The 31-year-old Memphis Grizzlies guard rolled around on the floor like he’d been shot in the head after Spurs guard Manu Ginobili fouled him hard with 26.1 seconds remaining in regulation on Tuesday night. The problem was that replays showed Allen’s head never actually hit the floor. In fact, it didn’t hit anything.

In a postseason that has been marred by a ton of flopping allegations, Allen’s performance was easily the most egregious.

Officials called a flagrant foul on Ginobili for grabbing Allen’s arm as he drove to the basket, and that was the correct call. But Allen definitely oversold the contact. When Allen hit the floor he writhed around like he was on fire and covered his head as if it had been badly injured.

Allen then hit both free throws and the Grizzlies were also awarded the ball. Memphis wound up forcing overtime before the Spurs won the game 93-89 in the extra frame.

It’s not the first time Allen has flopped to a ridiculous degree either. Don’t believe me? Watch this.

Video of the flop from Game 2 follows:

The Spurs blew a 13-point lead over the final eight minutes in Game 2 and Ginobili’s foul on Allen only made things worse. Mike Conley followed the ensuing made free throws will a runner in the lane with 18.2 seconds to play to tie the game at 85 and force overtime.

Somehow San Antonio bounced back in the extra period, outscoring Memphis 8-4 and taking a 2-0 lead in the series.

*Originally posted on Rumors and Rants

The post Memphis Grizzlies Tony Allen fined $5,000 for ridiculous flop appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.

Have mercy. I don’t know what’s more impressive, running right by the freak of nature that is LeBron James or the brutal jam over Andersen. That dunk and the ensuing made free throw put the Pacers up five near the end of the third period.

The post GIF: Paul George drives by LeBron James and posterizes Chris Andersen appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.

We saw another example of that Friday night during Game 2 of the Miami Heat’s NBA Eastern Conference finals series against the Indiana Pacers. Check out this incredible look to Mike Miller for a buzzer-beating three right at the end of the first half:

Wow.

The post Video: LeBron James makes an insane pass to Mike Miller for a buzzer beater appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.

Meanwhile, 31-year-old Serena Williams is taking a 24-match win streak to Paris and will look to win her 16th career major.

Here’s a preview of this year’s action at Roland Garros, along with a television schedule.

Men’s Singles

Rafa has seven of these and is playing well enough to win an eighth. (Photo by Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)

Rafa is back, but not all is right in the men’s singles draw. Andy Murray, who finally managed to crash the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic triumverate last summer, had to withdraw after suffering a back injury earlier this month at a tournament in Rome. Seventh-ranked Juan Martín del Potro also withdrew, citing a virus.

Nadal, who has won seven of the last eight French Opens, is the obvious favorite to win at Roland Garros. Since returning from injury earlier this year Nadal has been exceptional, compiling a 35-2 record and winning three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments (bringing his career total to a record 24 Masters-level titles). Rafa is on a 15-match winning streak, during which he has only dropped two sets. Winning the French Open this year would give Nadal an eighth title, tying him with Max Decugis for most all-time. Decugis won his eight titles between 1903 and 1914, which was way before the Open Era.

If someone is going to end Rafa’s run of dominance in Paris, it will probably be either Federer or Djokovic. No other player in this year’s draw has ever advanced to a French Open final. Federer is the only active player other than Nadal to have won the French Open. Top-ranked Djokovic advanced to the final last year and won 2013′s first major in Australia. He beat Nadal last month in the final at Monte Carlo before disappointing showings in Madrid and Rome.

Top Seeds

1. Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
2. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
3. Rafael Nadal (Spain)
4. David Ferrer (Spain)
5. Tomáš Berdych (Czech Republic)
6. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France)
7. Richard Gasquet (France)
8. Janko Tipsarević (Serbia)

Seeded American players: Sam Querrey (18), John Isner (19).

Women’s Singles

Top-ranked Serena Williams will attempt to win her 16th Grand Slam singles title (Photo by Daniel Ochoa De Olza/Associated Press)

It’s hard to imagine someone other than Serena winning the women’s singles title. Then again, I didn’t imagine that anyone would beat her in the Australian Open, either. Sure, a back spasm probably played a role in Serena’s quarterfinal loss to Sloane Stephens in Melbourne, but those things happen.

