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Best Landing Spots for Top NCAA Basketball Seniors Looking to Transfer

C.J. Moore — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:37:16 -0400

College basketball’s free agent market is in full swing right now. Have a hole in your roster and need an immediate impact player? No problem. There’s probably a senior transfer out there available for a quick fix.

The rule that allows seniors to transfer and not sit out if they earn their undergrad degree first has some high-profile players on the market. These are the best available and where they could land.

Tarik Black, former Memphis power forward

Considering: Oregon, Duke and Kansas (according to Zagsblog.com)

Where Black Fits: All three teams have a need for an experienced big man.

This one season for Black is like a tryout for the NBA, as he’s always been an intriguing prospect who hasn’t quite proven himself. The main reason to consider Kansas would be Bill Self’s ability to develop big men.

The drawback at KU is competition. Bill Self has plenty of talent in the frontcourt, but it’s all pretty green. Perry Ellis is a lock to start at the 4 spot, and Black would have to compete with incoming freshman Joel Embiid and sophomore-to-be Jamari Traylor for the other starting spot.

According to Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com, Kansas could be in the lead.

If it’s guaranteed playing time that Black wants, the better options would be Duke or Oregon.

Black would likely be the starter next to transfer Rodney Hood at Duke. Mike Krzyzewski returns two post players who were part of the rotation last year—Josh Hairston and Amile Jefferson—and both are probably better suited coming off the bench.

The school that would guarantee Black the most playing time is Oregon, where Dana Altman has already begun rebuilding his frontcourt with UNLV transfer Mike Moser.

Altman had success last year with Arsalan Kazemi, another one-and-done transfer big man. That shows that he's more than willing to put Moser and Black in his starting lineup right away. The Ducks return a talented backcourt, but they didn’t have much coming back up front.

Considering the impact Black could make, Oregon seems to make the most sense. But if he's looking for one solid year of development at a big man-friendly program, Kansas is a solid choice.

Antonio Barton, former Memphis guard

Considering: Maryland and Tennessee (according to the Baltimore Sun)

Where Barton Fits: Both schools were bubble teams last season that need a guard because of their own guys transferring out.

At Maryland, Barton would compete with incoming freshman point guard Roddy Peters, who is ranked as the 10th-best point guard in the 2013 class by Rivals.com.

At Tennessee, Barton could take the place of starting point guard Trae Golden, whose unexpected transfer is on the fishy side if this report by Jimmy Hyams of the "Sports Animal" in Knoxville is the reason why Golden departed.

Both teams have some intriguing talent on their roster, but the Vols could be the team that’s one player away from making some noise in their league. Tennessee returns three all-league guys in Jordan McRae, Jarnell Stokes and Jeronne Maymon. Maymon had to sit out last season because of a knee injury.

Since Golden’s transfer kind of came out of nowhere, the best spot for Barton to guarantee himself playing time and the chance to play for a contender is at Tennessee.

Michael Dixon, Missouri

Considering: East Carolina, Baylor, Colorado and Loyola Marymount (according to Jason King of ESPN.com)

Where Dixon Fits: It’s not a given that Dixon would be allowed to play right away.

Dixon missed last season after he was kicked off the team when an MU student accused him of rape, which, as recently reported by the Columbia Tribune, the police decided not to press charges.

According to King:

Dixon, who has one year of eligibility remaining, has yet to complete his undergraduate coursework. But he's still hoping to receive a waiver from the NCAA that would allow him to play immediately at his new school.

If Dixon wants to go to a team where he can be the star and put up a lot of points, East Carolina and Loyola Marymount make sense. ECU graduates its two leading scorers. Loyola Marymount went 1-15 in the WCC last year.

What makes more sense for Dixon if he wants to be back in the spotlight is to go to Baylor or Colorado.

The Buffs already have a talented backcourt with Spencer Dinwiddie and Askia Booker. Dixon could start alongside those two, moving Dinwiddie to the 3 spot, and allowing the Buffs to play fast, which is the pace best-suited for all three guards.

Dixon can also play point guard, and that’s where he could fit in at Baylor. Scott Drew has a lot of talent returning, but his team will be unproven at point guard. Dixon could fill that role or slide over to the 2 if JUCO transfer point guard Kenny Cherry turns out to be a talent similar to Pierre Jackson, who was also a JUCO transfer.

Drew has a lot to sell, but it could be wise for Dixon to stay away from the Big 12—opposing fan bases are plenty familiar with his story. Colorado seems like a good fit.

Heat vs. Pacers: Why David West and Roy Hibbert Will Give Miami Trouble

Joshua Axelrod — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:31:36 -0400

The Indiana Pacers’ big men may be the key to getting past the seemingly unbeatable juggernaut that is the Miami Heat.

David West and Roy Hibbert wreaked havoc against a soft New York frontcourt in the second round of the playoffs. Even former Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler was getting out-muscled by Indiana’s dynamic duo.

Now they will look to do the same thing against the Heat. Interestingly enough, they might have an easier time against Miami’s bigs than they did in the last series.

The Heat are a lot of things, but one thing they are not is tall. The tallest player on its roster is the 6’11” Chris Bosh, and no one has ever accused him of being a particularly frightening big man before.

In fact, Miami is mostly devoid of quality big men. Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem have been doing a great job down low, but the rest of the Heat are basically the Big Three and a squadron of sharpshooters.

West may only be 6’9”, but he plays much bigger than that. He backs down opponents, bangs on the glass and has a lethal mid-range jump shot. Finding someone who can check him consistently might be a difficult task for the Heat.

Even if they find a way to neutralize West, they may have no answer for the 7’2” Hibbert. He has emerged as a dominant NBA center in the 2013 playoffs, averaging a respectable 14.0 points per game and 9.6 rebounds. Just check out what he did to Carmelo Anthony in Game 6 against the Knicks.

This could be a big issue for Miami. The Heat have gotten away with playing small ball all season because the Eastern Conference is mostly devoid of elite big men. Now they might have to change their game plan entirely.

Miami could put LeBron James down low, but the team would probably rather have him guarding Paul George. If the Heat opt to put James on West, they will have to increase Shane Battier’s minutes. Battier is a solid defender and can hit threes, but the Heat probably do not want him on the floor in crunch time.

Even if they solve that problem, the Heat will not be able to do much about Hibbert. Bosh may be able to pull him out of the paint with his mid-range game, which will help Miami on offense. But the Heat can do very little in terms of stopping Hibbert from becoming a beast on the boards.

The Heat might face this issue against either team from the Western Conference, too. The Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs both have a pair of impressive big men.

Taking on the challenge of West and Hibbert will be good practice for upcoming battles against either Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol or Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter. We will see if they are up to the task in the Eastern Conference finals.

Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva Isn't Looking for Revenge, Only the Gold at UFC 160

Damon Martin — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:30:54 -0400

If there's one thing to be said about UFC 160 main event fighter Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, it's that he has the ability to rise to the occasion when the entire world seems to be counting him out.

In February of 2011, Silva was matched up with former pound-for-pound king and heavyweight icon Fedor Emelianenko in the opening round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Emelianenko was entering the fight off a loss to Fabricio Werdum, but many considered it to be a fluke mistake the Russian made getting caught in a triangle choke early in the opening round.

The bout with Silva was supposed to be Emelianenko's charge back to the top of the rankings, but what happened in the fight was a far cry from a triumphant return. Silva manhandled Emelianenko for the better part of 10 minutes before the fight was stopped due to damage the Russian endured while battling the giant Brazilian fighter.

Silva once again had the odds stacked against him when he faced former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in February at UFC 156. It seemed everybody had already anointed Overeem as the next challenger to the UFC heavyweight title and his fight with Silva was merely a formality.

Unfortunately for Overeem, Silva had much different plans and instead knocked out the former K-1 kickboxing champion in the third round to not only shock the world but claim his spot as the top contender in the heavyweight division.

Now just a few days away from his first crack at the UFC heavyweight title, Silva is again facing what seem to be insurmountable odds.

Silva's title shot comes against Cain Velasquez—the same fighter who gave him a very rude welcome to the Octagon by beating him in the first round by TKO almost exactly one year ago. So heading into the rematch, Silva is again in familiar territory.

He isn't one to look at his history and believe that upsets are something he just excels at when he steps in the cage. Silva knows that if his preparation is on point, he can beat any fighter on the planet whether he's the favorite or a huge underdog.

"I don't want and don't like to show anyone some type of proof," Silva told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. "Just that I train hard and try to achieve good victories because I love to fight."

If proving naysayers wrong doesn't serve as Silva's motivation, how about good, old fashioned revenge?

It's hard to erase the image of Velasquez taking Silva down in their last fight and literally pounding him into a bloody mess that preceded the end of the night for the Brazilian. Maybe it's his best poker face, but according to Silva, this fight isn't about revenge or redemption.

It's about facing the best heavyweight in the world and when the fight is over taking home the UFC gold.

"I don't think about revenge," Silva stated. "I'm professional and all I want is to fight and win. There is a feeling of a rematch and I want the belt. This is an extra motive.

"This is definitely a great moment in my career, but I don't put pressure on myself. This fight is just another important fight in my life."

While their last fight ended with Silva wearing a crimson mask, it also provided him with a large amount of knowledge for how Velasquez may approach this rematch. He felt the UFC champion's strength and wrestling in their last fight, and it gives Silva plenty of ammunition to load up for the rematch this Saturday night.

"Cain Velasquez is an excellent wrestling and a complete athlete and I respect him a lot," Silva said. "I am training well and I am going to do what my trainers taught me because I am sure it will work. For every attack, there is a defense and a counterattack."

Silva doesn't care much about how this fight plays out in terms of him gunning for a knockout or a submission. If he walks out of UFC 160 with the heavyweight title, he's going to be a very happy man.

So when it came down to a prediction on how the fight with Velasquez will end—Silva kept it simple and said "with my arms raised in the air."

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.

