During the past two years, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have crowned themselves kings, while being characterized as choke artists and villains by outsiders. But whether you're the biggest Heat supporter or one of the few million haters trolling from behind your computer screen, come Sunday, you will find out the true character of this team.

Although it's not an elimination game, the Heat might as well have a guillotine hanging over their heads as they enter Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Game 4.

A devastating 3-1 hole is on the horizon, and beyond that looms not only one of the most embarrassing playoff defeats ever, but perhaps the dismantling of a group that just two summers ago was ready to win "...not five, not six, not seven" championships.

As the seemingly replaceable (and often mocked) Bosh watches helplessly from the sidelines, all the pressure in the world will rest on the shoulders of James and Wade.

Although LeBron was decent in Miami's Game 3 debacle, he once again appeared content to fade when his team needed him most. And with his awful 2-for-13 shooting performance, Wade finally incurred the wrath of the Miami fans.

Both need to be brilliant in Game 4, or the Heat organization as we know it could go up in flames.

Based on their terrible Game 3, Miami can't count on their role players for jack. Shane Battier and James Jones combined to shoot just 1-for-13 from the field (0-for-9 on threes), while Mike Miller, Joel Anthony and Ronny Turiaf pulled down just 10 rebounds in a combined 61 minutes off the bench.

With "production" like that from the supporting cast, it's clear that only James and Wade can carry the Heat out of this shipwreck of a series.

When Wade and LeBron lace up their sneakers Sunday afternoon, they will do so with the knowledge that if they don't play perfectly, their team is completely screwed.

The stakes are high and the stage is set. And when the final buzzer sounds, we will know for sure whether the Heat are heroes, villains, chokers, clutch performers or some combination of all four.

Let's see what you've got, Miami. The world will be watching.

As impressive as Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the Clippers team has been this postseason, the Spurs have been winning games with ball movement and a championship core that is outright fearless and focused.

After going down 40-16 early in Game 3, the Spurs came back and cut the deficit to 10 points. A 24-0 run in the third quarter was the icing on the cake for San Antonio, as they took over Game 3 and complete control of the series.

This everything you need to know about the Game 4 contest that has every reason to be the most enticing game of the series.

Where: Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca.

When: 10:30 p.m. EDT

Watch: NBA on TNT

Listen: WOAI 1200 in San Antonio, KFWB 980 in L.A.

Betting Line: According to Oddsshark.com, the Spurs are 7.5-point favorites to win Game 4.

Key Injuries

There are no significant injuries on either side heading into this decisive Game 4 contest.

What They're Saying

Los Angeles Times sports columnist T.K. Simers mentioned that he believes DeAndre Jordan needs to step up his game. Jordan has had a relatively weak postseason showing, and he has yet to step up his game defensively.

MySanAntoio.com's Jeff McDonald says the Spurs have asserted their dominance in the series, proving that they have been the best team in the league as of late.

Most Important Player to Watch: San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan

Duncan has been dominating the paint on both ends, and as a result, he has his team just one game away from a Western Conference Finals appearance. Outside of improving his scoring numbers, Duncan has been in a force defensively this postseason. If Griffin and the frontcourt can't find an answer for Duncan, this series is as good as over for the Clippers.

Key Matchup: Blake Griffin vs. Tim Duncan

In the first quarter of Game 3, Griffin schooled Duncan and had his Clippers up 20-plus after 12 minutes. It was his strong play over Duncan that had the Clippers winning big. After the beatdown, the Spurs went on to outplay the Clippers in every other quarter, anchored by the impressive play of Duncan on both ends. After scoring 14 first-quarter points, Griffin scored only 14 for the rest of the contest.

Prediction: Clippers 96, Spurs 87

As great as the San Antonio Spurs have been playing, something has got to give for these Clippers. In Game 3, they proved that they have what it takes to beat the Spurs. It will be integral for the Clippers to push the pace, and they will do just that in this contest. They will take their first-quarter game plan that was especially successful in Game 3 and put that to good use in Game 4, sending the series back to San Antonio.

But is anyone really going to argue against this one?

Here we have Chelsea legend (yes, he's a legend now) Didier Drogba converting the decisive penalty during Saturday's Champions League final in Munich. Drogba's spot-kick gave Chelsea a 4-3 victory over Bayern Munich in the shootout, which followed a 1-1 draw.

Fast forward to the 1:40 mark to watch Drogba's goal. Or you can just watch the full shootout for all the drama.

With his spot kick, Drogba entered Chelsea and Champions League lore for all time. The Blues had already experienced a roller-coaster ride this spring, pulling off improbable victory after improbable victory.

But this one might have been the most improbable.