Speaking of Stephens, you may have heard that the 20-year-old rising star isn’t particularly happy with the younger Williams sister. Stephens is also frustrated by the media narrative saying that she idolized Serena growing up and that Serena has been a mentor to her. You can read about that here. At any rate, Williams and Stephens are on opposite sides of the bracket and won’t meet unless both advance to the finals.

Second-seeded Maria Sharapova comes to Paris as the defending champion. Sharapova has been great lately, as long as she’s not playing Williams, who has won in each of the pair’s last twelve meetings.

If you’re looking for a sleeper, keep an eye on unseeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy. Schiavone won the French Open in 2010 and was runner up last year. She’s a clay specialist who can advance to the semifinals without having to play either Williams or Sharapova (though she will have the difficult task of getting by Victoria Azarenka and Li Na).

Top Seeds

1. Serena Williams (USA)
2. Maria Sharapova (Russia)
3. Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
4. Agnieszka Radwańska (Poland)
5. Sara Errani (Italy)
6. Li Na (China)
7. Petra Kvitová (Czech Republic)
8. Angelique Kerber (Germany)

Other seeded American players: Sloane Stephens (17), Varvara Lepchenko (29), Venus Williams (30).

Other Draws

The men’s and women’s doubles draws will be released on the tournament’s official website on Sunday. The mixed doubles draw will follow on Monday.

Americans Bob and Mike Bryan will attempt to win their third consecutive men’s doubles Grand Slam and 14th overall. The Bryan twins haven’t won at Roland Garros since 2003, but they have reached the semifinals six times and the finals thrice since then. The last nine months have been kind to the Bryans, who followed an Olympic gold medal in London with wins at the 2012 U.S. Open and 2013 Australian Open.

The Italian duo of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci will attempt to lengthen their string of women’s doubles Grand Slam championships. Errani and Vinci won their first doubles slam last year at the French then, like the Bryan brothers, won the most recent U.S. and Aussie Opens.

The women’s wheelchair draw will see a new winner this year for the first time since 2004. Esther Vergeer of the Netherlands, who won the last eight French Open women’s wheelchair titles, retired in February, her 470-match winning streak in tact.

Television Schedule

Sunday May 26 (First Round)

4:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (CT): ESPN2
9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (CT): Tennis
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (CT): NBC

Monday May 27 (First Round)

4:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (CT): ESPN2
9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (CT): Tennis
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (CT): NBC

Tuesday May 28 (First Round)

4:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (CT): ESPN2
9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (CT): Tennis

Wednesday May 29 (Second Round)

4:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (CT): ESPN2
9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (CT): Tennis

Thursday May 30 (Second Round)

4:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (CT): ESPN2
9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (CT): Tennis

Friday May 31 (Third Round)

4:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (CT): ESPN2
9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (CT): Tennis

Saturday June 1 (Third Round)

4:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (CT): Tennis
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (CT): NBC

Sunday June 2 (Round of 16)

4:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (CT): Tennis
12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. (CT): NBC

Monday June 3 (Round of 16)

4:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (CT): ESPN2
9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (CT): Tennis

Tuesday June 4 (Quarterfinals)

7:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (CT): Tennis
12:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (CT): ESPN2

Wednesday June 5 (Quarterfinals)

7:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (CT): ESPN2

Thursday June 6 (Semifinals, women)

8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (CT): ESPN2
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (CT): NBC

Friday June 7 (Semifinals, men)

6:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. (CT): Tennis
10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (CT): NBC

Saturday June 8 (Final, women)

8:00 a.m. (CT): NBC

Sunday June 9 (Final, men)

8:00 a.m. (CT): NBC

The post 2013 French Open preview and TV information appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.

Moments after crossing the finish line under the checkered flag, this year’s winner, like dozens before him (or her), will remove his (or her) helmet and participate in one of the Brickyard’s oldest traditions—one that predates the Borg-Warner Trophy, Jim Nabors singing “Back Home Again in Indiana,” and the Andretti curse—by taking a swig of milk from a glass bottle.

The tradition dates back to 1933, when driver Louis Meyer requested a glass of buttermilk after winning the 21st Indianapolis 500, his second career win at the Brickyard. Meyer won the race again in 1936 and again requested a glass of buttermilk, but this time he didn’t get a glass, he got a bottle. According to legend, a local Indianapolis dairy saw a picture of Meyer drinking from a milk bottle and saw a marketing opportunity.

