Fire try to gain ground in playoff race vs. Crew

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09/07/2007 - Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Fire will travel to Columbus to take on the Crew in a Major League Soccer fixture Saturday, pitting two playoff bubble teams against each other.

The Fire are currently two points back of the Crew for the eighth and final playoff spot, but have a game in hand on their Eastern Conference rivals. Colorado and Columbus are currently tied with 28 points after 23 fixtures for the last playoff spot, putting even greater importance on Saturday's fixture.

Both teams are coming off disappointing results a week ago, with the Fire dropping a 1-0 contest at Red Bull New York and the Crew giving up a late goal at home to draw with Colorado 1-1.

The Fire lost after Juan Pablo Angel scored a late winner for New York in a defensive battle at Giants Stadium last Saturday.

"It is extremely disappointing that at the end we limited Juan (Pablo Angel) to one chance and it was a goal and we also limited (Dane) Richards to one cross the whole game. They didn't have many goal scoring opportunities so it was disappointing," Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "We know that we can play better offensively and we need to create more chances and just keep working. Hopefully, when we play them back at our place (on Sept. 15), it will be a different game."

The Crew, on the other hand, scored an early goal by Eddie Gaven before Conor Casey tied it with a header six minutes from time for the Rapids.

"It is obviously disappointing when you give up a goal late like that, that we did," Crew coach Sigi Schmid said. "We were absorbing a lot of pressure which wasn't the right thing for us to do at that point in the game, either. We weren't relieving ourselves of that. They ended up getting a point. There was one (opportunity) when you have the lead, you have to take it all the way and finish it off."

"We definitely should have had three points out of this game," Gaven said. "This isn't the first time this year we have given up late goals and it cost us points. This time of year, it is definitely tough when you are giving up points late like that and giving up goals late, and dropping points because the games really matter so much more at this time of year. It is definitely something we are going to work on this week in training and make sure that it doesn't happen any more this year."

The Crew are in desperate need of a victory after going winless in their previous five. After the Chicago fixture, the Crew have another important game against a team just in front of them - Kansas City - before winnable fixtures at Toronto FC and against Los Angeles to close out the month.

"You hesitate to call games 'must win' games but our time is running short," the Crew's Rusty Pierce said. "If we don't get wins we are not going to be in the picture at the end. We cannot rely on other teams to sneak us in the backdoor, we need to start winning some games."

The Fire are in a similar situation, but with a tougher schedule through September. After the Columbus fixture, Chicago plays New York, Dallas, D.C. United and CD Chivas USA.

"We just have to win games, keep progressing and keep believing in what we're doing," Osorio said. "We'll take one game at a time and hopefully the next two games, we can get some good results and get back in the race."

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Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.

Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.

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Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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