Chelsea trailed 1-0 late in regular time after Thomas Müller's opener for Bayern Munich. Drogba equalized in the 88th minute with a pinpoint header from Chelsea's only corner of the match.

You can watch that goal here. It, too, was good enough to be our goal of the week.

Here's what B/R World Football Lead Writer Will Tidey wrote about Drogba:

And the battle-hardened war horse they call Drogba, in what will likely be his last game for the Blues, would not be denied.

At least that's what we thought, until he tripped Franck Ribery in extra-time to gift Bayern a penalty. Finally, the most stubborn of dreams had died. The sporting gods can't play Chelsea forever.

But it turns out they wanted to.

…

In 2008, Drogba was sent off as Chelsea lost the Champions League final to Manchester United in Moscow, on penalties. Four years later, he swept the ball home to own the most resounding closure to that night imaginable.

Indeed. Congratulations to Drogba and Chelsea.

Follow @MikeCummings37

Five Stars

Yu Darvish: @SEA (Hernandez), TOR (Drabek)
Roy Halladay: WAS (Zimmermann), @STL (Wainwright)
Johan Santana: @PIT (Bedard), SD (Richard)
C.J. Wilson: @OAK (McCarthy), @SEA (Noesi)

Four Stars

Brandon Beachy: @CIN (Latos), WAS (Gonzalez)
Matt Cain: @MIL (Marcum), @MIA (Nolasco)
Matt Garza: @HOU (Norris), @PIT (Bedard)
Gio Gonzalez: @PHI (Kendrick), @ATL (Beachy)
Felix Hernandez: TEX (Darvish), LAA (Williams)

Three Stars

Erik Bedard: NYM (Santana), CHC (Garza)
Madison Bumgarner: @MIL (Wolf), @MIA (Buehrle)
R.A. Dickey: @PIT (McDonald), SD (Volquez)
Jaime Garcia: SD (Richard), PHI (Kendrick)
Jeremy Hellickson: TOR (Drabek), @BOS (Buccholz)
Hiroki Kuroda: KC (Paulino), @OAK (Milone)
Ricky Nolasco: COL (Nicasio), SF (Cain)
Edinson Volquez: @STL (Wainwright), @NYM (Dickey)
Jerome Williams: @OAK (Milone), @SEA (Hernandez)

Two Stars

Clay Buchholz: @BAL (Hunter), TB (Hellickson)
Mark Buehrle: COL (Moyer), SF (Bumgarner)
Chris Capuano: @ARI (Corbin), HOU (Norris)
Kyle Drabek: @TB (Hellickson), @TEX (Darvish)
Gavin Floyd: MIN (Walters), CLE (Jimenez)
Tommy Hunter: BOS (Buchholz), KC (Paulino)
Mat Latos: ATL (Beachy), COL (Moyer)
Bud Norris: CHC (Garza), @LAD (Capuano)
Adam Wainwright: SD (Volquez), PHI (Halladay)

One Star

Patrick Corbin: LAD (Capuano), MIL (Wolf)
Ubaldo Jimenez: DET (Porcello), @CWS (Floyd)
Kyle Kendrick: WAS (Gonzalez), @STL (Garcia)
Mike Leake: ATL (Minor), COL (Moyer)
Mike Minor: @CIN (Leake), WAS (Strasburg)
Felipe Paulino: @NYY (Kuroda), @BAL (Hunter)
Rick Porcello: @CLE (Jimenez), @MIN
Tommy Milone: LAA (Williams), NYY (Kuroda)
Jamie Moyer: @MIA (Buehrle), @CIN (Latos)
Hector Noesi: TEX (Harrison), LAA (Wilson)
Clayton Richard: @STL (Garcia), @NYM (Santana)
Randy Wolf: SF (Bumgarner), @ARI (Wolf)

Also check out:

Is Elliot Johnson a Short-term Fix?
Christian Friedrich Off to a Sizzling Start
Why Are People Lukewarm on Jonathan Lucroy?
Fantasy Feast Closer Report – 5/14/12
Should You Buy Low on Matt Moore?

Defender

Despite finishing third in the Premier League, Arsenal gave up the second-most goals out of the top nine finishing teams.

The Gunners, led by Robin Van Persie, boasted an impressive 74 goals on the year, but they found themselves in multiple high-scoring matches due to their defense giving up a fair amount goals themselves.

Former Bolton man Gary Cahill and Manchester City's Wayne Bridge could be a few of the names on Arsenal's wishlist this summer.

Defensive Midfielder

Continuing with the defensive theme, the defensive midfield could use a bit of reworking as well.

The Gunners have plenty of firepower with Gervinho and Van Persie to continue their high goal-scoring ways for next year, but they'll need to fix things on the opposite end of the field to capture the league title. 

