NHL Free Agency: Justin Schultz Signing Makes Oilers Team with Brightest Future

The Edmonton Oilers have put things in place to emulate the success the Los Angeles Kings just enjoyed. Signing coveted collegiate free agent Justin Schultz is just another awesome acquisition in what has been a productive offseason. 

The Oilers made 18-year-old Nail Yakupov the No. 1 overall pick on June 22, and now with the signing of the 21-year-old Schultz, the Oilers have two cornerstones to build around.

The team hasn't made the playoffs since 2005-2006, but that could change in the next year or two.

What's even more impressive is that the young guns bring their own unique skill sets to the table. Yakupov is a offensive wizard with speed, soft hands and the ability to make the dazzling play.

Check out highlights of him here:

Schultz is a skilled defenseman that could easily be a top-notch blueliner for the next seven-to-10 years. These two studs will join the already established productivity of Jordan Eberle. Eberle is only 22 years old, but last season he had 76 points (34 goals, 42 assists).

If you look at this core, it looks a little like the Kings' core of Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty. Those three players keyed the Kings' maturation and charge for the Stanley Cup.

The Oilers' trio of Yakupov, Eberle and Schultz could have similar success.

One big difference between the Kings and the Oilers is in net.

The Kings have Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick, and the Oilers have a gaping hole there. Last year the over-the-hill Nikolai Khabibulin gave up 2.65 goals per game.

The Oilers' next step in their resurgence to prominence must be to find a solid man in net. The other pieces are falling nicely into place. 

 

Follow Brian Mazique and Franchiseplay.net for reactions, analysis and news from the world of sports and sports video games.

Follow @BrianMazique

 

Follow @franchiseplay

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1242805-nhl-free-agency-justin-schultz-signing-makes-oilers-team-with-brightest-future

Dallas Cowboys Denver Nuggets

Scoop Jardine Goes Undrafted With Broken Foot

Syracuse point guard, and Philadelphia native Scoop Jardine was not selected in Thursday?s NBA Draft. Jardine, who suffered a broken foot last week, will likely get a chance at the NBA through a free agent contract and an invitation to training camp (But will likely miss the summer league).
Jardine underwent surgery in Los Angeles Tusday, to repair the broken bone, which has an 8-12 week recovery period, according to his father.
Jardine was projected as a possible late second-round pick going into Thursday?s draft after a five-year career at Syracuse. He averaged 8.9 points and 4.9 assists as a senior for SU, leading the Orange to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a trip to the Elite Eight.
In preparation for the draft, Jardine worked out for upwards of seven teams and broke his foot in a workout with Utah last week. Jardine?s father, Antonio Jardine, said the surgery was a success and that a full recovery is expected.
Scoops teammates, Dion Waiters, Fab Melo and Kris Joseph w...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/scoop_jardine_goes_undrafted_with_broken_foot/11116436

Boston Celtics Denver Broncos

Euro 2012 Final: Is UEFA Ruining the European Championships?

How will Euro 2012 be remembered after tomorrow's showpiece finale?

Despite all the negative headlines that have surrounded this summer's tournament, the overwhelming feeling is that, on the field at least, it has been a success.

Why, then, are we to see changes to a tournament that is widely believed to be the hardest and most competitive on the international calendar?

 

Revamp

First came the news that this year will be the last time that 16 teams compete in the tournament; as of France 2016, it will be upped to 24.

The decision will have a detrimental effect on the quality of display. Heavyweight battles can be shown from day one as the tournament currently stands, but allowing weaker teams in will destroy one of the things that makes the Euros so special.

Now we are hearing Michel Platini suggest a number of countries, not just one, could be hosts in 2020.

The Uefa president is quoted as saying: 

The Euros in 2020 could be held all over Europe. It could be either one country and 12 stadiums, or one stadium in 12 or 13 cities....This matter will be discussed very seriously....We will have a great debate about 2020 and discuss the pros and cons. It's an idea I feel really passionate about, it will be a lot easier from a financial perspective. We are not going to wait until we know whether Turkey are going to get the Olympics. It creates a problem for us. We do have other candidates. Everyone has the possibility to host it. It is easier to go from London to Paris or Berlin than Cardiff to Gdansk. It would be four games per venue. It is a great debate....It is the political decision that needs to be made. We wouldn't have to build stadiums or airports. That could be important in an economic crisis.

 

Impact

Introducing such measures could lead to an embarrassing egg-on-the-face situation for Europe's football governing body.

In Poland and Ukraine, the tournament has been somewhat spread out, leading to some logistical problems.

Supporters have had troubles getting around, leading to a situation where some stadiums have been far from full.

Spreading it out further hardly seems a logical solution.

I ask what is wrong with the current set up? 

If nothing, then why change it.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1242441-are-uefa-ruining-the-european-championships

Toronto Raptors Los Angeles Clippers

Euro 2012: A Brief Moment of Sympathy for Cristiano Ronaldo

The formula for feeling Cristiano Ronaldo’s pain—the pain of watching your team lose a penalty shootout, before it ever reaches your turn, in the semis of Euro 2012—involves a lot of math and reaching far back into the files of your memory. 

Or at least that’s how I, for a brief moment, did it. 

When Cesc Fabregas—who else?—netted the game winner, the Spaniard in me was elated. Heart pounding louder than a bongo drum, I leapt from the floor—the drama was too much for me to be elsewhere—and gave my mom a high-ten. Both hands, with authority. Smack!

After all, Spain had just punched their ticket to the final for a chance at back-to-back titles—with a World Cup sandwiched in-between. We hugged and thought of our family in Jerez, Spain, surely doing the same. 

My eyes returned to the TV screen: a closeup of a dejected Ronaldo, no sign of confidence—a miracle—and looking up to the sky, no doubt in search of some answers. From someone. 

How had Ronaldo, an elite scorer with a rocket leg, been placed in the fifth spot of such a crucial shootout—a spot where, if worse comes to worst, he never even gets a chance? 

Worst came. And Ronaldo was left standing there, kick-less, answer-less, and championship-less. Again. A player known for his struggles in major tournaments, Ronaldo was breaking through in Euro 2012—three goals in four matches before Wednesday. Then this happened.

The camera zoomed in closer and the striker uttered a few words, too mute to hear, and the soccer player in me—with a little help from math and a vivid memory of a similar experience, albeit on a much, much smaller stage—felt his pain.   

A decade ago, I had stood in that very spot. No, not in Donbass Arena, Donetsk. And no, not in front of 48,000 raucous fans.

I was a Junior playing for my high school team in a big—no, not Euro 2012 big—midseason tournament. We were undefeated at that point and advanced to the championship game to face a cross-town foe. The game was physical, a bit sloppy and scoreless after 90 minutes and extra time. So it came down to penalty kicks.

Wanting to be the hero—the guy at the bottom of the victory dogpile—I opted to kick fifth in the best-of-five shootout. That kick never came. The other team made all theirs, we missed two and I just stood there: an observer—and nowhere near the bottom—of another dogpile.

That same dispirited look on my face, like a sad movie, was unfolding right before me. That same glance to the sky as if the clouds—or someone, anyone on them—could explain why.  

Seeing Ronaldo like that opened the flood gates to those emotions I felt that day, that moment. The disappointment, frustration and sadness. But in order to truly sympathize with the Portuguese striker, a calculator—a must for me for anything math-related—was required.

Over a million viewers worldwide witnessed Wednesday’s shootout—with even more to be added once it makes the YouTube rounds. One hundred (tops) were in attendance for mine. That’s—click, click, click goes the calculator—ten thousand times more disappointment. Ten thousand times more frustration. Ten thousand times more sadness.

1,000,000/100 = 10,000

Do feelings work that way, though? Are they actually quantitative? 

If so, poor Ronaldo.

Not to mention the crowd chanting—as they did throughout the tournament—the name of his arch-nemesis as he trudged off the field. 

“Messi! Messi!” 

Imagine that. You just lost the biggest match of your career and thousands pour salt in your wounds by screaming the name of your “enemy.” 

For me: “Scotty! Scotty!”

That’s when it all clicked and I understood his agony. 

But then I quickly remembered his multi-million dollar contract—on top of countless endorsements—did a few more calculations and didn’t feel as bad. 

