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NBA Star Terrence Williams Arrested for Alleged Gun Threats

Alex Kay — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:47:30 -0400

Boston Celtics guard Terrence Williams has been arrested for making threats with a gun and is currently under investigation by Kent, Washington police for a domestic violence case.

According to the Seattle Times staff, Williams—who played high school basketball at Rainier Beach in Seattle—was taken into custody shortly following an argument with a woman who has informed police to be the mother of his 10-year-old son.

At approximately 1:55 p.m., during a scheduled visitation of the boy, Williams exposed the gun in a downtown Kent parking lot, made threats and left before law enforcement could arrive.

The staff of the Kent Reporter found that Williams was taken into custody without issue and received a quote from Police Detective Melanie Frazier concerning this arrest:

"We investigate and treat all cases such as this very seriously regardless of the status of those involved."

With the investigation ongoing, there aren’t any more details to be found surrounding this case. This is certainly concerning for Williams’ NBA career, as the former lottery pick has bounced around the league during his first four seasons.

After getting selected No. 11 overall by the New Jersey Nets in 2009, the former Louisville Cardinals star has spent time with the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, Boston Celtics, Springfield Armor of the D-League and Guangdong Southern Tigers in China.

His most recent contributions in the Association came as a backup point guard coming off Boston’s bench, where he turned a 10-day contract into a multi-year deal that has an non-guaranteed option for the upcoming 2013-14 campaign.

It remains to be seen if general manager Danny Ainge will exercise it, although Williams—who holds career averages of 4.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists—put together some of his finest performances during the Celtics two playoff wins.

Perhaps the results of this ongoing investigation will hold the key to Williams’ future in the NBA, which was looking bright prior to the incident.

Picking a Rising Stars Premier League XI for 2013-14

Sam Tighe — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:44:12 -0400

On Sunday, B/R picked an English Premier League Team of the Season following the culmination of the 2012-13 campaign.

In the same 4-2-3-1 formation, we've picked out a "rising stars XI"—a set of 11 players who've improved drastically over the course of the season and look primed to hit 2013-14 in great form.

The label "rising star" is difficult to quantify, so we've laid on a few restrictions: Every player is 23 or under, and each of them have seen their reputations explode over the course of one single year in the game.

See if you agree with our selections, and comment below if you've any to add!

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Jamie Carragher: 10 Reasons to Love the Retired Liverpool Star

Ryan Bailey — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:15:40 -0400

After 737 games, a shelf full of silverware, 195 Premier League clean sheets and 16 years at Liverpool, Jamie Carragher finally hung up his boots after Sunday's Premier League match with QPR.

The former England defender was given a guard of honour by both teams as he stepped onto the turf at Anfield for the final time, and received a roaring ovation as he was substituted in the 86th minute.

To put his stay at Liverpool in perspective, Reds debutant Jordan Ibe was 13 months old when Carra made his first appearance.

Here's 10 reasons to love the retired Liverpool legend.

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NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Pre-Draft Chatter from Around the League

Justin Onslow — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:05 -0400

With 26 teams now eliminated from title contention, much focus has shifted to the NBA offseason and what those teams plan to do prior to the draft on June 27.

For those teams that fell short of the ultimate prize, this is a time of reevaluation, planning and forward thinking. This is a time to make some decisions.

Some of those decisions will involve coaching changes and roster moves, but every organization in the league must be prepared to improve through the draft. With a premium placed on lottery selections—and finding the right players outside the top 14 picks—general managers are scrambling to craft a plan for acquiring the players they want.

But some of those general managers are looking at poor draft position. For those teams, this is a time to consider making some decisive moves to put their team in the best position to make a splash in the draft.

Let’s take a look at some rumors from around the league and identify a few squads looking to potentially move up or down the draft board to acquire the players they want in the 2013 NBA draft.

Portland Trail Blazers

The 2013 campaign was a disappointing season for the Portland Trail Blazers, but they have a solid foundation on which to build for the future. With Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard and leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge in place for next season, general manager Neil Olshey should be focused on finding another talented scorer to lead his team through the playoff barrier in the Western Conference.

According to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, Olshey may have a target in mind. Sources indicate the Trail Blazers “really like” Indiana swingman Victor Oladipo and may try to move up in the draft to acquire him.

The draft lottery on May 21 will give a clearer indication, but Portland is currently slotted for the No. 10 pick in the draft—a position in which it will likely have to trade up to obtain the athletic perimeter scorer. Should the Trail Blazers not crack the top five when the ping pong balls are drawn, Olshey may have to get creative to trade up.

This year’s draft isn’t being lauded for its elite talent, though, and with the recent success of non-lottery picks like Kenneth Faried and Chandler Parsons, there may be a bevy of teams hoping to add extra picks by moving back in the first round—like the Charlotte Bobcats.

Charlotte Bobcats

According to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, the Bobcats may be interested in moving out of the top five—a rare occurrence in a draft that typically focuses on top-tier talent:

Here’s what I noticed: The Charlotte Bobcats, a team assured of drafting no lower than fifth in the first round and having no second-round pick, seem oddly curious about players projected to be drafted in the middle of the first round.

So I asked several writers covering teams with similarly high picks if they thought their general managers were receptive to trading down. “Absolutely,” I kept hearing.

Every general manager will be doing his due diligence prior to the draft, and the talk of trading down may simply be a smokescreen to keep other teams on their toes, but there could be some validity to the rumors if the Bobcats have their heart set on a player who isn’t a projected top-five talent.

Bonnell offers an observation involving one of those potential players on Twitter:

As is the case with Portland, what Charlotte ultimately decides to do will hinge on how the draft lottery plays out, but it’s hard to imagine a top-five team willingly trading back in the first round, even in a weak draft class. The Bobcats can’t afford to get too creative and miss out on a proven talent and future building block.

Los Angeles Lakers

It’s hard to put a positive spin on the Los Angeles Lakers’ season. Despite adding superstar talent this offseason, the Lakers floundered much of the year and met their fate at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs, as Kobe Bryant watched on with a season-ending injury.

There’s no timetable for Bryant’s return and general manager Mitch Kupchak will have his hands full with trying to retain Howard. What that means, however, is Pau Gasol may be the odd man out in Los Angeles.

According to Sam Amico of Fox Sports, the Lakers may be willing to trade the forward in exchange for youth and better draft positioning, potentially in the lottery, as he also noted on Twitter:

The unrest involving Gasol in Los Angeles has been palpable, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that the team could look to move him this offseason. With Bryant’s 2013 future in question and the prospect of potentially losing Howard to free agency, Kupchak has to be willing to reshape his roster and get younger through the draft.

NBA Lottery 2013: Full Odds and First-Round Order for Each Team

Justin Onslow — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:04 -0400

Tuesday’s draft lottery will give a much clearer indication of what to expect when the 2013 NBA draft takes place on June 27. As it stands, much of the selection process is still very much up in the air.

In posting a 20-62 record, the Orlando Magic have put themselves in position to secure the No. 1 selection in this year’s draft. While they hold 25 percent odds of doing just that, recent history suggests we could see another surprise team take the stage for the first selection, though.

Only four times in the 28 years of the lottery has the team with the worst regular-season record secured the first pick in the draft, the last of which was in 2004. The team to do so? The Orlando Magic.

Maybe this will be the year we finally see things shake out according to the odds.

The Charlotte Bobcats and Cleveland Cavaliers are also in good position to win the first pick, however. With 19.9 and 15.6 percent odds, respectively, it wouldn’t be surprising to see one of the two teams jump the magic in draft positioning to acquire some of this draft’s class’ elite talent.

Let’s take a look at the lottery odds and draft order and break down which players could be in line to be the first selected in the June 27 entry draft.

Lottery Odds

Team	Lottery Odds
Orlando Magic	25 percent
Charlotte Bobcats	19.9 percent
Cleveland Cavaliers	15.6 percent
Phoenix Suns	11.9 percent
New Orleans Pelicans	8.8 percent
Sacramento Kings	6.3 percent
Detroit Pistons	3.6 percent
Washington Wizards	3.5 percent
Minnesota Timberwolves	1.7 percent
Portland Trail Blazers	1.1 percent
Philadelphia 76ers	0.8 percent
Toronto Raptors	0.7 percent
Dallas Mavericks	0.6 percent
Utah Jazz	0.5 percent

Remaining First-Round Order

Pick	Team
15	Milwaukee Bucks
16	Boston Celtics
17	Atlanta Hawks
18	Atlanta Hawks (via Brooklyn and Houston)
19	Cleveland (via Los Angeles Lakers)
20	Chicago Bulls
21	Utah Jazz (via Brooklyn and Golden State)
22	Brooklyn Nets
23	Indiana Pacers
24	New York Knicks
25	Los Angeles Clippers
26	Minnesota Timberwolves (via Houston and Memphis)
27	Denver Nuggets
28	San Antonio Spurs
29	Oklahoma City
30	Phoenix Suns (via Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland and Miami)

*Odds and order acquired from Pro Basketball Talk.

Nerlens Noel: C, Kentucky

Despite suffering a devastating ACL tear during the 2012-13 season, Nerlens Noel should be in line to be one of the first players selected in the NBA draft. He has the talent and tremendous potential to be the first overall pick, but teams will be especially interested in how far along the center is in recovering from that injury.

At 6’11” and 216 pounds, Noel has the length and athleticism to be a nightmare for opposing frontcourts. In 31.9 minutes per game with the Wildcats, the big man recorded 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.4 blocks per contest, drawing comparisons to the likes of Bill Russell.