Fellow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Peter Webster believes that Barcelona's Seydou Keita and City's Nigel De Jong may be available if Arsenal offers either club the right place for their talent.

Forward

This position is on the list simply due to the squad needing to resign superstar forward Van Persie. ESPN recently talked with former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira, who said:

"Losing Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas last year was a big shock for Arsenal. If they lose Robin van Persie this year it will be a drama."

The Dutch footballer is the face of the club with Nasri and Fabregas gone, there's no way the Gunner faithful could stand losing Van Persie. Sadly for the club and the fans, talks have reportedly broken down in contract negotiations so far.

Van Persie accounted for 30 of the team's 74 goals this year, which was the most by one player in the EPL this season. There's no way the Gunners could replace what the Dutchman brings to their team, they have to make sure they re-sign their franchise player this summer.

Perhaps we can compare Cormier’s beatdown on Barnett with the fate of the division the fight belongs to. The most significant difference being that the heavyweight division is now moribund, while winner Cormier and even loser Barnett’s respective careers are still very much alive and kicking.

The exciting and courageous battle shown by both heavyweight fighters is a fitting tribute to Strikeforce’s heavyweight division. Sadly, that fight is also the final nail on its coffin—well, almost.

According to Mike Chiappetta of MMAFighting.com, the promotion’s president, Scott Coker, said last December that we’ll “see one more fight where the winner [between Barnett and Cormier] will fight a top-rated heavyweight, and then we're going to go back to focusing on our other weight classes.”

It’s anybody’s guess on who that other top-rated heavyweight is.

In hindsight, credit should be given to Strikeforce’s heavyweight division for hosting Fedor Emelianenko’s fourth fight in the USA (which resulted in a win over Brett Rogers). Though, it should also be blamed for initiating The Last Emperor’s first series of losses, causing him to contemplate retirement.

It seems that Fedor and Strikeforce’s heavyweight division are retiring at the same time.

Also, kudos to the division for bringing in Alistair Overeem to fight in the States for the first time, where he recorded another win over Vitor Belfort.

Here’s hoping that Strikeforce’s heavyweight division also serves as a springboard into the UFC for Cormier and Barnett.

If Strikeforce’s last heavyweight match will actualize as stated by Coker, hopefully Cormier will fight again with guns blazing. May he light up the fireworks for his heavyweight division one last time, before Zuffa finally extinguishes it.

Previous article: Jon Jones May Lift Opponents Off Their Feet, But He Ain't Raising Your Kids.

While that statement may be true in some respects, it is also unrealistic. At some point, no matter how good you are, you are going to find yourself in a close game where you will have to execute down the stretch to come away with the win. See: the 2011-12 Oklahoma City Thunder.

For the sixth time this postseason, the Thunder found themselves locked in a tight game in the fourth quarter. For the fifth time out of those six, they came away with the victory, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 103-100 on Saturday night in Game 4 of their conference semifinal matchup to take a commanding 3-1 series lead back to Oklahoma City for a Game 5 on Monday night.

It's funny, because, in both of the Thunder's playoff series thus far, they could very well have been down 3-1. In the first round against the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City won Games 1 and 2 in the waning moments, and it had to rally from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to win the decisive Game 4.

Then, in this series against the Lakers, the Thunder found themselves down seven with two minutes left in Game 2. They came back and won. After losing Game 3, they fell into a 13-point hole with eight minutes to go in Game 4. Again, they stormed back and emerged victorious.

What is it about this team that makes it so good in clutch situations?

Well, for one thing, Kevin Durant has been absolutely magnificent. He has hit three game-winners thus far in the postseason, doing it in Game 1 against Dallas and in Games 2 and 4 against Los Angeles, as he drained a go-ahead three-pointer with 13.7 seconds left to give Oklahoma City the lead for good on Saturday night.

So, while the San Antonio Spurs (whom I feel are the favorite to win the Western Conference) have won all but one of their seven playoff games by double-digits, the Thunder are learning how to win games by making plays late, and that could prove to be invaluable in what appears to be an inevitable conference finals faceoff between San Antonio (who holds a 3-0 lead over the Los Angeles Clippers) and Oklahoma City.

I say this because, chances are, the Spurs-Thunder series is not going to be full of blowouts. San Antonio is not going to be winning by an average of 15 points per game like it has been doing against the likes of the Utah Jazz and the Clippers. Those are likely going to be close games, and now, Oklahoma City has gained the experience it needs to win those contests.

Of course, the Spurs are well-versed in tight playoff games, with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili having won three championships together (and Duncan has won four overall), and Gregg Popovich being arguably the greatest coach in professional sports, period. Still, the fact that the Thunder have been out-executing opponents down the stretch spells great news for what should be a scintillating series between these two Western Conference juggernauts.

