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July 17, 2008 NO WINNERS IN FAVRE “MESS” Packers General Manager Ted Thompson is right. This Brett Favre situation is a “mess.” Favre has it right as well. It is “ridiculous.” Unlike many others, I’m not really interested in assigning blame for where the Packers are right now. The team had a right to move on after Favre, especially after he nearly aborted his retirement just a few weeks after the tear-filled news conference in March. Favre has a right to change his mind. I know I’ve reversed course on some important decisions. Favre wants to play. He’s come to the conclusion that he wants to squeeze every last drop out of being a football player. He obviously doesn’t see great joy in a post-NFL life. That strikes me as sad, but not a criminal offense. Even with no one to blame, this dirt has splashed on everyone. The Packers organization is looking cold-blooded toward perhaps its greatest player ever. Favre looks like a selfish egomaniac that can’t make up his mind. Aaron Rodgers nearly impossible task has just gotten impossible. After all, however this ends is going to fall on Rodgers. If Favre stays retired, Rodgers will be expected to be perfect. If Favre comes back as a backup, every time Rodgers throws an interception, the network TV cameras will find Favre with his clipboard and the fans will be chanting for their beloved Brett. If Favre is traded, Rodgers and Favre’s stats will be side-by-side in the newspaper every week. Perhaps the only scenario where Rodgers would “win” is if Favre comes back to the Packers, is allowed to start, and flops. Rodgers could then have a chance to come to the rescue. The words that keep coming to my mind about this situation are “uncomfortable” and “awkward”. Even if you’re not one of the over-the-top Favre fanatics who would switch team loyalties if he’s traded, I don’t think anyone wants to see Favre be embarrassed by this process. He hasn’t helped himself with his clumsy media approach, first leaking stories and then going on Fox News Channel with a non-sports interviewer. Then again, the Packers controlled how they got their message out through the media as well. If strikes me as ironic that state sports fans are overflowing with affection for rental player CC Sabathia of the Brewers but tired of a guy who’s stayed and produced for 16 years and wants to keep playing in Brett Favre. Strange days indeed. July 08, 2008 CC YOU IN THE PLAYOFFS? I love the Brewers acquisition of 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia from Cleveland. I know the Brewers will only have him for this season and Matt LaPorta could be a star with the Indians for many years. But Doug Melvin and Mark Attanasio did what they had to do. They rewarded the faith and support of all of those Brewers fans selling out Miller Park. They’re “all in” to make the playoffs in 2008. Having said all of that, baseball is indeed unpredictable at its core. There are no guarantees. Injuries happen. Other teams play better. The pressure of expectations can get to players. I promise you I will not be one of those people who criticizes the Brewers for the Sabathia trade if they don’t make the playoffs. The move still had to be made. After Ben Sheets and Manny Parra, the Brewers starting rotation was still too shaky before this move. Now, the top of their rotation is one to be feared. You’re still going to need some production from the bottom of the rotation, especially Jeff Suppan. Hopefully, his elbow injury was the cause of his recent struggles and he comes back refreshed and effective for the stretch drive. By the way, the work of Brewers VP Jack Zduriencik and his staff paid off handsomely again. It is a pleasure to see how this franchise has gone from the bottom to the top in developing young talent. Just think about the fact that a guy the Brewers drafted just over a year ago was the key piece in a trade that may have gotten the Brewers to the postseason for the first time since 1982. Doug Melvin says the Brewers are “going for it.” It will be a blast to watch. June 30, 2008 FIRST STEP FOR HAMMOND Richard Jefferson was a terrific first acquisition for the John Hammond-Scott Skiles regime with the Bucks. He’s one of the top small forwards in the NBA and they were able to dump the underachieving Bobby Simmons in the process. There’s a bit of a gamble if Yi becomes a star, but I think he’s more Toni Kukoc than Dirk Nowitzki. Jefferson’s offensive skills make it even more important that the Bucks turn their point guard position into more of a distributing role. Whether Mo Williams is the right guy for that is questionable. The drafting of Joe Alexander brings a strong athlete and worker who wanted to play for the Bucks. Those are all good qualities. He’ll have to get his body stronger for the NBA, especially if he’s going to play at the power forward position. He has a certain positive “edge” that will be helpful to a team trying to change its too-soft image. As tough as the Big East is, the NBA is still a difficult step for rookies to make. Luc Richard Mbah A Moute will be a defensive role player, a wise second-round selection. Hammond is the first to say that he’s just getting started. Andrew Bogut needs to be signed to fair but affordable long-term contract. The point guard situation still must be clarified and the forward position still has some sorting out to do. But Jefferson was a great first step.
What was that I saw on the Brewers telecast from Atlanta? Was that really Brewers manager Ned Yost smiling about something in the dugout with J.J. Hardy? Good for Yost. He has weathered some of the most relentless criticism of any Milwaukee sports figure I can remember. He’s still standing (and smiling!) and the Brewers are making a legitimate move in the playoff race.
The vultures will be out again as soon as the Brewers lose two games in a row but I continue to support Yost. Isn’t it interesting that the Brewers have the best record in one-run games in major league baseball?
Wouldn’t that be one indication that the manager has some idea what he’s doing?
For sure, Yost has had some good fortune. Salomon Torres has saved the season by saving games after Eric Gagne got injured. Seth McClung has surprised everyone—probably even himself—by becoming a solid starting pitcher. Russell Branyan and Gabe Kapler have made terrific contributions to help shore up problem areas.
Ned Yost will never please everyone. No manager does. But as the Brewers record keeps improving, the Yost Watch can go away for awhile. Good for Yost. June 10, 2008 I admit that I’ve been hard on Dale Earnhardt Jr. at times on the “Sports 32 Roundtable” because he gets a lot of hype and yet hasn’t won in 76 Sprint Cup races.
But I have to admit—when you meet him and interview him like I did at the Milwaukee Mile on Tuesday, he’s a hard guy to dislike. He’s down to earth and honest. He tells a funny story, such as when he got the chance to meet Brett Favre at Lambeau Field last season. He seemed like more of the awestruck fan than the big shot in the story.
Earnhardt doesn’t run away from the expectations. He says he puts more pressure on himself than his team, sponsors or fans ever could.
I’m sure it’s not easy to carry that name but Dale Jr. says he’s got it good and he knows it. I couldn’t help but think about Jimmie Johnson—who was also testing at the Mile on Tuesday.
Johnson also was interviewed by reporters but he doesn’t seem like he’s as big a deal in the media. Even though he’s won two straight season championships. That’s not Earnhardt’s fault but it doesn’t seem fair to a driver like Johnson.
Junior may be more style than substance at the moment. But, after meeting him, I hope that the victories will eventually match the endorsements.