It remains to be seen how he will perform at the NBA level, but hopefully we won’t have to wait too long to find out. Regardless of his timetable for return to the court, Noel will be one of the first players to find a home in the draft.

Ben McLemore: SG, Kansas

Noel’s knee injury may open the door for Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore to assume the role as No. 1 overall pick this year. As good as the Kentucky center could be, there’s much less risk in selecting the purest shooter in college basketball.

At 6’5” and 185 pounds, McLemore has the ideal frame for the 2-guard position in the NBA. Paired with an extremely quick release and a three-point stroke often compared to that of Ray Allen, McLemore is practically unguardable.

The freshman didn’t play all that well in the NCAA tournament, but his regular-season statistics (15.9 points per game, 42 percent from behind the arc) suggest a small drop in postseason production should be nothing to worry about.

The first selection will likely depend on which team manages to secure the No. 1 pick, however. No team is without the need for a tremendous perimeter scorer like McLemore, but positional need could play a big part in where he is ultimately selected.

Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Julio Cesar Would Be Smart Summer Pickup for Gunners

Dan Talintyre — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:03 -0400

Arsenal are reportedly favorites to land Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar over the summer transfer window, with the relegated club forced to sell off the 33-year-old.

The Daily Mirror reports that a deal is "expected" to happen this summer, and that Rangers "are convinced the Emirates is his most likely destination".

Whilst it might seem like a strange move for the Gunners to make, it's actually a very smart move—and not just because it adds another squad player to their squad.

Read on to see the biggest reasons why Cesar would be a great summer pickup.

Proven Premier League Performer

Having played in London all year at Queens Park Rangers, Cesar has shown himself to be a world-class goalkeeper. The Brazilian international was the sole reason why Rangers weren't relegated much earlier on in the season and was simply superb when called upon.

Which, in Harry Redknapp's QPR this season, was pretty often.

According to Squawka, Cesar only chalked up six clean sheets all season, but he made an average of 3.5 saves per game and 2.55 saves between goals. As the table below highlights, compared to some of the greatest Premier League goalkeepers, both of those statistics are astounding.

Goalkeeper	GA	SPG	SBG
Julio Cesar, Queens Park Rangers	37	3.50	2.55
David De Gea, Manchester United	26	2.54	3.09
Joe Hart, Manchester City	31	1.16	1.48
Petr Cech, Chelsea	35	1.74	1.85
Hugo Lloris, Tottenham Hotspur	29	1.31	1.21
Wojciech Szczesny, Arsenal	24	1.75	1.75

Key—GA (goals against), SPG (saves per game), SBG (saves between goals).

Cesar is a proven performer in the Premier League and has shown to have great presence inside the box. He is very strong in the air and is therefore well-equipped for the English game, and he is also very strong coming out against oncoming attacks.

He's already based in London, too, so he wouldn't have to move far.

Arsenal Need an Experienced GK

However, in terms of the Gunners, the biggest thing is that they need an experienced goalkeeper. Both Lukasz Fabianski and Szcesny are under 30, and whilst both are strong, there's another element missing from the goalkeeper ranks at the Emirates Stadium.

What's missing is experience.

Szczesny is clearly a talented goalkeeper who is the clear No. 1 at Arsenal in the future, but what he doesn't have is experience. He's still very young and is nowhere near his peak, and he needs an older goalkeeper at the club to help him strive towards being a better shot-stopper.

Back in 2012, Arsenal tried to sign Mark Schwarzer to fill that "older goalkeeper" role, but the transfer fell through at the last minute, and there's been nothing since.

Fabianski is too prone to mistakes to be a good leader of Szczesny, and he too is only 28. Thus moving for Cesar—who is not only a very good goalkeeper but a leader and experienced at 33 years of age—would be a very smart move by the Londoners.

Andrew Mangan of ESPN thinks Szczesny works best when he's facing competition, and he most certainly would have that in Cesar. It would also mean that in the case of freakish injuries—like at the start of this season—Arsenal could have more confidence in playing their third-string goalkeeper against the Premier League's elite.

Unlikely to Break the Bank

Currently listed by Transfermarkt as costing £3.5 million, The Daily Mirror reports that QPR could be willing to sell Cesar for even cheaper than that this summer.

QPR are likely to allow the 33-year-old, who they signed on a free [transfer], go cheaply so they can get his £70,000-a-week contract off the books and they are convinced the Emirates is his most likely destination.

For Arsenal, this is an absolute no-brainer of a transfer.

If they can get a goalkeeper like Cesar—who still has at least three to five very good years left in him—for less than £3 million, then they've got an absolute steal.

Arsenal have a strong transfer budget this summer having qualified for the Champions League and are likely to make a number of key moves, and it'll be important that the squad players they look to sign—like Cesar—don't end up costing them too much and hurting their chance at landing a big-name player.

Cesar's small transfer costs won't hurt the Gunners at all, and it will still allow them to make whatever other moves they'd want to make throughout the summer.

By all accounts, Cesar would be a very sharp move for Arsenal to make.

Hit me up on Twitter for more sports goodness: Follow @dantalintyre

NBA Playoff Schedule 2013: When and Where to Catch This Week's Action

Ryan Rudnansky — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:03 -0400

After dismantling the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, the San Antonio Spurs will look to defend their home court on Tuesday before the series moves to Memphis.

Meanwhile, the defending champion Miami Heat will host the Indiana Pacers for the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals before the series heads to Indiana.

Here's the TV schedule for this week's action, complete with a breakdown of each series.

NBA Playoffs TV Schedule—Week of May 20

Matchup	Date	Time	Network	Live Stream
Memphis at San Antonio, Game 2	Tuesday, May 21	9 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Indiana at Miami, Game 1	Wednesday, May 22	8:30 p.m.	TNT	TNT Overtime
Indiana at Miami, Game 2	Friday, May 24	8:30 p.m.	TNT	TNT Overtime
San Antonio at Memphis, Game 3	Saturday, May 25	9 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Miami at Indiana, Game 3	Sunday, May 26	8:30 p.m.	TNT	TNT Overtime

Memphis vs. San Antonio

The problem the Grizzlies will always have to face is finding ways to score enough points to defeat the Spurs. In Game 1 that was evident, when Memphis shot 43 percent from the field.

That wasn't far off from the Grizzlies' numbers against the Spurs in the regular season. Memphis shot 44 percent against San Antonio in four regular-season matchups.

The fact of the matter is, the Grizzlies can't afford for Zach Randolph to disappear against San Antonio. The Spurs frustrated Randolph with double teams in Game 1, holding him to two points on 1-of-8 shooting. When you are a poor shooting team, you can't afford for your stars to go missing.

Of course, San Antonio's offense is also something to fear. Since shooting 36 percent against the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, San Antonio has shot a combined 50 percent in its last three games. That's despite Manu Ginobili shooting poorly in all of those games, including Game 1 against Memphis.

It's really quite simple. Randolph has to play big if Memphis has any chance of upsetting San Antonio in this series. It would behoove the Grizzlies to find a way to slow down Tony Parker, too.

Indiana vs. Miami

Surprise, surprise, Indiana faces the same problem against Miami as Memphis does against San Antonio.

The Pacers shot 44 percent against the Heat in three regular-season contests this season, while the Heat shot 48 percent against the Pacers.

Of course, Indiana won two out of three against Miami in the regular season.

Why?

Because Indiana has a distinct advantage in rebounding against Miami. The Pacers out-rebounded the Heat by more than 10 rebounds per game in the regular season.

The reality is, the Pacers have a much better shot in this series against the defending champions than many people think. The Heat won the most recent matchup in March, 105-91, but they also shot an incredible 56 percent in the win. The Heat certainly can score in bundles, but to expect them to regularly shoot at that clip against a defensive-minded team in the playoffs is unrealistic.

Indiana's complementary players beyond Paul George, David West, Roy Hibbert and George Hill have to step up to win this series. Shooting guard Lance Stephenson's contribution (25 points on 9-of-13 shooting) was huge in the deciding Game 6 against the New York Knicks.

Manchester United Transfer News: Marouane Fellaini Would Be Great for Red Devils

Dan Talintyre — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:03 -0400

Having been linked with a move for Marouane Fellaini previously, Manchester United will definitely fancy their chances at landing him over the summer transfer window.

Given that his former manager, David Moyes, will be coaching the Red Devils next season, United will feel that they have a huge advantage over other clubs in convincing the Belgian international star to switch clubs next season and move to Old Trafford.

With a buyout clause in his contract, Everton would have no choice but to sell Fellaini if an offer came in this summer. And given the way that the midfielder spoke about his future and the desire to work under a manager that knows him well, you could see United do just that at some point this offseason.

Fellaini was quoted via The Daily Mirror as saying:

If I'm leaving Everton, I say if, it will depend on lots of factors. I only want to go to a club where the manager knows me. In 2008, Everton did everything to convince me, especially David Moyes. He made me the player I am now.

I'm happy with my season, although I didn't play in my best position. I'm not a number 10. David Moyes predicts my future as a defensive midfielder, but due to a lack of offensive power, he plays me up front. In the future I want to play as a six or an eight. From there, I can create danger and score goals.

For United, the prospect of Fellaini might not have seemed like such a brilliant idea given his positioning as a No. 10. After all, they already had Wayne Rooney on their books and the English international has filled that role so well this season.