The question is, though, how much can Oklahoma City continue to rely on its perimeter scoring to dominate fourth quarters? The Mavericks were solid and the Lakers are obviously no small task, but neither team is the Spurs.

Can the Thunder win close games against San Antonio without a low-post presence?

If there is one thing that is going to prevent Oklahoma City from winning it all, that is it. It does not have a big man it can dump the ball into when it needs an easy bucket.

The Spurs have that in Duncan, who looks rejuvenated this year. I have been saying this about the Thunder all season. As impressive as they are, they are missing a key ingredient, and you have to wonder if and when that is going to end up hurting them.

The trio of Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden is spectacular, as all three can get to the basket, draw fouls and knock down jumpers, but playing that type of game can only get you so far. Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka comprise what is the best defensive frontcourt in the game, but outside of that nice jumper Ibaka has developed, neither represent viable options offensively, particularly late in the game.

That being said, the experience that Oklahoma City has gotten over the course of these first two rounds of this postseason is huge, and it will undoubtedly help them against the Spurs.

I'll Have Another will have horse racing's first Triple Crown in over three decades if he can hold off the rest of the field one last time in June at the 2012 Belmont Stakes in New York.

But not so fast. The Belmont has proved to be the fatal leg of the Triple Crown for even the most talented of racehorses over the past 33 years. Since 1979, 11 horses have won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and all 11 have fallen short in the 1.5-mile long Belmont Stakes. 

Here we are again. Is history poised to repeat itself?

The 2012 Kentucky Derby winner added the Preakness Stakes to his list of wins on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The sensational, narrow win made I'll Have Another just the fourth horse in the past 10 years to win the Triple Crown's first two legs. Big Brown in 2008 was the last horse to do it; he finished dead last at Belmont, though, after suffering a crack in his hoof leading up to the race.

Despite the odds working against him, I'll Have Another is already two-thirds of the way to becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. With that being said, let's take a look at two thoroughbreds potentially standing in the way of history.

Union Rags

Despite entering the posts at the 2012 Kentucky Derby as a favorite, Union Rags finished seventh at Churchill Downs and never truly challenged for the race. Union Rags' Derby performance came a little more than a month after his disappointing finish at the Grade I Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, where he finished third behind Take Charge Indy and Reveron. 

Before his underwhelming outings at the Kentucky and Florida Derby, Union Rags raced in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November, only to finish second to Hansen, who would also run a poor race at the Run for the Roses.

Though the 1.25-mile Kentucky Derby appeared too much for Union Rags, experts and those closest to him suggest he has potential yet to be reached. 

Dullahan

Unlike Union Rags, Dullahan ran a strong race at the 2012 Kentucky Derby, showing in third. Before the Triple Crown's first leg, Dullahan had an impressive outing at the Grade I Toyota Blue Grass last April, winning ahead of Hansen and Gung Ho. 

Dullahan finished fourth in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall, behind Hansen, Union Rags and Creative Cause. He was expected to challenge for the win at Churchill Downs, but couldn't overcome I'll Have Another or Bodemeister on the final stretch. Perhaps the 1.5-mile track at Belmont Park will provide the colt with enough dirt to outpace the favorites. 

Follow Patrick Clarke on Twitter for more on Horse Racing. 

Chelsea was a team of destiny throughout the UEFA Champions League. Saturday was the biggest example of that, as the Blues came back to defeat Bayern Munich in the final. 

Just when you thought Chelsea's magic was on fumes, Didier Drogba scored to equalize in the 88th minute leaving Munich to wonder what they had to do to defeat the Blues.

Then, in extra time, Petr Cech stopped a penalty kick from Arjen Robben. That's when you knew Chelsea wasn't going to lose to Bayern Munich.

Penalties came and Drogba sealed the deal for Chelsea, nabbing the first ever European trophy for a London football club.

Simply amazing.

Now, it's parade time for Chelsea and its fans on Sunday. Here is everything you need to know about the festivities. You can find all of the parade information at ChelseaFC.com. 

The parade will begin at approximately 4 p.m. BST at Stamford Bridge's west entrance. It will travel eastbound along Fulham Road before turning right onto Hortensia Road. Then it will travel to King's road and New King's Road. The site explains that it will take 35 minutes for the team to arrive at Eel Brook Common where the bus will make a brief stop.

Parsons Green will be the final destination for Chelsea's parade.

You can watch the parade live at Sky Sports. 

With any parade comes road closings. This parade will have several road closings and/or restrictions. You can find those at ChelseaFC.com.