Louis Meyer, three-time Indy 500 champion and friend of the dairy industry.

Unaware that Meyer had been drinking buttermilk, the dairy in question presented a bottle of regular milk to 1937 race winner Wilbur Shaw. This practice of awarding a milk bottle to the Indy 500 winner continued until 1941 then resumed in 1946. (There was no race from 1942 through 1945 because of World War II.)

The milk tradition then took a break from 1947 through 1955, but a bottle has been presented to every race winner since 1956. Indy 500 champions today have the choice of whole milk, skim milk or 2 percent fresh from an Indiana dairy farm and served in a commemorative glass bottle.

Dairy farmer Duane Hill, who will provide milk to this year’s race winner, poses with a commemorative bottle. (Photo from IndyStar.com)

In 1993 second-time winner Emerson Fittipaldi created controversy when he refused the milk and instead took a swig from a bottle of orange juice. Fittipaldi eventually atoned for his transgression by drinking some milk during the post-race celebration.

You can watch Fittipaldi diss the milkman in this video, which is in Portuguese:

The Milk Promotions Board of the American Dairy Association of Indiana selects two dairy farmers each year to provide milk for the event. One serves milk to the race winner, while a second—the “rookie” milkman or milk woman—serves the owner of the winning car and the chief mechanic. Following a farmer’s rookie season, he or she gets a promotion and the opportunity to hand a cold bottle of milk to the next year’s winning driver.

This year’s Indy 500 milkman is Duane Hill of Fountain City, Indiana. The 2013 rookie is Ken Hoeing of Rushville, Indiana, who will be attending his first Indianapolis 500.

While the very thought of chugging a bottle of milk after three hours of driving at high speeds while confined to a tight space and wearing a fire suit makes me nauseous, most of the drivers don’t seem to share my repulsion. When asked about the milk following his first win in 2007, three-time winner Dario Franchitti said that it was, “Good. Really good. They chill it and it’s very cold. I went for full fat inside and then I went outside in Victory Circle after the rain stopped and I had another bottle and I think that was 2 percent. That was good as well. I was liking the milk.”

The post A brief history of milk at the Indianapolis 500 appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.

When asked about the offer, Jaworski claimed he was serious and that he loved Tebow and would want him with the Soul for his leadership alone.

Tebow is coming off a disastrous season with the New York Jets where he attempted just eight passes (completing six) for 39 yards. He also ran the ball 32 times for 102 yards, but accounted for zero total touchdowns.

Jaworski related why he thinks the AFL is the right place for Tebow now:

“I know Tim’s in a funk right now. But I think he’s got to have a career path. What’s he going to do to get back?”

Tebow’s long delivery has been a big problem in his development as a passer, but Jaworski thinks that would change with some time in the Arena League:

“You’ve got to learn to get rid of the football, quick. You’ve got to process information, quick. If those are challenges Time has, that’s it. If you get reps and you’re dropping back 40-45 times, with people in your face, you get better. He needs to play. He needs to be on the field.”

The Orlando Predators are another AFL team that has expressed interest in Tebow.

Honestly the AFL does seem like the best place for Tebow to develop his game right now, though the Canadian Football League might be his best chance to actually put up some solid numbers based on the style of play north of the border. Either way, he doesn’t belong in the NFL at this point.

*Originally posted on Rumors and Rants

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Is that an exaggeration? Probably, but that’s the nicer version of how many Green Bay Packers fans interpret the chain of events that led to Brett Favre’s journey from Wisconsin to New York to Minnesota, with a few stops in Mississippi along the way.

If that was the way that Packers fans felt when he departed the organization after the 2007 season, it didn’t take long for said wounds to heal across Wisconsin.

Packers CEO Mark Murphy came out last week and said that the organization “wants Favre back in the family.”

That’s a start, and many Green Bay fans agree, but even though he’s the CEO, Murphy is not the one with the biggest influence around town. That person is quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

If Rodgers is ready to welcome Favre back, the rest of the Packers faithful should as well.

In an interview on The Jim Rome Show on Wednesday, Rodgers said that Favre should not only be welcomed back, but he should have his number retired as well.

Rodgers said, “it’s been too long. You know, our country and the state of Wisconsin, these people are a people of second and third and fourth chances. I think it’s time to let the healing process begin for those who are still upset for what went down.”

