.

But it doesn't necessarily have to last forever. Fans don't forget, but they have shown a willingness to forgive.

Case in point, there aren't that many fans who are still ticked off at Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitte. They were revealed to be PED users a few years back and caught hell for it, but now they're both fan favorites.

Even Alex Rodriguez had his fair share of public support not too long ago. He sunk to a low in early 2009 when he admitted to using PEDs during his Texas Rangers days, but several months later he was riding the high of being a World Series hero.

There are lessons to be learned from these three guys alone about how those cast as cheaters can get back on the good side of the fans. It all boils down to a relatively simple four-step process.

Phase One: Own Up to It, and Do It the Right Way

For players who are linked to or caught using PEDs, there's no way to totally avoid outrage. The fans are going to be outraged no matter what.

But at the same time, there's that one word that everyone loves: accountability. Baseball fans are always going to scream and whine at mistakes, but they'll scream and whine a little more softly if mistakes are worn.

Pettitte's response in 2007 to being named in the Mitchell Report, for example, was perfect. The report alleged that he had used HGH, and Pettitte came right out and A) admitted that he had indeed used HGH on two occasions and B) apologized for it.

"If what I did was an error in judgment on my part, I apologize," Pettitte said in a statement to the Associated Press. "I accept responsibility for those two days."

Pettitte's explanation for using HGH also struck a few sympathetic chords, as he claimed to use it not to get an edge but to get healthy. He probably could have stopped and left it at that, but he chose to go one more extra mile when spring training rolled around.

The very first day Pettitte reported to spring training with the New York Yankees, he put himself in front of reporters and held court with them for an hour. Here's the Associated Press' account of the session:

[Pettitte] patiently spent 55½ minutes explaining what he had done and why he did it.

'I felt like I need to come out, be forward with this,' Pettitte said. 'Whatever circumstances or repercussions come with it, I'll take and I'll take like a man and I'll try to do my job.'

Other athletes have ducked tough questions about allegations of drug use, using evasions and nonspecific replies. Pettitte admitted his mistakes and several times patiently asked reporters, 'Did I answer your question?'

Pettitte's willingness to face the heat drew rave reviews from the Houston Chronicle, which wrote:

Andy is a man of such decency and humility that it’s impossible not to admire the things he has attempted to stand for. He admitted his mistakes and asked for forgiveness. What else can he do?

There are still people out there who hold a grudge against Pettitte, and there likely always will be. But Yankees fans certainly love him, and you generally don't hear boos raining down on Pettitte when he starts on the road. His villainy, which was iffy to begin with, has been largely forgotten.

Jason Giambi, another villain-turned-fan-favorite, also helped clear his name by being accountable.

When the San Francisco Chronicle leaked Giambi's 2003 grand jury testimony from the BALCO case in the winter of 2004, the world found out that he didn't try to hide anything. He talked about his relationship with the infamous Greg Anderson, and he didn't try to insult anyone's intelligence by saying that he didn't know what he was being given.

"I don't know if we got into a conversation about it, but we both knew about it, yes," Giambi said when he was asked if he knew the testosterone Anderson had provided him was basically a steroid.

This can be compared with what Barry Bonds told the grand jury. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Bonds admitted that he received and used "clear and cream substances" from Anderson, but then said that he just said "Whatever" when Anderson told him it was just flaxseed oil.

Plausible, but not the least bit believable.

Giambi first publicly apologized in 2005, but it rang hollow because he didn't specifically say what he was apologizing for. He couldn't due to legal complications, but promised that he would elaborate eventually.

Giambi finally did in 2007 when he spoke to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. He didn't try to hide behind the excuse that PEDs weren't policed and were simply part of the culture back when he was using them. What he did instead was take responsibility for that too:

I was wrong for doing that stuff. What we should have done a long time ago was stand up — players, ownership, everybody — and said: 'We made a mistake.'

We should have apologized back then and made sure we had a rule in place and gone forward. … Steroids and all of that was a part of history. But it was a topic that everybody wanted to avoid. Nobody wanted to talk about it.

Consider this next to what A-Rod told Peter Gammons when he came clean in '09:

Rodriguez did what he had to when he said he did PEDs because he was "young," "naive" and "stupid." In those words, he was telling fans what they wanted to hear.

But unlike Giambi, A-Rod also deflected some blame onto the era, calling it a "different culture" that was "very loose." He might as well have been shouting at everyone to stop singling him out, and that's where he went wrong.

Fans don't want excuses. They want sincere apologies and as much accountability as possible. If the fans get these things, they're going to be more inclined to ease up a little bit on the outrage.

Phase One isn't easy. It requires guts and more than a small amount of pride-swallowing.

Phase Two, however, is the hard part.

Phase Two: Do Something Awesome to Take Our Minds Off It

For players cast as cheaters, there's always going to be a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" element at work. If they perform poorly, fans will revel in it. If they perform well, fans will chalk it up to the juice and let the mockery rain.

But if cheaters perform really well, then they have a chance. As much as fans love to hate cheaters, there's really no overstating the power of a good redemption story.

Consider Giambi. His grand jury testimony was leaked in the winter of 2004, and it only added to what had been a brutal year for the slugger. The 2004 season had seen Giambi limited to 80 games due to a tumor in his pituitary gland and various other ailments. When he was healthy, he managed just a .720 OPS.

But the following year in 2005, Giambi was his old self again. He led the American League in walks and OBP and hit 32 home runs. His reward was the Comeback Player of the Year award, and he recalled in 2010 that he felt the approval of the fans.

