At this point, it's impossible to tell who speaks for the Big 12. Bob Bowlsby is the brand new permanent commissioner who refuses to take the podium prior to his official start on June 15. Chuck Neinas is the lame duck commissioner on the way out. DeLoss Dodds is, well, the one Athletic Director with the biggest belt buckle of all. Perhaps it's that Texas sway that allows him to speak on behalf of everyone else.

As for his latest comments, Dodds is taking it upon himself to speak publicly about the Big 12 expansion rumors and the possible schools it could include. He gave a quick pat on the back to Florida State while commenting on the state of any rumored negotiations:

Dodds on Fla. St.: "Great program, great tradition, they’re good members of the ACC; there’s been no conversation between them and us."

— John E. Hoover (@johnehoover) May 31, 2012

That's pretty much what everyone is hearing at this point -- that if there's interest, there's been no official movement on either side. However, it's interesting here that Dodds is using this chance to speak before Bowlsby can get into office. Bowlsby already came out with a firm stance that he wasn't going to be bullied by any Texas power play within the Big 12 and Dodds is apparently calling him on it, albeit in an indirect way.

As for the rumors, it doesn't hurt that Dodds is at least speaking highly of Florida State and even giving the ACC some kudos. At this point, it would hurt more if he were stoking the fire instead of putting it out.

For the latest on Big 12 expansion, be sure to check back at SB Nation Kansas City all summer long.

In many cases, the rich only get richer. The NBA Draft, as with other sports, is set up to reward the worst teams to help even out the competition year to year. However in Jonathan Givony's latest mock draft from Yahoo! Sports, the Oklahoma City Thunder should be quite pleased with their draft haul in the first round: Baylor forward Royce White.

White averaged 13.1 points and 9.2 rebounds a game to go with over 5 assists for the Baylor Bears. At 6-8, 270 lbs, he's a beast inside. It's the sort of experienced college body who could immediately help the Thunder inside, especially with Kendrick Perkins' recent injury troubles.

Givony writes, "The Thunder have one of the most stacked rosters in the NBA right now, which should allow them to take a clear view of this draft and pick the best talent available. Royce White is easily one of the most talented players around, having fallen here because of the depth of this draft at his position and off-court concerns that could hamper his transition to the NBA. The Thunder can afford to roll the dice here, and he could even provide some of the mismatch potential they lost at the 4-spot with Jeff Green down the road."

The Thunder are down two games to zero in the Western Conference semi-finals at this point. The NBA Draft is likely the last thing on their mind for now.

For more coverage of the Thunder and the NBA draft, check out SB Nation Kansas City as well as Welcome To Loud City.

With the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery now in the rearview mirror, the official first round order can be determined and posted. Teams like the New Orleans Hornets with multiple choices can now strategize about how to handle the draft, while others like the Spurs can try to trade back in.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have the 28th choice in the draft but with a deep draft class, they should still find a solid player they like.

Here’s the official 2012 NBA Draft order for the first round:
1. New Orleans Hornets
2. Charlotte Bobcats
3. Washington Wizards
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Sacramento Kings
6. Portland Trailblazers (from the Brooklyn Nets)
7. Golden State Warriors
8. Toronto Raptors
9. Detroit Pistons
10. New Orleans Hornets
11. Portland Trailblazers
12. Milwaukee Bucks
13. Phoenix Suns
14. Houston Rockets
15. Philadelphia
16. Houston (from New York)
17. Dallas
18. Minnesota (from Utah)
19. Orlando
20. Denver
21. Boston
22. Boston (from LA Clippers via Oklahoma City)
23. Atlanta
24. Cleveland (from LA Lakers)
25. Memphis
26. Indiana
27. Miami
28. Oklahoma City
29. Chicago
30. Golden State (from San Antonio)

For more coverage of the Thunder and the NBA draft, check out SB Nation Kansas Cityas well as Welcome To Loud City.

The latest mock drafts are all coming out this morning since the NBA Draft Lottery was last night. The order is finally set and now it's clear where some players might fall. For Chad Ford, he believes that Thomas Robinson will fall a bit in the lottery after putting him higher in previous editions.

In his latest mock, Ford has Robinson falling to the Sacramento Kings at No. 5. Robinson has been listed as high as No. 2 right after Anthony Davis to the Hornets. However, it's a deep draft this year and there are several players vying for those 2-4 spots and guard play could be the deciding factor.

