Sunday, June 30, 2013

Blackhawks re-sign Bickell; trade Bolland, Frolik for draft picks

Bryan Bickell, with Brandon Saad (Photo by Bill Smith / Chicago Blackhawks).

Six days after combining on the Stanley Cup-clinching goal, the Chicago Blackhawks traded away Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik in order to free up enough space under the NHL salary cap to re-sign Bryan Bickell to a four-year contract. It all happened early in the 2013 NHL Draft at Prudential Center on Sunday. "I've known Bolland for a long time and he was a big part of these Cup runs we had [in 2010 and 2013], but they felt they needed to move some guys to be able to keep me and I'm just happy that they wanted me that bad," Bickell said on a conference call Sunday. "To see those two guys gone it's unfortunate, but I'm just happy to be in this situation." Bickell, who could have become an unrestricted free agent July 5, said he understands that with the big contract comes more pressure to produce like he did in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when he had nine goals and 17 points in 23 games and developed instant chemistry playing left wing on a line with center Jonathan Toews and right wing Patrick Kane. Toews, Kane and Bickell combined for 13 points after being reunited starting with Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Bickell scored the game-tying goal with 76 seconds left in Game 6 of the Final off a feed from Toews. "There's going to be more pressure," Bickell said. "They're going to rely on me more. I feel this playoffs I took a big step in the way I need to play and the consistency level I need to bring, but I feel I can bring that every night. I know what it takes now, what they want, and hopefully I can just bring it." Bickell had 23 points in 48 regular-season games and has 90 points, including 40 goals, in 220 NHL games since making his debut during the 2006-07 season. Bickell was chosen by the Blackhawks in the second round (No. 41) of the 2004 NHL Draft. "I feel like Chicago is a second home," Bickell said. "You can't beat the city, the fans the team. I'm happy to be back. It's an awesome feeling." Ironically, for Bickell to stay it took trading away one of his longtime teammates, Bolland, who also was part of Chicago's 2004 draft class. Bolland grew up just outside of Toronto in Mimico, Ontario, and played minor hockey with Bickell for the Toronto Red Wings before joining the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. Bolland was drafted by the Blackhawks with the No. 32 pick in 2004 and won the Stanley Cup twice. He produced 168 points during 332 regular-season games for Chicago, and had 43 points in 67 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He could become Toronto's No. 2 center behind Nazem Kadri in 2013-14. "They've got some young talent with Kadri and the goaltender [Jonathan Bernier]," Bolland said. "I think it's one team that's like the Blackhawks, a team that's coming up and is going to do big things. Let's see if we can do the same thing we did [in Chicago]." Frolik was drafted No. 10 in 2006 by the Florida Panthers. Chicago acquired Frolik on Feb. 9, 2011, and he signed a three-year extension with the Blackhawks four months later. Frolik, who scored 21 goals each of his first two NHL seasons, became one of Chicago's top penalty-killing forwards.

Matt Kenseth wins Sprint Cup race at Kentucky


Matt Kenseth has raced long enough to know that rough starts can still have good outcomes. Especially when his crew chief takes chances. Case in point was Kenseth's fuel-only pit stop gamble that helped him beat Jimmie Johnson late to win the rescheduled 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Kentucky Speedway. A race that was Johnson's to lose ultimately became Kenseth's series-high fourth victory of the season - and third on a 1.5-mile track - after crew chief Jason Ratcliff passed on putting new tires on the No. 20 Toyota following the race's ninth caution. ''I thought he was slightly crazy when that happened,'' said Kenseth, who widened his lead when the field went four-wide after the restart on lap 246 and saw Johnson's No. 48 Chevy spin from second place on a day he led three times for 182 of 267 laps. ''I didn't think there was any way that we were going to hold on for that win. He made the right call at the right time and those guys got it done.'' Kenseth led twice for 38 laps, including the final 23. Johnson, the five-time champion and series points leader, finished ninth and leads Carl Edwards by 38. The restart bothered Johnson, who accused Kenseth of breaking the pace car speed. But Johnson took solace in salvaging his 11th top-10 despite between sandwiched in the logjam that could have been worse. ''We were kind of in an awkward situation in that restart there,'' he said. ''We were like three- and four-wide going in the corner, then something happened with the air and just kind of turned me around. Unfortunate, but at least we rallied back for a good finish.'' Second was Jamie McMurray in a Chevy, followed by Clint Bowyer (Toyota), Joey Logano (Ford) and Kyle Busch (Toyota). Rain Saturday night forced NASCAR officials to postpone the race to a daytime start. The event was red-flagged for 18 minutes following a seven-car wreck involving defending race and Sprint Cup winner Brad Keselowski, who returned to finish 33rd. It was the biggest incident of 10 cautions for 42 laps, but things were clean after Johnson brought out the final yellow flag. The checkered flag crowned Kentucky's third different champion in as many events though Kenseth, like Johnson, was due for a breakthrough on the 1.5-mile oval. He finished seventh here last year and sixth in the 2011 inaugural race. However, victory didn't seem likely for the 2003 Cup champion after qualifying 16th and running outside the top 20 during the first quarter of the event. ''I thought our first run, we were all right and I guess probably after the second run, we were able to move forward pretty good,'' Kenseth said. ''I felt pretty good about what we had. I thought we need to get it better.'' From then on, the first-year Joe Gibbs Racing driver was a perennial top-five contender. Trouble was, he and other hopefuls seemed to need Johnson to suffer misfortune to have any shot of catching him. The way he was running, that appeared unlikely. Turns out, Kenseth needed to rely on the left-side tires Ratcliff ordered the previous stop. Taking fuel only the final time allowed him to gain the lead coming off pit road, and the rubber held up on the rough, bumpy track, both on the restart and through the final laps. Ratcliff was shocked that more teams didn't follow suit with that strategy. ''I felt like more guys would make that call, and so I thought it was worth a shot to get out there,'' the crew chief said. ''When we rolled off pit road and saw what everybody did, I looked to the guy beside me and I'm like, 'I can't believe we are the only ones that did that.'' The decision led to a surprising late turn of events, and the tense finish in which McMurray and Bowyer took turns trying to chase down Kenseth provided a nice makeup after Saturday night's washout. In a season of struggles, McMurray was just happy with his first top five. ''Every week it's been something,'' he said, ''so it's nice to have some good luck.'' Bowyer remained third in points and gave Michael Waltrip Racing its second straight top-two run following teammate Martin Truex Jr.'s road win last week in Sonoma, Calif. Johnson was a favorite after strong practices and a third-place qualifying run, and he quickly picked up where he left off to become the story on Sunday with the best car after several early lead changes. The race's biggest incident came on lap 49 when Kurt Busch spun out Keselowski near turn 1, triggering an accident that red-flagged the race. Greg Biffle slammed into Keselowski, lifting his car off the asphalt and leaving both Fords mangled. Somehow, both returned to finish 33rd and 34th respectively. But at the time of the wreck Johnson had already taken his first lead of the race and appeared headed to a walkover victory before Ratcliff's risk resulted in Kenseth's reward. ''With everything being equal, I still thought we were a second-place car when we were at our best,'' Kenseth said. ''There were times when we ran a little better than (Johnson) but I don't know what he was doing up front, if he was saving fuel or what. We still had an excellent car.''

THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - JUNE 30TH

1908 - Boston's Cy Young's 2nd no-hitter, beats NY Highlanders, 8-0.
1933 - Card's Dizzy Dean strikes out 17 Cubs to win 8-2.
1934 - NFL's Portsmouth Spartans become the Detroit Lions.
1948 - Cleveland Indian Bob Lemon no-hits Detroit Tigers, 2-0.
1962 - LA Dodger Sandy Koufax no-hits NY Mets, 5-0.
1965 - NFL grants Atlanta Falcons a franchise.
1966 - "Iron" Mike Tyson, NY, youngest Heavyweight boxing champ (1986-90) is born.
1967 - Phillies Cookie Rojas pitches, plays 9th position since joining Philadelphia.
1970 - Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium opens, Braves beat Reds 8-2.
1972 - Cincinnati Reds are 11 games back in NL, & go on to win pennant.
1975 - Ralf Schumacher, German race car driver (F1) is born.
1982 - NJ NHL franchise officially named Devils by fan balloting, 
runner-up names are Blades, Meadowlanders & Americans.
1988 - Chicago agrees to build a new stadium so White Sox won't move to Florida.
1992 - First pay bathrooms in US Open: 25 cents (NYC).
1995 - Indians' Eddie Murray, is 20th to reach 3,000 hits.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

2013 NBA draft winners and losers: Celtics trade Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are headed to Brooklyn after
 a blockbuster trade. (NBAE/Getty Images)
Danny Ainge once told Boston Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach he should have traded Larry Bird while the Hall of Fame forward still had value at the end of his career. Years later, Ainge listened to his own advice. The Celtics general manager broke up the remaining core pieces of the franchise's most recent championship team by agreeing in principle to a blockbuster trade that will send Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets. In return, the Celtics will acquire valuable draft picks and millions of dollars in payroll flexibility to begin their rebuilding process. Earlier in the week, Ainge acquired the Los Angeles Clippers' 2015 pick in return for releasing Doc Rivers from his coaching contract. That was enough to make the Celtics one of draft night's biggest winners. The Garnett-Pierce trade, which also will send Jason Terry to the Nets, will land the Celtics three first-round picks (2014, '16 and '18) and the right to swap first-round picks with the Nets in 2017 – along with Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph and the expiring deal of Kris Humphries. Boston now has two first-round picks, including its own, in a stellar 2014 draft that will possibly be led by coveted Kansas guard Andrew Wiggins. Rajon Rondo is now clearly the Celtics' franchise player, but Boston won't have much reason to rush him back from knee surgery in what will be a rebuilding year. Armed with more draft picks and eventual cap room, Boston now hopes the rebuilding process won't take as long. Among the biggest losers on draft night? One could make a case for the other team in the evening's big trade. Yes, the Nets added Garnett and Pierce to play with guards Deron Williams and Joe Johnson and center Brook Lopez. But Garnett and Pierce are at the end of their careers, which puts heavy pressure on rookie NBA head coach Jason Kidd to produce a title contender immediately. Brooklyn faces a luxury-tax bill of nearly $80 million and will have a payroll close to $100 million. Even with the upgrades, Brooklyn isn't a lock to be a top-three team in the Eastern Conference. The Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers and the Chicago Bulls (with a healthy Derrick Rose) should all be formidable. The Nets did win by temporarily stealing some of the NBA spotlight from the New York Knicks. The trade won't be official until July 10. Here's a look at some of the other winners and losers from the 2013 NBA draft.
WINNER: Anthony Bennett
On the eve of the draft, Bennett said there was a chance he could be the top pick. Few listened. Now, after being selected No. 1 overall, the former UNLV forward could be the biggest surprise pick in NBA draft history. "I'm just really as surprised as everyone else," Bennett said. "I didn't have any idea who was going No. 1 or who was going No. 2. I heard everything was up for grabs. But I'm just real happy, glad I have this opportunity." The Cavaliers were expected to select Kentucky center Nerlens Noel or Maryland center Alex Len. Bennett was viewed as a dark horse candidate, especially since Cleveland already had another power forward in Tristan Thompson. The undersized Bennett is also recovering from shoulder surgery. Other intriguing candidates included Indiana guard Victor Oladipo, Georgetown small forward Otto Porter Jr., and Kansas guard Ben McLemore. So when did Bennett know for sure he was going to be taken No. 1? "When they said my name," he said. "I had no idea."
LOSER: Nerlens Noel
Nerlens Noel had been projected as a possible No. 1 pick. (AP)It was nearly 1 a.m. ET Friday when Noel finally addressed reporters as a surprised member of the Philadelphia 76ers. It was a long and disappointing night for the slim center as he fell from the possible top pick to the sixth overall selection by the New Orleans Pelicans. Noel then learned he had been traded to the Sixers – with a protected 2014 first-round pick dealt to the Sixers for All-Star guard Jrue Holiday and the rights to Baylor guard Pierre Jackson, the 42nd overall pick. "I'm going to look at this night a few years down the road when I'm established in the NBA as the night that gave me the motivation that I needed to become the player I wanted to be," Noel said. Noel hopes to be able to play by November following knee surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament that cut short his freshman season at Kentucky. He believes the injury contributed to his slide in the draft.
"They're going to make their own decisions that are best for them," Noel said of the teams that passed on him. "Down the road they can just hope they made the right decision." 

WINNER: Pelicans
The Pelicans acquired one of the NBA's marquee young point guards. Holiday, 23, might help New Orleans finally soothe the loss of Chris Paul from two years ago while giving them another key player to build around. Holiday averaged 17.7 points and eight assists last season and is beginning a four-year, $44 million contract extension he previously signed with the Sixers. "He's shocked," said Holiday's agent, Tony Dutt. "He understands it's a business as well. He's OK. It is what it is – something we didn't expect." The Pelicans might explore trading disgruntled shooting guard Eric Gordon. Point guard Greivis Vasquez also is coming off the best season of his young career. "Jrue will be great for us," Gordon said. "Very excited."
LOSER: NBA hecklers
Hakeem Olajuwan, left, surprised David Stern at the end
of the first round. (AP)
One of the draft's greatest pastimes is the booing of NBA commissioner David Stern as he announces the first-round picks. Hecklers, however, no longer have Stern to pick on. Stern was booed for the last time at the draft Thursday. He retires as commissioner on Feb. 1, 2014. Stern took his final booing in stride by bantering with the jeering Barclays Center crowd. The fans eventually gave him a standing ovation at the end of the first round. The crowd, of course, followed by booing Stern's replacement, Adam Silver. "We've had to explain to our international audience that the 'boo' is an American sign of respect," Stern said. 
WINNER: Lucas "Bebe" Nogueira's Celtics hat 
The hat had the ride of its life atop the Brazilian center's large afro, but somehow didn't fall completely off. Alas, the hat was eventually traded for a Atlanta model when Nogueria's rights were officially shipped to the Hawks. "I want them to recognize me because of my hair, too, but mostly for my game," Nogueira said.
LOSER: Shabazz Muhammad
Muhammad was viewed as a possible No. 1 NBA pick as the NCAA season began. But the former UCLA star's stock dropped dramatically, and he wasn't invited to the draft green room for the top prospects. He was eventually taken with the final lottery pick (No. 14 by the Utah Jazz) before his draft rights were acquired by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Muhammad learned of his draft selection while watching on TV near the Barclays Center. He still came to the arena to hear his name announced and shake Stern's hand. "Some teams passed on me," Muhammad said. "That's why you have a chip on your shoulder. I'm a guy who has a chip on his shoulder and wants to work."
WINNER: Hoosiers
Oladipo and former Indiana University teammate Cody Zeller were selected with the second and fourth overall picks by the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats, respectively. Oladipo was considered a top-three pick, but Zeller was more of a surprise."I was just kidding my agent because he didn't bail me out," Zeller said. "He didn't tell me. I didn't know until David Stern announced it."