Giambi told Christian Red of the New York Daily News:

You know, people sometimes don't like to talk about rough parts of their life, but that was a huge thing for me. I go in that town, come back and win (the award), have the fans accept me back.

Giambi's redemption story in 2005 was a good one, but what he experienced doesn't hold a candle to what A-Rod experienced in 2009.

Rodriguez couldn't have been much worse off after his big admission in 2009. He had the whole world against him, and then he had to go in for his first hip surgery. He wasn't just a cheater. He was a broken cheater.

But when he came back on May 8 of that year, Rodriguez belted a three-run homer on the first pitch he saw. Not a bad way to kick off a redemption story.

A-Rod finished the season with 30 home runs in only 124 games, and then put a cherry on top by vanquishing his postseason demons. He helped lead the Yankees to their 27th World Series title with a 1.308 OPS and six home runs in 15 games, and seemingly every hit he came up with was a big one.

While his main concern was pointing out how silly it was for people to view A-Rod differently just because of his World Series heroics, William C. Rhoden of The New York Times hit the nail on the head when he wrote:

When the news came out that Rodriguez had tested positive for steroids in 2003, one Yankees executive said: 'His legacy, now, is gone. He’ll just play it out. Now he’s a worker. Do your job, collect your paycheck and when you’re finished playing, go away. That’s what it is.'

Quite the contrary. Thanks to a solid season and a grand postseason, he has reclaimed his legacy. In fact, he has watched it grow.

It's easy to look back on what A-Rod did in 2009 as one great, big fraud. If what was in the Miami New Times about Rodriguez being supplied with PEDs from Biogenesis during the '09 season is true, then he was juicing the whole time.

But if any of us are being honest, we all had a different notion of Rodriguez at the time than we did when he first came clean earlier in '09. He was a despicable creature when he admitted to using PEDs in February, but he turned into such a conquering hero that you couldn't help but admire the guy to some degree.

That's the kind of effect that brilliant performances can have, hence the reason they're recommended for cheaters who are looking to get the fans back on their side.

But merely performing well isn't enough. Cheaters on a quest to rehab their images also need to act a certain way. That's Phase Three.

Phase Three: Become an Ultimate Team Guy

It's really not quite so black and white, but the consensus among fans is that players who juice are performing a selfish act. They're putting their own interests ahead of the integrity of the game, and that's no bueno.

The best way for cheaters to get around this stigma? Simple. All they have to do is pour all their energy into being unselfish.

Once again, Giambi's a perfect example to look at. He was a team leader when he was with the Oakland A's early in his career, and it's a mantle he took up again in a whole new way with the Colorado Rockies upon joining the team in 2009.

The following is the testimony of former Rockies manager Jim Tracy, as told to Tyler Kepner of The New York Times:

Giambi came to the Rockies in 2009 with an open mind, Tracy said, readily accepting a bench role. He compared Giambi’s presence to Robin Ventura’s on the 2004 Dodgers, a team Tracy took to the playoffs. Giambi, like Ventura, could reinforce the manager’s points in the clubhouse and teach younger teammates the nuances of the game.

So impressive was the way Giambi handled himself on the Rockies that he turned into a strong candidate to be the club's manager after Tracy left the organization. This despite the fact he still wasn't technically retired as a player.

Now Giambi is with the Cleveland Indians, once again serving as a part-time player and once again impressing everyone around him.

“He’s not a veteran, he’s the veteran,” Indians manager Terry Francona told Kepner.

Giambi is the best example of a cheater who remade himself into the ultimate unselfish player, but you might not recall that Rodriguez gave it a solid go of his own in 2009.

Before Sports Illustrated's infamous report forced A-Rod to come clean about his PED use, he was involved in another controversy that concerned his personality. The New York Times had published some excerpts from Joe Torre's new book in January of 2009, and one of the things that stood out the most was Torre's take on what A-Rod did to the Yankees' clubhouse.

“Alex monopolized all the attention,” Torre said. He also added: “We never really had anybody who craved the attention. I think when Alex came over he certainly changed just the feel of the club.”

Even though he had every right to be, A-Rod didn't sound much like an attention-seeker at the end of the 2009 season.

A-Rod told this to The Star-Ledger after the Yankees won the World Series: “I mean, it’s been a long time. I couldn’t be prouder of 25 guys. The coaches, the organization, it takes everybody. I’m just very proud.”

To which the author of that article, Brendan Pruntny, wrote this: "That has been typical Rodriguez this season, deflecting credit and accolades to others."

Again, it's easy to look back on this as nothing but a farce now, but at the time it was all very much part of what seemed to be a new A-Rod. While he was busy redeeming himself on the field, he was doing everything he could to convince everyone that it wasn't about him.

Had things worked out a little differently, we might still be praising A-Rod for how he played and how he went about his business in 2009.

We're not because he screwed that up, and therein lies Phase Four.

Phase Four: Stay Out of Trouble

There's one thing that should go without saying, and that's that those who cheat once had better not cheat again if they want to have any hope of getting the fans back on their side. One misstep with PEDs is a hell of a lot easier to forgive than two missteps.

But this last step isn't that simple. In addition to staying far away from PEDs, it's also recommended that former cheaters stay out of trouble in general.

Once again, we can look to Pettitte and Giambi for how its done. Pettitte hasn't done anything deserving of criticism in the years since his name first surfaced in the Mitchell Report, and Giambi has also kept his nose clean. Plug their names into Google and then add "controversy," and all you'll get is the PED stuff.

Now, Mr. Rodriguez on the other hand...

