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Best Pictures from the Champions League Final

Max Towle — Sat, 25 May 2013 18:00:04 -0400

Bayern Munich achieved redemption inside Wembley Stadium Saturday, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in an entertaining Champions League final.

An 89th-minute Arjen Robben goal was enough for Bayern, who avenged their recent final defeats at the hands of Inter Milan and Chelsea.

The two sides cancelled each other out tactically in a goalless first half, but Mario Mandzukic and Ilkay Gundogan traded strikes in the second to setup a thrilling climax.

With time ticking away, Robben, who had missed several good chances to score earlier in the game, controlled Franck Ribery's neat layoff and turned his shot past a helpless Roman Weidenfeller.

The win confirms Bayern as the premier club team in Europe at this moment and marks their fifth European Cup or Champions League title.

Here are the best pictures from a memorable night in London:

Fans of both clubs gather in a nearby pub:

The pre-match spectacle is one to behold:

The game begins:

The two managers, Jupp Heynckes and Jurgen Klopp, do their best to keep their teams organised:

Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel seems to be having some trouble with the rules of the game:

Franck Ribery and Robert Lewandowski engage in a fierce battle for possession:

The drama is almost too much for one fan:

Man-in-the-middle Mario Gotze watches from the stands:

Flares are lit in the Bayern fans' section:

Dortmund's Marco Reus takes a tumble under pressure:

Robert Lewandowski misses a golden chance:

Mario Mandzukic opens the scoring for Bayern and wheels away in celebration:

Ilkay Gundogan levels from the penalty spot soon after:

Some Bayern players begin to get a sense of deja vu:

Dortmund fans celebrate. A sea of yellow covers part of Wembley Stadium:

Arjen Robben is denied a clear chance from close range:

Sent through on goal in the final minute of normal time, Arjen Robben doesn't miss this time:

The Dortmund players suffer the heartbreak of defeat:

The Bayern bench erupts at the final whistle:

Bayern Munich are the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League winners:

Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates with the trophy:

So there you have it—the defining images from a terrific all-German Champions League final. It's 12 months until the next one. See you then.

Follow @MaxBentleyTowle

Tyrann Mathieu's High Upside Will Pay Dividends for Arizona Cardinals

Benjamin Klein — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:55:51 -0400

The Arizona Cardinals took a risk selecting former LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft, but he'll make sure they won’t regret it.

Mathieu had an impressive career with the LSU Tigers on the field. In 2011, he took home several awards including SEC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Championship Game MVP, Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP and, of course, the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the top defensive player in the country.

Clearly, Mathieu knows how to play football. The problem, however, was that he had issues off the field, which plagued his draft stock considerably. Mathieu was suspended from LSU after failing the team’s drug policy and was later dismissed from the team for violating team rules. An assistant coach told Jarrett Bell of USA Today that the corner failed at least 10 drug tests.

After missing all of what would’ve been his junior season, Mathieu declared for the NFL draft, hoping that a team would see what he could do on the field while trying to prove that he could control himself off of it.

The Cardinals did just that, taking Mathieu with the No. 69 pick in the draft. The two sides came to an agreement on a four-year deal on Thursday, according to the team’s official website.

But Mathieu isn’t out of the water just yet, as the Cardinals have a strong interest in keeping him clean. That’s why Arizona is only giving him an initial signing bonus of $265,000, according to Dan Hanzus of NFL.com. Mathieu can earn $662,500 through the second, third and fourth years of the deal if he stays on the roster.

As Hanzus reports, “The only way Mathieu won’t receive the full payment is if he’s dismissed from the team for drug use.”

Sources have told NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport that Mathieu has already entered the league’s drug-testing program, which means he could be tested up to 10 times per month, according to Hanzus.

It seems as if Mathieu is already on the right track to getting his life back in order. But not everyone is sold that Mathieu in the NFL is going to work out. Sports Illustrated’s Peter King wrote that the Cardinals don’t have a history of taking players with character problems and that the team will regret drafting Mathieu.

This is a specific situation, though, and not one that can be stereotyped. It doesn’t mean anything that Arizona hasn’t taken a bunch of players in years past with off-the-field issues. Mathieu isn’t going to get paid if he fails a drug test. Isn’t that incentive enough to stay clean?

Mathieu will surely get the help and attention that he needs to stay on the field.

And on the field is where Mathieu will make the other teams in the NFL ask themselves why they didn’t take a chance on him. He was an incredible college talent—as shown by the awards won that were previously mentioned—but just needed a bit of a reality check.

Mathieu is a very good tackler that can lay quite the hit if a receiver doesn’t know he’s coming. He’s quick, which makes him valuable in man coverage, and has a great eye for the quarterback, which Arizona will benefit from when playing zone.

In 26 games at LSU, Mathieu had 136 tackles, six sacks, four interceptions and 11 forced fumbles. If those numbers can translate to some degree to the NFL and he stays clean, Mathieu will turn out to be one of the best picks in the draft.

Don’t worry, Arizona, Mathieu will be just fine.

Jabrill Peppers Announcement Would Mark Brady Hoke's Biggest Signing Yet

Alex Ballentine — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:54:00 -0400

If Jabrill Peppers' announcement on Sunday turns out to be yet another big-time signing for Brady Hoke and the Michigan Wolverines, it will be his biggest signing yet.

Peppers is the kind of marquee athlete that will headline a recruiting class. He's a 6'1", 205-pound athlete that will likely play cornerback but has the versatility to play other positions. He's unanimously a 5-star prospect and one of the best players in the class regardless of position.

The Paramus Catholic (NJ) athlete is expected to make his highly anticipated decision Sunday, May 27 at roughly 5:15 p.m. ET according to 247Sports.

According to the site, the finalists for Peppers include LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers. However, Michigan is listed as the favorite.

Looking at the schools that Peppers is also considering, the signing would be a huge statement for the Wolverines.

Among the schools in contention, Michigan would be beating out an SEC powerhouse in LSU, a national recruiting power in Notre Dame, the local favorite in Rutgers and, of course, inner-conference rivals in Penn State and Urban Meyer's team.

Under Hoke, Michigan has become a recruiting powerhouse. For the Wolverines to be a successful program, he'll have to continue to pull in top-flight talent from around the country. The state of Michigan alone doesn't have the talent to sustain a team that can compete at the level that is expected in Ann Arbor.

Peppers would be a perfect example, coming all the way from New Jersey to be a star in the Maize and Blue.

Hoke's recruiting class for 2014 is already looking strong. It currently ranks as 247Sports' fifth class in the nation according to their composite rankings with seven 4-star and three 3-star commitments. Perhaps more importantly, it's tops in the Big Ten.

Peppers would be the first 5-star commit and could vault them even higher in those rankings.

For a Michigan team that snagged a top-10 class in both 2012 and 2013, an elite talent like Peppers would guarantee yet another outstanding class.

Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers: Game 3 Preview and Predictions

Josh Cohen — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:33:19 -0400

It's official, folks: The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers are going to make the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals interesting.

After LeBron James drove to the rim and stole from the Pacers a Game 1 win they thought they had locked up, there was the sense that Indiana might not get that close again. The underdogs pushed the defending champs and the Heat still pulled it out. Was that as close as Indy was going to get?

That concern flew out the window in Game 2.

Conspicuously missing inside when LeBron hit the game-winner in the opener, Roy Hibbert responded with 29 points and 10 rebounds, disrupting the Heat at both ends of the floor, as Indy bullied its way to a four-point win.

As the Heat travel to the unfriendly confines of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, they are playing without home-court advantage and without a sure strategy on how to beat the Pacers.

James is certainly doing his job. He was spectacular in Game 2, pouring in 36 points on 14-of-20 shooting, even as Paul George challenged him with his second-team All-NBA defense.

That said, LeBron received a troubling lack of support in the loss. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh did not live up to their star reputations, and no other Heat players scored in double digits. With so little else to fear, Indy was able to overcommit to LeBron and force him into two late victory-clinching turnovers in Game 2.

Can LeBron and company put it together on the road, where their opponent has yet to lose this postseason? Or are the Pacers about to defy all expectations and wrest control of the series from the Heat juggernaut?

Game 3 will help us determine the answer.

Time: Sunday, May 26, 8:30 p.m.

Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

Series: Tied 1-1

TV: TNT

Game 3 Key Storyline: Team Depth

The Pacers are giving Miami problems because they are the deeper team in this series.

Of course, no one on the floor is better than LeBron James—as is the case regardless of the opponent—but the next three best players are all Pacers.

George, Hibbert and David West have all been at their very best against the Heat. The Indiana frontcourt has capitalized on Miami's size deficiency, Hibbert and West have hit hook shots at will and George has attacked the rim with authority.

The disparity is even more palpable when the Pacers are on D.

Indiana sported the most efficient defense in the league during the regular season and has been just as imposing against Miami. With Hibbert standing tall in the middle, the perimeter defenders have free rein to pressure three-point shooters—knowing their 7'2" anchor is waiting to contest any drive.

That's brutal for the Heat, who generate their offensive spacing by surrounding LeBron with effective spot-up threats. Unfortunately, those guys just aren't showing up.

Ray Allen and Shane Battier each hit better than 42 percent of their three attempts during the regular season, but they are a combined 1-of-12 from beyond the arc through two games. Neither is liable to do any damage if they put the ball on the floor, so Indy is suffocating them and removing that element from the Heat offense.

That leaves it up to the Big Three to carry the scoring load, but LeBron is the only one pulling his weight.

Wade is clearly still bothered by a right knee bruise. The injury has been nagging him since March and has prevented him from marshaling his trademark athleticism on more than a handful of plays per game.

As for Bosh, his options are severely limited against the Indy bigs. Regardless of which Pacer is defending him, Bosh doesn't have the strength to get to the rim and finish. That leaves him to score solely as a stretch forward, launching jumpers in order to lure Hibbert outside and to open up the lane.

It's okay for Wade and Bosh to score in the teens when Chris Andersen randomly gets loose inside and ends up with 16 points—as he did in Game 1. However, the Heat cannot count on that, and they will need their stars to shine if they want to break the Pacers D.

Series Star So Far: LeBron James

It's not like the Heat can ask LeBron for anything more than he's already giving them.

He is averaging 33.0 points in this series on 59 percent from the field, and he is tacking on 9.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists to boot. Then consider his elite defense and his unparalleled stamina—he has sat just three minutes in this punishing series—and the four-time MVP's performance just gets otherworldly.

So it's no surprise that Miami's plan in the final minute of Game 2 was to send James into the teeth of the defense and let him make something happen. After all, per Grantland's Kirk Goldsberry, there was no more efficient scoring option in the NBA this season than LeBron James going inside.

Even with Hibbert on the floor this time to contest LeBron's late drive, the Heat's rationale was pretty sound: Attack inside with a guy who shot 72 percent from there this season and let him kick out to an open shooter if the defense collapses.

Confident in their team defense, however, the Pacers got exactly what they wanted. Both of James late turnovers came from the superstar getting bottled up and West collapsing into the lane to deflect his passes.

LeBron did all he could, but no one else on the floor scared Indy enough to demand attention. As great as James is he cannot beat the entire Pacers defense himself.

The man needs help.

Projected Starting Lineup for Game 3:

Miami: Mario Chalmers, PG; Dwyane Wade, SG; LeBron James, SF; Udonis Haslem, PF; Chris Bosh, C

Indiana: George Hill, PG; Lance Stephenson, SG; Paul George, SF; David West, PF; Roy Hibbert, C

Heat Injury Report

None Reported

Pacers Injury Report (via CBSSports.com)

Sam Young (ankle), questionable

Heat Will Win If...