Max Scherzer wins again! Becomes first pitcher since Roger Clemens in 1986 to start 12-0

If we entered the season with the knowledge that a Detroit Tigers right-hander was going to pitch his way into the history books, I believe most of us would have assumed his name would be Justin Verlander. As we should know by now, though, baseball is never that predictable. While Verlander has certainly pitched well, it's actually 29-year-old Max Scherzer who has joined elite company by winning his 12th straight decision to begin the 2013 season. Scherzer reached the 12-0 mark on Friday night by holding the Tampa Bay Rays to three runs on four hits while striking out nine over seven solid innings. He also received help from the usual suspects on Detroit's offense. Miguel Cabrera went 4 for 4 with two home runs and three knocked in. Prince Fielder then applied the finishing touches on the 6-3 victory with a two-run big fly off Cesar Ramos in the eighth. When Joaquin Benoit recorded the 27th out to earn his sixth save, Scherzer's name immediately became etched alongside that of Roger Clemens, who was the last pitcher to begin a season with 12 straight winning decisions. It's worth noting that Clemens only needed 13 starts to reach that mark, and would improve to 14-0 before taking his first loss. Scherzer needed 16 starts, but he still managed something that had never been done before. According to ESPN Stats and Info (via Elias Sports), Scherzer is now the first pitcher in MLB history to go unbeaten in his first 16 starts of a season while also recording at least 120 strikeouts. I think that helps cement his dominance and puts his record into a better light in spite of what Scherzer had to say about his own performance after the game.
From the Associated Press:
''I'm pitching well, but the reason I'm 12-0 is because of my offense,'' he added. ''You got to see firsthand today the best player in the game hitting two home runs on three pitches and going 4 for 4. And Prince hits a bomb. It's the offense that set me up.''
Sure, Scherzer had a rough outing on Opening Day against the New York Yankees (four runs in five innings) and another against the Kansas City Royals (five runs in five innings) on April 24. In both cases, the offense rallied and rewarded him with the victory. He also had back-to-back starts in between those outings where he allowed one run in six and eight innings respectively and took no-decisions. He could easily have a loss or two. He could easily have 14 wins. But the fact he's 12-0 doesn't feel empty or undeserving. Not even in today's game where the value of the win is questioned at every turn — with good reason in most cases. Scherzer's 12-0 is rock solid.

Nathan Horton tests free-agent market, rather than re-sign with Bruins


Nathan Horton is a top six power forward with impressive postseason stats, and as such could have been one of the summer’s most coveted players if he reached the open market. Which, it appears, he will. Horton’s agent informed the Boston Bruins that the winger won’t re-sign before hitting unrestricted free agency on July 5. From Boston.com:

“Pursuant to his rights under the CBA, Nathan has informed the Bruins that he is going to explore his options as an unrestricted free agent,” Paul Krepelka, Horton’s agent, said in a statement.
One expects the Bruins will trade Horton’s negotiating rights to a team during the NHL Draft weekend, which is how these things usually play out. As Bob McKenzie reports, it sounds like this is the end of Horton and the Bruins – and that former No. 2 overall pick Tyler Seguin’s name is in play as Boston looks to either replace Horton or snag a top five pick.

THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - JUNE 29TH

1897 - Chicago beats Louisville 36-7 (baseball).
1933 - Primo Carnera KOs Jack Sharkey in 6th round for Heavyweight boxing title
1936 - Minnesota Twins future slugger Harmon Killebrew is born.
1950 - US beats England 1-0 in a world cup soccer game (next win in 1994).
1961 - Willie Mays is 4th major leaguer with 3 or more HRs twice in a season.
1967 - Primo Carnera, Italian boxer (b. 1906) dies.
1969 - On Billy Williams Day in Chicago, the Cubs outfielder passes 
Stan Musial's NL record for consecutive games played (896).
1983 - Angel Cordero wins his 5,000th Horse Races.
1984 - Pete Rose plays in record 3,309th game, surpassing Carl Yastrzemski.
1990 - A's Dave Stewart no-hits Blue Jays & Dodger's Fernando Valenzuela 
no-hits St Louis 6-0, 1st time no-hitters in both leagues.
1995 - George Foreman loses IBF boxing title, refused to fight Axel Schulz.
2006 - Northwestern football coach Randy Walker dies of an 
apparent heart attack at age 52 (b. 1954).

Friday, June 28, 2013

Millions of fans fete victorious Blackhawks

Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) holds up the Stanley Cup Trophy during a rally in Grant Park for the NHL Stanley Cup hockey champions Friday, June 28, 2013, in Chicago.