NFL, NFLPA Reportedly Looking to Push Draft to May, Move Up Start of League Year

Jesse Reed — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:29:37 -0400

There already isn't much of an offseason for the NFL anymore, and the league's schedule reportedly is on the verge of becoming even more of a year-round event.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday that the NFL and NFLPA are "on the verge" of moving the NFL draft to May and moving up the start of the new league year to before the combine:

These proposed moves would allow teams more time to get their rosters in order before the draft. The proposed changes would also give teams more time to investigate potential rookies before singing them to lucrative contracts.

Schefter further elaborated on ESPN.com that the league would like to have regional scouting combines leading up to the main NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, rather than the other way around.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network verified Schefter's report and provided some other insight as to why the league is considering the move:

According to a report by Albert Breer of NFL.com back in March, the biggest issue from the perspective of the NFLPA is that the start of free agency would actually happen later in the year:

The biggest issue the union and its players have with the calendar, according to the source, is the idea of free agency being backed up further in the year, leaving those players in limbo for longer.

It will be interesting to see what the two sides have done to alleviate these concerns, should the new calendar become effective.

One final note of interest, per Schefter, is that Roger Goodell has the power to change the date of the draft without NFLPA approval but would rather move forward with the union's blessing.

Given the contention between the NFL and NFLPA in recent years, it's a smart move by Goodell.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

NBA Draft Lottery: Everything You Need to Know About Pre-Draft Event

Rob Goldberg — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:27:38 -0400

The NBA draft lottery is one of the biggest events of the offseason, and it is certain to make a huge impact on the league going forward.

This system has legitimately changed the course of basketball history as the top players in each draft can go to any of the 14 teams that missed the playoffs. In 2008, the Chicago Bulls were fortunate to be able to draft Derrick Rose despite having low odds at the first pick.

While this year's class has no sure-fire superstars, every team would still like the top pick to help improve the organization for the future.

In order to help you keep up with this important event, here is a guide of everything you need to know.

When: Tuesday, May 21

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Disney/ABC's Times Square Studios, New York City

Watch: ESPN

Lottery Odds

No.	Team	Odds
1	Orlando Magic	25 percent
2	Charlotte Bobcats	19.9 percent
3	Cleveland Cavaliers	15.6 percent
4	Phoenix Suns	11.9 percent
5	New Orleans Pelicans	8.8 percent
6	Sacramento Kings	6.3 percent
7	Detroit Pistons	3.6 percent
8	Washington Wizards	3.5 percent
9	Minnesota Timberwolves	1.7 percent
10	Portland Trail Blazers	1.1 percent
11	Philadelphia 76ers	0.8 percent
12	Toronto Raptors*	0.7 percent
13	Dallas Mavericks	0.6 percent
14	Utah Jazz	0.5 percent

*Toronto's pick was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, although it is top-three protected.

Potential Top Picks

Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky

Few players in this draft have more upside than Nerlens Noel. He is already an elite shot-blocker who has the athleticism to be successful on the offensive end as well.

However, there is a lot of risk associated with the center. Primarily, he tore his ACL during the regular season and is not expected to return until at least next Christmas, according to Keith Langlois of Pistons.com:

Even when healthy, he is still a little small for a center in both height and weight, and he must put on a lot of strength to compete at the next level. Additionally, he is very raw offensively and must learn technique to help create his own shot.

Still, teams at the top of the lottery are looking for players to turn around a franchise. Noel has that ability, and he is worth the huge gamble by taking him first overall.

Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

If a team feels it needs backcourt help, it is tough to find a better option than Ben McLemore. In his one year at Kansas, the guard proved that he could be a big-time scorer at the highest levels of the sport.

McLemore is a good shooter who forces defenders to guard him close, although he also has the ability to create his own shot off the dribble. He is also athletic enough to finish above the rim when he is close to the basket.

While the young player was a bit inconsistent this past season, the skills that helped him succeed will translate well to the NBA. If he can put it all together, he will be a very good player.

Any squad looking to add a scoring threat would be smart to grab McLemore with the first pick.

Trey Burke, PG, Michigan

If Trey Burke was a few inches taller, it would be tough to imagine teams passing on him with the first overall pick.

The point guard had an outstanding season at Michigan where he averaged 19.2 points and 6.7 assists per game. He displayed the ability to create shots for his teammates as well as score himself in a number of different ways.

Additionally, his leadership was on display throughout the NCAA tournament when he led the Wolverines to the national championship game before falling to Louisville.

Unfortunately, he measured at just under 6'0" at the scouting combine, which is certain to cause some doubts among NBA general managers. Still, he is qualified to be the top overall pick for any club that needs to draft a point guard for the future.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

A College Football Coach at a Small School Shouldn't Have to Skydive for Toilets

Lisa Horne — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:25:13 -0400

Has it really come down to this?

Eastern Michigan head coach Ron English is willing to skydive if the school can raise $60,000 to upgrade its team's bathrooms, according to an ESPN report:

English has pledged to skydive if EMU can raise at least $60,000 through its golf outing June 8 and other donations. Those who donate $5,000 will get to spend a day with English and staff members and skydive with him.

That money will go toward retiling the bathrooms in the team's locker room and updating the fixtures and stalls.

If the floors and walls need to be retiled, does that mean there are cracks or exposed jagged edges? If so, that's a safety concern and no coach should have to go diving for dollars to repair the problems.

But what is more concerning is that this splashy fund raising idea didn't come from English.

It won't be the first time English has gone skydiving. Two years ago he took the leap with the U.S. Army Golden Knights in southeast Michigan.

He wasn't necessarily looking to do it again, but the marketing firm Eastern Michigan uses suggested it.

The school's marketing firm suggested the skydiving?

If something were to happen—any incident involving skydiving rarely ends well—while English was skydiving there could be major civil litigation if injury or death occurred. Is this really a good idea when the school apparently can't even afford to put in new bathroom fixtures?

Coaches do a lot of risky things. Washington State head coach Mike Leach likes to scuba dive. But would Washington State ever suggest Leach go diving where great white sharks are known to congregate? And would any fan feel comfortable donating to that cause knowing a head coach is risking his life?

Skydiving is classified as an extreme sport—it has a high degree of inherent danger. Asking anyone to risk his life for money is disturbing—even if he enjoys the sport. Let him do it on his own time.

English says "we need the money." Every head coach is responsible for fund raising but that usually is done via booster club appearances. Not jumping out of a plane with a nylon parachute strapped to his back as he hurtles toward earth.

Eastern Michigan needs to come up with a new idea. The risks are too great for the school.

And English.

Mario Williams Addresses Ex-Fiance Erin Marzouki's Claims About Suicidal Texts

Rob Goldberg — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:20:06 -0400

Mario Williams has denied allegations that he sent suicidal texts to his ex-fiance, Erin Marzouki.

The Buffalo Bills defensive end has been involved in a legal dispute (h/t CBS Sports) with Marzouki over a $785,000 diamond engagement ring that he wants returned.

In November, he reportedly mentioned to Marzouki that he was having "suicidal thoughts" (via USA Today):

[Attorney Tony Buzbee] released an exchange of texts between the two he said he copied off his client's phone. It's a conversation dated as occurring between 4:51 and 8:26 p.m. CT on Nov. 11 and includes a break between 5:03-8:02 p.m.

During the exchange, Williams wrote: "No money in the world should leave me with suicidal thoughts."

Williams also wrote that he took three hydrocodones that morning -- that was the day of Buffalo's game at New England. And he planned to take two more on the plane home.

Williams has now addressed the allegations and said that the medication was in fact prescribed, according to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News:

During the season, the Bills star played with a torn ligament in his wrist and waited until his team's bye week to have surgery. He did not miss a game, but he was clearly playing hurt for a good portion of the season.

He also released a long message on Twitter that featured his general thoughts on the situation (via @bbwolf94):

The true character of someone is always revealed in times that we don't typically agree with. In these times it's how you respond and portray yourself to others that shows the ethics, character and true morals of a person. What's shown speaks for itself!

I'm still here and always will be. I'm too strong for ridicule and the childish extremes those will do to try and taint a persons name when in reality you make me stronger, hungrier and more determined.

To God be the glory I'm still here I'm still so strong, You should know better than to think efforts like these affect me or anything for that matter. IM IN THE BUSINESS OF LIVING A LIFE OF JOY AND HAPPINESS! BUSINESS IS BOOMING!!

New head coach Doug Marrone stated that he is still looking into the situation and is taking it seriously (via Graham):

He also intends to keep the issue as private as possible to look out for the player's best interest (via the Buffalo Bills on Twitter):

Williams is entering the second season of a six-year, $100 million contract that he signed last offseason after six seasons with the Houston Texans. The deal includes $50 million in guaranteed money and is the richest contract a defensive player has ever signed.

Unfortunately, the Bills struggled in his first season and only managed a 6-10 record.

Still, the defender had a solid individual year, totaling 10.5 sacks with 46 tackles despite his early health struggles. The team hopes that he can continue to be a leader and an impact player on the defensive side of the ball for the next few seasons.

Why Chris Bosh Is Miami Heat's Most Important Player vs. Indiana Pacers

Dan Favale — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:13:29 -0400

There is no underestimating the importance of Chris Bosh against the Indiana Pacers.

LeBron James is the Miami Heat's most valuable player—alright, the league's most valuable player—and a healthy Dwyane Wade renders them nearly unbeatable, but Bosh will be the ultimate barometer for South Beach in the Eastern Conference Finals.

LeBron is going to get his—let's make that clear. Paul George should be able to limit The Chosen One the way Jimmy Butler did for stretches at a time, but there is no stopping him. LeBron is going to score, he's going to drop dimes and he will threaten the Pacers with 20, 10 and 10 every night.

Wade will have an equally persistent effect. He continues to average playoff career lows in points (13), shot attempts (11.9) and minutes (32.9), but the Heat don't need him to be the Wade of the regular season to win—which, for the record, isn't an insult. Rather, it attests to how talented Miami's roster is and how Wade's presence on the court alone is enough to stymie even the most elite of defensive attacks.

Unlike LeBron and Wade's invariable value, Bosh's importance to the Heat skyrockets against the Pacers. More specifically, against Roy Hibbert. And Bosh knows it.

It's not that the Heat need him to score more points (though that would be nice). They need him to battle in the post with one of the most physical centers in the league, and do so successfully.