June 3, 2008 LITTLE SYMPATHY FOR HALL So now Bill Hall tells his agent to tell the media that Hall wants be to traded from the Brewers. Hall is upset that, after years of moving positions to accommodate the club, he is now being benched against most righthanders. I’m sure that all of the fans paying $4 per gallon of gas as they either cling to or have lost their jobs are really heartbroken. Hall was given a 4-year, $24 million contract after a 35-home run season in 2006. His offense slipped in 2007 after a move to center field. This season, Hall was hitting .158 against righthanders when the Brewers summoned Russell Branyan from the minors. Hall feels like he was singled out despite several hitters struggling at the plate at the time. He also feels like more loyalty should have been shown for his willingness to move around to various positions defensively. I have nothing personal against Bill Hall because I don’t know him. But the 2008 Brewers can’t really deal in potential. Reality matters. The credibility of the franchise and its young core of talent is on the line this season. Ned Yost has to put a lineup on the field that will win---right now. Feelings will get ruffled in the process. I appreciate the competitor in Hall wanting to play. But when it comes to Hall’s agent talking trade in the media, I think of Ron Wolf. As he said to Mike Holmgren once about his media-loving agent: “Tell your guy to shut up.”
May 28, 2008 BREWERS ON THE BRINK There’s this nagging unease about the Brewers season. They certainly haven’t lived up to the local expectations so far, but they’re far from dead. They’re seemingly operating in no man’s land. They make you mad and ready to write them off. Then they win just often enough to offer a flicker of hope. The Brewers returned from their recent 10-game road trip in the same spot they were when they left—six games behind the first-place Cubs. Considering the Brewers haven’t even played .500 baseball as I write this, that’s actually good news. Having played 31 of their first 51 games on the road, the Brewers can draw encouragement from the fact that the schedule will tilt back in their favor and give them the opportunity to excel at Miller Park. But home fans alone won’t guarantee victories. The Brewers starting rotation still needs to solidify. After Ben Sheets, there are a series of question marks. Will Jeff Suppan settle into a consistent groove? Can Manny Parra last longer than five innings? Is Seth McClung a long-term option? Will Carlos Villanueva return to the rotation? Can Dave Bush avoid the big inning? The Brewers bullpen, of course, has its own issues. I’d be surprised if you could ever really bank on Eric Gagne for the rest of the season. I just don’t know what he has left, mentally or physically. Maybe he’ll surprise me. Salomon Torres has the torch for now but we’ll see if he thrives or burns up under the pressure. The offense has been a disappointment and the defense, while better, still makes some costly mistakes. We now know the NL Central will not be the projected two-team race between the Cubs and Brewers. Houston and St. Louis have surprised and if you give the Brewers a shot, you also have to say that Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are just as much in the mix. Rookie Jay Bruce’s impact with the Reds will be fascinating to watch. The Brewers season has a long way to go. They may be on the brink of falling deep into a hole. They also could be on the brink of a hot streak. It’s an uneasy time around Miller Park. May 19, 2008 FRESH START FOR SAMPSON May 12, 2008 LIFE AS A CLOSER The only closer with security these days seems to be Kyra Sedgwick on TNT. Over the weekend, both Eric Gagne of the Brewers and Jason Isringhausen of the Cardinals essentially begged off of the pressure jobs with their respective teams, at least for the time being. Gagne’s rapid decline into the doghouse of Brewers fans has been tough to watch. At first, Gagne was seen as a worthwhile risk in response to the loss of Francisco Cordero to the Reds. Yes, it was for $10 million—but it was for only one year. But just hours after the feel-good introductory news conference, Gagne’s name was mentioned in the Mitchell Report. Suddenly, Gagne was carrying more baggage to spring training than just his gloves and uniform. Gagne’s statement to clear the air in Arizona really didn’t answer anything. Still, the focus moved to whether he would pitch like he did last season in Texas (good) or like he did in Boston (horrible). The answers started to come on opening day at Wrigley Field when Gagne coughed up a lead in a game the Brewers would eventually win. After five blown saves and two losses, Gagne pulled the plug on himself after Saturday’s defeat to St. Louis. I’m not smart enough to know if Gagne’s troubles are all mental or all physical. I do know that the guy I watched in spring training and so far this season is a tentative, shaky reliever. He’s a far cry from the swaggering dominance of his Dodgers days. Can he get that edge back and return to glory? In my opinion, it’s doubtful. For the sake of Ned Yost and the Brewers, I wouldn’t count on Gagne to save your way to the playoffs. Maybe Kyra Sedgwick is available.
May 5, 2008 GALLARDO LOSS HUGE Let’s hope that this past nightmare weekend in Houston isn’t an omen of what’s to come for the 2008 Brewers. Starters not going deep into games. Eric Gagne spitting up another game that the Brewers had won. The offense still not hitting its potential. Overshadowing all of that—or perhaps a trigger---was Friday’s news that pitcher Yovani Gallardo is likely lost for the season with a torn ACL in his knee. A Ben Sheets-Yovani Gallardo top of the rotation is formidable. Now, Sheets is the clear ace. That means holding your breath that he doesn’t get hurt. Gallardo’s absence also means that Jeff Suppan, Carlos Villanueva, Manny Parra and Dave Bush will have to become consistent and reliable pitchers to eat up innings and keep the Brewers in games. That’s an unsettling thought to some Brewers fans. How is it that a team that was swimming in starting pitchers in the spring is now one more injury away from catastrophe? Chris Capuano’s injury was the first blow. The release of Claudio Vargas can now be second-guessed as being too much about saving money and too little about keeping insurance. I backed the Vargas move at the time so I’m not going to be a hypocrite now and criticize it. I backed the move because it created an opportunity for Villanueva and Parra. Now, they have to hold up their end of the bargain. Parra, in particular, has been disappointing. Now, the Brewers are counting on him. After being sent down briefly to the minors, Bush will hopefully respond with a chip on his shoulder. In the minors, former World Series star Jeff Weaver is now a viable option if another injury or a struggling starter forces another move. Perhaps he could help but you hope it doesn’t come to that. The Brewers playoff hopes still remain. But the road to the postseason just got a whole lot tougher. April 30, 2008 DO BUCKS NEED TO TAKE RISK? Two huge pieces are in place as the Bucks try to turn around a franchise that has won two playoff series in the last 19 years—both in 2001. John Hammond and Scott Skiles are respected and experienced NBA men who provide reasons for hope in their roles as general manager and head coach respectively. As they reshape the Bucks roster, Hammond and Skiles may need to take personnel risks to ignite a culture change. It could involve trading offensive stars for role players like Jared Jeffries and Malik Rose. It could involve dumping bad contracts for little in return except cap flexibility. There are some big names with big contracts who will be available on the trade market. Jermaine O’Neal and Kenyon Martin come to mind. Marcus Camby has two years left on his deal and will make $9 million next year. Ron Artest could be available. He brings defense and talent but also considerable baggage. The Bucks also have to figure out how much Andrew Bogut is worth. Yes, he should be given a contract extension—but keeping the numbers reasonable ($10-11 million per year?) will be important. I’ve heard it said that there’s no way that the Bucks can get rid of the contracts given Bobby Simmons and Dan Gadzuric. But when you study the NBA, every team has their deals that they regret. Desperation can sometimes make for interesting trade partners. How desperate are the Bucks to win? We should find out this summer. April 22, 2008 SKILES THE RIGHT FIT Scott Skiles is exactly what the Bucks need right now. A no-nonsense coach who will expect and demand defense and unselfishness. There’s no need to coddle any of the players because the Bucks haven’t accomplished anything. If they don’t like it, get rid of them. Skiles has the hammer of a lucrative 4-year deal that Terry Porter, Terry Stotts and Larry Krystkowiak did not have. Now general manager John Hammond and Skiles must go about re-shaping the roster. The current team has talent, but seems an odd fit for the traits that Skiles will build around. The only question is whether they do the dealing over the summer or let things play out through training camp and the early part of the season. I would guess that the facelift will begin immediately. There’s no time to waste. Bucks fans have been remarkably loyal and patient but they want to see results now. They deserve them. Skiles gives them the best chance to get their wish in the near future. April 14, 2008 HAMMOND READY FOR LARGE TASK At his introductory news conference, new Bucks general manager John Hammond showed a clear analysis of the situation he has taken over. He knows it’s a big job that is going to take a lot of hard work and it starts with changing the culture. A perfect example of what needs to change came in the Bucks home finale. On Fan Appreciation Night, the Bucks showed little appreciation for defense in yielding 153 points and 67 percent shooting to the worst shooting team in the NBA, the Chicago Bulls. It was a fitting end to the home season. After all, why start playing defense now? Larry Krystkowiak had seen the Bucks play poor defense during his brief time as an assistant to Terry Stotts. Krystkowiak made defense his top priority in training camp and spent so much time on it that he admitted that the Bucks offense suffered. Yet, the Bucks defense wasn’t any better this season. Defense is all about consistent passion and effort. The Bucks have shown little of those traits this season. A new coach is likely on the way. It will be an experienced coach who has gotten teams to play defense and win in the past. The question is—how many guys on the current roster are capable of pulling that off? That’s where John Hammond is going to earn his money. A winning team is not a collection of individual talents. It’s a living organism that only functions when all of the parts operate in concert. Each player must know his role and be capable of fulfilling it. If they don’t fit in the team concept, they must be weeded out—even if it means bringing back “lesser” players who will at least play hard and be part of a team. So, John Hammond, good luck. I have a feeling you’re up to the challenge.