Never mind the Biogenesis stuff for a moment. What was in the Miami New Times definitely makes him look guilty, but let's acknowledge that A-Rod indeed hasn't been deemed guilty yet. There's a fair chance he won't be, in which case he's going to be owed more than a few apologies.

Biogenesis aside, it's still all too easy to point out instances involving A-Rod getting himself into messes that he could have avoided.

In 2009, it was reported by the New York Daily News that Yuri Sucart, the cousin who A-Rod said injected him with PEDs back in his Rangers days, had been banned from Yankees team facilities. That was A-Rod's cue to distance himself from Sucart, but then came a report from the Daily News in 2011 that Sucart was still travelling with A-Rod on some road trips.

Not a good look.

Also in 2011, word came out that Major League Baseball was investigating Rodriguez's connections to an illegal underground poker ring. Apparently, cocaine and violence were involved.

Once again, not a good look.

Then there was what happened in the ALCS last year. Out of Game 1 after being removed for a pinch runner, it was reported that A-Rod had been flirting with a couple female fans close to the Yankees' dugout.

For the last time: Not a good look.

Imagine a world in which A-Rod had proceeded to be a model citizen in the years following 2009. He'd presumably still be a broken-down old player these days, but his slow destruction would be a heck of a lot sadder than it actually is. Rather than the decline of a one-time (or more) cheater who threw away a good redemption story, we'd be witnessing the decline of a one-time cheater who cleared his name on the field and carried himself like a role model off the field. Nobody wants to see a decline like that unfold.

That other world is a world in which Rodriguez followed all four phases to a T. There are no guarantees for cheaters who want to repair their images, but accountability, strong play, unselfishness and clean living go a long way.

Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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

8 College Football Teams That Will Get More Exposure Than They Deserve in 2013

Michael Carroll — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:32:26 -0400

Every season, we discover that some teams were overrated and that some teams were underrated, based on what prognosticators said before the season started. This list will feature eight teams that I feel prognosticators have regarded too highly heading into the 2013 season.

The teams on this list are some of the teams we’ll be saying this about come December: “They were supposed to be good. I wonder what happened.” Well, for these teams, nothing fell apart, they just were not as good as prognosticators said they would be.

Typically, a high preseason ranking will get a team lots of exposure. Athlon Sports already has released its preseason rankings for every FBS team, and I have taken these rankings into account when compiling my list of teams that will get too much exposure in 2013. Some of these rankings are warranted, but some I believe are just too high.

With that, let’s look at the list. Also feel free to debate in the comments section below.

I have ordered the slideshow beginning with the lowest-ranked of the teams and ending with the highest.

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Michigan Football: Adding Walk-on Garrett Moores Smart Move for Wolverines

Jesse Reed — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:11:08 -0400

The Michigan football program added a walk-on quarterback by the name of Garrett Moores on Wednesday—a savvy move that will ensure depth and competition in 2013 for the Wolverines.

Moores announced the move on his Twitter account, and shortly thereafter Tom VanHaaren of ESPN confirmed the move:

Ever since Russell Bellomy went down with an ACL injury earlier this spring, questions have swirled regarding what would happen during the season if Devin Gardner were to unfortunately go down with an injury of his own.

Many thought head coach Brady Hoke would try to find a quarterback by way of transfer, but Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com recently reported Hoke would not be going that route. Hoke told reporters, "I think we're pretty set with what we have."

On the one hand, it's nice to know Hoke has so much confidence in Gardner. The team has high hopes for this young signal-caller, and he has a chance to really make strides this season.

On the other hand, Gardner is a dual-threat quarterback who took some big hits last year. Should he suffer an injury, Michigan's chances of winning games would significantly lessen.

A big quarterback, at 6'4" and 200 pounds, Moores led Catholic Central to the 2012 Division 1 state championship, though the team lost to Detroit Cass Tech. He passed for 221 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in that contest.

According to MaxPreps.com, he was the No. 3 quarterback in Michigan last year. Adding another quarterback like Moores is a smart move by Hoke.

He will now compete with fellow walk-ons Brian Cleary and Alex Swieca, as well as 4-star freshman Shane Morris, to see who will back up Gardner during the season.

Though obviously not highly recruited, Moores is a player worth keeping an eye on going forward.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Greatest Game 7 Moments in Heat and Spurs History

Jesse Dorsey — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:06:58 -0400

Game 7 is upon us, as two franchises who have experienced a ton of success in the past 15 years vie for one more title to add to the list.

Of course, this won't be the first time that either team has faced a Game 7, although it will be the first time that the MIami Heat have been involved in an NBA Finals winner-take-all contest.

However, you could say that they have the most recent experience in a single-game series, as they played in a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers in the last two seasons.

The San Antonio Spurs haven't found themselves playing a win-or-go-home game since the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals against the New Orleans Hornets, which they won pretty convincingly.

Going even further back, we get to see the likes of George Gervin, Tim Hardaway, Robert Horry and Alonzo Mourning coming up big for either team.

So let's take an amazing trip down memory lane and knock out the seven best Game 7 moments among these two teams.

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Kansas' Andrew Wiggins Dunks in His First Scrimmage

Ken Dorset — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:05:31 -0400

Andrew Wiggins made his first appearance as a Kansas Jayhawk Wednesday and he didn't waste any time showing off his talents. ESPN's Jason King shared the above video of the 18-year-old star throwing down on the opening possession of the team's scrimmage.