Ford writes, "The Kings, if they keep the pick, will likely try to add some athleticism, size and toughness to their front line. [Andre] Drummond is bigger and is an elite athlete, but Thomas Robinson is also an explosive athlete and has actually produced. More importantly, Robinson is a winner. He could help Sacramento turn around the team's culture.

Robinson is competing with Drummond, the center from UConn, as the best big man after Davis and it just depends on what a team needs more. No matter where he goes, Robinson will definitely add an impressive all-around athlete up front for any team that takes him.

For the latest on the 2012 NBA Draft, be sure to check back here at SB Nation Kansas City. For more on the Jayhawks, head over to Rock Chalk Talk and join the discussion

Kevin Gausman. Kyle Zimmer. Lance McCullers Jr. No matter which high-end, polished starting pitcher the Kansas City Royals want to choose, ESPN baseball analyst Keith Law says anyone will do the trick. Ultimately in his most recent mock draft, Law has the Royals going with Louisiana State's Gausman as their choice at No. 5 overall in the 2012 MLB Draft. However, the Royals simply need to add an arm that could advance quickly.

Law writes, "All arms are in play here right now -- including Gausman, Zimmer and Lance McCullers Jr. -- although I did also hear Albert Almora as a dark horse here. If the board blew up, they would also consider Zunino."

The Royals could definitely use a starter who could progress through the lower portions of the minors very quickly to join the ML rotation soon enough. Grabbing a polished college pitcher is the best way to do just that. Just last month, John Sickels had Gausman as his first overall choice for the Houston Astros:

One of the few firm rumors (is "firm rumor" a contradiction in terms?) going around currently is that the Astros are leaning in the direction of a college player, since it will take them less time to reach the majors and none of the high schoolers have truly elevated themselves over the college crop. For me this should come down to Michael Zunino of Florida, Kevin Gausman of LSU, or Kyle Zimmer of San Francisco, with Michael Wacha of Texas A&M a darkhorse. Although his command has wobbled a bit, I still love Gausman and he'll be my choice here.

The Royals went Bubba Starling at the No. 5 choice last year.

Check out Royals Review for more info on the upcoming draft.

It might have taken some people by surprise that the Kansas City Chiefs would be interested in Brian Banks. When the former USC linebacker commit was recently released from jail after 62 months served for a rape did not commit, the Chiefs were among the teams initially listed as interested in looking at Banks as a free agent. Considering the team’s depth and roster, it shouldn’t be a surprise at all.

The Chiefs have a strong defensive mind in Romeo Crennel at head coach now and he’s been in Kansas City long enough to know his personnel inside and out. The team knows exactly what it wants each player to do at this point and it should be clear that the veterans who are present are able to do those things. Rookies like Dontari Poe and Dequan Menzie were brought in to help certain areas, but linebacker was left untouched in the draft and free agency.

ESPN’s Bill Williamson writes, “Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli has never struck me as someone who is interested in novelties or participating in publicly stunts. If he is interested in giving Banks a chance to be a Chief, Pioli must think it is worth exploring.”

Williamson is absolutely right in this one: KC would not just say they are interested for any sort of PR move. Other teams around the league might pull that sort of stunt, but the Chiefs are all business all of the time. Banks could compete as a special teams player to see if he could stick at a position where there are eventual spots to fill.

Then again, a player like Banks is going to have a long road ahead. Staying in shape is only the foundational work that a player must do. The reality is that Banks hasn’t been in a playbook for nearly a decade. He hasn’t earned game experience. The product would be so raw that he would likely need a lot of specialized coaching and attention.

But any potential help to the roster is worth checking out. It’s only a bonus that Banks’ story is so great.

Thomas Robinson isn't the only Kansas Jayhawks player who will hear his name called the night of the 2012 NBA Draft. Tyshawn Taylor is also going to receive his share of the credit for the Jayhawks run to the NCAA title game, and the Miami Heat may enjoy his talents at the next level, according to the latest mock draft from Yahoo! Sports' Jonathan Givony.