April 7, 2008 CREAN’S DEPARTURE Coaching departures are rarely clean. It usually comes down to the coach leaving for greener pastures or being fired. There are bound to be hurt feelings in the process. Tom Crean’s move from Marquette to Indiana has come under intense scrutiny. Marquette players were deeply hurt that they found out about the move on television. Crean eventually met face-to-face with the players at his home, but the damage had been done. There are two aspects to Crean’s departure to analyze. First, what kind of job did he do in his nine years at Marquette? In my opinion, he gets an “A” for outstanding work. He lifted a drifting program that had become irrelevant nationally and made them a top 25 program again. He led them to five NCAA tournaments and a Final Four. He helped boost attendance at the Bradley Center by getting the students involved. His success helped the Al McGuire Center become a reality and allowed Marquette to get into the Big East. His network of contacts helped Marquette land high-profile television assignments, including a visit from ESPN’s “Game Day” crew in 2007. That stuff doesn’t just happen without a dynamic coach. The second aspect is how Crean handled his departure. Could it have been done better? Of course. I haven’t talked to him since he left, but this is how I would guess things unfolded. Crean wanted to keep the Indiana discussions quiet in case they fell apart. Things moved so quickly that an Indiana source spilled the news to ESPN’s Andy Katz before the deal was even officially signed. In this instant age of sports media, the news broke with little regard to how people (in this case, Crean) want things to happen. I assume he hoped to meet with his players before the word leaked out, but the news spun out of control on him. I can understand the hurt of the players. But Crean probably felt he couldn’t say anything the papers were signed. Time will pass and some of the hurt feelings will fade. Some people will always have a problem with the fact that he left Marquette at all. But, in today’s college basketball climate, Crean was probably two NIT seasons away from being fired. He jumped to a big-time national program for a huge salary. I can understand that. Crean certainly moved the Marquette program forward and always treated me with respect. That’s enough for me.
April 1, 2008 FOOTBALL MENTALITY HARMS PERSPECTIVE Major league baseball seasons are 162 games. NBA seasons last 82 games. Even college basketball seasons these days are more than 30 games. Yet too many media members and fans treat these sports with the same mentality that they do the NFL (16 games) or college football (12 games) where each game has enormous consequence. MLB and NBA seasons are the ultimate marathons. To overreact in a positive or negative way to one game is the equal to trying to make intelligent comments about a marathon after the first 10 feet. Yet in our instant gratification sports media world that’s exactly what many people do. I’m not saying that teams should not care about losing, but the reality is that there are going to be ups and downs and wins and losses in a long season. Do you think it’s any coincidence that Joe Torre and Phil Jackson have been so successful in their respective sports? They have a calm demeanor and they refuse to overreact to the inevitable problems and setbacks that occur. I’m not naïve enough to think that things are going to get better. They’re only going to get even more ridiculous. Expectations and reactions have been put into the microwave and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. As a result, coaches, managers, players and executives will face even more demanding jobs in the future. That doesn’t mean I have to like or agree with it.
March 25, 2008 BUCKS FACE PIVOTAL SUMMER The dismissal of general manager Larry Harris is just the first step in what needs to be a major reconstruction of the Milwaukee Bucks. Losing twice in the last week to the lowly and shorthanded Miami Heat only underscores that this team doesn't need a tweak--it needs a complete overhaul. There are a couple of ways owner Herb Kohl can go in selecting a new general manager. He can try to land an experienced executive like Donnie Walsh, who is leaving the Pacers. Or he can try to take a leap of faith with an assistant GM at a successful operation like John Hammond in Detroit. The new GM has to have the autonomy to rip apart anything that hinders being a championship team. The current way is not working. Head coach Larry Krystkowiak surely knows his days are numbered. He found out what Terry Porter and Terry Stotts discovered before him. This is a tough place to win when you don't have much NBA coaching experience. The roster has to be rid of unproductive and selfish elements. A new GM won't be burdened by past moves and should be given freedom to deal whoever he sees fit. This group isn't going to get it done. Andrew Bogut has shown improvement and is your likely future leader--but Michael Redd and Mo Williams will never follow him because they have more experience. That means the Bucks face some tough decisions with their high-scoring but losing backcourt. I have no idea if Yi will be a star, but they're certainly not going to give up on him and his global marketing brand yet. The Bucks need a strong new front office leader with a bold vision and the authority to try to make it work. Right now, the Bucks are an afterthought in the Milwaukee and Wisconsin sports scenes. Winning can change that but there's so much work to be done. It starts this summer. March 18, 2008 RYAN AND CREAN BOTH SUCCESSFUL Two things about being a sports fan. We love to compare and nothing is ever enough. In the case of Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan and Marquette’s Tom Crean, both of those tendencies often seem to be in play. There’s always the debate—who’s the better coach? Ryan has been nothing short of spectacular in Madison. Seven NCAA tournaments in seven years and three Big Ten championships. His teams consistently play smart and unselfish basketball. He has not been to a Final Four, but that’s certainly not the only measuring stick for a coach. Crean has taken Marquette to five NCAA tournaments in his nine years as coach. The Golden Eagles have posted double-digit wins in each of their three seasons in the Big East. Critics will point out that his teams haven’t won an NCAA tournament game since 2003. His advocates will remind everyone that Crean has taken a team to the Final Four—in that 2003 season. I always like to put things in historical context. Ryan’s seven NCAA bids equal the number in the history of Wisconsin basketball before his arrival. Crean’s five NCAA bids are more than the previous four coaches at Marquette combined. When the Badgers and Golden Eagles lose in the NCAA tournament, there will be the inevitable sniping. But, from this perspective, both coaches are getting it done. March 11, 2008 FAVRE LEAVES IMPRESSION The Brett Favre news conference last week will go down as one of the most memorable events I’ve ever covered. The room was thick with emotion. I couldn’t help but think back to a couple of my early interactions with the former Packers quarterback. On February 10, 1992, Ron Wolf made the deal with Atlanta that brought Favre to the Packers. I did a phone interview with Favre. The quote I remember is one that still airs at times on the Green Bay Packers Radio Network. “”Give me time and I promise you I can be the man,” the young Favre said. I don’t know for sure but I probably rolled my eyes. How many other quarterbacks had told me the same thing in interviews before failing in Green Bay? On December 8, 1992, I spent a good portion of the day with Favre for a television feature on the rising star. I looked at the tape the other night. The segment aired on a pre-game show that ran before the Packers Sunday night game in Houston. The Packers were riding a winning streak and Favre was just starting to gain attention. I remember that we almost scratched the interview because it was the same day that Paul Molitor held a news conference to talk about his free agent departure from the Brewers to Toronto. It’s a good thing we carried through with our plans to interview Favre. Because he wasn’t a big star yet, we were given incredible access. We were able to ride with him in his truck to his Green Bay apartment and do a long one-on-one interview with him there. The most striking aspect of the interview is just how young and raw Favre looked. Even then, you could tell he had a certain charisma and star quality. He seemed very alone and homesick because he wasn’t married yet. As Favre’s legend grew, his media access became much more limited unless he was being paid to make appearances for a station. From those 1992 interviews to his final news conference, it was a unique gift to be able to watch the Favre story unfold.
