A severe outbreak of March Madness has been noted by the Center for Disease Control.
Offices and work places all across America grind to a halt this week. Especially so Thursday and Friday -- when a lot of basketball fans either take the days off legitimately OR call in sick.
This a great time of year. You have people filling out brackets who are total fanatics. They study lineups, matchups and stats with more intensity than they do their own tax forms. And you have people filling out brackets who do so based on team colors or mascots.
The latter group seems to win more often than not.
The Big Ten has the most teams in the tourney with eight (Wisconsin, Michigan State, Purdue, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State and Maryland), while the SEC and ACC both have seven -- tho the ACC has three of the four number one seeds in Duke, North Carolina and Virginia.
Wisconsin's Badgers stumble into the tourney, having lost three of their final nine and misplaced their offense. Wisconsin did play a tough schedule, and was 7-8 against tournament teams. If the Badgers can somehow find their offense again, giving some scoring help to senior Ethan Happ, they should reach the Sweet Sixteen. BUT the Badger chances drop off if Happ is at the foul line. The hack-a-Happ strategy pays off, so Coach Greg Gard has to hope that some of his young Badgers can step up.
Best nickname in the tournament? The University of California-Irvine Anteaters. I rank that name right up there with the Banana Slugs of UC-Santa Cruz.
My Final Four? Depends on which of my brackets you let me post! (Hey, I only did four). But like most of the country, I think Duke will win the National Championship.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Sunday, March 17, 2019
State Championships Run In This Wisconsin Family
The stretch between state champions in the Rohde family spans 41 years. Still, a pair of state titles in one family is pretty cool. One came on the Kohl Center court, the other at the Field House.
When Brookfield Central downed Sun Prairie Saturday, 69-52, to win the D-1 title, one of the contributors was a freshman guard named Andrew Rohde. He hit a three-point basket in the win, and scored 9 points in the 61-47 semi-final win over Neenah.
The irony here is that, 41 years ago, his dad, Kevin, was a member of the Neenah Rocket team that finished the year 26-0 with a 58-49 win over Beloit Memorial.
They're not the first father-son pairing to play on state champs, for sure, but still it's a rare instance.
Kevin played for legendary coach Ron Einerson, who took 10 Neenah teams to state and won titles in 1975 and 1978 on the way to a 556-235 career record.
That same year the Neenah girls team finished 25-1, winning the state title by beating Beloit 49-38. Coach Jean Kessler took six Neenah teams to state, finishing runner-up twice on her way to a 176-47 career record.
I was covering sports in the Fox Valley then, and Kevin was a three-sport standout (football-basketball-baseball). You might even count that as four, as he was a pretty solid soccer player before getting his kicks at football. His success there led to a two-year stint as kicker for the Wisconsin Badgers (1982 & 1983). His best season was '83, when he hit 45 of 48 extra points and six of nine field goals to finish with 63 points. He ended his Badger career with 86 points, successful on 95.2% of his extra points and 64.3% on field goals.
Still, Andrew can talk smack at the dinner table. He scored 12 points in a state tournament and Dad was shut out.
And since a pair of sophomores combined for 30 of Brookfield Central's points in the championship game, the younger Rohde -- and his family -- just might make regular trips to Madison.
When Brookfield Central downed Sun Prairie Saturday, 69-52, to win the D-1 title, one of the contributors was a freshman guard named Andrew Rohde. He hit a three-point basket in the win, and scored 9 points in the 61-47 semi-final win over Neenah.
The irony here is that, 41 years ago, his dad, Kevin, was a member of the Neenah Rocket team that finished the year 26-0 with a 58-49 win over Beloit Memorial.
They're not the first father-son pairing to play on state champs, for sure, but still it's a rare instance.
Kevin played for legendary coach Ron Einerson, who took 10 Neenah teams to state and won titles in 1975 and 1978 on the way to a 556-235 career record.
That same year the Neenah girls team finished 25-1, winning the state title by beating Beloit 49-38. Coach Jean Kessler took six Neenah teams to state, finishing runner-up twice on her way to a 176-47 career record.
I was covering sports in the Fox Valley then, and Kevin was a three-sport standout (football-basketball-baseball). You might even count that as four, as he was a pretty solid soccer player before getting his kicks at football. His success there led to a two-year stint as kicker for the Wisconsin Badgers (1982 & 1983). His best season was '83, when he hit 45 of 48 extra points and six of nine field goals to finish with 63 points. He ended his Badger career with 86 points, successful on 95.2% of his extra points and 64.3% on field goals.
Still, Andrew can talk smack at the dinner table. He scored 12 points in a state tournament and Dad was shut out.
And since a pair of sophomores combined for 30 of Brookfield Central's points in the championship game, the younger Rohde -- and his family -- just might make regular trips to Madison.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
OMG! Free Agency Feeding Frenzy
Holy Cow! What's come over the Green Bay Packers? For painful year after painful year, general manager Ted Thompson pretty much ignored the NFL's free agent market, preferring to stick to a draft-and-develop system that kept the Packers hovering around the NFL's youngest squads.