And even if he leaves, they've got Shinji Kagawa to play there also.

However, with Fellaini himself talking about the desire to play as a defensive midfielder, he would most certainly represent a great summer option for United.

Having Fellaini in the middle—complementing Michael Carrick—would give United's attack an extra dimension once more, and allow them to be more direct through the middle. That would, in time, open up space on the wings as opposing defenders tried to shut down the center of the pitch and allow for better production from the likes of Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young.

Fellaini is a physical and strong athlete who provides great hustle and pressure in defense. He is also a brilliant ball-winner in the air given his height advantage.

And that's all without considering his attacking play, which as we've seen this season can produce a slew of goals and attacking chances given the right support.

The Daily Mirror reports that United would need to spend close to £23 million to sign Fellaini, which might seem like a lot for the 25-year-old. But given his age, pre-existing relationship with Moyes and the flexibility of playing as either a defensive or attacking midfielder, there's little doubting that it would be money well spent by the Premier League champions this summer.

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Preakness 2013: Projecting Top Finishers' Fates in Final Leg of Triple Crown

Matt Fitzgerald — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:03 -0400

Oxbow won the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes this past Saturday in wire-to-wire fashion, which proved that Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens still has plenty in the tank even after a seven-year retirement.

That unfortunately thwarted a Triple Crown bid for Orb, who was trapped near the rail for most of the race after starting in post position No. 1, and he never made a legitimate charge, finishing fourth.

According to Horse Racing Nation, Oxbow is a probable entry into the Belmont Stakes, and Orb is considered "possible." Mylute should also be in action on June 8, as jockey Rosie Napravnik looks to become just the second female to win a Triple Crown event.

Below is a list of the results from the Preakness followed by early predictions for those who Horse Racing Nation believes will make a Run for the Carnations on June 8.

Note: All statistics and information, unless otherwise indicated, are courtesy of Preakness.com.

Pos.	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Post
1	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	6
2	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	9
3	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	5
4	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	1
5	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O’Neill	2
6	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr	Albert M. Stall, Jr	4
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	7
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	8
9	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	3

Oxbow

Oxbow's Preakness-winning time of 1:57.54 wasn't exactly blistering, but he still managed to stay at least a nose ahead of the entire field throughout the 9.5 furlongs at Pimlico Race Course.

Speed is what Oxbow is typically known for, and he managed to be fast enough to be in front the whole way. That's at least part of what prompted legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas' high praise after the race, per KY Derby Contenders on Twitter:

Stamina is going to be the biggest key for Oxbow on the 1.5-mile track at Belmont Park, which requires the most endurance of any of the three Triple Crown stops.

Considering how well Stevens paced Oxbow in the Preakness and how he galloped at a consistently swift speed throughout, his chances have to be favorable in Elmont, New York.

As much as I like Oxbow and consistently stood by him leading up to the Middle Jewel, though, the post position that Orb was saddled with changed the complexion of that race. Oxbow should have another stellar run, but not strong enough to get to the winners circle again.

The other two top finishers set to run in the Belmont should be among the first three, but I like Revolutionary to also be in there over Oxbow.

Prediction: Fourth place

Mylute

After a respectable third-place finish in Baltimore, jockey Rosie Napravnik registered the highest finish by a female in the Preakness' storied history. However, that won't be good enough for her moving forward.

Mylute only has two victories in 11 career starts, and given that he also came in fifth at the Kentucky Derby, he seems destined to break through.

The most encouraging element of Mylute's prior record is that he's continually improved. In the six races leading up to Churchill Downs, his speed increased each time out. Even on the sloppy track in Louisville, Mylute was in good position but faded slightly down the stretch while encountering traffic issues.

That was unfortunately the case in the Preakness. Even with Napravnik's immense experience at the track she started her career at, the nine-horse field still gave Mylute trouble.

As long as Mylute can break further to the outside earlier in the race and maintain whatever modest pace is set at the lengthy Belmont, he should be in the running to emerge victorious.

The race's Twitter page is already plugging Napravnik and Mylute as a potential champion combination:

Mylute's trend of progression suggests he's due for something big, and for Napravnik, who is paving the way for females in the industry, it would be a landmark achievement that would give horse racing a significant boost. I think it will ultimately happen.

Prediction: Win

Orb

It's hard to have any doubts about Orb, given his prior triumph in the Kentucky Derby and the fact that he has 2013's best jockey in Joel Rosario getting the mount.

Having said that, he was the 3-to-5 favorite when the starting gates opened at Pimlico, and Rosario simply could not find a lane to truly attack from. By the time any opportunity presented itself, Orb was well out of the running for the Woodlawn Vase.

ESPN's Skip Bayless broke down what went wrong this time around for the talented winner of the Run for the Roses:

Circumstances dictated Orb's letdown at the Preakness, though, because starting closest to the rail is a big disadvantage. The shortest of the three Triple Crown races was supposed to work in sprinters' favors, but the pace that Stevens set aboard Oxbow dictated a rather surprising outcome.

Orb should bounce back with a far better performance in the Belmont Stakes if he runs. Trainer Shug McGaughey should enter him, despite the disappointment of not achieving horse racing's highest honor.

With such formidable physicality and a strong workout at Belmont Park leading up to the Preakness, there is all the upside in the world for Orb to thrive in the last leg of the Triple Crown.

Yet as the previous breakdown indicates, Mylute will be the one to finally put it all together and beat out Orb at the finish in a thrilling race.

Prediction: Place

Belmont Stakes 2013: Potential Entries Add Intrigue to Final Leg of Triple Crown

Matt Fitzgerald — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:03 -0400

The possibility of a Triple Crown-winning horse has been dashed ahead of the 2013 Belmont Stakes. However, it looks as though a strong field will occupy the track in Elmont, New York on June 8, which should create plenty of excitement even without horse racing's ultimate prize on the line.

With Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens aboard this past Saturday, Oxbow rode to victory in the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes, while Kentucky Derby winner Orb finished fourth.

Traffic problems plagued Orb, who started from the No. 1 post position, and jockey Joel Rosario could not make a move to the outside quickly enough in the beginning to legitimately challenge down the stretch.

Alas, the longstanding gap between Affirmed's Triple Crown triumph in 1978 extends for another year, which according to ESPN's Darren Rovell, hurts the business of the Belmont Stakes significantly:

Winning a Triple Crown race doesn't hold any less prestige for those who will be competing in the Run for the Carnations in a few weeks. Orb's letdown at the Preakness actually lends itself to a broader diversity of intriguing storylines.

According to Horse Racing Nation, there are a plethora of top-notch thoroughbreds that are possible entries at Belmont Park—many of whom thrived in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

The prospective battle between Oxbow and Orb will be among the captivating developments to watch, but that is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Perhaps most notable will be Mylute, who is mounted by female jockey Rosie Napravnik. After coming in fifth and third in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness respectively, the 25-year-old has already notched landmark achievements, as Darryl Slater of The Post and Courier references:

Napravnik is serving as a pioneer for women in the horse racing industry, and placed fifth in the Belmont Stakes last year aboard Five Sixteen.

A slight improvement on her 2013 efforts in the sport's marquee showcases could result in the second triumph by a woman in a Triple Crown event, joining Julie Krone's 1993 Belmont victory mounting Colonial Affair.

Mylute is a consistently improving horse, and a trip to the winners circle would be a fitting end to Mylute's three-year-old campaign.

Normandy Invasion is a speedy colt who was out in front entering the final stretch at Churchill Downs before Orb's surge and the sloppy track took their toll, and he finished in fourth.

By resting up ahead of the Belmont, as long as the weather isn't a significant factor, Normandy Invasion should be among the top contenders despite the longer, 1.5-mile track.

Golden Soul and Revolutionary finished second and third at the Kentucky Derby. Similar to Normandy Invasion, they will also be fresh after forgoing the opportunity to run for the Middle Jewel on Saturday, and should register solid finishes once again.

While horse racing enthusiasts are in for an exhilarating conclusion to the Triple Crown season, even casual fans should be able to appreciate what will transpire in The Test of Champions at Belmont Park.

Orb Should Still Be Favorite at Belmont Stakes Despite Preakness Disappointment

Timothy Rapp — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:03 -0400

With the weight of the entire racing world on its shoulders, Orb choked at the Preakness Stakes, finishing fourth in the race despite coming into the day with even odds to win. It was, in a word, disappointing.

But all is not lost for the horse. The Belmont Stakes is still on tap, and with it, the chance to earn two-thirds of a Triple Crown. And despite a poor run at Pimlico, Orb should still be the favorite in New York.

And it looks like the horse will be making the trip, according to Ed Zieralski of The San Diego Union-Tribune:

As expected, Orb will be pointed to the last leg of the Triple Crown, the Race of Champions, the Belmont Stakes. As far as McGaughey is concerned, taking two out of three in the Triple Crown will be just fine.

"Hopefully, he'll come out of all this fine and we'll go ahead (in the Belmont Stakes)," McGaughey said. "We'd like to, but we'll see how he's doing. He looked good. We'll just get him home to some familiar ground, familiar surroundings. We'll play it from there and hope we're in the ballgame three weeks from now."

Orb won't just have the chance to make up for a poor performance at the Preakness, the horse can also exact some revenge against winner Oxbow, who almost assuredly will be racing in the Belmont Stakes.

