Title race not yet over - Mourinho

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Chelsea have extended their Premier League lead to seven points after their win against Aston Villa.


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The chances of a team managed by Jose Mourinho giving up a seven-point lead with 14 matches left is as likely as Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert putting Chelsea’s staff on his Christmas card list.


Mourinho walked off the Villa Park turf a winner for the first time — too quickly for Lambert to shake his hand — but insisted he would only see Chelsea as champions when the title was sealed.


‘A Jose Mourinho team is a team like the others,’ he said. ‘If we have a seven-point lead with two matches to go we are champions. If we have a seven-point lead with three matches to go we need two points. And it’s not three matches, it’s 14, so there’s a long time to go.’


By May, this may well be viewed as a pivotal weekend in the title race, one when the leaders recovered from conceding to the worst attack in English football while Manchester City failed to beat lowly Hull at home.


It can also be seen as another chapter in the fraught relationship between Chelsea and Villa. Lambert was left seething by the behaviour of a Mourinho ally, understood to be Rui Faria — a renowned wind-up merchant — 10 minutes before the interval.Didier Drogba went down holding his head following an aerial duel with Ciaran Clark, prompting an exchange of words in the technical areas. Lambert removed his coat as if ready for action.


Afterwards, Mourinho appeared to criticise Lambert by suggesting Villa should not be struggling near the bottom of the table.


‘If they go down it is not because of the quality of their players,’ said Mourinho. ‘I believe they are not going down. This is a big club.’


Asked if it would be Lambert’s fault if Villa dropped a division, Mourinho replied: ‘I am saying nothing. I am saying that’s football. They have more than enough.’


The pair clashed earlier this season when Mourinho tried to shake Lambert’s hand before full-time in Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho had tongue wedged in cheek when saying Lambert and his then assistant Roy Keane were ‘very polite and well-educated people’.


Lambert seemed surprised at any praise coming from the Portuguese. ‘Whether he is trying to put pressure on me, I don’t know,’ said the Scot. ‘Was it genuine? We’ll call it genuine-ish. I would love to learn from him as a manager but I wouldn’t like to learn things off the pitch from someone in his dug-out.’


Lambert must switch his focus to more important matters. Villa travel to Hull tomorrow for a game of great significance. Jores Okore, who scored Villa’s first Premier League goal in 11 hours, said only victory would do. ‘It’s a really big game against a team who are close to us,’ he said. ‘Those are the matches you need to win.’


Eden Hazard and Branislav Ivanovic scored the goals against Villa that increased Chelsea’s lead over City. Mourinho called the Serbian one of the club’s best signings and his winner a half-volley to make ‘every striker in the world proud’.


Aston Villa (4-3-3): Guzan 6; Okore 6.5, Clark 6, Hutton 6, Cissokho 6; Cleverley 6 (Sinclair 74min, 6), Westwood 6, Delph 6; Gil 7, Agbonlahor 6 (Benteke 68, 5), Weimann 5.5 (Cole 80). Subs not used: Vlaar, Bacuna, Sanchez, Given. Booked: Cleverley, Westwood, Okore. Scorer: Okore 48.


Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois 7; Ivanovic 7.5, Cahill 6, Terry 6.5, Azpilicueta 7; Ramires 6, Matic 7; Willian 8 (Cuadrado 80), Oscar 6 (Mikel 73, 6.5), Hazard 7; Drogba 5 (Remy 64, 6). Subs not used: Cech, Zouma, Ake, Loftus-Cheek. Booked: Ramires, Ivanovic. Scorers: Hazard 8, Ivanovic 66.


Man of the match: Willian.


Referee: Neil Swarbrick 6. – Daily Mail






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Spurs youngsters repaying Pochettino

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Tottenham's victory against Arsenal was based mainly on contributions of three youngsters who have blossomed under coach Mauricio Pochettino.


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Mauricio Pochettino spoke with the authority of a man who had just been absolutely vindicated. He had just seen his Tottenham team give the ultimate Pochettino performance, full of youthful energy and attacking ambition, lifting them, for a few hours at least, up to fourth place.


This 2-1 victory over Arsenal was not as spectacular as the 5-3 destruction of Chelsea on New Year's Day, but it was a more complete performance. They dominated throughout, relying on the contributions of three youngsters who have blossomed under Pochettino. Harry Kane scored the goals while Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason ran the midfield.