Here's a great photo of the dunk:

PHOTO: Andrew Wiggins @22wiggins dunks over Cole Aldrich (Photo Credit: @LJWorld) #kubball - pic.twitter.com/oIe4TbI0NL
— RockChalkBlog.com (@RockChalkBlog) June 19, 2013

Jerry Sloan Agrees to Return to Utah Jazz As a Senior Advisor

Tim Keeney — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:04:48 -0400

After leaving the basketball world aghast in 2011 with his sudden resignation, Jerry Sloan is returning to the Utah Jazz.

Jody Genessy of the Deseret News has the story from team CEO Greg Miller:

Steve Luhm of The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the position will be that of a senior advisor.

The 71-year-old Hall of Famer is one of the most respected—and successful—NBA minds in the business, and it seemed to be a only matter of time before he returned to the game in some capacity.

As for what capacity that will be in, that's very much up in the air. Genessy reports that Sloan will have a wide range of duties and that he's been working with the coaching staff for the past month.

After coaching the Chicago Bulls—the team for which he had his number retired—for three years to start his head-coaching career, Sloan moved to Utah, where he took over for Frank Layden and had an impact on the organization that will likely never be duplicated.

He led the Jazz to 15 straight playoff appearances, including the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998. After missing out on the postseason from 2004 to 2006, he took them back four more times before eventually stepping down in the middle of the 2010-11 season.

When it was all said and done, Sloan had amassed a record of 1,127-682 (.623), including 13 seasons with at least 50 wins, and 19 playoff appearances in 23 years with the Jazz.

Overall, he has the third-most wins of any head coach in NBA history.

And if all of that doesn't fully showcase his immense worth as a head coach, know that in 2004, he carried a Jazz team that was led by a young Andrei Kirilenko, Raja Bell, Matt Harpring, Carlos Arroyo, DeShawn Stevenson and Greg Ostertag, among others (Tom Gugliotta and Michael Ruffin each received over 20 starts that season), to a 42-40 record.

Sloan often receives criticism for his old-school approach to the game, but his results speak for themselves.

It remains to be seen whether Sloan will have the same level of impact on the franchise as he did while at the coaching helm, but the Jazz will have one of the game's great minds at its disposal.

The Truth Behind the Ticking Time Bomb of NL West Rivalries

Josh Schoch — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:03:31 -0400

The NL West has become more of a fight club than a division in MLB this season. The bitter rivalries between these teams have been erupting into brawls almost on a nightly basis.

Jesus Guzman of the San Diego Padres sparked yet another bench-clearing brawl on Wednesday against his former team, the San Francisco Giants. This is already the third time teams from the NL West have gotten into serious fights.

The NL West has become extremely volatile, and that could affect MLB as a whole.

Let's take a look at the three biggest feuds of the NL West and what it all means for the baseball world.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres (April 11, 2013)

Less than two weeks into the 2013 season, we saw a fracas break out between the Dodgers and Padres.

After Zack Greinke plunked Carlos Quentin, the two teams got into it, led by Quentin's charge right at Greinke.

Quentin started walking toward Greinke, who appeared to say something before Quentin dropped the bat and sprinted at Greinke, ending with the two lowering their shoulders and smashing into each other.

After wrestling the Dodgers' starting pitcher to the ground, Quentin was mobbed, and both teams got into a huge pile on the infield.

The biggest consequences of the fight did not come from MLB, but instead from the medical staff. Greinke broke his collarbone and didn't pitch for over a month.

This was just the beginning of the bad blood in the NL West, but it sure left its mark.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (June 11, 2013)

Exactly two months after the first brawl, Greinke took the mound again, this time against the Diamondbacks. However, he was not at fault in this case.

Diamondbacks pitcher Ian Kennedy started the fiasco, drilling Dodgers superstar rookie Yasiel Puig in the face.

Greinke and the Dodgers couldn't take this abuse lying down, so Greinke plunked Miguel Montero on the back as expected, and both teams left their dugouts.

Nothing happened at first. The two teams cleared the benches and jawed at each other, but the night was far from over.

When Greinke came to the plate in the next inning, Kennedy decided that he wasn't done. He hit Greinke with another high pitch.

The two benches cleared again, and this time there was more than just talk.

Puig was one of the players in the center of the scrum, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

The Diamondbacks were still talking about Puig’s actions Wednesday, saying that the Dodgers were shouting at him, “No! Not you!” as he kept charging back into the melee.

Nine games into his career, Puig is already that valuable. The Dodgers were fearful of losing him to an ejection (which happened) and a suspension (which almost certainly will follow).

Puig, though, was in a rage.

Kennedy had hit him the previous inning, grazing his nose with a 92-mph fastball. According to several Diamondbacks, Puig kept shouting, “Yo soy Cubano! — “I am a Cuban!” — as he drifted in and out of the fight, at one point landing a haymaker on the back of Eric Hinske’s head.

Puig wasn't the only one who got heated during the fracas. Even the managers were involved. It took MLB three days to finally dish out punishments, headlined by Kennedy's 10-game suspension.

The fallout of this brawl can still be felt today, and it remains the biggest of the year.

San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants (June 19, 2013)

The suspensions from the brawl between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers were still in effect when the latest chapter in the NL West's bloody 2013 campaign was written.

On Tuesday night, Jesus Guzman belted a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning against his former team and showed them up by yelling to his bench.

The Giants weren't pleased.

On Wednesday afternoon, the team sought revenge. Madison Bumgarner threw inside against Guzman, sparking a rage in the Venezuelan outfielder.

Guzman was quickly held back by catcher Buster Posey and home plate umpire Tony Randazzo, but the usually calm Bumgarner had a few things to say to Guzman himself.

