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Yankees (16-14) Vs. Rays (20-11): Game Time, TV Schedule And More

2012-05-10T14:02:35Z

The New York Yankees will play host to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night in the rubber match of their three game set.

The Yankees are seeking to avoid consecutive home losses to the first place Rays, and will turn to their ace C.C. Sabathia to carry the load. Sabathia will be opposed by Tampa's stud young left hander David Price, who is off to a strong 5-1 (2.35 ERA) start this season.

New York received a solid effort from its bullpen last night until new closer (or at least the guy we assume will continue to be the closer) David Robertson allowed four ninth inning runs. He'll need to flex some resolve if another save opportunity presents itself on Thursday night.

Game Time: 7:05 p.m. EST

TV Coverage: YES

For more on the Yankees, please be sure to check our our blog Pinstripe Alley and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

2012 NHL Playoffs, Capitals Vs. Rangers: SB Nation Bloggers' Reactions

2012-05-10T13:14:59Z

Considering how tight the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals series has been to this point, it's fitting that these two will settle their score with a game seven on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

But before they do, here's a look back on game six, via our trusted SB Nation bloggers from Blueshirt Banter and Japers Rink.

Over at Blueshirt Banter, frustration set in on Wednesday night:

- I think the best word to use to describe Game 6 would be frustrating. It was just a frustrating game. Ryan Callahan trips on the penalty kill, can't cover Alex Ovechkin and Ovechkin does what he does an it's suddenly 1-0. Then the officials incorrectly call icing on the Rangers, the Capitals win the draw, get a ton of luck on the puck deflection and Jason Chimera scores the game winning goal. Sometimes the bounces go that way.

Japers Rink, meanwhile, is relishing the continued resilience of the Caps:

After letting Game 5 slip painfully through their fingers in a matter of minutes, the question facing the Caps was one which has faced them a number of times throughout the playoffs: how would they respond? Down 3-2 in the series, the only way they could respond - the only way they could prolong their postseason at least a little longer - was to show that resilience we've grown accustomed to seeing over the past month.

And thankfully for Caps fans, it was on full display tonight, as the hometown boys made sure to send the raucous Verizon Center crowd home happy - and to book their tickets for one last trip to New York.

For all news and information regarding the New York Rangers, please visit Blueshirt Banter. For all your Capitals coverage, check out Japers Rink.

NBA Playoffs 2012, Heat Vs. Knicks: SB Nation Bloggers' Reactions

2012-05-10T12:27:38Z

The 2011-2012 New York Knicks season is no longer after the team dropped a 106-94 game five contest against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, and we turn to our two primary sources of Knicks and Heat perspective for more.

Over at Posting and Toasting, the tone is slightly less than enthused this morning. From the site's reaction post:

Indeed, blackhova. The MILPCAT just wasn't meant to be. The Knicks came out looking pretty spunky in this one. The defense was active, the ball movement was crisp, and Mike Bibby was cookin' soup in his new starting role. It sorta crumbled from there, though. That lovely ball movement derailed, and only Carmelo Anthony could create shots in a sticky, stagnant offense. I'm not really sure why the ball stopped moving, but I do know that Mike Woodson tried to cash in on it by starting J.R. Smith in the second half. That, uh...didn't exactly pan out.

Meanwhile, down at Peninsula is Mightier, a business-like approach remains intact:

As widely expected, the Miami Heat finished off the New York Knicks 106-94 in convincing fashion for the 4-1 series victory and earned a place in the second round against the Indiana Pacers. The biggest lead of the Knicks was 6 points early in the game thanks in large part to a surprising shooting performance from former Heat guard Mike Bibby who led all scorers with 8 points in the first quarter on 3-4 shooting (2-3 beyond the arc). After that it was all Heat, as they built a lead they held for the rest of the game for the rousing victory in front of their fans (and some quiet Knicks fans too).

For more on the Knicks, please be sure to check out our blog Posting and Toasting along with SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates. For all the latest Heat news and information, check out Peninsula is Mightier.

2012 NBA Playoffs, 76ers Vs. Bulls Game 6: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

2012-05-10T12:14:59Z

In taking a 3-1 series lead over top-seeded Chicago, the Philadelphia 76ers afforded themselves three opportunities to unseat the Bulls in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

And after striking out on chance one, Philly will take to the court again on Thursday night with the hopes of ending the series on their home court.