Smack! Smack! Back to the high-tens.  

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1242373-euro-2012-a-brief-moment-of-sympathy-for-cristiano-ronaldo

San Diego Chargers Memphis Grizzlies

Red Wings GM Ken Holland talks ?holes? with Pleiness

Red Wings GM Ken Holland has some serious needs to fill on Sunday, but he told the Macomb Daily?s Chuck Pleiness (via RedWingsFeed) that his team does not believe that it?s dealing from anything other than a position of strength going into July 1st:

?We?ve got cap space, we?ll explore the market, but it?s got to make sense,? Wings general manager Ken Holland said Friday. ?We have lots of pieces in place, players ready to step up and play a bigger role. Some of this has to be internal evolution.?

And Detroit has some major holes to fill, namely on the blue line and perhaps another top six forward. This offseason the Wings lost defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom (retirement) and Brad Stuart (trade). They could also lose Jiri Hudler to another team that?s willing to offer the winger more money.

?We don?t have as many holes as some people think,? Holland said. ?I attribute that to the development of Brendan ...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/red_wings_gm_ken_holland_talks_holes_with_pleiness/11120135

Chicago Bears Portland Trail Blazers

Rookie throws keepsake ball to wrong dugout

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Diamondbacks pitcher Trevor Bauer made his major league debut on Thursday night against the Braves, and he pitched pretty well. Bauer gave Arizona four quality innings and allowed only two earned runs on five hits. Despite falling behind early, he kept the D-Backs in striking position and allowed them to come away with a 3-2 victory. The only time nerves appeared to get the best of Bauer was during his embarrassing moment after his first MLB pitch, when he tossed the ball to the wrong dugout.
After throwing a first-pitch strike to the Braves leadoff man, the Diamondbacks’ coaches yelled to Bauer to toss the ball into the dugout so they could give it to him as a keepsake after the game. The 21-year-old was obviously a little nervous and confused, and he ended up throwing it toward the Atlanta dugout. The Braves coaches kindly returned the ball to the Arizona dugout, and I’m sure Bauer will be hearing about this for the remainder of...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/trevor_bauer_throws_ball_from_first_career_mlb_pitch_into_the_wrong_dugout_video/11117258

St. Louis Rams Minnesota Timberwolves

Commercial featuring morphing golfers is straight-up nightmare fuel (video)

Egad! That is some disturbing visuals right there. This new commercial from Sky Sports features the head shots of various golfers transitioning from one to the next, and let me tell you, it is truly a nightmarish scene, man. It reminds me of the face-morphing sequence in the video for Michael Jackson’s song, “Black or [...]

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/golf/article_external/commercial_featuring_morphing_golfers_is_straight_up_nightmare_fuel_video/11109881

Memphis Grizzlies Charlotte Bobcats

Buffon's anger says a lot about Italy's intentions

If there's anyone still wondering what Italy's intentions are at this European Championship, they need look no farther than Gianluigi Buffon's angry reaction after the Azzurri's semifinal win over Germany.

While his teammates celebrated, Buffon could not look past the way Italy allowed a penalty kick in injury time of a 2-1 win, plus a few other chances for Germany that could have sent the match to extra time.

''I don't celebrate second place,'' Buffon said after Thursday's match. ''I was angry, because we should have avoided those last five minutes of sufferance. We need to be mature. Football is a game, but when you reach the semifinals of a European Championship it's not a game any more.''

One of the pillars of Italy's 2006 World Cup victory, Buffon can add another trophy with a win over Spain in Sunday's final, which will mark his 120th appearance in the Azzurri shirt.

With more than a decade as the Azzurri's starting goalkeeper, Buffon's experience and talent has been evident throughout this tournament - especially in the last two matches.

Against England in the quarterfinals, his reflex save to deny Glen Johnson five minutes in set the tone for the match. He later saved Ashley Cole's spot kick in the penalty shootout, setting up Alessandro Diamanti's winning strike.

Against Germany, Buffon swatted away a long shot from Sami Khedira a minute before Mario Balotelli doubled the lead in the first half, then leaped to push a free kick from Marco Reus off the bar just after the hour mark.

However, as Italy sat back and attempted to preserve its lead, the Azzurri defense began to struggle and Federico Balzaretti used his arm to block a shot from Miroslav Klose, setting up Mesut Oezil's penalty with a few minutes remaining in extra time.

''If by luck it got to 2-2, who knows, we could have lost the match on penalties,'' Buffon said. ''We still need to improve. There are young players who need to learn this. You can't play with fire.''

Buffon came under attack after it was revealed the week before Italy departed for the tournament that he made large payments to the owner of a tobacco shop in Parma that is also a betting parlor.

While he has not been charged with any wrongdoing, the revelations shook the Azzurri camp, as defender Domenico Criscito was almost simultaneously cut from the squad after being placed under investigation for match-fixing.

''Coming here to Poland and contemplating playing a semifinal was unthinkable,'' Buffon wrote on his Facebook page before the Germany match. ''But we believed, we wanted it and every sacrifice was made in view of pursuing our objective.''

At 34, Buffon helped lead Juventus to the Serie A title last month, the club's first title since before the 2006 match-fixing scandal relegated the team to Serie B.

''As a small child I dreamed of becoming a footballer, as a kid I dreamed of becoming the national team and Juventus goalkeeper. At about 20 I wanted to win the scudetto (Serie A title), at 25 the Champions League and the World Cup and at 30 win the scudetto with Juve again and the Euros,'' Buffon wrote. ''I've reached most of the goals I've set for myself, although there's still something missing...''

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/buffons_anger_says_a_lot_about_italys_intentions/11117279

Green Bay Packers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Euro 2012 Semifinals: Germany vs. Italy

The Germans seek their first competitive win against Italy, and look as dorky in 3D Glasses as the rest of us mortals.

Source: http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2012/06/28/euro-2012-semifinals-germany-vs-italy/

San Antonio Spurs Arizona Cardinals

Packers coach honest about A.J. Hawk?s lack of production

Although Packers linebacker�A.J. Hawk�got a lot of criticism as the team?s defense struggled last year, his position coach says he had a good season ? sort of. Packers inside linebackers coach Winston Moss says that play in and play out, Hawk was fine in 2011. But he also acknowledges that teams need players to step [...]

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/packers_coach_honest_about_aj_hawks_lack_of_production/11069879

Green Bay Packers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

WWE: Jim Ross Should Return to Announcing Duties Full Time

There was a time in WWE when ring announcers and commentators made all the difference in weekly and paid programming.

It was the golden age of wrestling. The days of Jesse Ventura, Gorilla Monsoon, Gene Okerlund and Howard Finkel.

Watching the good old WWE Superstars of Wrestling and Saturday Night's Main Event was the highlight of my early WWF years and with good reason, as these legends brought that certain magical ingredient to the mix and fed millions of fans for years.

Then, as time went by, people came and went and one new persona made his entrance into the WWE Universe. His name was (and still is) Jim Ross.

Freshly free of WCW, he made his commentating debut at WrestleMania IX at Ceasar's Palace in Las Vegas dressed up in a toga!

I didn't know it then, but the company had just signed an incredibly talented individual that is now a bona fide Hall of Famer and with good reason. The man is a gem!

Since his departure from televised episodes, the WWE flagship show, Monday Night Raw, has not been the same since. It shows every week in the ratings too. See here.

The ratings fall far from the great days of the "Attitude" era. It wasn't always Steve Austin that did a good job, but everybody that talked about him and yelled and shouted when he stirred up controversy.

Bring back Jim Ross, I tell you! Starting at the 1,000th episode!

Do you really, really think people will stomach three hours of Michael Cole for years to come? Gimme a Hell NO!

He just doesn't have what it takes or provide what the fans need. He would make an incredible manager or promoter of fellow villains, but on air? Just get lost already.

2012 is all about pushing the envelope, breaking down the walls and trying to stay afloat in a fast-moving world. WWE is not spared from such a fate, and if they don't get on the same page with its Universe, then all hell will break loose.

The average fan has had enough of the nonsense and ridicule, and it commands a program worthy of the rich history WWE possesses. Let's not get started on Santino Marella's title reign.