"C.B.'s been very active," James said of Bosh (via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel) after Monday's practice. "He's given us unbelievable rebounds around the rim. He's been double digits a lot of our games. He's been blocking shots. He's been a rim protector for us and we definitely need that, especially in our starting unit."

And the Heat need all that badly now.

Hibbert, for all his numerical inconsistencies, is a beast. Standing at 7'2" and weighing in at 278 pounds, he can have his way in the post when he's not in foul trouble, especially on the glass.

For the postseason, Hibbert is averaging 9.6 rebounds per game, 4.6 of which are coming on the offensive end. Only 17 players before him in NBA history have rebounded at such an offensive rate through a minimum of 10 playoff games.

Miami was the worst rebounding team during the regular season and though Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen are the type of physical glass-hoarders who could see some time opposite Hibbert, it will be Bosh that gets a majority of the minutes.

Bosh is averaging 8.3 rebounds a night of his own, but those boards will be more difficult to come by with Hibbert patrolling the interior and boxing him out. The former will have to become more of the aggressor, a role that he's not used to assuming, and one that he also struggled to play against the Chicago Bulls.

Joakim Noah averaged 9.2 rebounds a night during his five games against the Heat, essentially on one foot, no less. More than four of those came on the offensive end for Noah. Carlos Boozer, who Bosh also saw time against, also found success. He brought down 8.2 boards a night, an average of 3.2 coming on the offensive side of the ball.

Hibbert poses a similar, yet arguably more physical threat. Noah is one of the best glass-crashers in the league (better than Hibbert, I'd say), but Hibbert isn't battling a foot injury that limits his mobility or explosion. And if Noah was able to rebound well against the Heat injured, imagine what a healthy Hibbert will be able to do.

It's not just limiting his impact on the glass either. Bosh also needs to combat Hibbert's back to the basket sets.

Though a tumultuous scorer, Indiana's big man has shown he can overwhelm lanky towers like that of Bosh. Just ask Tyson Chandler. He has about four inches and 55 pounds on Bosh, so Hibbert's sets on the block are going to be something to watch.

Relying on him to remain unproductive isn't going to be enough either. Hibbert often disappears on the offensive end for minutes (quarters?) at a time, but he's torched interior defenses for 14 points per game during the playoffs.

To further complicate Bosh's assignment, Hibbert is swatting away 2.5 shots per game in the postseason. Not only will this make it more convoluted a task for Bosh himself to score, but he needs to lure Hibbert away from the rim so that neither LeBron nor Wade becomes the next Carmelo Anthony.

Successfully reaching the rim becomes all the more important when you consider how poorly the Heat are shooting from beyond the arc.

After knocking down 39.6 percent of their treys during the regular season, they're hitting on just 34 percent in the playoffs. Indiana ranked atop the league in opponents' three-point percentage (32.7), so if Hibbert takes away plays at the rim, Miami will be forced to rely on what has been some turbulent distance shooting against a team that excels at contesting them.

The fuss over Hibbert is then completely warranted and not at all exaggerated.

LeBron himself has declared Paul George a superstar, David West will make the Heat work for everything they get and Lance Stephenson has the length, athleticism and physical intellect necessary to impede an already handicapped Wade even further. But what Hibbert can do is more important.

His performances invoke ripple effects that are extremely hard to overcome. The Pacers are a perfect 2-0 in the playoffs when he scores at least 10 points, grabs 10 rebounds and blocks two shots. And they're 3-1 when he simply snags at least 10 boards and sends back two shots.

When he has his way under the basket, Indiana is a dubious beat. Bosh has to take ownership of that on the court. He has to understand that Hibbert has excelled in various aspects of the game against a star-caliber big in Al Horford and a former Defensive Player of the Year in Tyson Chandler.

Miami needs him to effectively mitigate everything Hibbert does so that this series doesn't fall out of reach. If he is unable to adequately match up against Indiana's tower and do all the things that a more defensively-inclined Chandler couldn't (like stay out of foul trouble), it will be the Heat who are in trouble.

The good news? Bosh is capable of holding his own.

In three meetings against the Heat this year, Hibbert is averaging 9.7 points, eight rebounds and 0.7 blocks on 38.2 percent shooting. Bosh himself, though, has found success against the Pacers.

Through three meetings he averaged 17 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on 58.3 percent shooting. Those rebounding totals need to be elevated, but he has proved he can score on Hibbert, which is half the battle.

The other half is not emerging as a proverbial stepping stone on the defensive end. Keeping Hibbert in check there will keep the Heat in control, right where their supposed to be.

What LeBron and Wade accomplish will speak volumes. And what the rest of the Heat do isn't of any less significance. But it's Bosh who finds himself pitted against the player who serves as a harbinger for Indiana's success.

"It's just work ethic really," Bosh detailed of playing effectively. "That's all, just competing on every single play."

With his work cut out for him against the Pacers, the Heat need that implacable diligence Bosh makes reference to now more than ever. And they need it more than they do anything else.

Follow @danfavale

*All stats in this article were compiled from Basketball-Reference and NBA.com unless otherwise noted.

Ligue 1 Final Week Has Plenty on the Line for Several Clubs

Christopher Almeras — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:02:42 -0400

The Ligue 1 season comes to a close this week. We have seen PSG claim the title and send David Beckham off in style. Even with the title sewn up, there are still some story lines to keep an eye on.

The race for the final Champions League position has three teams still fighting it out. Lyon currently sits two points ahead of Saint-Etienne for the coveted position.

The Lille versus Saint-Etienne matchup will draw the most interest this week as its outcome has the biggest potential impact on the table.

If Lyon lose or tie against Rennes, a Saint-Etienne win over Lille will see Les Verts move to third. ASSE would return to the highest level of European competition, reaping the rewards of a impressive campaign.

Lille can take third through a somewhat complicated scenario. Firstly, Lille must beat Saint-Etienne, and Lyon must lose to Rennes.

If this happens, and Lille gains two goals in the goal differential on Lyon, the teams will be tied on points and goal difference. The next tie breaker is number of goals scored.

Lyon is currently set at 59 and Lille at 58. If goals scored is also tied, a playoff will be held to determine third place and who gets the Champions League spot.

This can all be rendered unnecessary if Lille gains a net +3 in the goal difference column.

The relegation picture is little more clear cut at the other end of the table. Troyes must win against Valenciennes and have Sochaux lose to Bastia to move out of relegation.

Any result by Sochaux or Troyes failing to win will see Troyes relegated along with Nancy and Brest.

Despite the lack of a dramatic final week with title implications, Ligue 1 will close their 80th anniversary season with several positions hanging in the balance.

How Do Scouts Break Down NFL Wide Receiver Prospects?

Matt Miller — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:50 -0400

The one question I'm asked most by readers, Twitter followers or prospective writers is, "How do you break down NFL prospects?" It is also one of the toughest questions to answer in a tweet or quick email exchange.

Here, I'll go deeper.

Each position requires different criteria for scouting, but the method of scouting remains the same. Tape study, background checks and pre-draft workouts are all a part of the puzzle that makes up a player's pre-draft scouting report. But what goes into a deeper study of each position and each player at that position?

After starting with quarterbacks and running backs, here is a look at what it takes to scout wide receivers for the NFL.

1. Hands

Ask yourself, what is the No. 1 job of a wide receiver?

The answer? To catch the ball. More than any other aspect of what the player does, his hands are the most important feature when scouting a player. Think back on your own career—whether that's college football or simply backyard touch games. You might become more comfortable catching in pads and a helmet over time, but being able to pluck the football out of the air is very much a skill you either have or don't have at an early stage in your playing career.

Hands. The ability to consistently catch the football, and yet, so much more.

When we look at wide receivers in the college game and project them to the NFL, you want not only a player who catches a lot of passes—production really isn't that important for wide receivers—but a player who routinely catches the ball when it is thrown his way. In this regard, it's much more important to have a high percentage of catches than it is to have a high number of catches.

How do we track this? Much in the same way that I chart quarterback accuracy, the same chart is used to track wide receiver consistency.

A simple "X" for drops and "O" for catches will give you an accurate look at a player's catch-to-drops ratio and also give you a clear picture of where they may struggle catching the ball. This chart is the one I used before the 2012 draft to uncover Justin Blackmon's struggle to secure the ball on quick-hit throws on slant routes. And that's something we eventually saw more of from him.

It can be too easy to say that a wide receiver has good hands because he catches a lot of passes, but there are many wide receivers who don't have great production—because of the quarterback or the scheme—but go on to be very productive NFL receivers. Throw out the stat sheet on this one.

2. Route Running

If the No. 1 goal of a wide receiver is to catch the ball, a major part of that equation is his ability to get open.

Being a good route-runner is something that can be taught. Demaryius Thomas has become a nice example of this. Coming out of Georgia Tech's option offense, Thomas wasn't an accomplished route-runner, but with time the Denver Broncos have been able to perfect his timing, steps and ability to change direction. Those are the keys to being able to separate from a defender in coverage.

Knowing how well a player runs routes can be very tough to grade or judge. To help myself keep track of this, I like to sketch out route trees while watching film. It's simple enough to take a piece of paper and draw out which routes you see the player run. You can then add notes—like "poor cut to inside"—on those routes for reference.

Being a good route-runner is something that I find to be underrated too often. How well the receiver sees the field, separates from the coverage and adjusts to the ball are keys to his future success. Of course, this is largely size, quickness and mechanics all wrapped up into one neat little package.

When a player is a high-level route-runner, we'll see things like quick feet, great balance, the flexibility in their lower body to change direction and the speed to accelerate away from defenders. Those are all important aspects of the game outside of route running but here get pulled in to make up the second-most important criteria for wide receiver prospects.

3. Quickness and Agility

Throughout this series, one constant you will see is the scouting of agility. For almost every position on the football field, it is the backbone of what a player can or cannot do. Tie in the player's quickness with his agility and you'll have a good idea of the type of athlete you're scouting.

Being an agile wide receiver, to me, is better than being a fast wide receiver. Yes, anyone would love to have both, but being quick in short areas beats being able to run past defenders in a straight line. Take Wes Welker for example.