Pochettino brought some very talented youngsters into his Southampton side last season and explained, in the afterglow of victory, how important this was to him. “This is our philosophy, it was our philosophy at Espanyol, Southampton and now here,” Pochettino said. “In the first season at Espanyol, we gave 25 debuts to players from the academy . If you have players with potential, why not? We have to give them opportunities.” Throughout his career, Pochettino has been moulding young talent, although he describes this as harder than coaching established professionals. “It is very difficult,” he explained. “It is easier to coach players, senior players, because they are already developed. You need to be patient, to have quality.”


It does not appear that much patience has been needed with Kane, Bentaleb and Mason, given how well they are playing. Arsène Wenger bemoaned the “quality of defensive pressure” that Mason and Bentaleb exerted in midfield, providing the drive and energy Pochettino wants from his teams.


Bentaleb was especially impressive given that last Sunday he was playing an African Cup of Nations quarter-final for Algeria against Ivory Coast in Malabo, on the Gulf of Guinea. But Pochettino saw he was in a “perfect state” and he showed it on the pitch. Bentaleb, who looks like a future Tottenham captain, was grateful to Pochettino for his trust.


“It is just faith,” Bentaleb said. “We all believe we can win these types of games. We showed it against Chelsea and now against Arsenal. We believe in ourselves. Pochettino has given me focus, trying to lose the ball less, go forward more, and work on my defensive part. He shows us clips, talks to you one-on-one and shows what you are doing wrong and right.”


Bentaleb is improving but the change in Kane is remarkable. He has turned from a skilful, gangly teenager into an imposing, powerful centre-forward. He bullied Arsenal's centre-backs on Saturday, with one poacher's finish and a towering header. “We could see from the beginning that he has an amazing potential,” said Pochettino. “After, he started to develop and he has arrived in what is a brilliant presence.”


Kane, the new hero of White Hart Lane, said long after the final whistle that he wished he was still on the pitch soaking up the moment with the fans. “I didn't want to come off,” he smiled. “It was a special day. It's something I won't forget.”


Tottenham 2 Arsenal 1Goals: Tottenham Kane 56, 86. Arsenal Özil 11.


Substitutions: Tottenham Chadli (Dembélé, 75), Stambouli (Lamela, 90), Paulinho (Mason, 90). Arsenal Rosicky (Cazorla, 68), Walcott (Welbeck, 78), Akpom (Coquelin, 89). Booked: Tottenham Kane, Mason, Bentaleb. Arsenal Monreal, Welbeck, Koscielny, Giroud, Ramsey.


Man of the match Kane. Match rating 8/10. Possession: Tottenham 56% Arsenal 44%.


Attempts on target: Tottenham 8 Arsenal 3.


Referee M Atkinson (West Yorks). Att 35,659. - The Independent






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Why it’s gone wrong at City

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Manchester City’s quest to defend their Premier League suffered a major blow when they failed to beat struggling Hull City.


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1 where are the goals? At the same stage last season, City had scored 68 in the league — 21 more than now. They let Alvaro Negredo leave and have waited until now to sign Wilfried Bony.


2 Breaking down There is nothing strange about opponents parking the bus against City, but Pellegrini’s side no longer have a solution. Playmaker David Silva has only provided two assists in the league all season.


3 The Yaya factor City have yet to win in six league games without Toure this season, drawing five and losing one. Fernando and Fernandinho can’t replace his drive and his return from the Africa Cup of Nations tomorrow will be a big relief.


4 Leaky City Hull’s shambolic goal on Saturday was the 10th time in 24 league games this season City have gone behind. They have come back to win in just three.


5 troubled minds City have gone from one problem to another, from the FFP punishment and controversy over Frank Lampard’s signing to minor distractions such as James Milner’s contract stalemate. It seems to have had a damaging effect. – Daily Mail






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United spirit delights Van Gaal

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It may not have been pretty but Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal did not mind at all after Daley Blind's late equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw at West Ham United.


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London - It may not have been pretty but Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal did not mind at all after Daley Blind's late equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw at West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday.


The visitors were second best for much of the match at Upton Park and Cheikhou Kouyate's superb volley looked to have given West Ham their first league win against the Old Trafford side since 2007.


But as Van Gaal's team pushed for an equaliser Dutch international Blind was on hand to level the scores and West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was forced to admit his players could not cope with “long ball United” in the closing stages.


“I think we played very badly in the first half and we showed a lot of spirit in the second half, especially after the goal at the beginning,” Dutchman Van Gaal told Sky Sports.


“When we had the ball we didn't play it along the floor, but also when we lost the ball then you have to win the first and the second balls much better than we did in the first half.


“Because they (West Ham) were playing long balls, we knew that in advance, but all of the second balls were for West Ham and that is why we were under a lot of pressure.


“That is also why the players lost their confidence to play the ball along the floor when we were in possession.”