They get Roy Hibbert into foul trouble.

Things get demonstrably easier for the Heat when Hibbert is off the floor. Without that giant stopgap looming in the paint, opportunities to attack the basket and drive and kick will be available. The Indiana guards would have to take a step inside to help on the play, which would create room for those open outside looks Miami craves.

That's how it works when Hibbert leaves the floor: His absence in the middle creates vulnerabilities elsewhere as Indiana adjusts to fill the void.

Since the perimeter defenders can't afford to pressure as much with Hibbert out, the Heat are less susceptible to turnovers. That means Indy's offense misses out on precious transition scoring chances—to say nothing of losing Hibbert's post game and offensive rebounding ability.

And on top of all that, Hibbert is the only player who truly bothers LeBron inside; no matter how the Pacers try to adjust, the difference without him is monumental for James. Per ESPN Stats & Info:

Inciting Hibbert to foul is easier said than done; he's adept at going straight up to contest shots while avoiding contact and the ref's whistle. Miami might struggle trying to challenge him inside, but that effort will pay dividends when he is off the floor.

Pacers Will Win If...

They slow the pace.

The Pacers are a turnover-prone bunch; no Eastern Conference playoff team coughed it up more during the regular season.

Indy's carelessness with the ball does not bode well against the Heat's deadly transition attack. Miami has taken to hounding George Hill before he passes half court, hoping the point guard gifts them some easy fast-break chances.

It's very difficult for anyone to stop the Heat when they get out and run. For the Pacers and their brutish frontline, it's nearly impossible. Hibbert and West have no chance of running the floor, and Indy relies on its starters too heavily to think they they won't tire out in a track meet.

Playing slow allows the Pacers to be more careful with the ball and deprive Miami of those deadly easy buckets. The pace also saves Indy's legs. It's a win-win-win strategy that would allow host Indiana to play its preferred style.

Prediction:

Only one team has executed its game plan for how to attack its opponent in this series. The other team has LeBron James, and thus can never be counted out.

That's why the Heat are going to keep it close in Game 3, but nothing they have shown so far indicates they're going to be able to solve the Pacers on the road.

Indy is not afraid of mighty Miami. The Pacers are bigger, stronger and totally confident that they can impose their will on the defending champs.

Until the Heat demonstrate they can take at least one of Indiana's frontcourt weapons—George, Hibbert or West—out of the game, or until Wade or Bosh plays like a star again, Indiana is already in control of this series.

After Sunday, the box score will reflect that.

This series is going to be a dogfight, and Miami will likely deal the Pacers their first home playoff loss eventually. But first, Indiana is going to take a 2-1 lead on the Heat for the second consecutive postseason.

Pacers 87, Heat 82

Roger Federer Will Have Little Problem Reaching Finals at French Open

Tyler Brooke — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:29:57 -0400

It appears that Roger Federer received quite a favorable draw heading into the French Open, and that should help him quite a bit when it comes to reaching the finals of this Grand Slam event.

As the No. 3 player in the world, Federer’s draw for the 2013 French Open is quite nice. He is in the opposite half of the bracket that Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic share, so he wouldn’t face either of these players until the final round.

What makes his draw even better this year is that Andy Murray will not play due to a back injury.

It’s hard to doubt Federer in this field. He is a 17-time Grand Slam champion with a victory at Roland Garros in 2009, the only player not named Nadal to win the event in the past eight years.

His career at the French Open isn’t his best Grand Slam event, but he has still had quite a bit of success. He’s reached the final five of the last eight times along with an appearance in the semifinals last year.

The potential path for Federer in the tournament would likely include Gilles Simon and Sam Querrey, who could give him a bit of a test but not much of one.

Things could possibly get interesting in the quarterfinals, where Federer should be going up against Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, the sixth-seeded player in the tourney.

Tsonga was able to beat Federer in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon two years ago, even after trailing two sets to love. However, Federer is looking sharp this season, and should be able to knock off Tsonga.

The semifinals would be interesting as well, as Federer would have to face David Ferrer.

Ferrer is a strong player on clay, with a 15-5 record this season on clay courts. He made it to the semifinals at this event last season, his best finish of his career.

This could be a heck of a match between the two, but Federer is simply the better overall tennis player. His career in Grand Slam events speaks for itself, even at this event. Meanwhile, Ferrer is still searching for his first career Grand Slam title.

The luck of the draw certainly helps out Federer, so he should be the heavy favorite to enter the finals. However, it will certainly be a tough test for him in the finals if he goes up against Djokovic or Nadal.

Bayern Munich Win Champions League: See Robben's Late Goal and Trophy Lifted

Karl Matchett — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:28:57 -0400

Bayern Munich won their fifth European Cup with a 2-1 win over Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund, thanks to a late winning goal from Arjen Robben.

A fantastic match ebbed and flowed, with Dortmund on top in the opening half-hour before Bayern finished the first half strongly. Despite the constant action, the scoreline still read 0-0 at the half-time whistle, thanks largely to the efforts of the two goalkeepers, Roman Weidenfeller and Manuel Neuer.

The game really kicked into life after the break, with two goals arriving within eight minutes of each other just after the hour mark.

First, Bayern took the lead after Mario Mandzukic tapped home from within the six-yard box after good work from Franck Ribery and Robben opened up the Dortmund defence. Marcel Schmelzer was unable to keep the ball out from such close range.

A short time later, Dante nearly chopped Marco Reus in half with a wild, high challenge that led to a penalty kick. Ilkay Gundogan scored the equaliser for Dortmund, levelling the scores with 22 minutes left on the clock.

Both teams had chances to score a second goal in the time remaining, most notably when Robert Lewandowski netted a volley from 25 yards, only to have it called back for handball. Bayern were also denied a second after a last-ditch challenge from Neven Subotic cleared the ball off the goal line.

The Bavarian side—Bundesliga champions and German Cup finalists for this season—were not to be denied though. They likely found motivation from their two recent Champions League Final losses in 2010 and 2012.

It fell to Robben to score the dramatic late winner. He raced into the penalty area and beat the goalkeeper with just one minute remaining on the clock to send the red half of Wembley Stadium into ecstasy.

Dortmund barely had the time or energy to mount a late response, and Bayern saw out the game to lift the Champions League trophy in style.

Follow @karlmatchett

NBA Free Agents 2013: Most Underrated Players Available This Offseason

Brian Leigh — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:17:45 -0400

Free agent classes are defined by their mega-stars, and as such, this summer will likely be coined "The Summer of Dwight" or "The Summer of CP3." But in truth, it's often the less-heralded free agents who come to define the subsequent seasons come June.

Don't believe me? Take a closer look at this year's conference finalists; take heed of their construction:

Beyond its expensive Big Three, the Heat are a mishmash of savvy veterans on bargain contracts. Ray Allen, Shane Battier and Chris Anderson—all signed as free agents—are playing 41.5 quality minutes per game this postseason, and making a scant average of $2.2 million to show for it. Danny Green toiled through the D-League and Slovenia's Premier League A before the Spurs gave him a post-lockout flyer, and eventual three-year deal. For God's sake, Memphis signed Tony Allen to a three-year, $9.45 million contract after he helped Boston win a Larry O'Brien trophy.

Eric Gordon, meanwhile, signed for $58 million last summer, and missed half the season.

So yes: There's a reason Dwight Howard and Chris Paul will receive more attention than other free agents this summer. And it's not just because they play in Los Angeles; it's because they're the two best players. But only a fool would define this free agent class on their courtship alone.

Here are three under-the-radar free agents that could make a big splash in 2013-14.

PF/C Jermaine O'Neal, Phoenix Suns

The NBA's own Beric Dondarrion, Jermaine O'Neal revived himself from the dead this season—not to the level of his peak years, but to a suitable, and certainly respectable facsimile of that production.

Check out the near-perfect parabola his PER has formed the past four years:

Year	PER
09-10	17.92
10-11	9.22
11-12	9.46
12-13	16.76

It went nearly unnoticed—how many Suns games did you watch this season?—but the veteran big man revived his career in Phoenix, and put to rest, at least for the time being, all jokes about his ambulatory corpse.

It will take more than his current sub-$1 million contract to acquire him, but not by much. Especially if O'Neal, who has never won a ring, is willing to take a pay cut and join a contender in his golden years.

Leaving the Phoenix training staff—who may or may not be using some sort of Harry Potter-style charm to keep aging players healthy—is a tad worrisome, but not enough to dissuade most teams from going after him.

O'Neal should be a rotation player on a playoff team next season.

PG Nate Robinson, Chicago Bulls

Nate Rob stepped into an unenviable position this season—helping a myriad of guards assuage the loss of Derrick Rose—and exceeded all possible expectations.

His 17.43 PER was impressive enough, but he also provided Chicago something that doesn't translate directly to paper: a bona fide, confident scorer at the end of important games. On a team devoid of players who can create their own shot, the importance of his late-game heroics cannot be overstated.

Still, with Derrick Rose set to return, almost 18 months after his ACL tear, and Kirk Hinrich in tow to back him up, Chicago shouldn't be able to retain Robinson this summer. Not after the postseason he just had...not after the paycheck he just secured.

There are plenty of offensively challenged contenders out there, all of whom could use a spark off the bench at point guard. Imagine what Robinson could do in a Pacers' or Grizzlies' jersey—especially after the year he just spent learning defense from Tom Thibodeau.

SG Alan Anderson, Toronto Raptors

Much like Jermaine O'Neal—and in stark contrast to Nate Robinson—it was easy to miss Anderson's breakout season in 2012-13. Again: Despite the pre-recorded lust of Kenny Smith on The Basketball Jones, how much Raptor news did you ever really receive?

But after numerous years spent bouncing around Italy and Russia and Israel, Alan Anderson didn't need fanfare to feel redemption; all he needed was another NBA chance.

The former MSU Spartan averaged 10.7 points in 65 games this season, posting an impressive 12.61 PER (at least relative to expectation) along the way. More importantly, he also harassed opposing guards with his above-average defense, a chore that was easier said than done when surrounded by the likes of Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani.

Moving to a contender would afford Anderson a chance to come off the bench, and more importantly to become an afterthought for opposing defenses. In Toronto, the player across from him knew he was looking to score, ready to shoot. But in a more mature system, plugged in next to players with well-established roles, he could see much more room to maneuver on offense.

That assistance might even help Anderson fix his pesky turnover problem.

Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction

Mike Chiari — Sat, 25 May 2013 17:11:02 -0400

After a heartbreaking loss to Chelsea in last year's UEFA Champions League Final, Bayern Munich was determined to earn redemption. That is precisely what it did, as the Bavarians captured their first Champions League title since 2001 by beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1.

In what was the first all-German final in Champions League history, the rival teams were evenly matched throughout, exhibiting world class skill and putting on a fantastic show for the fans.

The decisive goal game in the 89th minute of play when Bayern attacking midfielder Arjen Robben broke through the Dortmund defense and slipped the ball past helpless Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller:

It was a fitting ending, as Robben has experienced a great deal of heartbreak in recent years. He's been the goat many times both in domestic and international play, but he ended up being the hero for Bayern and will live in FCB history forever.