Jim Ross knows his stuff; he calls the action that needs to be called. He brings that legitimacy to pro wrestling like few others can. Paired with "The King" you have a sensational duo that gets the job done AND adds that appropriately executed comedy break every now and then.

With all the movement going on in the company (new network, new shows, Lilian Garcia returning, etc.), it would not be hard to relegate Mr. Cole to Superstars and open up a chair for the legendary Jim Ross. 

Frankly, the programming needs the change, as do the fans.

No one knows what is planned for the big 1,000 on July 23, and one thing is certain: Anything can happen in WWE, so don't be so sure you know everything yet.

If my three wishes are granted, then I'd expect a new WWE championship belt, Kharma returns to win the Divas title and Jim Ross sucker punches Michael Cole OUT of the company for good this time.

All's well that ends well then...

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1240630-wwe-jim-ross-should-return-to-announcing-duties-full-time

Miami Dolphins Orlando Magic

Lamar Odom should come back to the Lakers

Lamar Odom is looking for a new job as the Dallas Mavericks decided to give up on him and most of the sports writers are writing off his career. I?m not one of those writers. I think there is only one place for him to go to revive his career and that is with the Los Angeles Lakers. Lamar belongs with the Lakers. It?s the only team he feels comfortable with and it was the team that he played the best for.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/lamar_odom_should_come_back_to_the_lakers/10836263

Houston Rockets Utah Jazz

NBA Draft 2012: Why Thomas Robinson Is Ideal Pick for Charlotte Bobcats at No. 2

As talented as Andre Drummond and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are, the Charlotte Bobcats have to go with Thomas Robinson with their No. 2 selection.

According to SI.com's NBA national reporter Sam Amick, Robinson had the clear edge over Drummond in a workout with the Cavaliers.

In the continuing draft circuit, I'm told Kansas F Thomas Robinson had his way w/ UConn C Andre Drummond in a Cleveland workout today (No.2)

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 21, 2012

Robinson is a complete player in his versatile scoring and control of the glass throughout a contest. Although Drummond may have the extra inches on a guy like Robinson, the Bobcats are without question in dire need of both the aggression and talent that Robinson has to offer.

These are the two major reasons why Robinson is an essential component to helping turn around a 7-59 team in Charlotte.

 

Charlotte needs help on the boards

The Bobcats are a team that struggled mightily in the 2011-12 season, in large part because of their lack of rebounding. The team was ranked No. 29 in the league, grabbing just 39 rebounds per contest.

Thomas Robinson is just that player that this team needs to prosper on the glass, averaging a whopping 11.9 rebounds per game for his Jayhawks. After posting 6.4 per game his sophomore season in just under 15 minutes per game, it was clear this player was destined to shine soon enough.

Outside of C Bismack Biyombo, who is set to be a promising player for this team going forward, the Bobcats are especially thin in the interior. Tyrus Thomas is average at best on both ends and D.J. White doesn't seem to be living up to expectations. White averaged just 6.8 points and 3.8 assists per game last season.

A team needing a physical presence down low, the Bobcats could certainly use Thomas' tenacity on the glass to help elevate this team in the rebounding department. 

 

Ben Gordon, Gerald Henderson and Kemba Walker need big men to score

After trading for Ben Gordon with the Detroit Pistons, the Bobcats certainly upgrading their backcourt scoring, yet still the frontcourt offensive production is slim to none.

Walker and Henderson have also been especially solid point scorers for the team, but it is far from enough to have this team in contention. Last season the team was ranked last in the league with 87 points per game.

Thomas Robinson is a tremendous scorer, posting nearly 18 points per game his senior season. 

Biyombo is a tremendous defensive presence, but certainly far from an offensive threat. White is also a lackluster producer offensively, at is clear that he Bobcats will be looking for scorers in the 2012 NBA draft.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1238812-thomas-robinson-why-kansas-star-is-ideal-pick-for-charlotte-bobcats-at-no-2

Denver Nuggets San Diego Chargers

College Football Has a Four-Team Playoff

The new playoff is neither ideal, nor revolutionary, but it should be better than what came before, if only because it adds two additional teams.

Source: http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2012/06/26/college-football-has-a-four-team-playoff/

San Diego Chargers Memphis Grizzlies

Proposed bill aims to curb fan drinking

Two New York legislators would like to slow down alcohol consumption at Ralph Wilson Stadium by allowing beer to be purchased at concession stands an hour earlier than current state law allows.
Yeah. You read that right. To limit alcohol consumption at games, New York law makers want to allow fans to buy beer earlier in the day, and the idea might actually make sense.
The logic here is that allowing fans inside the stadium to by beer earlier, the team can better regulate exactly how much alcohol fans consume. Current New York state law allows beer concessions to begin being sold at noon on Sundays. The bill was not passed before the state legislature took its summer recess, but it's likely that it'll be looked at when the legislators return this fall.
While the bill is intended to help out sporting venues, specifically the Bills, it's unclear how the law would affect other businesses outside the sporting world. In its current form, it's doubtful that the law would...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/proposed_new_york_bill_aims_to_curb_fan_drinking/11096630

St. Louis Rams Minnesota Timberwolves

Stephanie Rice Photo Puts Australian Olympic Swim Team in Hot Water Again

Australia's best swimmers may want to cool their heels on the whole social media thing for a while.

Maybe read a book. Take a nature walk. Revisit that long-dormant stamp collection.

Seriously, whatever it takes to steer clear of the World Wide Web.

Less than a month after swimmers Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk ruffled feathers by posing with firearms and posting the pictures on Facebook, Stephanie Rice—defending Olympic champion in the 200- and 400-meter individual medley—triggered a similar response when she tweeted a photo of herself Tuesday wearing a rather revealing bikini (even by bikini standards).

The common link? All three swim for Australia.

Oh, and all three got major blowback from a home nation that apparently doesn't take well to Internet hijinks.

Now, we could use this space to debate whether or not the outrage has merit, but we have that conversation every time an athlete makes a fool of him or herself. Quite frankly, it's a bit tired.

So let's take a different tack and ask a different question.

How should Olympic athletes approach social media?

I say Olympic athletes, in particular, because they operate on a different fame cycle than most other athletes.

Most athletes build their followings year-to-year, ebbing and flowing a bit with the seasons but generally maintaining a regular public presence.

Not Olympians. They get roughly three months on either side of the Summer Games to make a crossover impression. That six-month window is critical, not just in how they're viewed as an athlete, but how they're remembered as a person—if they're remembered at all.

And by extension, this quadrennial ripple in time can have a lasting effect on an Olympic athlete's long-term financial prognosis. Fortunes can be made and lost over a few months of blitz marketing.

You can imagine the pressure on Olympic athletes to build their Twitter followings or promote their Facebook accounts in this make-or-break window.

I've had Olympic athletes—accomplished, significant Olympic athletes—break off an interview answer mid-sentence and ask that I—an un-accomplished, insignificant Olympic writer—remember to plug their Twitter accounts in my story.

Those little numbers next to a Twitter avatar? They matter. In a big way.

But the Olympic athlete also needs to balance attention-hording with common sense, and in both cases, our Australian brethren seem to have lost sight of that imperative.

Remember, it's not really about what you find offensive or what you find innocent. It's about what other people think, and that isn't a reference to the majority. A strong-willed minority view can be just as damaging.

And if any post risks offending a critical mass—which, for clarity's sake, we'll define as five percent of the population—nix it. There's always a more palatable, creative, enlightening post around the corner.

Stephanie Rice should know that. All Olympic athletes should know that.

The six-month Olympic window is too important to risk.

Interact with fans. Promote your brand. But above all, play it safe.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1238789-stephanie-rice-puts-australian-olympic-swim-team-in-hot-water-again

Seattle Seahawks Green Bay Packers

Euro 2012 soccer driving UK women to male escorts

Sex-starved British women are turning to male escorts because their husbands or boyfriends are preoccupied with watching the Euro 2012 soccer matches on TV.
The Sun reports that demand for gigolos in England has increased 26 percent since the soccer tournament kicked off and the number of men signing up to be male escorts has risen by 11 percent.
“Football tournaments are to male escorts like Christmas is to supermarkets — the business keeps us going for the rest of the year,” said 26-year-old male escort Martin Preston.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/euro_2012_soccer_fallout_british_women_turning_to_male_escorts/11075864

Detroit Lions Pittsburgh Steelers

World Football Gossip Roundup: Samir Nasri, Mario Mandzukic, Andres Iniesta

What's this? Samir Nasir showing contrition?