As the two got closer and closer, more people stepped in front of them until the benches eventually cleared. Both teams got into it, pushing and shoving each other, although no serious fights broke out.

Guzman would get his revenge, hitting a home run off of Bumgarner in the seventh inning, but the Giants came away with the 4-2 victory.

Luckily, Wednesday was the final game of the series between the two. But this rivalry might not have died with the series, and we will see how it plays out when the two meet again July 11-14.

What This Means

With the latest incident in the NL West coming just over a week after the biggest brawl of the season, everyone in MLB will be paying extra attention to these divisional matchups.

The teams in the NL West have shown repeatedly that they don't like each other, and they're not afraid to get into it.

The first change that we will likely see going forward is from the umpires.

Whenever these teams meet again or play against divisional foes, they will probably be on short leashes. The umpires and MLB as a whole want this nonsense to stop before someone else gets hurt, and umps will likely be told to be very strict with their in-game punishments.

Expect to see any hit batters leading to ejections in rematches from these series.

Secondly, we know that the fighting isn't over.

As much as MLB may do to stop these teams from settling things with their fists, there is no way to truly combat it. There is too much bad blood between the five teams in the division, and the current players on the rosters have their own personal vendettas.

We could still see another brawl before the All-Star Break, and I wouldn't be surprised to see these incidents carry over into the second half of the season.

Finally, we have to watch if the office of Bud Selig steps in.

Obviously the league doesn't want to see fighting because it can lead to injuries (i.e. Zack Greinke's broken collarbone). However, there is a difference between having secret conversations with umps to try to stop it and publicly stepping in.

The biggest offenders in these brawls (and the other incidents from the season that are not listed) will be given severe punishments if it keeps happening.

If Carlos Quentin keeps fighting Dodgers, expect to see him sidelined for up to a month.

If Kennedy pitches against the Dodgers and hits a batter or two and sparks a fight, expect at least a 20-game suspension.

If Guzman and the Giants can't get over keeping him in the minors until he signed with the Padres, then both sides will be in hot water.

As the summer wears on, the heat will rise and so will tempers, and that could lead to a bloody campaign for the NL West in the rest of the 2013 season.

Follow @JoshSchoch

Committed 2014 College Football Recruits Who Are Great Recruiters for Their Team

Edwin Weathersby — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:00:14 -0400

Some college football recruits choose to commit to a program and then spend their senior season focusing on training and academics. There is nothing wrong with this approach, and it is the common route committed prospects take with their recruitment.

However, other committed recruits choose to make sure they will be part of a great recruiting class. These enthusiastic recruits take it upon themselves to help their programs attract other talented prospects by operating as unofficial recruiters.

They call, text, tweet and email other prospects and paint a promising picture of the program.

Michigan has a pair of commitments who are recruiting well for Big Blue, and one Wolverine commit may be the primary recruiter for defensive end Da'Shawn Hand. Auburn has several Tiger commitments working the trail and Virginia's crown jewel is making sure he will not be alone.

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Brazil vs. Mexico: 6 Things We Learned

Christopher Atkins — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:54:39 -0400

A Neymar-inspired Brazil beat Mexico 2-0 in Group A of the Confederations Cup on Wednesday evening, virtually assuring the Selecao of a place in the semifinals.

For Mexico, the result brings a premature end to their challenge at the competition, adding to the pressure on the shoulders of head coach Jose Manuel de la Torre.

While Brazil had their own issues, in a game that often headed towards the mediocre, it was decided by two moments of real quality.

Let's, then, take a look at six things we can learn from the clash in Fortaleza.

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What's at Stake for LeBron James, Tim Duncan and NBA Finals Stars in Game 7?

Josh Martin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:54:30 -0400

Erik Spoelstra was right.

Still basking in the "What the heck just happened?!?!" afterglow of his Miami Heat's miraculous 103-100 overtime win against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals, Spoelstra stepped to the podium for his postgame press conference and reminded everyone that the words "game" and "seven" comprise the best phrase in team sports.

Of course, that wouldn't be the case if playoff series were typically decided in, say, five or nine or 11 games. But, apparently, seven was the number chosen in the Book of Armaments, and it's a number to which all parties involved will gladly commit.

Silly tangents aside, Game 7 of the NBA Finals takes on such sacred meaning not only because of its gravity as a no-holds-barred, winner-take-all tilt or because of its rarity (Thursday's will be just the sixth Game 7 in the finals since 1979), but also because of the legacies typically at stake therein. One game can mean the difference between a player being lionized as a hero or derided as a goat, remembered as a legend or forgotten as a failure.

Granted, that has as much to do with the hyperbolic terms with which the media tend to frame these things as anything else. But what fun is it to talk about sports and the great ones who play them without spraying into the whole miasma a whiff of embellishment? That's what Game 7s are all about!

Well, that and plenty more—for these guys, anyway.

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UFC: Top Five Least Surprising Upsets of 2013

Nate Lawson — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:53:23 -0400

MMA fans, and generally fans of any sport, love an underdog.

There's something refreshing about a competitor defying the odds by pulling out the improbable victory against an assumed-to-be greater, more gifted opponent.

But sometimes, an underdog's victory in mixed martial arts is not so shocking. On occasion, the oddsmakers get the betting line wrong.

2013 has already yielded a great deal of upsets, including Robbie Lawler's unlikely knockout victory over Josh Koscheck, and Jake Shields' split-decision win over Tyron Woodley. But neither of those fights make the list for the "Top Five Least Surprising Upsets" for this year.

Check out the five "underdogs" who flipped the odds and walked away clear winners against their favored opponents.