For the 2012 season, the New York  Mets are wearing two patches. Replacing the familiar logo patch is one that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the team. The other patch is a tribute to Gary Carter, the catcher for the 1986 World Series champions.

But what other patches have the Mets worn in their history? What have they honored? Who have they memorialized?

This slideshow will examine 50 years of Mets commemorative patches from 1962-2012.

Special thanks goes to Jon Springer, whose book Mets by the Numbers provided insight into some of the earlier patches.

Without further ado. 

Begin Slideshow

Outside of Barnett, Cormier and Fedor Emelianenko, every relevant heavyweight in the world is already under contract with the UFC.

Considering Emelianenko's track record with UFC negotiations, his name is definitely off the table, but Barnett and Cormier should be shoe-ins.

The UFC has already absorbed all of Strikeforce's significant heavyweight talent. Why not take the final two remaining on the roster?

If anything, Barnett and Cormier's performance on Saturday night should be enough to validate a UFC contract. Regardless of his personal issues with UFC President Dana White, Barnett is a legend of the sport and a future Hall of Famer.

He deserves an opportunity to finish his career out with the same promotion that helped make him a star.

Meanwhile, Cormier could be an intriguing option as a heavyweight title contender. It wouldn't be a shocker if the UFC offered the former Olympian a shot at UFC gold upon entry.

As the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion, a title fight would certainly draw a lot of attention from a UFC vs. Strikeforce perspective.

Melendez is long overdue a spot on the UFC roster. For years, fans have debated where he ranks among the very best in the lightweight division. While some are bold enough to give "El Nino" the top spot, others aren't convinced.

Melendez's lackluster performance against a game Josh Thomson certainly didn't help. A champion vs. champion fight between Melendez and the reigning UFC champ is a fight fans have been salivating over for years.

Unfortunately, there are contract issues keeping the UFC from inking Melendez.

It's certainly not good for business. Melendez was one judge away from losing a split decision to Thomson. A loss would taint any potential blockbuster lightweight bout the UFC hopes to put together in the future.

It's time for the UFC to put pen to paper and bring over the lingering Strikeforce stars fans want to see.

Time could be running out.

But Goldson had the franchise tag slapped on him and Bowman is way outperforming his rookie deal.

Bowman's contract expires after the 2013 NFL season and his four-year deal is only worth $2.49 million.

$2.49 million over four years is a great deal of money, but Bowman deserves to get a new deal now.

I'm sure that many 49ers fans would love to see Patrick Willis and Bowman be the nucleus of the 49ers defence for a long time.

Bowman should be signed up quickly if the 49ers want to ward off any potential suitors.

Already a top-five player at his position, Bowman is versatile enough to play in both the 3-4 and 4-3 systems—every single NFL team will be after him.

Willis signed a seven-year deal worth $53.51 million in 2010 and so I think Bowman warrants at least a five-year $40 million deal.

Whether he gets it or not, I'm not sure.

The reason I'm not sure is Dashon Goldson.

Goldson was a vital member of the 49ers defence last year and he also deserves a big deal.

Watching Goldson deliver huge hits and pick off six passes in the 2011/2012 season was brilliant.

I still wish that he would wrap up sometimes, though.

At 6'2" and over 200 lbs., Goldson plays the free safety spot with the physicality of a linebacker.

I  think Goldson could also be a Pro Bowl player at strong safety.

Goldson established himself as one of the best safeties in the league last year and I'd hate to see him go.

If Michael Huff of the Oakland Raiders got a new $32 million deal over four years, I'd expect Goldson to want a four-year deal worth at least $35 million.

I'm not saying that it's impossible to sign both players to new deals: only that it will be difficult to do so.

The 49ers front office will have to deal with an influx of expiring contracts after the 2012 and 2013 seasons and I think two big deals could be out of the question.

So, It'll be interesting to know whether or not 49ers fans think both players can be signed to extensions.

If not, who would you rather see remain a 49er?

''Mickey,'' said the writer, ''I'd like you to meet a friend, Dr. Herschkopf. He's a psychiatrist.''

Mantle looked at the writer, then looked at writer's friend, but he didn't extend his hand. Instead, Mantle extended his head to the psychiatrist.

Some fans asked Mantle for autographs and while he was signing for them, Herschkopf observed Mantle carefully as the writer spoke.

 ''You know, Mantle used to talk about a recurring dream after he retired. In the dream, he tries desperately to get into a ball park during a game, but all the gates are closed.''

Herschkopf had a possible explanation.

'''People don't realize how revealing dreams can be. I think the manifest content of this one reflects how inadequate, how left out, he felt, that without baseball he was lost.''

The writer supported the psychiatrist's contention.