Lock your doors, and start praying. The 2012 meltdown is upon us.

That's the only explanation. Too much crazy stuff is going on today in the B/R World Football Gossip Roundup.

Besides Nasri's shocking turn, there's also a suggestion that Andres Iniesta is better than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

What other oddities await inside? Read on to find out.

Begin Slideshow

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1237827-world-football-gossip-roundup-samir-nasri-mario-mandzukic-andres-iniesta

San Antonio Spurs Arizona Cardinals

Wade & Chalmers bring showtime to Miami!

	Wade & Chalmers bring showtime to Miami! Check out Mario Chalmers on the break early in game 5 of the NBA Finals as he finds Dwyane Wade for the alleyoop who makes a fantastic one-handed finish in the BIG South Beach showdown between the Heat and Thunder!	From: NBA Views: 23128 272 ratings
	Time: 00:19	More in Sports

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1melSsxgaE&feature=youtube_gdata

Orlando Magic Chicago Bears

Which 2013 Draft Prospects Should Denver Broncos Already Be Scouting?

It's never too early to start looking forward to the 2013 NFL draft, because regardless of the Broncos' 2012 season outcome, they will certainly have their eyes on new pieces to add to their arsenal.

One draft and offseason is usually never enough time for a team to address every need that they have, especially when that team is still on the tail end of a rebuilding process that has been put on a fast track like the Broncos have with the addition of Peyton Manning.

Here are five players that Denver may have its eye on to come in and be immediate-impact players in 2013.

Begin Slideshow

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1237527-which-2013-draft-prospects-should-denver-broncos-already-be-scouting

Chicago Bulls Toronto Raptors

Liverpool Transfer News: Analyzing Recent Reports Surrounding Reds

Under new manager Brendan Rodgers, their fourth in three years, Liverpool have been feverishly exploring their options for possible transfers to bring in this summer. With midfielders Joe Cole, Alberto Aquilani and Maxi Rodriguez all possibly on their way out, an already-unspectacular midfield unit is sure to have a new face or two.

A hot target right now is Bologna midfielder Gastón Ramírez. A teammate of Reds striker Luis Suarez on the Uruguayan national team, Ramírez has a playmaking mentality and will be able to create opportunities up front with his patience and on-ball skills.

It looks like a bidding war might ensue for his services against Manchester City, but the Reds need a better attacking midfielder. Ramírez is only 21, so adding him could serve as a long-term upgrade as well.

Another possibility to inject some youth into the midfielder would be Swansea City’s Scott Sinclair, a winger who Rodgers coached before his move to Anfield. Sinclair is on the rocks with Swansea over a new contract, and could possibly be available to add a goal-scoring dynamo to the Reds midfield.

In the back, it looks like Liverpool might unfortunately have to downgrade at the center defender spot. Daniel Agger could be leaving for Manchester City, and it appears like Joleon Lescott could come over from the reigning Premier League champions in a de-facto swap.

Lescott is a solid veteran, but Agger teamed with Martin Skrtel to make a duo to be reckoned on the Liverpool defensive side. Lescott appears to be on his way out at Man City, so he could be viable as a stopgap measure if Agger does leave.

After ending his tenure with Inter Milan by turning down a loan to another club in the Italian Serie A, the 19-year old striker Luc Castaignos is on the market. While his tabbing as a young Thierry Henry might be unmerited, he could be groomed to be a lethal striker down the line. His price tag is not hefty, so he could be worth a flier.

It is well-known that the Reds have been interested in Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge, who wants out of a Blues club he believes is limiting his career. The issue is that Sturridge would prefer to stay in London and sign with Tottenham. However, the Spurs’ are weary on paying Chelsea’s asking price for the 22-year-old, which means Liverpool still has a chance if they are willing to invest a significant portion of their transfer budget into one player.

In the very unfortunate news department, after appearing to the favorites to sign midfielder and former Rodgers player Gylfi Sigurdsson for months, Tottenham stole the 22-year-old Iceland native over the weekend. The Spurs look to be close to making it official, and if they do it will be a shocking and crushing blow to the Reds.

Less shocking, but still disappointing, is the Reds’ short-lived pursuit of young Colombian striker James Rodriguez. They outbid Manchester United over the weekend, but Man U stepped up their bid today and it looks like Liverpool is out of the running.

Finally, Italian striker Fabio Borini is not coming to England. Instead, the 21-year-old will be staying with Roma in Italy permanently, ending speculation that the Swansea product would join up with his former manager.

Transfer season is still young, so look for Rodgers and the Reds to continue looking for splashy moves in order to improve on a disappointing league season in which the club finished eighth, their worst finish in 18 years. 

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1237195-liverpool-transfer-news-analyzing-recent-reports-surrounding-reds

Buffalo Bills Atlanta Hawks

Steve Nash admits money a factor

How many times have we heard athletes tell us that “it isn’t about the money,” when they have been free agents or signed a new contract? Maybe it is an American thing, because free agent point guard Steve Nash is honest enough to tell everyone that money is just a small factor in where he [...]

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/steve_nash_says_it_is_about_the_money/11091284

St. Louis Rams Minnesota Timberwolves

NBA Draft Rumors: Is Jared Sullinger Even Worth a First-Round Pick?

Just a year ago, there was no doubt that Ohio State sophomore Jared Sullinger would be among the handful of picks at the top of the lottery in the 2012 NBA draft.

Fast-forward a few months and it is debatable whether or not Sullinger is even worthy of a first-round pick at all.

There were questions anyway surrounding Sullinger’s lack of athleticism forcing him to drop some in the draft anyway, but after a medical red flag was raised last week, there’s a good bet that Sullinger slides out of the lottery entirely.

The NBA is banking on it, as ESPN’s Andy Katz reported that the Ohio State product has not been invited to the draft by the league. Instead of being in the green room at the Prudential Center in Newark, Sullinger will be watching the draft from a Columbus restaurant.

NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson told ESPN.com: "He's more likely to go in the teens or in the 20s," Jackson said. "We continue to have contact with teams, but at this late date we don't anticipate inviting him."

It’s going to be much later than Sullinger likely ever anticipated, but eventually the rewards will outweigh the risks and Sully’s name will be called.

I’ve always had my doubts on how Sullinger would perform against bigger and more athletic NBA defenders, but later in the draft it’s worth taking a chance on his post game, which is more advanced than any player in the draft.

Sullinger can score and rebound, averaging 17.3 points and 9.7 boards per game throughout his college career. He also has a very soft touch around the rim, shooting 53 percent from the floor during his two seasons.

Yet while there are more athletic big men with the potential to do bigger things in the NBA than Sullinger, some team is going to take a chance on him late in the first round and get a pretty good player.

I never felt Sullinger would be an All-Star-caliber NBA big man, but he can do enough to forge out a pretty good NBA career.

No matter where he is drafted.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1236231-nba-draft-rumors-is-jared-sullinger-even-worth-a-first-round-pick

New York Knicks Detroit Pistons

RCR Post Race Report -- Save Mart 350

Race Highlights:������ ��Richard Childress Racing teammates finished 11th (Jeff Burton), 16th (Kevin Harvick) and 20th (Paul Menard). Harvick ranks sixth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, 64 points behind Matt Kenseth's lead, while Menard ranks 14th and Burton ranks 19th. According to NASCAR's Loop Data Statistics, Burton made 67 green-flag passes during the annual road-course event at Sonoma.Burton passed six competitors over the final 11 laps, ranking him third in the Closers category.Burton took home NASCAR's official USG "Improving the Finish" Award by gaining 24 positions over the course of the 112-lap event.Harvick ranked sixth in the Closer category, gaining four positions within the last 10 percent (11 laps) of the race. He was also the seventh-Fastest Driver Late in a Run with an average speed of 89.515 seconds and ranked 10th in Speed in Traffic (89.018 seconds).� �Menard made 68 Green-Flag Passes, ranking him 10th i...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/rcr_post_race_report_save_mart_350/11086298

Detroit Lions Pittsburgh Steelers

Denver Broncos helmet, uniform concept design

Charles Sollers, a photographer from Missouri for Rivals.com has created a new concept design for the Denver Broncos helmets and uniforms.

