Moore Becomes Youngest AL Pitcher to Start 8-0 Since Ruth

Matt Moore became the youngest AL pitcher to begin the season 8-0 since Babe Ruth did it 96 years ago. (Patrick Smith)

Dwyane Wade Surprises Miami Teen as Her Prom Date



With Injuries Plaguing Yankees, Kuroda Leads on the Mound

Hiroki Kuroda’s eight-inning, two-hit performance on Friday lowered his earned run average to 1.99. (Ray Stubblebine)

The New York Yankees have been injury plagued like no other team in baseball. Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira have yet to even play this season. Curtis Granderson only returned this week. That means that the Yankees were without four of their best hitters for the first quarter of the season. As far as the starting rotation is concerned, Phil Hughes, Ivan Nova and Andy Pettitte have all been or are currently on the disabled list.

The Yankees have seen a total of 13 players put on the disabled list this early in the season. Not good news for a team picked by many "experts" to finish last or second to last in the American League East. They claimed the Yankees were "too old" with "not enough depth" to make up for the injured regulars. That is interesting because if we take a look at our standings that does not seem to be the case.

The Yankees boast a 26-16 record and have gone 16-8 (.667) in their last 24 games. They currently sit in sole possession of first place in the AL East with the third best record in baseball. How have done it? Tonight's 5-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays featured the offensive prowess of Jayson Nix, David Adams and Austine Romine. They may not be Jeter, A-Rod and Teixeira, but they have been helping the Yankees win ball games all season long.

When you think of the Yankees pitching, the names CC Sabathia, Pettitte and Mariano Rivera are the first to come to mind. Sabathia has been inconsistent as has much of the rotation. Pettitte just went on the disabled list and will miss at least three starts. Mo has been Mo and actually the whole bullpen deserves a lot of credit. But we have yet to name the Yankees' MVP so far this season. That may be because he would be the last to let you know.

Hiroki Kuroda was offered more money this past offseason to pitch other places than the Bronx, but the veteran Japanese pitcher chose to don pinstripes once again because frankly he feels comfortable in them. When Kuroda came over to the Yankees from the Los Angeles Dodgers several years ago, many people thought he would struggle with the high expectations and tougher lineups in the American League. Instead, Kuroda has gotten better and better with every season with the Yankees.

At age 38, Kuroda is so far enjoying the best year of his six-year major league career. In tonight's 5-0 win over the Blue Jays, Kuroda’s eight-inning, two-hit performance lowered his earned run average to 1.99, which ranks fourth in the league. The right-hander has been the model of consistency the Yankees so desperately need. In fact, he has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his nine starts.

For a team that many thought would miss the playoffs, the Yankees seem to be in pretty good shape despite all the injuries. They will eventually get back some the regulars they have been missing and can hopefully stay healthy. There is still a lot of baseball left to be played, but the Yankees are not done with their winning ways. What seems certain is they will continue to rely on the quiet and steady Kuroda to lead the way on the mound.

Raffi Torres' Suspension Too Weak Given His History

Raffi Torres has been suspended for the remainder of the Western Conference Semifinals for his hit on Jarret Stoll. (Chris Williams)

It did not take Raffi Torres long to find his next target to be the recipient of one his infamous vicious hits. During Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals, Los Angeles Kings center Jarret Stoll skated with his head slightly lowered in front of him. Torres did not take a path to the hit that would have made it body-to-body, but instead drove through Stoll's head with his shoulder. The hit sent Stoll sprawling to the ice.

The punishment for Torres would be decided by Brendan Shanahan. Ordinarily, this may have only been a one or two game suspension, but not when it is Torres. Shanahan knows him all to well. Torres has a rap sheet of priors and is a repeat offender when it comes to dirty hits. Shanahan knew he must make his decision have an impact.

With Stoll likely out for the remainder of the Western Conference Semifinals with head injury, Shanahan decided that a fair punishment would be take Torres out for the same length of time. Today, Torres was suspended for the remainder of the series with the Kings. Whatever that exact number of games ends up being remains unknown.

I see Shanahan's reasoning here. Stoll is out for the series, so take Torres out as well. The principle of an eye for an eye. My problem with the sentence is it simply isn't enough. This is not Torres' first dirty hit. You only have to look back as far as last postseason when he was suspended 25 games for his brutally vicious hit on Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa.

Shanahan's job title is the NHL's Senior VP for Player Safety. He has done his job of protecting the rest of the Kings' players. What happens if the Sharks win this series? This suspension does nothing to protect the Chicago Blackhawks' players or the Detroit Red Wings' players. There is no protection for them, unless their is another suspendable hit by Torres.

Torres is a dirty player. There is no other way to see it. Until he proves that has really changed, no one is going to believe him otherwise. Torres needs to learn from the Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke. Cooke was a dirty player, but the Penguins told him he had to clean up his act. Cooke has played the game the way it is meant to be played ever since. The NHL must do everything it can to protect its players. That means that the league's suspensions of Torres should be getting more severe every time, until he learns his lesson.

Chelsea Makes History as Europa League Champion

Chelsea becomes the first English team to win all three major European club competitions. (Martin Meissner)

Unlikely as it may seem, Chelsea is a European Champion once again. Last year, the club made an unlikely run to defeat Bayern Munich in dramatic fashion to win the Champions League final. Today, Chelsea earned the club's first Europa League trophy by beating Benfica, 2-1, in similar fashion with a goal in stoppage time.

Chelsea becomes the first English team to win all three major European club competitions, having won the Champions League last year and the Cup Winners’ Cup, which is no longer in existence. Today's win helps to bring closure to what can be described as a tumultuous season. This has seemingly become the norm for a club that has lately made an art of collecting trophies in unconventional fashions.

There are always high expectations for Chelsea and coming off a Champions League title made this situation even more extreme. Things not begin as the club had hoped. After a slow start in the Premier League, Chelsea had to settle for trying to secure a Champions League spot for next season’s tournament. Meanwhile, the Blues struggled in this season's competition. A disgraceful 3-0 loss to Juventus in November not only essentially eliminated the club from contention, but cost highly-decorated manger Roberto Di Matteo his job.

Chelsea supporters were shocked by Di Matteo’s dismissal, but became even more vexed by the appointment of the unpopular Rafael Benitez as the interim manager. Many questioned the club's direction and leadership at the top. A surprising loss to Corinthians in the World Club Cup final in December only fueled their fury.

With the turn of the calender year, things slowly began to turnaround for the club. The Europa League final presented Chelsea with one final opportunity for redemption. This would be the club's last opportunity to lift a trophy, be it one they had never won before.

The match did not start out the way the English side had hoped. Benfica, one of the top Portuguese clubs, was the aggressor for the opening whistle. Much the way Bayern dominated in its final against Chelsea last year, Benfica took control early and frankly was the better team. The Blues had to be grateful when the whistle blew, and the sides went to their locker rooms scoreless at the intermission.

To begin the second half, Benfica controlled the pace of play once again, until Chelsea caught the break they had been looking for. Goalkeeper Peter Cech threw the ball forward to midfield. Midfielder Juan Mata was on the receiving end and precisely passed it towards striker Fernando Torres. Torres broke through the Benfica defense, was able to dribble around goalkeeper Artur  and bury it for his ninth goal in Europe this season.

Benfica would not be deterred. The Portuguese side's persistent pressure finally paid off as they were rewarded a penalty kick. Oscar Cardozo calmly drilled it home to level the score.

Last year, Chelsea faced similar adversity against Bayern Munich with limited time left to play. Chelsea steadily improved as that game went on. That was true of today's match as well. Despite the setback, the Blues seemed to brim with confidence as they advanced forward a stream of scoring opportunities.