With United struggling to create any clear chances, Van Gaal introduced towering Belgian Marouane Fellaini in the hope of disrupting the West Ham defence.


It worked a treat as Fellaini won an aerial ball in the build up to Blind's equaliser which left United fourth in the Premier League table with 44 points from 24 matches.


“I think with Fellaini, you have to change your style of play and we have done,” Van Gaal said.


“Because of Fellaini, we have created a lot of chances because I think we had the three open chances before the goal.


“Normally, you can win this game also, in spite of the bad first half. But okay, I am pleased that we have a draw here.” – Reuters






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News sport : NHL Three Stars: Hossa leads 'Hawks late; Price's acrobatics beat Bruins

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No. 1 Star: Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks


St. Louis came back from a one-goal deficit twice in the tilt versus Chicago. In the third period, Hossa paired up with Brandon Saad to score the go-ahead goal, and the empty-netter to ice it for Chicago. Here's the power play goal putting the Blackhawks up 3-2:





No. 2 Star: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens


The Habs swept the season series against the Bruins thanks to another great performance from Price. He made 34 saves in Montreal's 3-1 victory, including this awesome spin-o-swatter save.





No. 3 Star: Carter Hutton, Nashville Predators


After giving up two goals in the second, Hutton held on as the Preds mounted a comeback scoring two power play goals in the third on Roberto Luongo. The two squads went to the shoot-out, and Hutton stopped 2-of-4 shots against to put Nashville back in the top spot in the NHL.


Honorable Mention: Brian Boyle scored 2 goals in the Lightning's 5-3 win over Anaheim. The Ducks had a late rally, where Ryan Getzlaf scored the 200th goal of his career (or did he, Mr. Referee), but couldn't get past Ben Bishop and the Bolts ... The Blues took the loss, but daaamn Vladimir Tarasenko:





... Jason Spezza had a 3-point game for Dallas against the Rangers, scoring a goal and two assists. Spezza's third point came on Ales Hemsky's OT game winner ... The Islanders were up 3-0 on Buffalo when the Sabres scored 2 straight. It wouldn't be enough as Jaroslav Halak earned his 28th win of the season ... Claude Giroux's goal and assist gave the Flyers a 2-1 victory against Washington. Alex Ovechkin scored a power play goal to bring him to 33 on the season, tying him with Rick Nash.


Did You Know: The Sabres matched a franchise low 10 shots on goal against the Islanders.


Dishonorable Mention: The Stars ended up winning in overtime, but they would have won in regulation if it wasn't for this massive brain fart by Kari Lehtonen in the closing seconds of the third period leading to Chris Kreider's tying goal:





... Philly's Steve Mason injured himself during a TV timeout and had to leave the game ... Carrie Underwood's baby daddy (Mike Fisher) decreased Erik Gudbranson's chances of having children thanks to this shot to his special purpose ... Scary moment for the Ducks, goaltender Frederik Andersen leaves game after being hit in the back of the head by a falling crossbar:





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Jen Neale is a staff writer for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter!










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Afcon trophy belongs to Ivory Coast

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It came down to the goalkeepers to settle matters in the Afcon final between Ghana and Ivory Coast.


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Bata, Equatorial Guinea - Ivory Coast finally won the African Nations Cup after a decade of close calls as they edged neighbours Ghana 9-8 on penalties after a goalless draw following extra time in Sunday's final at Estadio de Bata.


Goalkeeper Boubacar Barry converted the decisive spot kick to deliver the trophy for a country who had been heavily fancied for the previous five tournaments but flopped in all of them.


It was a second title for Ivory Coast whose only previous success came when they also beat Ghana in a similar post-match marathon shootout 11-10 in Dakar in 1992.


Their triumph came on a night when 22 people died outside an Egyptian soccer match after security forces barred fans from entering the stadium, the public prosecutor's office said.


Most of the dead were suffocated when the crowd stampeded after police used teargas to clear the supporters trying to force their way into a league match between two Cairo clubs, Zamalek and Enppi, doctors and witnesses said.


The trouble highlighted the problems facing African football and overshadowed the thrilling climax to the Nations Cup tournament in Equatorial Guinea, who stepped in as hosts after Morocco was stripped of the hosting rights.


A total of 22 kicks were needed to settle the 2015 title with the Ivorians missing their first two attempts.


It came down to the keepers to settle matters after all the outfield players had taken a penalty each with the score at 8-8.


Barry, who was only playing because of injury to Sylvain Gbohouo, saved from Ghana goalkeeper Razak Brimah and then, after requiring treatment for an injury, got up to slot home the decisive spot kick.