NCAA TOURNAMENT THOUGHTS Both Wisconsin and Marquette are locks for the upcoming NCAA men’s basketball tournament. UWM and UW-Green Bay can only get in by crashing the party with a Horizon League tournament title. The question for the Badgers and the Golden Eagles becomes—what seed will they get? That will be the first clue in trying to figure out how far the teams can go in the NCAA tournament. As I’m writing this, the Badgers seem likely to win at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title. The Big Ten tournament championship is played so late on selection Sunday that it may not have any impact on seeding. I would give the Badgers a #3 seed in the NCAA. Wisconsin has had a terrific season, but I’m not sure they’ll be able to get a #2 seed because of the weakness of the lower half of the Big Ten. There have been many occasions when a school has gone deeper in the tournament the year after a star departs. Cincinnati after Oscar Robertson and Virginia after Ralph Sampson come quickly to mind. Could the Badgers join that club the year after Alando Tucker left? It’s possible. They don’t beat themselves. I think Marquette could get a #5 seed. I would have liked their chances for a #4 if they would have finished the job against Georgetown. There’s a big difference between facing a #12 seed and a #13 seed in the first round because the #13 is usually an automatic bid from a small conference while the #12 is one of the last teams to get in from a power conference. A deep run in the Big East tournament might inch Marquette up but it could also take a toll on the health of Dominic James and the Golden Eagles. I don’t know about you but I’m not a big fan of conference tournaments. I’m ready for the real tournament to begin. That’s what March is all about.
February 26, 2008 YOST READY FOR SEASON We had a chance to interview Brewers manager Ned Yost at spring training in Phoenix last week. You can see the interview on the Dennis Krause Show on Time Warner Sports starting March 3rd. We’ll also have interviews with several other Brewers including Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun later in March. The Yost interview was particularly insightful. I know that it’s easy to be relaxed and have perspective at spring training in February—but I found Yost very revealing. He knows that he came across as too tight at times last season. Keep in mind that Yost is in a position that no Brewers manager has ever been in. With expanded television postgame coverage, Yost’s news conferences after games are carried live and his every mannerism and tone is then dissected on talk radio. I can’t help but wonder how George Bamberger and Harvey Kuenn would have looked under such constant scrutiny. Even media masters Tom Trebelhorn and Phil Garner had their moments. I don’t even want to think about what Davey Lopes would have looked like in that constant glare. The point is that Yost knows he’s often the face of the Brewers in the media. He’s so focused that he can come across as dismissive. He knows it and I think he’ll make a real effort to roll more easily with the inevitable hard questions that he’ll face. Baseball is not football. Each game is not so harshly critical during a season. Of course you always want to win—but there will be ups and downs and mistakes over a very long season. I think we were all reminded of that last season. I don’t think that Ned Yost is perfect. But I do think he’s a good man and has done a good job with the Brewers. Changing a losing organization’s culture is not easy to do. Yost has played a big role in accomplishing that with the Brewers. I hope he’s able to enjoy the fruits of that labor this season.
February 18, 2008 NEWMAN A WORTHY CHAMP Ryan Newman won the Daytona 500 the old-fashioned way. He earned it. If you watched the race, you saw plenty of commercials with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Tony Stewart. But in the race's defining moments, it was a humble guy from South Bend, Indiana who made the key move to victory. Team owner Roger Penske is used to winning Indy 500's. Now he has a Daytona 500 to add to his resume. There was a great moment after the race where Newman's dad said through teary eyes that his son had become the driver he always dreamed of being. I admit that I'm a sucker for the sobbing dad. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished a respectable 9th and was gracious in defeat. He admitted to making some poor choices on the track and refused to call out who told him not to come in for new tires during a late caution. But you could tell the frustration in his voice when he talked about "not having enough car". With all of the hype surrounding his switch to Hendrick Motorsports, I found that a surprising admission of vulnerability. Stewart finished 3rd after being double-teamed by the Penske team. I don't pretend to be someone who watches NASCAR from start to finish every week. But I don't think you have to be a racing expert to enjoy the Daytona 500. Especially when a low-profile guy with a degree from Purdue in vehicle structure engineering who hadn't won since 2005 gets the job done against his more-hyped competition. Not a bad way for the 50th Daytona 500 to end at all.