It's important to remember a few things about Orb's run at the Preakness. For one, the horse got caught inside early and never seemed comfortable in that position. For another, Orb simply didn't fire like at the Kentucky Derby, when his late push won the race.

And the Preakness is a sprint, meaning any early discomfort or poor positioning can be deadly. The Belmont Stakes, on the other hand, is the longest of the Triple Crown races. If Orb can stay relatively close to the front of the pack early, the horse's strong closing kick should end in a win.

Expectations for Orb were probably off the charts to begin with. At one point, Orb was being listed as a 3-5 favorite. It's as though we were all asking for the universe to break our hearts with the amount of expectation and confidence we all put in one horse.

Still, Orb has always been one of the most talented horses in play at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and was steadily one of the favorites at Churchill Downs despite other horses getting more attention or becoming bettor darlings due to the wet track.

Orb was ultimately underestimated before the Derby and proved his worth then. Doubting him now after a bad run at Pimlico—with a more favorable track at the Belmont Stakes to come—would be a mistake as well.

Preakness Stakes 2013: Orb and Horses That Must Impress at Belmont Stakes

Pete Schauer — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:03 -0400

Following a disappointing fourth-place finish at the 2013 Preakness Stakes, all eyes will be on Orb and trainer Shug McGaughey to impress at the 2013 Belmont Stakes.

Saturday's event saw the colt get caught on the inside and never really recover, as 15-1-odd underdog Oxbow sprinted to a 1 3/4 lengths victory over Itsmyluckyday to earn the victory in Baltimore (h/t Liz Clarke of the Boston Globe).

That said, the pressure is on Orb and a few other horses, jockeys and trainers to have big days at Belmont on June 8.

These are three horses that must impress at the 2013 Belmont Stakes.

Revolutionary

Trainer Todd Pletcher chose not to run Revolutionary in the Preakness—most likely because he wanted to save the horse for the long-distanced Belmont Stakes—but HorseRacingNation.com lists the colt as probable to run on June 8.

Revolutionary placed third in the 2013 Kentucky Derby and has to impress at the Belmont Stakes because of the amount of rest the horse was given by not participating in Baltimore.

Under Pletcher, Revolutionary has been bred to excel in long-distance races, and the power and hype that goes along with Pletcher's name will undoubtedly place a ton of hype around Revolutionary as the weeks lead up to the running at Belmont.

Revolutionary will enter the Belmont Stakes with some of the freshest legs of any of the participants, placing a ton of pressure upon the horse and his trainer.

Mylute

Much has been made of Rosie Napravnik during the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, and after finishing fifth and third respectively, it's time for Napravnik and Mylute to impress at the Belmont Stakes.

While there's no official word if Mylute will run at Belmont, the Daily Racing Forum's Jay Privman lists the colt as one of the possibilities:

Napravnik has already made history here in 2013, becoming the highest-finishing female in the first two legs of the Triple Crown and will have an advantage because of the distance at Belmont.

Mylute closed in on Itsmyluckyday down the stretch of Saturday's Preakness, and if that race had more distance to it, Napravnik likely would have placed second aboard Mylute in Baltimore.

Inching closer and closer, Mylute has to show up on June 8.

Orb

As the consensus favorite to win the 2013 Preakness Stakes, Orb and jockey Joel Rosario submitted a stinker, as Orb finished in fourth place and watched as Oxbow took the crown in the winner's circle.

After getting stuck on the inside in Baltimore and never recovering, the pressure is on Orb and trainer Shug McGaughey to make up for their shortcomings in the Preakness, especially after winning this year's Kentucky Derby. The Washington Examiner's Rick Snider speculates Orb will be the favorite in the last leg of the Triple Crown:

The 1.5-mile Belmont track surely favors Orb and McGaughey. McGaughey trained Easy Goer to a Belmont Stakes victory back in 1989 after the horse placed second in the Derby and Preakness and Belmont is Orb's home track.

As the home horse and the probable favorite, the pressure will be on Orb and Rosario to come up big for McGaughey in the Belmont Stakes.

Follow me on Twitter: Follow @Pete_Schauer

NBA Rumors: Analyzing Latest Buzz Around the Hardwood

Pete Schauer — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:03 -0400

Despite all of the action and drama that comes with the NBA playoffs, there's plenty of story lines and hype to sift through in the NBA rumor mill.

After watching the New York Knicks get ousted from the playoffs on Saturday night and seeing Stephen Curry light it up for the entire postseason, it may be hard to get your mind off of all the playoff action, but the following rumors are events that could shakeup the NBA landscape during the 2013-14 season.

Ready to dive in?

Will J.J. Stay in Milwaukee?

The Milwaukee Bucks went out and acquired shooter J.J. Redick at the trade deadline to pair with guards Monte Ellis and Brandon Jennings, hoping the 6'4" sharpshooter could help the Bucks hang onto a playoff seed.

While Redick did help Milwaukee earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, don't be surprised to see him donning another uniform come next season.

According to Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times, it's likely that Redick will sign with another team come July.

While this is a rumor, the news shouldn't be a shock to anyone. Redick's numbers were down across the board once he joined the Bucks, most notably a three-point shooting mark that dipped roughly seven percent (.390 to .318).

The drop in shooting percentages shouldn't scare off other teams though. It's likely that the change of scenery and fact that he was playing alongside Jennings and Ellis hurt his rhythm.

It's anyone's guess as to where Redick will land this summer, but his ability to stretch the defense won't be overlooked when teams come knocking.

Portland's Draft Plans

The Portland Trail Blazers likely need to land a top-three selection in the 2013 NBA draft to have any shot at former Indiana shooting guard Victor Oladipo, but that doesn't mean all hope is lost for Portland.

CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes heard that the Blazers haven't ruled out moving up in the draft to get the dynamic SG, writing:

"Sources close to the prospect say the Trail Blazers, among a few others teams, “really like him” and are “considering moving up to get him.”

Can you imagine a backcourt combination of Damian Lillard and Victor Oladipo with Wesley Matthews thrown into the mix? Not to mention a solid big man in LaMarcus Aldridge and budding center in J.J. Hickson.

I like this idea for Portland, especially since the franchise hasn't won a playoff series since the 1999-2000 season under Mike Dunleavy.

It's time for the Trail Blazers to start making moves and moving up to get a talent like Oladipo is certainly a step in the right direction.

Pau Could Be On the Move

It didn't take too long after the Los Angeles Lakers' ousting from the postseason to drum up the Pau Gasol rumors once again.

The News-Heralds' Bob Finnan wouldn't be surprised to see the Lakers move Gasol for a number of reasons:

Don't be shocked if they trade forward/center Pau Gasol, who is recovering from a knee procedure and needs another 10 weeks of rehabilitation. The 7-footer is entering the final year of his contract and will earn $19.28 million next year. The Cavs might be open to a deal like that, adding a veteran player to the group of youngsters on the roster. Another name could be Celtics forward Paul Pierce.

I think Gasol's future in L.A. hinges upon Dwight Howard's plans with the Lakers. If Howard stays in Los Angeles, I believe the Lakers will move the 32-year-old Gasol.

Howard and Gasol proved this season that the Lakers aren't effective when both men are on the court, and obviously L.A. is going to go with a healthier and more talented Howard.

As far as Gasol to the Cleveland Cavaliers, I think it could work because Anderson Varejao isn't the greedy post presence that Howard is, but that all remains to be seen.

Follow me on Twitter Follow @Pete_Schauer and catch me over at HoopsHabit.

San Diego Chargers: What to Watch for at OTAs

Marcelo Villa — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

The first week of OTAs for the San Diego Chargers did not go as planned after the team lost Melvin Ingram to an ACL injury, but it will be a new day in San Diego this week with several things to watch for when the team resumes OTAs.

The Chargers will continue to learn head coach Mike McCoy's system on offense and address the additional task of finding a replacement for Ingram on defense.

The team agreed to a two-year deal with former Indianapolis Colt Dwight Freeney on Saturday, May 18, with hope that he'll fill in for Ingram, but how he'll fit in the defense is something defensive coordinator John Pagano will plan for as team activities roll on.

Here are several things to watch for during the Chargers' OTAs.

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John Cena vs. Ryback Extreme Rules 2013: Epic Match Will Further Propel Feud

Tim Keeney — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

We haven't seen the last of John Cena vs. Ryback.

Leading up to Extreme Rules, that's a statement that likely would have been met with endless pessimism. But after the duo's instant-classic battle during Sunday night's PPV, the WWE universe is ready for more of the suddenly scintillating feud.

For some inexplicable reason, the company refused to set the WWE championship as the main event at the Scottrade Center on Sunday, instead opting to finish the show with Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H III.

Apparently, Cena and Ryback took offense.

Because the show they put on vastly exceeded meager expectations and as the clear match of the night, it will be remembered for a long time.

To start off, the action inside the ring was spectacular: Ryback extending Cena straight up above his head; both wrestlers sending each other through tables on separate occasions; Cena powerbombing Ryback.

Neither man is someone you would put at the apex of a list of tactically sound wrestlers, but the combination of strength and agility they showcased was downright thrilling.

And that was before they even left the ring.

Once the Cenation leader speared Ryback through the barricade and into the audience, the match was taken to a completely, almost unbelievably enthralling level.

Snaking through the arena like the classic matches you'll watch on YouTube for the nostalgia, Cena and Ryback continued to only multiply and intensify the spots.

Mr. Feed Me More took apart a freaking wall and crushed Cena with it.