Victory for the Ivorians also handed Frenchman Herve Renard the distinction of becoming the first coach to win the Nations Cup with different countries after success with Zambia in 2012, when they edged the Ivorians in a shootout.


“We had a team with the right fighting spirit and we rode our luck a little,” said Renard.


An exhausted Yaya Toure looked more relieved than elated, saying: “I just want to go home and celebrate with my family and friends. It's taken a long time for us to get here.”


Two hours of action delivered few chances as the tired-looking teams fought out an error-strewn midfield battle, although Ghana's Christian Atsu came close to scoring with a snapshot that hit the post after 26 minutes.


Yaya Toure had the game's first effort on goal after 10 minutes but his free kick went straight into Brimah's arms. Gervinho fed Max Gradel with a clear chance on the right of the attack soon after but he blasted a hurried shot wide.


Ghana's first effort was inches away from a goal as Andre Ayew weaved across the penalty box before feeding Atsu, whose first time shot hit the upright before bouncing back into play.


An Ivorian mistake gave Ghana the first chance of the second half with Atsu speeding away before passing inside to Asamoah Gyan, who was off target with his effort.


Gyan had been doubtful for the final with a pelvic injury but passed a late fitness test.


Mubarak Wakaso blasted over the top with a strong effort from well outside the penalty area midway through the second half as the midfield stranglehold kept chances to a minimum.


However, Atsu's strong running down the right tested the Ivorian defence again when he provided Gyan without another chance after 72 minutes but it was blocked.


As the game approached 90 minutes a scramble in the Ghana penalty area, after Brimah could only parry the ball, gave Ivorian substitute Seydou Doumbia a half-chance but he too was thwarted by a quick defensive recovery.


Doumbia missed another half-chance at the start of the second half of extra time when striker Gervinho found a second wind and the game had to go to penalties to separate the teams.


Ghana's agonising shootout defeat means they are still waiting for their first Nations Cup success since 1982.


“But I think we can be very proud of what we did at this tournament with you guys giving us no chance,” Ghana coach Avram Grant told reporters. “We have a team for the future here.”


Morocco were stripped of the tournament having asked for a postponement amid concerns over the spread of the Ebola virus and have been banned from the next two African Nations Cups.


Reuters






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News sport : Kings defenseman Alec Martinez day-to-day with concussion

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The Kings resilience is about to be tested once again.


In the first period of Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles defenseman Alec Martinez, was on the receiving end of a legal check from Cedric Paquette.





Martinez left the game after the hit, and did not return.


On Sunday, an off-day for the Kings, updated the media on the defenseman's status. Via LA Kings Insider, Jon Rosen:



"He’s day-to-day," Sutter said. He's got concussion-like symptoms which don’t appear to be very severe, but we have to be careful and cautious.




Though the Kings have an available roster spot, there is no word at this point whether the Kings plan on recalling a defenseman from AHL-Manchester.



Martinez is ninth on the team in scoring at 17-points, and put whatever you want to into the stat, he's a plus-11; third highest on the team, first among defensemen. He's best known for scoring the Stanley Cup clinching goal for the Kings last spring.


As Josh Cooper wrote earlier, the Kings are close to missing the post-season, but shouldn't be counted out just yet. Losing Martinez for any amount of time will test the organization's depth at defense. Jamie McBain will probably see more ice time with Martinez out, and should this end up being a longer term injury, Nick Schultz might get a call up back with the big club.


Knowing Dean Lombardi and his propensity for a blockbuster deal, he's probably concocting some magical trade that will result in Shea Weber coming to LA for a bag of magic beans and a jug of whatever Drew Doughty was drinking at the All-Star Draft.


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Jen Neale is a staff writer for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter!










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News sport : Kevin Durant reminds Chris Paul to check the score after Paul stares down KD's bench (Video)

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Sunday afternoon’s Oklahoma City/Los Angeles Clippers contest went exactly how you’d expect. The Thunder, still reeling from a tough home loss to New Orleans on Friday night, went at a struggling Clippers squad that found out on Sunday that they’d be without the services of Blake Griffin for an underdetermined amount of time. The Thunder ended up winning by a dominant 131-108 mark, with Kevin Durant sustaining an early hot hand on his way toward 29 points in 29 minutes.


One surprise did come in the form of the play of OKC rookie forward Mitch McGary. Not satisfied with having the most Dad-like name in the history of Dads, McGary contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds in just under 24 minutes, sparking a first half surge and tripling his season-long total for minutes in one contest.