Coming out of Texas Tech, Welker was an undersized player with below-average speed—timed at 4.61 at his pro day—but what's made him such a great underneath receiver is his quickness in space. Welker is able to change direction without slowing down, and he's shifty enough when there is room to run that he can create separation from defenders and then accelerate away from tacklers.

Not every player who is quicker than fast will succeed, but speed alone will get you in trouble when scouting wide receivers.

4. Speed and Acceleration

Speed. It's damn near a four-letter word in the scouting community thanks to the over-drafting of players who wow scouts with amazing 40-yard dash times. How important is speed to the position?

The chart above shows you that of the 10 fastest wide receivers to enter the NFL over the last seven drafts, just two have made a Pro Bowl. It's easy to surmise that speed, while nice, is overrated as a stand-alone scouting criteria. If only Al Davis had learned this.

Finding a wide receiver with speed is always nice, but only if he has good hands and is either an accomplished route-runner or has the skills—balance, flexibility and quickness—to become one. Darrius Heyward-Bey hasn't been an elite NFL wide receiver no matter how fast he gets up the field. On the other hand, players with less speed but better skills, like Anquan Boldin, have become much better players overall.

Speed and acceleration can be important, though. I'm not suggesting that a slow receiver is better than a fast one, especially when we're talking about being able to make plays after the catch and separate from coverage. Those two areas are where speed is a major benefit.

Guys like Percy Harvin are so dangerous because of their ability to quickly hit a second gear and pull away from defenders. This blend of wide receiver is equal parts pass-catcher and running back, thanks to their open-field ability and penchant for picking up yards post-catch. Harvin's speed alone isn't elite, but his acceleration, quickness and vision make him extremely dangerous in the open field.

Every spring we see a handful of players who move up draft boards because of a 40-yard dash time, but remember that speed is a small part of the puzzle when evaluating a wide receiver or any NFL draft prospect. Positional skills come first.

5. Size

A wise man once told me that it's fine for wide receivers to be short, as long as they're not small.

That may sound like a Chinese proverb, but consider its merits. Short wide receivers have become much more common in today's NFL. Players like Wes Welker, DeSean Jackson and now Tavon Austin are being used as centerpieces in pro offenses. All three are considered short while not being small.

What does that mean?

Welker, Jackson and Austin are all under 5'11", but they all weigh at least 175 pounds. Welker has nice bulk at 185 pounds on his 5'9" frame, and similarly Austin packs 181 pounds on a 5'9" frame. Both have the bulk to hold up against NFL tacklers.

How about the other end of this spectrum? The oversized wide receiver was all the rage in the NFL for years, with the Roy Williams' and Mike Williams' of the world becoming top 10 picks thanks to their matchup potential on the edge against smaller cornerbacks.

That trend hasn't completely died, but NFL teams have learned that size isn't everything. Calvin Johnson is enormous, but he's also other-worldly agile. Same for Julio Jones. Size is great, when it comes with balance, flexibility, quick feet and speed.

7. Blocking

Blocking. How much does it really matter? If you ask NFL evaluators, not that much.

In my time covering the NFL draft, working as a recruiter and working as a scout, I've never once heard of a wide receiver being moved up or down draft boards because of his blocking ability. Never.

Blocking is a nice skill set for a wide receiver, but NFL coaches could teach a toddler to stalk block or run off coverage. It's great that Julio Jones is a menacing blocker, but how often does that skill change or win ball games for the Atlanta Falcons?

When you're evaluating wide receivers, it's fine to keep an eye on how well they block, but remember we're paying the player to do one thing—catch the football.

Conclusion

Scouting wide receivers can be tough—just ask Bill Belichick or Matt Millen—but too often the job becomes harder than it needs to be because the evaluator falls in love with one part of the package instead of the whole thing.

Wide receivers like A.J. Green, Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson were sure-thing prospects because they possessed all of the above qualities at high levels. While not every prospect can be at that level, the job of an evaluator is to find a player with the most ability in each of these areas. Those players become your starting-caliber wide receivers over the long haul.

Daniel Cormier Wants Next Fight at UFC on Fox Sports 1 Alongside Chael Sonnen

McKinley Noble — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:23 -0400

Former Strikeforce heavyweight and Olympic talent Daniel Cormier is still eyeing a cut to 205 pounds, but he wants a fight at UFC on Fox Sports 1 this August.

During a UFC on FX 8 post-fight coverage segment on Fuel TV (via MMA Weekly), the top-ranked contender asked for a fight at heavyweight to follow up on his one-sided decision victory over former UFC champion Frank Mir:

I want to fight on the first card on FOX Sports 1 in Boston on Aug. 17. And I hope my man Chael Sonnen is fighting Wanderlei Silva next to me. Put us on the card, boss!

At the end of the day I can't cut massive amounts of weight. That's well documented from my problems in the Olympic games. But I can diet, and when I'm dieting I can still fight. Can I fight at 205? No. Because it's too much weight to cut in a short period of time. But could I fight a heavyweight fight and just be a little lighter? I think so.

UFC on Fox Sports 1 takes place on August 17, and given the timing, that would only free up two names on the promotion's roster.

Currently, the only winning heavyweights yet to face Cormier without a fight scheduled are Roy Nelson and Todd Duffee.

Since Duffee is nowhere near the title hunt and well outside of the official UFC rankings, that would make Nelson the most likely candidate for Cormier at UFC on Fox Sports 1, assuredly for a title eliminator on the main card.

Moreover, Cormier has already declared that he refuses to fight for the UFC Heavyweight Championship (via MMA Weekly) as long as Cain Velasquez holds the title. Both men are friends and training partners at the American Kickboxing Academy.

In 2008, Cormier suffered kidney failure while competing at the Olympic Games, due to massive weight cutting of 20- to 30-pound increments, according to Sports Illustrated.

As a result, the common practice of weight cutting in MMA isn't a safe or viable option for the relatively stout Cormier—standing at a mere 5'10" in height—despite stepping onto the scales before UFC on Fox 7 at 30 pounds under the 265 heavyweight limit.

McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist. His work has appeared in NVision, PC World, Macworld, GamePro, 1UP, MMA Mania and The L.A. Times.

2013 NBA Draft Lottery: Breaking Down Process Behind How It Works

Alex Kay — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:59:16 -0400

The 2013 NBA draft lottery takes place on Tuesday, May 21, which should have fans of each participating team intrigued about their favorite club’s chance to land the top pick in the upcoming draft.

While most casual observers know what the lottery ultimately accomplishes, many are unaware of the inner workings of this sometimes mysterious and always intriguing event. Whether you have some idea of how this process works or nary a clue, don’t worry, as we’re here to help.

Let’s take a look at how the current system works, how the league got to this point, the odds for each team to win this year and more in our lottery process breakdown.

The Participants

The lottery is used to determine how the first 14 selections of each year’s draft shake out.

The 14 participants represent each one of the teams that missed out on the postseason. Picks No. 15 through 30 are set in stone once the regular season wraps up, based solely on record, with the worst-record playoff team getting the No. 15 pick and the best-record playoff team getting the No. 30 selection.

Here's a look at this year's participants and there odds to get the top pick:

Team	2012-13 Record	Chance of No. 1 pick
Orlando Magic	20-62	25 percent
Charlotte Bobcats	21-61	19.9 percent
Cleveland Cavaliers	24-58	15.6 percent
Phoenix Suns	25-57	11.9 percent
New Orleans Pelicans	27-55	8.8 percent
Sacramento Kings	28-54	6.3 percent
Detroit Pistons	29-53	4.3 percent
Washington Wizards	29-53	2.8 percent
Minnesota Timberwolves	31-51	1.7 percent
Portland Trail Blazers*	33-49	1.1 percent
Philadelphia 76ers	34-48	0.8 percent
Toronto Raptors**	34-48	0.7 percent
Dallas Mavericks	41-41	0.6 percent
Utah Jazz	43-39	0.5 percent

*If Portland's pick falls outside of the top 12, it will be sent to Charlotte.

**If Toronto's pick falls outside of the top three, it will be sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder via the Houston Rockets.

*Odds and trade notes courtesy of USA Today.

The Process

The nuts and bolts of how the lottery works are actually quite interesting.

To start things off, the league issues out—via computer—a particular number of 1,000 different four-number combinations to each participant in the event. The team with the worst record will get 250 of these codes, while the organization with the best record will get just five.

At the actual lottery, which takes place at ABC’s Times Square Studios in New York City this year, 14 ping pong balls will be placed into a drum in a private room.

These ping pong balls will be numbered “1” through “14”, with the possible amount of four-ball combinations totaling up to 1,001. To get to that number, there is no regard paid to the order of selection, which means 1-2-3-4 would be equivalent to 4-3-2-1 or any other combination of those four digits.

With NBA officials, team representatives and members of accounting firm Ernst and Young observing, four balls will be drawn from the drum and whichever participant holds that combination will be awarded the No. 1 overall pick.

That process will be repeated twice more, once to determine the No. 2 overall selection and finally for the No. 3.

In the extremely rare case that the single combination without an assigned team is drawn, the ping pong balls are returned and the process continues without a hitch.

With those three selections set, inverse order of regular-season record is used to determine the remainder of the draft order. This insures that the worst team can pick no worse than fourth, the second-worst no later than fifth, etc.

All of this isn’t shown during the television broadcast, as fans only get to see deputy commissioner Adam Silver receive envelopes with picks No. 1 through 14 contained within, his revealing of these results and the reaction from another set of team representatives—none of whom have a clue as to what happened in the private room.

As you can see, an intriguing series of events must unfold before viewers finally find out which club landed the top pick in the NBA draft.

The History

Prior to 1966, the league’s draft order had teams strictly pick in reverse order with regards to win-loss records. The lone exception was territorial selections, which allowed for franchises to draft a player from the local area in exchange for a first-round pick.

From 1966 through 1984, a coin-flip method was employed to determine which team landed the top pick in the draft.

The last-place squads in each conference simply flipped to see which one had the right to pick first and which would receive the second selection, while the remaining organizations still went by reverse order.