From the jubilant parade all the way to the boisterous rally, millions of excited fans spent a sun-drenched Friday celebrating another Stanley Cup title for the Chicago Blackhawks. Dressed mostly in red and black, they came out to say thanks for the memories. Turns out, captain Jonathan Toews and Co. wanted to return the favor. ''This shows how unbelievable this city is,'' Toews said, addressing the rapt crowd at Grant Park. ''Unbelievable. Thank you.'' The Blackhawks rode to the rally in red, open-topped buses, passing waving and screaming fans of every age as the parade traveled from the United Center to the downtown party. Toews hoisted the Stanley Cup over his head to show it off to the crowd, which was cooled by large water misters placed along the route with temperatures in the low 80s. One of the many signs read ''Thank you, guys'' on the top line and ''Best 17 seconds of my life'' for the second part - referring to the pair of late goals that lifted the Blackhawks to a 3-2 title-clinching victory over the Boston Bruins on Monday night. And there was at least one expression of love for Andrew Shaw, the hardscrabble forward who required stitches on his face after he was hit by a puck Monday. It was the second championship in four seasons for the Blackhawks, and authorities thought Friday's crowd was even heartier than the 2 million that came out in 2010. ''What do you say we get back here and do it again next year?'' forward Patrick Sharp said to a big cheer at the rally. The Grant Park crowd also enjoyed a brief but colorful speech by normally reserved goaltender Corey Crawford, who drew wide grins and chuckles from his teammates. ''It's tough to follow that speech by Corey Crawford,'' Toews said after he carried the Cup onto the stage. Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said 42 people were taken to hospitals with heat-related health problems. He also said 20 people jumped into a restricted part of Lake Michigan and the fire department made sure that all 20 came out of the water. The massive crowd at the park grew steadily all morning long, with the most ardent supporters camping out overnight, ready to sprint to the big stage the minute police swung the barriers aside. By the time buses delivered the players and their families, the park was packed. Some fans brought along homemade versions of the Stanley Cup, including one fashioned from an empty beer keg. Twenty-somethings Courtney Baldwin and Meghan O'Kane, from the city's suburbs, slapped together their tribute from a jumble of jugs and plastic bowls painted grey. It was empty Friday morning, but Baldwin said they planned to fill it with an adult beverage in the afternoon - a common occurrence for the actual silver trophy over the past week. One fan who dashed to the front near the stage was Michael Wilczynski, a 26-year-old sales associate from the suburbs. His father took him to his first game and they partied together downtown after the last Stanley Cup victory. ''My dad died in February. We came to 2010. I'm not going to miss this. I had to be here,'' he said. The Blackhawks gave the city something to celebrate as the Cubs and White Sox grind through another lost summer. And fans took note. ''We love the Blackhawks. This is history and this is a championship, unlike the Cubs,'' O'Kane said, taking a shot at a team that hasn't won a World Series since 1908. The franchise's fifth Stanley Cup was the culmination of a banner season for the Blackhawks, who set an NHL record when they recorded at least one point in the first 24 games - half of the lockout-shortened schedule. They finished with the best record in the league. The dramatic Game 6 victory in Boston sparked a raucous party in parts of Chicago. Fans poured out of bars after the thrilling finish and celebrated in the streets in the several neighborhoods. Sarah Schmidt, 22, who grew up in Chicago and made the pilgrimage to Friday's celebrations from Milwaukee, told her boss she was taking the day off no matter what. She hoped her bartending gig would still be there when the party was over. ''I can't miss this,'' she said.
Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews holds up the 2013 Stanley Cup during a victory parade down Washington Street Friday, June 28, 2013 in Chicago. The Blackhawks celebrate the team's second championship in four years.

THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - JUNE 28TH

1919 - Carl Mazes pitches a complete doubleheader against NY Yankees.
1957 - Frick overrules & names Stan Musial, Willie Mays, & Hank Aaron to team.
1960 - John Elway, Hall of Fame quarterback (Denver Broncos-Superbowl 32) is born.
1962 - Mickey Cochrane, Baseball Hall of Fame catcher, dies at 59.
1963 - Frank "Home Run" Baker, (hit 2 HRs in 1911 World Series) dies at 77.
1971 - Phillies' Rick Wise hits 2 HRs & no-hits Reds.
1971 - Supreme Court (8-0) overturns draft evasion conviction of Muhammad Ali.
1973 - Black Sports Hall of Fame forms: Paul Robeson, Elgin Baylor, Jesse Owens, 
Jim Brown, Wilma Rudolph, Joe Louis & Althea Gibson elected.
1975 - Golfer Lee Trevino is struck by lightning at Western Open (Ill).
1992 - US Dream Team beats Cuba in 1st exhibition basketball game, 133-57.
1993 - Carlton Fisk, 45, released by White Sox, as all time leader of most 
games caught & most HRs by a catcher.
1994 - NY Met Pitcher Dwight Gooden suspended for 60 days due to drug charges.
2007 - Craig Biggio of the Houston Astros becomes the 27th member of the 
3000 hit club, going 5 for 5 against the Colorado  Rockies.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Cleveland Cavaliers choose Anthony Bennett as No. 1 overall pick of NBA draft


Anthony Bennett became the first Canadian No. 1 overall pick, and Nerlens Noel tumbled out of the top five and right into a trade in a surprising start to an unsettled NBA draft. One of the favorites to be taken first Thursday night, Noel fell to No. 6, where the New Orleans Pelicans took him and then dealt his rights to the Philadelphia 76ers for a package headlined by All-Star guard Jrue Holiday, according to a person familiar with the details. The Cleveland Cavaliers started things by passing on centers Noel and Alex Len, who went to Phoenix at No. 5, in favor Bennett, the UNLV freshman forward who starred for Canada's junior national teams and was the Mountain West Conference freshman of the year. ''I'm just as surprised as anyone else,'' Bennett said. There was suspense right until the end, either because the Cavs were unsure who they wanted or were trying to trade the pick. Most predictions had them taking one of the big men, with Noel largely considered the favorite for the No. 1 choice even after a torn ACL that ended his lone season at Kentucky in February. ''I thought everything was in the air, so I wasn't thinking I was the No. 1 pick,'' Noel said. David Stern, booed heavily in his final draft as commissioner, added to the surprise of the moment by pausing slightly before announcing the Cavs' pick, their first at No. 1 since taking All-Star Kyrie Irving in 2011. Orlando passed on both of the big men, too, going with Indiana swingman Victor Oladipo with the No. 2 pick. Washington took Otto Porter Jr. with the third pick, keeping the Georgetown star in town. Ten years after the Cavaliers selected LeBron James to start a draft that would include future NBA championship teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the top five, this one lacked star power and perhaps even the promise of stardom. Bennett, Noel and Len are all coming off injuries and couldn't even work out for teams, but the Cavs decided Bennett's shoulder surgery wasn't enough cause for concern. Len walked up to meet Stern and collect his orange Suns hat, then sat down near the stage to put on the walking boot he needs for the stress fracture of his left ankle that was discovered after Maryland's season. Noel finally went to New Orleans with the next pick. He didn't seem upset at his fall down the draft board, hugging his mother and shaking hands with Kentucky coach John Calipari. It was a good start to the night for the Hoosiers, with Cody Zeller going two places after Oladipo to the Charlotte Bobcats. Kansas guard Ben McLemore, another player who was considered a potential top-three pick, also dropped, going seventh to Sacramento. Headed by a lackluster class, the draft promised confusion and second-guessing, with no consensus No. 1 pick and little agreement among the order of the top five. And with lesser-known names in the draft, veterans soaked up the spotlight in the hours leading up to it. Hosting the draft at Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets made the biggest news. A person with knowledge of the talks confirmed a Yahoo Sports report that the Nets and Celtics were working on a trade that would bring Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn. ESPN reported earlier Thursday that Dwight Howard was unlikely to return to the Los Angeles Lakers when he becomes a free agent next month. The guys coming into the league were glad for the attention they did finally get once their names were called. ''It's like a weight vest you took off after running five miles,'' Oladipo said. ''It's relaxing, man. But at the same time, you know it's just getting started.'' National player of the year Trey Burke of Michigan also was traded, the Minnesota Timberwolves sending his rights to Utah for the 14th and 21st picks, according to a person with knowledge of the details. Lehigh's C.J. McCollum rounded out the top 10 by going to Portland. Stern, retiring in February, seemed to play up the boos, which turned to cheers after every pick, fans perhaps as puzzled as some of the players at the names they were hearing. ''I was just kidding my agent because he didn't bail me out,'' Zeller said. ''He didn't tell me. I didn't know until David Stern announced it. It's a crazy process not knowing, but I'm definitely excited that I ended up with the Bobcats.'' Other players couldn't get too excited about their new surroundings, because they changed quickly. The flurry of trades wasn't surprising with so much uncertainty surrounding this class and so much hope in other areas. Teams such as Houston, Dallas and Atlanta already have an eye on Howard's future, needing to have necessary salary cap space to offer a maximum contract that could lure him away from Los Angeles. The 2014 class - which could be topped by a second straight Canadian in incoming Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins - will be higher regarded than this one, with James perhaps heading the available free agents to follow.

THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - JUNE 27TH

1890 - George Dixon becomes 1st black boxing champ (Bantam weight).
1917 - First baseball player (Hank Gowdy) to enter WW I military service.
1963 - Phillies Johnny Callison hits for cycle, but Phillie centerfielder Tony Gonzalez's 
error ends his record 205 consecutive errorless games.
1969 - Honduras/El Salvador breaks diplomatic relations due to soccer match.
1973 - Jennifer Brundage, US softball infielder (Olympics-gold-96) is born.
1980 - Dodger's Jerry Reuss' no-hits SF Giants 8-0.
1984 - Supreme Court ends NCAA monopoly on college football telecasts.
1986 - Anne White shocks Wimbledon by wearing only a body stocking.
1986 - Don Rogers, of Cleveland Browns, dies of cocaine poisoning.
1986 - SF Giant Robby Thompson is caught stealing record 4 times.
1988 - Mike Tyson KOs Michael Spink in 91 seconds, in Atlantic City ($67m).
2004 - Darrell Russell is killed during the 2004 NHRA Sears Nationals competing 
 in the second round of eliminations when his dragster went out of control 
and crashed just past the finish line (b. 1968).

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Former Pro football player Aaron Hernandez charged with murder


New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested Wednesday and charged with murder in the shooting death of a friend prosecutors say had angered the NFL player at a nightclub a few days earlier by talking to the wrong people. Hernandez, 23, was taken from his North Attleborough home in handcuffs just over a week after Boston semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd's bullet-riddled body was found in an industrial park a mile away. Less than two hours after the arrest, the Patriots announced they had cut Hernandez, a 2011 Pro Bowl selection who signed a five-year contract last summer worth $40 million. Lloyd was a 27-year-old athlete with the Boston Bandits who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee. He was shot multiple times on a secluded gravel road, authorities said. Hernandez ''drove the victim to that remote spot, and then he orchestrated his execution,'' prosecutor Bill McCauley said. If convicted, Hernandez could get life in prison without parole. ''It is at bottom a circumstantial case. It is not a strong case,'' his attorney, Michael Fee, said at a court hearing during which Hernandez was ordered held without bail on murder charges and five weapons counts. Lloyd's family members cried and hugged as the prosecutor outlined the killing. Two were so overcome with emotion that they had to leave the courtroom. McCauley said the slaying stemmed from a night out at a Boston club called Rumor on June 14. He said Hernandez was upset about certain things, including that Lloyd had talked to some people Hernandez ''had troubles with.'' The prosecutor did not elaborate. Two days later, McCauley said, on the night of June 16, Hernandez texted two friends from out of state and asked them to hurry back to Massachusetts. Surveillance footage from Hernandez's home showed him leaving with a gun, and he told someone in the house that he was upset and couldn't trust anyone anymore, the prosecutor said. The three men picked up Lloyd at his home around 2:30 a.m., according to authorities. As they drove around in their rented car, they discussed what happened at the nightclub, and Lloyd started getting nervous, McCauley said. Lloyd texted his sister, ''Did you see who I am with?'' When she asked who, he answered, at 3:22 a.m., ''NFL,'' then, a minute later, he sent one final text: ''Just so you know.'' Within a few minutes, people working the overnight shift at the industrial park reported hearing gunshots, McCauley said. Surveillance video showed the car going into a remote area of the industrial park and emerging four minutes later, the prosecutor said. A short time later, Hernandez returned to his house, and he and one of the other men were seen on his home surveillance system holding guns, McCauley said. Then the system stopped recording, according to the prosecutor. Hernandez had recently installed the system and had 14 cameras inside and out, according to McCauley, who said detectives found footage was missing from the six to eight hours after the slaying. Investigators did not specify who fired the shots. They did not identify the two other people who were with Hernandez or say whether they were under arrest. According to McCauley, Hernandez and his friends later returned the car to the rental agency, and Hernandez offered the attendant a piece of blue chewing gum. She found a .45-caliber shell casing and a piece of what appeared to be chewed blue gum in the car and threw them out. Later, investigators retrieved the items from a trash bin, and the casing matched others found where Lloyd was killed, McCauley said. The two weapons seen on the surveillance footage have not been found, he said. In arguing unsuccessfully for bail, Hernandez's attorney said the athlete is unlikely to flee, is a homeowner, and lives with his fiancee and an 8-month-old baby. He also said Hernandez had never been accused of a violent crime. As he was led from his home in the morning, Hernandez was wearing a white V-neck T-shirt, with his arms inside the shirt and behind his back. He spit into some bushes on his way to a police cruiser. Later, as he was taken from the North Attleborough police station to court, two dozen supporters cheered, some yelling, ''We love you, Aaron!'' ''Words cannot express the disappointment we feel knowing that one of our players was arrested as a result of this investigation,'' the Patriots said in a statement announcing he had been cut. The team added: ''We realize that law enforcement investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right thing to do.'' The Patriots drafted Hernandez, who is originally from Bristol, Conn., in 2010 out of the University of Florida, where he was an All-American. During the draft, one team said it wouldn't take him under any circumstances, and he was passed over by one club after another before New England picked him in the fourth round. Afterward, Hernandez said he had failed a drug test in college - reportedly for marijuana - and was up front with teams about it. In other off-the-field troubles, a Florida man filed a lawsuit last week claiming Hernandez shot him in the face after they argued at a strip club in February. And The Boston Globe reported that Hernandez lost his temper and threatened a teammate during an argument in the team's weight room shortly after he was drafted. Hernandez became a father on Nov. 6 and said he intended to change his ways: ''Now, another one is looking up to me. I can't just be young and reckless Aaron no more. I'm going to try to do the right things.''