It will take a better offensive effort than during game five, as the 76ers were held to just 69 points 32.1 percent shooting, and no Sixer connected on more than five field goal attempts.

Returning home is a positive for Philly, as they toppled Chicago in both games three and four, each of which were played at the Wells Fargo Center.

A win for Philadelphia would set up a second-round matchup against either Boston or Atlanta, who will play a game six of their own on Thursday night.

But before the Sixers can look ahead, they know they have a tall enough task of their own to square away first.

Game Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

TV Coverage: CSN Philly, NBA TV

Radio Coverage: 97.5 The Fanatic

For more on the 76ers, please be sure to check out our blog Liberty Ballers and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.

Big 12 Closing In On TV Deal With ESPN, Fox, According To Report

2012-05-07T23:45:52Z

The Big 12, a conference that many believed was on the verge of fading from its status as a major power conference, is closing in on a deal with ESPN and Fox that would pay the conference $200 million per year until 2025, according to a report.

The 13-year, $2.6 billion deal, which was reported to be in the works as early as a couple of months ago, remains minor details away from being completed, according to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, "Even though it has been nearly two months since the news of the deal broke, lawyers continue to work on details of the final contract. While there isn't expected to be a hang up, the source added that until the agreements are actually signed the deal is not official."

The new pact would vault the Big 12 into a similar realm as the Big 10, SEC, and Pac-12 as it relates to television deals, and would keep the conference very much entrenched as a power player.

Big 12 On Verge Of Big TV Deal, According To Report

2012-05-07T23:19:08Z

So much for those ready to declare the Big 12 obsolete. A report from Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports has indicated that the conference is preparing to finalize a new television deal with ESPN and Fox for 13 years and worth a total of $2.6 billion.

That puts it in play with other power conferences such as the Pac-12, Big Ten and SEC, each of which has a comparable television deal (in regards to the financial details).

Dodd adds that there are details remaining to be worked out on the deal that emerged in reports as early as a couple of months ago, "Even though it has been nearly two months since the news of the deal broke, lawyers continue to work on details of the final contract. While there isn't expected to be a hang up, the source added that until the agreements are actually signed the deal is not official."

The deal will run through the 2025 season.

Trio Of Texas Longhorns Arrested, According To Report

2012-05-07T23:02:30Z

A trio of Texas football players - Alex Okafor, Kenneth Vaccaro and Barrett Matthews - were arrested and charged with failure to obey a lawful order, according to a report.

The arrest stemmed from an incident at a downtown Austin night spot during which the three Longhorns, in addition to a former Texas football player, refused to leave the establishment when asked. After they refused to do so, they were arrested and taken into custody.

Further details of the arrest remain unclear at this time.

Okafor started all 13 games as a junior last season at defensive end and was a first-team All Big 12 coaches selection. Vaccaro, a safety, also started every game last season and earned first-team All Big 12 accolades from the coaches as well. Matthews, a senior-to-be tight end, started three of the 13 games that he played in last season.

Read more about the Texas Longhorns at Burnt Orange Nation.

2012-2013 College Basketball Power Rankings: Baylor In The Elite Mix

2012-05-07T22:41:23Z

The Baylor Bears reached the Elite 8 last season, and despite losing top-flight talent to the NBA Draft, the team looks primed for another strong run next year. That has much to do with yet another impressive recruiting class for head coach Scott Drew, and the return of talented pieces from last year's squad.

Sports Illustrated's Luke Winn took an early look at next year's college basketball season, and figures Baylor into the mix at number 13 on his power rankings list.

Here's his take:

The two early favorites for the Naismith and Wooden Awards are Indiana's Cody Zeller and Creighton's Doug McDermott, but the inevitable darkhorse candidates will emerge -- much in the way McDermott did last season. Can Bears point guard Pierre Jackson be one of them? With Perry Jones (25.5 percent of shots) and Quincy Miller (24.3 percent) gone, there are plenty of available field-goal attempts, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Jackson put up a few 30-point, high-assist games and get in the picture. The best other guard candidates are Murray State's Isaiah Canaan, Lehigh's C.J. McCollum and UCLA freshman Shabazz Muhammad, who should be the focal point of the Bruins' offense from Day 1.

For more on the Baylor Bears, check out Our Daily Bears.