Down 23 late in the third period, with Durant taking a rest on the pine, Clipper All-Star Chris Paul decided to try and take down the rookie a notch by crossing over the 6-10 McGary and nailing a jumper in his face before staring down the Thunder bench. Watch:



Kevin Durant, with his team now down 21 points with 14 minutes to go, had the appropriate response. Via cjzero:



“You’re down 20 now, homie.” Solid burn, Kevin Durant. You’ve been doing that a lot, lately.


The Clippers have now lost their last three games by a combined 30 points. Yes, road games against Cleveland, Toronto, and Oklahoma City (with the most recent played without Blake Griffin) are no picnic, but the Cleveland contest wasn’t nearly as close as the 11-point final deficit would suggest, and the Toronto loss saw the Clippers outscored by a 113-80 mark to finish the game.


And Chris Paul is mean-mugging after crossing over a 6-10 rookie with his team down 21 points on national TV. It’s the little things to keep you happy, I suppose.


(Hat-tip to Deadspin; because we weren’t watching that junk once the Thunder went up big. There’s a ‘Saturday Night Live’ marathon, working through the Phil Hartman years, broadcasting over at VH1 Classic right now.)


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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






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News sport : Watch Steve Mason injure himself during TV timeout (Video)

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Stop me if you've heard this one before, Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Steve Mason is hurt.


The oft-injured netminder started the matinée game against Washington, and would not finish it; playing only 31:17 before leaving the game.


During the TV time out, Mason skated to the Flyers to get out of the way of the ice shovelers. As he's stretching, he appears to pull something...maybe?


To the tape (courtesy of Some Hockey Videos)!



Weird right?


Not too long afterwards, the Flyers confirmed what we all already knew:



Flyers GM Ron Hextall announced to the media following the second period of the Flyers-Capitals game that goaltender Steve Mason has a lower-body injury and will not return to the game.



I guess we should be used to this by now. Frank Seravalli details Mason's injury history this season alone:


Mason missed four straight games from Dec. 20-29 and then another six games from Jan. 12-20 with what he later revealed as a right knee injury. Even after not practicing during the All-Star break, Mason was back in net when the Flyers returned to action on Jan. 27 ... Mason did say on Jan. 27 that more "drastic measures" were considered with the team's medical staff about his knee issue, hinting that surgery was a possibility.

Ray Emery replaced Mason and was greeted by the Caps with a 5-on-3 disadvantage a few minutes after getting on the ice. Alex Ovechkin sent a power play goal past him, but that would be all Washington would score. Emery and the Flyers held on for a 3-1 win.


Those hoping for a Rob Zepp call up will have to wait. The goaltender was injured in Saturday's game for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.


More details to follow... or not. These are the Flyers, you know.


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Jen Neale is a staff writer for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter!










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News sport : Priority Pickups: Spencer Hawes, suddenly fantasy relevant

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When last we saw Clippers big Blake Griffin, he was playing 36 minutes in a loss at Toronto, delivering a rich stat line (26-6-9-1-1). No obvious signs of trouble.


But on Sunday morning, bad news broke:



Brutal. Just brutal.


We don't yet have a clear recovery timetable for Blake — could be two weeks, could be six or more — so let's simply say he's out indefinitely. The Clips currently occupy the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings, both Griffin and J.J. Redick (back) are sidelined, and the near-term schedule is a minefield: at OKC, at Dal, Hou, SA, Sac, Mem, at Hou, at Mem, at Chi. So things could certainly get rough for L.A.


Fantasy-wise, a familiar vet (and respected fashion maven) figures to gain value...


PF/C Spencer Hawes, LAC (30 percent owned)


Hawes has been stuck at 17 minutes per game to this point in the season, averaging just 6.1 points and 3.9 boards, not really helping the fantasy community. But he drew the start on Sunday, and his minutes should jump to 28-32 during Blake's absence. With that sort of playing time, he's a decent bet to give us plenty of 13-and-7 games, with threes and blocks and acceptable percentages — not exactly Griffin-ish, but not bad. He needs to be added, today.


SG/SF Gerald Henderson, Cha (21 percent owned)


Henderson has scored 17 points or more in four of his last five games, so it's tough to argue with the recent production. We're not talking about an across-the-board contributor here (despite the 9-dime game on Saturday), and he's not a significant 3-point threat, but he can certainly help anyone who's scuffling in a points league. Charlotte is dealing with non-trivial injury issues at the moment (Kemba, MKG), so Henderson's minutes are safe for now.


PG Jordan Clarkson, LAL (18 percent owned)


Sure, Clarkson had the 0-for-4 clunker last Wednesday in a loss to Milwaukee, but the rookie has been mostly useful in recent days. He's starting, playing 30-plus minutes per night, typically scoring in the teens, with assists and steals. I'd added him in two leagues, dropped him for Hawes in one.