The main issue here was that when two or more of the worst teams happened to be in the same conference, it would not matter. Only the worst would have a shot at flipping the coin for first pick.

In 1985, the first lottery took place. It was a bit different that today’s version, as all seven non-playoff teams had an equal chance to win.

With commissioner David Stern hand picking envelopes from drum, the New York Knicks were awarded the top pick and the right to select superstar center Patrick Ewing in the ’85 draft. Much controversy surrounded this drawing, and conspiracy theories were born that still remain to this day.

Things changed a bit in both 1987 and 1990, as the Board of Governors realized it wasn’t exactly ideal to give every single non-playoff squad an equal shot at winning the lottery.

First, the change that allows only the top-three selections to be determined by lottery was introduced. That allowed for the least competitive teams to, at worst, still land a selection near the top of the draft order.

A short while later, the owners agreed that weighted opportunity would be more fair and began tilting the scale towards the more downtrodden organizations.

Initially, the worst-record lottery team had a 16.7 percent chance to win the lottery and the best-record lottery had a 1.5 percent shot. But that changed again in 1994 to the modern system of 25 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.

Since then, a few new teams have been introduced to the league so there are more lottery participants each year. But the process remains the same and should for the foreseeable future.

2013 Lottery Info

When: Tuesday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Disney/ABC's Times Square Studios, New York City, New York

Watch: ESPN

2013 Lottery Mock Draft

1. Orlando Magic: Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky

2. Charlotte Bobcats: Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Otto Porter, SF, Georgetown

4. Phoenix Suns: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

5. New Orleans Pelicans: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan

6. Sacramento Kings: Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana

7. Detroit Pistons: Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA

8. Washington Wizards: Anthony Bennett, PF, UNLV

9. Minnesota Timberwolves: C.J. McCollum, SG, Lehigh

10. Portland Trail Blazers: Alex Len, C, Maryland

11. Philadelphia 76ers: Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto): Rudy Gobert, C, France

13. Dallas Mavericks: Dario Saric, SF, Croatia

14. Utah Jazz: Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse

World Football Managers Who Love Mind Games

Will Tidey — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:58:50 -0400

If we're talking manager mind games, there are two men to whom every aspiring master manipulator must turn for guidance.

Both specialise in taking the attention away from their team and putting it onto themselves. Both have been very successful. Both like a nice glass of red.

The first is Jose Mourinho, the self-styled "Special One" who shot to fame after winning the Champions League with Porto and who has since won titles in England, Italy and Spain.

The second is the man he most respects—and for good reason. Sir Alex Ferguson has appeared for the last time in the Manchester United dugout, but he leaves behind a very long list of victims to his masterful mind games.

Coach Hoke's 4 Biggest Challenges for Michigan in 2013

Austin Fox — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:57:03 -0400

The strengths of this 2013 Michigan team have been well-documented, from having a veteran at quarterback to possessing what should be a stifling defense.

On the flip side, what are some of the biggest challenges this team will face?

Here's a look at four potential road blocks that could stand in front of Michigan's goals this season, both on and off the field.

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Duke Basketball: Setting Expectations for Each Projected Starter

Dantzler Smith — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:43:44 -0400

Duke always has high expectations for the team. This year is no different.

Of course, to realize the expectations of the team, each individual player must meet his own expectations. Depending on their role, different Blue Devils will be required to meet a variety of different requirements.

For the starters, these expectations will be fairly lofty. And yet, if the starters are able to meet the following expectations then the Blue Devils will be genuine title contenders.

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WWE Extreme Rules 2013: What's Next for Brock Lesnar After Win over Triple H?

The Doctor Chris Mueller — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:40:39 -0400

Brock Lesnar won his rubber match against Triple H at Extreme Rules on Sunday, putting him at a 2-1 record over The Game since returning.

Their match was entertaining, but more performance than wrestling. There were lots of power moves, weapons being used and multiple finishers.

Now the big question becomes: who is Brock Lesnar's next opponent?

We already know Lesnar will be around for a little while, and even though his next match could be as far away as SummerSlam, it makes sense for WWE to plant the seeds for a potential feud now.

Lesnar is a part-time Superstar who is only going to be used in major matches, and he has already gone up against John Cena and Triple H.

This is something fans have been wondering since Lesnar signed his new deal. With two years worth of dates, WWE has a lot of options for who to pair Lesnar with for a program.

They could go the route of using another part-time Superstar like Triple H to make the match a big attraction, but the smart move would be to pair Lesnar with someone who actually needs the push.

A program with Lesnar is guaranteed attention, and the list of WWE Superstars who are worthy of a major program like that is not as big as you might think.

If they go with a part-time Superstar then the choices are pretty limited. There is either The Rock or Undertaker, and it's possible neither one of them are up for a match at SummerSlam.

When it comes to the full-time Superstars who deserve a feud of this magnitude, the list is pretty small.

CM Punk is an obvious choice due to his station in the company, association with Paul Heyman and his ability to have an incredible match with just about anybody.

Punk might have to turn babyface since the odds of Lesnar being the good guy are slim, but the big problem is not so much turning Punk babyface as it is deciding which Superstar Paul Heyman would turn on.

Big Show has fought Lesnar plenty of times in the past and could make a good opponent for him, but Lesnar is nowhere near the performer he was during his first WWE run and the match might not be as entertaining as people would hope for.

Then there are the powerhouses who could match Lesnar in strength like Sheamus, Ryback or Mark Henry.

It seems like there are a lot of choices, but deciding who to use one of Lesnar's limited dates with is where it gets tricky. It has to be the right opponent.

We might not be in this situation had The Rock not been injured during his match with John Cena at WrestleMania, but he did and Lesnar needs an opponent.

When you examine all the options, the best opponent for Brock Lesnar at this point is CM Punk.

Punk is at a place in his career where he needs a big feud like this where he comes out the winner. He already had a program with Undertaker where he took the loss, and not that long ago he put Triple H over in a match for his COO position.

Now it's time to put Punk over a major name like Lesnar. John Cena beating Lesnar and The Rock has not changed his image much since he was already the "top guy," but Punk could actually benefit from facing Lesnar.

Hopefully we get some kind of idea where things will go on Monday's Raw.

Who do you think would be the best opponent for Brock Lesnar?

Follow me on Twitter @BR_Doctor

Real Madrid Summer Transfer News: Tracking Latest Rumours, Updates

Karl Matchett — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:39:28 -0400

The end of the season and the summer opening of the transfer window always gives rise to a large number of rumours circulating the big clubs, and Real Madrid get more players than most written alongside their name in the gossip columns.

With Jose Mourinho likely to be replaced as manager this summer, Real will, as usual, be busy with both ins and outs while the window is open, with plenty of the biggest names in world football linked with moves to the Santiago Bernabeu.

All the latest transfer news concerning the club can be found right here, regularly updated for you with new rumours over the next week.

Latest Update: Monday, May 20

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10 College Football Coaches Who Won't Survive the 2013 Season

Ian Berg — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:39:14 -0400

The coaching carousel is always moving, and there are 10 coaches needing an exit strategy as the fall approaches.

Some coaches stepped into tough situations and have failed to turn around the program. Others have allowed their teams to crumble under their guidance.

If USC doesn’t challenge for the Pac-12 title this year, Lane Kiffin will be facing a curtain call. Gary Pinkel is now in the SEC, and winning is the only thing that can keep a coach around.

What other coaches will be preparing U-Haul rentals this winter?

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Cleveland Browns: 5 Things to Watch for at OTAs

David DeWitt — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:36:15 -0400

With the Cleveland Browns entering their second week of organized team activities, a number of storylines are already emerging.

This new defense is easier to learn, players are saying, and they're loving it, according to Matt Florjancic of ClevelandBrowns.com.

The coaches are emphasizing speed and cardio training, with "a lot of running."

At offensive skill positions, the Browns recognize they've got a lot of youth and continue to bring in competition.

With "99 percent" of the offense and defense installed, the focus now becomes repetition, speed and mastery.

So keeping these things in mind, let's take a look at some stuff to look for as OTAs continue.

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North Carolina Basketball: Ranking the 5 Most Hyped Recruits in 'Heels History

Rollin Yeatts — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:33:29 -0400

When it comes to North Carolina basketball, hyped—and many times over-hyped—recruits are the norm. It's just a part of the territory for distinguished programs such as UNC.

But with that, ranking the five most hyped recruits in Tar Heels' history becomes quite the daunting task. Including the latest recruits, Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks, Chapel Hill has housed 67 McDonald's All-Americans since its inception in 1977.

With all the star recruits that have landed at UNC, many players are virtually interchangeable. However, these five recruits stand above the rest.

Given the fact recruiting hype has never been at the level it is today with the internet and 24-hour media coverage, modern-era recruits have a little more weight in these rankings. Recruiting hype used to travel through word of mouth and the occasional newspaper.

In 2013, you couldn't avoid Andrew Wiggins talk if you wanted to.

The recruiting trail has simply become a whole new demon. But even so, that didn't keep a couple pre-90s Tar Heels out of this top five.

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Barcelona Transfer Rumors: Catalan Club Must Strike and Land Neymar This Summer

Timothy Rapp — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:32:35 -0400

Heading into the summer, one of the biggest storylines will surround Neymar and whether the Brazilian star will finally make the move to European football.

For Barcelona, the answer to that question will be vital, and the Catalan club must strike now and land the Santos talisman.

Well, if the player is willing to make the move, that is. From Paulo Freitas of Sky Sports:

Santos seem keen on striking a deal, having already confirmed talks with Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Neymar told Globo Esporte about his situation at Santos: "I'm happy here. I have already told you. Unless I die this game [against Corinthians on Sunday] is not my last game.

"If people are saying other things, then they know more than I do. Many people say what they want without knowing anything. But this is how things are."

Neymar's father added:

Barcelona are waiting for Neymar but for 2014. A project is in place to see how he will fit there. We are 'dating' so to speak but there is no concrete deal.

They put people next to Neymar to see how he would work and Real Madrid do the same thing in the same way.

Two things became apparent for Barcelona against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals: The team is lost without Lionel Messi against elite competition, and the top sides in Europe are starting to figure out how to beat Barca's tiki-taka approach.