He writes, "While Mario Chalmers had a solid year and is locked in long-term, Miami still doesn't have great backcourt depth behind him and Dwayne Wade. Mike Miller perpetually struggles with injuries and rookie Norris Cole regressed later in the season. Tyshawn Taylor has the size to defend either guard position and should be able to space the floor with his 3-point range."

The Heat could certainly use a lot of depth since they've been exposed at multiple points throughout not only this season but in the playoffs as well. The core is as talented as any in NBA history but adding a guard like Taylor would definitely bolster a position of need.

For the latest on the 2012 NBA Draft, be sure to check back here at SB Nation Kansas City. For more on the Jayhawks, head over to Rock Chalk Talk and join the discussion.

Brian Banks, the newly exonerated linebacker who was once committed to USC but sentenced to prison for a rape he did not commit, is drawing interest all over the place. Not only have the Kansas City Chiefs been linked to him with potential interest, but others such as the Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks have entered the picture. Now it appears that another team is interested from the AFC West:

Brian Banks, a LB prospect recently exonerated of rape, has no tryout scheduled yet with Chargers. But has been contact w/ team, per source.

— Michael Gehlken (@UTgehlken) May 30, 2012

The reality is that many suitors will likely line up and Banks can take his time and enjoy this moment. He's definitely earned it, so there's no need to rush to judgment. The free agent signing period will continue through the summer as teams sign veterans and release them, shoring up rosters after injuries or signs of perceived weakness. Banks will provide a particularly compelling subplot for the team bringing him to training camp.

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The NBA Draft Lottery was last night and the New Orleans Hornets came out with the biggest prize of all: the right to take Kentucky’s Anthony Davis. The Charlotte Bobcats took second place and Yahoo! Sports’ Jonathan Givony has them taking in his latest mock draft, right after Davis at the top.

The New Orleans Hornets enjoyed a night to remember for the franchise that has had to reinvent itself in the last year under the watchful eye of David Stern and NBA ownership. They traded Chris Paul for a nice package of promising players, but their transactions were monitored and even cancelled like a fantasy basketball league with a hands-on commish.

The Bobcats had the best overall chances for the top pick, but the Hornets won out. Still they come out with Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, another great forward in the draft and perhaps the best big after Davis. At least that’s what Givony believes:

Robinson will bring a blend of strength, athleticism and competitiveness that the team sorely lacked this season inside the paint. He will pair well with 2011 draft pick Bismack Biyombo to form one of the longest and most explosive interior frontcourts – certainly defensively – in the NBA.

Robinson was a national player of the year contender for KU last year.

For a more on the the NBA Draft and additional news and notes around the league, check out the SB Nation NBA hub page. Go to Rock Chalk Talk for more on the Kansas Jayhawks.

As the final turn of the 2012 Triple Crown gets closer via the upcoming Belmont Stakes, it's clear that it's a two-horse contest for most bettors. I'll Have Another is the obvious choice as the favorite given the horse's victories at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. Union Rags is back from the Derby as a current 5-1 wager in second place. Paynter is third for those wanting a trifecta of the top three choices currently on the board.

If I'll Have Another wins, it will be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. That's an amazing run without a single horse taking all three, showing just how difficult it is to have lightning strike three times. The mere possibility of a win for I'll Have Another makes this the most interesting Belmont Stakes run in years.

Here's the official odds at this point:

For lots more on the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown, please visit And Down the Stretch they Come.

The Kansas City Chiefs made their fans a public promise in the beginning of the 2012 offseason. They said they were going to make the team more competitive at multiple positions, but the front office specifically mentioned the quarterback position as one of note. Matt Cassel, in short, was given notice that he was on a short leash.

Immediately Chiefs Nation believed that the team would sign a free agent to compete with Cassel for the starting spot. After going down for the second half of 2011, life without Cassel was a mess at first for the team. Tyler Palko started four disastrous games for the Chiefs that likely cost them their second division title in a row and Todd Haley’s job. Cassel was already having a poor season, but at least he was light year’s better than the next guy on the roster.

Enter Kyle Orton. Orton was signed after being claimed on waivers from the Denver Broncos and he ended up winning two of the last three games for the Chiefs, including one at Denver to close the season and a major win over the previously undefeated Green Bay Packers. It gave Romeo Crennel a permanent title instead of an interim one, but it also gave Chiefs fans hopes that Orton could be the new guy.