Also featured are the new Nike Pro Combat uniform designs by Brandon Moore. Could you imagine Peyton Manning or Von Miller wearing this?

By now you have probably seen some of Sollers work as he also has provided numerous images of college helmets and uniforms.

Brandon Moore is a graduate of Full Sail University with an Associates of Science degree in Graphic Design. He specializes in logo design and branding.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/denver_broncos_helmet_uniform_concept_design/10792631

New England Patriots Philadelphia Eagles

Spain won't change style just to counter Ronaldo

Spain hasn't altered its playing style to win its recent titles, and it won't start now just because it's coming up against Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portugal will be counting on Ronaldo in Wednesday's European Championship semifinal against the defending champions, a second Iberian derby in as many tournaments after Spain beat its neighbor on its way to a World Cup triumph in 2010.

A total of eight Real Madrid players are spread across the Iberian rivals, making the teams privy to a fair degree of inside knowledge about each other.

Still, Spain and Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso says the world champions have no special defense for Ronaldo, just ''small adjustments.''

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/spain_wont_change_style_just_to_counter_ronaldo/11083844

Oklahoma City Thunder Sacramento Kings

Barton loses QPR captaincy, fined 6 weeks' wages

Queens Park Rangers has stripped Joey Barton of the captaincy and fined him six weeks' wages for his violent conduct against Manchester City players in the final round of the Premier League last season.

The punishments were imposed Monday, a month after Barton was banned for 12 matches by the English Football Association for elbowing Carlos Tevez, kicking Sergio Aguero and trying to head-butt Vincent Kompany before being escorted off the pitch by his teammates.

QPR says in a statement that it has ''reached agreement with Barton that if he seriously breaches the club's disciplinary procedures again, the club reserves the right to terminate his contract.''

Barton says on Twitter that ''I was reckless and deserved every punishment I received'' but is ''confident (I'll) bounce back.''

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/barton_loses_qpr_captaincy_fined_6_weeks_wages/11083565

Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys

Which Transfers will make an immediate splash at their new schools in 2012-13?

TSHQ?s Top 10 Impact Transfers for 2012-13
by Gus Elvin
As promised I?m back with yet another addition of ?Guru?s Top Ten?, as I help preview and prepare you for the quickly approaching 2012-13 college basketball season. Last time we took a look at some of the top freshman for next season, and this time around we will again look at 10 more impact newcomers, this time focusing on Division 1 transfers. �In the last few seasons transferring has become more common with new eligibility exemptions like the hardship waiver, graduate exemption and most recently the Alex Oriakhi rule or the rule that allows a player to transfer and play immediately if his school is banned from postseason play for the duration of his remaining eligibility.� All of these exemptions have opened up possibilities for players to transfer without having to sit out a year, which has resulted in a high number of transfers over the past few seasons and has created a bit of a turnstile effect within college basketball. This group that follows is a list of the 10 transfers I think will have the biggest impact next season at their new schools and includes both traditional transfers who sat out last season and are eligible this year and the new wave of transfers who are eligible due to one of the exemptions listed above. As a disclaimer this was maybe the biggest and deepest class of transfers we have ever seen, so not every big transfer made this list, but here are 10 to watch for 2012-13.