The champion responded by setting the challenger onto a table, climbing up a level and launching himself through said table and monster.

Then, after Cena broke out the fire extinguisher, it happened—the moment that will help define each of these wrestlers' careers.

Ryback countered an AA by Cena and absolutely bulldozed him through the entrance stage wall, resulting in a explosion of sparks and a buzz throughout the arena saved for only the most breath-taking, jaw-dropping moments.

After the dust had settled, Cena was put on a stretcher and the match ended in a "no contest." For those worrying, the injury (at least the major one that was played up) wasn't real, as we found out later during the post-show:

Sure, there were slight disappointments with the match. The amount of nine-counts became too unbelievable, and the final result wasn't ideal.

But the spots. It was the type of match where you end up having trouble deciding what your favorite moment was because everything just blurs together as one brilliant 22-minute roller coaster.

And best of all, the feud will continue.

It will undoubtedly be difficult for the duo to put forth a repeat performance, especially without a stipulation like Sunday's, but any questions regarding their chemistry together were answered with a resounding match that pleasantly shocked the wrestling world.

Even if the rematch is only a quarter as good, I'm ready for the WWE to feed me more Ryback vs. Cena at June's appropriately named Payback.

Follow @t_keen

Rafael Nadal's Return to Form Makes Him World's Most Dangerous Player

Ryan Rudnansky — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

Novak Djokovic may be the No. 1 player in the world, but Rafael Nadal is the most dangerous player right now.

Nadal—who breezed past Roger Federer on Sunday to win the 2013 Rome Masters—is on a remarkable run, even more remarkable considering he missed the second half of 2012 due to tendinitis in his knee.

After the 6-1, 6-3 victory over Federer in Rome, Nadal is now 36-2 on the year. That includes six singles titles, more than he's had in a campaign since 2010. Against a great in Federer on Sunday, he won 71 percent of all service points and 70 percent of second-serve return points, according to ATPWorldTour.com.

Federer simply said after the match, via ESPN.com, "Rafa was just too good today."

Nadal noted, via Rafael Nadal Fans:

Headed into the Rome Masters, Nadal had won 88 percent of all service games. He ranked second on tour, according to ATPWorldTour.com. He ranked first in return games won. He also ranked fifth in break points saved and ninth in break points won.

So much for tendinitis prefacing a gradual decline in his career.

Right now, there is nobody playing better tennis in the world than Nadal. Heck, Djokovic lost against Tomas Berdych for just the second time in his career in the quarterfinals. Nadal's patience to return to the court has paid off, as he looks like vintage Nadal.

Don't expect his run to end any time soon, either. The French Open is right around the corner, a tournament that the 26-year-old Spaniard has excelled in throughout his career. He's won seven times at Roland Garros, including the last three years. Last year, he defeated Djokovic in the final, 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.

Djokovic is the only man who has defeated Nadal this year since the Spaniard's loss to Horacio Zeballos in his first tournament of 2013 in Chile. If the two meet at the French Open this year, will Djokovic be good enough to stop Nadal's run? That's hard to imagine at this point.

Nadal is showing why he's a legend right now. He had every excuse to struggle in 2013 coming off last year's injury, but he has instead shocked the world.

He's shown that heart is just as important as athletic ability on the court, if not more so.

NBA Draft Lottery 2013: Potential Trade Options If Orlando Magic Land Top Pick

Maxwell Ogden — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

On Tuesday, May 21, the 2013 NBA draft lottery will transpire as 14 teams vie for the first overall selection. As it presently stands, the Orlando Magic hold the best odds at 25.0 percent, which beckons the question: Should the Magic land the top pick, who might emerge as potential trade options?

In a draft with no perceived superstars, the cream of the crop appears to be center Nerlens Noel of the Kentucky Wildcats. Due to the presence of center Nikola Vucevic, however, the Magic could pursue a trade down the draft board.

Even if they aren't to target a move, there's a high probability that other franchises will propose potential deals.

While multiple teams will have offers to extend, that doesn't mean the Magic would, or should, jump at any chance they have to trade down. Instead, they'll weigh their options and either remain in place or accept the most beneficial deals.

The question is, which teams pose the most logical trade options for the Magic to consider should they retain the rights to the top pick?

New Orleans Pelicans

First Round Pick(s): No. 5

Second Round Pick(s): N/A

Key Pieces: Al-Farouq Aminu, SF; Eric Gordon, SG; Greivis Vasquez, PG

Of the teams that would like to trade up, the New Orleans Pelicans appear to be the only team with the necessary trade pieces. Not only do they currently own the No. 5 overall draft choice, but they have a crop of attractive trade pieces.

Most notably, shooting guard Eric Gordon.

According to John Reid of The Times-Picayune, the Pelicans are interested in trading Gordon during the forthcoming offseason. Due to his history of injuries and the lucrative contract that New Orleans signed him to, however, Orlando would likely hesitate to execute this deal.

When the opportunity arises to land Gordon and a top-five prospect, however, the interest will likely be present.

New Orleans does have other options in Al-Farouq Aminu and Greivis Vasquez, but Gordon would likely be the key to this deal. With Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris emerging as rising stars at the 3 and 4, however, the deal is far from a certainty.

Even still, if any team is to get it done, New Orleans certainly appears to be the most likely suitor.

Phoenix Suns

First Round Pick(s): No. 4 and No. 30

Second Round Pick(s): No. 57

Key Pieces: Kendall Marshall, PG; Marcus Morris, PF; Markieff Morris, PF

The Phoenix Suns would be a bit of a long shot here, but they certainly have the pieces to get this deal done. Not only do they possess two first-round draft choices, but they have a young team with players to fill Orlando's needs.

Most notably, point guard Kendall Marshall.

Marshall was a lottery pick in 2012 and remains one of the more promising young facilitators. Even if he fails to pan out as a starter in Orlando, the Magic are weak at point guard with Jameer Nelson aging and battling injuries.

Acquiring Marshall could provide quality depth, and potentially a lead facilitator.

The truth of the matter is, the real value here is that the Suns possess the No. 4 and No. 30 overall draft choices. This enables Orlando to potentially acquire a quality point guard and still address needs via the draft.

Options at No. 4 could include Victor Oladipo, Anthony Bennett and, if Marshall isn't their cup of tea, either Trey Burke or Michael Carter-Williams.

This is a long shot, but the Suns certainly have the draft choices and a prospect to at least intrigue the Magic. Chances are a third team would need to be used to get this done, as Phoenix would likely need to use Marcin Gortat to entice a potential suitor into aiding their pursuit.

Again, the odds would be stacked against Phoenix—just don't call it an impossibility.

Bay to Breakers 2013: Most Bizarre Costumes at Historic Race

Ryan Rudnansky — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

Bay to Breakers has become one of the best parties in San Francisco throughout the years, bringing the zany and eclectic out of the woodwork, whether it is participants in the race or onlookers.

The 102nd annual Bay to Breakers Sunday was no different, as many dressed to impress (or horrify). Who needs Halloween when you have this event?

Here's a look at some of the most bizarre costumes in the race this year, complete with a breakdown of each.

Craig Sager With a Sombrero

I don't know what this guy was going for, but the, um, colorful assortment radiating from his torso is something I only thought TNT's Craig Sager could come up with.

But, oh, was I wrong.

It starts with an ordinary plaid shirt and evolves, or regresses, into something out of Alice in Wonderland. Is this man also celebrating St. Patrick's Day with his green bow tie? What is up with those glasses? Is he going skydiving after the event?

There are few things in this world that he could have taken a picture of that would have rivaled his outfit Sunday.

Leopard Man Needs a Rest

I don't know how Leopard Man finished the race Sunday, but I can tell you, judging by this picture at Ocean Beach, it didn't end well.

Unfortunately, when you don a leopard costume and you've maybe had a bit too much to drink, you think you can run as fast as a leopard. The problem is, when you've had too much to drink, that lasts for about five seconds before you realize it was a very bad idea to run in the first place.

This could be a cautionary photo for youngsters. Don't drink and run: You'll end up like this guy.

Horsehead Meets Mardi Gras Meets Calvin Klein

Interestingly enough, the expression on horsehead's face is how I reacted when seeing this picture.

It's not just the terrifying look on horsehead's face, it's also the combination of Mardi Gras beads and a Calvin Klein belt. This is the kind of thing you wake up in when you've had too much to drink and somebody's played a prank on you in your sleep.

The man in the middle of this photo seems impressed. The guy on the right? Not so much.

Despicable Me

Imagine if you didn't know this was based on a character from a film. Imagine how much it would confuse you. Think about the impressionable youth, please.

My question is, how much does that thing weigh? Did that person have to hold it while running the whole time? I'll tell you one thing: If you fall running the race wearing that, you won't feel a thing.

Bender

Those familiar with the show Futurama will appreciate this one.

I don't know how this individual actually ran in this costume, but it was a great representation of the popular cartoon character.

You have to give props for the time it must have taken to create the costume, too. Also, does the material naturally reflect heat? If it does, it was also a smart costume to have on a sunny day.

A Tribute to the Great Bob Ross

Bob Ross became one of the most well-known painters of his generation while hosting the PBS show The Joy of Painting.

This group took it to another level, paying tribute to the painter in a big way. I count at least seven Bob Rosses in this photo.

Jamaican Bobsled Team

Raise your hand if you instantly thought of Cool Runnings when you saw this photo.