Alas that was not to be, not when the Dallas Cowboys come calling with $5 million per year for a back-up slot. Chad Henne was quickly snatched up by the Jags, as was Jason Campbell by the Bears. The already-slim quarterback market was suddenly gone since the Chiefs were never real players for Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn (despite their wishes to the contrary with Peyton).

Instead the team upgraded at several other spots and threw in a low-key signing of Brady Quinn in the mix alongside Eric Winston and Peyton Hillis The 2012 NFL Draft also came and went and not a single quarterback was taken or even brought in after the fact. A short-lived rookie mini-camp with former Hampton quarterback David Legree was the only sign of anyone knew under center for the Chiefs besides Quinn.

But the Chiefs depth chart is not only Cassel and Quinn. They might occupy the top two spots, but RIcky Stanzi is still sitting there, as fresh as he was on draft day in 2011 when he was announced as the team’s fifth round choice. He never got a snap last season despite the fact that a fan contest could have found a better candidate than Palko. Haley was handcuffed, for whatever reason, to Palko and he lost his job because of it. Orton came in too soon for the team to turn to Stanzi.

The phrase "next man up" exists in NFL circles because the thought is that, as a player, you’re only an injury away from having your chance in the spotlight. Quarterbacks, like anyone else, have to be ready to play at a moment’s notice. Except that rule did not apply for Stanzi. Somehow he was glossed over for a strange back-up an then a free agent signing.

Surprisingly the Chiefs know just a slight touch more about Stanzi now as they did a year ago when they signed him. The NFL lockout cost him significant time with coaches and the playbook, and Haley’s stubbornness took care of the rest. He is the mystery on the team and perhaps he’s the answer to what the team promised in the first place .

The Chiefs are now finally making their move in recent OTAs, allowing Stanzi to get reps in camp to see what he can do. And it looks like the move is paying off.

"I think the reps aren’t really a huge deal right now," said Stanzi about taking snaps with the second unit. "We’re switching on and off with the twos and the threes. The way the reps are cut up, it just happened to fall that way. You can talk about it a lot but it’s nice to actually go out there and rep it out and see some different situations come up and different plays that can be called. You can learn a lot by putting it on tape."

Stanzi might downplay his reps with the second team, but it’s the kind of practice that the team needs to see. Scott Pioli is quoted by Michael Holley in the book War Room as asking certain questions of each new acquisition in the NFL Draft: who will this player replace on our current roster? Perhaps that was asked of several players this year only to realize that no one graded out high enough to not give Stanzi a chance.

Josh Looney writes in today’s OTAs notebook at the Chiefs official site, "The Chiefs have yet to declare a primary backup to starter Matt Cassel and the handling of backup quarterbacks during OTAs suggest the team wants a training camp competition."

The Chiefs already stated they wanted a competition at quarterback and apparently things did not work personnel wise to put any real pressure on the number one spot. However, that doesn’t mean that Stanzi will not get the chance to impress and don the No. 2 position on the depth chart. While it’s likely a pipe dream that Stanzi could supplant Cassel anytime soon, if he can strengthen the overall position in 2012, it’s a step forward.

When the Missouri Tigers and Texas A&M Aggies both left the Big 12 at the same time for the sake of the SEC, the belief was that both teams were going to maintain a rivalry that would maintain at least some semblance of tradition and keep a key recruiting line into Texas for Gary Pinkel’s squad.

Instead, it’s announced today that the Arkansas Razorbacks are going to be the Tigers’ new rival in the SEC as the only permanent cross-division opponent in the new scheduling format. And Pinkel doesn’t seem too happy.

“I’ve been told that’s probably going to happen. When we got here, they said A&M was going to be our rival game, and somehow, somewhere it got switched,” Pinkel said.

“It doesn’t matter, because of all the players we’ve recruited (from Texas) to come to Missouri, (they’re) the greatest salesmen we have. Plus, Dallas is our No. 1 alumni base outside of Missouri in the nation."

That’s coach speak for “Not what we were told.”

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If you're interested in joining the best teams in the league, there's one way to get there: hire the people who currently run them. The Orlando Magic is looking for both a new general manager and a head coach, and word is that the GM could come from one of two candidates currently working for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Given the way the team has wisely built through the draft and incredible scouting, that's not a surprise.