1.)Mark Lyons, Arizona via Xavier ? The Wildcats main weakness last season was the point guard position as Josiah Turner struggled on and off the floor, while the 6?6? Solomon Hill filled in admirably despite playing out of position. Arizona in the offseason sured up the point guard position for the future with Duquesne transfer T.J. McConnell (has to sit out this season because of transfer rules) but for 2012-13 question marks still surrounded the position. That was until Xavier guard Mark Lyons announced his intentions to transfer from the Cincinnati school and reunite with the coach that recruited him, Sean Miller of Arizona.� Lyons who will graduate this summe,r is eligible immediately because of the graduate exemption and is expected to immediately step in as the starting point guard for the Wildcats. Lyons first and foremost will bring toughness and a veteran presence to a?the?position of need for U of A. Lyons is the prize of this season?s transfer class as he leaves Xavier after a junior season in which he averaged 15.5 points and 3.4 assists per game. Lyons is not a ?true? point guard based on the essence of the position but his passing vision and ball handling ability should allow him to comfortably slide over to the lead guard spot. It?s hard to question Lyons? talent or toughness but the key question next season is how he will gel with a new cast of characters at Arizona and how he will adjust to the pass first point guard mindset. Lyons if he buys in to Sean Miller?s program takes Arizona from a good top 25ish team and makes them a national contender. Arizona brings back a solid nucleus with Kevin Parrom, Solomon Hill and Nick Johnson and with a top 5 recruiting class led by Kaleb Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley, look for the Wildcats to contend with UCLA for the Pac-12 title. Mark Lyons is a scoring guard who should make an immediate impact at Arizona, as his presence fills the gaping point guard void Arizona had after the transfer of Josiah Turner to SMU. Arizona last season won 23 games without any semblance of a point guard and with a nice returning core, a top recruiting class and the addition of an accomplished veteran guard like Lyons, the Wildcats have no excuse to not be in the field of 68 in 2012-13.
�2.)Luke Hancock, Louisville via George Mason- After sitting out all of last season after transferring from George Mason, Luke Hancock is chomping at the bit to get back on the floor in competitive games. Hancock, who has 2 years of eligibility remaining, is a 6?6? wing who can drive the lane or score from the perimeter. If you?re a Louisville fan and didn?t see Hancock play while he was at George Mason, think Kyle Kuric. Hancock has a lot of similarities to the recently graduated Kuric and his athleticism and shooting touch from the perimeter have resulted in a lot of comparisons between the 2. So how good is Hancock? Well as a sophomore at George Mason in 2010-2011, Luke averaged 10.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists, while shooting 50 percent from the field. Hancock is a wing who can do a little bit of everything for a club, as he can be a primary ball handler, facilitate, rebound or score, depending on what the team needs. Hancock also had a memorable ?shining moment?�back in the 2010-11 NCAA Tournament, when he hit the game winning 3-pointer to vault the Patriots over slightly favored Villanova. Hancock will be one of the biggest impact transfers next fall, as he is the missing piece on a national title contender in Louisville. Hancock in a sense will replace the offensive production of Kyle Kuric, while also adding more in terms of rebounding and facilitating.� Hancock was a very effective player at George Mason and his versatility and overall game should fit in nicely next season for Rick Pitino?s Cardinals. Look for Hancock to chip in between 13-15 points per game next season, while also grabbing about 5 boards and dishing out about 3 assists. Louisville is expected to be one of the favorites entering next season and the key player on this squad will be Hancock, who must replace Kyle Kuric and become one of Louisville?s top scorers. Last year Hancock impressed all season long on the scout team, something that was not overlooked by his teammates who voted him a team captain in his first season eligible at Louisville.
3.)Trey Ziegler, Pittsburgh via Central Michigan- This offseason Trey Ziegler was at the center of one of the most controversial eligibility rulings�to date, as he appealed to the NCAA for immediate eligibility after leaving Central Michigan. Ziegler wasn?t a graduating junior or applying for a hardship waiver though, he was claiming that since his father and head coach Ernie Ziegler was fired, he should be able to transfer to another school without sitting out. Ziegler argued that the only reason he chose CMU was to play under his father but this appeal still seemed optimistic and a bit farfetched to most college basketball experts. Then on March 25th, the NCAA unprecedentedly ruled in his favor and the scoring wing, who led the Chippewas in scoring in both of his seasons at Central Michigan, suddenly was declared eligible for this fall. That news is great news for Pitt, who are in desperate need for a scorer, after the graduation of one of the school?s all-time greats, Ashton Gibbs. In fact, the lack of an accomplished scorer was seemingly the one thing missing from an already very talented Pittsburgh team. Ziegler a former top 50 recruit out of high school, should make an immediate splash for the Panthers, as he has proven he can score at a high clip. The 6-5 guard averaged about 16 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists over his 2 year career in the MAC, including a sophomore season in which he averaged 15.8 points and reached high water marks in rebounding (6.7rpg), assists (2.5apg) and field goal percentage (46%).� Ziegler is a scorer first and should pick up most of the scoring slack vacated by the graduation of Ashton Gibbs (15.5ppg). Ziegler is a long and athletic 2-guard who has the ability to penetrate and score in the lane or post up smaller guards. The one area that Ziegler has struggled in during his career is shooting the basketball, as Trey has made just 37 of 117 career 3-pointers (31%), including just 11 makes last season. Part of the reason Ziegler?s shooting percentages are lower than you?d expect is the quality of his teams at CMU. During his 2 seasons at Central Michigan the Chippewas won just 21 games combined, and Ziegler was often depended on to take a high number of shots to keep CMU competitive or get them back in games.� At Pittsburgh, with a solid surrounding cast led by Lamar Patterson and Tray Woodall, Ziegler will no longer be expected to take 20 shots per game but still will be counted on to be Pitt?s leading or 2nd� leading scorer, alongside Patterson. Christmas came early for Panther fans as Trey Ziegler is just what Pittsburgh needed to compete in the Big East next season. Ziegler is a very talented scorer who can fill it up and now that he has a solid supporting cast around him, look for him to have a big season and improve his outside shooting percentages.
4.)Trent Lockett, Marquette via Arizona State- Trent Lockett is one of those players you can?t blame for�� �transferring, as Lockett has endured 2 of the toughest seasons of Arizona State basketball over the past 2 years. Lockett who was a role player on a 22-11 NIT squad as a freshman, hasn?t even been close to sniffing post season play each of the past� 2 seasons, as the Sun Devils have posted 12 wins and 10 wins respectively and haven?t played in a meaningful game after November. Losing though wasn?t the reason Lockett made the decision to transfer to Marquette, instead Lockett is moving to Marquette so he can spend time with his mother who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Lockett did not have to apply for a hardship waiver because he has already earned a degree in business communications from ASU, and thus will be eligible to compete for the Golden Eagles immediately. A Minnesota native, Lockett is now just 5 hours from home, a considerably closer difference than he would have been had he stayed at Arizona State. This move allows him to be closer to his ailing mother and also allows him to be more of a help to his family and friends during this tough time. The move also makes sense basketball wise, as Marquette is a team with definite NCAA Tournament aspirations, something Lockett has yet to experience playing at Arizona State. Lockett will be counted on for major contributions right away in Milwaukee, as Marquette loses its? top 2 players Darius Johnson-Odom (18.3ppg, 2.7apg) and Jae Crowder (17.5ppg, 8.4rpg). Lockett should help replace some of the production lost with the graduation of DJO, as the 6?4? guard averaged 13 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists while playing in the desert. The most valuable aspects to Lockett?s game are his versatility and athleticism, as Lockett does a lot of things well on the basketball floor including rebound, get to the free throw line, defend and even shoot from the perimeter. As a Golden Eagle, Lockett will be asked to be Marquette?s primary penetrator and his ability to finish from the field (50%) and get to the line (5.1FTA per game) will be a great asset for Buzz Williams? club. Lockett also was a much improved shooter as a junior as he made a career high 21 three?s and shot an impressive 41% from downtown. When you factor in that Lockett played on a team with very little help and a team that played very slow and got a minimal number of positions per game, you are looking at a player who could be one of the best kept secrets in college basketball. At Marquette, a more free flowing offensive team, look for Lockett to thrive, as his athleticism will finally be utilized and he will at long last get the opportunity to showcase his athletic gifts in transition. Trent Lockett is a nice fit for Marquette and will team with Vander Blue and Todd Mayo in the backcourt, as the Golden Eagles try and collectively replace All-Big East selection Darius Johnson-Odom. We wish Lockett and the rest of his family well as they go through this difficult time and hope Trent endures a pleasurable experience on and off the floor this season. Lockett has long gone unnoticed out in the desert playing for Arizona State, but now that he is on a contender people will soon be well versed on his game and will get to see just how good of an overall basketball player he is.
�5.)Alex Oriakhi, Missouri via Connecticut- I?ll take my shots when I?m� wrong but I was definitely right about Missouri last year, as they had the best regular season in school history before suffering a shocking loss to Cinderella Norfolk State.� Last year 1st year head coach Frank Haith benefited from inheriting a lot of talent at Mizzou, as the Tigers won 30 games led by veterans like Marcus Denmon and Kim English. That being said, Haith should be praised for how he was able to get the most out of that group and ended up leading them to 30 wins and the Big 12 Tournament title. Haith should also be praised for how he setup his roster for this season, as he inked big time transfers Keion Bell(Pepperdine), Earnest Ross(Auburn) and Jabari Brown(Oregon) to help fill his roster. Haith then went out and secured a very solid and in my opinion very underrated

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/which_transfers_will_make_an_immediate_splash_at_their_new_schools_in_2012_13/11082941

Orlando Magic Chicago Bears

Should the Bears sign Plaxico Burress?

The Chicago Bears have made some tremendous upgrades at the WR position this offseason with the additions of Brandon Marshall and rookie Alshon�Jefferey.� When combined with returning receivers Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox and Devin Hester the Bears have a formidable receiving corps that�should allow them to keep pace in the pass happy NFC North.� �But

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/should_the_bears_sign_plaxico_burress/10780931

Oklahoma City Thunder Sacramento Kings

Stage set for Serena-Maria showdown

How big an impact did her first-ever, first-round Grand Slam defeat at Roland Garros have on Serena Williams? We are about to find out.

So bouncy and enthusiastic after beating the then-world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka to win the Madrid title in May, Serena has seen all the old questions about Serena's fitness and motivation have resurfaced in recent weeks -- questions she will be keen to answer on court once the 2012 Wimbledon Championships begin on Monday.

The younger Williams has won Wimbledon four times -- one less than big-sister Venus -- and if mind and body are in good order, there is no reason why she should not do so again. She has the edge in power, athletic ability and sheer talent on just about anyone else in the game, and women's tennis would like nothing better than for her to blaze her way through a tough half of the draw that includes Azarenka and the defending champion Petra Kvitova to meet the No. 1 seed, Maria Sharapova, in the final.

It is Sharapova, of course, who has stolen the headlines in recent weeks with title-winning performances in Stuttgart, Rome and Roland Garros, where she completed the rare feat of winning all four Grand Slam tournaments. A showdown with Serena in the Wimbledon final would be the perfect test for both women -- a surface and a venue that they would both call favorite.

Sharapova has a gentle start against the Australian Anastasia Rodionova, who is ranked 133. Sharapova later could meet Venus Williams in the semifinal. Serena opens against one of the numerous Czechs in the draw, Barbora Strycova and could run into one for the most improved Americans, Varvara Lepchenko, and then Kvitova, who is seeded fourth to Serena's sixth.

After that strange foot injury, followed by a serious illness in 2011, it is hardly surprising that Serena's results have been patchy since her return. In Miami, she lost to former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and chided herself for making too many errors.

"No excuses," she said. "Got to stop doing that. It's silly."

After losing to Virginie Razzano in Paris, she was virtually speechless but, once again, mumbled about making too many mistakes. Razzano deserved her victory but, as always, one felt the result hinged largely on how Serena, rather than her opponent, played. Wimbledon should be no different.

There were promising signs for the future of American women's tennis at the French Open, and it will be interesting to see whether some of the young players can transfer that promise to grass. Vania King and Sloane Stephens both face Czechs in the first round -- King playing Petra Cetkovska, and Stephens going against Karolina Pliskova. Both are in Sharapova's quarter. and they could meet each other in the second round.

Christina McHale, at No. 28, is the only other American to warrant a seeding spot. She starts off against a British newcomer, Johanna Konta, currently ranked 217th.

It looks tougher for Jamie Hampton, who has been drawn against the vastly experienced former Indian Wells winner Daniela Hantuchova. Melanie Oudin, full of confidence after her fine win at Edgbaston last week, will play Hungary's Timea Babos. If she wins, Oudin could face former top-10 player Nadia Petrova in the second round.