Final note: no, pick 'em fights are not included, so very slight upset wins, like Shawn Jordan's knockout over Pat Barry at UFC 161, won't make this list.

Odds courtesy of Bovada Sportsbook, stats courtesy of FightMetric.com

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Mexico vs. Brazil 2013: Neymar Puts on Stunning Show in 2-0 Win

Tim Keeney — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:50:12 -0400

With Barcelona already boasting the best player in the world in Lionel Messi, many wondered why Tito Vilanova's squad went and signed Neymar, who, for the most part, plays the same position.

Now flash forward to moments after Brazil's 2-0 Confederations Cup win over Mexico on Wednesday afternoon.

Oh, so that's why.

With Neymar, it has never been a question about talent. Seemingly the next in the line of world-class Brazilian players, there is nothing the 21-year-old can't do with the ball at his feet.

And I mean nothing:

On talent alone, he is already arguably a top-three player in the world.

But there have always been concerning questions surrounding the flashy forward. Is he too selfish? Does he dive and spend too much time trying to persuade calls from the refs? Does he settle for substance and style over production and output?

His deficiencies, in a word, are mental.

As such, you sometimes forget what he is capable of—but on Wednesday he reminded us in spectacular, jaw-dropping fashion.

Most will initially point to his involvement in Brazil's two goals.

In the ninth minute, a poor Mexico clearance found the foot of Neymar at the top of the box, where he sent in a scorching volley just out of the reach of goalkeeper Jose de Jesus Corona:

The deflection was a little fortunate, and it was poor marking on Mexico's part, but that finish was both gorgeous and clinical.

We would have to wait more than 80 minutes until Brazil's second goal, but the wait was undoubtedly worth it.

Stuck near the touch line with two Mexican defenders draped on him, it looked like Neymar had nowhere to go. Suddenly, after lulling the defenders to sleep, he knifed through them both, freed himself in the box and delivered a perfect ball to Jo, who finished easily:

What can you even say about that? That's beyond world-class. That's out-of-this-universe-class.

Moreover, while the time spent in between those two marquee plays wasn't nearly as spectacular or SportsCenter Top-10 worthy, it was productive.

According to WhoScored.com, Neymar was third on Brazil with 64 touches. He fired off two shots on target, completed 31 passes at an 87 percent success rate and was constantly beating opponents down the sideline and delivering in tantalizing crosses.

Neymar was active, involved and interested, and he put on an absolute clinic in every aspect of the game, completely out-classing everyone around him.

This makes him 2-for-2 on spectacular Confederations Cup performances (although he was better on Wednesday than he was against Japan).

If he continues to showcase this kind of focus and determination, he has the talent to produce many more enthralling moments like this with Barcelona and back at home in the 2014 World Cup.

Follow @t_keen

Real Madrid News: 5 Reasons Why Carlo Ancelotti Will Be a Los Blancos Success

Savvas Christou — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:50:11 -0400

According to InSerbia writer M. Djulic, Carlo Ancelotti will be named Real Madrid’s head coach on 3rd July. It is understood that compliance with Spanish tax laws have dictated the timing of the announcement.

So now that Los Blancos' preferred candidate is within touching distance of the Bernabeu dugout, it is apt to discuss why he can bring back the glory days to this magnificent club.

Real Madrid coaches arguably have the toughest job in football, as Los Blancos is beyond a football club—it is an institution. Managers have strict prerequisites that are far from negotiable: win trophies, play stylish football and keep the media, plus the board, satisfied. Ensuring fans' and players' happiness is a no-brainer, since the deliverance of the two former requirements largely results in contentment.

There are five crucial factors that would see Ancelotti (if his appointment is indeed confirmed) slot in well with the Spanish capital, in turn giving Real the best possible platform of creating a new footballing dynasty.

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Travelers Championship 2013: Hottest, Coldest Golfers Heading into Tournament

Richard Langford — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:48:50 -0400

The tournament following a major always feels like a bit of a letdown. However, the field for the Travelers Championship has plenty of talent.

That includes U.S. Open winner Justin Rose, who as you may have guessed, has played his way onto the hot list.

Like the U.S. Open at the Merion Golf Club last week, this event is on a par-70 course under 7,000 yards. However, birdies will be a tad easier to come by this week.

Here are three golfers who will look to maintain their current form and three who will look to reverse their current trend.

*All stats via PGATour.com.

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Erik Spoelstra Is Still Vastly Overlooked in Miami Heat's Run of Dominance

Sean Grimm — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:48:40 -0400

It’s time to stop questioning the Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra as a head coach in the NBA. Well, it was actually time to stop doing so after the Miami Heat won their second title in franchise history.

But now, it’s never been more apparent that Spoelstra deserves the credit so many in the general public aren’t willing to give him—regardless of Game 7’s outcome.

Through six games, Spoelstra has gone head-to-head with one of the league's all-time great coaches in San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich. Over the past two weeks, Spoelstra and Popovich have each carefully placed their pawns, knights and queens.

And on Thursday night, one coach will have the opportunity to finally say, “Check, mate”.

With Game 7 on his home floor, Spoelstra, who began with the Miami Heat as a video coordinator in 1995, has put his team in excellent position to win their second straight title.

Sure, he may have LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and oh, the greatest three-point shooter of all time in Ray Allen in his back pocket, but Popovich isn’t exactly playing with house money himself.

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili will be making their way to Springfield in the near future. Danny Green has emerged as arguably the best in the league from beyond the arc, setting an NBA Finals record having already hit 26 threes this series.