I don’t think you’ll find many Packers fans who disagree.

What happened in the past happened and there is no changing that, whether Green Bay fans would like to or not. And given the fact that Rodgers has won two-thirds of the games he’s started in a Packers uniform, including Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers, I don’t think you’ll find many fans that would trade his success for one extra year of Favre.

Rodgers started his career with lofty expectations and a ton of vitriol from a segment of the fanbase. He’s brushed that off with stellar play over the course of his career and embraced the city of Green Bay and state of Wisconsin as much, if not more, than Favre ever did.

If Rodgers is ready to say that his predecessor should come back and that No. 4 should be permanently affixed to the upper bowl at Lambeau Field, the rest of the Packers faithful would be wise to heed his words.

The post Aaron Rodgers ready to welcome back Brett Favre appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.

It is a rare occasion for Cena to miss an episode of Raw as he is the poster boy for the WWE and also the favorite of many in the live crowd. It was odd for him and CM Punk to both be absent from Raw on Monday, but Triple H was there to add some star power to the show.

It should be noted that both the WWE Champion and World Heavyweight Champion were absent from Raw on Monday. Cena was selling his injuries while Dolph Ziggler has to remain at home thanks to Jack Swagger concussing him with a kick to the head.

To stick with the theme of the post I found an example of a much more exciting and surprising return from Cena’s past. It came at the 2008 Royal Rumble when Cena entered last at No. 30 to shock those in the ring. He had been out for a few months due to a torn pectoral muscle and returned far ahead of schedule.

Cena fans and haters alike can remember this return and should be able to appreciate the surprise and genuine shock value of the moment. Even if you prefer the “Cena sucks” chant over “Let’s go Cena,” this video can bring some excitement.

The post WWE Throwback Thursday: John Cena Returns at 2008 Royal Rumble appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.

The Knicks are hoping Anthony can avoid surgery on the injured shoulder. The team plans to allow the league’s reigning scoring champion to rest for three to four weeks before making a determination on what to do about the injury. If it is not healed at that point in time, surgery will be considered.

Anthony has said he suffered the injury on April 14 against the Indiana Pacers, and that it hampered him throughout the postseason. The six-time All-Star also claimed the shoulder would pop in and out after Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett tugged on his arm during the teams’ first-round playoff series.

Anthony shot 40.6 percent from the floor in 12 postseason games. He averaged 28.8 points in 40.1 minutes per game, but also shot just 29.8 percent from three-point range.

Dr. Neil Roth, an orthopedic surgeon at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital, said the injury could sideline Anthony for up to four months. Roth specializes in sports medicine, but has not treated Anthony.

The Knicks and Anthony have to be praying surgery isn’t necessary. If it is, his recovery could last into the early part of the 2013-14 regular season.

Anthony turned in one of the best seasons in his professional career during the 2012-13 campaign. He averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists and 37.0 minutes per game in 67 contests.

*Originally posted on Rumors and Rants

The post New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony has tear in left shoulder appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.

What I really want to talk about is the Oklahoma City Thunder. They have to love where they landed in this draft, with Toronto’s first-round top-three protected pick they got in the James Harden trade. The Thunder have the 12the pick and every Oklahoma City fan knows what they need to do with that pick: get a big man to replace Kendrick Perkins.

Perkins is a great defender and good rebounder, but he’s getting old and his inability to do anything on the offensive side of the ball, makes him a liability. Pair that with the fact the league is becoming a small-ball type league with a stretch-forward at the 4 spot, he’s the odd man out.

While Serge Ibaka is developing a decent jump shot, he still has a long way to go with his post moves and the Thunder desperately need a scorer on the inside to take heat off of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

There are a few big men in this draft that who should be available to Oklahoma City at No. 12, but which one is the best fit for the team?

Here is a list of the guys who should be available and how they would fit with the Thunder:

Mason Plumlee
Plumlee is still expected to be available at No. 12, which bodes well for the Thunder. He is much more athletic than his older brother, Miles, and has solid moves in the post, including a running hook that is nearly unblockable. He also isn’t afraid to bump inside and battle for rebounds, which is a big plus.

On the downside, he is an average defender. He blocks some shots, but isn’t a stalwart defensively. His jump shot could use some work, as he is still developing the pick and pop portion of his game.