February 11, 2008 BRIDGEMAN EYES FUTURE OWNERSHIP When you talk to Junior Bridgeman, it's hard to tell that this former Bucks player is an incredibly successful businessman and serves on countless important boards. He talks in a low-key, almost lazy style. He smiles that aw-shucks grin that belies his impressive credentials. Bridgeman has built a food industry empire with Wendy's and Chili's. Make no mistake--this is not a lucky man. This is a hard-working and determined man who used the NBA as a launching point rather than a destination. While his retired number was rededicated over the weekend at the Bradley Center, Bridgeman went public with his desire to someday own a piece of the Bucks. Bridgeman is careful to express his respect for current owner Herb Kohl. He's not rushing the senator. But he is smart enough to realize that Kohl can't own the team forever and has no spouse or children to hand the team down to. The Bucks future in Milwaukee is tenuous. A new arena is needed in the next decade and the public has no appetite in funding it through taxes. It will take a creative team of individuals who care about keeping the Bucks in Milwaukee for the franchise to survive here. That's where Bridgeman comes in. He told me before Saturday night's game that the fans of Milwaukee and Wisconsin deserve to keep the Bucks. When the time is right, Bridgeman would like to play a part in preserving NBA basketball in Milwaukee. Bridgeman is based in Louisville, but he has special feelings for Milwaukee. He says he doesn't want to be the main owner or the out-front guy and we may be talking several years down the road. But the seed has been planted and if NBA Commissioner David Stern is as smart as I think he is, he'll pounce on this interest by Bridgeman and help make it a reality. Bridgeman's interest is an encouraging development for the future of the Bucks franchise. His dignity and understated elegance should not fool anybody. As he did on the court, he plays to win in business. That's why I see Junior Bridgeman as a key figure in the future of NBA basketball in Milwaukee. He's a good guy to have on the team. February 4, 2008 WOULD PACKERS HAVE WON? We’ll never know. The New York Giants won the Super Bowl and ruined the Patriots perfect season. Could the Packers have beaten New England? Of course it’s possible, but we’ll never know and there’s certainly plenty of room for argument on either side of the hypothetical. Tom Brady is human, especially when he’s under intense pressure from a relentless pass rush. It’s fair to wonder if the Packers would have been able to put as much pressure on the dimpled one. I give a great deal of credit to Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Just as he did against the Packers, he called a brilliant game and had his players masterfully prepared. To think that Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders would have been as creative might be stretching things. He’s known for keeping things pretty basic. Could Brett Favre have pulled off the final drive that Eli Manning did? Perhaps, but recent postseason performances have failed to inspire confidence. Favre is one of the few guys who could have done that “spin out of trouble prayer” that Manning pulled in the final drive. And Manning was even luckier on the play before that when Assante Samuel dropped a sure interception. Perfection is so fragile The Patriots were not unbeatable. The Giants proved that. They proved much more about themselves by winning road playoff games at Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay. They deserved everything they got. Give them the credit they deserve. Everything else is just meaningless speculation.
January 28, 2008 BRADY’S PLACE IN NFL HISTORY Sunday’s Super Bowl will not be nearly as interesting for people around here because the Packers won’t be playing. But there are still reasons to watch—starting with the Patriots quest for perfection. Then there’s Tom Brady. The Patriots quarterback has already won three Super Bowls. If New England beats the Giants, Brady will join Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks to win four Super Bowls. While it’s not the only measuring stick for greatness at quarterback, it’s certainly an important one. One thing that must be pointed out is that the world didn’t begin with Super Bowl I. Bart Starr may have won two Super Bowls, but he won five NFL Championships and was 9-1 in postseason play. Otto Graham won seven championships with the Cleveland Browns in the AAFC and then the NFL. Those two must be included in the any discussion of greatness at the position. Johnny Unitas may have only won one Super Bowl, but he won two other NFL Championships and called virtually all of his own plays in the process. There can never be any definitive answer to the question—who is the greatest quarterback of all time? It’s too subjective and there are too many factors at work. But, to me, postseason success is huge. The fact that Brett Favre is 12-10 in the playoffs and has won the same number of Super Bowls as Jeff Hostetler, Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson does make a difference to me. I don’t think that Tom Brady’s supporting cast has been any better than Favre’s except for maybe this year with the addition of Randy Moss. If Brady wins Sunday, he’ll tie Joe Montana in my mind as the best in the Super Bowl era. And Brady’s young enough that he could gain the top spot by winning more Super Bowls. But I will also never forget Bart Starr, the best clutch quarterback in Packers history. January 22, 2008 PACKERS SURPRISING SEASON ENDS I went 10-8 picking the winner of Packers games for the 2007 season. Basically, you could flip a coin and do just as well. I picked them to go 8-8 and they went 13-3. I picked them to lose some games they won. I picked them to win some games they lost. I picked them to win the NFC Championship Game by three touchdowns over the Giants. They lost by three points in overtime. It was a fitting end to a season in which I never really could figure this team out. So what happened Sunday at Lambeau Field? It will be thought about and discussed through the off-season. First of all, if the Packers had pulled the game out in overtime, it would have been a theft. They didn’t deserve to win the game. The 90-yard touchdown pass to Driver and a foolish Giants penalty masked the fact that the Packers failed to consistently move the ball on offense. Brett Favre was outplayed by Eli Manning, plain and simple. Like the temperature, Favre’s decision making seemed to get worse as the game went on. Mike McCarthy didn’t do Favre any favors by bailing out of the running game and not even trying to stick with Ryan Grant on the ground. The Giants were exceptionally well-coached and executed by tackling well to prevent yards after the catch and by taking the right angles to prevent Grant’s cutback runs. Defensively, Al Harris was abused by Plaxico Burress. Much of the Packers defensive swagger came from their cover corners. The Giants shrewdly went right at them. Brandon Jacobs gave Charles Woodson an early taste of New York’s physical play and the tone was set. If you go at a team’s strength and beat them, it takes a great deal of confidence away from the whole team. That’s what happened to the Packers defense. In the Lambeau Field press box, there was a moment of complete silence as Lawrence Tynes kicked the game-winner. Then, a group of New Yorkers (not sure if it was writers, scouts or front office people) erupted in loud and obnoxious cheers. Packers reporters who had been thinking about their upcoming trip to Arizona for the Super Bowl seemed to be in shock. The Packers surprised me by losing to the Giants. But they surprised me all season long. Almost always, they were pleasant surprises.
January 14, 2008 THE SHOWDOWN THAT WON'T BE For most of the last few months, Packers fans kept glancing at Dallas and comparing the Packers and the Cowboys. After the Packers lost at Texas Stadium in late November, revenge became the primary motive. The Giants? The same team the Packers whipped in Week 2 in New Jersey? Well, not exactly. Both teams have changed since September. Ryan Grant didn't even carry the ball once in the regular season meeting. The Packers are delighted to be home and should be able to take care of the Giants with relative ease. Of course, the Packers can't assume anything. Just ask the Cowboys.
January 7, 2008 HOLMGREN RETURNS—AGAIN Sometimes I have to laugh about the great loyalty of Packers fans. The Journal Sentinel asks which team will have the coaching edge in Saturday’s Packers-Seahawks playoff game and almost 58 percent say “Packers”. So let me get this straight. Mike McCarthy, in his FIRST playoff game as a head coach will have an edge over Mike Holmgren, who will be a head coach in his 24TH playoff game. The same Holmgren who took the Packers to two Super Bowls and won one and who will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton someday. Now, don’t get me wrong. The Packers will likely win on Saturday—but I highly doubt it will be because McCarthy outcoaches Holmgren. Guys like Favre, Driver, Kampman, Barnett, Woodson and Harris will likely be the bigger reasons. This is a dangerous matchup for the Packers. Of their possible opponents in the divisional round, Seattle presents the most challenges in my mind. Holmgren and Matt Hasselbeck aren’t going to be starry-eyed and gaga playing at Lambeau Field. The Seahawks defense is much better than it was when the Packers beat them in the playoffs four years ago. Having said that, Seattle’s running game is not nearly as good as it was four years ago. The Packers have a great opportunity to win on Saturday. Mike McCarthy has done a fabulous job. But that guy on the other sideline can coach a little bit too.