I would have liked to see a John Candy tribute somewhere, but you cannot deny this was a clever idea. I wonder if they all leaned to one side while making turns.

Random Guy With a Cat

Perhaps I missed who this was supposed to resemble (I haven't watched every TV show out there), but I just don't see where this guy was going with this.

A white cap, dark sunglasses with red rims, powder on his face, a full coat and a stuffed animal. If this was a game of Spot The Differences, I'd be losing my mind.

Tarzan With Bright Green Glasses

If Tarzan was to show up at a rave in San Francisco, I'm pretty sure this is what he'd look like.

Kittens

Bizarre. Just bizarre.

Milkmen (and Milklady)

I don't know who is the true star of this show, the milkmen or the milk "lady." I'll tell you this: That picture has been seared into my head for the rest of my life.

Chicken

This is, um, an interesting chicken. So interesting, in fact, that I'd go as far as to say a chicken has never looked like this, in any way.

Is that a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shell on his back?

Well, those are just some of the wacky costumes I came across Sunday after the race. Have some of your own? Be sure to post them in the comments section below.

French Open 2013: Power Ranking Big 3's Title Chances

Richard Langford — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

Rafael Nadal has announced himself as the clear-cut man to beat at the French Open. This is no surprise. Nadal's legendary clay-court game has allowed him to dominate at Roland Garros over the years.

Still, as good as Rafa's been on clay, we can't just hand him the title.

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer can never be counted out.

So, as the French Open gears up to start in week, here is how I rank the chances of these three legends as they prepare for the next major.

No. 3: Roger Federer

Roger Federer isn't showing anything that suggest he can handle Djokovic or Nadal on clay, or even get to that point for that matter.

Federer lost to Tomas Berdych in Dubai's semifinals, Nadal in the quarterfinals of Indian Wells, and then in Madrid he fell to Kei Nishikori in just Round 3.

This past Sunday, we were offered a glimpse of what could be to come when Nadal easily handled him in straight at the Rome Masters.

However, let's not get to caught up in the doom and gloom train. At this point of his career, Federer is more about gearing up for the majors than he is winning every event. And he's shown flashes of dominance.

Before losing to Nadal, he rolled through the early rounds and triumphed over the elite serve of world No. 24 Jerzy Janowicz.

I expect a great run by Federer, but I still don't think he can handle either of the next two.

No. 2: Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has been his usually dominant self. He took the Australian Open earlier in the year, and hasn't slowed down since.

He is 26-3 this year, and that includes a win that should give him supreme confidence heading into the French. That came in the Monte Carlo Masters as he took down eight-time defending champ Rafael Nadal 6-2, 7-6.

However, since beating Nadal, the two have largely been going in different directions, which is why Nole is second on this list.

Djokovic suffered consecutive defeats. The first came in the second round of the Madrid Open to Grigor Dimitrov and then to Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open.

These two played in a memorable match last year when Djokovic appeared headed to victory until rain delays saw momentum side with Nadal.

I expect another great match this year, but I'm not going to bet against our next great.

No. 1: Rafael Nadal

It is hard to find a better bet in sports than Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros. He's won seven of the past eight majors at Roland Garros. In fact, he's lost just one match there ever, and he's won 52 of them.

This year has been a tad different though. Nadal began this year in February after a seven-month layoff with a knee injury.

You would never know that by watching him now. He is 31-2 on the year, which includes going 28-2 on the red stuff. All Nadal has done since coming back is make the finals in every tournament he's entered.

Going back to the Barcelona Open, Nadal hasn't lost a match.

He is looking better the further away he gets from his knee injury, and he won't be beaten at the French.

Daniel Sturridge Has Proved His Potential for Liverpool This Season

Mark Jones — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

They were quite big weren’t they? The question marks that seemed to encompass all discussion over Daniel Sturridge’s move from Chelsea to Liverpool in January.

Well, they were big everywhere else but Anfield, where Brendan Rodgers was convinced that a player he had seen at close quarters throughout his youth career could go on to fulfil his potential over a long-term contract at a club who are now in a position where they need to take a few calculated risks on what they hope will be the road back to success.

Sturridge was―and let’s face it, still will be for many people―one of English football’s great enigmas: a player who looks like he can achieve so much if only he could screw his head on in the right direction.

His move to Liverpool and to a setting in which he was wanted and needed to do well surely appealed to the much-discussed ego within the forward, though.

After so long on the bench at Chelsea where he was considered as the understudy to first Didier Drogba, then Fernando Torres and sometimes both, here Sturridge had the chance to form a partnership with Luis Suarez, which will surely determine so much of what happens to Liverpool under Rodgers.

Whereas at Chelsea he was often described as selfish, here Sturridge had the opportunity to show that he was much more than that.

So far, he’s done all that and more.

With the campaign now closed, Sturridge can look back upon a hugely satisfactory total of 11 goals in his first 16 games for Liverpool, whilst he has also become the third fastest player to reach 10 Premier League strikes for the club after Robbie Fowler and Fernando Torres, and those two didn’t do too badly, did they?

There is still so, so much for the 23-year-old to see, learn and achieve with the Reds, of course, but it is already possible to see Sturridge as one of England’s main forwards at next summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil. His qualities certainly stack up favourably against the likes of Danny Welbeck, Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe in any case.

Not that Liverpool’s fans care much about the national team, of course. They are mostly concerned with seeing Sturridge succeed for their team on a regular basis.

His recent hat-trick at Fulham and the brace at Newcastle showed just what damage the forward can do when given space behind a defence who are determined to play a high line, but any description of him as merely a flat-track bully can be met with the counter argument of goals against Manchester United and former clubs Manchester City and Chelsea so soon into his Liverpool career.

Sturridge simply looks settled at Anfield, and Liverpool fans can only hope that their famous old ground is the forward’s home for years to come.

Perhaps it has been telling that he seems to have come to the fore even more in the wake of Suarez’s much-discussed suspension, but if that has helped Sturridge ease into the team even more then it can only be considered a good thing.

Of course, Liverpool are a much better team when their two premier goal-getters can play together, but you get the impression that Sturridge thrives more and more with increased pressure put upon him. That can surely only be promising in the long run.

That long-term outlook might not have been apparent with Sturridge’s career so far, but if his critics can take a step back and appreciate his potential, he could still win a few more people over yet.

Those question marks over him no longer exist at Anfield, though.

Perhaps they’ll disappear everywhere else soon too?

Roger Federer's Italian Open Display Sets Up for Strong Run at 2013 French Open

John Rozum — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

Roger Federer will perform better than expected at the 2013 French Open.

Prior to his defeat at the hands of Rafael Nadal in the Italian Open finals, Federer won every match in straight sets.

And despite that lack of elite competition faced until Nadal, Federer provided a brief glimpse of his tenacity. Making a deep run through the Rome Masters was crucial because the Swiss had been upset in Round 3 of Madrid to Kei Nishikori of Japan.

So, instantly responding well in Italy had to occur for any momentum entering the Roland Garros.

Federer also recognized his miscues against Nadal, as written by Mike Dawes of the Daily Mail:

Federer accepted he could not live with his dominant opponent, telling the ATP website: "It didn't go how I hoped and I was missing too many easy forehands and crucial points.

"He does an incredible job returning form the back of the court and it is hard because he covers the court so well. You need to serve accurately. When Rafa is at his best he creates opportunities in rallies and dictates. It was difficult to change."

As a result, expect Federer to buff out the rough spots and perform even better in France. A player of his established talent and experience will be able to quickly make corrections, while also adjust within a short period of time.

Given Nadal's current level of play right now as well, Federer won't have to face him until the semifinals. According to ATPWorldTour.com, Nadal has been bumped up to the No. 4 seed:

Rafael Nadal will overtake David Ferrer for World No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday. The result has huge implications for Roland Garros, as Nadal's No. 4 seeding guarantees the seven-time champion cannot meet World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, No. 2 Andy Murray or No. 3 Federer before the semifinals.

In addition, Novak Djokovic hasn't been playing well recently. After an early exit in Madrid (Round 2), Djokovic could not finish Tomas Berdych in Italy. Factor the potential of Andy Murray sitting out and that widens Federer's window of opportunity.

Per Mike Dickson of the Daily Mail, Murray's decision is expected to happen later this week:

Regardless, Federer's ability remains among the elite and a better clay appearance does bode well for Roland Garros. And a semifinals or finals appearance is realistic.

Not only would that significantly enhance Federer's confidence for this season, but it helps leading into the Wimbledon Championships, which is easily his best Grand Slam tournament.

Preakness 2013 Winner: Oxbow Victory Further Proves Gary Stevens' Expertise

Steven Cook — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

As if Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens needed more of a reason to stake his claim as one of the greatest of all time, he rode Oxbow to a thrilling victory at the 2013 Preakness Stakes on Saturday.

This only further proved the fact that the 50-year-old is not only one of the best the sport has ever seen, but defies aging completely after coming back from retirement after going "over the hill."

Stevens hadn't raced in eight years before the start of 2013. He came back as a 50-year-old and won the race at Pimlico.

You can't make up stuff like that.

Although Orb went into the morning line at the "Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" with 3-5 odds, he got stuck on the inside rail coming off the No. 1 post.

At that point, it was a straight duel between Stevens and Goldencents with Kevin Krigger to see who could jump out at the first lead of the big race.

It took about one second. Oxbow shot out past the field and it was a lead he would never relinquish, completing the insane start-to-finish victory that the sport rarely ever sees.