Kelly Olynyk
I saw a mock draft that has Olynyk going at No. 20, which is ridiculous. I am from Spokane, originally, so I keep tabs on Gonzaga. Olynyk is an NBA-ready player.

He can score the ball inside with excellent post moves and can also step out and knock down jump shots. He also is a great passer for a man his size and operates well in pick and roll or pick and pop situation. Think whatever you want about who Gonzaga did or didn’t play last season, but I don’t want to hear it. This guy has skill and it will translate to the NBA.

One thing holding Olynyk back is that while he’s a good rebounder, he’s not great. If he adds more muscle and toughens up a little, he could be a great rebounder. It may be better to start him at power forward and let Ibaka play more at center to play to the strengths of both players. Ibaka can guard the rim and not get pulled out of the lane and Olynyk can guard less physically dominating power forwards.

Alex Len
Len is considered by many to have the most upside among the post plaeyrs in the draft. His athleticism and raw talent is evident. His hustle and energy make him an appealing option. He can make a major defensive impact and has a good arsenal of post moves in his repertoire. His mid-range jumper is also developing.

Unfortunately, he currently has a fracture to his foot, which is troubling to some teams. There is a stigma with big men and foot injuries that scares a lot of general managers and scouts in the league. A problem for the Thunder also, is that a few mock drafts I’ve seen have Len going closer to the 10th spot, so he may not even be available.

Cody Zeller
Zeller is extremely polished on the offensive side of the ball. His post moves are excellent and his footwork is great as well. He also tested as the top athlete among centers at the NBA combine. Defensively, he’s solid and he hits the boards well.

His thin frame concerns some teams and his ability to finish after contact isn’t where it should be. Some teams feel he’ll get pushed around on the interior and won’t be able to keep opposing centers out of the lane. If you’re the Thunder, that is a big concern.

In the end I think the best fit for the Thunder is Kelly Olynyk. He needs to learn to play team defense, but given his offensive tools, he can fit in and take some of the scoring load from Westbrook and Durant. His basketball IQ is excellent and his skill-set will be properly utilized in Oklahoma City.

The post Oklahoma City Thunder are the 2013 NBA Draft lottery’s unlikely big winner appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.

The Bears decided not to re-sign  Urlacher after last season when a reasonable contract deal couldn’t be met. It was an emotional moment for the organization and its fans, but it was a decision I supported and thought necessary for the Bears to stay competitive in a tough NFC North division.

Despite that, it was still sad to see Urlacher go. He’s the only player on the Bears I remember watching throughout most of my life, and a player that became iconic not only in Chicago but around the NFL.

Even though he wasn’t happy with the Bears’ decision, I think it means a lot to the fans that he decided to retire as a Bear. It wouldn’t feel right otherwise.

He brought credibility and pride to the Bears’ defense, and fans and opponents knew and respected that. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler, winner of the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2005, and retires as the franchise’s leader in tackles (1,779). He ranks right up there with other Bears middle linebacker greats like Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary.

Even one of our biggest die-hard Packers fan and Chicago-hating writer here at MSF, Chris Callaway, went out of his way to pay respect to Urlacher. Here are his kind words on Urlacher’s retirement:

I hate most things about Chicago. The drivers, the weather, the Cubs, Jay Cutler, etc. Growing up in Milwaukee, I wasn’t a fan of Michael Jordan, but I came to respect and appreciate who he was and what his career meant. When Brian Urlacher came into the NFL in 2000, I had many of the same feelings. I hated that he was so good right away, earning Rookie of the Year honors and a spot as a Pro Bowl alternate in his first year. When he was healthy, he was undoubtedly the best in the league. He was the player that, as a Green Bay fan, you kept your eye on when the Packers were on offense. 

 I typically only watched two games a year – when Chicago and Green Bay squared off – but it was easy to see Urlacher’s impact on the game. He wasn’t the biggest or the strongest, but even to a casual observer could see that Urlacher played the game on another level. The Packers have gotten the better of the Bears over Urlacher’s career, winning 18 of 27 games, but #54 has made it difficult for Green Bay each and every time. Urlacher was the catalyst that helped turn the Bears defenses into some of the best of the era. He’s deserved every award and accolade he’s attained over the course of his career, and I’m in full support of his candidacy as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

He’s had some great games and plays against the Packers, and I’ll miss seeing lining up against Green Bay twice a year.