January 1, 2008 BUCKS SHOULD KEEP REDD As the Bucks have struggled recently, it’s been suggested that Michael Redd should be made available in a trade. The theory goes that the Bucks will not win with a shooting guard who puts up big numbers but isn’t a great defensive player. Hmm. Didn’t we hear the same thing about Ray Allen when he was shipped to Seattle in what now looks like the worst trade in franchise history? I would not trade Redd. I would attempt to bolster the pieces around him. It’s hard to replace around 25 points per game. If the Bucks had better defensive players around him, the peer pressure might help Redd more than anything. Look how Allen’s defense has improved since Kevin Garnett became his teammate in Boston. I admit that I’m biased. I like Michael Redd. But I’m also not delusional. I know he has holes in his game—how may pros don’t? I know that he may not be a true “superstar”—but again, how may of those are there in the NBA? But those who are anxious to get rid of him need to be careful what you wish for. You had better get the perfect package in return. What would that be? A “2” guard who can score just as much as Redd but also plays great defense? Let’s see, there’s maybe Kobe (on some nights) and nobody else. A package of young players and draft picks? Then you’re probably even further away from being a contender and probably won’t get any one player as talented as Redd. Michael Redd worked to get where he is. He went from second-round draft pick to bench sparkplug to starter to All-Star. He can move up another level to winner. He’s not the problem. He just needs the right help. December 17, 2007 MITCHELL REPORT: WHAT NOW? Have I read the entire Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs in major league baseball? No, life’s too short. I don’t need George Mitchell or anybody else to tell me what I lived through over the last 15 years or so. Just like you, I’ve seen young players magically expand like a balloon. Bud Selig may deserve some credit for having the study done—but he also deserves plenty of blame for being part of the original problem. Nobody wanted to look under the rock because the rock was brining in money and helping to bring baseball back after a labor problem wiped out a World Series. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” became the motto. And people like me in the media didn’t ask the right questions often enough. We were too busy parroting the company line about how wonderful the home run numbers were. I really don’t care about dishing out punishment for something that happened years ago. All I want to know is that both baseball officials and players will do everything in their power to make the game as clean as possible. Will it ever be perfect? Of course not. But baseball can certainly do a better job of testing, investigating and innovating when it comes to detection and prevention. I don’t need to read the Mitchell report. People in the baseball industry do. More importantly, they need to act December 10, 2007 HUGE WIN FOR MARQUETTE Marquette's victory over Wisconsin at the Kohl Center is worth more than state bragging rights. It's also an impressive confidence-builder for a team that could be very special. Snapping the Badgers 28-game home winning streak was a sign that the Golden Eagles have become a mature team. When you factor in that three-point threat Dan Fitzgerald wasn't available because of a wrist injury, the win is even more encouraging. Marquette's three junior guards have lived up to their billing. But when you get key contributions from Lazar Hayward, Dwight Burke, David Cubillan, Maurice Acker and Ousmane Barro--you've got a true team. They play hard and they're shooting better than most people thought they could. With Louisville off to a disappointing start, Marquette has a chance to challenge Georgetown for the BIg East title. Meanwhile, Wisconsin will be heard from in the Big Ten race in a conference that looks diminished this season.
November 30,2007 RODGERS SHOWS HE’S READY There were some obvious troubling developments in the Packers 37-27 loss at Dallas Thursday night. Brett Favre got hurt. The Packers defense couldn’t stop the Cowboys. Dallas now has the inside track for home-field-advantage in the NFC playoffs. But, amidst the disappointment springs something very encouraging: Aaron Rodgers is ready to be a starting quarterback. I’m not saying that Favre should be rushed out the door. In my book, he can play as long as he wants. But the fact that Rodgers could step in and not drive the Packers into the ditch is tremendous news for the long-term future of the Packers. Whether it’s against Oakland, in 2008, or in 2009, sooner or later Rodgers will be asked to start a game for the Packers. He showed at Texas Stadium that he’s spent all of that time on the Packers sideline wisely. He has matured into a confident and decisive leader. Rodgers performance against the Cowboys may be a footnote to this surprising 2007 season right now. But, years from now, we may look back and say that a Thursday night loss in Texas was the first real glimpse of what the Packers new era will look like. November 26, 2007 KEEP GAME IN PERSPECTIVE Thursday's Packers-Cowboys game will be fun. I'm genuinely curious to see how these two 10-1 teams match up. But, at the risk of spoiling the hype, some things need to be kept in mind. 1) Thursday's winner won't clinch home field advantage in the NFC playoffs. Strange things can happen in December. Injuries could alter the strength of either team down the stretch. The Cowboys play three of their last four games on the road. 2) If the Packers win, it doesn't mean they're automatically going to the Super Bowl. Yes, they would have a two-game lead on Dallas with only four games left. But you still have to avoid a letdown in December. And, while you certainly would rather play an NFC Championship game in Lambeau Field in January, much of the mystique of Lambeau is gone. Just remember the Falcons and Vikings playoff losses there this decade. 3) There's no guarantee the Packers and Cowboys will even meet in the playoffs. They almost certainly will be the top two seeds, but upsets happen in the playoffs. In 1996, the Packers never got a chance to slay their Cowboys demons because Carolina beat Dallas in the divisional round. 4) If the Cowboys win, it doesn't mean they're the best team in the NFC. November wins are nice--but the playoffs are what really matter. Even if the Packers lose Thursday, they could get another chance in a game that will be much more meaningful. 5) Finally, and this is sobering. Be careful what you wish for. If the Packers become the top seed in the NFC, remember that only one Super Bowl team this decade was a #1 seed (the Patriots in 2003). And in the last 10 years, home teams are just 11-9 in conference title games. Enjoy Thursday's game. But take it for what it is. Bigger games are on the horizon. November 19, 2007 PACKERS STAY HUNGRY As the Packers have rolled to their best start in 45 years, the stories of individuals reflects the story of the team. Just as Mike McCarthy has kept the Packers from getting complacent and having a "flat" game, the players who have been rewarded by contract extensions or lucrative deals have avoided getting fat and happy. Does Aaron Kampman look like a guy who's satisfied? How about Charles Woodson? Al Harris? Nick Barnett? Donald Driver? Mark Tauscher? Or the latest guy to get a new deal--Donald Lee? He seems to have gotten better since his extension became public. He scored two touchdowns in the Packers 31-17 victory over the Panthers Sunday. Ted Thompson's proactive approach to keeping core players happy was a positive outgrowth of the Javon Walker turmoil. It's working. It's fitting that the Packers are still unsatisfied. After all, who besides Brett Favre and Rob Davis knows the feeling of winning a Super Bowl? The Packers are 9-1 as they head to Detroit and Dallas for the next two games. Whether they win or lose, this team won't be satisfied. That's a great sign. November 12, 2007 BRAUN TAKES HOME HARDWARE Ryan Braun is the Brewers first rookie of the year since Pat Listach in 1992. Braun’s narrow victory over Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki will be debated because Braun’s offensive prowess trumped the all-around skills of Tulowitzki. It’s always amazing to me how people talk about the value of defense in both baseball and basketball---but offense still gets you most of the awards and money. There is no doubt that Tulowitzki had a more complete season. His defensive skills at the critical position of shortstop helped the Rockies pull off their incredible run into the playoffs. His offensive contributions were also solid. But Braun’s offensive numbers were too large to ignore. Coming up on May 25 and thrust into the pressure third spot in the batting order, Braun responded with poise and confidence. There’s no way the Brewers stay in the race until the last week without Braun’s offense. Braun’s 26 errors showed that his defense was a glaring weakness, but he still edged out