Federer, Sharapova lose on wild day at Wimbledon


As tumultuous a day as professional tennis has produced in its nearly half-century history ended in the most unforeseeable, unexplainable way of all: A second-round loss by Roger Federer at the All England Club. The seven-time Wimbledon champion and 17-time Grand Slam champ shuffled off Centre Court with dusk approaching on the fortnight's first Wednesday, his head bowed, his streak of reaching at least the quarterfinals at a record 36 consecutive major tournaments snapped by a man ranked 116th. His remarkable 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (5) defeat against Sergiy Stakhovsky marked Federer's earliest Grand Slam exit in a decade. He lost in the first round of the French Open on May 26, 2003, back before he owned a single trophy from any of the sport's most important sites. ''This is a setback, a disappointment, whatever you want to call it,'' said Federer, the defending champion. ''Got to get over this one. Some haven't hurt this much, that's for sure.'' He had plenty of company on a wild, wild Wednesday brimming with surprising results, a slew of injuries - and all manner of sliding and tumbling on the revered grass courts, prompting questions about whether something made them more slippery. Seven players left because of withdrawals or mid-match retirements, believed to be the most in a single day at a Grand Slam tournament in the 45-year Open era. Among that group: second-seeded Victoria Azarenka; sixth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga; 18th-seeded John Isner, who will forever be remembered for winning a 70-68 fifth set in the longest match ever; and Steve Darcis, the man who stunned 12-time major champion Rafael Nadal on Monday. ''Very black day,'' summed up 10th-seeded Marin Cilic, who said a bad left knee forced him to pull out of his match. The third-seeded Federer simply was unable to derail Stakhovsky's serve-and-volley style, breaking the 27-year-old Ukrainian only once. Still, there actually was a real chance for Federer to get back in the thick of things. Ahead 6-5 in the fourth, he held a set point as Stakhovsky served at 30-40. But Stakhovsky came up with this sequence: volley winner, 111 mph ace, serve-and-volley winner. ''I had my opportunities, had the foot in the door. When I had the chance, I couldn't do it,'' said Federer, who is 122-18 on grass over his career, while Stakhovsky is 13-12. ''It's very frustrating, very disappointing. I'm going to accept it and move forward from here. I have no choice.'' In the closing tiebreaker, with spectators roaring after every point, Stakhovsky raced to a 5-2 lead, and the match ended with Federer pushing a backhand wide on a 13-stroke exchange. Stakhovsky dropped to his back, then later bowed to the stadium's four sides. He sat in his sideline chair, purple Wimbledon towel draped over his head, as Federer quickly headed for the locker room. Stakhovsky peeked out and saw Federer leaving, then applauded right along with the fans' standing ovation. ''You're playing the guy and then you're playing his legend,'' Stakhovsky said. ''You're playing two of them. When you're beating one, you still have the other one who is pressing you. You're saying, 'Am I about to beat him? Is it possible?''' It was, and Federer was one of seven players who have been ranked No. 1 to depart the tournament in a span of about 8 1/2 hours. The others: Maria Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, who lost 6-3, 6-4 to 131st-ranked Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal; Caroline Wozniacki; Ana Ivanovic; Jelena Jankovic; Azarenka; and Lleyton Hewitt, who won Wimbledon in 2002. All told, five players who have combined to win 26 Grand Slam titles headed home, along with another three who have been the runner-up at a major tournament. ''Today has been bizarre,'' said 17th-seeded Sloane Stephens of the U.S., who stuck around by winning her match 8-6 in the third set. ''I don't know what's going on.'' Look at it this way: Three days into the two-week tournament - merely halfway through the second round - a total of five of the 10 highest-seeded women are gone, as are four of the top 10 men. The beneficiaries might very well be folks such as defending champion Serena Williams, who most figured might only be challenged in a potential final against Sharapova or Azarenka, and Andy Murray, whose path to Britain's first men's title in 77 years no longer can be blocked by Federer, Nadal or Tsonga. How, then, to decipher it all? Let fly with far-flung conspiracy theories. One hypothesis making the rounds: The grass is different because there is a new head groundsman at the All England Club, Neil Stubley (keep in mind, though, that he's been helping prepare the courts here for more than 15 years, albeit with a less distinguished title). Another popular idea was that the recent weather - it's been in the 60s and humid, but without a drop of rain so far - is affecting traction. ''I don't know if it's the court or the weather. I can't figure it out,'' said two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka, who said she bruised a bone in her right leg when she slipped on the turf in her victory Monday and couldn't face Flavia Pennetta on Wednesday. ''It would be great if the club or somebody who takes care of the court just would examine or try to find an issue so that wouldn't happen.'' Tsonga, a finalist at the 2008 Australian Open and semifinalist the past two years at Wimbledon, fell Wednesday and had his leg treated by a trainer, then quit while trailing two sets to one against Ernests Gulbis of Latvia. Sharapova managed to finish her match, at least, despite losing her footing a few times, but told the chair umpire the conditions were dangerous. ''After I buckled my knee three times, that's obviously my first reaction. And because I've just never fallen that many times in a match before,'' said the four-time major champion, noting that she thought she might have strained a muscle in her left hip. ''I just noticed a few more players falling a bit more than usual,'' Sharapova added. The All England Club took the unusual step of issuing a statement in response to Wednesday's events - and complaints. ''There has been some suggestion that the court surface is to blame. We have no reason to think this is the case. Indeed, many players have complimented us on the very good condition of the courts,'' the statement read. ''The court preparation has been to exactly the same meticulous standard as in previous years and it is well known that grass surfaces tend to be more lush at the start of an event. The factual evidence, which is independently checked, is that the courts are almost identical to last year, as dry and firm as they should be, and we expect them to continue to play to their usual high quality.'' Like Sharapova, Federer will not be among the players who gets a chance to gauge those courts' quality the rest of the way. He's been as good as it gets at Wimbledon for the better part of 10 years; Pete Sampras and Willie Renshaw (whose titles came in the 1880s) are the only other men to have won the tournament seven times. ''Beating Roger here on his court, where he's a legend, is, I think, having definitely a special place in my career,'' Stakhovsky said. Uh, yeah, that's fair. Stakhovsky owns a losing record for his career (108-121) and at Grand Slams (12-18) and never has been past the third round at a major tournament. Until Wednesday, he was best known, if at all, for grabbing his cellphone to take a photo of a disputed ball mark in the clay during a first-round loss at the French Open last month. Federer's consistent brilliance extends beyond Wimbledon, of course: He reached 23 Grand Slam semifinals in a row in one stretch, which also included 10 straight finals. Not since a third-round loss at the 2004 French Open had Federer failed to reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam. That means he'd won 141 consecutive matches in the first through fourth rounds at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open (he advanced four times via an opponent's withdrawal). But given the way this week has gone so far, Wednesday in particular, this loss somehow fit in. ''There was a time where some players didn't believe they could beat the top guys. So maybe there's a little bit of a thing happening at the moment,'' Federer said. ''I'm happy about that - that players believe they can beat the best on the biggest courts in the biggest matches.'' Now the question becomes: What could Thursday, let alone the rest of Wimbledon, possibly have in store?