Just as important as pedigree and training to horse racing is the performance of jockeys. In the end, they're controlling these thoroughbreds and maneuvering them on the race track.

Judging the pedigree over the jockey is like judging NASCAR strictly off the cars instead of the driver. If you think about it in that regard actually, maybe it's the jockeys who we should hail first for winning.

If that's the case, Stevens would be one of the first names to come up. Saturday's win at Pimlico means the 50-year-old has now won each of the Triple Crown races three times (h/t ESPN on Twitter), completing a trifecta that is almost entirely unmatched.

He even pulled the impossible in his career, coming back from retirement at age 50 to compete on the highest stage against younger, more physically able jockeys.

Obviously experience is held to a very high degree in this sport and for the excellence of its jockeys. Gary Stevens proved that much Saturday at Pimlico.

Follow me on Twitter for much more than horse racing

NBA Draft 2013: Lottery Prospects Who Are Worth the Gamble

Steven Cook — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

The high-risk, high-reward players in the NBA draft are too plentiful to sift through, but there are some who are more highly touted than others that will see their talent overshadow whatever worries teams have about them.

It's tough to put the stock of a top 10 pick in the hands of a young player who has had problems with either injury, off-court problems or missing pieces of their game that aren't sure to come around.

Let's take a look at the studs who will overpower skepticism with big-time play at the next level.

Shabazz Muhammad

I honestly don't know what's made Shabazz Muhammad fall so far, other than the fact that he didn't prove worthy of a No. 1 overall pick at his time with UCLA.

He may not be the blue-chip, undisputed top pick that so many people expected him to be, but he boasts one of the most complete skill arsenal in the draft and one that is tailor-made for the NBA. He can put his effort anywhere on the court—whether it be rebounding, facilitating the offense or defending—and it's bound to pay off.

Muhammad's ability to get scorching hot on mid-range jumpers as well as stretch the floor by attacking the rim will allow him to follow in the footsteps of versatile wing players like Rudy Gay and Andre Iguodala.

He left one well-known spectator pleasantly surprised as former Duke star Jay Williams took to Twitter:

Most importantly, Muhammad knows the rigors of playing for a pro-style offense with the Bruins that manufactures NBA players at a ridiculous pace. Players this young who have such a unique blend of experience and overall skill are simply too good to pass up on.

Michael Carter-Wiliams

Although not a high lottery pick, Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams should come off the board in the first 12 picks or so, and a team with the right needs would greatly benefit from it.

I'm not going to sit here and say MCW is going to be a game-changer on the offensive end on a regular basis. But he's one of the most talented defenders in the draft and understands how to fit a system incredibly well. The way he meshed with his Syracuse team really turned heads late in their NCAA run.

He also didn't do too terrible at the NBA draft combine as well, according to ESPN's Ryan Feldman.

Carter-Williams isn't a great shooter and won't be a 40-minutes-a-night type of guy, either. Though what he lacks in shooting, he greatly makes up for in basketball IQ. His ability to find open teammates and create space for their open shots will help to jump start struggling offenses.

On top of that, he can come off the bench and give you suffocating backcourt defense to quiet star players during those stretches late in the first and third quarters.

MCW won't benefit a team who is looking for a franchise scorer, but he knows how to fit the system and will be an elite defender at the next level.

Alex Len

Draft scouts are starting to have second thoughts on Maryland sophomore Alex Len because of a recent ankle surgery to repair a stress fracture, but that short amount of time off shouldn't result in missing out on a franchise-changing talent.

We didn't need pre-draft workouts to see how Len was going to fit in the big league. He dominated NBA talent in his two seasons at Maryland, playing in the rigorous ACC.

With his 7'1", 255-pound frame, Len will come in and immediately be one of the most physically gifted big men in the league and that will improve exponentially when he enters a strength training program.

Plus, it doesn't hurt too much when you have the unwavering confidence to tell the Washington Post that in 10 years, you'll be regarded as the best player in your respective draft.

Simply said, Len has the size, experience and grit to show his injury isn't worth having second thoughts about the prospect.

Follow me on Twitter: @steventerrycook

Predicting Winners of the 10 Most Intriguing NFL Training-Camp Battles

Vincent Frank — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:59:35 -0400

The news cycle has slowed down a great deal around the National Football League since the draft ended last month. Teams are transitioning from the offseason to what many consider the start of the new league year.

This means that training-camp battles will start to heat up, roster decisions will be made prior to June cuts, rookies are going to start understanding what it means to be in the NFL and us scribes will focus on the upcoming 2013 season.

Even though we haven't even hit summer yet, the entire focus of the NFL is now on the upcoming 2013 season.

One of the many intriguing things to look at are training-camp battles around the league.

Will Michael Vick earn his stripes under new head coach Chip Kelly in Philadelphia, or will rookie Matt Barkley endear himself to his former college rival?

Can Matt Flynn overcome another heated training-camp battle with a young quarterback to finally earn a starting gig in his sixth NFL season?

I will answer these questions and many more in the next 10 slides.

All college stats provided by Sports Reference.

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Ryback Looked Good Against John Cena at WWE Extreme Rules

Tom Clark — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:54:33 -0400

Ryback was unsuccessful in his bid for the WWE Championship against John Cena at Extreme Rules on Sunday night May 19. The end came after Ryback hoisted Cena up and both men plowed through the set at the top of the ramp. Though the WWE title did not change hands, the fact is that Ryback looked the part; which is exactly what needed to happen.

Before Extreme Rules kicked off, I published a piece suggesting that Ryback had to look strong in his match with Cena. The fact is that Ryback has had too much spotlight since turning heel and WWE has done too much for him. He needed to look like a viable threat to the WWE Championship or his renewed spotlight since turning against Cena would have been dead in the water.

I also suggested that Cena may not give Ryback quite as much in the ring as CM Punk had in their previous matches. After all, John has worn the moniker of “Super Cena” for the bulk of his career the past several years. For many of Cena’s critics, this has completely ruined any potential realism that might have existed in John’s matches.

Basically, you could hit John Cena with a bus and he would still kick out at two.

But Punk has never carried himself in that fashion. He has never appeared to be superhuman or ultra resilient in the ring. So when he worked Ryback, he consistently sold for the bigger man every time they were in the ring. He made Ryback look better than he was, which is the No. 1 most desired quality of a good professional wrestler.

So now that the match with Ryback and John Cena is over, what’s the final word?

For me, Ryback looked very competent in the ring on Sunday night. His timing and pacing, everything was very well done. He took his time during the match and did not get in too big of a rush with Cena. He looked as though he fit right in with the WWE champion. He was not the “replacement” Superstar that some fans believed him to be in Punk’s absence. At Extreme Rules, Ryback looked like the No. 1 contender for the WWE title.

He did his part.

And as for John Cena, the fact is that Cena did everything he could to put Ryback over. He allowed Ryback all the room he needed to show what he could do and Ryback did not disappoint.

Ryback actually looked like the cold blooded monster that WWE had been trying to convince us that he was. And that is just what needed to happen.

Of course, he did not go over at the end of the match but honestly, did we really expect him to?

Despite how much he was able to carry his part of the match at Extreme Rules, the truth is that Ryback has a dreadful record when he works pay-per-views. Because of this, there was a world of doubt surrounding his chances long before Extreme Rules ever rolled around.

And we cannot forget that John Cena is still John Cena, which means he is still the No. 1 Superstar in Vince McMahon’s company. He is the standard bearer for WWE and has only had the championship since defeating The Rock at WrestleMania 29 back on April 7.

The chances of fans seeing a new WWE champion crowned at Extreme Rules was slim to none.

But the fact that Ryback came out of the match still looking strong in nearly every way means that he is still a danger to John Cena and the WWE title. And he looks stronger now than he did going in, which is all anyone can really ask for.

No one knows for certain what will happen now but I believe that this feud is far from over. Ryback has the look, the spotlight on his character and now a comfort zone inside the ring with the WWE champion. He and Cena are likely not done and it will interesting to see just how strong of a contender WWE will allow Ryback to be until the moment comes that the last match will be wrestled in the ring.

Perhaps Ryback has what it takes to perform on the main event level after all. Only time will tell.

**UPDATE**

As seen on WWE's website, John Cena supposedly refused medical treatment by not allowing the ambulance to take him to the hospital. This likely would have had a huge impact had on how good Ryback had actually looked, had it happened on live on pay-per-view. Either way, this perhaps does hurt the challenger in the long run as now Cena has taken every ounce of punishment Ryback could administer, yet still walk away on his own two feet.

How Will Stuart Holden Fit in with USMNT Upon His Return?

John D. Halloran — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:47:21 -0400

Last Thursday, to much fanfare, U.S. Soccer and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann officially announced that Stuart Holden will be making his long-awaited, and much anticipated, return to the United States men’s national team.

Holden was named as one of 26 players to the team’s roster for its upcoming training camp which will include friendlies against Belgium and Germany and conclude with World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica, Panama and Honduras.

Since suffering a knee injury in March 2011 after a horror challenge from Jonny Evans during a match between Bolton and Manchester United, Holden has not featured for the USMNT and has only made eight club appearances. Although Holden’s initial recovery only took six months, with the midfielder returning in September 2011 for a 90-minute effort against Aston Villa, a follow-up after the Villa match revealed cartilage damage and another long spell on the sidelines.