Although the first half came to an end with no score, Dortmund and Bayern engaged in one of the most entertaining halves of scoreless soccer that you will ever see. There were chances galore on both sides, but goalkeepers Roman Weidenfeller and Manuel Neuer were up to the task, which even impressed Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric:

Dortmund carried the play for the first 15 minutes or so, as Bayern scrambled to gain possession. While the Borussians were able to put five shots on net during the half, Neuer could not be beaten, coming up with a number of impressive saves.

Bayern midfielder Franck Ribery became frustrated with Dortmund's physical play at one point, as he elbowed Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski in the face. Ribery was called for a foul, but he wasn't carded, despite the viciousness of his actions:

*GIF courtesy of 101 Great Goals

The Bavarians picked up their play in the latter stages of the half and had some dangerous opportunities as well. Robben was unquestionably Bayern's most dangerous player, as he failed to convert on two point-blank chances.

He had a ton of space in the Dortmund box and attempted to beat a challenging Weidenfeller, but the Borussia goalkeeper took one for the team, making the save with his face:

*GIF courtesy of IndexFootball.com

Robben has struggled on the big stage in recent years, as pointed out by BBC Sport's James Horncastle:

Despite the lack of offensive fireworks from a goal-scoring perspective, Miguel Delaney of ESPN considered it the most evenly matched Champions League final in five years:

Bayern carried over its strong play from late in the first half to early in the second, putting some pressure on Dortmund. After a 60-minute stalemate, Bayern forward Mario Mandzukic broke through with the first tally of the match:

Ribery found Robben in the box, and the Dutch midfielder managed to clear it across the goal mouth, off a defender and right to a wide-open Mandzukic, who deposited it in the back of the vacant Dortmund net:

FCB's lead was short-lived, however, as Dortmund cashed in on a golden opportunity just seven minutes later. Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus found his way into a dangerous position in the Bayern box, which prompted defender Dante to over-commit and kick Reus in the midsection as he attempted to clear the ball:

A penalty was called and taken by Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who had been wizard-like in his passing up to that point. Gundogan showed that his scoring touch was just as precise on the kick, as Neuer dove to his right and Gundogan buried it to his left for his first career Champions League goal, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Bayern nearly took back the lead just minutes later when attacking midfielder Thomas Muller got around Weidenfeller. Muller had an open net from a wide angle and sent the ball in that direction. Robben was just about to tap it in to make the score 2-1, but Dortmund center-back Neven Subotic slid in and cleared it off the goal line to preserve the tie:

The action was tense, and it looked like the match was destined for extra time before Robben's game-winning tally in the 89th minute.

Grades

Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich): A

Neuer was the hottest goalkeeper in the world entering the match. That was quite apparent throughout, as he was nearly unbeatable. He faced seven shots and turned them all away, with the exception of the Gundogan penalty. Bayern likely wouldn't have gotten this far without Neuer, so it's only fitting that he was integral to their victory.

Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund): A-

While Neuer was ultimately the better goalkeeper in this match, Weidenfeller wasn't far behind. He had to make some incredibly difficult stops in his own right, and he kept Dortmund in the match until the 89th minute. There was nothing Weidenfeller could do on Robben's game-winning goal, but he did over-commit at times and put his defenders in tough situations, so he falls just short of an "A."

Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich): A

After the first half, it wouldn't have been a stretch to give Robben a failing grade, as he was unable to cash in on a pair of golden opportunities. But the second half was a completely different story for the much-maligned midfielder. Robben's first big play came when he set up Mandzukic's goal, and he put a bow on it with a goal of his own, putting forth an unbelievable individual effort.

Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund): A-

Gundogan was easily Dortmund's best player aside from Weidenfeller. He was all over the place, and he set his teammates up in some dangerous scoring areas. He also showed that he possesses the clutch gene, scoring with a confident strike on a penalty kick to tie the match. He likely would have been considered the man of the match had Dortmund won, but Robben ended up stealing his thunder ultimately.

Borussia Dortmund

Player	Position	Grade
Roman Weidenfeller	GK	A-
Marcel Schmelzer	LB	C+
Mats Hummels	CB	C
Neven Subotic	CB	B
Lukasz Piszczek	RB	B
Ilkay Gundogan	DM	A-
Sven Bender	DM	B
Kevin Grosskreutz	AM	C+
Marco Reus	AM	A-
Jakub Blaszczykowski	AM	C+
Robert Lewandowski	ST	B-

Bayern Munich

Player	Position	Grade
Manuel Neuer	GK	A
David Alaba	LB	C+
Dante	CB	D-
Jerome Boateng	CB	A-
Philipp Lahm	RB	B-
Bastian Schweinsteiger	DM	B+
Javi Martinez	DM	A-
Franck Ribery	AM	B-
Thomas Muller	AM	C
Arjen Robben	AM	A
Mario Mandzukic	ST	A-

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Velasquez vs. Bigfoot 2: Weaknesses Cain Velasquez Can Exploit

Dustin Filloy — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:54:35 -0400

A fighter the caliber of Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva consistently makes his opponents work tirelessly to exploit his few weaknesses.

But in his first meeting with Bigfoot, UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez nullified Silva's 4.5-inch reach advantage by grounding him seconds into the bout and never letting him scramble back to his feet.

Velasquez mauled Bigfoot en route to a TKO win at 3:36 of the first round at UFC 146.

One day short of a year later, Velasquez will step in the Octagon tonight at UFC 160 with intentions of once again dismantling Silva with relative ease.

Here are three weaknesses Velasquez must take advantage of against Bigfoot.

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Mikkel Kessler vs. Carl Froch: Live Round-by-Round Scoring and Analysis

Alejandro 'A-TRAIN' Burgos — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:54:15 -0400

A highly anticipated rematch will go down on Saturday day when Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch battle it out live from the O2 Arena in London. The super-middleweight unification bout will see Froch defend his IBF title and Kessler his WBA title.

The live telecast starts at 6 p.m. EDT on HBO in the United States.

The first fight, which took place in 2010, saw Kessler beat Froch by unanimous decision. But since then, Froch has greatly improved. And at 35 years old, he comes in as the odds-on favorite, according to Tom Craze of BadLeftHook.com.

As reported earlier in the week by Kevin Francis of BoxingScene.com and the Daily Star, Froch took the pre-fight hype to a different level on Wednesday when he said he would kill Kessler if he had to. Those are strong words, but it just shows how much this bout truly means to him. With the London fans behind him, Froch will be looking to turn in a dynamic performance against one of only two men to have beaten him.

Since beating Froch the first time, Kessler has not faced the highest level of opposition. He will be trying to prove that, at 34 years old, he is not only capable of competing with the best, but also defeating them. Fighting in a loud, pro-Froch environment will give Kessler an added task to overcome. On top of boxing intelligent, he'll need to make sure rounds aren’t close, because those will likely go to the hometown fighter.

Regardless of the outcome, if the second fight is anything like the first one, fight fans can expect some entertaining action. Stick with Bleacher Report for live round-by-round scoring and analysis.

Champions League Final Match Report: Dortmund 1-2 Bayern, Last-Minute Winner

Karl Matchett — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:51:10 -0400

Bayern Munich have won the 2013 UEFA Champions League after a thrilling final came to a 2-1 end on an 89th-minute winning goal, courtesy of Arjen Robben.

One of the best finals in recent years took place in England between two German clubs, with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern providing a fantastic spectacle to close the season.

After a goalless first half, the match sparked into life with goals after the break from Mario Mandzukic and Ilkay Gundogan, the latter from the penalty spot. Robben scored the deciding goal with less than 60 seconds of the regulation 90 minutes left.

Neither side featured surprises in their starting XI. With Mario Gotze and Toni Kroos missing for either side due to injury, Kevin Grosskreutz and Robben took their respective places.

Both of the German Bundesliga teams went with a familiar 4-2-3-1 system, with Marco Reus moving infield for Dortmund to accommodate Grosskreutz on the flank and Thomas Muller doing the same for Bayern.

With a packed Wembley Stadium in London noisy from kickoff, the first chance of the game came within three minutes after Robert Lewandowski saw his shot blocked behind for a corner. It set the tone for what was a fairly frantic opening without any consistent execution of attacking moves or crisp midfield passing.

Dortmund were the better team in the opening stages of the game, but other than Manuel Neuer taking a high corner confidently in his penalty area, there was little work for either goalkeeper. Quick distribution from the Bayern goalkeeper looked to give them a threat on the break, but Robben and Franck Ribery couldn't make the most of the one-on-one chances they had with the Dortmund defence.

At the quarter-hour mark, Lewandowski ran down the left and fired a fierce shot from range, but Neuer tipped it over and out of bounds. On the ensuing corner, Reus crossed low for Jakub Blaszczykowski to strike a low effort, but that too met Neuer's hands on a smart save.

It was certainly the best chance of the game's opening 20 minutes, and Bayern owed their goalkeeper a debt of thanks.

Sven Bender and Reus also both tested Neuer with low efforts before the half-hour mark, with Bayern struggling to make any sort of impression on the match as an attacking force. That is until, out of nothing, Mario Mandzukic had a header tipped over the crossbar by Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller. Javi Martinez headed the resulting corner over the bar.

Ribery might have been lucky to escape without a card for a flailing arm, which left Dortmund fans irate.

Robben then had a great chance to open the scoring, one-on-one with Weidenfeller, but he could only hit the goalkeeper with his shot.

It looked as though Bayern had weathered the early storm from Dortmund and would finish the half stronger, but Lewandowski almost immediately found himself free on goal—only for Neuer to deny him yet again.

Robben wasted another chance to cross or shoot less than a minute later, and Muller glanced a header wide of the far post. At this point, it was clear Dortmund were struggling to match Bayern aerially on set pieces.

The final big chance of the first half fell to Robben once more, just 10 yards from goal, but he cracked a shot high and straight at the goalkeeper, who made another terrific reaction stop, albeit with his face. Whether by luck or good positioning, Weidenfeller—along with opposite number Neuer— played a big part in the first half remaining goalless.

The second half opened just as frantically as the first 45, but neither stopper was seriously called upon this time until Mandzukic had another unmarked header off a corner just shy of the hour mark. Weidenfeller grasped it quickly, but the threat of Bayern's set pieces was still evident.

And then, on the hour mark, Wembley stadium exploded in a sea of red.

Ribery and Robben combined to get the latter in the area, where he nipped past Wiedenfeller and passed the ball along the six-yard box to Mandzukic, who had a simple task of knocking the ball past Marcel Schmelzer and into the back of the net.

Bayern were then ahead 1-0 with around half an hour to play—but it was a short-lived lead.

Just seven minutes later, Reus got into the box and knocked the ball past Dante, who almost chopped the attacker in half with a wild attempt at a tackle. It was high, late and very definitely a penalty, and the defender was lucky to escape without a second yellow card (and ensuing red).

With Lewandowski having missed a penalty against Neuer recently, Gundogan stepped up to take the spot kick and duly levelled the scores with a fine finish into the bottom-right corner for 1-1.

The match was well and truly alive now. On 72 minutes, Bayern were within an inch of retaking the lead after Muller got around the goalkeeper and fired a cross-shot along the goal line—leaving Neven Subotic to make one of the defensive clearances of the season with a last-ditch sliding tackle on the line.

Robben surely should have tapped it in, but he failed to continue his run at the far post and thus missed a great chance.

Finely poised, the game swung back to the other end of the pitch, where Lewandowski fired in an amazing 25-yard volley which found the top corner of the net—but the whistle had gone for handball.

Just moments later, Muller had a rare chance to run in on goal, but he opted to go to ground rather than try for a shot.