As stoppage time waned on, Chelsea earned one final corner kick. Mata's booming kick was headed to the far post. Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic kept his eyes on the ball the whole time. As he backpedaled into position, he rose over the Benfica defense and hit an arching header that was placed beautifully in the corner of the net for the match-winning goal.

Chelsea now joins Bayern Munich, Ajax and Juventus as the only clubs to have won all three major European club competitions (the Champions League, the Europa League and the Cup Winners’ Cup). The Blues also become only the second club to win both major competitions back to back and the first to hold them at the same time.

Chelsea's campaign may have gotten off to a tumultuous start, but is coming to an end in glorious fashion. Benitez will leave the club with yet another accomplishment to add to his impeccable record. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will rest easier tonight knowing that his club has now won its 11th trophy in his 10 years at the helm and made history yet again.

Man Dies Trying to Dribble Soccer Ball to World Cup in Brazil

Richard Swanson planned to walk from Seattle to Sao Paulo, Brazil, for next year’s World Cup. (Bill Wagner)

Do you have a bucket list? What have you dreamed of doing that other people might think is utter nonsense? Richard Swanson, a 42-year old man from Seattle, Washington decided that he was going to try and live out one of his dreams. He wanted to go to the World Cup. Like many Americans, Swanson had been recently laid off work. He did not have a steady stream of income, but he would not let this stop him.

Swanson decided to walk and dribble a soccer ball at his feet from Seattle to Sao Paulo, Brazil. His goal was to make it in time for next year’s international soccer tournament. Described as an "avid runner, soccer player, and all-around lover of the Pacific Northwest," Swanson planned to visit 11 countries during his one-year-plus trip south. Along the way, he would dribble an "indestructible" soccer ball to promote the One World Futbol Project, a charity that donates these balls to people in disadvantaged communities.

"All these pieces just started to come together in a way that — it almost felt that, it felt natural, it felt that I was doing what I should be doing, that this was my next leg in my life," Swanson said in a YouTube video before he started the trek.

Swanson was collecting monetary donations and asking people for places to sleep and food to eat as he journeyed south. He documented his journey with YouTube videos, Facebook posts and a website that he maintained, which included a map that tracked his travels via GPS.

Tragically, Swanson's journey ended prematurely Tuesday morning when he was mowed down by a pickup truck south of Lincoln City, Oregon. This was only two weeks and a few hundred miles into his journey. The public was informed of the accident via Swanson's Facebook.

“It is with a heavy heart to notify you that Richard Swanson passed on this morning,” someone posted on Swanson's “Breakaway Brazil” Facebook. “His team, family, friends, and loved ones will miss him and love him dearly. You made it to Brazil in our hearts, Richard. Team Richard.”

Outpourings of support and prayers filled the Facebook page. Among those who wrote, were the two sons, 18 and 22, Swanson leaves behind.

“We love you dad..with all our hearts!” Devin Swanson wrote. “You are a inspiration to all to continue doing what you love! One day..I will continue your journey in your name!”

Even though Swanson never made it to Brazil or saw a World Cup game in person, I do not believe he would wanted to go any other way. If you watch Swanson's YouTube videos, it is plain to see that he believed this is what he was supposed to do. Swanson passed way trying to accomplish what he dreamed of doing. This is his message to us. Do not let your dreams just be dreams. You can pursue them and seek to bring them to fruition.

Butler's Legacy Lives on in Hall of Fame and Hearts of Fans

Jack Butler, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2012, passed away last Saturday at the age of 85. (Gene J. Puskar)

Unless you an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan or old enough to have watched football in the 1950s, you probably just ignored Jack Butler as he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year. You did not recognize his name or know how good he really was.

Butler is used to being overlooked by now. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 12, 1927. Butler grew up playing football in the many parks ad streets of the city. When he was old enough, he attended seminary to become a priest. After Butler decided the priesthood wasn't for him, he decided to go to college at tiny St. Bonaventure University near Olean, New York. The school's athletic director, Dan Rooney, the brother of the Steelers’ owner, Art Rooney, encouraged Butler to try out for the school's football team.

At 6 foot 1 inch tall and weighing 200 pounds, Butler excelled as a defensive end during his football career at St. Bonaventure. When he was overlooked in the NFL Draft, Dan Rooney encouraged his young budding star to tryout for his brother Art at the Steelers camp in 1951. He made the team as a defensive end, but an injury to another player forced the Steelers to switch him to defensive halfback, the predecessor of today's cornerback position.

“He was the perfect guy for a defensive back in those days,” Ted Marchibroda, the quarterback who played with Butler at St. Bonaventure and with the Steelers before becoming an NFL head coach, told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “He did not have the greatest speed, but he had good speed, good size, good hands, and his instincts were tremendous.”

The Steelers reaped the benefits of Butler's position change. He thrived during his career as a defensive back. In his nine seasons with the Steelers, Butler intercepted 52 passes in 103 games, running four of them back for touchdowns. He retired as No. 2 on the league’s career interception list.

Butler may have intercepted even more passes if it had not been for a career-ending knee injury. He did not miss a professional game until he collided with Philadelphia Eagles end Pete Retzlaff during a game in 1959. Butler was never able to recover from the injury.

After being overlooked for so much of his life, Butler was finally recognized for his accomplishments following his career. He was selected for the NFL’s all-decade team for the 1950s. As I already mentioned, Butler was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

Last Saturday, Butler passed away at the age of 85. The cause was complications of a staph infection in from the same knee injury that ended his career. Butler's life may be over, but his accomplishments and legacy will live on in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and in the hearts of those who were privileged to watch him play the game he loved.

Rangers Fight Back to Force Game Seven

The brawl at the end of the Rangers' 1-0 Game 6 victory over the Capitals shows both teams' desire to win the series. (Scott Levy)

Elimination games have a special edge to them. One team is trying to put the finish touches on their hard work, while the other is fighting to stay alive. It becomes like a chess match, which can be the perfect situation for the team desperate to survive. It certainly was tonight for the New York Rangers.

When Washington Capitals center Mike Ribeiro scored in overtime of Game 5 to give his team a 3-2 lead in the best of seven series, Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist slammed his stick in disgust. It was a save he felt he should of made. With his team facing elimination in just two days, Lundqvist knew he must be better in order to help his team survive.

Game 6 was a physical affair from the get go. Neither team was able to generate much of an offensive flow. It was not until midway through the second period that one of the series' top stars had the puck break his way. From just inside the blue line, Rangers center Derick Brassard faked a shot and then let one rip. The puck clipped the glove of Capitals defenseman Steven Oleksy and sailed through a screen set by Brassard's linemate Rick Nash in front.

The goal was originally credited to Nash, but was properly credited to Brassard after replay revealed the puck deflected off Oleksy instead of Nash. The goal was Brassard's second of the series to go along with five assists. Nash has not found the net yet, but has been a presence in front of the Capitals net creating traffic in front of netminder Braden Holtby.

Meanwhile, Lundqvist faced only 15 shots through the first two periods, but he knew he must stay sharp to protect the Rangers' slender lead. As it turned out, the Rangers relied on Lundqvist to come up with a number of crucial saves in the final period. When the final horn finally sounded, a fight broke out between the sides, but it did not matter. Lundqvist had stopped all 27 shots he had faced for his seventh career NHL playoff shutout.

The Rangers-Capitals series is now 3-3, but the task does not get any easier from here for the Rangers. They must now travel to and play in what is sure to be a hostile environment at the Verizon Center. The home team has won every game up to this point in the series. This means that the Rangers must now do what they have failed to do so far in the postseason, win in the nation's capital. Something tells me that Lundqvist and the rest of his teammates will be more than ready to give it their best shot.