SG/SF Paul George, Ind (10 percent)


Yeah, it's merely a mid-season dart throw. A scratch-off ticket. Yet another injured player to manage around. If you're the owner of a middle-of-the-pack fantasy team, battling injuries, then George isn't worth the flier. But if your season has been smooth to this point ... well, it's probably time to take George's rehab seriously. (You've seen the post-practice clips , right?)


Few of us thought George would make it back in 2014-15 following the horrific summer injury, but he's hoping to return to full practices by March 1. Clearly there's no guarantee that he'll see game action in March or April, but it's at least a legit possibility. In the Eastern Conference, teams are finding it difficult to tank their way out of the playoff race, so the Pacers are in the mix, even at 19-32. If George returns for the closing weeks at limited minutes, that's a huge win for Indy.


Again, there are no promises being made with George. But I've picked him up in a pair of head-to-head/ weekly-lineup leagues, just in case. If nothing else, perhaps he can serve as a fantasy trade sweetener ahead of the deadline.






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News sport : Dean Smith's NBA legacy remains and will forever remain strong

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On the back cover of the 1998 pressing of ‘Dean Smith Basketball’ is a picture of Chicago Bull Michael Jordan, nailing a spectacular reverse lay-up over Karl Malone. Such a shot by such a pro, one not wearing North Carolina blue, might seem a bit incongruous on the back cover of a tome detailing the time-killing four corner offense or the ways in which pace can often devalue defensive statistics, but no one would balk at its placement.


Jordan was Dean Smith’s most famous pupil. The greatest basketball player ever spent his formative years learning under the longtime North Carolina Tar Heel coach, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 83. This is why Jordan, now the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, released this statement on Sunday morning:



“Other than my parents, no one had a bigger influence on my life than Coach Smith. He was more than a coach – he was my mentor, my teacher, my second father. Coach was always there for me whenever I needed him and I loved him for it. In teaching me the game of basketball, he taught me about life. My heart goes out to Linnea and their kids. We’ve lost a great man who had an incredible impact on his players, his staff and the entire UNC family.”



In a league fractured by loyalties to agents, shoe companies, and the unsettling yet understandable impermanence that one-and-done NCAA internships create, the North Carolina family tree remains the NBA’s strongest. Prior to news of Smith’s passing, the biggest NBA story floating around the wires over the weekend was the Sacramento Kings’ chase of George Karl, a former Tar Heel and Smith protégé that has coached five previous NBA teams along with a CBA champion in Albany and the Real Madrid powerhouse.


Karl’s modified zone defense, derived from Smith’s trapping style, has helped him accrue over 1100 NBA wins; yet he’s far from the most celebrated North Carolina NBA influence. The day to day frustrations of running an NBA team may have gotten the best of him at his last few stops, but former Tar Heel point guard Larry Brown has improved teams at each of his professional or NCAA stops as head coach. Brown, currently working at Southern Methodist University, will one day retire as the only man to win titles in the ABA (as a player), the NBA, and the NCAA.


Through Brown and Karl, Smith’s influence continues to dot the NBA landscape.


Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder may have graduated from Duke University, but he made his coaching debut as an assistant under Larry Brown on the 1992-93 Los Angeles Clippers. Portland Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts developed his ball-movement heavy offense, taking a direct cue from Smith’s work at North Carolina, while working with Karl in both the CBA and in several NBA stops. Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks made his NBA coaching debut as an assistant under Karl.


Dallas Mavericks coach head coach Rick Carlisle took in his first head coaching gig under Indiana general manager Donnie Walsh, a former teammate of Brown on North Carolina who has presided over 30 years of basketball in Indiana – only pausing late in the last decade to clean up the mess that the New York Knicks had become, helping that franchise to its first string of postseason appearances in a decade. Former Tar Heel Mitch Kupchak has run the Los Angeles Lakers for nearly 15 years, collecting five rings as an executive. Former Tar Heel Billy Cunningham was the coach when Julius Erving won his only NBA title. Current Tar Heels coach Roy Williams studied under Smith before going on to coach 20 currently active NBA players at both Kansas and North Carolina. The influence runs deep.


Dean Smith’s NBA legacy isn’t limited to the scads of successful coaches that have sprung from North Carolina’s ranks. His Tar Heel offense helped harness Michael Jordan’s significant athletic gifts, helping him learn how to see the floor in ways that went beyond diving toward the rim endlessly in a pell-mell style. Noted for acting as “the only man who could hold Michael Jordan to 20 points” (Jordan’s North Carolina high was “only” 20 points per game in his sophomore season, he averaged over 30 in his NBA career), Smith’s insight helped Jordan develop the patience it took to eventually mate his brilliant basketball gifts with professional teammates who couldn’t even hope to approximate his brilliance, leading to six NBA titles.