In other words, the team needs to add more world-class talent, and a little bit more flair certainly wouldn't hurt. It seems odd to suggest that a team with Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Cesc Fabregas, Dani Alves and Gerard Pique needs more talent, but after being physically dominated by Bayern Munich, it's hard to deny.

And boy, oh boy, would Neymar bring an infusion of talent to the left wing for Barcelona. His ability to take defenders one-on-one and force double teams would give Barca a second talisman on the attack beside Messi and clear space for his teammates.

His pace and vision down the wing would give La Liga right-backs fits. And his ability to drift centrally and score goals at a proficient rate would take some serious pressure off of Messi's shoulders. So long as Neymar recognized that Messi was the team's primary weapon, the duo would be scary together.

But you get the impression that Barcelona will have plenty of competition to land Neymar, and waiting until next summer to do so could make other teams more appealing.

If Bayern Munich win the Champions League next year and continue to dominate into next season—that seems likely, seeing as Mario Goetze will be joining the ranks, which is a scary thought—might they become a more intriguing option for Neymar?

If Cristiano Ronaldo ends up leaving, vacating Neymar's preferred left wing position, could he decide to head to Madrid rather than Barcelona?

And we haven't even mentioned big spenders in the Premier League like Manchester City, Chelsea or Manchester United.

It's long been thought that the Catalans would be the favored side to land his signature. But with the balance of power in European football seemingly shifting, Neymar may choose to weigh his options if he remains at Santos for another season.

He's a good fit for Barcelona and a much-needed talent. For Barca, sealing the deal with Neymar this summer is crucial.

WWE Extreme Rules 2013 Results: GSM's Analysis and Aftermath

Graham 'GSM' Matthews — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:27:26 -0400

On Sunday night, WWE presented its fifth annual Extreme Rules pay-per-view live from St. Louis, and it definitely didn't disappoint. From The Shield winning gold to two stellar main event matches, it was a night that will not soon be forgotten.

Here, I will analyze each significant segment presented on the show. I will also provide a combination of predictions and wishful thinking about what I hope to see in the coming weeks.

The Miz def. Cody Rhodes (Pre-Show)

Decent pre-show match between The Miz and Cody Rhodes. The two work well together, but they simply weren't given enough time to shine.

Nonetheless, they made the most out of the time they were given and provided a quality contest. Miz recently returned, so his victory shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

Chris Jericho def. Fandango w/Summer Rae

Nice opening match between Chris Jericho and Fandanago. The two kept a consistent pace throughout the bout and set the tone for the rest of the night.

Honestly, I found this bout to be better than their initial encounter at WrestleMania, aside from the one minor botch. Fandango winning would have made more sense, but it's rare that Jericho wins on pay-per-view, so I'm fine with Fandango's loss as long as he bounces back with a victory over Y2J at some point in time.

Dean Ambrose def. Kofi Kingston to Win the United States Championship

Good match with Dean Ambrose defeating Kofi Kingston to win the United States Championship. They developed excellent chemistry with one another and had an enjoyable exchange.

Ambrose winning the match in clean fashion was a very nice touch, as it gives him credibility as a singles competitor. Kingston wasn't doing anything with the strap anyway, so I have hope that Ambrose will finally be the one to restore lost prestige in the star-spangled prize.

Sheamus def. Mark Henry in a Strap Match

Physical Strap match with Sheamus defeating Mark Henry. The concept of a Strap match is a bit lame, but Sheamus and Henry managed to have an exceptional match.

The crowd popped for the hard-hitting action and looked on as the two behemoths traded blows. I would have liked to have seen Henry score a victory here, but Sheamus winning was what I should have expected.

Alberto Del Rio w/Ricardo Rodriguez def. Jack Swagger w/Zeb Colter in an "I Quit" Match to Become the No. 1 Contender to the World Heavyweight Championship

Solid "I Quit" match with Alberto Del Rio defeating Jack Swagger to become the new No. 1 contender to the World Heavyweight Championship. They have had some great matches in the past, but I felt as if the "I Quit" stipulation hindered the bout more than helped it.

The Swagger swerve was nicely done, but the restart could be seen coming from a mile away. Why did the referees wait until now to finally use replay instead of all the other times heels have cheated to win matches?

Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns def. Team Hell No in a Tornado Tag Team Match to Win the WWE Tag Team Championships

Fun Tornado tag team match with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns defeating Team Hell No to become the new WWE Tag Team champions. I expected more from the Tornado stipulation, but the two tandems still made good use of it.

The finish to this match was telegraphed earlier in the evening when Dean Ambrose won the U.S. title, but that didn't take away from it whatsoever. The Shield undoubtedly owned Extreme Rules and it still amazes me how dominantly they've been booked since debuting six months ago.

Randy Orton def. Big Show in an Extreme Rules Match

Entertaining Extreme Rules match between Randy Orton and Big Show. Their matches last year were quite boring, so it was nice to see that they had a much more enjoyable bout together this time around.

Orton was incredibly over in his hometown and I was glad to see the punt kick make its highly anticipated return. I'm not sure whether that was supposed to foreshadow an eventual heel turn for The Viper or not, but either way, I hope this was the end of the line for his feud with Big Show.

WWE Champion John Cena Wrestled Ryback to a No Contest in a Last Man Standing Match

Great Last Man Standing match between WWE Champion John Cena and Ryback. With this being their first-ever match against one another, I was pleasantly surprised by what they were able to produce in the ring.

Of course, the no disqualification stipulation greatly benefited them, but it's clear that they can work a solid match without it as well. Ryback tackling Cena through the video wall on the stage was a scintillating sight and made Ryback look like an absolute beast.

It's too early in the feud for either guy to lose, so the draw was smart booking in allowing the rivalry to continue.

Brock Lesnar w/Paul Heyman def. Triple H in a Steel Cage Match

Strong Steel Cage match with Brock Lesnar defeating Triple H. They managed to tell a story during the course of the contest and create suspense with the false finishes.

I was a bit baffled by Paul Heyman's interference, as the whole point of a Steel Cage match is to prevent interference from even occurring. Nonetheless, the right guy went over and I surely hope that the feud doesn't continue beyond this point.

There are a number of fresh feuds awaiting Lesnar and going forward with this rivalry would be a giant mistake.

Overall Show

Overall, a solid show that featured enjoyable action and logical outcomes for most matches. Although the event lacked excitement, I was thoroughly entertained by each of the matches and was satisfied with the pay-per-view as a whole.

The Shield made the event noteworthy with the title changes, and there are now more questions than answers heading into the upcoming edition of Monday Night Raw. Needless to say, this year's installment was far better than WrestleMania 29 and continued the strong streak of excellent Extreme Rules events.

GSM out.

Visit my website at Next Era Wrestling and listen to my wrestling radio talk show SAVE US GSM every Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET.

Follow @SAVE_US_GSM

Miguel Cabrera's Top 5 Threats in Each Triple Crown Category

Rick Weiner — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:26:08 -0400

Early Sunday, I wrote that talk of a second consecutive Triple Crown for Miguel Cabrera wasn't such a far-fetched idea.

The best player in baseball then proceeded to tattoo Texas pitching for four hits, three home runs and five RBI on Sunday night, lengthening his lead in batting average and RBI over the rest of the American League while moving within one home run of the league lead.

More importantly, Cabrera proved something—he could really pull this off.

But to do so, he'll need to not only stay healthy but fend off some formidable competition in each category.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the biggest threats to Cabrera not only becoming the third player to win the Triple Crown twice, but the first player in baseball history to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons.

Batting Average

Robinson Cano, 2B, New York Yankees

I've lost count of how many times we have heard the phrase "He's going to win a batting title someday" when talking about Robinson Cano, the best second baseman in baseball.

A career .308 hitter, Cano has six .300 seasons on his résumé including a career-high .342 in 2006 when he finished third in the AL batting race behind eventual champion Joe Mauer (.347) and teammate Derek Jeter (.343).

As Jeter and the rest of the injured Yankees return to action, it will only make Cano a more dangerous hitter, one who has better protection in the lineup than he does now.

Alex Gordon, LF, Kansas City Royals

Since his breakout campaign in 2011, Alex Gordon has been among the best hitters in the American League, tied with Boston's Dustin Pedroia for the ninth-highest batting average at .304.

Gordon has taken to batting third in the Kansas City lineup, hitting .450 with a 1.115 OPS in the 10 games since manager Ned Yost made the switch.

While Gordon isn't going to become the first batter since Ted Williams to crack the .400 mark, there's no reason to think that he won't rank among the league leaders in batting average when the season comes to an end—especially with a perennial .300 hitter in Billy Butler hitting cleanup.

Joe Mauer, C, Minnesota Twins

A three-time AL batting champion, the last title coming in 2009 when he hit .365 en route to winning the AL MVP award, Joe Mauer is one of the best hitting catchers of all time and one of the best hitters, regardless of position, in the game.

Health is a major issue for the 30-year-old, and the more often that the Twins can get Mauer out from behind the plate, the better for both the team and Mauer's chances of contending for his fourth batting crown.

David Ortiz, DH, Boston Red Sox

You laugh at the thought, but don't sleep on David Ortiz giving Miguel Cabrera a run for his money.

Healthy after an injury-shortened 2012 season that saw him hit .318 in 90 games, Ortiz has four .300 seasons under his belt and continues to defy age by swinging the bat as well as he ever has.

Ortiz enters the third week of May with a .364 batting average, just short of the required number of plate appearances to qualify for the league leaders, but a mark that ranks second in the AL. If he can stay in the lineup on a daily basis, a career-best batting average and first-ever batting title could be in Big Papi's future.

Mike Trout, LF, Los Angeles Angels

Yes, Mike Trout is hitting a rather pedestrian .278, but are you really going to sit there and say that Trout can't go on a tear and find himself among the league leaders in batting average as the season rolls along?

That would be like saying that Trout would never be able to meet, much less exceed, the lofty expectations that were placed upon him as a rookie last season. You know, when he hit .326 and gave Miguel Cabrera a run for his money as the AL MVP—at least in the court of public opinion.