As the game entered its final 10 minutes, the chances noticeably dried up at both ends as neither side wanted to risk the chance of losing a second goal late on. But there was one more to come in the final minute of the game.

A rare high ball was played up to Ribery on the edge of the box. He brought it down brilliantly and laid it off to the onrushing Arjen Robben.

Having fluffed his lines on several occasions during the 89 previous minutes, the Dutchman sped through the last line of defence, faced up to Weidenfeller and finally beat the Dortmund keeper. The shot slipped past and inside the far corner of the net, much to the heartbreak of those in yellow and to the absolute joy of those in red.

A late spate of substitutes from both sides filled three minutes of injury time, but Robben's contribution would ultimately decide the contest. As the final whistle went, Bayern's players sank to their knees in triumph.

With the result, the treble of domestic league and cup and European Cup remains a very real possibility for Bayern Munich—the 2013 UEFA Champions League winners.

Follow @karlmatchett

NBA Draft: Why Cleveland Cavaliers Should Draft Ben McLemore over Nerlens Noel

Patrick Forte — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:49:39 -0400

By unexpectedly winning the NBA draft lottery for the second time in the last three years, the Cleveland Cavaliers are set up nicely for the future.

While Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel is the closest thing to a consensus number one overall pick in a relatively weak draft, he may not be the best selection for a Cleveland Cavaliers team that is looking to win now. While other names such as Otto Porter of Georgetown have been thrown around, the player who may fit best for the Cleveland Cavaliers is Kansas guard Ben McLemore.

First off, there is no doubt that Noel earned his reputation as a potential top overall pick. Before he tore his ACL, Noel was averaging nearly a double-double (10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds) and an astounding 4.4 blocks per game.

He measured 6'11 3/4" at the NBA draft combine—taller than last year's number one pick, Anthony Davis, another former Kentucky big man.

Still, there are concerns that come with taking Noel number on overall. First, he weighed in at the combine at only 206 pounds, which is incredibly thin for an NBA big man, let alone someone expected to play center. For the sake of comparison, New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler, to whom Noel has been compared, weighs 240 pounds. Noel was listed at 220 pounds while he played at Kentucky, so it's entirely possible he has just lost weight while rehabbing his injury. But it's still a concern.

Another concern is Noel's questionable offensive game. Seen as defensive centerpiece, Noel wouldn't be expected to score much in the NBA, but a problem arises for the Cavs should they pair him up in the frontcourt with Tristan Thompson, another big who isn't known for his scoring. Thompson did evolve a lot as a player this year, averaging 11.7 points per game, but that production, coupled with what is expected from Noel, doesn't foreshadow much scoring up front.

Ben McLemore, on the other hand, is a great fit for the Cavaliers for a number of reasons. McLemore averaged 15.9 points per game as a freshman at Kansas this year, while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range. For a Cavaliers team that desperately needs shooting, there is little doubt that McLemore would provide that.

McLemore also fits in very well with the Cavs's current personnel.

One of the biggest knocks on McLemore has been his lack of assertiveness and willingness to take over games. Luckily for him the Cavaliers have Kyrie Irving, who is already the definitive star of the team. McLemore had to carry his Kansas team as a freshman, and he did a very good job of doing so, but on the Cavaliers he would be able to let Irving shoulder the load of being the team's go-to guy.

One other reason people have discounted McLemore going to Cleveland is the presence of last year's No. 4 overall draft pick, Dion Waiters.

However, McLemore joining the Cavaliers would give Waiters the ability to come off the bench, a situation in which he could certainly excel. Waiters actually never started a game during his years at Syracuse, and would help to carry a Cavaliers second unit that was very weak in terms of scoring last year.

Considering his ability to handle the ball, Waiters could come off the bench and play either shooting guard or point guard, giving McLemore and Irving rest when they need it, while providing the majority of the scoring for the second unit. It isn't out of line to think that Waiters could become a Jamal Crawford or Jason Terry-type of player in this position, which would benefit both himself and the Cavaliers.

There is no doubt that the Cavaliers have a great task ahead of them in deciding whom to take with the top pick in June. While many assume Noel is the best selection, picking McLemore would provide the shooting and scoring that this Cavaliers team desperately needs, while also netting them a potential all-star.

Diva Digest No. 16

Erik Beaston — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:41:28 -0400

Diva Digest returns to Bleacher Report after a lengthy post-WrestleMania hiatus.

This past week featured developments in both WWE Divas and TNA Knockouts storylines, including a title change on Thursday night's Impact Wrestling.

Former friends saw their rivalry heat up on WWE programming while, over on Impact Wrestling, a new champion was crowned and the first match of its kind was announced for the promotion's Slammiversary pay-per-view event.

Get caught up on all of the week's news and results, as well as the Diva Digest Fave Five and any news and notes from the past seven days inside.

This is Diva Digest No. 16.

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Pacers Are Proving to Be Toughest Opponent in Big Three Era of Miami Heat

David Weiss — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:38:47 -0400

It wasn't until 10:45 was left in the fourth quarter of game two that the Miami Heat captured their first lead of the match against the Indiana Pacers.

It lasted exactly 11 seconds long. The next two leads then came with 7:35 and 3:31 remaining on the clock. The combined length of time Miami was able to maintain those leads wasn't even four minutes.

Now, mind you, this is coming off a come-from-behind Game 1 victory for the Heat that the Pacers were so successfully able to dictate with their style of play that Chris Bosh would later note of the contest: "we got away with that one, that's how we feel".

Needless to say, this series may only be two games old. And the Heat aren't exactly in a position of weakness despite playing their next two games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where the Pacers have yet to lose in these playoffs. But the reality that should be setting in by now is that this Indiana team is the toughest opponent Miami has faced in the playoffs since the inception of the big three era.

Now, on one hand, that isn't exactly a bold statement.

After all, the majority of Miami's playoff battles have come through the eastern conference, of which most of its crop has reputably been littered with deficiencies.

Such as the hobbling, aging, in-the-twilight-of-their-prime Boston Celtics.

Or the one-man bands, led by a superstar like Derrick Rose and little else outside of a gritty but over-matched supporting cast.

Or even a team comprised of very good players but no superstar, as the Indiana Pacers were last year when taking a 2-1 series lead against Miami.

But what separates the current Pacers from the 2011 Dallas Mavericks and the 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder are two things.

1. LeBron doesn't undergo bouts of stage fright in the closing moments of games anymore, thereby being the main reason his team loses a series (and no matter how many times Mark the Shark Cuban chooses to deny it, his decision to dismantle the 2011 Mavs spoke volumes).

2. In order to beat Miami, teams have to exploit their size.

Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins were never offensively capable enough to do that.

Roy Hibbert and David West, however, are.

West alone has been a one-man wrecking crew, punishing Miami all season long.

Prior to game two, his averages against the Heat were 23.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and a .65 field goal shooting percentage.

Little side-note: No matter which team advances in the East, David West is already a big winner. He couldn't have asked for a better stage or against a better team to drive up his free agency value this summer. J.R. Smith just cried about that, by the way.

And then there's Hibbert, whose presence alone arguably made the difference between the outcomes of game one and two.

Did Pacers fans burst into epileptic seizures after game one when Roy Hibbert was substituted moments before LeBron caught an inbounds pass with 2.2 seconds left on the clock, stopped to order a victory pepperoni pizza from Papa Johns on his cell phone to be delivered at LIV nightclub, rehearsed a few dance moves from the Heat's Harlem shake dance video, and then proceeded to lay the basket in the hoop?

Well, if Bill Simmons Twitter response was any indication, then probably so:

Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out? Why take Hibbert out?
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 23, 2013

But the real revelation of this series has been Paul George, who capped off his initiation into the club of supremely elite superstars with a dunk on Chris "Birdman" Andersen that felt more like a fatality out of Mortal Kombat.

As a result, what was once considered mission impossible by NBA standards—especially after Miami's 27-game win streak—is no longer the case.

Perhaps the most sobering validation of all to how good the Pacers are is that, despite back-to-back Jordan-esque performances by LeBron James in the past two games, there was still a game to be won in the closing seconds.

All of this begs the bigger question: "how do we digest this grim reality as Heat fans?"

And there's really only two ways.

You're first, natural reaction is: "holy hell, I'm scared crap-less because my team might actually get eliminated and, on top of being an absolute PR nightmare that vultures like Skip Bayless are just salivating over, it would temporarily destroy my sanctity of life".

But then your second reaction—and this is what truly separates the real fans from the bandwagoners—is just as an NBA fan. Someone who appreciates watching their teams face actual adversity and staying tuned in to the series to follow how they respond.

And to be quite frank—after the boring and meaninglessly long regular season that Heat fans were just made to go through, the second reaction should really be the most appealing by now.

We deserve to watch our team finally get their feathers ruffled and see how they respond.

We deserve to watch in anticipation as to whether or not LeBron James will rise to the occasion once again as he did in game six last year against the Boston Celtics with Miami on the brink of elimination. Or if he will shrink under the pressure as he did against Dallas in 2011 NBA Finals.

We deserve to watch Dwyane Wade prove his critics wrong, showing he is every bit the dependable superstar even when hampered by injury as he did against Indiana last year. Or validate their argument the way his subpar performance in game two Friday night ultimately did.

If Miami loses this series, it will be a bitter pill to swallow. But they will eventually reload, mindful to address their weakness in the middle via free agency like never before.

But if they win, then the championship that will hopefully follow will be all the more gratifying—probably even more so than the one they won last year.

And really though.. isn't that why we love sports?

Follow @Davinchy83

SEC Baseball Tournament 2013 Scores: Final Four Results, Highlights and Analysis

Ethan Grant — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:24:33 -0400

After four days of action-packed baseball at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, only four teams remain with eyes toward winning the 2013 SEC Baseball Tournament.

Both LSU and Vanderbilt won elimination games on Friday afternoon/evening to put themselves in position to reach the tournament's final four teams, joining Arkansas and Mississippi State in the semifinals of the bracket.

No. 2 LSU and No. 3 Arkansas had already faced off earlier in the tournament, with the Hogs getting the best of the higher-seeded Tigers to gain a leg-up on making it through to the final. No. 1 Vanderbilt avenged its earlier loss to Texas A&M on Friday evening, earning the right for a chance to take on the well-traveled Mississippi State squad. The Bulldogs are 3-0 in the tournament so far.

The Tigers and Razorbacks were the first game of the day at 1 p.m. ET, while the Commodores and Bulldogs' first pitch is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET.

With Sunday's championship game in sight, let's take a look at the action from Saturday afternoon in one of college baseball's richest conference tournaments.

No. 2 LSU 3, No. 3 Arkansas 1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
LSU	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	3	9	2
Arkansas	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0		1	1	1

Arkansas got the best of LSU when the two teams played each other during the earlier stages of the 2013 SEC tournament, but the Tigers showed on Saturday afternoon why they are considered one of the best teams in the nation.

LSU put on a pitching clinic and scored timely runs in the late innings. They will move on to the championship game after defeating Arkansas by a score of 3-1.

Five LSU pitchers combined to yield just one hit through nine innings.

Mark Etheridge had the tweet as LSU celebrated it's elimination-game victory:

Freshman starter Hunter Newman, making his first such trip to the mound in SEC play, got the ball for the Tigers on Saturday afternoon. Newman made it through four innings without yielding a hit, but gave up a run in the third after walks and errors plagued LSU's defense.