Bruins F Patrice Bergeron being observed for lung puncture


Patrice Bergeron has a punctured lung and is at a Boston-area hospital for observation. The Bruins forward was admitted Monday night, after Boston lost to Chicago, 3-2, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden - a defeat which ended the season. Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli and coach Claude Julien addressed Bergeron's status Wednesday, the same day they held exit interviews with the players. ''He played through all of this, and he was a warrior,'' Chiarelli said. ''I can't say enough about his performance and what he did while being injured.'' Bergeron was already slowed by injuries headed into Game 6. He was a question mark to even play due to a broken rib and torn cartilage. After not participating in the morning skate Monday, he appeared during warmups and played in the loss. In the first period, though, he suffered a separated shoulder. ''After the game, obviously, he was in pain from his ribs and stuff like that, which is an automatic thing. The doctors said let's send him to the hospital for observation, so he went there,'' Julien said. ''I think they did the right thing and the right job by sending him there. ''And then he just stayed.'' Bergeron had 10 goals and 32 points in the shortened regular season, as well as nine and 15, respectively, in the postseason. Combined, he had a plus-26 rating this year as the Bruins finished second in the Northeast Division, and defeated the Maple Leafs, Rangers and Penguins to secure a second Eastern Conference title in three seasons. ''It was a challenge,'' Julien said. ''I think the biggest one, as we mentioned there, we had some guys, some key guys, that were injured along the way, and on a lot of occasions, we weren't able to finish with the same number we started.'' And so an offseason of question marks is off and running in Boston, as the Bruins look to keep their solid nucleus in town while also plot for the future. Forward Nathan Horton will become a free agent next month, and in a class that's regarded as weak and doesn't feature a lot of star power, he is easily one of the most marketable, skilled players available. ''I have enjoyed my time here obviously. Two out of three years, I've been here we've been in the Stanley Cup and we've won one time and I said a million times, the guys in the room are amazing,'' Horton said. ''It's been a lot of fun and I really enjoy everyone and every player on the team.'' One potential drawback to Horton, is he will require offseason shoulder surgery. ''When you make a decision to try and bring back guys that are on the eve of free agency, you'd like to think that you can make the right decision before the last possible moment. Usually, that's what I try and do,'' Chiarelli said. ''I try to be proactive and try to get ahead of stuff, and this year it was too hard. Specifically on Nathan, I put him in with the rest of the group. They've been moving targets and I'm going to try to push through it now. ''It's not the ideal way, but I'm going to try to push through it now.'' One part of the team that became even stronger in the postseason was defensive depth. With injuries to several defensemen, Chiarelli was able to flex some organizational numbers on the blue line that will allow the Bruins to let some higher-priced, older players walk away. Defenseman Andrew Ference, for instance, will not be re-signed, and his place will likely be filled by Dougie Hamilton, Matt Bartkowski and Torey Krug, who all played in the playoffs. ''We're losing not just a good player, but also a leader in the dressing room and everything else,'' Julien said of Ference. ''He's always gone above and beyond with the little things in the dressing room and everything that comes with it. He's been a good teammate, smart.'' Ference played in just 14 of 22 playoff games with two assists. ''He's been part of this, what we've built here. (He brings that) warrior-type of attitude and playing style for his size,'' Chiarelli said. ''You can't say enough about his leadership and what he's brought to our organization. It was a tough conversation to have.'' Forward Jaromir Jagr, the game's leading active scorer who was acquired at the trading deadline from Dallas, did not score in the postseason, and will also not be back. The 41-year-old native of the Czech Republic, who has been on three teams the last two seasons, hopes to find another in the NHL this summer. ''I thought he spread out our power play, which helped our power play,'' Chiarelli said. ''I was real happy with Jaromir. I thought he really helped that cause.'' The Bruins have played in nine postseason series the last three years, winning seven of them. They have two division crowns in that time, as well. ''I think for us, the more time we spend together the better we become,'' forward Daniel Paille said. ''We definitely have some ups and downs. But through the playoffs, I believe that we definitely come together and play for each other. I think it goes a long way and it helps us as a group.''

THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - JUNE 26TH

1819 - Abner Doubleday, Major General (Union)/inventor (baseball) is born.
1934 - John V Tunney, Heavyweight boxing champion/(Rep/Sen-D-California) is born.
1944 - Yankees, Dodgers & Giants play unique 6 inn game for War Bonds, 
each playing successive innings, final score Dodgers-5, Yanks-1 & Giants-0.
1959 - Ingemar Johansson TKOs Floyd Patterson in 3rd round for heavyweight boxing title.
1962 - Boston Red Sox Earl Wilson no-hits LA Angels, 2-0.
1970 - Frank Robinson hits 2 grand slams as Orioles beat Senators 12-2.
1974 - Derek Jeter, Pequanock NJ, shortstop (NY Yankees, Rookie of Year 1996) is born.
1980 - Michael Vick, NFL superstar Quarterback is born.
1984 - Deron Williams, star NBA Center of the Brooklyn Nets is born.
1993 - NY Met Eddie Murray is 20th to get 1,600 RBIs.
1993 - Roy Campanella, 3xMVP catcher (Dodgers), dies of a heart attack at 71.
1994 - Kirby Puckett pass Rod Carew with 2,088 hit as Twin's top hit leader.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Blackhawks parade to run from United Center to Grant Park Friday


Chicago Tribune photographer Alex Garcia, at top, in a view from roof of Tribune Tower on Friday June 11, 2010 during the parade after the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.
The Blackhawks' Stanley Cup victory tour will continue into Friday when the city hosts a parade and rally that could draw hundreds of thousands of fans. The event, billed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel as an opportunity for Chicagoans to enjoy a "'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' for the entire city," will begin with a parade originating at the United Center and end with a rally at 11 a.m. in Hutchinson Field in Grant Park. The start time for the parade was not disclosed, and officials offered few details about the celebration, other than issuing a warning not to bring alcohol and backpacks. They promised more information would be released Thursday. The last time the Hawks brought the Stanley Cup to Chicago, in 2010, the city hosted a parade and rally that drew an estimated 2 million people, far more than the roughly 350,000 who turned out to celebrate the White Sox victory in the 2005 World Series. The 2010 hockey champions rode double-decker buses down Washington Street and Michigan Avenue as a sea of fans wearing red hockey sweaters filled the streets. Patrick Kane chugged sparkling wine and threw tennis balls to the crowd. The procession stopped at Michigan and Wacker Drive, where the team hoisted the chalice at a late-morning rally. The National Weather Service's forecast for Friday includes a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms and high temperatures in the lower 80s. The mayor's office said people attending the parade and rally should "take precautions regarding warm weather conditions." Speaking at a Tuesday news conference, Emanuel pledged that the city would "put on a proper celebration." Asked if the city's tight budget would put a damper on the event, he said the city would "work through the issues." "My way of looking at it: Think of the alternative, if they had not won," he said. If 2010 is any indication, the festivities are likely to clog traffic and public transportation. "We are warning riders that we expect large crowds and crowded trains on Friday," Metra spokesman Michael Gillis said. Metra will add service to accommodate crowds and has started selling a $5 unlimited-ride ticket that will be good for Friday only, Gillis said. The ticket is available at ticket agencies now and on trains Friday. Metra is encouraging riders to buy the tickets in advance. Metra is also warning customers that no bicycles or alcohol will be allowed on trains Friday.