I have no doubt Urlacher’s next stop in his career will be Halas Hall as part of the Bears’ front office and he’ll eventually earn a plaque in Canton, Ohio. I only wish the Bears could have won him a Super Bowl.

The post Brian Urlacher retires as a Chicago Bear, leaves historic legacy appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.

5. 1997: The Closest Race Nobody Ever Saw
How bad was the weather in 1997? This race was not run on the traditional Sunday of Memorial Day weekend but on both Monday and Tuesday, if that gives you an idea. They tried to run it on Monday after heavy rains on Sunday, but a massive crash on the final pace lap almost made that impossible. By the time the race started, the drivers could only complete 15 laps before the rains started again.

Tuesday’s restart began with two laps of caution and nearly 20 nanoseconds of actual racing before Robby Gordon’s car — and racing suit — caught fire. Things were uneventful after that, until the final 11 laps. A crash brought out the caution flag again, sending leader Jeff Ward into the pits and putting pole sitter Arie Luyendyk into the lead. Luyendyk’s teammate Scott Goodyear was right behind him. The race briefly went green again, then went under caution because of some lingering debris on the track. On lap 197 of 200, the green flag came out but the following lap Tony Stewart (yes, that Tony Stewart) hit the wall and everyone assumed the race would finish under caution.

It didn’t.

Everyone, absolutely everyone, was shocked when the green flag came out on lap 199. Luyendyk was the only racer who floored it right away. He won by 0.57 seconds, at the time the second-closest margin of victory ever, but 1997′s edition proved that a race with a close finish wasn’t necessarily an exciting one. The only positive to come out of the event was that very few people actually saw it.

4. 2003: The Brazilians Wax Everyone Except Each Other

What if they held an Indy 500 and nobody showed up to drive in it? The 2003 race wasn’t quite that bad but until the final day of qualifying there wasn’t even a full 33-car field. It wouldn’t have been the first time an Indy 500 started with fewer than 33 cars, but it would have been the first time in 56 years.

The full field ultimately materialized but the race never did. A few minor crashes led to a few lead changes but Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves were in control of the race before it was 75 percent over. Much of the race’s final act happened under caution, though the situation wasn’t quite as bad as 1997′s race. Nine cars were on the lead lap when the final green flag came out with only six laps remaining. While de Ferran held his lead throughout, he only won by 0.229 seconds over Castroneves. Their fellow Brazilian Tony Kanaan came in third.

3. 1982: Born in Disaster, Completed in Glory

This race seemed cursed from the opening day of qualifying when Gordon Smiley, trying to make his third Indy field, was killed in a crash. Another crash marred the opening lap of the race as Kevin Cogan, a converted Formula 1 racer in his second Indy 500, swerved suddenly. The chain reaction red-flagged the race and led to four drivers, including Cogan, being unable to continue. After all the drama 1973 winner Gordon Johncock took control. His only serious competition was 1979 winner Rick Mears, running 11 seconds behind after both cars’ final pit stops.

However, Johncock’s car was loose and getting looser due to a lighter than normal fuel load, while Mears was buttoned down tight and flying. Indeed, Mears was cutting away at  Johncock’s lead at the rate of almost a full second per lap. With only two laps remaining, Mears was less than a second behind and the track was nearly empty of cars.

The cursed race suddenly became a battle of two veteran drivers with the only question being whether Johncock could stay on line well enough to hold on despite having to fight an ill-handling car. Both cars roared out of turn four side-by-side but Mears couldn’t seal the deal. Johncock won by 0.16 seconds, the closest margin ever at that time. Despite all the mishaps, the showdown between Johncock and Mears made 1982′s race one of the tensest and most thrilling Indianapolis 500s ever.

2. 2006: The Dynasty That Never Was

Eight rookies have won the Indianapolis 500. Marco Andretti, son of Michael and grandson of Mario, was almost the ninth.

The 2006 race looked like it was Dan Wheldon’s to lose, as the late Briton led nearly three-quarters of it. However, Wheldon chose to make a pit stop under green mere moments before a turn two crash put the race under yellow. When the green flag came out again in lap 193, Michael Andretti was leading and Marco was right behind him. Eventually Marco passed his father, who began to run interference for him. However, he couldn’t hold off Sam Hornish Jr., who was closing fast on the younger Andretti.