Jake Wise walked to lead off the frame and a throwing error by Newman put him on second. After a groundout advanced Wise to third, second baseman Mason Katz opened the door for the Hogs after dropping a pop-up. Wise would score, and the Hogs would take a 1-0 lead (via LSU Baseball):

It would be the last run Arkansas would score in the afternoon.

As noted by SEC Sports, it was the Hogs that led the nation in ERA coming into the ballgame, but the LSU pitchers dug deep and managed to give Arkansas a taste of its own medicine the rest of the way:

Arkansas had chances to score in both the fourth and the fifth inning, largely because walks and wild pitching gave the Hogs chances they didn't deserve based on the hit column. However, Newman and Kevin Berry managed to keep Arkansas at bay with timely pitches to get out of both frames.

LSU then came alive in the sixth.

Katz walked to lead off the inning, moved to third on a single by Raph Rhymes and would score on Christian Ibarra's hit to left field during the next at-bat. The Tigers weren't done, as Ty Ross' bunt moved the runners into scoring position on the next play. Tyler Moore then beat out a double play to score Rhymes from third.

Arkansas pitcher Brandon Moore was charged with both runs in the inning. All the while, the Razorbacks couldn't mount any threat, totaling only one baserunner over the next three innings.

The Bayou Bengals added an insurance run in the seventh, when Ibarra's double scored Katz again to give the Tigers their final run of the afternoon. As noted by Bob Holt, it likely would have been 4-1 without Rhymes' mistake:

LSU threatened again in the eighth inning, but Alex Bregman struck out with a runner on third to end the Tiger threat. Missing out again in the ninth, the Tigers turned to closer Chris Cotton to close out the Razorbacks, and close them out he did.

Just like he did against Alabama on Friday, Cotton shut the door on the Hogs—getting two fly balls and a strikeout to help the Tigers move on to the SEC Tournament championship game on Sunday afternoon.

Ibarra and the five pitchers that took the mound were the heroes for the Tigers on Satuday. Ibarra went 3-for-4 with two of the team's three RBI on the afternoon, while Newman, Cotton and three others combined for the one-hit shutout victory.

For Arkansas, its fate now lies in the hands of the NCAA selection committee for the College World Series. No Razorback was on base more than once in this game, as LSU thoroughly shut down the Hogs' offense all afternoon. The Hogs went down in order each of the final three innings.

LSU will await the winner of Vanderbilt and Mississippi State in the night cap.

The tournament championship is scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Ethan Grant on Twitter:

Jabrill Peppers Will Make Instant Impact No Matter What College He Attends

Matt Fitzgerald — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:15:39 -0400

Five-star football recruit Jabrill Peppers is a rare athlete with the versatility and playmaking ability to shine at whatever college he chooses—even as a true freshman.

Though he ran for 1552 yards and 18 touchdowns and had an additional five receiving scores, Peppers projects as a top defensive back at the collegiate level, and has all the tools to thrive immediately.

The pride of Paramus Catholic High School in New Jersey racked up 80 tackles and four interceptions this past season. He is the No. 3 prospect in the country in the 2014 class, according to 247Sports.com's composite rankings.

247 Sports' 33 experts all believe that Peppers will attend the University of Michigan, but he's not set to make an announcement until Sunday between 4:45 and 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU, per NJ.com's Todderick Hunt.

In the above report by Hunt, Paramus Catholic head coach Chris Partridge discusses what makes Peppers so special beyond his phenomenal physical skills:

Jabrill is an extremely valuable in terms of on and off the field thing. He's a hard worker, he's an unselfish player, he's really smart and he's a good leader. So he has all the intangibles that make you a great player, not just his skills. He's extremely valuable to us in all aspects.

Peppers runs a 4.40 in the 40-yard dash and is already 6'1" and 205 pounds entering his senior year for the Paladins. That is simply off the charts, and is an exceptional size and speed combination for even a current top-flight college player.

In fact, during a track meet on Saturday, the young star was putting that swiftness to the test, and proclaimed on Twitter that he broke the meet record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.56.

Let's not be confused, though. Some track athletes happen to be football players, and some football players are de facto track athletes.

Peppers is the latter—born to be a force on the gridiron.

As can be seen in his junior highlight tape, this special prospect may be too good not to use on both sides of the ball.

The success of the read-option may cause him to enter games as a Wildcat quarterback; what really stands out when the ball is in hands is Peppers' lateral quickness, seamless change of direction and agility.

But those enviable capabilities all apply to the defensive side, too. Whether Peppers lines up at cornerback or safety, he can shine by properly utilizing them.

Quick hips are key for defensive backs in coverage, and Peppers is certainly blessed with those. Also noteworthy is how he attacks when the ball is in the air. Not only can Peppers snag the ball at its highest point, but he is aggressive and strong when competing for it.

The instincts Peppers shows are as impressive as any aspect of his game. Showcasing the ability to diagnose plays at such a young age is an extremely positive sign for the coaches hoping for the opportunity to continue Peppers' development.

A defensive back like Peppers who is so physical and willing to step up in run support is going to be embraced by whomever his impending teammates will be.

Combine that with a strong set of intangibles, a seemingly bright football IQ and rare physical gifts, and Peppers should have no trouble having a prolific maiden college campaign.

Note: Measurements and statistics are courtesy of 247Sports.com.

The Shield: 5 New Tag Teams to Challenge Rollins and Reigns for the Titles

Seth M. Guttenplan — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:11:55 -0400

The Shield’s Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns did what no other tag team in WWE was able to do—defeat Team Hell No for the tag team titles. As The Shield continue their dominance over the company, are there any current tag teams that will be able to stop them?

Probably not.

Let’s face it. The tag team division is still very weak, despite Team Hell No attempting to change that last year.

After Kane and Daniel Bryan, the division is made up of jobbers and more jobbers.

That is why I am proposing five brand new tag teams who would at least have a chance against Rollins and Reigns. Chances are The Shield will hold the titles for a lengthy period, but perhaps these teams will make fans wonder who will win.

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WWE SmackDown, May 24: GSM's Analysis and Aftermath

Graham 'GSM' Matthews — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:10:34 -0400

Mere days removed from the WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view, Friday Night SmackDown provided all the fallout from the extraordinary event. The night's awesome in-ring action, combined with successful storyline progression, made this a show worth watching.

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 hosts Miz TV with Fandango and Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett

Solid segment to kick off the show, with Intercontinental champion Wade Barrett and Fandango appearing on Miz TV. Everyone involved played their respective roles well and provided good mic work.

It was effective in leading into the subsequent Intercontinental Championship match and giving it some significance. All in all, this was probably the best edition of Miz TV we've seen in quite some time.

The Miz def. Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett by Disqualification

Decent match between Intercontinental champion Wade Barrett and The Miz. Although it was rather brief, they made the most out of the time they were allotted.

That being said, the match should have gone much longer than it did given the fact they have had some great matches together in the past. Fandango's interference was logical and helped insert him into the intercontinental title picture while also making the belt feel somewhat relevant for the first time in ages.

Daniel Bryan w/Kane def. Jack Swagger w/Zeb Colter

Great match between Daniel Bryan and Jack Swagger. These two had excellent chemistry with one another and put together a nice matchup while it lasted.

I'm thoroughly enjoying Bryan's aggressive antics as of late, as it makes his matches much more engaging in my opinion. I was surprised to see Swagger take the loss here merely due to the fact that he lost at WWE Extreme Rules and on Raw the next night.

Sheamus Answered Damien Sandow's "Gordian Knot Challenge"

Throwaway segment involving Damien Sandow and Sheamus. While I'm usually entertained by Sandow's promos, this was a rare exception.

He wasn't given anything good to work with, and adding Sheamus into the mix didn't exactly save the segment. To make matters even worse, The Celtic Warrior once again displayed heel antics by randomly attacking both Sandow and Matt Striker.

What was this segment supposed to accomplish anyway?

Chris Jericho def. Big Show by Count-out

Good match between Big Show and Chris Jericho. Show was able to score quite a bit of offense over Jericho while Y2J played the underdog role to perfection.

The count-out victory was effective in protecting Show while allowing Jericho to score a victory over a notable name. I'm not sure how they plan to use both guys going forward, but it was still a fun bout for what it was worth.

Curtis Axel w/Paul Heyman def. Sin Cara

Nice match with Curtis Axel defeating Sin Cara. Axel's pre-match promo was an improvement over the mic skills displayed on Monday's Raw, but he still has a ways to go before he can engage in a a verbal exchange with another Superstar.

As for the match, it was used to further Axel's momentum and for him to showcase his in-ring abilities. On a side note, I found it humorous that Axel lost to Sin Cara on last week's edition of WWE Superstar while still under his Michael McGillicutty moniker, only to defeat him the following week on SmackDown after being repackaged.

Kofi Kingston def. United States Champion Dean Ambrose by Disqualification

Brief match between United States champion Dean Ambrose and Kofi Kingston. Needless to say, the sole purpose of the match was to set up the six-man tag team match that followed.

However, the two provided an enjoyable exchange before being ultimately interrupted by Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Furthermore, I liked how this match was given major hype throughout the show, as it was the first time in a long while that a U.S. title match actually felt significant.

United States and WWE Tag Team Champions The Shield def. Kofi Kingston, Randy Orton and Sheamus

Entertaining six-man tag team match with United States and WWE Tag Team champions The Shield defeating Randy Orton, Sheamus and Kofi Kingston. Not only did the bout receive great bout, but the action was fast-paced and nonstop.

The Shield never cease to impress this viewer with their consistently awesome matches with this contest being a prime example. Sure, The Shield winning was a foregone conclusion, but the match was excellent enough that the predictability of the finish hardly mattered.

It goes without saying that the treacherous trio continue to be the best booked and hottest act in all of WWE at the moment.

Overall Show

Overall, a good show with a substantial amount of awesome action and successful storyline progression. Some matches were rather random, but there's still quite a bit of time to build towards next month's WWE Payback pay-per-view.

There was hardly any filler on the show, which helped the two hours fly by. WWE Extreme Rules and this week's Monday Night Raw were great as well, so it is perfectly fitting to end the week in wrestling on a high note with an enjoyable edition of SmackDown.

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

Indy 500 2013: Underdogs with Best Chance to Steal IndyCar Spotlight

Tim Daniels — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:03:34 -0400

Winning the Indianapolis 500 is a career-defining moment. It's a chance for a driver to go down in racing history alongside some of the all-time greats while also potentially boosting his or her career to new heights. The race carries that much weight.

Most of the focus heading into the race has been on pole-sitter Ed Carpenter and former champions like Dario Franchitti and Helio Castroneves. At the same time, it's important not to lose focus on the long shots capable of stealing the spotlight.

With that in mind, let's examine some contenders who aren't getting much respect from the oddsmakers, but who could very well win the season's biggest race. All odds are courtesy of Bovada. For a complete look at the starting grid, visit the race's official site.

Takuma Sato (20-1)

Sato, who currently leads the IndyCar Series in points, isn't generating more attention for two reasons. Most importantly, he's starting from deep in the pack (18th). He's also struggled in this race, finishing no better than 17th in three prior starts.

Even though he wasn't able to contend in those prior appearances, Sato still gained valuable experience. That will come in handy this time around when he should be a much bigger threat. Learning how to handle Indianapolis Motor Speedway is often an overlooked factor.

That said, the main reason Sato can't be forgotten is how well he's been running recently. He's coming off a second-place showing in Sao Paulo after winning the Grand Prix of Long Beach. No driver enters the race with more momentum.