''I remember talking to Mantle in 1972, when he was 40, four years after he had retired, and he told me, 'Playing baseball is all I've ever known. It makes me kind of bitter that it's all over.

"You look around and see other guys my age who are just starting to reach their peak in other jobs. And I'm finished. I wouldn't trade my baseball career. But I'll tell ya, I'd give anything right now to be a lawyer or something.' ''

Mantle is far from unique. He is the rule rather than the exception. Many baseball players find it difficult, if not impossible, to leave the game.

Some, like David Cone, Paul O'Neill and Al Leiter, become broadcasters. Others, like Bobby Valentine, readily leave broadcasting for the aggravation and excitement of managing.

Mantle told his biographer, Tom Molito, how much he regretted losing his .300 career batting average because he played too long.

The perceptive Molito empathized with Mantle, but told him that there was no way that he would have been able to retire earlier because he wouldn't know what to do once he left.

Molito and I spoke about this a few days ago. Both of us wished that we could tell Mickey that he shouldn't have obsessed so much about batting .298 because Bill James and his followers would have convinced him that his .421 on base percentage, not his .298 batting average, defined him.

Showing an impressive range of skills both standing and on the ground, Cormier took the unanimous decision to win the world grand prix finale.

Now that the tournament is over, Cormier likely has one final bout left in Strikeforce before they dissolve their heavyweight division, which may mean a jump to the UFC for the grand prix winner.

One opponent the tournament champion could face is the consensus top heavyweight in the world, UFC champion Junior Dos Santos.

Here's the head-to-toe breakdown of this potential future bout.

Begin Slideshow

I'm a believer now.

I wasn't a believer before the Kentucky Derby, nor was I believer after it. Bodemeister had maintained such a blistering pace early on and yet managed to hold on to second, so surely he would win at the Preakness—a shorter race where he should have the legs to finish.

But I was wrong. I'll Have Another proved his Kentucky Derby win was no fluke, and in the process became a horse that I'm simply not willing to bet against.

That's right—I think I'll Have Another will end the Triple Crown drought the sport has seen since 1978.

It was always going to take a special, unique horse to pull off the feat. Perhaps we should have added "improbable" to that list of superlatives.

I'll Have Another is now undefeated this season, posting a 4-0 mark. In his seven career starts, he's never been the favorite.

He overcame what looked like the perfect strategical run by Bodemeister yesterday. Bob Baffert's horse got out to a strong start and was the early pace-setter as expected. But unlike the Derby, that pace wasn't blistering, as Bodemeister didn't have other sprinters to contend with.

Instead, Bodemeister set a far more comfortable pace and looked poised to maintain his stride for the entire race.

But I'll Have Another was not to be denied. Even when it looked as though his late run was going to be stymied by one final Bodemeister push, the horse dug deeper and surged past his rival in the end, winning by a neck.

So if I'll Have Another can beat Bodemeister on a shorter track, can anyone beat I'll Have Another on a longer one?

That remains to be seen; but it won't be an easy task. Union Rags—who disappointed in the Derby but remains a talented horse—will likely be back for the Belmont Stakes. Same with Dullahan, who finished third at the Derby and is an excellent deep closer.

This is now I'll Have Another's race to lose. The longer track seems to fit his style, and his heart and determination are obvious. He's got versatility, grit and a fantastic closing ability.

Perhaps I'm putting the kiss of death on him after betting against him before the first two Triple Crown races, but I believe I'll Have Another is a horse of history.

I certainly hope he is.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets will gladly have another as well.

A few disappointing horses have one more chance to bounce back in the Belmont Stakes on June 9. These horses will have a chance to perform well on Belmont's longer track, hoping to make up for their poor performance at Pimlico.

Look for these horses to make that happen.

Went the Day Well

Went the Day Well finished 10th after starting out of the No. 5 gate. He entered the race with a favorite's odds, but finished near the end of the pack.

Went the Day Well's fourth-place finish at the Kentucky Derby and excellent backstretch had many anticipating a strong performance at Pimlico.

He showed a fantastic top speed and kicked things into place at the Kentucky Derby.

The short Pimlico track was supposed to aid his sprinting ability. The shorter track did not require as much endurance, and should have allowed Went the Day Well to run hard for the majority of the race.

He never found his way through the pack and got stuck behind quicker horses.

Went the Day Well's performance was disappointing for sure, but he will have a chance to bounce back.

Belmont's 1 1/2 mile track will require a more sustained pace, but it could benefit him.

Went the Day Well will have more time to make up ground down the stretch, and should have a strong showing in three weeks.

Daddy Nose Best

Daddy Nose Best had everything in his favor coming into this year's Preakness Stakes.

The eighth gate has produced 10 total winners, Julien Leparoux is very experienced and Steve Asmussen has trained two of the last five Preakness champions.