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The discussion around the NFL shows that no one quite knows what to do with the Pro Bowl at this point. Do they kill it? Do they move it? Do they change some of the rules. Apparently, they're not going to do anything at all for the time being. The NFL ruled today that they aren't going to change a thing for the next game, keeping it in Hawaii the week before the Super Bowl. That's one more year of fans and media grumbling about poor play, a meaningless game and the need to do something once again.

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Thomas Robinson is going to add to some team’s frontcourt and the latest mock from DraftExpress has the New Orleans Hornets selecting Robinson at No. 4 overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. Robinson is considered one of the best bigs in the entire draft, and Anthony Davis is likely the only frontcourt player who will be chosen ahead of him.

The Kansas forward was a finalist for the National Player of the Year award in college basketball last season after averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds per game for the Jayhawks. Robinson took the team to the title game before losing to Kentucky in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. It was an unexpected run for a KU team that most believed would even concede their run of Big 12 supremacy.

The draft lottery is tonight and will go a big way toward determining where Robinson could get taken.

For a more on the the NBA Draft and additional news and notes around the league, check out the SB Nation NBA hub page. Go to Rock Chalk Talk for more on the Kansas Jayhawks.

As the Big 12 spring meetings get underway this week in Kansas City, there are a myriad of subjects that will be broached by those in attendance. Only one will likely be focused upon to any great degree: possible conference expansion. As rumors run rampant connecting several schools to the Big 12, the conference first has to decide if they’re even up for increasing from its current number of 10 schools.

If they do decide that expansion is the answer, speculation will run rampant about ACC schools in particular. Miami, Clemson and Florida State have all been named as possible candidates, but the only one even leaving a possibility open at this point in terms of public comment is Clemson. Clemson board chairman David Wilkins recently left the door open with a statement.

“We’ve not had any contact from any league,” Wilkins said.. “If we receive a viable option, a viable proposal, that is presented to us by any league, we will consider it.”

Other schools are taking a we’re-confident-in-the-ACC approach that still doesn’t necessarily mean anything one way or the other. However, it’s interesting that Clemson is at least open to the suggestion and acknowledging that movement is a real possibility.

The first step will be the Big 12’s willingness to open its doors or leave them shut. Much of that will be discussed by the conference powers-that-be this week.

If you ask former Fighting Irish players, the Notre Dame football program is just fine in its independence. The common response seems to be denial to any notion that the team might join the Big 12 (or any other conference for that matter) despite rumors to the contrary.

When asked about the chances of Notre Dame joining the Big 12, current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and ND alum Brady Quinn didn’t even think there was a remote possibility of the Fighting Irish making a move now or in the future.

“No chance,” said Quinn. “I mean, we play the toughest schedule in the country this year. Why would we change that, you know? And we played some Big 12 teams. So I think the tradition is to remain independent. I hope they always do. And that way, every team we play is a BCS team. Our strength of schedule is always there, always has been. And that’s the way we like it.”

The sentiment was repeated by other players as well.

“Notre Dame is a national team,” said fellow Notre Dame grad and Chiefs defensive back Kyle McCarthy. “We’re a national team. We recruit nationally. We don’t have a specific geographic area that we feel that we need to play in.”

The Big 12 is in the best position of any major football conference to make a move. The recent agreement for a New Year’s Day bowl game with the SEC links it with the most powerful conference in college athletics and it now boasts a highly competitive conference with stability in new commissioner Bob Bowlsby and national attention with great financial payouts due to TV deals recently negotiated.

Given how things are expected to continue to change over the next year, many schools are rumored to be interested in the Big 12 with some publicly posturing for it. From Cincinnati and Louisville to Florida State and Clemson, the number of potential candidates mentioned have been startling — whether it’s true or not. Given its independence, Notre Dame will always be mentioned in these sorts of conversations.

For now, however, it seems that there’s no truth to any rumor linking Notre Dame to the Big 12.

Winning Coach of the Year does wonders for job security. Iowa State men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg just found out first-hand after splitting Big 12 Coach of the Year honors with Kansas’ Bill Self with the signing of an eight-year extension.

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When it comes to attendance at Major League Baseball games, the AL Central holds the worst offenders of the lot. While the Detroit Tigers come in 10th in overall attendance this season and the Minnesota Twins sit at No. 12, the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians all help set the bottom of the curve. For the Indians, they are the league's worst team in overall attendance.