Lepchenko takes on Austria's Patricia Mayr-Achleitner, but Irina Falconi will really do well to survive her first round -- the Atlanta-based American faces Azarenka, the No. 2 seed.

The need for Americans to begin making their mark at the top of the game is paramount. Half of the 32 seeds come from Eastern European countries, including Russia. That is a far cry from the dominance enjoyed by American, Australian and, to a lesser degree, British players in the post-World War II years. Until 1978, only Brazil's graceful Maria Bueno broke the stranglehold these nations held on the Wimbledon title. Then Martina Navaratilova won for the first time, and Eastern Europe awoke to the possibilities it has now grabbed so comprehensively.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/stage_set_for_serena_maria_showdown/11075087

San Diego Chargers

Andre Dawkins redshirt: is Duke still the ACC favorite?

After Duke released their bizarre statement in the fall announcing that Andre Dawkins was still with the basketball team, rumors went viral about his future with the Blue Devils. Most centered around two things: his young age for his class (he's now a 20 year-old senior), and the tragic death of his sister during Andre's freshman year. Whatever it is, Coach Mike Krzyzewski announced yesterday that it is time for Dawkins "to step away," and that he'll be redshirting this season.
This - of course - was widely reported. Most stories went with a headline like Yahoo: "It's official: Duke's Andre Dawkins will redshirt next season." Well, it's not official. It's a redshirt, not a contract. They could decide tomorrow, or in the fall, or in March for all we know to start playing Dawkins. There's too much time between here and there to consider anything "official," but for the purposes of this article I'm assuming that he will...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/andre_dawkins_redshirt_is_duke_still_the_acc_favorite/11068370

Dallas Mavericks New York Jets

Durant sued over nickname

When Kevin Durant was emerging as one of the best players in the NBA, many people felt like he needed a nickname. It looks like the people who officially decided that “Durantula” would be his nickname picked a bad one.
According to TMZ, Durant was sued in Federal Court on Tuesday by a musician who claims that is his nickname. Mark Durante, a guitarist who played with Public Enemy, The Aliens, The Next Big Thing, and other bands, says he used the Durantula nickname and has trademark rights to it.
The lawsuit reportedly says Durante adopted the name “Durantula” for his “on-stage and performance persona” — and has since used it to market “music, recordings, apparel, t-shirts, guitars, and related merchandise.”
Durant’s reps reportedly claimed they’re not using the nickname, but Durante says otherwise. He claims Nike used it for a T-shirt, and that Durant is selling autographed balls on his website with that nickname.
If this isn’t the dumbest lawsuit ever, then it’s close. If KD had listened to our suggestion, he wouldn’t be in trouble.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/kevin_durant_sued_by_80s_guitarist_for_use_of_durantula_nickname/11057222

Washington Redskins Cleveland Cavaliers

A quick word on the Jerry Sandusky trial

Jerry Sandusky was just convicted to 45 of 48 crimes tonight. The former Penn State Nittany Lion is going to be dealing with legal issues and jail for a long time and we here have no problem with that. This is an extremely touchy topic. From the evidence we?ve heard, it sounds like Jerry Sandusky deserves every second in jail. If the allegations are true, DIAF Sandusky. Do not pass go. Do not collect 200 dollars. Go directly to jail. Also, IMPORTANT information to help those who could suffer in the future. Please take note.
This case may be over, but the problem still exists. The anonymous, confidential hotline to report child abuse is 1-800-4-A-CHILD.
— Elika (@steakNstiffarms) June 23, 2012

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/a_quick_word_on_the_jerry_sandusky_trial/11072693

Cleveland Cavaliers New Orleans Saints

Versatile Rondae Jefferson eyes birthday commitment

Though he hasn’t begun paring down his college school list just yet, and holds scholarship offers from Syracuse, Rutgers, Arizona, Temple and others, 6’-7” wing Rondae Jefferson does have a commitment date in mind, his birthday on January 3, 2013. A unique player that arguably has the ability and agility to play and defend four [...]

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/versatile_rondae_jefferson_eyes_birthday_commitment/11058047

Baltimore Ravens Atlanta Falcons

Vettel earns pole at European GP

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel will start from the pole at the European Grand Prix for the third straight year.

The two-time defending Formula One champion has won the race the past two seasons. He had the fastest lap Saturday, finishing in 1 minute, 38.086 seconds on Valencia's 3.3-mile street circuit.

Lewis Hamilton of McLaren is also on the front row for Sunday's race. Pastor Maldonado of Williams will start third.

Ferrari pair Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher of Mercedes failed to reach the third qualifying session. Schumacher, a seven-time F1 champion, will start between the pair in 12th place.

Vettel's teammate, Mark Webber, was eliminated after the first period because of mechanical trouble. He will start 19th.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/vettel_earns_pole_at_european_gp/11074466

Detroit Lions Pittsburgh Steelers

Drummond, Robinson work out for Bobcats

Connecticut's Andre Drummond and Kansas' Thomas Robinson have worked out for Charlotte as the Bobcats make their evaluations before the June 28 NBA draft.

Drummond is 6-10 and Robinson 6-9, representing options if the Bobcats decide to take a big man with the second pick in the draft. Earlier in the week, the Bobcats worked out guard Bradley Beal of Florida and small forwards Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of Kentucky and Harrison Barnes of North Carolina.

Drummond averaged 10 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots as a freshman this past season. Robinson averaged 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds as a junior and was a unanimous AP first-team All-America selection.

Joining Drummond and Robinson at Friday's workouts were Kent Bazemore and Chris Cooper of Old Dominion, Ramone Moore of Temple and Josh Owens of Stanford.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/drummond_robinson_work_out_for_bobcats/11069057

Chicago Bulls Toronto Raptors

Mathis' ace lifts him to Travelers lead

David Mathis had a hole-in-one and shot a 6-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Travelers Championship.

The 38-year-old Mathis, who missed the cut last week in the U.S. Open, began play on the back nine, making a birdie on 10 before holing out from 158 yards shot on the par-3 11th hole. He was 6 under after six holes.

Nathan Green, Will Claxton and defending champion Fredrik Jacobson shot 65 on a day that saw temperatures soar into the upper 90s.

U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson and Masters winner Bubba Watson played together and finished in a group of 10 at 66. The third member of the threesome, PGA champion Keegan Bradley, shot a 68.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/golf/article_external/mathis_ace_lifts_him_to_travelers_lead/11064620

Philadelphia 76ers Chicago Bulls

Rahal, Kanaan, Viso penalized 10 starting spots

Graham Rahal, Tony Kanaan and E.J. Viso have been penalized 10 spots on the starting grid for Saturday night's IndyCar race in Iowa because of unapproved engine changes.

Rahal had issues with his engine Friday morning and switched it out before its mile limit.

Kanaan and Viso put in new engines earlier this week after last weekend's race in Milwaukee.

IndyCar also has updated the rules for the qualifying heat races set for later Friday. The grids for those three heats will be set by practice times, and IndyCar says any car that interferes with another will have its best two timed laps disallowed. If a car breaks the rules again, its session times will be voided and it'll be banned from the rest of practice.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/rahal_kanaan_viso_penalized_10_starting_spots/11070245

St. Louis Rams Minnesota Timberwolves

Chris Bosh?s Champagne Facials Cap Greatest Gif Postseason Ever

Bosh dot gif.

Source: http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2012/06/22/chris-boshs-champagne-facials-cap-greatest-gif-posteason-ever/

Washington Redskins Cleveland Cavaliers

Miami Heat Celebrate at Club LIV: The 5 Best Moments

The Miami Heat hit the town to celebrate their second championship in franchise history, and the first for LeBron James. Hilarity and frivolity ensued. 

The Miami Heat started the party from the opening tip as they alley-ooped and hit nylon early and often in their 121-106 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

The goodwill turned into an awesome celebration. We take you behind the scenes, well past Chris Bosh's love affair, with a shower of champagne. 

The pictures below come from World Red Eye, and their report issues that the Heat stars were late to arrive at the proceedings. 

The first traipsed into LIV at 3 a.m., not that it hindered their partying. Here are the best moments of a crazy night. 