J.R. Hildebrand (25-1)

Two years ago, Hildebrand had an Indianapolis 500 victory within his grasp and let it slip away on the final turn. The aforementioned experience factor played a key role, as he struck the wall and couldn't recover to save the race.

After a disappointing performance last year, Hildebrand appears ready to make an impact once again. A very solid qualifying run will allow him to start inside the top 10. A few minor adjustments and his car will certainly be good enough to contend.

Unfortunately, that mistake in 2011 is going to stick with him until he wins the Indy 500. He needs to get redemption in order for that lowlight to fade away. It wouldn't be a surprise if the 25-year-old American got the monkey off his back on Sunday.

Graham Rahal (33-1)

Rahal had a poor qualifying run that will force him to start 26th. It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise, however, because it was made clear the car needed some adjustments to succeed. Luckily for him, 500 laps is plenty of time to make up ground.

He finished third in 2011 and hasn't finished outside of 13th over the past three years. So Rahal clearly knows how to handle the track. It simply comes down to getting the car to peak at the right time. It's a process that begins on the first lap.

The biggest obstacle for Rahal, at least early, will be avoiding any collisions. Drivers often get a little overzealous trying to make up ground right way. If he's patient, there will be chances for him to move up and get into the mix by the end.

French Open 2013: Showcasing Most Intriguing Day 1 Matches

Patrick Clarke — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:00:30 -0400

Two top contenders will be in action on Day 1 of the 2013 French Open. Both Roger Federer and Serena Williams will begin their journey to what they each hope is a Grand Slam title on Sunday.

But while both Federer and Williams are expected to cruise through to the second round, there are some other under-the-radar matches that offer much more for tennis fans.

Here we'll bypass Fed and Serena, instead showcasing the most intriguing Day 1 matches to watch for on Sunday.

Gilles Simon (15) vs. Lleyton Hewitt

At age 32, former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt is done winning Grand Slams, but that doesn't mean he can't upend 15th-seeded Gilles Simon on Sunday in the two players' opening match in Paris.

Sure, the Aussie veteran has never fared all that well at Roland Garros, but he's a relentless player who always seems to make things interesting. Meanwhile, Simon is playing at a high level on red clay coming in, which should give him plenty of confidence in the early goings.

As Lindsay Gibbs points out, this is a first-round match with the potential to go the distance.

Simon has owned Hewitt in the head-to-head over the course of their careers, but these two have never met on clay before. Just another reason to watch.

Urszula Radwanska vs. Venus Williams (30)

After missing the French Open in 2011 and bowing out in the second round at Roland Garros a year ago, Venus Williams will look to keep her solid season going with a win over Polish youngster Urszula Radwanska on Sunday.

If the last name Radwanska sounds familiar, it should. Urszula's older sister is world No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska, who reached the final at Wimbledon last year, ultimately losing to Venus' younger sister, Serena.

That said, there will certainly be no shortage of storylines heading into this first-round battle.

It seems Williams should have the edge against Radwanska, considering that she boasts tons more experience than the 22-year-old. But based on the fact that Radwanska has been able to pick up big clay-court wins over Dominika Cibulkova and Ana Ivanovic this season, look for Agnieszka's little sister to pull off the upset on Sunday.

Milos Raonic (14) vs. Xavier Malisse

Twenty-two-year-old Canadian sensation Milos Raonic has a monster serve that can give any player on tour trouble, but the red stuff is notorious for taking the sizzle off shots and forcing big-serving players to adjust.

Raonic's first-round opponent, Xavier Malisse, is 10 years older and has seen just about everything there is to see on a tennis court. Unfortunately, the Belgian hasn't seen much success at Grand Slams over the course of his career, reaching the semifinals just once at Wimbledon in 2002.

He hasn't been past the fourth round at a major tournament before or since.

But don't expect Malisse to just bow down to Raonic on Sunday. Keep in mind that the 14th-seeded star is making just his third career appearance in Paris. He fell in the third round in 2012 after exiting in the opening round in 2011.

This is another classic matchup of young vs. old that fans won't want to miss on Day 1.

Click here to view the entire Day 1 order of play via RolandGarros.com.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Dwight Howard Rumors: Latest Buzz on Lakers Star's Most Likely Landing Spots

Brian Leigh — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:58:29 -0400

Dwight Howard's disastrous first season in Los Angeles—generously deemed "the Dwightmare," but actually much more toxic than a dream—screeched to a halt in the playoffs' first round. And now, even with the future's of Kobe Bryant's Achilles and Pau Gasol's employment hanging in the balance, only one story will dominate the back pages in Hollywood this summer:

Is Howard willing to return for season two?

The Lakers' divisive big man is a free agent once again this summer; free to sign with any team he chooses. Howard has endured alleged rifts with his coach and shied from the Tinseltown spotlight since arriving, and thus appears eager to explore those options diligently.

Grantland overlord Bill Simmons was sardonic about Howard's potential return to Los Angeles, issuing 10 realities about his situation that, ultimately, made another season with the Lakers seem like a farce. And even if the rest of the world doesn't see through Simmons' cynical, often contentious lens, it's hard not to agree with much of what he had to say.

Four major players have emerged as suitors for Howard, each making a unique play to lure him out of Los Angeles. Here's the latest scoop surrounding each of those teams' pursuit:

Golden State Warriors/Atlanta Hawks

The two presumptive dark horses in Dwight Howard's courtship received good then bad news the past couple of days, a veritable roller coaster ride of hope and bleakness.

First came Thursday's report, via the Long Beach Press-Telegram, that Golden State and Atlanta were securely on Howard's "short list" of destinations:

A source familiar with Howard's thinking says he plans to test free agency and has considered the Lakers, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Golden State.

But subsequent news has regressed the Hawks' and Warriors' positions. First, Warriors beat writer Marcus Thompson laid out a number of compelling obstacles standing between Howard and Golden State, and Saturday, ESPN's Ric Bucher laid out equally persuasive arguments against Howard joining either side:

On Golden State:

Asked specifically about the Warriors being one of the teams Howard would be willing to join...[my] source said the only connection between the player and team was when the Warriors expressed interest in Howard after he made it clear he wanted out of Orlando a year ago.

And on Atlanta:

Despite interest from his home-town team, the Hawks, sources have repeatedly said Howard, like many players, are wary of the demands and distractions of playing where they grew up.

Neither team's attempt to woo Howard is complete, and reports like these are oftentimes fickle at best. Whether or not they remain at the bottom of Howard's prospective quintet remains to be seen.

All we can say for sure is that Howard joining either club, at least of this current moment, would be a major, not minor, upset.

Dallas Mavericks

Mark Cuban and Co.'s infatuation with Howard is hardly a secret at this point. Tyson Chandler, who has since been named the league's Defensive Player of the Year, was allowed to walk on the heels of his best season, a season where he helped secure a championship, all as a means of creating cap space for a potential run at Howard a couple of summers ago.

Now, with Howard's name conveniently back on the market, Dallas appears ready to shed some cap space again. Per ESPN's Chad Ford:

Ford's report comes on the heels of a similar assertion from ESPN's Marc Stein, a former Mavericks beat writer, who gave the team a "10 percent chance" of luring Howard to Dallas:

...Cuban has clearly been preparing for this and working for this, and the Mavs must think they have a chance given the way they operated the team this year and had everybody on 1-year deals and didn’t take out any money as the season went on...

Cuban has struck out, rather uncharacteristically, on his last few free agent endeavors—not just in pursuit of Howard, but also in his courtship of point guard Deron Williams. He was (begrudgingly) content to let his team of one-year contracts fade to the background this season, but two years out of the spotlight is more than Cubes can bare.

He'll try to make Howard an offer he can't refuse.

Houston Rockets

The prohibitive favorite outside of L.A., Houston, like in-state rival Dallas, has always had a soft spot for Dwight Howard's services. The man known as Dork Elvis, general manager Daryl Morey, made a shrewd move in acquiring Omer Asik (for $8.38 mil per year!) this summer, but his eyes might still be set on a higher, sexier acquisition in the middle.

According to reports, the MIT man and his Houston Rockets certainly have Howard's attention. Per USA Today:

...According to a person with knowledge of his situation... [Howard is] torn between the idea of Laker life or the notion of joining a Houston Rockets club that looks so much more appealing with James Harden & Co. in tow.

That Howard would consider straight-up signing in Houston—enough that he's allegedly "torn"—is obviously a welcome sign. Even if the Lakers choose to pursue a sign-and-trade (receiving a package of, say, Asik and Chandler Parsons is hardly a pittance in return), it's nice to know that Howard would giddily accept his new, twangy hometown.

In the afore-referenced Grantland article, Bill Simmons called Houston the one franchise that makes sense for Howard—Lakers included—laying out a number of reasons why the city would benefit him so greatly compared to L.A.:

We have overwhelming evidence that Howard can't handle carrying a big-market franchise, that he's better off in a more laid-back situation — ideally as the running mate for someone who could shoulder the superstar burdens for him. That's why the Rockets make so much sense. That's an underrated destination city for NBA players: no state income tax, great barbecue, fun nightlife, low cost of living, a diverse population, and best of all (for Dwight, anyway), decidedly less pressure. Football rules the roost in Texas. The Houston media wouldn't pick Dwight apart. Rockets fans would be happy to have him.

If Howard can return, even partially, to his 2011 form, the combination of him and James Harden would immediately make Houston a top contender out West. And the thought of that might be too much for Daryl Morey to pass up—even if it costs him an already promising young core.

Stock Watch for the Top Soon-to-Be NHL Free Agents

Franklin Steele — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:50:41 -0400

The second round of the 2013 NHL playoffs are nearing an end, and the conference finals could be set by the end of the weekend. That means that fans of 26 teams will be watching from the sidelines while the final four squads go at it for the right to play for the Stanley Cup.

Which, in turn, means that a majority of NHL fans will have at least one eye towards the offseason, where one or two outstanding moves could place their favorite team on the road toward the Cup in 2014.

This particular free-agency period will be made more interesting by the possibility of players like Brad Richards and Roberto Luongo being bought out and hitting the open market. Even if no big names are relieved of their contracts, there are still some difference-makers available via free agency.

Begin Slideshow

Barcelona: Can Neymar and Lionel Messi Play in the Same Camp Nou Team?

Karl Matchett — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:48:22 -0400

One of the longer-running transfer rumours of the football world could be soon to reach its conclusion, with the news that Santos had accepted two offers for star forward Neymar, with the clubs thought to be Real Madrid and Barcelona.

According to reports from Sky Sports, Santos' vice-president Odilio Rodrigues stated that Neymar already has a "gentleman's agreement" in place to join Barcelona, though the player's representatives said there was no hurry and both proposals would be looked at. Even so, it seems to indicate that a potential move is heavily weighted in favour of the Camp Nou side—raising the intriguing possibility of the Catalan team pairing Brazil's biggest young star Neymar with the best player in the world, Argentinean Leo Messi.

All media in Brazil 'strongly' agree that there's no doubt Neymar will choose Barça, it will be before the game against Flamengo.
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) May 25, 2013

Mundo Deportivo says Scolari prefers that Neymar is presented as a Barça player in the 1st week of June so he concentrate on the FiFA Ccup.
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) May 25, 2013

One of the negotiators says that a final deal on the transfer of Neymar is very well advanced and that it could be finalized tonight [folha]
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) May 24, 2013

The big question for all interested watching parties is, can Neymar and Messi play together? And if so, how good can they become?