On top of that, Popovich also holds the advantage of a considerable amount more of experience than Spoelstra when it comes to the biggest stage.

The Perspective

There are plenty around the league who see Spoelstra for who he is and admire what he’s been able to do with this Heat squad. Even a significant portion of the Heat’s fanbase has begun to soften its stance when it comes to criticizing their team’s head coach.

However, it’s safe to say that for every supporter of Spoelstra out there, there are two or three detractors hiding in the shadows, waiting for Miami to slip and beat their chests as they call for Spoelstra’s head.

The premise for his criticism is rather simple and centers on two particular areas of his coaching.

It’s a common (and flawed) belief that anyone can coach a team with James, Wade and Bosh to multiple titles. A majority of the time, these statements arise from fans that don’t do much more than watch the ball throughout the game.

And that’s fine. No one is asking all fans to become students of the game. Professional sports exist for the purpose of entertainment and there's nothing wrong with leaving it at that as a spectator.

What these fans tend to not understand, however, are the complex schemes, both on defense and offense, which Spoelstra has carefully designed to suit his team’s makeup.

Miami’s defense is elite because it takes tremendous effort, both mentally and physically, on a nightly basis. With two players constantly attacking the ball, everyone else on the court is responsible for upholding their roles as help defenders, while also understanding and staying true to their individual assignments.

Designing and tweaking this scheme is one thing, but instilling the discipline to consistently execute it is another.

Spoelstra has managed to do both.

When it comes to Miami’s offense, Spoelstra’s version of small ball is nothing to scoff at. Uniquely tailored to emphasize James’ strengths, while also creating comfortable environments for both Wade and Bosh, Spoelstra’s design is one of the biggest reasons why this Heat team stands where it currently does.

Not only is the design itself impressive, but it should be noted Spoelstra wasn’t exactly playing it safe when he decided Miami should take the small ball route. He knew there was the risk of failure, but he also understood the potential reward.

He believed in the system, and it’s paid off so far.

On the other side of the street, Spoelstra also gets criticism from the outside regarding his personality. To put it simply, there's a shared perception among basketball fans that he's too soft.

He doesn’t put his stars in their rightful place, they say. He’s not as brash as other coaches around the league, so he doesn’t have the knack for motivating his squad for the biggest moments.

Both of these beliefs are flawed.

As far as the respect factor goes, Spoelstra has had his moments when he’s had to step in and let his players know who’s boss. The most notable moment came last postseason, when he and Wade had a very public confrontation with tensions high in Indiana.

Also, just because a coach isn’t always the most animated on the sidelines when he’s addressing his players doesn’t mean they don’t respect him as their leader. James, Wade and Bosh have repeatedly made it known they believe in Spoelstra as a coach and trust his system.

When it comes to the motivation aspect, you can’t argue with results. Miami has won four straight elimination games and James currently stands 2-0 in Game 7s since he arrived in Miami.

He was 0-2 in Game 7s in Cleveland.

The Opportunity

Is the inability to win consecutive games recently frustrating? Of course it is, but mindset and motivation haven’t always been Miami’s biggest issues.

Against Indiana, Wade was hardly even a shell of himself and the Pacers happened to be a nightmare matchup for Miami.

Now, against a veteran Spurs team with a championship core, the Heat simply find themselves locked into one of the best Finals series in league history. Two very good teams have been trading punches and squeezing every last ounce of juice out of this NBA season.

It doesn’t boil down to much more than that.

Both teams have made their share of mistakes. Each has had their mental lapses. Spoelstra and Popovich have both made adjustments from game to game to put their teams in the best positions possible to win.

In the end, the unfortunate truth is Spoelstra likely won’t garner the credit and respect he deserves anytime soon.

But on Thursday night, he and the Miami Heat have the opportunity to continue chipping away at the bubble of doubt that engulfs his career as a head coach.

If the Heat do manage to pull off the repeat, Spoelstra will become just the eighth coach in league history to be able to say he's led his team to two-straight championships.

Blackhawks vs. Bruins Stanley Cup Finals Game 4: Live Score and Highlights

Ken Dorset — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:39:22 -0400

Keep it locked right here as we bring you live Blackhawks vs. Bruins Stanley Cup Finals Game 4 coverage!

Joe Torre's Daughter Harnesses Superhero Power, Catches Falling Baby

Gabe Zaldivar — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:38:20 -0400

If you are in need of quick thinking and even quicker reflexes, it sounds like Joe Torre's daughter is a good person to have around, because she recently caught a baby falling from a window.

The New York Daily News (h/t NBC Sports) reports Cristina Torre—daughter of current MLB executive and former Yankees manager Joe Torre—was in the right place at the right time to save a one-year-old child from serious injury.

Cristina Torre, 44, was walking along Third Ave. near 91st St. when she spotted the baby boy hanging from outside a storefront about 10 a.m., cop sources said.

Suddenly, the child dropped — but he landed safely in Torre’s outstretched arms, the sources and witnesses said.

Someone get this woman a cape.

I have always pondered how I might react in an extreme situation such as this. Thankfully, none have presented themselves.

As for Torre, she proved to have the kind of reflexes that would make her dad, a nine-time All Star and Gold Glove winner, very proud.

The report state the parents—Sam Miller, 23, and Tiffany Demetria, 24—were arrested and face charges such as child neglect and endangerment. The couple's other three kids were then taken in by children's services following this scary ordeal.

As for how a baby gets onto a storefront awning, the working theory is that the child crawled out through a small opening on the side of an air-conditioning unit that had been blocked by a piece of cardboard.