To get more specific, when you add the total home and road attendance of each team in Major League Baseball, the Royals, ChiSox and Indians are the worst three teams in the league. Simply put, fewer people want to see 60 percent of the AL Central than any other team in baseball.

This is an image problem for every one of these teams. The Indians are a first place team and yet no one seems to care in Cleveland. The early years of Jacobs Field featured predictable sellouts and incredible attendance and fan support. Now that they're relevant again, no one is even watching. It's something that caused closer Chris Perez, who holds a major league leading 17 saves, to speak out in frustration.

You can say what you want about Perez, especially as a Royals fan, but he's exactly what the team needs. He was chastised by former Indians players like Kenny Lofton for his comments against Indians fans for their failure to support. He's been called out for his lack of class on the mound or in his post-game comments (especially involving the Royals). Just last night, he pissed off Jarrod Dyson for his on-mound gesture after striking him out. But his charisma and passion is something that's going to interest fans in Cleveland.

Simply put, notable players are good for baseball. Fans want to go to the ballpark to see what the most iconic, charismatic players will do next. They watch the highlights to see their performance. It would be one thing if Perez was a loose cannon with a 5.30 ERA and a ticket marked for AAA. But he will be an All-Star for the second consecutive year and has to be considered among the best in baseball at this point. Perez would likely be a well-known name if he wasn't playing to stadiums filled to 30 percent of capacity night after night.

Perez is giving the Indians what they need most: interest. He's interactive with fans every day on Twitter. He's good for memorable quotes in the press. He follows through with it on the mound. The first two wouldn't matter without the last, but Perez gives the game that spark that fans either love or hate. That will eventually turn into something at the turnstiles and team shop for Cleveland.

The Royals are going to have a lot of solid players breaking through at the Major League level in the years to come. Mike Moustakas impressed just last night in their win over the Tribe. Big things are predicted for Eric Hosmer. Bubba Starling and Wil Myers are stars in the making. But winning alone might not bring the fans to Kauffman. Proof positive is the White Sox and Indians currently tied atop the division. No one cares despite the solid on-field product.

As the Royals develop their talent, the team needs a couple of them to turn into faces of the franchise -- the player with the charm, charisma or even divisive enough personality to spark a conversation. The reason that the ChiSox and Indians are having a hard time getting anyone to the ball park is that the average baseball fan would likely have a hard time naming more than one or two players of note on either team.

Point to Perez as a model of self-promotion if you will, but at least it's promotion -- it's a player doing his part to engage the game, its fans and point to a good product that people are missing. The Royals have a bright future as well and there's no reason for fans to miss these first few steps into contention. Perhaps if a player would only help...

Read more about Kansas City Royals at Royals Review and head over to Let's Go Tribe for the Indians' perspective. Be sure to check out Baseball Nation for more around Major League Baseball.

It's a moment that every baseball pitcher dreams of: making it to the major leagues and earning your first Major League win. Will Smith of the Kansas City Royals did just that last night over the Cleveland Indians in an 8-2 victory, and he was as ecstatic as you would expect.

"As a little kid, you always dream of just being in the big leagues, and now that you're here, it's an amazing feeling," Smith said. "And you can't describe what you feel, especially to win your first game. It's amazing, it's a dream come true."

Smith went six innings and allowed four hits and two runs while striking out five on the night. The Royals gave Smith plenty of run support and that likely allowed him to calm down. Royals manager Ned Yost noted that the rookie settled in quite well after a shaky first inning where he gave up the only two runs of the day to the Tribe.

"It was real shaky in the first to the point where we got [Vin] Mazzaro up after scoring two, but then he just kind of got after it," Yost said. "He calmed down a little bit, the lead helped him regain his composure, he got a little [ticked] and he said, 'Enough of this, I'm going to start going right after people,' and he did a darn good job from that point on."

Smith was 1-3 at AAA Omaha with a 4.01 ERA through 8 starts when KC called him up.

Read more about Kansas City Royals at Royals Review and head over to Let's Go Tribe for the Indians' perspective. Be sure to check out Baseball Nation for more around Major League Baseball.