In 36 years of coaching at North Carolina, however, Smith’s coaching work influenced far more than the champion that dotted the back cover of his coaching manual. Brown and Cunningham both won ABA championships as star players, with Cunningham winning an NBA title as a player in 1967. Guard Charlie Scott won a ring with the Boston Celtics in 1976, and forward Bobby Jones was a devastating force on several great Denver Nuggets teams (coached by Larry Brown) and a champion with Cunningham on the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers. Mitch Kupchak was a needed inside force on Washington’s 1978 championship team and a reserve on two Laker title-winners.


A younger generation, helmed by stylists as disparate as Vince Carter, Rasheed Wallace, and Antawn Jamison stood as Smith’s last crew to make NBA hay. All three are borderline Basketball Hall of Famers.


Smith’s legacy as a coach and person is just as disparate. An early champion for civil rights, Smith did important and needed work on behalf of young African-Americans in a divided American south in the 1950s and 1960s. In the relatively less important realm of basketball, he was one of the first to introduce advanced analytics into the world of coaching and scouting, emphasizing pace and possession counts as acting as just as structurally important as the raw box score stats most utilized to track just how well a player or team was doing.


As it was in 1997 when he stepped down at North Carolina, there can and will never be a proper summary for his legacy. His accomplishments, sure – line them all up on the side of the page, count the rings, and count the wins.


His legacy? That’s different. That keeps spiraling onward, dotting each and every one of the 30 NBA teams we follow. Few others, if any others, can claim to that.


It is to the unassuming Dean Smith's eternal credit that he would never attempt to claim such a thing on his own. It's our job as basketball fans, in his absence, to do that for him.


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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at KDonhoops@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!






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News sport : Central Michigan reportedly to hire Lions ST coach John Bonamego

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Central Michigan has reportedly found its new coach.


According to the Detroit Free Press, the Chippewas are heading to the NFL ranks to hire Detroit Lions special teams coach John Bonamego.


From the Free Press Saturday evening:



Bonamego is finalizing a contract to be the next CMU football coach, a person familiar with the deal but not authorized to speak about it publicly told the Free Press today.



Bonamego, 51, has been with Detroit for the past two seasons. He has coached special teams in the NFL since 1999 and last coached in the college ranks with Army from 1993-1998. He's a Central Michigan alum and walked on the football team when he was there.


Previous Central Michigan coach Dan Enos left in January to become Arkansas' offensive coordinator. His departure meant that CMU went through National Signing Day without a coach. According to Rivals' recruiting rankings, CMU's class was No. 111 in the country and had 19 commitments.


The Chippewas finished 7-6 last year and had a crazy comeback in the Bahamas Bowl that just fell short. After trailing 49-14, CMU came back to cut the deficit to 49-48 on a crazy multi-lateral play with no time remaining. However, the two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete.


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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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News sport : Iconic North Carolina coach Dean Smith dies at 83

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College basketball lost one of its icons Saturday night.


Dean Smith, the legendary former North Carolina coach, died at his home in Chapel Hill with his wife and five children at his side, the school announced Sunday morning. He was 83.


“It’s such a great loss for North Carolina – our state, the University, of course the Tar Heel basketball program, but really the entire basketball world," said North Carolina coach Roy Williams, a longtime assistant under Smith. "We lost one of our greatest ambassadors for college basketball for the way in which a program should be run. We lost a man of the highest integrity who did so many things off the court to help make the world a better place to live in.


"He set the standard for loyalty and concern for every one of his players, not just the games won or lost.He was the greatest there ever was on the court but far, far better off the court with people. His concern for people will be the legacy I will remember most."


Smith won 20 or more games in 30 of the 31 seasons he coached at North Carolina and retired in 1997 as college basketball's winningest coach. He led the Tar Heels to 11 Final Fours and two national titles, the first in 1982 and the second in 1993.


North Carolina was so successful under Smith that fans of other ACC schools united in their dislike of the Tar Heels. They mockingly called Smith "Saint Dean" and grumbled that North Carolina received preferential treatment from referees and the league — all the things people now say about Smith's longtime adversary Mike Krzyzewski.


Any lingering bitterness among Smith's rivals has faded in recent years as his health has declined. Dementia began to ravage his famously steely memory almost a decade ago. In recent years, the man who once could recall specific plays from games he coached in decades earlier could no longer recognize some of his most decorated players or most trusted assistant coaches.