It's just fortunate there was even an awning to keep the child from falling immediately to the pavement. That small piece of overhang then bought enough time for our modern-day hero to step up for a fantastic grab.

Hit me up on Twitter: Follow @gabezal

Fiorentina Summer Transfers: 5 Potential Arrivals to Make Them Stronger

Jack Alexandros Rathborn — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:34:20 -0400

Fiorentina fell painfully close in their pursuit of a Champions League place with Milan denying them with just minutes before the end of the season.

The Viola overachieved to an extent and Vincenzo Montella did a marvellous job in his first season in charge after the Florentine club struggled to avoid relegation just over a year ago.

The potential of the club is huge though and even the sale of their best player, Stevan Jovetic, will not hold them back from competing for a Champions League place again next season.

Money will be made available by co-owner Andrea Della Valle, who demonstrates such passion watching his club each week from the stands.

Here are five players that will help strengthen the squad and give them a better chance of improving on last season.

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Blackhawks vs. Bruins Game 4: Last-Second Keys to Victory for Each Team

Steven Cook — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:31:46 -0400

We're all set for a crucial Game 4 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, and the way that the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins execute their keys to the game will be the biggest telling point in who pulls out the victory.

After the Blackhawks looked poised to continue their roll after a thrilling Game 1 victory that went all of three overtimes, the Bruins finally came together to win a huge Game 2 in overtime in Chicago before a dominant performance from goaltender Tuukka Rask led to a 2-0 Bruins win in Game 3.

Now, Chicago has the chance to steal one in TD Garden to take back the home-ice advantage. But without their best hockey, they'll return home on the brink of elimination.

Let's take a look at the biggest keys to Game 4 for each team.

Boston Bruins Keys to Game 4

Is Tuukka Rask Capable of Another Dominant Game?

So far in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, Tuukka Rask is channeling his inner Jonathan Quick.

Don't get me wrong, Quick isn't some sort of legendary goaltender who every goalie should aspire to be. But his performance in last year's Cup Final was nothing short of spectacular, and his Los Angeles Kings needed every bit of it.

As it seems in this year's finals, the Bruins need every bit of Rask. So far, they seem to be getting it. With the help of a shutdown performance from each of Boston's defensive pairings, Rask is making it nearly impossible to get a rubber disk past him.

NBC Washington writer Adam Vingan gave us a stunning stat to show just how dominant Rask has been:

The 26-year-old has been quietly putting his mark on the Stanley Cup playoffs ever since they began, with not nearly enough credit being directed his way.

Keeping a team like the Blackhawks scoreless is much easier said than done, but don't tell that to Tuukka Rask. He may disagree with you.

Can Jaromir Jagr Continue to Defy Old Age?

Battle-tested veteran Jaromir Jagr hasn't been scoring goals for the Bruins in these playoffs, but he's done just about everything else.

Despite picking up no goals in his 19 playoff games this postseason, the 41-year-old has racked up eight assists, and the Bruins have greatly benefitted from his unique mix of experience and all-time great ability.

At times, Jagr has looked as though he's shaven 15 years off his life by playing with the attacking force and elusive puck movement that has made him one of the NHL's greatest players in history.

His play reached a new level in Game 3, when his cross-crease pass to Patrice Bergeron resulted in a beautiful goal. He fooled everybody on the ice (even Bergeron) with the blistering pass past Corey Crawford, and after taking a moment to settle the puck, Bergeron put it home.

It was just the latest display of the immense impact Jagr has had on this Boston Bruins playoff run. The average fan might look to his lack of goals and assume he is struggling, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Chicago Blackhawks Keys to Game 4

Can They Improve in the Faceoff Circle?

I know what you're thinking: "faceoffs?"

Yes, such an overlooked and insignificant statistic is eating at the Blackhawks as of late. Usually, faceoffs cancel themselves out at about 50-50 and never provide a major boost. But the Bruins have found a way to break the mold.

In Game 3, Boston won 40 of 56 faceoffs, good for 71 percent. Their leading factor in that department was world-renowned faceoff artist Patrice Bergeron, who went an unforeseeable 24-4 in the circle.

On the other side of the coin, Blackhawks center Michal Handzus and Dave Bolland went a combined 1-for-18.

This year's Stanley Cup Final has proven to be so tight that any given game could come down to one possession. One play. And with the Bruins taking an overwhelmingly large amount of possessions away from the Blackhawks with their faceoff success, they're setting themselves up for many more opportunities to make that play than Chicago.

If Chicago doesn't start canceling out their struggles in the faceoff circle, the Bruins will continue to get the extra possessions necessary to win.

Is Marian Hossa Healthy Enough to Do Marian Hossa Things?

Despite missing Game 3 with a late decision, Blackhawks star Marian Hossa is "likely to play," according to Adam Gretz of CBS Sports.

But the likelihood of him being able to return to his usual prowess as a suffocating, two-way star is still very much in doubt.

The Blackhawks replaced Hossa with Ben Smith in Game 3, a player who had appeared in just one game during the 2012-13 season prior to the decision. When replacing one of the NHL's premier players, that's quite the drop-off.

With the way Hossa plays, he uses energy and determination as much as any trait to ensure his advantage. Any player who could put up seven goals and eight assists thus far in the postseason and also emerge as a fantastic defensive forward would need these traits.

But if Hossa is not 100 percent, the questions start piling up as to whether he can handle the physicality of the moment against a hungry Bruins team who is charging toward their second Stanley Cup in three years.

The 34-year-old will have to come out strong and prove that he can make his usual impact if the Blackhawks want any business in winning Game 4.