Watch Out for Tavares and the Islanders Next Season

John Tavares and the Islanders should be proud of their efforts throughout the season and playoffs. (Shannon Stapleton)

The New York Islanders may have left the ice with their heads downs following their heartbreaking 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6, but the home crowd Nassau Coliseum was on its feet applauding their efforts.

This was after all the Islanders' first playoff appearance since 2007. They gave the top seed Penguins all they could handle and then some in every game. With a team with so many young players like this Islanders franchise has, they will be able to use this experience to come back even better and hungrier next season to make another run at Lord Stanley's Cup.

For so many years, the Islanders have been ridiculed as the doormat of the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Islanders were adding and developing players through the draft and free agency. The used the very same model the Penguins used to build back up their elite franchise. The Islanders came into this season with the talent, but that had to prove it on the ice.

"We've taken a lot of heat in the past three years since I've been here, a lot of criticism from the media, people looked at us as a laughingstock," said Islanders forward Matt Martin. "Throughout this series, we showed we can play with anyone. We’re excited about the future. We think we have something special here." 

The Penguins witnessed firsthand the resiliency shown by this pesky and determined Islanders team. The vast majority of experts pegged this series as a four or five game piece of cake for the top seed. It turned out to be anything but that.

"It was every bit of a battle in those six games," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said after his team punched its ticket to a second-round matchup against the seventh-seeded Ottawa Senators. 

As I have already mentioned, this is a very good, young Islanders team. They have already made improvements. They are only going to continue to get better. One of the most obvious improvements that has been made this season has been the Islanders' increase in scoring depth/ Last season, they relied almost completely on superstar center John Tavares and linemate Matt Moulson. The lack of scoring depth made the task easy for opposing defenses to stop.

During this season and in the playoffs, the emergence of a strong second line has strengthened the Islanders' offense immensely. This line comprises of center Frans Nielsen and wingers Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo. During the six-series playoff series with the Penguins, this trio tallied three goals and six assists. This is a huge reason why the Islanders' offense was a threat throughout the series.

We cannot overlook the efforts of the depth forwards on the third and fourth lines as well. Michael Grabner and Casey Cizikas got involved in the scoring in the playoffs and will continue to develop next season. Matt Martin and Colin MacDonald also gave the team good energy, penalty killing and defending on the fourth line.

Of course, we cannot move on from the Islander offense without taking a look at the play of Tavares. He has truly emerged as one of the top players and leaders in the league. Tavares led the team with 47 points in 48 games, which included 28 goals scored (third highest in the NHL). His leadership, consistent offensive efforts and defensive improvement were among the main reasons why the Islanders were able to return to the playoffs. These efforts have not gone unnoticed as Tavares was one of three players to earn a Hart Trophy nomination.

Defensively, the Islanders have utilized a combination of experienced veterans and talented young players. This will only help the team to continue to improve for years to come. It all begins with the dynamic duo of captain Mark Streit and veteran defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky. They played very well against the Penguins, The Islanders will need to re-sign Streit if they hope to keep him. If they are able to do so, this pairing will continue to provide the team with scoring, poise and leadership on the blue line.

The emergence of 22-year-old defensemen Travis Hamonic has been has been a pleasant surprise for the Islanders. His play against the Penguins was absolutely superb. Harmonic provided strong defense and a level of poise well beyond his years. He was able to keep Hart Trophy finalist Sidney Crosby under wraps for much of the series.

There were 16 Islanders who this series with the Penguins with four or fewer games of playoff experience, including Tavares and Moulson. These players learned much about the intensity, pressure and atmosphere that the playoffs create. With very promising young players like Ryan Strome and Griffin Reinhart waiting in the wings, these experienced players will be able to help them to be ready to compete with the best the NHL has to offer.

The Islanders have proven they belong on the same ice as the most talented team in the Eastern Conference. They have even frankly outplayed the Penguins at many points in the series. Even though they didn't come away the victor in the end, the Islanders have taken significant strides toward becoming a Stanley Cup contender for years to come.

Miller and Lester Were Almost a Perfect Pair

Shelby Miller gave up a leadoff hit, but then set down the next 27 Rockies hitters in order. (Dilip Vishwanat)

Tonight, St. Louis’ Shelby Miller and Boston’s Jon Lester did something no pair of pitchers have done on the same night in the history of baseball. They each threw a one-hit, no-walk, complete-game shutout. The only hit Miller allowed was a leadoff single by the Rockies’ Eric Young, Jr. Lester bid for perfection lasted until the sixth inning when the Blue Jays’ Maicer Izturis hit a double.

Let's compare the two superb performances. Miller's outing is really unique in that after giving up that leadoff single, he retired the next 27 hitters. This is really as close to a no-hitter as you possibly can be. After the leadoff single, he threw a no-hitter. That's impressive to say the least. However, that is not all that is impressive about Miller's performance. He also stuck out 13 batters and maintained his velocity of up to 93 mph throughout his 113 pitches. That is how dominant Miller was. Finally, his opponent, the Rockies, are the NL’s highest-scoring team.

Lester’s one-hitter is his first shutout since 2008. This is an encouraging sign for Red Sox fans that the lefty might be regaining that top form. On paper, Lester was not as dominant as Miller. He only five struck out five batters. Instead, Lester relied on his infield for a total of 12 ground-ball outs. Both pitchers benefitted from getting ahead in the count. In fact, both pitchers threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of the 28 batters they faced.

You might be wondering how rare of an occurrence is it for two pitchers to throw one-hitters on the same night. It has only happened three other times since the turn of the century.

May 25, 2001: The Cubs’ Kerry Wood and the Red Sox’ Hideo Nomo each threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout on the same night. Both pitchers struck out 14 batters. Wood walked two hitters, while Nomo did not issue any walks.

April 26, 2002: The Dodgers’ Odalis Perez and the Mets’ Shawn Estes both threw complete-game, one-hit shutouts on the same night as well. Perez did not walk any batters, while Estes allowed just one walk.

June 16, 2012: The Orioles’ Jason Hammel and the Angels' Ervin Santana each threw a complete-game, one-hit shutout on the same night. Hammel issued two walks, while Santana only walked one batter.

As you can now see, Miller and Lester share a unique bond that only a handful of major league pitchers have ever shared. There is one statistic that distinguishes them above the rest. Neither one of them walked a single batter. Miller and Lester can say that they are the only pair of pitchers to throw one-hit, no-walk, complete-game shutouts on the same night.

Vokoun Provided Stability Penguins Needed to Rout Islanders

Tomas Vokoun's 31-save shutout was an integral part of the Penguins 4-0 win over the Islanders in Game 5. (Jason Cohn)

The Pittsburgh Penguins were heavily favored going into their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series matchup with the New York Islanders. Following a 5-0 thrashing in Game 1, everyone thought a Penguins sweep was inevitable. The Islanders though didn't get the memo. A 6-4 win on Tuesday sent the series back to Pittsburgh tied 2-2.

What had gone wrong for the Penguins? A major issue was the lack of consistency and confidence from goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury shut out the Islanders in Game 1 on May 1, but he allowed 14 goals in the three games since. This left head coach Dan Bylsma no choice but to give veteran Tomas Vokoun the start in Game 5.

Fleury struggles in net date back to last year's postseason. He has allowed 40 goals in his past 10 postseason games. The decision to make the change was difficult though seeing that Fleury had started every Penguins playoff game since 2007. When Vokoun took his place between the pipes for the opening faceoff Thursday night, it was the first time in 12 years someone other than Fleury started a playoff game for the Penguins.