Daddy Nose Best's 10th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby was not supposed to repeat itself. But it did.

Daddy Nose Best's ninth place finish in the Preakness was surprising. He never found his rhythm, and failed to live up to his favorite status.

Daddy Nose Best is a very good horse with all the right people working in his corner. He will work well on Belmont's longer course because he will have more space to maneuver.

Many observers were disappointed with Daddy Nose Best's performance on Saturday, but he will make up for it on June 9.

While the Kings are familiar with the Stanley Cup, last appearing as Gretzky's team in 1993 against the Montreal Canadiens, they are seemingly in uncharted territory as this season's eight-seed in the Western Conference.

So, how did they get here?

Los Angeles knocked off the Vancouver Canucks, winners of the Presidents' Trophy in the Western Conference quarterfinals. That took a tidy five games to complete.

It was on to another top seed, but undaunted, Los Angeles blitzed the St. Louis Blues for a four-game sweep in the Western Conference semifinals.

And now? L.A. sits on the precipice of another sweep, this time over the Phoenix Coyotes, who, quite frankly, appear completely overwhelmed and overmatched.

Here is an incredible note (via NHL.com) about the Kings scintillating postseason run: They have taken 3-0 series leads in all three rounds, and after never having swept an opponent in their previous 43-year history

It might be 3-0, but Los Angeles can't look past today or the Coyotes in general. Just ask the 2004 New York Yankees about doing that.

Puck drop is slated for 3:00 p.m. EST and the game will air live on NBC.

Want to have your say during the game? Follow this live blog all day to discuss this game, the NHL playoffs or anything in the hockey realm. 

Comment below or send a question or comment to @BR0Leary and I'll respond during the live blog session. Best tweets and questions will be featured!

Check back soon for more updates, lineups, last-second scratches, starters and interesting tidbits surrounding Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.

After a magnificent 2011 season that ended in a heartbreaking Super Bowl loss to the Giants, the Patriots made a slew of moves that launched them to the top of the list of favorites for Super Bowl XLVII. Whatever holes were revealed over the course of the 2011 season were fixed via free agency or the draft. This leaves Patriots fans looking forward to the start of the season more than ever. 

New England has the potential to blow by their competition—that's how good this team is. With a prolific offense and a revamped defense, the Patriots are talented enough to win every game they play. It's unlikely, but it's certainly possible.

The Patriots got the biggest steal in free agency, signing elite wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to a three-year, $12 million deal. $12 million! Lloyd gives the Patriots a deep threat that they haven't had since Randy Moss. The Pats played through all of last year without a legitimate stretch-the-field wideout.

Patriots tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez both enjoyed breakout seasons, with Gronkowski setting the record for yards and touchdowns by a tight end. The Boston TE Party combined for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. Both of the young tight ends will look to continue their immense success this year. The Pats signed Daniel Fells and Brad Herman to add depth to the position. There were also rumors that Dallas Clark visited the New England facilities.

The Patriots signed some good defensive role players (Jonathan Fanene, Trevor Scott, Steve Gregory) during free agency, but they exploded in the draft, using all but one of their picks on defensive players. The Pats traded up twice to snag studs DE Chandler Jones and LB Dont'a Hightower. Tavon Wilson, Jake Bequette, Nate Ebner and Alfonzo Dennard were among the other draftees who were taken in order to improve the 31st-ranked defense in 2011.

The Patriots were granted the easiest schedule (record-wise) in 2012. The only games that could be potentially dangerous are against San Francisco, Denver and two against new-look Buffalo. However, three of those games are at home, where the Patriots are near unbeatable. 

In Super Bowl XLVI, the Pats were one or two plays away from winning the Lombardi Trophy. With a defense nicknamed "The Who" because of all the no-name players, this is quite remarkable. The offense, captained by Tom Brady, led the Pats through the season to a 13-3 record, a first-round bye and, eventually, the Super Bowl. 

The Patriots blew through most of their competition in 2011, so they'll be expected to bulldoze over opponents in 2012 with a better defense and, believe it or not, a better offense. 

This year's Patriots have put together a team that should be penciled in as Super Bowl champs. With the talent and experiences on this team, anything but the Lombardi Trophy will be a tremendous letdown.

Sadly, that is the reality for the Heat this season. With Chris Bosh out with an abdominal strain, many question how far this team can go. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are expected to lead the Heat, yet even that scenario has been deflated.

With Wade averaging 19.3 points on .310 percent shooting, the media has exploded, questioning if he is regressing at age 30, if he is injured or if the Big Three experiment is starting to fall apart.

The real reason for his offensive struggles is much simpler. His name is Paul George.