Neymar's Role, Messi's Goals

For the past couple of seasons, Leo Messi has operated in a free-roaming, central role in the Barcelona attack, the now-oft-referred-to "False 9" position.

Supporting him are usually two wide forwards, with the likes of Pedro and Alexis Sanchez competing for the place on the right, and David Villa and Cristian Tello on the left.

Neymar can of course function as a central attacker, and in time this may be the position he wishes to take up more permanent residence in, but it is likely that he will be given the opportunity to initially take his place in the team from the left side of the attack, as he has done so well for club and country on many occasions.

Fitting the two skillful attackers into the same starting XI shouldn't be any problem at all for Tito Vilanova (the same can't be said for David Villa)—but there are more pertinent questions to answer.

Tiki-Taka and Creativity

Barcelona's approach to possession football has won them many friends and admirers, and more importantly, a bucketload of trophies. Pass, pass, pass and pass again; the players' confidence in the system and their own abilities often becomes exactly the greatest weapon they have. Eventually, a defender will make a mistake, and then comes the killer pass and the chance on goal.

Within this system, Barcelona have three or four players who offer that something different; the dribbling of Leo Messi of course, the power and pace of the driving runs from Jordi Alba and Dani Alves, and the breaking from deep of Gerard Pique or the direct goal threat of Villa.

Neymar would be another string to their bow in terms of unpredictability, mixing approaches up in the final third and giving defenders more than just Messi's movement to worry about.

However, there would be all eyes on the Brazilian to see if he was able to cope with the expectation that he doesn't have to create a chance on goal every time he receives the ball. This is a team with patience, with expectation, with repetition ingrained on their footballing consciousness.

Barcelona do not expect, need or want to manage to work a shot on goal every time they approach the penalty area, instead they want to work the ball wide again, move in the channels, pass infield, look for the runner and, eventually, find an even better moment to work the goalkeeper with a shot.

Can Neymar do that? Can he live with not having to be the one who unlocks the door every time he's in possession?

Egos, Learning Curves and the FIFA World Cup

Neymar is a huge commercial fish in an expanding, but still comparatively prohibitive in size, pond.

Moving to La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona and all that comes with it will bring plenty of attention, both good and bad. The Spanish media in particular can be rather partisan with their opinions, so a good performance could be made into an excellent one and a poor display could be blamed on his transfer fee, his nationality, decision to join Barça over Real or even his hairstyle.

He will come face to face with players who have won World Cups, league titles and other major trophies in abundance, and he will no longer be the main man at the club.

All these back-and-forth factors will push and pull his self-esteem and confidence all over the place, all the while with him being expected to be a match-winner within the team setting.

His mentality will have to prove every bit as positive and resilient as his talent on the football pitch, and he will have to hit the ground running.

For Neymar, arguably the most important near-future prize (after his impending transfer) will be the FIFA World Cup, to be held next year in his home country of Brazil. He cannot afford to have a poor domestic campaign and arrive "home" as the poster boy for his country's success, but without the confidence and form to do so.

All told, there will be a huge amount of pressure on this one individual—perhaps exactly the reason why Barcelona and Real Madrid are making their moves so early in the summer, so as to give him the maximum time to settle down before the season starts.

Neymar and Messi

In terms of on-the-ball ability, it is difficult to imagine a pairing in the European game with more poise, balance, skill on the ball and goals in their game than these two.

They could be absolutely phenomenal.

If they hit it off as a pairing, if Neymar is willing to put in the work to learn how his new team mates function, if he can show his best form against defences who will put him under so much more pressure than some Brazilian defences did...

...then, Barcelona would likely have it cracked. It's a lot of ifs though, and undoubtedly there will be bumpy moments along the way.

For Messi's part, his irresistible goalscoring will surely continue provided he is given the chance to fully recuperate from his end-of-season injuries, and having another creative force alongside him who can also contribute to the goal tally could even take his game up another level.

Can opponents manage to subdue Messi and keep Neymar under wraps? It's a big task, and if focus is kept on one it could allow the other to run riot.

Time will tell, and skeptics of the move will point to how the likes of the hugely hyped Robinho fared when making his move from Brazil to Spain, but there are certainly plenty of indications that Neymar could be a success at Barcelona.

And if Neymar and Messi are both happy and confident, and can find a good rhythm between each other...European defenders, beware.

Follow @karlmatchett

Velasquez vs. Bigfoot 2 Fight Card: Which Fight Will Steal the Show?

Dustin Filloy — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:40:13 -0400

Most of Las Vegas, including the oddsmakers, envision tonight's main event at UFC 160 between champ Cain Velasquez and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva unfolding in a similar fashion to their first encounter.

Velasquez, deemed an 8-to-1 favorite (-800) by Bovada.com, brutalized Bigfoot for the better part of 3:36 in their first meeting at UFC 146, eventually finishing the bloody Brazilian via TKO from punches on the ground.

But since the main event appears so lopsided on paper, then which bout will steal the show at UFC 160?

With fighters like Gray Maynard and Glover Teixeira on the main card, attempting to predict who will nab "Fight of the Night" honors could get tricky.

However, since few in the realm of MMA dislike slugfests, fans will certainly get their fill of entertainment in bouts between Junior dos Santos and Mark Hunt, and Donald Cerrone and K.J. Noons.

Junior dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt

While they possess vastly different skill sets, "Cigano" and "The Super Samoan" typically aim for the same results—a brutal knockout—each time they grace the Octagon.

With that said, Dos Santos and Hunt surely won't engage in a grapple-heavy affair or a point fight. Instead, fans will likely get treated to a kickboxing match between two of the UFC's most surgical and powerful knockout artists.

Dos Santos stands six inches taller than Hunt and will enjoy a three-inch reach advantage. Cigano also has the more refined boxing chops and footwoork, but in terms of pure striking, The Super Samoan possesses the bigger arsenal.

A black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dos Santos may chose to floor Hunt and administer some ground-and-pound or even fish for a submission.

After all, Hunt dropped six straight fights before entering the UFC, and five of those losses came via submission.

Donald Cerrone vs. K.J. Noons

Akin to the scrap between Dos Santos and Hunt, the showdown between Cerrone and Noons could easily become a bloody slugfest.

Although Cerrone and Noons each enjoyed stellar kickboxing careers before turning to MMA, once introduced to grappling, the two took different routes.

"The Cowboy" holds just two wins via KO, but has submitted 14 of his 20 victims.

Noons, conversely, has eight knockouts and no submissions, and like Cerrone, has only been submitted once in his career.

Typically a slow starter, Cerrone will have a three-inch reach advantage and will look to find his range and pepper Noons from a distance.

If Noons starts to win the bulk of striking exchanges, then Cerrone certainly won't hesitate to try and plant Noons on his back and go to work with his slick submission game.

WWE's Curtis Axel Debut Provides Smoke and Mirrors for Bland Wrestler

Big Nasty — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:26:18 -0400

Michael McGillicutty has been repackaged as a Paul Heyman guy using the handle Curtis Axel. Given a name that pays homage to Axel's father, Curt Hennig, WWE Superstars were in full-on honeymoon mode in positively reacting to the return of the former Nexus flameout.

Proud & excited for the debut of #CurtisAxel! He’s been waitin for this his whole life. Somewhere Mr Perfect is smiling his mischievous grin
— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) May 21, 2013

Yeah @cdagardnerwwe, I think @realcurtisaxel has a real shot at getting over. Otherwise, the master(@heymanhustle) wouldn't be guiding him
— Mick Foley (@realmickfoley) May 21, 2013

genuinely proud of @wwemcgillicutty go get em, kid!(curt axel)
— Dolph Ziggler (@HEELZiggler) May 21, 2013

WWE may have also manipulated the Internet crowd that has long since lobbied for Michael McGillicutty to have a gimmick that gives a nod to his legendary father.

Curt Hennig became a giant in the pro wrestling industry through a smooth work rate that complemented a charismatic, cool and cocky persona. The problem, however, is that Curtis Axel is not his father.

Not even close.

WWE tinkered with Michael McGillicutty during his run with The Nexus. He was buried in a tag team alongside David Otunga in a quiet championship run that only history remembers. His offense wasn't memorable and he barely spoke, probably due in part to this gem on NXT.

McGillicutty was basically a hand. Nothing spectacular, nothing terrible. He was just there.

Fast-forward to Raw this past Monday and that's still the case. The highlight of his match with Triple H came once the doctors started shining flashlights in Triple H's face.

Sure, Axel stands to benefit from a Paul Heyman alliance, but he was clearly positioned as an accessory in the Heyman-Triple H feud. Besides, nothing Paul Heyman says or does is going to make Axel's dropkicks any more exciting.

Heyman will have to work overtime to get heat on Axel and keep it there. It'll be the manager equivalent to a wrestler working to make Vladimir Kozlov passable in the ring.

And when they part ways, then what? Once the honeymoon stage is over, the world will be left with Michael McGillicutty with a longer beard and an alias. Making a quantum leap in charisma is a tall task, if not an impossible one.

Needless to say, WWE's latest plan for the future is far from perfect.

Follow @ThisIsNasty

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Velasquez vs Silva 2 Fight Card: Live Blog for UFC 160's Main Event

Craig Amos — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:22:44 -0400

Saturday night's UFC 160 fight card will be headlined by a heavyweight title match between Cain Velasquez and Antonio Silva.

The pairing marks a rematch of a prior fight less than a year ago, which Velasquez utterly dominated. He later went on to recapture the heavyweight crown from nemesis Junior Dos Santos, who will also compete at UFC 160.

Silva's road to redemption began with a victory over Travis Browne, continued with a shocking come-from-behind knockout win over Alistair Overeem and ends tonight at the MGM Grand. Whether it ends in success or failure remains to be learned, but if you keep your browser here, learn it you will.

That's because Bleacher Report will be keeping you posted on all things Velasquez vs. Silva throughout the night, including pre-fight hype, play-by-play coverage and live post-fight reaction.

Please note that this blog will follow UFC 160's main event exclusively. For coverage of the larger event, tune it to the Bleacher Report's full event coverage blog.

Do San Antonio Spurs Have Killer Instinct to Win 2013 NBA Title?

Jesse Dorsey — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:16:49 -0400

With the San Antonio Spurs holding a 2-0 lead over the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Finals, it seems like an odd time to start questioning them. But their ability to finish off games seems a bit shaky following Game 2.

San Antonio had an 18-point lead in the second half of Game 2 against the Grizzlies. Tony Parker was having a career night as far as assists are concerned, and all five starters seemed to be in a nice flow.

As we all know now, the Spurs scored just nine points in the fourth quarter and the Grizzlies were able to force overtime thanks to a short jumper from Mike Conley in the waning seconds.

Memphis was unable to keep that up in the overtime period and San Antoino was just able to squeeze their way out of the AT&T Center with their second win of the series.

So who is to blame for San Antonio's near-collapse, and how much credit should we be heaping on the Grizzlies in this case?

It seems ridiculous to pin it all on the Spurs falling apart, as there's a definite reason why the Grizzlies turned things around.

In the third quarter the Grizzlies were able to find an offensive combination that worked. Penetration from Conley, some shooting from Jerryd Bayless, and the inside work of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph put together a 33-point quarter.

Then in the fourth, Memphis' defense buckled down and allowed the Spurs to make just four field goals.

That being said, giving up 33 points in one quarter, and then scoring just nine in the next is an obvious failure by any team. It doesn't matter if we're talking about the Miami Heat or the Charlotte Bobcats, that's an embarrassing two quarters.