The Penguins had brought Vokoun in for a situation such as this. During this past offseason, he was signed to a two-year contract to provide insurance in case Fleury struggled. When Fleury did struggle, Bylsma knew that he must turn to Vokoun. This would be the veteran's first appearance in a Stanley Cup playoff game since 2007.

Even though Vokoun is in his 14th NHL season, has played 700 career regular-season games and has 300 career victories, he admitted that felt the nerves throughout the day.

"I don't care who you are, you get a little nervous. I think you wouldn't be human if you weren't," Vokoun said. "I just tried to stay focused, but you don't want to get too focused because you don't want to wear yourself down thinking about the game four hours before the game starts. But it's still a game and you have to enjoy it."

The Penguins did not need Vokoun to be extraordinary. When you have a dynamic offense like the Penguins do, you just need a solid performance from your netminder. You just need him to make the saves he is supposed to make.

In Game 5, Vokoun did exactly that, especially when the Penguins need it the most. The Islanders controlled the first period. They had a number of great opportunities and outshot the Penguins 14-7, but Vokoun stood strong and would not give in.

The Penguins offense took control of the game from there. With three second period goals, they took control of the game. A third period power play goal by Kris Letang iced the game away. Vokoun made 31 saves enroute to the shutout.

"He was solid," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said of Vokoun. "Hopefully we didn't make things too tough on him. We didn't do a great job of helping Marc out and we wanted to make sure we did a better job in front of our goalie. He made some good saves, but I think we did a better job in front of him and at keeping the puck down in their end a little more."

The Penguins will hit the road and look to wrap the series up on Saturday night. Following his solid performance in Game 5, it is expected that Vokoun will get another start. Once again, the Penguins don't need him to be extraordinary. If Vokoun can be solid like he was in Game 5, this is a team that is fully capable of making a run at Lord Stanley's Cup.

Warriors' Game 2 Win Shows They Can Win West

Klay Thompson put on a shooting clinic as he scored 34 points in the Warriors' Game 2 win over the Spurs. (Ronald Martinez)

In Game 2 of their second-round playoff series, the Golden State Warriors once again opened up a big lead. The San Antonio Spurs again rallied for second-half comeback. It would not be enough this time. Instead, the Warriors held on for a 100-91 victory on Wednesday night.

Klay Thompson's 34-point performance will stand out in the box score, but his backcourt counterpart was the one who sealed the deal tonight. Of course, Stephen Curry had 44 points in Game 1, but he was a non-factor as the Spurs went on their run and through the two overtime periods. Curry finished with only 22 points in Game 2, but he had the Warriors' final five points to hold off the Spurs.

Golden State's series-evening victory snapped the Warriors' 30-game losing streak in San Antonio, which dated back to February 14, 1997. Additionally, they won a road playoff game after the first round for the first time since 1991. The win isn't only big as the series heads to Oracle Arena. It is significant because I believe it shows that the Warriors are capable of winning a wide-open Western Conference and earning a spot in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1976.

Here are five reasons why I believe the Warriors are capable of winning the Western Conference:

1. Mark Jackson is an innovative coach and an excellent motivator. Jackson has been preaching the message that his team has already overachieved expectations. He believes the pressure belongs on his opponents. Jackson is not afraid of defending his players, even if it means being fined by the league. The former point guard and commentator is well known as a great motivator. He will use the Game 1 collapse to push his young team.

2. Stephen Curry has emerged as a bona fide superstar. Curry loves the postseason spotlight. We all remember his March Madness heroics as the star of the Davidson Wildcats. He has shown that the NBA playoffs are his place to shine as well. While scoring is a huge part of his game, Curry has been contributing across the board. Entering tonight's Game 2, he was averaging 27.1 points, 9.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. Curry's closing out Game 2 proved he is capable of leading his team to victory in the clutch as well.

3. Rather than fold when All-Star David Lee was lost for the remainder of the playoffs, the Warriors have had surprising contributions from across the board. As good as Curry has been in the playoffs, the Warriors have proved they are more than a one-man show. I have already made mention of how good Klay Thompson can be shooting the ball. He finished eight-for-nine tonight from beyond the arc and is always a danger to get it going from there. Rookie Harrison Barnes is averaging 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game as a starter. Former top pick Andrew Bogut has seemingly discovered the Fountain of Youth. The Aussie is averaging 8.4 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Finally, Jarrett Jack has brought energy off the bench. In the conference semifinals against the Nuggets, he average 18.8 points, 7.0 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. As you can see, the Warriors are getting contributions from throughout their lineup.

4. The Warriors' high-tempo offense is surprisingly well-balanced and efficient. Everyone knows that the Warriors love to push the tempo and get the ball up the court in a hurry. They also think all they do is shoot the ball from three. That part simply is not true. The Warriors are very good from beyond the arc. During the regular season, they connected on a league-leading 40.3% of their three-pointers. Despite shooting at such a high percentage from deep, they’re surprisingly conservative and selective with it. In fact, only 23.9% of their shots were threes, which put them roughly middle of the pack across the league.

5. The Warriors may be known for their offense, but they have been getting it done of the defensive end as well. The exploits of the Warriors' offense are well-documented. Their discipline on the other side of the ball goes widely unnoticed. During tonight's Game 2 win, the Warriors held the Spurs to 39.3 percent shooting from the field and 23.8 percent from beyond the arc. This defensive discipline that the Warriors have been showing actually plays a significant role in their offense. Getting consistent defensive stops and rebounding allows the Warriors' offense to push the tempo.

I hope that you realize that this young Warriors team should not be overlooked. They are far more than a high-scoring offense led by Stephen Curry. Instead, they are a team that is fully capable of making a run at the NBA title. If you don't believe me, just ask the San Antonio Spurs think after two tough games at home.

Miami's Larranaga and Michigan's Burke Win AP Awards

In just his second season at Miami, Jim Larranaga was named The Associated Press' Coach of the Year. (Brendan Maloney)

On Thursday, The Associated Press announced their Coach of the Year and Player of the Year. Jim Larranaga, head coach at the University of Miami, was selected as Coach of the Year. Trey Burke, point guard for the University of Michigan was chosen as Player of the Year. In both cases, I believe that The Associated Press got it right.

In his second season at Miami, Larranaga led the Hurricanes to a school-best 29-7 record. The team won the first Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament titles in school history. The Hurricanes were ranked as high as a school-best No. 2 in the AP poll. They were also the first to beat a No. 1 when they crushed Duke by 27 points. In the NCAA tournament, the Hurricanes reached the Sweet Sixteen before getting knocked out by Marquette.

From a 65-member national media panel, Larranaga received 29 votes . The next highest vote-getters were Jim Crews of Saint Louis (19 votes) and Mark Few of Gonzaga (11 votes). Crews' Saint Louis team was impressive this season. They were the Atlantic Ten regular season and tournament champions. Despite their difficult conference schedule, the Billikens won 15 of their last 16 heading into the NCAA tournament.

Mark Few's Gonzaga team boasted an excellent resume as well. Despite playing a difficult non-conference schedule, they only lost two games all season prior to the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs also finished the regular season as the No. 1 team in the AP poll. All three teams and coaches were impressive. What put Larranaga over the top is what he acomplished in such a short amount of time at Miami. Additionally, the ACC is viewed as far superior to the Atlantic Ten and West Coast Conference.

Sophomore point guard Trey Burke joins Cazzie Russell (1966) as the only Michigan players to win the award. He often times had four freshmen on the court with him, but he showed wisdom beyond his years as the team's leader. Burke averaged 19.2 points, 6.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds a game. He also shot 40.1 percent from behind the 3-point line. Burke led the Wolverines back to the Final Four for the first time since 1993.