Coming into this series against Miami, it didn’t look like the Pacers possessed the defensive prowess to slow James, Wade and Bosh. So far they have done well, holding the Heat to just 81.6 points per contest. While this can certainly be attributed to Bosh missing the last two games, it can also settle on Dwyane Wade.

He is shooting a career-low .427 percent during the postseason. Taking into consideration he shot .506 against the Knicks, his play against Indiana is tarnishing his career averages. A media circus is frantically trying to find a reason for this, when the correct one is right in front of them.

Paul George, probably more renowned for his participation in the Dunk Contest, is a versatile defender. Despite playing shooting guard, he stands 6’8” and has a wingspan of 6’11”. In comparison to Wade’s 6’4” frame, it is the equivalent of LeBron James guarding Derrick Rose in last year’s playoffs.

As aforementioned, Wade is averaging an uncharacteristic 19.3 points on .310 percent shooting. He is taking 8.7 free-throw attempts per game, but has slowly regressed in that aspect.

In Games 1 and 2, Wade shot 14 and 10 attempts respectively. In Game 3, he received just two attempts, a clear indication that George is slowly adjusting to his defensive assignment. His fouls have dropped from six, to four, to one in this playoff series.

Whether the lack of contact or foul calls has frustrated Wade, his emotional outburst with Spoelstra on the bench is a sure sign George is in his head. 

To further prove that George is in fact the reason for Wade’s problems, he has the highest plus/minus of the Pacers with 48 total. Even in their Game 1 loss, he went plus-5.

For those of you who might be unaware, plus/minus is a statistic used to measure the effectiveness of a player. What this means is that while George has been on the court, Indiana has scored 48 more points than Miami in those games.

Therefore, by slowing down Wade, the Pacers have been able to keep up and then advance past the Heat offensively. Wade has a plus/minus of minus-20, meaning the Heat have been outscored by that many points with him on the court.

To use the terms ‘case closed’ is seemingly cheap, but George is evidently the reason for Dwyane Wade’s offensive predicaments.

Unquestionably, the media enjoys a headline more than it does actual reasoning, but be sure to keep an eye on Paul George defending Wade: it is his defense that is the difference-maker in this series.

As much as the Devils do have a chance to tie the series, the Rangers are the better team and they are playing lights out.

New Jersey is in serious trouble.

Where: Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

When: Monday, May 21 at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: NBCS, CBC

Listen: ESPN NY 98.7 FM (New York) and WFAN 660 AM (New Jersey)

Live Stream: CBC.ca

Betting Line: (Covers.com)

Over/Under: 4.5, Spread: New Jersey -1.5

With this battle being for New Jersey’s playoff life, I think the defensive style that got both teams to the big dance will be tossed out the window. I see the Rangers winning and seven goals being scored total, so feel comfortable taking New York with the points and the Over.

Injuries (via TSN)

Rangers

Chad Kolarik, on injured reserve and is out indefinitely

Michael Sauer, on injured reserve

Mats Zuccarello, out indefinitely

Brandon Dubinsky, out indefinitely

Devils

Henrik Tallinder, on injured reserve and is out indefinitely

Jacob Josefson, expected to miss 4-6 weeks

What They're Saying

Sportsnet NHL insider Nick Kypreos is reporting on Twitter about the possible disciplinary action against the Rangers’ Brandon Prust:

#SNPlayoffs Confirmed #Rangers Brandon Prust will be have a hearing tomorrow morning with #NHL regarding his elbow on #Devils Volchenkov

— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) May 19, 2012

The Broadway Hat says exactly what the NHL fans have been thinking during this series:

Remember when the Devils were an offensively minded team and we were worried about the Rangers scoring goals? Me neither.

— The Broadway Hat (@TheBroadwayHat) May 19, 2012

Player to Watch: Henrik Lundqvist

With two shutouts so far in this series, there is no bigger X-factor in this Game 4 than New York’s star goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

If the popular goalie can take over the game and hold the Devils down, his offense may just have enough in the tank to bury New Jersey. All eyes will be on the New York netminder Monday.

Key Matchup: Ilya Kovalchuk vs. Marc Staal

With New Jersey realizing that their chance to get back into this series is now, they will be pushing hard for Ilya Kovalchuk to take more shots and drive the offense.

New York must counter this by draping Marc Staal all over the sniper. The winner of that battle will help his team win the game and gain the series momentum.

Prediction: New York 4, New Jersey 3

After a brutal game, the Rangers will take the 3-1 series advantage and steal all the momentum. With New Jersey’s spirit broken, it’s just a matter of time before New York puts them away for good.

Check back for more on the National Hockey League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NHL Page to get your fill of all things hockey.

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