Racers dream of fighting from behind to win a big race like Indy, so you’d think a last-lap lead change would be a fairly common occurrence. Amazingly, prior to 2006, such a lead change had never happened at all at Indy. But it happened that year. Hornish Jr. shot past Andretti coming out of the final turn and won by 0.0635 seconds. Mario Andretti’s 1969 Indy win remains the only one by a member of the Andretti family. Hornish Jr. hasn’t won a race at a top-level series since 2007.

1. 1992: The One You Shouldn’t Have Slept On

The 1992 edition of the race gave every indication of being an unwatchable dud. A cold front swept through Indiana the night before the race, leaving unseasonably cold temperatures and vicious winds behind it. Drivers had incredible difficulty getting their tires up to racing temperatures.

The pole sitter, Roberto Guerrero, actually spun his car just before the race went green and could not continue. Other crashes and mechanical failures led to only four of the race’s first 21 laps running under green. The slow pace and multiple cautions would continue. Nearly all of the middle-third of the race was run under caution, leaving viewers unsure if they were watching the Indy 500 or a very fast parade.

Even when the green flag came out there wasn’t a lot of excitement. By lap 188 Michael Andretti held an astounding 28-second lead over Scott Goodyear. The race was over and the only real question seemed to be who would finish second, where an intense battle between Goodyear and Al Unser Jr. was going on.

Racing can be a cruel sport because sometimes a dominating driver is taken out of the race by something no one could see coming. On lap 189, Andretti’s fuel pump failed, putting Unser Jr. in the lead. It took five laps of caution to get Andretti’s car off the track, making the end of the race a seven-lap duel between Unser Jr. and Goodyear. Unser Jr. led the entire way but never by a comfortable margin.

Heading into the final straight, the two cars were side-by-side and the race looked too close to call. However, Unser Jr. held on to win by just 0.043 seconds — less than 13 feet at race speeds. A boring, failure-ridden race wound up having the closest, most uncertain finish of all time. It was Unser Jr.’s first of two Indy 500 victories. That was as close as Goodyear would ever get to the bottle of milk.

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The climax of the Grizzlies’ late-game comeback was a four-point possession during the final minute of regulation involving a Manu Ginóbili flagrant foul on Memphis guard Tony Allen, a call that may have been influenced by Allen’s over-the-top reaction.

You’ll notice that Allen’s head never actually struck the floor. So his rolling-around-on-the-floor-while-cradling-his-head act probably wasn’t warranted.

Allen’s theatrics aside, the flagrant foul call was correct. How a player lands and whether or not a player is injured has no bearing on whether or not a foul is considered flagrant. Instead of making a play on the ball, Ginóbili grabbed Allen’s arm and pulled him down while he was in the air and vulnerable, unnecessarily compromising Allen’s safety.

At any rate, Allen wasn’t too woozy to step to the line and hit both of his free throws, trimming the Spurs’ lead to 85-83. Because of the flagrant foul call, the Grizzlies retained possession. Memphis guard Mike Conley then hit the game tying shot with 18 seconds remaining.

Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, their spectacular comeback didn’t result in win, and there’s a good chance that the league will discipline Allen under the NBA’s new no-flopping rule.

GIF from SBNation

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In the world of sports where money gets toss at athletes right and left for contracts and endorsements, it’s like cash is king and often supersedes winning. Almost every die-hard fan has a story of when they were stiffed by an athlete when wanting an autograph or just a simple handshake, making it seem like these multimillionaires forget that fans indirectly pay them.

However, when you take a step back and looks at some of the brightest young stars in the major American sports, some guys stand out for not fitting that stereotype.

At the forefront of this is Kevin Durant. The two-time scoring champion further cemented himself on Tuesday as one of the most likable superstars in all of sports.

He was in the news for donating one million dollars to the Red Cross for the relief efforts with the Oklahoma City tornado. Durant – who has been viewed as one of the NBA’s most humble superstars since very early in his career – wasn’t even the one to go public with the news, as the Red Cross came out and made the announcement. The NBA and the Oklahoma City Thunder are matching Durant’s donation as well.