From a 65-member national media panel, Burke received 31 votes. The next highest vote-getters were Otto Porter Jr. of Georgetown (16 votes) and Victor Oladipo of Indiana (10 votes). Porter averaged 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He helped lead the Hoyas to a share of the Big East regular season title and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. Oladipo averaged 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He has vastly improved over his time with the Hoosiers and is always the player giving it all both on and off the court.

In my opinion, Burke gained his edge due to his performances in big games and the lack of experience of his teammates. He was the glue that held Michigan together more so than any of player on any other team. I am convinced that Larranaga and Burke were the proper choices here. I have presented the facts to support this, but is your decision whether or not you agree or disagree.

 From a 65-member national media panel, Larranaga received
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Top Winners From The NHL Trade Deadline

The Columbus Blue Jackets hope that trade deadline acquisition Marian Gaborik will help them return to the playoffs. (Al Bello)

The trade deadline in any sport can make a significant impact on a team whether they are buyers or sellers. Many NHL teams were looking for that one or two pieces that might push them over the edge in the quest to lift Lord Stanley's Cup. I have determined which teams I think are the top three winners at the trade deadline as they make a push for the postseason.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins - The Penguins were one of the most active teams throughout the trade deadline window. They got things going early on and were still in the mix for some deals right before the deadline. The Penguins began by acquiring three in a span of four days (March 24-27). Veteran forwards Brenden Morrow and Jarome Iginla will help provide the Penguins with scoring depth and playoff experience up front. Douglas Murray gives the Penguins another defender who can deliver hits and block shots when needed. Just when it seemed the Penguins might be finished, general manager Ray Shero added one more piece to the puzzle in Jussi Jokinen from the Hurricanes. Jokinen will likely start at center while the Penguins wait for captain Sidney Crosby to recover from a broken jaw. Additionally, Jokinen brings valuable playoff experience for the Hurricanes' run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2009. His presence adds yet another depth piece to an already stocked front line.

2. Minnesota Wild - The Wild have been one of the Western Conference's best teams the past several weeks. As they look to prove that they are Stanley Cup contenders, they acquired one of the best players available at the deadline in Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville. The Wild did have to give up quite a bit in return. This included highly touted prospect Johan Larsson, goaltending prospect Matt Hackett, a first-round pick in 2013 and a second-round pick in 2014. The Wild did also receive the Sabres' fourth-round pick in 2014. That is a lot to give up, but for what a player like Pominville could mean to a playoff run, it is well worth it. He has reached the 30-goal plateau twice and recorded at least 20 goals in six straight seasons. Pominville adds the kind of scoring depth that the Wild need for a playoff run. He is a leader with the character and experience that is such a benefit to the team as a whole. The Wild are going to be battling the Vancouver Canucks for the Northwest Division crown the remainder of this month. This deadline move could prove to be enough to help them secure home-ice for the first round and possibly beyond.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets - After years and years of selling at the trade deadline, the Blue Jackets were actually buyers this season. The shocked everyone by acquiring three-time 40-goal scorer Marian Gaborik from the struggling New York Rangers. Just like the case was with the Wild acquiring Pominville, the price was heavy for Gaborik. The Blue Jackets gave up three of their key role players in Derek Dorsett (currently injured), Derick Brassard and John Moore. That is a significant amount to give up, but when you consider that this is team that has been to the playoffs just once (and were swept by Detroit in that lone playoff visit), the fact that they are in the hunt for a surprise postseason berth, makes Gaborik definitely worth the cost. Gaborik fell out of favor with the Rangers due to tension between him and head coach John Tortorella. The trade though reunites him with former teammates Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky, who ended up with the Blue Jackets in the Rick Nash trade last summer. Gaborik can definitely be an impact player with a fresh start from a team desperate that is desperate for his scoring help. The Blue Jackets currently rank 29th in goals per game and 27th on the power play. They will need Gaborik to help spark their offense if they hope to secure a return to the postseason.

Rutgers Needs to Fire Rice Immeadiately For His Actions

Video evidence shows Rutgers men's basketball head coach Mike Rice verbally and physically abusing his players. (Debby Wong)

As a fan of Rutgers University, I had hoped Mike Rice would be the man to rescue the men's basketball program from the cellar of the Big East and restore it to national prominence. Rice had shown promise at Robert Morris, leading them to the NCAA tournament. I saw glimpses of it translate to the court in big upset wins. I knew that Rice was a fiery coach and often yelled at officials and his players. What I did not know about was the verbal and physical abuse of his players that permeated his practices. ESPN released portions of video (which you can watch below) of Rice shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players in practice and using gay slurs.

What is tragic about this is that Rutgers officials knew about this. The video isn't new. In fact, a former assistant coach presented it to athletic director Tim Pernetti in the fall. After viewing the video, Pernetti suspended Rice, fined him $50,000 and ordered him to attend anger management courses.

During ESPN's interview with Pernetti, he explained that university president Robert Barchi also viewed the tape this past fall and agreed with the punishment.How could both of them not fire Rice as a result of this? I understand that in certain instances someone may deserve a second chance. With clear physical and verbal abuse taking place here, this cannot be one of those instances.

Think about it this way. I am about to graduate from college and become an elementary teacher. If I yelled at and threw objects at my students, I would not only be fired, but I would be headed to jail as well. Rice should be fired and convicted of verbal and physical abuse as well. Just as this not acceptable behavior for a teacher or parent, it is not acceptable behavior for a coach either. Coaches and athletes cannot be above the law in their actions.

As much as I feel Rice should be fired for his actions, I feel just as strongly that Pernetti and Barchi should be relieved of their respective duties at Rutgers as well. Pernetti repeated referred to the video as Rice's "first offense." So the question becomes, how many chances do you get to assault an athlete? Coaches and universities preach that they do what's best for the student-athlete. Here's an example of what is not best for them. Their coach verbal attacking and physical abusing them personally.

How is this any different than what took place in State College? This case brings about some of the same troubling questions raised about Joe Paterno's time at Penn State, where the program and the coach were protected at all costs. That lead to a scandal that shocked the world. This video of Rice should do the same.

As one who considers myself a fan of Rutgers athletics, I am embarrassed of the university and their pathetic excuse of a slap on the wrist of Rice in December. As a college sports fan I am embarrassed by the actions of coaches such as Rice and school officials such as Pernetti and Barchi. They disgrace and demean students who are trying so diligently to shine. Now, it is time for Rice, Pernetti and Barchi to be publicly humiliated for their actions.

Flynn and McCoy are Lastest Quarterbacks to be Traded

The Oakland Raiders traded for Matt Flynn (left) to compete with Terrelle Pryor (right) for their starting quarterback position. (Getty Images)

With the weakest draft class of quarterbacks in recent memory, many NFL teams are resorting to trading for options to compete with who they currently have. The Kansas City Chiefs were the first team to make a move. They acquired veteran Alex Smith from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2013 second-round draft pick and a 2014 conditional second-round draft pick. Today, two more quarterbacks were on their way to new homes due to accepted trades.

The Oakland Raiders acquired quarterback Matt Flynn from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft and a conditional pick in 2015. Flynn has waited for a long time to be given the reigns of a team as a starting quarterback. He spent for years backing up Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. The Seahawks signed Flynn prior to last season, but he got beat out by rookie sensation Russell Wilson.

The Raiders knew they needed to bring a new quarterback in once they found that veteran Carson Palmer wasn't the answer. He failed to get Oakland to the playoffs in 2011, falling one game short. Last season, the Raiders regressed and finished 4-12. With Palmer owed $13 million for this season and the Raiders in rebuilding mode, general manager Reggie McKenzie decided to get a quarterback he was familiar with from his time in Green Bay.