Those health issues forced Smith to make fewer and fewer public appearances at North Carolina in recent years and made it tough for his ex-players to visit him. Some did anyway out of loyalty to their longtime coach. Others couldn't bear to see him in that state and preferred to remember the good times.


Smith's legacy is the sustained success North Carolina basketball has enjoyed since he retired and the impact he made on the men and women who spent time around him.


"He was a mentor to so many people," Williams said "He was my mentor. He gave me a chance but, more importantly, he shared with me his knowledge, which is the greatest gift you can give someone.


"I’m 64 years old and everything I do with our basketball program and the way I deal with the University is driven by my desire to make Coach Smith proud. When I came back to Carolina, the driving force was to make him proud and I still think that today."


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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!







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Barca scout blames power games for axing

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Alberto Valentin has blamed power games for his dismissal and that of Andoni Zubizarreta.


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Barcelona – Former Barcelona technical secretary Alberto Valentin has blamed power games for his dismissal and that of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and is now looking for a new challenge away from the pressure cooker of La Liga.


Zubizarreta and assistant Valentin, who oversaw scouting, were both sacked last month in the aftermath of a FIFA transfer ban for the following two windows over the breaching of rules on the signing of foreign under-18 players.


Fan criticism had also been building over failures in the transfer market and their perceived involvement in the scandal over Neymar’s real cost.


“I haven’t given any interviews to the media here (in Spain) as I don’t think they have treated us correctly. I want to now continue my work in a different atmosphere than in Spain,” Valentin told Reuters.


“I’ve read the stories about me going to Liverpool but I haven’t spoken with anyone.


“The problem at Barcelona is that there is always a power struggle.


“Often the sports director is the one who is given the job of putting out fires and he is the first person people look at when there are problems,” he said.


“Zubizarreta was always looking to conciliate but got tired of the situation.”


Valentin felt Zubizarreta was hung out to dry over the transfer ban.


“The error over the signing of youth players was huge. I would add, though, these mistakes happen when you are dealing with hundreds of kids and it is happening at other clubs as well,” he said.


“It is true that FIFA has thrown a dart at the club which has set the standard for youth development.”


EVALUATED DIFFERENTLY


Valentin denied Zubizarreta and those working in the technical department were at fault in the Neymar transfer which was first investigated after a fan took legal action seeking clarity over the price.


The club said they spent 57.1 million euros ($64.64 million) on the Brazil forward when he signed ahead of last season and former president Sandro Rosell steadfastly repeated the figure.


However, when Rosell was asked to give evidence after a judge decided to investigate possible tax evasion, he stood down last January but denied wrongdoing.


Court proceedings are ongoing but now the prosecution say Neymar’s real cost was 94.9 million euros.


“I did my report on Neymar after the U-20 South American championships in Peru, 2011. Neither Zubizarreta nor I were involved (in trying to sign the player),” he said.


“I would discuss players with Zubizarreta, the coach and directors and a decision would be made.


“I don’t think you would have a situation anywhere else where a fan takes the club to court in this way.”


Valentin arrived at Barcelona, having previously been technical secretary at Espanyol, along with Zubizarreta at the start of the Rosell presidency in 2010.


He said they had to deal with a particularly turbulent spell in the club’s history.


“I think in time our jobs will be evaluated differently. We had to deal with the decline of a team which was possibly the best side ever,” Valentin remarked.


“We had continual changes of coach, there was the illness for (coach) Tito (Vilanova) and then Tata (Martino) came in for one year. There were external problems that had nothing to do with our job like the Neymar case, Messi’s tax case and the FIFA transfer ban.


“I didn’t speak to (former coach Pep) Guardiola about why he left but he was aware of the problems that were facing the club and the restructuring that was needed.” – Reuters






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Burnley squander two-goal lead

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Burnley squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with fellow relegation candidate West Brom on Sunday.


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Burnley – Burnley squandered a two-goal lead for the third time in its last four games, conceding twice from corners in a 2-2 draw with fellow relegation candidate West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.


All four goals in a lively match at Turf Moor came from headers, with in-demand striker Danny Ings setting up Ashley Barnes for Burnley’s opener in the 11th minute before scoring himself in the 32nd.


Chris Brunt, who had the captain’s armband taken from him and given to new signing Darren Fletcher, bundled in a left-wing corner in first-half injury time to bring West Brom back into the game.


Nigeria striker Brown Ideye completed the recovery in the 67th, taking advantage of more slack marking to head in another corner.


Burnley climbed out of the relegation zone, above Hull. – Sapa-AP






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