Tulowitzki. While defense will be Braun’s biggest on-field challenge in 2008 and beyond, Braun’s “confidence” may be the area that needs the most work. No, he doesn’t lack for confidence. If anything, the Brewers will have to make sure that the rookie award doesn’t make Braun cockier than he already is. Flipping the bat after a late-season home run was inexcusable. Ned Yost rightfully let Braun know about it in the dugout. With his great ability, if Braun can stay humble, he could end up being a Brewers legend. November 5, 2007 7-1 PACKERS A GREAT RIDE I’m not sure that I’ve been around for a more enjoyable first half of a Packers season. I’m trying to think back to a year when there’s been this delicious combination of a team exceeding expectations and winning in dramatic fashion. I’m not saying this is the best Packers team I’ve seen. I’m just saying it’s the most fun to watch. The Lombardi teams created a culture where excellence was expected. The 1972 division championship team was 4-3 halfway through the season. The only year that comes close in my mind was 1978. The Packers were coming off a 4-10 season but started 6-1. Their victories were not nearly as exciting. Unfortunately, they faded and finished 8-7-1 and out of the playoffs. The Packers 10-6 season of 1989 had some incredible finishes, but that team started 3-4. After the breakthrough in 1992, Mike Holmgren’s teams in the ‘90’s were expected to be good. Mike Sherman always faced, in my opinion, expectations that were too high for the talent on hand. Maybe it took the bottoming-out 4-12 season of 2005 for Packers fans to appreciate winning again and not take it for granted. That history makes the 2007 Packers so enjoyable. A team that was predicted my most (including me) to be around 8-8 has started 7-1. They’ve won with a last-second field goal, an 82-yard bomb in overtime and gone undefeated on the road. There’s still half of the season to go. But it’s already been a great ride. October 30, 2007 FAVRE DOES IT AGAIN Just when we think we’ve seen it all, Brett Favre pulls another rabbit out of his Wranglers. The overtime bomb that he dropped on Denver ranks among the most memorable moments of a memorable career. It’s the first time that Favre produced a walk-off touchdown pass in overtime. Let alone from 82 yards out. The week after there was some motivating speculation that the old gunslinger couldn’t sling it deep anymore. If we haven’t figured it out by now, don’t tell Favre he can’t do something. Maybe reporters should start telling him the Packers can’t win the Super Bowl. Speaking of that, the Packers are now 6-1. I know that you can line up and say that the Broncos played without Javon Walker, Travis Henry, John Lynch and John Elway. But, 6-1 is still 6-1. Denver is still a tough place to win. Now Mike McCarthy is 3-0 on the road this season and 8-3 overall away from Lambeau. That’s hard to do and I don’t care who you’re playing. The guy can coach. The NFL rollercoaster can change quickly. Who knows what will happen Sunday in Kansas City. But I do know this: whenever Favre’s career ends, the retrospectives will include that touchdown pass in overtime Monday night in Denver. Deservedly so. October 23, 2007 YI LOOKS GOOD I don't know what you expected from Yi, but so far I've been impressed with the Bucks rookie from China. He's far from a finished product but it's easy to see glimpses of the talent that he has. Yi will get into foul trouble as a rookie. That's certainly not uncommon in the NBA as players get used to the quickness of the league and how officials call games. He will get taken advantage of defensively at times. Even though he's across the court from our radio broadcast booth, I could have sworn I saw Bucks owner Herb Kohl smile after one of Yi's baskets Saturday night. With good reason. If Yi develops into a star, the future of the Bucks franchise gets brighter on and off the court. Kohl hopes to be smiling quite often in the next few years. October 16, 2007 WHY NOT THE PACKERS? I admit that when respected Milwaukee Journal Sentinel sportswriter Bob McGinn started writing “Packers” and “Super Bowl” in the same sentence, I almost spit out the Special K in my mouth at the breakfast table. Was he out of his mind? I thought he was drinking the Kool-Aid when he picked the Packers to win the NFC North before the season started. Then a few weeks in, he was mentioning Super Bowl. Now I think Bob is perhaps the best pro football writer in the country, so I’ve had to take another look at the reasoning behind McGinn’s thoughts. You know what? He might be right. Not that the Packers are that great, but the NFC is horrible. The Packers are 5-1 and are tied with Dallas for the best record in the NFC. The only NFC teams at 4-2 are Tampa Bay and Carolina. Defending NFC champion Chicago has been a major disappointment. Seattle can’t even beat previously winless New Orleans in prime time on their home field. Philadelphia seems to be on the way down. So the question becomes—why not the Packers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl? Well, before we all start scurrying for rental cars for Arizona in early February, there are still 10 weeks left in the regular season. As plenty of other teams have found out, injuries can wreck your season. The Packers also have six games left on the road. Even though Denver and Kansas City are not in peak form, those are still two difficult places to play. The games at Detroit and at Dallas may very well define whether the Packers are a top seed or not. The Cowboys contest could be a preview of the NFC Championship Game. The Packers would much rather play the Cowboys in January at Lambeau instead of Texas Stadium. The season is not even half-over. But you have to wonder---running game or not—why not the Packers? October 8, 2007 NO MARGIN FOR ERROR FOR PACKERS Sunday night’s disappointing loss for the Packers shows that they have little room for error. As Brett Favre candidly admitted after the loss to the Bears, there’s no way the Packers can win when they have five turnovers and commit several costly penalties. The win for Chicago was huge. If they had lost to drop to 1-4 and four games behind the Packers, the Bears would have been dead—at least for winning the NFC North. Now, they’re very much alive. In some ways, the defeat may come at a good time for the Packers. The expectations were getting a bit out of hand. Yes, this is good team that is making progress. This is not a great team, not even close. There were some positive signs in the running game, but Mike McCarthy may have picked the wrong time to stubbornly commit to it. The Packers second-half ground struggles allowed the Bears to get back into the game. Brett Favre has been almost perfect this season, but you knew that couldn’t last forever. The interception to Brian Urlacher was an ill-advised play, something that Favre has minimized this season. The two fumbles by James Jones were killers when it looked like the Packers could have put the Bears on the ropes. And the Packers defense showed that it is solid, but not dominant or invincible. Sunday’s visit to Lambeau from the Redskins will be another huge test for the Packers. Washington could be a sleeper team in the NFC and its defense strangled the Lions. The Packers will either bounce back and improve to 5-1 or stagger into the bye with a 4-2 record and back-to-back losses. October 1, 2007 THIS IS THE TIME TO REMEMBER The Packers are 4-0. The Badgers are 5-0 and ranked 5th in the country. The Brewers had their first winning season since 1992. It's not one of my favorite Billy Joel songs but "this is the time to remember." Brett Favre is playing like an MVP, more than a decade after his three-peat. He is carrying the Packers on his shoulders and it's amazing to watch. He could be on his tractor and instead he's mowing down opponents with savvy and precision. He's playing better than he has in years. I don't know how long this roll can continue, but it's fun to watch while it lasts. It's a tribute to Favre that he got the touchdown pass record during a victory in which he played superbly. I don't want to hear any complaining about the Badgers being 5-0. I'm not saying they're perfect--but they are undefeated. That's not easy. Just ask Oklahoma and Florida, among others. It's not about whether the Badgers will run the table or not--they probably won't. But Wisconsin fans should savor the wins instead of picking them apart. If they should win out, the Badgers are now well-positioned to play for the national title. The Brewers took a major step forward--but it was still disappointing that they didn't make the playoffs. It's not so much that they missed the postseason for the 25th straight year--it's how they did it. The Brewers lost the division just as much as the Cubs won it. The Brewers fell short in large part because they didn't manage or play well under the extreme pressure of the season's final days. You think there was pressure this year? Just wait until 2008. Excuses won't cut it anymore. But, for now, this is the time to remember for Wisconsin sports.