Flynn did shine in his limited playing experience with the Packers. For example, he was 31-for-44 for 480 yards and six touchdown passes in the Packers' 2010 season finale win over the Detroit Lions. The Raiders do also have Terrelle Pryor who got limited action late last season after Palmer got injured.

In last season's regular season finale, Pryor went 13-for-28 for 150 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 24-21 loss to the Chargers. He also ran for 49 yards and a touchdown. Pryor showed signs of being capable of effectively running a NFL offense. It appears to be a fairly open race to see whether Flynn or Pryor will emerge during this offseason as the Raiders' starting quarterback.

The Seahawks are of course set with Wilson as their starter. They also have Tyler Thigpen on their roster, who is expected to be Wilson's primary backup. Thigpen has substantial NFL experience, including playing in 14 games with the Chiefs in 2008. The Seahawks will need to add one more quarterback to their roster. Matt Leinart is a possibility to rejoin his collegiate coach Pete Carroll, who is now the head coach of the Seahawks.

The Cleveland Browns traded backup quarterback Colt McCoy to the 49ers. The Browns sent McCoy and a sixth-round pick (173rd overall) in exchange for the 49ers' picks in the fifth (164th overall) and seventh rounds (227th overall). This trade seems to be a win-win for both the Browns and their former starter.

During his three seasons with the Browns, McCoy went 6-15 as a starter. This really should have come as no surprise. McCoy was projected to be a solid backup quarterback, but not a consistent starter. Additionally, with a weaker arm strength, he didn't have a chance of succeeding in Cleveland weather. The Browns really made a mistake using a third-round pick on him in the first place.

McCoy now gets a refreshing new start with the 49ers. He goes from one of the worst teams in the NFL to a Super Bowl contender. McCoy will compete against Scott Tolzien to be the backup to starter Colin Kaepernick. I expect that McCoy will win the job and will be ready in case of injury to Kaepernick.

This gives the Browns more financial flexibility at the quarterback position. This means that the Browns will likely give last season's starter Brandon Weeden every chance to earn the starting job again. He will likely get the majority of the first-team snaps during the team’s offseason.The Browns did bring in veteran Jason Campbell to compete with Weeden, so that is something to keep an eye on.

It's Been a Good Day to Be a Louisville Basketball Fan

The Louisville men's and women's basketball teams earned a place in the Final Four and Elite Eight respectively. (https://www.facebook.com/GoCards)

The University of Louisville is known for their storied basketball tradition. The men's program has made 39 NCAA tournament appearances, 10 Final Fours, and won two national championships (1980 and 1986). The women's program does not have as impressive a history, but is steadily improving under head coach Jeff Walz. Walz led the Cardinals to their first Final Four in 2009, where they finished runners-up to Connecticut.

Both teams were in action on Easter Sunday. The men's team was set to battle Duke with a trip to the Final Four in Atlanta on the line. The women's team faced a huge challenge facing the No. 1 overall seed in Baylor in a Sweet Sixteen matchup.

The men's Elite Eight game between Louisville and Duke got off to an evenly matched start. The Cardinals led 21-20 with 6:33 left in the first half when a game-changing incident happened. Louisville guard Kevin Ware jumped as he attempted to block a 3-pointer by Tyler Thornton.As he landed, his leg severely broke and he collapsed to the ground.

Players, coaches, and fans were all visibly shaken. The Louisville players were overcome by emotion. Chane Behanan sobbed on the floor, Wayne Blackshear was on his hands and knees, Montrezl Harrell was doubled over and Russ Smith wept visibly as he pulled his jersey over his head to cover his tears. Even the Duke players could be seen clearly crying and distraught over what had occurred.

The Cardinals players gathered together. They weren't sure how they would be able to move on from this. Head coach Rick Pitino called his players over to where Ware lay on the ground. The sophomore guard couldn't walk, but he was fully capable of talking to his teammates.

"Kevin told us to win this game for him, so we had to take it upon ourselves to do that," Harrell said. "That's what we had to do. We didn't have a choice."

"He told us countless times: 'Just go win this game for me. Just go win this game. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Just go win this game,'" explained Peyton Siva. "I don't know how he did it. I don't know how he got strength to do it, but he told us to go out there and win."

In the second half, the Louisville players held up their end of the bargain. With the score tied 42-42, the Cardinals went on a 17-2 run that proved to be the knockout punch to a Duke that could never recover. When the final buzzer sounded, they had prevailed 85-63.

There has been one question in women's college basketball that no seemed to be able to answer. How do you stop Brittney Griner? Baylor had won 32 straight games and 74 of 75 behind Griner, who is among the greatest players ever in her sport. Louisville finally found the answer during their Sweet Sixteen game Sunday night. As a result of doing so, they were able to accomplish one of the biggest upsets in the history of women's basketball.

The strategy the Cardinals utilized was referred to as box-and-chase. They tried to keep defenders both in front and in back of Griner. They were successful enough to hold Griner to 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting, which tied for the fourth fewest field goals she has attempted in a game this season.

Louisville made it interesting though. During the final 7½ minutes of the game, they blew a 17-point advantage. As the final seconds began to tick off the clock, the Cardinals forced Griner into another mistake. She committed a foul with 2.6 seconds left in the game that gave Louisville a chance to win.
Senior forward Monique Reid made both foul shots to propel the Cardinals to a 82-81 victory.

The Louisville women's basketball team has already accomplished history. They pulled off one of the most colossal upsets in the history of women's sports. The Cardinals will now face the University of Tennessee in the Elite Eight. The winner will advance to the women's Final Four in New Orleans.

As the Louisville men's team posed with their Midwest Regional trophy, what they were focused on was the No. 5 jersey with the name Ware emblazoned on it that they proudly held up. They knew what they had accomplished for their fallen comrade. The Cardinals know that their mission is not complete yet. The team will head to Atlanta, where they are two victory away from becoming national champions. That No. 5 jersey will provide all the motivation they need.

Michigan Completes Incredible Comeback to Defeat Kansas

Trey Burke’s clutch three from way beyond the arc sent the game to overtime, where Michigan emerged with the win. (Greg Nelson)

The University of Michigan's men's basketball team has always had a large contingent of doubters. People said they can't win the big game. Even Wolverine fans I know have told me that this team just isn't good enough. Their pessimism loomed large over a team with high expectations on the line.

Michigan struggled at times in Big Ten play. They split the regular season series with their rivals Ohio State and Michigan State and were swept by Wisconsin and Indiana. They lost five of their last 10 games to close the regular season, including a Big Ten quarterfinal loss to Wisconsin. This made the Wolverines a trendy upset pick heading into the NCAA tournament.

No. 4 Michigan opened their NCAA tournament with a relatively easy 71-56 win over No. 13 South Dakota State. They were set to play VCU with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. Expert after expert explained why the Rams' havoc defense would force the Wolverines into countless turnovers and poor shots. However, this Michigan team didn't get the memo as they throttled VCU 78-53.

Surely a Sweet Sixteen matchup with No. 1 seed Kansas would prove to be too much for Michigan. This sure seemed to be the case as the Jayhawks looked to have the victory virtually locked up as the game reached the final minutes. They led by 10 points with the ball and only two and a half minutes remaining in regulation. All Kansas needed to do was run clock, avoid turnovers and sink its free throws to advance to the Elite Eight.

Instead, the Jayhawks squandered that lead with a plethora of turnovers and blown defensive assignments. Ultimately, Elijah Johnson missed the front end of a one-and-one to give the Wolverines a chance to complete their miraculous comeback with three to send the game to overtime.