1. Chris Bosh Gets Love: 

It's always fun to make light of the lanky Chris Bosh. It should be a sport, because anyone can play along. 

This brief story tells of a lonely Bosh who really just wants to be loved. "Look at me King, please." 

Yay!

2. OMGOMGOMG:

There may be photos of a happier man, but not many. LeBron James is rocking a smoke gun, booze and is proudly wearing a t-shirt of himself. 

It's like the basketball gods pooped the greatest moment in the history of celebrations and made this one brief brilliant second. 

3. And The Crowd. Goes. WILD: 

Here are some pics of the party people enjoying the Heat win. The second is the better of the two as it features some chick going full duck face and a man flipping off the camera, for no reason. 

Oh, Miami. You are just too much. 

4. Juwan Howard: 

Hey, who let grandpa in? Oh, snap. That's former fab-fiver and current Mario Chalmers' handler Juwan Howard. 

5. Swag 

Sit back and take in the coolest cat in any county. The man was a champion before the night began, and left with two rings. Oh, and he is dating Gabrielle Union. 

Follow me on Twitter and make your day. 

Follow @gabezal

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1232395-miami-heat-celebrate-at-club-liv-the-5-best-moments

San Antonio Spurs Arizona Cardinals

Bellator 71: Main Card Predictions

Bellator 71 marks the beginning of the 2012 summer series for Bellator, which plays host to a light heavyweight tournament. The winner of the tournament will meet Christian M'Pumbu, the current light heavyweight champion.

Also on the card is Brett Rogers, a heavyweight who showed great promise in the beginning of his Strikeforce career, but fell on hard times since. 

Here are the full main card predictions for tonight's event.

Begin Slideshow

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1231658-bellator-71-main-card-predictions

New Orleans Saints New Orleans Hornets

Hodgson restores unity, pride in England team

Roy Hodgson's installation as England coach a month before the European Championship appeared to be a major gamble.

Now it seems like a canny move.

Those who questioned the English Football Association for delaying the replacement of Fabio Capello for three months have gone very quiet.

After a miserable 2010 World Cup performance, a reinvigorated England squad will march into its Euro 2012 quarterfinal against Italy on Sunday.

The 64-year-old Hodgson has quickly generated a feel-good factor in a unified squad, which was often lacking during Capello's authoritarian reign.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/soccer/article_external/hodgson_restores_unity_pride_in_england_team/11061158

Carolina Panthers Phoenix Suns

Venus Williams, Clijsters unseeded for Wimbledon

Five-time champion Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters are unseeded for Wimbledon for the first time in more than a decade.

The seedings were announced on Wednesday for the Grand Slam tournament that starts Monday.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic heads the men's list, and Maria Sharapova tops the women's seedings for the first time.

The women's list follows the WTA rankings, while the men's has minor changes to reflect prowess on grass.

Williams, who played in eight Wimbledon finals from 2000-09, is unseeded for the first time since her debut in 1997. She has dropped to 55th in the rankings while dealing with an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue and joint pain.

Clijsters, ranked 53rd, is unseeded for the first time since 2000. She has won four Grand Slam titles.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/venus_williams_clijsters_unseeded_for_wimbledon/11051114

Buffalo Bills Atlanta Hawks

New kids on the block: Profiling Oregon basketball?s newcomers

Advancing to a New Age
Coming off a very impressive season in the Pac 12 and NIT, the�Oregon Ducks Basketball team is eagerly awaiting a 2012-2013 season that should see further improvement and a possible return to the hallowed grounds of the NCAA Men?s Basketball Championship.
Key to this hope that the 2012-2013 season will bring further success are returning starters such as C Tony Woods, F E.J. Singler, and F Carlos Emory.
While these players do give the Ducks a solid base (and there are surely other quality players on the roster ? Jonathan Lloyd for one) for the future, the loss of Garrett Sim to the ?real world? and young shooting guard Brett Kingma to a transfer has given the Ducks the need to reload their roster in order to ensure success in 2012-2013 and beyond.
E.J. Singler will be one of the main pieces for the Oregon Ducks in 2012-2013
In order to shore up insecurities in their transition between eras in Duck basketball, Dana Altman (head coach of the Ducks) has brought in new faces for the 2012-2013 season that will give the success for many years within the confines of Matthew Knight Arena.
These are the new faces of the Oregon basketball team:
Dominic Artis (5?11?, 165 lbs.) ? Point Guard
Richmond, California ? Findlay College Prep
Listed as an ESPN 100 player, Artis is the highlight of Altman?s strong 2012 recruiting class. A somewhat smaller player, Artis more than makes up for his stature with his ability to lead an offense as well as his slashing mentality.
Though a young player, Artis will likely see lots of playing time in his freshmen season as he is one of the prime examples of a ?field general? in college basketball.
Sure, his shooting and scoring needs a little more work before we consider him an elite college basketball player, Artis? ability to captain the court is his greatest quality. He uses his quick speed and cuts to provide openings in order to open up other, better shooting teammates.
Damyean Dotson (6?6?, 181 lbs.) ? Small Forward
Houston, Texas ? Jack Yates High School
Dotson is another player who should be able to pile up a bunch of nice statistics for the Ducks. Perhaps a little small with his 6?6?, 181 lb. frame, Dotson will need to put on a little bit more of muscle weight before he is ready to dominate Pac 12 play.
Despite this need to build out his frame more, Dotson should be able to contribute significantly to the Ducks in his rookie season. Coaches and scouts have raved about his abilities to contribute on both sides of the ball.
Reggie Rankin of ESPN.com had this to say about Dotson:
?Dotson is a stat-sheet stuffer who competes and plays extremely hard on both ends of the floor. He excels in transition, gets to the rim, hits midrange jumpers, knocks down rhythm 3s, handles, passes and rebounds in and out of his area?
Why wouldn?t the Ducks love this guy?
Fred Richardson (6?5?) ? Small Forward
Friendswood, Texas ? Clear Brook High School
Another player from the state of Texas, Richardson will hopefully become one of the Ducks? next big three-point shooters.
A good transition player, Richardson also has a strong ability to come off of screens and hit the long jumper.
Ben Carter (6?8?, 215 lbs.) ? Power Forward
Las Vegas, Nevada ? Bishop Gorman High School
One of the soon-to-be bigger players for the Ducks, opponents of the Ducks will be miss to underestimate the athleticism of Carter.
While he does need to improve athletically, (and already has) Carter has already shown the ability and skill to be an offensive threat at the next level. He is an excellent shooter off the step back and can even set up to hit the occassional three.
With more athletic work and strength training, Carter should be able to shore up his questions on defense as well.
Dominic Artis will be one of the key newcomers for Oregon this next season. (Photo Credit: Brendan Nolan)
Willie Moore (6?3?, 175 lbs.) ? Shooting Guard
Cincinnati, Ohio ? Aiken High School
One of those players who we don?t know too much about yet, Moore should be a solid back-up at either guard position this next 2012-2013 season.
He has shown the tendency to be a great player with the ball in his hands and should be able to provide the Ducks with a viable scoring threat on every position.
Devon Branch (6? 5?, 175 lbs.) ? Shooting Guard
Aberdeen, Maryland ? Cloud County Community College
The lone player out of community college for the Ducks this year is Devon Branch.
Branch provides a much needed ?experienced? player who can make an immediate impact for the Ducks.
Although he is mainly a slasher, Branch has shown the ability to be a valuable outside shooter as well.
CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE DUCKS BLOG IN OUR CLUBHOUSE TODAY AT NWSB!

� Chris Anderson for North West Sports Beat, 2012. |
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Post tags: Ben Carter, Brett Kingma, Carlos Emory, Damyean Dotson, Devon Branch, Dominic Artis, Ducks, Ducks basketball, Ducks hoops blogs, E.J. Singler, Fred Richardson, Garrett Sim, NCAA Basketball, NIT, Oregon, Oregon Ducks, Oregon Ducks Basketball, Oregon Ducks Basketball Blog, Pac 12 Basketball, Tony Woods, U of O Basketball blog, Willie Moore

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/new_kids_on_the_block_profiling_oregon_basketballs_newcomers/11054045

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