Until Trout proves otherwise, you simply can't count the talented sophomore with the sweet swing out of the race.

Home Runs

Jose Bautista, RF, Toronto Blue Jays

It's easy to forget that had Jose Bautista not injured his wrist, prematurely ending his 2012 season, we might not be talking about Miguel Cabrera winning the Triple Crown.

Bautista had 27 home runs in 90 games (ignoring the five plate appearances over two games in August when he tried, and failed, to avoid season-ending surgery)—seven more than Cabrera had at the same point in the season.

A two-time league leader in the category, Bautista has hit 133 home runs since the beginning of the 2010 season, spanning 438 games. Cabrera? 123 home runs in 514 games.

With nine home runs on the 2013 season, Bautista has proven that he's healthy—and a healthy Bautista is a legitimate threat to challenge for the AL home run title once again.

Robinson Cano, 2B, New York Yankees

Special players bring big-time power and a .300 batting average to the table.

Like Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano is a special player.

Coming off of a season that saw him set a new career high with 33 home runs, Cano sits in a four-way tie for the league lead with 12 bombs in 2013, on pace to shatter last year's impressive mark.

Chris Davis, 1B, Baltimore Orioles

While Chris Davis has undeniably slowed down after a torrid start to the season, one that saw him hit four home runs in the first four games of the year and nine in the month of April, he remains tied for the league lead with a dozen blasts on the season.

Like Cano, Davis hit a career-best 33 home runs in 2012 and is on pace to shatter that mark in 2013. While Davis doesn't have the lengthy track record of major league success like Cano and some of the other candidates, there's never been any doubt that Davis' swing packs a lot of power.

Just entering the prime of his career, Davis will be right there with Cabrera among the league leaders in home runs at the end of the season.

Adam Dunn, DH, Chicago White Sox

Adam Dunn hits home runs.

That's pretty much all Adam Dunn does—well, that and strikeout—and he does both as well as anyone in baseball.

Dunn passed the 40-home run mark for the sixth time in his career last year, proving that he remains one of the most dangerous sluggers around. With 10 blasts on the season, Dunn has a legitimate shot at adding another 40-home run season to the ledger.

Edwin Encarnacion, DH/1B, Toronto Blue Jays

This was a tough call between Encarnacion and Mark Reynolds, both capable power hitters who are part of the four-way tie for the home run lead in the AL with a dozen bombs each.

While Reynolds has a longer track record of hitting for power at the big league level, I give the nod to Encarnacion, who finished 2012 with 42 home runs, two behind Cabrera for the league lead.

Both play in hitter-friendly parks, but with the retractable roof in Toronto, things like wind and humidity can be controlled—allowing the ball to face less resistance in the air and travel farther than it would with the roof open.

It's not much of an advantage, but it's enough of one for me to like Encarnacion's chances of challenging Cabrera for the league lead over those of his counterpart in Cleveland.

RBI

Billy Butler, DH, Kansas City Royals

A slow start to the season has Billy Butler staring at a wide gap between himself (30 RBI) and Cabrera, leading the league with 47—but the Royals are capable of putting runs on the board in a hurry.

With Alex Gordon's ability to get on base now directly ahead of him in the lineup, Butler is sitting on some prime run-producing real estate in Kansas City and is capable of putting runs on the board when he steps to the plate.

Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers

Arguably the best third baseman in baseball, Adrian Beltre has done his part in making up for the loss of Josh Hamilton's bat in Texas this season, hitting for power and putting runs on the board for the Rangers.

Like Butler, Beltre, with 28 RBI on the season, has a lot of ground to make up to catch Cabrera. But playing in one of the game's most hitter-friendly ballparks in Arlington, Beltre is capable of making up ground in a hurry.

Chris Davis, 1B, Baltimore Orioles

The only other player in the AL with at least 40 RBI this season, Chris Davis doesn't rely only on the long ball to produce runs in Baltimore's lineup, picking up at least one RBI in nine games that didn't feature a Davis home run.

As long as the pieces ahead of him in Baltimore's lineup (Nate McLouth, Manny Machado, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones) stay healthy, the first 100-RBI season of his career is well within reach for the 27-year-old slugger.

Prince Fielder, 1B, Detroit Tigers

Cabrera's partner-in-crime in Detroit, Prince Fielder has been one of the most consistent run producers in baseball over the course of his career, eclipsing the 100-RBI mark five times in his seven full seasons.

Hitting behind Miggy in baseball's most potent lineup, Fielder is always a threat to put runs on the board, whether there's a runner on base ahead of him or not.

Josh Hamilton, RF, Los Angeles Angels

No, Josh Hamilton is not having a good season with the Angels, and yes, perhaps his defection to Los Angeles is an example of the grass not always being greener.

But you simply can't discount Hamilton's ability to produce runs. Capable of driving in 30 or more runs in any given month, Hamilton, along with the Angels offense, is simply too talented for their combined struggles to continue throughout the season.

Hamilton remains a very dangerous player at the plate, and his chances at contending for the RBI lead are very real.

Follow @RickWeinerBR

A Look at the Market Setters for Phildelphia Eagles' Receiver Jeremy Maclin

Vince Quinn — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:24:04 -0400

For the last few years, Philadelphia Eagles' receiver Jeremy Maclin has been poised as a guy ready to make "the jump."

However, after notching 964 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2010, Maclin hasn't progressed. More importantly, Maclin is entering a contract year, and I've been arguing with friends about what should be done with him for weeks.

As a result, let's a take a look at some comparable receivers who just got contracts to see what kind of contract we could expect for Maclin headed into this year.

To begin, let's examine this year's prize in free agency, Mike Wallace.

Mike Wallace is a good fit here because he's from the same draft class as Maclin (2009) and is seen as a top performer, which is why I recently compared him to Victor Cruz. So, here's Wallace's career by the numbers compared to Maclin.

Wallace:

Year	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2012	64	836	13.1	8
2011	72	1193	16.6	8
2010	60	1257	21	10
2009	39	756	19.4	6

TOTAL	235	4042	17.2	32

Maclin:

Year	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2012	69	857	12.4	7
2011	63	859	13.6	5
2010	70	964	13.8	10
2009	56	773	13.8	4

TOTAL	258	3453	13.4	26

Wallace has had a very productive career thus far, earning a Pro Bowl appearance in 2011 despite having a better 2010 season. What's more important is that Wallace had a little bit of a down year in 2012 and walked away with a deal for five years, $60 million dollars.

If Maclin plays like it's a contract year and gets something like 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns, he could very well be in line for a deal a little lower than Wallace's on the open market. Though that's not to say he's worth it.

This next player also signed a new contract and was drafted to two sports after Maclin in 2009. After being traded to Seattle for three draft picks, Percy Harvin recently signed an extension for six years, $67 million dollars. Let's see how Maclin stacks up to the newest Seahawk.

Harvin:

Year	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2012	62	677	10.9	3
2011	87	967	11.1	6
2010	71	868	12.2	5
2009	60	790	13.2	6

TOTAL	280	3302	11.8	20

Maclin:

Year	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2012	69	857	12.4	7
2011	63	859	13.6	5
2010	70	964	13.8	10
2009	56	773	13.8	4

TOTAL	258	3453	13.4	26

When comparing these numbers, Maclin compares quite favorably to Harvin as a receiver and could be a more reasonable negotiating point this upcoming year if Maclin improves. However, Harvin has increased value due to his contributions as a runner (684 career yards and four touchdowns) and kick returner (five touchdowns). If he returns punts under Chip Kelly, which he's recently been practicing, this might be a closer comparison than expected.

The last player that I'd like to compare with Maclin is already on the same team and rhymes with Schmeschmawn Schmackson: DeSean Jackson. DeSean signed a new deal with the Eagles last year that extended him for five years, $51 million dollars. But how does Maclin match up to his counterpart? Let's see.

Note: For this case, I removed DeSean's 2012 numbers to compare his numbers after four full seasons.

Jackson:

Year	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2011	58	961	16.6	4
2010	47	1056	22.5	6
2009	62	1156	18.6	9
2008	62	912	14.7	2

TOTAL	239	4085	18.1	21

Maclin:

Year	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2012	69	857	12.4	7
2011	63	859	13.6	5
2010	70	964	13.8	10
2009	56	773	13.8	4

TOTAL	258	3453	13.4	26

At the same point in his career, DeSean was doing much better than Maclin by a solid margin, generating 600 more yards, contributing on punt returns and making the most memorable play in modern Eagles history. So, what does this all mean for Mac going forward?

Well, it means that if he were to have a year that's par for the course (850 yards, seven touchdowns and no punt returns), then he'll likely get an extension offer from the Eagles for something like five years, $45 million.

The question then would be: Is he worth it?

Follow me on Twitter @TheWooderCooler

Could Ibrahimovic Follow Beckham out of PSG After Ancelotti News?

Jonathan Johnson — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:22:16 -0400

After Paris Saint-Germain secured the club’s first Ligue 1 title in 19 years last week, they bid farewell to David Beckham with a 3-1 victory over Brest on Saturday.

A day later though, coach Carlo Ancelotti told the club that he wants to quit PSG for Real Madrid. The story first surfaced on Sunday afternoon, broken by beIN Sport’s French branch (via ESPN FC), before sporting director Leonardo confirmed the negative talks swiftly afterwards to L’Equipe (in French).

The Brazilian did reveal that the request has been denied by the club. Les Parisiens are intent on keeping the two-time Champions League-winning coach for next season as part of their assault on Europe’s top prize.

But the Italian then went further by declaring to Canal+ (via ESPNFC) shortly after taking the Ligue 1 coach of the year award along with Saint-Etienne’s Christophe Galtier, "We had a meeting with the president and Leonardo, I asked, because I have a contract, to leave the club."

"It's not easy because I have a very good relationship with everyone. It's not the moment to explain why I want to leave the club and perhaps I'll never explain it."

That demand to leave has met with resistance from PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who has suggested that Real have acted out of turn and approached Ancelotti without permission from the club prior to the renewal of his contract (via ESPN FC).