Michigan put the ball into the hands of their leader Trey Burke. He had to put all of the missed shots at the end of games he had throughout his collegiate career. It didn't matter that he hadn't scored a point during the entire first half of this game. All Burke needed to do was to find a way to make a clutch three-pointer. If he did not, his team's season would come to a close right here.

With the seconds ticking away, Burke came around a Mitch McGary screen and had just enough space to launch and bury a 25- foot bomb with five seconds left. In the overtime period, Burke and the Wolverines did just enough to hold on for an improbable 87-85 win.

Burke's heroics sends Michigan to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1994. Those were the days of the Fab Five, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King and Jalen Rose. This Wolverines team is beginning to remind folks a lot of that team. Not only are they young like that team was, but the find ways to win just like the Fab Five did twenty years ago.

Fans of the Maize and Blue are beginning to hope that this team can accomplish one thing the Fab Five were unable to do. That is win a national title for Michigan. Following the improbable victory they earned tonight, anything seems possible if you simply believe it can happen.

Florida Gulf Coast Faces Tough Test Against Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University became the first No. 15 seed ever to reach the Sweet Sixteen. (Scott McIntyre)

Florida Gulf Coast University's first graduating class received their diplomas in 2001. Their enrollment is currently about 12,000 students. This is the Eagles' second year in NCAA Division I. They are playing in their first NCAA tournament ever. The University of Florida has about 50,000 students. They have won two national titles (2006 and 2007) and played in four Final Fours. The Gators are one of only four teams to make their third-straight appearance in the Round of 16 this year. They have reached the Elite Eight in four of the last seven seasons.

On Friday night, these two Sunshine State sides meet in an unlikely Sweet Sixteen matchup. If David ever met Goliath on the basketball court, this has to be it. An unheralded Florida Gulf Coast team under the direction of Andy Enfield meet up with one of the country's most established programs in Florida and future Hall of Fame coach Billy Donovan.

Florida Gulf Coast won't be intimated despite the significant statistical matchup they face. They have already slain two Goliaths to get this far. They shocked the nation by upsetting No. 2 Georgetown, 78-68. The Eagles then made history by defeating No. 7 San Diego State, 81-71, to become the first No. 15 seed to ever reach the Round of 16.

These two sides not only contrast in their experience, but they play completely different styles as well. Florida Gulf Coast plays an up-tempo brand of basketball that has earned them the nickname “Dunk City,” due to their frequent aerodynamic displays. Conversely, Florida boasts one of the nation's best defenses. They rank second in scoring defense, allowing just 53.8 points per game. The Gators have held four opponents to 40 points or fewer and 13 to less than 50 points.

Florida Gulf Coast's dynamic offense runs through Brett Comer. He is an assist machine and makes those around him better. The Eagles' leading scorer is Sherwood Brown, averaging 15.6 points per game. Bernard Thompson has scored 23 points in both of the Eagles’ tournament wins. Chase Fieler has been on the receiving end of many of his teammate's famous lobs.

Florida has a balanced offense with four players averaging in double figures. Statistically, they are led by Erik Murphy and Mike Rosario. The Gators love to open up their offense and let it rain from deep. They led the SEC with 8.4 3-pointers made per game and a .382 field goal percentage. The Eagles must try to limit those opportunities as much as possible.

Cinderella hopes the clock doesn't strike midnight yet on a magical tournament run. She will have to dance and lob her way around the big bully on the neighborhood block if she has any hope of surviving this prime time fight in the national spotlight.

Blackhawks Close in on Hottest Start in NHL History

The Chicago Blackhawks have executed excellent team hockey to stay unbeaten in their first fifteen games of the season. (Rob Grabowski)

On Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Los Angeles Kings by the score of 3-2. Ray Emery made 25-of-27 saves and Jonathan Toews picked up a goal and assist in the win. The win pushed the Blackhawks' record to 12-0-3 on the season.

This means that they have now earned up at least one point in 15 consecutive games to start the season. The Blackhawks are now one point short of tying the record of 16 straight games set by the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks. They will have an opportunity to tie the record when they host the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.

The Blackhawks have found their success comes from working well together. They are averaging 3.2 goals scored and 2.1 goals allowed per game. The solid goaltending combination of Emery and Corey Crawford has been imperative to the team's success as well.

"Absolutely, goaltending is key," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville said. "Goaltending is important to everything about your team: the confidence it has, the consistency, not changing the way they approach times in games. Having the right demeanor is important, and both guys have done an excellent job."

As much as the Blackhawks have enjoyed their strong start to the season, they know that is not their ultimate goal. They have remained calm and collect about the possibility of making history, especially team captain Jonathan Toews.

''We're 15 games into the season,'' said Toews. ''What's important to us is getting home ice advantage, making the playoffs. Those are our goals. Once you get there, the real season starts. When you get to that point, no one really cares or remembers those streaks at the start of the season.''

After becoming Stanley Cup champions in 2010, the Blackhawks have suffered first-round exits in the playoffs each of the past two years. This Blackhawks team looks different though. They look capable of not only making history, but of being a serious contender to lift the cup again this season.

No Suspension for Cooke is Proper Decision by the NHL

Erik Karlsson grimaces in pain after his Achilles’ tendon was cut by the skate of Matt Cooke. (Gene J. Puskar)

When Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Matt Cooke looked to check Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson into the boards during Wednesday night's game, Cooke's skate was slightly elevated. It made contact with the back of Karlsoon's leg, who immeadiately grimaced and went down on the ice.

The diagnosis was not pretty. Cooke's skate had caused a 70 percent laceration of Karlsson's Achilles’ tendon. This means Karlsson will likely be out three to four months, which is the remainder of the season. This is a just a big loss for the Senators, but for all of hockey. The reigning Norris trophy winner is one of the best and most enjoyable defenseman in the league.

The Senators organization, especially owner Eugene Melnyk, has been vocal about their desire to see Cooke suspended for what they believe to a malicious play. However, there is no evidence that Cooke had any malevolent intent during the play. The only reason that a rumor of suspension is being brought up is because of Cooke's history in the league.

Cooke has been suspended by the league five times for illegal hits. In 2009, he had hits to the head of  Artem Anisimov and Scott Walker. His blindside hit of Marc Savard in 2010 led to league changes to head shot rules. In February 2011, he had controversial hits on Alexander Ovechkin and Fedor Tyutin. The worst incident though came a month later when Cooke was suspended for a hit to the Ryan McDonagh.

The Penguins organizations even supported the suspension following the hit on McDonagh. General Manager Ray Shero told Cooke that he had to change his style of play, or he would be looking for a new place of employment. Cooke has kept himself clean since the suspension, until the incident with Karlsson came along.

Everyone who can look at the incident from an unbiased standpoint realizes that this was merely an unfortunate accident. Cooke did not even know what happened during the play until after the game.

"It wasn’t until after the game when I found out what actually happened, and instantly you feel awful,” Cooke said. “It was totally not my intent on the play. It was just a freak kind of accident, and I hope [Karlsson] understands that."

Even some of Cooke's harshest critics in the past have gone to his defense for this case. Don Cherry, the Hockey Night in Canada commentator who has ridiculed Cooke in the past, said Cooke did not intentionally try to injure Karlsson.

"No, he didn’t do that [on purpose]. It was a freak accident. No human being would do that," said Cherry. "I think he was just trying to take him in there [to the boards] … it was an accident."

Brendan Shanahan and the NHL's player safety department agreed with Cherry's assessment. They determined that Cooke should not be disciplined for his skate cutting Karlsson. I agree with their conclusion as well. The accident is an unfortunate one, but there was no malicious intent involved at all.