With Holden missing the entire 2011-12 English Premier League campaign, Bolton would be relegated, clearly missing Holden, who was the team’s Player of the Year in the 2010-11 campaign. Holden would not return again for Bolton until January 2013, coming into an FA Cup match as a 74th-minute substitute.

So now that Holden is back for the USMNT, the question becomes, where does he fit in and how will Jurgen Klinsmann use him?

In Holden’s absence, some USMNT fans have come to believe that he is the answer to the U.S.’ creativity woes—that Holden is the type of attacking playmaker the U.S. needs to jump start its lethargic attack. However, Holden has never been the type of No. 10, the maestro, that the U.S. lacks. Even in his Player of Year 2010-11 season, Holden only scored two goals and had two assists in 26 league starts.

In fact, Holden is more of a No. 8, a box-to-box midfielder who begins the attack, rather than the type of player who excels in creating goals in the final third of the field. The problem for Holden is that the U.S. already has a number of quality players who fit the No. 8 role.

Michael Bradley is clearly the U.S.’ most consistent midfielder and is capable of playing both the No. 8 and the No. 6 (defensive midfielder) role. When paired with Jermaine Jones, Klinsmann has shown a preference towards using Bradley as the No. 6 and Jones as the No. 8—although Jones is more than capable of playing the No. 6 role as well.

And that is to say nothing of Sacha Kljestan, who is also a No. 8. Despite being a consistent starter and performer for the past three years for back-to-back Belgian league champions Anderlecht, Kljestan hasn’t started a game for the U.S. since June 2011. While Kljestan is a somewhat divisive figure among USMNT fans, it is hard to believe that Holden, who has played a grand total of eight games in his most recent recovery, is more ready to play than Kljestan, who has started 116 games in Europe over the past three seasons.

With Bradley, Jones and Kljestan all capable of playing the No. 8 role, Klinsmann also has a cadre of players suited for the No. 6 position competing for time in the lineup with Maurice Edu, Danny Williams and Kyle Beckerman earning frequent call-ups. While most fans would agree that Edu, Williams and Beckerman have all been underwhelming in their recent performances with the USMNT, they are clearly players that Klinsmann favors.

In Klinsmann’s 4-1-3-2, most recently used in the October qualifiers, Holden would have at least five other players competing for time in the midfield (Beckerman was left off the latest U.S. roster). In Klinsmann’s 4-2-3-1, used in the March qualifiers, there is one more available midfield spot—the attacking midfielder—but, under Klinsmann, that role has most often been occupied by Clint Dempsey.

One option could be for Klinsmann to revert to the 4-1-3-1-1 that he used early in his tenure, or even the 4-3-3 that he used at times last summer, but those formations create problems as well. Both of those systems create single-striker sets, exactly what most pundits have said is limiting Jozy Altidore’s production up top. Perhaps a midfield combination of Jones, Bradley and Holden, or Bradley, Holden and Kljestan could be creative enough to make a solo-striker system work, but that remains to be seen.

The final option would be to push one of the U.S.’ central midfielders into a wide position, although that is not ideal. Danny Williams has been used by Klinsmann, ineffectively, in a wide role on multiple occasions. It is almost inconceivable, and probably outright foolish, to even think of moving Bradley out of the middle.

Jones looked surprisingly good as a wide player against Russia in the November friendly last year, so that may be an option worth looking at again. Both Kljestan and Holden himself have been used in wide roles for the USMNT in the past, but it is clearly neither player’s best position. Finally, Dempsey could be moved wide, but as he is the U.S.’ most potent goal scorer, such a move seems to be a mistake.

The fact of the matter is, that while Holden’s recovery is admirable and ultimately should create more depth for the U.S. in the midfield, he is not the offensive juggernaut some U.S. fans believe him to be. He also happens to be returning to a U.S. team that is deeper at the center midfield position than any other position on the field.

Follow me on Twitter @JohnDHalloran

Follow me on Facebook www.facebook.com/AmericanTouchline

Tottenham Hotspur Summer Transfer News: Tracking Latest Rumors, Updates

Thomas Cooper — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:18:11 -0400

After finishing fifth in 2012-13, Tottenham Hotspur head into the summer transfer window looking to find the players who might help them push on next season.

Wholesale changes are not a must for a club who just recorded their highest ever Premier League points total.

Still, manager Andre Villas-Boas will be seeking additions that might help his team avoid last-day disappointment (or worse) again. Part of that process will also include deciding which players will be exiting White Hart Lane this summer.

All at Tottenham will be hoping Gareth Bale is not one of them. After a season glittering with individual accolades, the Welshman's future is set to be one of the biggest storylines relating to Tottenham's transfer activity.

Villas-Boas and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will be working hard to ensure they keep and sign the players they want for the 2013-14 campaign. Whether another year without Champions League football hurts these plans remains to be seen.

For all the latest news items and rumors you need to know relating to Bale, and all aspects of the North London club's dealings, check back here throughout the summer.

LAST UPDATE: MONDAY 20 MAY.

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Miami Dolphins: What to Watch for at OTAs

Thomas Galicia — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:01:51 -0400

For the first time since the draft, we will get to see the Miami Dolphins as a team (or close to it) when they begin their OTAs on Tuesday.

The Dolphins have already had most of the team together for offseason workouts, and already had the rookies in camp. But now, the entire team is set to participate in football-like activities that are used to help develop younger players and help instill the game plan for the coming season.

With Miami's OTAs set not only for this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but also May 29-31 and June 3-6 (along with mandatory minicamp beginning on June 11), there is a lot to look for with the Dolphins during this time.

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4 Signs We're Headed for a Washington Nationals vs. S.F. Giants NLCS in 2013

Robert Wood — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:00:00 -0400

The Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants will square off in San Francisco for a three-game series beginning Monday night, May 20, in a battle of World Series favorites.

Hopefully, these games in late May are only a taste of things to come, serving as a mere appetizer for a potential main course in late October.

As you salivate at the thought, enjoy these four signs that we are headed for the Washington Nationals facing the San Francisco Giants in the 2013 NLCS.

Note: All statistics updated through May 19 courtesy of MLB.com unless noted otherwise.

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WWE Extreme Rules 2013 Belonged to the Shield

Anthony Mango — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:59:30 -0400

As with every WWE pay-per-view, careers can be made and others can end. John Cena may be leaving Extreme Rules with the WWE Championship, but he isn't exactly walking out with his hand held high.

Alberto Del Rio is the new No. 1 contender to Dolph Ziggler's World Heavyweight Championship, but he doesn't have the title back around his waist just yet. Randy Orton and Sheamus conquered giants, but will this translate to getting back on top of the WWE roster?

In the midst of all the highs and lows that each competitor experienced, if you boil it down, Extreme Rules 2013 turns out to be the story of one entity above all else: The Shield.

There were two matches on the card that involved Shield members. The first featured Dean Ambrose facing off against Kofi Kingston with the United States Championship on the line.

The match essentially existed just to award the title to Dean Ambrose, as there wasn't much of a build to it to begin with. Kingston's edge in terms of experience did not tilt the odds in his favor.

To give even more credibility to Ambrose, he was alone and there was no screwjob to be seen. When all was said and done, the championship found a new home in a clean victory for Ambrose.

That would not be the last time we would see this happen tonight, however. Later on in the evening, the remaining two members of The Shield, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, would take on the team of Daniel Bryan and Kane for their WWE Tag Team Championship.

Team Hell No had gone through every tag team on the roster and successfully defended their titles when they were on the line. Still, they were heading in with a record that favored The Shield, as they have yet to defeat The Hounds of Justice.

As has happened before, Team Hell No found themselves on the losing end of a match, but this time with a much worse result as Reigns and Rollins were crowned the new Tag Team Champions. Once again, this was a clean victory to further drive home the validity.

In the grand scheme of things, simply winning a championship doesn't automatically mean that someone highlighted a pay-per-view. More often than not, the match of the night is not the main event for the WWE Championship or the match that necessarily had the most stipulations to it.

In fact, winning a championship can often leave a sour taste for the audience. However, Extreme Rules does not seem to be one of those cases.

Despite many of us fully expecting all of the members of The Shield to come out of their respective matches with the gold, the talk surrounding this is abundantly positive. Few people from what I have seen are spouting out the usual "I told you so" disappointment.

Instead, they are looking forward to the future with high hopes. "Can Dean Ambrose bring prestige back to the United States Championship?" "Does this mean that the tag team division will get a boost?"

There is less attention being given to the random spots in some of the gimmick matches as opposed to the generic singles match and the relatively tame and normal tag team match that The Shield participated in.

In a pay-per-view where there were two controversial finishes that have outcomes that directly influence both of the most important championships in WWE, The Shield is standing strong as a talking point.

John Cena and Ryback fought to a draw. Triple H lost the steel cage match and Brock Lesnar only won after Paul Heyman's interference. The Miz won a pointless match on the Pre-Show. Sheamus and Randy Orton survived giants but walked away with essentially nothing in the process.

However, The Shield managed in one fell swoop to completely disrupt two of the championships in WWE.

When you take in an overall perspective of Extreme Rules 2013, The Shield stands out on top of all the other competitors. They all won their matches with no outside help, they were the only title changes on the card, and their matches didn't disappoint, either.

Do you think someone else was the true anchor point to the pay-per-view? Who do you think had the worst night on the card?

Tell us your opinions in the comments below.

You can follow me on Twitter @ToeKneeManGo, at my own wrestling website Smark Out Moment and on my YouTube show Smack Talk.