PACKERS RISE AS BREWERS FALL
September 18, 2007 BREWERS A SUCCESS—PLAYOFFS OR NOT I still think the Brewers are going to win the National League Central. I’ve been singing that tune since Spring Training. But even if they don’t, this season has been a major step forward for the organization. The young talent has been exposed to the true pressure of a division race for the first time at the major league level. That experience will serve them well over the rest of their careers. It’s truly amazing that three rookies have been major parts of the Brewers success. Ryan Braun will be the National League Rookie of the Year. Pitchers Yovani Gallardo and Carlos Villanueva have more than picked up the slack in the starting rotation from veterans Chris Capuano and Claudio Vargas. The poise of the rookies is extraordinary. It’s counterintuitive that youth and inexperience should be so good with so much at stake. As for Ned Yost, for all of the shots he’s taken (most of them unfair in my opinion), how about also admitting when he does something right? Like putting longtime minor leaguer Joe Dillon in at the right time and getting the hot Gabe Gross in the lineup even at the expense of bigger-name veterans Geoff Jenkins and Bill Hall. Yost is going with the hot bats. Yost has also gone to Francisco Cordero for 4-out saves when necessary. Whatever it takes. Prince Fielder is the MVP no matter what the New York media may think. He’s put together a season for the Milwaukee record books, Braves and Brewers included. So as we go into these final days of an entertaining regular season ride, know that the Brewers will be the better off for this season, whether they reach the postseason or not. September 10, 2007 PACKERS REVEAL 2007 FORMULA The Packers season-opening victory over the Eagles should tell fans plenty about this season. The defense is very good. The special teams are much improved. And the offense is not going to light up the scoreboard. The only thing that surprised me was how inept the Eagles were on special teams. Quite possibly the worst return decisions I’ve ever seen all rolled into one game. I’m not calling the win a gift—but nobody can dispute that the Eagles at least had the wrapping paper out. The Packers have every right to feel good about this win. This is who they are. This is how Ted Thompson has built them. Get used to close games that probably won’t feature much scoring. Nobody should care about any of that as long as the Packers win. The offense will have to get better. You would think that Greg Jennings and Vernand Morency will help once their healthy enough to play. But there has to be some concern about the offensive line. Brett Favre was sacked four times and hit 11. All of that with the Eagles not even having to blitz all that much. Favre showed he’s still capable of the incredible ad-lib play. But he can’t do anything from his back. Still, when you haven’t been 1-0 since 2002, enjoy it!
SEPTEMBER IS HERE This is a great month for sports around here. Think about all of the great things going on. The Brewers are playing meaningful games in a division race. Yes, it’s frustrating to watch them routinely cough up big leads, but at least we care again. After so many years of the Brewers “playing out the string”, I’m enjoying this ride, no matter how it turns out. I still think they’re going to win the division. I’m staying on the bandwagon. I may be proven stupid, but I’m loyal. The Packers are getting ready to open their season and I believe they have a playoff defense. I’m not sure they have a playoff team. Until I’m shown otherwise, the running game could range anywhere from a jumbled committee to an outright disaster. That’s too important of an area to go in with so many question marks. I think the Packers will be a better team than last year, but I’m still drawn to 8-8 like some magnetic force. The Badgers opened their season with a victory and Wisconsin has a chance to win the Big Ten and get to a BCS bowl. I came away from the Washington State game with no questions about Tyler Donovan but with several about the defense. We’ll see how much improvement they can make through the season. High school fall sports also provide plenty of excitement and local flavor at this time of year. And Bucks training camp is less than a month away. Give credit to Senator Kohl for getting the Yi deal done with plenty of time to spare. I kept seeing national headlines saying “Bucks finally sign Yi.” Finally? They got it done much sooner than I expected. Enjoy September and Time Warner Sports! August 20, 2007 BREWERS FALL, PACKERS ROLL Last weekend saw contrasting stories in Wisconsin sports. The Brewers capped an ugly 1-5 homestand by coughing up a 5-0 lead and losing to the Reds. The Brewers have now played their way out of first place, falling behind the Cubs. Meanwhile, the Packers provided their always-optimistic fan base with plenty of fodder with a 48-13 preseason whipping of Seattle. While many fans have already made the easy jump of bandwagons, I would suggest that you be careful leaping. As the Brewers embark on a 9-game road trip to Arizona, San Francisco and Chicago, even most of their own fans are leaving them for dead in the NL Central. Considering the Brewers futility on the road this season, that’s easy to understand. The Brewers need Ben Sheets back and quickly. But he can’t be the savior by himself. The problems the Brewers are experiencing run much deeper than just one injured pitcher. I may have my life preserver in my hands but I’m not ready to bail out just yet. The Packers showed many good signs on Saturday against Seattle. The first-team offense got things going. The defense made big plays and even scored two touchdowns. And the special teams showed a threat in Will Blackmon. Perspective is always needed. Not only was this a preseason game, but could Mike Holmgren’s Seahawks have been any less interested in competing? When you shut down your starting quarterback and both of your starting offensive tackles, it’s usually a pretty good sign that the intensity meter is not going to cranked up high. Don’t get me wrong. I totally understand Mike McCarthy’s desire to build some confidence and positive feelings in his team. They’ll need all of that to put together a solid start. I like much of what I see. But I also know that the “fading” Brewers are still closer to a playoff berth right now than the Packers are after winning two preseason games that don’t count. August 14, 2007 FIRST PACKERS IMPRESSIONS It’s always dangerous to read too much into an NFL preseason game, especially the first one. But danger is what this blog is all about. I think the first-team offense has some work to do. A first down would be nice. Bubba Franks may be running out of time in a Packers uniform. His regression is baffling. Brandon Jackson looked okay. You could make a case that former Packer Najeh Davenport was the best running back on the field. I like wide receiver James Jones. He will contribute as a rookie. Cullen Jenkins was terrific. Let’s hope that’s a sign that his new contract will not make him complacent. Safety Atari Bigby may have impressed the coaches, but I’m sure they’ve told him you have to tackle and not nudge in the NFL. Mason Crosby is giving Dave Rayner everything he can handle in the kicking derby. Rayner should know by now that his incumbent status means little. 52-yard field goals speak loudly. Aaron Rodgers continues to show improvement. He should be fantastic by the time Brett Favre retires. Probably in 2016.
August 7, 2007 BREWERS AND CUBS—WHO WILL WIN? With just under 50 games left, the reality of a long major league baseball season is clear. Emotions have been running high in the dugout, on the field, and in the stands at Miller Park. But with the Brewers and Cubs locked a tight race that may go down to the last day, the old “It’s a marathon and not a sprint” line has never been more accurate. Take a deep breath. Don’t b |