San Antonio was unable to finish off the Grizzlies until they felt Randolph's heavy breathing on their necks.

In a way, that near-implosion against Memphis gave me flashbacks to last season when San Antonio gave up its 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs couldn't bounce back after two straight losses in Oklahoma City, and the Thunder apparently figured them out from there. San Antonio was lost in what could only be called a six-game sweep.

One of the main qualities to find in a championship-caliber team is their ability to close out games, and obviously series' for that matter.

Just look at the 2011 Miami Heat for an example of a team that hadn't yet learned how to close out games.

The Heat found themselves with a 15-point lead over the Dallas Mavericks as just six minutes remained in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. A win would give them a 2-0 lead and a stranglehold on the rest of the series.

Dallas rallied, evened the series, and eventually went on to win the title in six games.

The next season Miami figured themselves out and ended up finishing off the Thunder for the championship in just five games.

Was Game 2 against Memphis evidence that another series collapse is a possibility, or have the Spurs learned from last season?

San Antonio obviously has a core that has been together for a decade now, which is a huge advantage over Memphis and whomever they could potentially face in the NBA Finals.

Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili have all been together since 2003. They all know what it takes to win a championship.

It's the more recent additions to the team who are still learning the increased difficulty of playoff basketball: Kawhi Lenoard, Tiago Splitter, Danny Green and even Boris Diaw.

However, there are some good signs that the Spurs can point to.

Sure, they gave up an eight-point lead to the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals, but they can boast a 16-point comeback in just over four minutes in Game 1 of that series as well.

We can talk about a killer instinct like it's an actual quality that players and teams can have, and sometimes that's definitely the case. Michael Jordan had a killer instinct; that's not really debatable.

Sometimes when things like San Antonio's near-collapse against the Grizzlies happen, however, they're just incidents where one team gets the better of the other. Like we saw in the San Antonio-Golden State series, these can really go either way.

Not only that, but I seem to be overlooking the main caveat about that Game 2 that's really the most important thing to note. Memphis didn't come all the way back; San Antonio finished them off in overtime.

As far as a possible Western Conference Finals collapse and a repeat of last season is concerned, it's definitely in the cards; it's just less likely to get dealt.

Along with the additional year of experience under the young players' belts, Memphis is also a much less threatening team than last year's Thunder.

Aside from the fact that there's not a Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook involved, San Antonio's advantage on offense seems to outweigh Memphis' advantage on defense.

San Antonio obviously has a great chance of making it to the NBA Finals, and at that point it seems that they can ride on the reputation of the old guard.

It will be a shock to the new players, especially if they end up taking on the Miami Heat, but between Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and Gregg Popovich, it's hard to look at this team and decide that they're not put together well enough to win another championship.

Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Roundup Surrounding Gunners' Summer Intentions

Ethan Grant — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:56:47 -0400

Arsenal finished fourth in the English Premier League table for the 2012-13 season, earning a Champions League berth by narrowly topping Tottenham on the points table and ending the year with a win over Newcastle United.

Now, the real fun begins for Arsene Wenger—it's time for the Gunners' manager to make his pitch to prospective players on the idea of coming to Emirates Stadium to help Arsenal move back to the top of EPL play during the 2013-14 campaign.

Already, the rumour and news mill has been buzzing with Arsenal activity.

For starters, the Daily Mirror reported that Wenger will be able to boast deep pockets this summer, as merchandising deals and a large TV contract will help generate £70 million in revenue to use as bait for those looking for a change of scenery this summer.

With Arsenal already boasting a solid-enough squad to earn a Premier League berth, adding several pieces to provide depth and talent to a growing roster could make Arsenal a dangerous team next season. Here's a look at three names that are circulating in the latest roundup of Arsenal transfer news.

Ashley Williams

The Gunners have been linked to the Swansea City defender in recent weeks, with Goal.com reporting on Friday that Wenger had prioritized a move for Williams to join his defending outfit next season.

On a deal that would be somewhere around £8 or £10 million, the 28-year-old Williams was confirmed as wanting a move—per the report—to an English club that would be playing in top competition next season.

With Arsenal earning the Champions League bid, Williams' needs for that demand have been met.

Liverpool had been active in their pursuit of the Swansea City captain, who completed a terrific season in helping establish his current club as an EPL team in the first place. Although no deal is officially in place, The Sun is also reporting that Williams and the Gunners are closing in on a new deal—a move that could spell the end of Thomas Vermaelen's time with the club.

Christian Benteke

The Aston Villa star knotted 19 goals for the club this season, helping it stave off relegation from the Premier League and establishing himself as a hot candidate to transfer to a bigger club during the transfer window.

According to the Daily Mirror, Tottenham and Arsenal are the top two targets for Benteke's affection.

With three years left on his contract at Villa, there's no guarantee that his current club would even hint at the possibility of his availability, but with Arsenal's interest likely high through their deep pockets and Tottenham eager to add talent around star Gareth Bale, anything is possible.

Per the report, Atletico Madrid have also expressed interest in Benteke.

Keeping Villa relevant will be Benteke's job if no club can tempt him away from Villa Park, but if not, he will command some serious wages next season and would likely double—or triple—his current rate if bought by a rival club.

In short, there's nothing to get excited about on this front yet, but his comments in the piece lead to the theory that no call should be stuffed just because he has a long contract and is integral to Villa's success next year.

Wayne Rooney

On May 17, Wenger denied reports that Arsenal had been aggressive in making a bid toward disgruntled Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.

A week later, new reports have Arsenal as one of the highest bidders for his services.

The Daily Mirror first broke that Arsenal was ready to "smash the wage structure" to bring Rooney to town, mindful that other interested clubs like Chelsea, Paris St-Germain and Monaco would not have any problem doing the same.

After selling Robin Van Persie to United last summer, getting Rooney back from the Red Devils would certainly be an interesting turn of events in the Premier League setting.

As reported by Metro, Arsenal is prepared to offer Rooney £200,000 per week to complete a bid for his services, and if Rooney wants to join a fellow Premier League club without losing any of his high-level European games like the Champions League, Arsenal is a great place to go.

The latest report also feels it will take at least £25 million in bid money to get United to bite on negotiations for the 27-year-old star. Rooney is the biggest name linked to Arsenal this summer, and getting his services would be a huge coup for the Gunners.

With the Champions League final for this year ending most of the major competition this year, expect the transfer window to really heat up over the next few weeks.

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NBA Draft 2013: Highlighting 1st-Round Prospects Flying Under the Radar

Patrick Clarke — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:55:57 -0400

While the 2013 NBA draft discussion to this point has revolved around Nerlens Noel, Ben McLemore, Victor Oladipo and Otto Porter, there are a number of future NBA talents going unrecognized this summer.

That's not to say that one of those four players isn't worthy of the top selection on June 27, but that there is plenty more value to be had once you dive deeper into the first round.

Here, we'll highlight a trio of first-round prospects flying under the radar heading into June's draft.

Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse, PG

Before a disappointing performance in the Final Four (two points, two assists and five turnovers), Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams' stock was flying through the ceiling.

The 6'6" floor general averaged 11.9 points and 7.3 assists per game last season as a sophomore, struggling from the field at times but making up for it with sensational defense and a selfless style of play.

Carter-Williams demonstrated tremendous court vision in two seasons with the Orange, and his length was key in Jim Boeheim's vaunted 2-3 zone defense.

The knocks against Carter-Williams are that he needs to bulk up in order to match up with NBA guards and that he must improve and become a more consistent shooter to become more effective at the next level.

While it's hard to argue the 21-year-old is ready to dominate right away, given his size and ability to penetrate with a quick first step on the offensive end, Carter-Williams looks poised to become a lottery pick and eventually an impact player in the NBA.

Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State, SG

After a quiet freshman year at San Diego State, Jamaal Franklin exploded onto the scene in 2011-12, playing increased minutes and boosting his scoring output from 2.9 points to 17.4 points per game.

A long, athletic shooting guard, the 6'5" Franklin is at his best when he's slashing to the basket or making a play above the rim. His leaping ability is impressive, and his rebounding prowess is exceptional for a 2-guard.

The X-factor for Franklin is his competitiveness. Scouts and coaches won't be questioning his motor anytime soon, and that's key for his development at the next level.

Like Carter-Williams, though, Franklin has to improve his jump shot in order to truly make a difference on the offensive end in the NBA. But given his athleticism and desire to win, there should be no doubt that he'll continue to improve in that area.

Franklin could go anywhere from the mid- to late-first round this summer.

C.J. McCollum, Lehigh, PG

Another talented guard few are talking about this summer is Lehigh's C.J. McCollum, who is best known for helping lead the Mountain Hawks to an upset win over Duke in the first round of the 2012 NCAA tournament.

As a senior this past season, McCollum absolutely lit it up for Lehigh, averaging nearly 24 points per game on 49.5 percent shooting from the field and 51.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

He averaged at least 19 points per game in each of his four seasons with the Mountain Hawks.

The knock on McCollum is a significant one, however. He hasn't played since last January after suffering a foot injury, and there are concerns about his health and whether or not he's worth a first-round selection.

Assuming he can return to being the player he was before the injury, some NBA team is going to land an efficient scoring guard who can also impact the game defensively. McCollum averaged 2.6 steals per game as a junior.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Should the Shield Hold Even More Championship Belts in WWE?

John Nizinski — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:53:05 -0400

The Shield burst onto the scene about six months ago and has made a huge impact in the WWE. The group started targeting the top talent in the company and immediately made a name for itself.

Stables have been a significant thing throughout the years in professional wrestling. Groups like the N.W.O, the Four Horseman, Evolution and D-Generation X all made significant impacts that helped change the landscape in their respective companies.

The Shield is making that same impact and is starting to put itself up on the level of the aforementioned stables.

After months of ambushing top Superstars and winning every six-man tag team match it was involved in, The Shield captured some gold.

At Extreme Rules last week, Dean Ambrose beat Kofi Kingston for the United States Championship, and the team of Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins defeated Team Hell No for the Tag Team titles.

With three belts currently in the stable, is that all the trio is going to get? Or will The Shield continue to accrue more titles?

The initial feeling about The Shield was that Ambrose was the leader and the other two were supporting cast members. However, the more we have seen of the group, the more we have realized that all three members have pretty much an equal amount of talent and potential.

At this point, The Shield could split up and Ambrose, Reigns and Rollins would probably be fine on their own. But the longer the group stays together, the stronger it will become and the more gold it will capture.

The three other championships The Shield has yet to win are the WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship and Intercontinental Championship.

The most realistic belt it could go for next would be the Intercontinental Championship. But right now, Wade Barrett holds that title and he is a heel as well.

If Barrett drops the belt to a face like the Miz, Reigns or Rollins could potentially go after it.

The World Heavyweight Championship and WWE Championship would probably come further down the road because they are obviously the two most prestigious titles in the company.

But if the group stays together for a while, it could potentially go after one of those two belts.

I think The Shield should set its sights on the Intercontinental Championship. That way, it could have all of the titles in the WWE, except the two top belts.

This could help make the stable even more dominant. It also could set up a way for the WWE to break the stable up.

If two members hold individual championship belts (the Intercontinental and United States Championships), it could create a situation where one member is jealous or seen as the weakest link.

Either way, another belt within the group could open up so many more opportunities for the group and the WWE. At the rate this dominant stable is going, I wouldn't be surprised if we see The Shield holding another championship belt in the near future.