Matt Kemp is another example. Kemp is an Oklahoma City native who just pledged that he’d donate $1,000 for every home run he hits from now up until the All-Star break to the cause. While Kemp’s power this season isn’t anywhere near where it usually is, that’s beside the point. The principle of the gesture that matters.

Yes, $1,000 is a mere fraction of the $20 million that Magic Johnson and the Dodgers will pay the center fielder this year, but it’s certainly an action that breaks the aforementioned stereotype of greedy, self-centeredness among athletes.

However, Kemp’s Oklahoma City donation wasn’t what we first noticed most recently. A video surfaced recently on YouTube of a gesture of kindness Kemp showed towards a young Dodgers fan dying of cancer. The fan was just expecting Kemp to sign a baseball for him, but Kemp also gave him his hat, jersey, and spikes as a show of gratitude.

In a day in age where some players simply ignore fans by chatting with their teammates or putting on headphones as they walk past, it’s refreshing to see one of the faces of the sport show this appreciation.

It looks as if this trend won’t stop with Durant and Kemp, as many of the younger star athletes appear to have qualities about them that do not go along with the prima donna stereotype. Players like Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, Mike Trout and other budding starts around the sports landscape just seem to have a better understanding of how highly thought of athletes are in society. They carry themselves in a much more positive manner because of it.

Growing up, someone probably told you at some point the cliché “it only takes one person to change the world.” While that’s true for everyone, it’s even easier for players like Durant and Kemp, as they have the platform to reach millions of people in an instant. Players like Durant and Kemp mean so much to the cities they play in and the towns they grew up in. The acts they’ve preformed over the past week show that they are aware of that.

Think about just how many people Durant and Kemp touched with their actions.

That is the power athletes have, and Durant and Kemp could be a part of a new generation. One that knows that better than any other generation before them.

The post Kevin Durant and Matt Kemp are young stars who break the mold appeared first on Midwest Sports Fans.

The prepared statement from Glen Nager, USGA president, reads as follows:

“Rule 14-1b protects one of the important challenges in the game — the free swing of the entire club. The traditional stroke involves swinging the club with both the club and gripping hands held away from the body, requiring the player to direct and control the movement of the entire club.

“Anchoring is different: Intentionally securing one end of the club against the body, and creating a point of physical attachment around which the club is swung, is a substantial departure from that traditional free swing.”

Adam Scott’s style of putting, which he used to win the 2013 Masters, will be banned beginning in 2016.

Three of the four major winners in 2012 – Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Ernie Els – as well as 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott use the so-called “belly putters” in competition, helping fuel the debate as to whether or not anchoring a club against the golfer’s body should be legal.

Scott, Els, Simpson and Bradley may feel singled out and slighted by the rule, given the fact that one of the facets of their games that has made each of them successful recently has been putting. Each of the golfers invariably struggled at some point with a traditional putting method, and having to revert back to free-swinging method could have a drastic impact on their scores. The good news for them is that they have a few years to adjust.

If the USGA and R&A are going to make a ruling, it should be across the board. From the bottom on up, anchoring a club should be illegal, if that is the path that the governing bodies want to take.

Should anchoring the putter against the body be illegal though? I say no.

The USGA Rules of the Game go on for thousands and thousands of words about all of the technicalities of what is and isn’t legal within the game of golf. There are five separate rules about the size and dimensions of what is legal for the club head.

It makes sense why Happy Gilmore’s putter would be illegal. Not everyone agrees about the legality of belly putters.

The club face comes in contact with the ball on any given shot for a fraction of a second. As long as players aren’t going all Happy Gilmore on their putter and staying within the regulations that way, I think it’s an even playing field whether or not you anchor the end against your stomach or swing using the traditional method. There are still many other factors, such as putting speed and reading breaks, that are as impactful as the length of the club.

My opinion differs from that of one Eldrick “Tiger” Woods, who has stood firm in his opinion that “all 14 clubs should be swung.” Tiger is not the voice of the entire PGA, but his opinion certainly carries a little more weight. He’s also played a whole heck of a lot more golf than I have.

If the “belly putter” method gives players more of an advantage, how come more players don’t use it? The number has been slowly climbing over the past few years, but if it was so advantageous wouldn’t it be more pervasive than it currently is.

There’s no denying the importance of putting in the game of golf, but does everyone need to do it the exact same way? If one method helps more players shoot lower scores, doesn’t that inherently make the game more competitive?

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