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Twenty consecutive wins would be an incredible feat at any point in the NBA calendar. To do so in the playoffs is another level of domination entirely. Even the fresh legs and incredible athleticism of the Oklahoma City Thunder can do nothing but shake their heads at the end of the day. The San Antonio Spurs cannot be stopped.

Last night's 120-111 win in game two of the Western Conference Finals puts the Spurs in a strong position to win the seven-game series, even as the venue switches to Chesapeake Energy Arena in OKC. The Spurs were in total control last night, going up by 11 at halftime and making no secret who the better team was thus far.

The Spurs had incredible ball movement and shot 55 percent from the floor, even with Tim Duncan shooting 2 of 11. Tony Parker had 34 points and Kawhi Leonard had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Manu Ginobili added 20.

For the Thunder, they were paced by Kevin Durant's 31 points. James Harden had 30 and Russell Westbrook had 27, but the team shot 42 percent overall. Derek Fisher went 2 for 11 on the night and Serge Ibaka was 3 for 11, so it's hard to keep pace with a team like the Spurs.

The Thunder have more questions than answers at this point heading back for game three.

For a more in-depth look at the Oklahoma City Thunder, go to Welcome To Loud City. Check out Pounding The Rock for additional news and analysis on the San Antonio Spurs.

The San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight for game two of the seven game affair known as the Western Conference Finals tonight, and it should be another close contest between the two teams most NBA analysts consider the best left standing. The Spurs took game one by a final of 101-98 after trailing late in the game. The Thunder now look to even the series before heading back to OKC.

Much of the talk after game one was about the adjustments that needed to be made by head coach Scott Brooks for the Thunder, so it will be interesting to see how the team performs down the stretch. Here's the info you need to catch tonight's game.

Date/Time: Tuesday, May 29, 9 p.m. ET

Location: AT&T Center - San Antonio, TX

TV: TNT

Radio: You can check a list of Thunder radio stations here.

For a more in-depth look at the Oklahoma City Thunder, go to Welcome To Loud City. Check out Pounding The Rock for additional news and analysis on the San Antonio Spurs.

Scotty Brooks was even questioning his own decision making down the stretch of game one of the Western Conference Finals. He had just sat Serge Ibaka for much of the fourth quarter in the first game against the San Antonio Spurs and his OKC Thunder had the hosts on the ropes late. But the lack of interior defense allowed the Spurs to come back down the stretch. It’s a mistake he likely won’t make again.

Sam Smith said he should hope not, but that’s not the only rotational strategy he questions. He also wonders why Derek Fisher enjoyed so much time on the court as well in the fourth:

The Thunder blew it not playing Serge Ibaka the entire fourth quarter with Kevin Durant moving to power forward, which they do. Kendrick Perkins is a fraud, as we know, and had zero rebounds in almost nine fourth quarter minutes. Without any shot blocking, the Spurs won driving the ball to the basket. I know Derek Fisher was hitting shots. But nine fourth quarter minutes? No wonder the Spurs scored 39 points in the fourth.

The Thunder might believe that playing experienced veterans will help at this point, but it’s the fresh legs and incredible athleticism that got them here. Fisher and Perkins are liabilities at this stage and Brooks needs to admit as much. They must be used wisely and he can’t be afraid to go with youth even in the final minutes.

We’ll see what adjustments he makes heading into game two.

For a more in-depth look at the Oklahoma City Thunder, go to Welcome To Loud City. Check out Pounding The Rock for additional news and analysis on the San Antonio Spurs.

It's a game of musical chairs for Isaac Chew's career, and the former Missouri basketball assistant coach is making Charlie Weis look like a model of stability. One year after joining Frank Haith in his first year, Chew has now moved on to not just the next step but the one after that. Let's let Jeff Goodman explain:

Hearing that Isaac Chew will join the Marquette staff. Chew has now gone from Missouri to Illinois to Marquette in the span of 2 months.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanCBS) May 29, 2012

Just a year ago, Haith went on record by praising the addition of Chew to the team's coaching staff.

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One of the best hitters for a generation of baseball fans ready to reportedly call it quits with the rumors spreading today that Magglio Ordonez will officially hang it up this Sunday at Comerica Park. His retirement comes after 15 impressive seasons in the Major Leagues split almost evenly between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers. In short, he's tormented the Kansas City Royals pitching staff for a decade and a half now.

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