Ancelotti’s request brings an end to the speculation (via ESPN FC) that has plagued him and the club over recent weeks and partly overshadowed a first domestic title victory since 1994. Now that the Italian has confirmed his interest in leaving for the Santiago Bernabeu—which had been the main point of debate—the club seem to be intent on keeping him out of their clutches.

They will likely be powerless to stop him from leaving though.

With the retirement of Beckham earlier in the week, could Ancelotti’s exit spark an exodus from the Parc des Princes? Not likely. At least not until a new coach is named.

The most probable exit, prior to PSG sealing a first title since 1994 was of Swedish talisman and Ligue 1 player of the year Zlatan Ibrahimovic. However, that now looks unlikely (via ESPN FC) because of his comments in reaction to the news. Upon accepting his award from David Ginola on Sunday, he had this to say:

"I don't want him to leave," Ibrahimovic told Canal+. "He's a great coach. I hope he'll stay. There's a great project here and an excellent team. I scored lots of goals thanks to him."

If PSG were to make an unfavourable choice in replacing Ancelotti though, a number of big-name stars could be tempted to leave. In addition to Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thaigo Silva and Marco Verratti are among those who have been linked with moves away in the summer—reports that were denied by Leonardo (via ligue1.com).

Two new names have also joined the capital club’s potential shortlist. Recently-departed Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri is reportedly of interest to PSG after his agent was spotted in Paris on Monday (Foot Mercato in French).

Spanish coach Luis Enrique who most recently left Roma a year ago, is the favourite for the Ligue 1 champions’ job according to reports from the former Barcelona player’s homeland (via Marca in Spanish).

That would be one appointment likely to prompt the likes of Ibrahimovic, Silva and Lavezzi to consider their futures given his lack of experience at the highest level as a coach, but the options are running out fast.

Jose Mourinho, according to reports (via The Guardian) could be a free agent as early as Monday evening after Real Madrid called an impromptu press conference. The Portuguese manager is expected to return to former club Chelsea, but his availability could see PSG spring into action.

Rafa Benitez also appears to be off the list after he met Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis for talks over the vacant coaching role in Naples in London, with a deal expected by the end of the week (via Marca in English).

Whatever happens next in this tale, it is imperative that PSG make the right choice in their next coach as that appointment will be key to convincing the club’s current crop of stars that the project has long-term viability.

Without it, a number of those stars will likely seek an exit following Ancelotti’s lead, perhaps even to join the Italian in Madrid.

But what is most likely is that the players will stay if the appointment gains their respect, so for now at least, a mass exodus at the Parc des Princes is not on the cards.

NBA Picks: Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs, Game 2

Jeff Grant — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:19:04 -0400

The Memphis Grizzlies are 6-2-1 against the spread when trailing in a playoff series the last two-plus seasons, which can't be ignored when making your NBA picks Tuesday, as they take on the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.

Sports bettors will find that the Grizzlies are five-point road underdogs in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 182.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals from a betting perspective while offering up a prediction along the way.

Begin Slideshow

Why Roger Federer Could Be Facing Early Exit at French Open

Joshua Axelrod — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:17:51 -0400

The French Open may not be kind to Roger Federer, who has gotten off to a slow start in 2013.

The Swiss superstar has never begun a season this sluggishly. He has only made one final so far, which was at last week’s Rome Masters. Rafael Nadal crushed Federer, winning 6-1, 6-3.

“It was surprising,” Nadal told The Guardian. “I cannot expect to win against Roger 6-1, 6-3.”

Nadal seemed genuinely shocked at how ineffective Federer was in that match. Unfortunately, that might be a sign of things to come at Roland Garros on Sunday.

Federer, who turns 32 in August, might finally be entering the downswing of his illustrious career. He will probably stay competitive, but he may no longer be racking up wins as easily as he did in his prime.

The man has earned 17 Grand Slam titles since joining the circuit in 2001. He currently sits at third on the ATP World Tour rankings behind Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. He certainly is not going anywhere anytime soon.

But a victory at the French Open seems out of Federer’s grasp. With Nadal healthy and feeling confident, Djokovic coming off three titles this year and age catching up to him, do not be surprised to see Federer being bounced early at Roland Garros.

Even if Federer was at the top of his game, Nadal’s dominance on clay is unparalleled. He is 31-2 on clay this year, with 41 career titles won on clay courts and a career winning percentage of .931 on that surface.

Federer is no slouch on clay, but his numbers on the surface are not nearly as awesome as Nadal’s. He has won 10 career titles on clay with a career winning percentage of .769. Not bad, but nowhere near Nadal’s level of clay supremacy.

To be fair, Federer did win the French Open in 2009. Nadal proceeded to own Roland Garros for the three years following Federer's win there (he has won the French Open seven times).

It seems like those two are the guys to watch going into Sunday’s action. Who knows? Maybe Federer will find a fountain of youth and get back on track.

More likely than not, though, the 2013 French Open might cement the transition from the epic Federer vs. Nadal rivalry to Nadal vs. Djokovic. Look out for an unofficial passing of the tennis torch.

LSU Football 2013: Tigers Receiving Corps Must Maximize Potential

Joey Holland — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:12:59 -0400

The LSU Tigers welcome back one of the best groups of receivers in the SEC in 2013, but they will need to maximize their potential if the team truly wants to succeed on offense.

Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. comprise an outside receiver tandem as good as any in the nation, but you would not necessarily know it from the numbers. The Tigers finished 92nd in the country in passing in 2012, with only 12 scores through the air.

While some of that can be attributed to LSU's run-heavy attack or quarterback Zach Mettenberger's inconsistency, much of it must be put on the wideouts.

Landy and Beckham are certainly not the only players in the conversation, but they are the leaders of the Tigers receiving corps.

The two veterans complement each other nicely. Landry is extremely physical at 6'1", 195 pounds. He can be counted on to outmuscle defensive backs in the air and is always a reliable downfield blocker.

Beckham, on the other hand, is the fastest receiver on the squad. While he is not quite as big as Landry, he makes up for it with great pure speed and lethal moves in the open field.

Both are capable of making outstanding plays on the outside. Landry proved that with his acrobatic one-handed catch against Arkansas.

However, both have made an unfortunate habit of dropping easy balls as well.

The importance of the Tigers passing game was perhaps most evident in their 14-6 loss to Florida in 2012. There is a direct correlation between Mettenberger's ability to complete throws and the success of the LSU offense.

Against Florida, Mettenberger was only 11 of 25 on his passes for 158 yards.

However, not all of the blame can be put on the quarterback. Landry dropped a couple of passes that he should have caught, and the team as a whole made a habit of letting the ball slip through their hands in the second half.

Beckham did beat his man deep down the sideline at one point late in the third quarter, but he was stripped at the end of the play by safety Matt Elam and lost the ball for his team.

The two receivers can also too often be seen running sloppy routes or coasting out of their breaks instead of running through deeper passes from their quarterback.

Landry and Beckham will be helped by seniors Kadron Boone and James Wright, who both were useful weapons in 2012.

Considering the high turnover rates for the Tigers at running back, not to mention the indefinite suspension of Jeremy Hill, LSU's receivers will be even more important to the team's success in 2013.

Mettenberger has the potential to become a top-tier quarterback in the SEC. He has a cannon for an arm and throws quite well on the move.

Nonetheless, his ceiling will remain relatively low if his receivers do not maximize on their own sky-high potential.

Breaking Down New 5-Star Recruits in 2014 Rivals100

Andrew Kulha — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:08:52 -0400

Rivals.com has updated its Rivals100 rankings, and along with the update comes four new 5-star recruits.

Offensive tackles Damian Prince and Quenton Nelson, running back Joe Mixon and inside linebacker Raekwon McMillan have all received an elite 5-star ranking now that Rivals has finished the spring evaluation period.

In other news at the top of the list, 5-star defensive end Da'Shawn Hand is still ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit, which is a stark contrast to the ESPN 150 rankings, where Hand is the No. 4 overall prospect.

ESPN's No. 1 recruit, Leonard Fournette, is ranked No. 2 overall by Rivals.

The new 5-stars are the big news of the day, though, so let's break these players down to see why Rivals promoted them to 5-star recruits.

Note: All scouting and analysis done via tape study of film provided on recruit's 247Sports and Rivals.com profile pages.

Begin Slideshow

Luke Rockhold on Vitor Belfort Loss: 'TRT Had Nothing to Do with That Kick'

John Heinis — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:07:16 -0400

Following a brutal highlight-reel worthy knockout at the hands of Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 8, Luke Rockhold isn't making any excuses.

Speaking with MMA Junkie following the event, the American Kickboxing Academy member refused to blame the loss on "The Phenom's" testosterone replacement therapy usage.

"TRT had nothing to do with that kick," Rockhold said. "I lost to one of the best guys in the world, and it was something pretty spectacular," Rockhold said. "I don't know what to really think about anything right now. I just want to get back and fight and beat someone up. That's what I'm focused on. Good job by Vitor. What can I say?"

The victory improved Belfort's record at middleweight to 5-1, including back-to-back headkick knockouts over Rockhold, a former Strikeforce champ, and perennial contender Michael Bisping.

His only loss at 185-pounds came against long-reigning titleholder Anderson Silva at UFC 126 in February 2011, where Belfort suffered a devastating headkick knockout of his own.

Despite being ranked second in the UFC's official list of top 10 middleweights, Belfort may never receive another title shot due to the controversy surrounding his TRT use.

As Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer told Bleacher Report in March, it is unlikely that Belfort would get licensed in the states due to failing a post-fight drug test for steroids in 2006 (via MMA Weekly).

Leading up to the fight, Rockhold was anything but complimentary of his Brazilian counterpart, saying that his TRT exemption is a loophole used to cheat the system (via ESPN).

The loss snaps a nine-fight win streak for Rockhold, who also indicated that he would like to have a quick turnaround for his next fight.

Should Chris Weidman pull off a major upset and defeat Silva at UFC 162 this July, Belfort would clearly be the front runner for the next shot at the middleweight strap.

However, if Silva notches yet another successful title defense, Belfort will likely need to win at least one more fight before he is seriously considered for another championship bout.

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com and contributes MMA videos to The Young Turks Sports Show.