LA Clippers finalize Doc Rivers' move from Boston

After weeks of negotiations and intrigue, Doc Rivers has officially left the Boston Celtics for the Los Angeles Clippers. Rivers will be introduced as the Clippers' new coach and senior vice president of basketball operations at a news conference Wednesday at their Playa Vista training complex, capping a lengthy process by completing a rare trade involving a championship-winning coach. The Clippers and Celtics finalized the move Tuesday when the NBA approved the deal. Boston will get an unprotected first-round pick in 2015 from the Clippers for Rivers, who went 416-305 and won the 2008 NBA title during nine seasons with the Celtics. Boston's front office mostly had warm words for Rivers after he took off for his exciting new team on the West Coast, apparently not eager to stick around for the aging Celtics' rebuilding process. ''We don't have a championship without Doc Rivers coaching,'' said Danny Ainge, the Celtics' president of basketball operations. ''He did an unbelievable job. He has a long history of great success with us in the last nine years, and we wish him the best in Los Angeles.'' Rivers is likely to be the NBA's highest-paid coach with the deal, and he'll also have a prominent role in the Clippers' front office with his additional title. Clippers owner Donald Sterling will expect impressive results for such an investment, but his long-suffering franchise has never been in better shape on the court - providing Los Angeles re-signs Chris Paul, who is eligible for a five-year contract worth nearly $108 million in July. Paul is widely expected to stick with the Clippers, and Rivers' arrival might cinch the deal. With Boston likely to spend the next few years revamping, Rivers seized the chance to take over one of the league's most compelling young teams. He was eagerly pursued by the Clippers, who are coming off the best regular season in franchise history with a roster built around Blake Griffin and Paul. ''He felt like it was time for a change,'' Ainge said. ''He felt like we all needed a change. That was his rationalization or justification for going to the Clippers, that this was better for everybody. I don't think there should be any resentment. I know how Boston fans are. This may be a win-win for everybody.'' The 51-year-old Rivers replaces Vinny Del Negro, who wasn't re-signed after the Clippers won a franchise-record 56 games and their first Pacific Division title last season. Los Angeles' first-round playoff loss to Memphis likely cost Del Negro, who went 128-102 over three years and became the only Clippers coach to post consecutive winning seasons in 35 years. Rivers' new deal is expected to be similar to the three years and $21 million that remained on his contract with the Celtics. Boston was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by New York last month, and Rivers gradually became more interested in the Clippers' vacancy than the Celtics' rebuilding process. The negotiations for Rivers proceeded deliberately and abruptly over the past two weeks, with several potential moves discussed by the franchises. Ainge would have welcomed Rivers back to the Boston bench, but Rivers apparently saw the Clippers as a golden opportunity. ''Sometimes you've got to let your good people go to pursue what they need to pursue to make themselves happy,'' Celtics President Rich Gotham said. ''While it's tough to see Doc go, I think we feel good about what he did here. We will be lucky to find as good a coach as Doc was.'' Los Angeles also spoke to Boston about acquiring star forward Kevin Garnett in another element of the trade involving Rivers, but NBA Commissioner David Stern won't allow teams to trade active players for a coach. Garnett and Southern California native Paul Pierce won't be reuniting with Rivers in Los Angeles any time soon: Ainge said the NBA has forbidden player trades between the two teams for the rest of the year, and both aging stars are under contract for next season. Garnett has discussed the possibility of retirement with two years and over $23.5 million left on his deal, while Pierce is due to make $15.3 million next season. Rivers played one season for the Clippers in 1991-92 during his 13-year NBA career, and they made the playoffs that season for the first time since the former Buffalo Braves moved to the West Coast in 1978. Los Angeles has made only five playoff appearances and won just two rounds since that season. But the Clippers are coming off the best two-season stretch in club history, and Rivers' arrival further alters the franchise's decades-long reputation. Rivers will be an intriguing match with the high-flying Clippers and their Lob City acrobatics, but his coaching pedigree and leadership skills will provide him with immediate credibility in his new locker room. Rivers' Boston teams played at a more deliberate pace than last season's Clippers often used last season, but the veteran coach is likely to adapt his offensive plans to fit the Clippers' talent. Rivers' impact on Los Angeles could be felt most on defense, where the Clippers often struggled last season despite their lofty record. After his playing career ended in 1996, Rivers went into broadcasting before serving as the Orlando Magic's head coach for just over four seasons from 1999-2003, going 171-168 and winning an NBA coach of the year award. He is one of four active NBA coaches who have won a championship.

Blackhawks fan celebrate another Stanley Cup


The Chicago Blackhawks brought the Stanley Cup home Tuesday and proceeded to take it on a pub crawl, with scores of ecstatic fans flocking to taverns and restaurants in hopes of catching a glimpse of their beloved players and the sacred trophy awarded to the NHL champion. Many fans, bleary eyed from staying up the night before to watch Game 6, looked to the skies for TV news helicopters that would alert them they were on the right track. Others set themselves up at bars, hoping the rumors from friends or Twitter might turn out to be true. ''We've been packed since 7 this morning.'' said Brad Tice, general manager of The Pony on Chicago's North Side. ''In 2010 (the last time the Blackhawks won the cup) it came here, and players hang out here and live in the neighborhood, so everyone is hoping it will show up.'' In suburban Oak Brook, fans descended on a restaurant said to be a favorite spot of Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville. By midafternoon, the cup hadn't shown up at either spot. The trophy that turns into a drinking buddy once it is awarded to the National Hockey League champions had already put in a pretty full day. Though it hadn't made it to the runway of a strip club or the bottom of a swimming pool - just two of the many places that players have taken it over the years - it did make the rounds, stopping at two restaurants and the United Center, where the Blackhawks play, and a downtown steakhouse. ''I'm shaking, that was so cool,'' said 21-year-old Anne Fernandez after she reached out and touched the cup as Blackhawks President and CEO John McDonough pulled it out of a black SUV in front of Phil Stefani's restaurant and held it aloft as so many players had on the ice in Boston the night before after their series-clinching win over the Bruins. Fernandez showed up after a rumor showed up on Twitter, while others got their tips from friends - though nobody knew where this intelligence was coming from. ''I got an email that said if I wanted to see the cup to be at 437 (the address of the steakhouse) in 15 minutes,'' said Carrie Williams, a 28-year-old magazine editor, who did not know how the emailer got that information. At about 4 a.m., the jet carrying the players and the Cup touched down at O'Hare International Airport, where they received a water cannon salute from about a dozen fire trucks and police cars, all with their lights flashing. Veteran forward Michal Handzus was the first player to emerge from the aircraft shortly after 4 a.m., hoisting the 35-pound cup above his head with both hands and shaking it several times. Guests, police officers and firemen cheered at the bottom of the stairs. Players, coaches and team officials mingled with the crowd for about 10 minutes before heading for the city to continue the party that began in Chicago shortly after the team stunned Boston by scoring twice in a 17-second span during the final 1:16 of the game. There was a stop at a Harry Caray's restaurant in Rosemont - the same first stop the Blackhawks made after winning the championship in 2010. There were more than 1,000 fans waiting, and players took turns hoisting the cup over their heads to screams of excitement. The Scout bar in the South Loop area of downtown was the next stop, as team members greeted cheering fans outside with high-fives before filing into the bar. ''My (5-year-old) son stayed up to watch the game but I told him he could go over there if it was packed and we looked outside and it was packed so we went,'' said Ekta Joshi after she and her son, Kabir, went over to cheer the players. Because she and her husband know people who work there, she was one of the lucky few to be allowed inside, where they met some players and the coach. ''He got a few autographs on his hat and I'm sure he's showing it off at school now,'' Joshi said. After that stop, the cup made it out to the United Center. There were rumors that it was on the move and, in fact, McDonough's driver at the steakhouse said earlier in the day when he drove off - without the cup - he saw in his rearview mirror TV news trucks that obviously thought he had it.