The Penguins organization feels badly about what happened and understands the pain that the Senators are now going through. They lost their leader, Sidney Crosby, for an extended time following a hard hit by David Steckel.

"I feel horrible for Erik Karlsson, I feel bad for Ottawa," said Shero. "It’s a bad feeling. But I can't rationalize where that was a dirty play or anything with intent. Our fan base knows how it feels to lose a star player. It's emotional. I know how it feels like. It's just very unfortunate. I would not be defending Matt Cooke if I thought it was a dirty hockey play."

I have a few last thoughts as a result of all of this. First, our prayers and thoughts go out to Karlsson for a speedy recovery. Second, I respect the NHL for making the proper decision in not suspending Cooke. Finally, I hope that players around the world realize the importance of wrapping tape around the area at the top of their skates to prevent this type of incident from every happening again.

Manimal Dominates BBVA Rising Stars Challenge

Kenneth Faried dominate BBVA Rising Stars Challenge with 40 points and 10 rebounds. (Nathaniel S. Butler)

Kenneth Faried has been overlooked the vast majority of his life. He played NCAA Division I basketball at Morehead State, a lesser-knock school in the state of Kentucky. Faried was undersized, didn't have great strength and lacked offensive effeciency. He used an incessant work ethic and his powerful leaping ability to break the NCAA's rebounding record.

The Denver Nuggets decided to take a chance on Faried late in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He has not disappointed. Faried has overcome his size disadvantage at the power forward position with explosive play and his continual work ethic to improve. The Nuggets have reward him with the team's starting job, where he is averaging 12.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

Since the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge is part of the NBA All-Star Weekend, little effort is usually shown by the players on the court. Faried didn't let that stop him from putting on a show. He finished with 40 points on 18-for-22 shooting and had 10 rebounds. The performance earned him the game's MVP honors.

"I came out with the intent to put on a performance," said Faried. "But I wasn't thinking MVP type of performance. I was just thinking about winning the game and enjoying myself. And pretty much enjoying the game I love to play."

Faried's style of play has earned him the nickname of the "Manimal." With his untamed hair and fanged teeth and the performance like this, he will not be overlooked in the NBA much longer. Faried will try and impress even more people when he make his encore performance in the NBA Dunk Contest on Saturday night.

Super Bowl XLVII Preview and Prediction

The career of Ray Lewis has been the talk of the media, but Patrick Willis may surpass his greatness soon enough. (Cary Edmondson)

Super Bowl preview after Super Bowl preview focuses on how the head coaches of the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens are brothers. Thanks to Jim and John we have what has been dubbed the Harbowl.What has been somewhat overlooked is how talented a number of players in this game are. After all, when all is said and done, it is the football players on the field that decide the game not the head coaches.

49ers: Many questioned why 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh made a quarterback switch from Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick in Week 11. Kaepernick has answered every question thrown his way. In his first career playoff game, he threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns. The latter was a new record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a playoff game ever. Kaepernick's addition was rejuvenated and diversified the 49ers offense. Last week, he helped the 49ers overcome a 17-0 road deficit to defeat the Falcons in the NFC Title Game. The 49ers defense that has been superb all season came up with a courageous goal line stand in the closing moments of that game to send their team to the Super Bowl.

Ravens: The Ravens got off to a strong 9-2 start to the season, but their offense sputtered midseason leading to consecutive losses. John Harbaugh made his questionable move by firing his offensive coordinator and bringing in Jim Caldwell. Caldwell has opened up the passing game, which has allowed Joe Flacco to shine. The Ravens defense got the boost it needed from the return of Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs. They dominated the Colts offense in the wild card game. The Ravens then needed a miracle to knock off the Broncos in overtime. Last week, they went on the road and got revenge on the Patriots in the AFC Title Game.

Prediction: As I already eluded to, I believe that the talent, focus, and execution of the football players is what will determine the outcome of this Super Bowl. I am convinced that the 49ers are superior in all three of those categories. The Ravens defense has taken advantage of the predictibility of the offenses they have faced so far in the playoffs. The complexity of the 49ers offense will not allow them to do so. What Kaepernick will do is nearly impossible for a defense to predict. If he throws, he has a stud receiver in Michael Crabtree, a matchup nightmare in tight end Vernon Davis and the still dangerous Randy Moss, who is capable of going deep at any time. The Ravens also have to try and stop the 49ers rushing attack that will feature Kaepernick's cleverness, Frank Gore's bruising attack and LaMichael James' explosive capabilities. That is too much to slow done for an older, worn down defense like the Ravens. The 49ers defense will come up with the big plays needed to take care of the rest. Justin Smith, Aldon Smith and the rest of the front seven will keep Flacco under pressure all night. Patrick Willis is the best defensive player on the field and will prove it with a big play late in the game.

My final prediction is that the 49ers will win Super Bowl XLVII 31-27 over the Ravens.

Michigan's Trip to IU Headlines College Basketball Saturday

The superb play of Tim Hardaway Jr. is one of the major reasons why Michigan is currently the No. 1 team in the country. (Gregory Shamus)

5. #6 Syracuse (18-2, 6-1 Big East) @ Pittsburgh (17-5, 5-4 Big East) - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN

Syracuse enters this matchup following the team's second loss of the season. Poor perimeter defense and overconfidence were their demise. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has begun to find its groove. They had won four straight contests before coming up short at Louisville. The Panthers will look to use their significant home court advantage to pull the surprising upset.

4. Oklahoma State (14-5, 4-3 Big 12) @ #2 Kansas (19-1, 7-0 Big 12) - 4:00 PM EST, ESPN3

Oklahoma State has had its share of ups and downs so far this season. They are entering this game with some momentum as winners of three of their last four. Since a November 13 loss to Michigan State, Kansas has gone on to win 18 straight games. Their defense has been dominant throughout the season. Freshman Ben McLemore has emerged as one of the best players in college basketball.

3. #14 Miami (16-3, 7-0 ACC) @ #19 NC State (16-5, 5-3 ACC) - 4:00 PM EST, CBS

Miami has been one of the biggest surprise stories of the college basketball season thus far. They have stormed out to a 7-0 start in ACC play, including dominating wins over then-No. 1 Duke and Florida State. NC State has been up and down in conference play. They have a win over Duke on the record as well. The Wolfpack will be glad to return home after a loss at Virginia this past week dropped their road record to 1-4 on the season.

2. #16 Mississippi (17-3, 6-1 SEC) @ #4 Florida (17-2, 7-0 ACC) - 7:00 PM EST, ESPNU

Ole Miss has been another one of this season's surprisingly successful teams. For those who have not seen them play, they run a high octane offense and rebound the ball well. The Rebels do enter the game on a sour note after their nine-game winning streak was snapped by a home loss to Kentucky. They hope to prove that they belong among the best in the SEC. Beating Florida would be a step in the right direction. The Gators have won nine straight and have emerged as the cream of the conference's crop.

1. Michigan (20-1, 7-1 Big Ten) @ #3 Indiana (19-2, 7-1 Big Ten) - 9:00 PM EST, ESPN

The Big Ten is widely considered to be the best conference in college basketball right now. Matchups like this remind us of why that is. Michigan doesn't simply have a strong record. They have been winning convincingly as well. Since December 4, the Wolverines have won every game by double digits except for two. One was a narrow defeat at Ohio State and an eight point win over Minnesota. Indiana has been a strong team as well. They have been rock solid as well with the exception of their two close losses, one in overtime to Butler and the other to Wisconsin by five at home. This is a battle to determine who is the top dog in the Big Ten as of right now at least.