Suddenly, in a matter of hours, GM Brian Gutekunst made more quality moves -- and guys who are experienced but still in the prime of their careers -- to improve the team than Thompson ever did.
Need help shoring up Mike Pettine's defense? Here come the Smith Brothers: edge rushers Za'Darius Smith (Baltimore Ravens) and Preston Smith (Washington Redskins). Adding to the defensive backfield is safety Adrian Amos (Chicago Bears), while helping to plug the offensive line will be Billy Turner (Denver Broncos).
What does this mean to the upcoming NFL draft? That the can address the tight end and offensive tackle positions early on in the draft, and still pick up quality in the D-Line and defensive backfield.
Suddenly, Gutekunst can look at giving first-year head coach Matt LaFleur and veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers more weapons, protection and flexibility on offense.
Looks like an early win for Green Bay.
can still devote a top pick to TE
Suddenly, in a matter of hours, GM Brian Gutekunst made more quality moves -- and guys who are experienced but still in the prime of their careers -- to improve the team than Thompson ever did.
Need help shoring up Mike Pettine's defense? Here come the Smith Brothers: edge rushers Za'Darius Smith (Baltimore Ravens) and Preston Smith (Washington Redskins). Adding to the defensive backfield is safety Adrian Amos (Chicago Bears), while helping to plug the offensive line will be Billy Turner (Denver Broncos).
What does this mean to the upcoming NFL draft? That the can address the tight end and offensive tackle positions early on in the draft, and still pick up quality in the D-Line and defensive backfield.
Suddenly, Gutekunst can look at giving first-year head coach Matt LaFleur and veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers more weapons, protection and flexibility on offense.
Looks like an early win for Green Bay.
can still devote a top pick to TE
Monday, March 11, 2019
Hey Alex -- Be Careful at Florida State!
Using the transfer portal, quarterback Alex Hornibrook left the Wisconsin Badgers and landed a spot with the Florida State Seminoles.
Sounds like a good gig, right? He's got a year of eligibility (graduating with a business degree in May) and he will most certainly be the most experienced player in the QB room, with a 26-6 record as a Badger.
However, my good friend Charlie -- a long-time 'Noles fan -- reports that Hornibrook just might get killed at Florida State. Charlie notes that their offensive line is terrible, their quarterbacks last year spent more time on their backs than standing, and their running backs seldom got to the line before being tackled.
With Hornibrook's concussion history, that might be a bad combination. But here's hoping it works out for the best for all involved.
Sounds like a good gig, right? He's got a year of eligibility (graduating with a business degree in May) and he will most certainly be the most experienced player in the QB room, with a 26-6 record as a Badger.
However, my good friend Charlie -- a long-time 'Noles fan -- reports that Hornibrook just might get killed at Florida State. Charlie notes that their offensive line is terrible, their quarterbacks last year spent more time on their backs than standing, and their running backs seldom got to the line before being tackled.
With Hornibrook's concussion history, that might be a bad combination. But here's hoping it works out for the best for all involved.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Thank You, Alex Hornibrook
I think Wisconsin Badger fans owe quarterback Alex Hornibrook a big thank you for his UW career. I'm sure there are those that disagree.
Hornibrook, plagued by concussion issues last season, graduates in May. He still has a year of eligibility, and has decided to enter the transfer portal and play his final season elsewhere.
There are those critics who are cheering, but they forget that Hornibrook had a 26-6 career record, including 20-4 in the Big Ten. He completed 426 of 704 passes (60.51%) for 5,438 yards with 47 touchdowns and 33 interceptions.
And who can forget his electric Orange Bowl game on Dec. 31, 2017 -- earning game MVP honors by hitting 23 of 34 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns, beating a very, very good University of Miami defense, 34-24.
BUT, today's society takes a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately approach. After Hornibrook struggled in his injury-plagued season, I can see the logic.
It might well be that Hornibrook took a look around the rest of the Badger roster, where Jack Coan, Danny Vanden Boom, Chase Wolf and highly touted incoming freshman Graham Mertz will have battled him for the position (and thought about his concussions) and said enough is enough.
Keep in mind, there are many who feel that stellar quarterback play is the only thing keeping Wisconsin out of the national title picture. The Badgers are traditionally built around a strong running game, a great offensive line and a better-than-average defense. Big Red will NEVER be a throw-first offense, so attracting that upper tier quarterback (Mertz appears to be the exception) won't happen.
Thank you, Alex, for your efforts on the field and a classy exit from UW. Best of luck down the road!
Hornibrook, plagued by concussion issues last season, graduates in May. He still has a year of eligibility, and has decided to enter the transfer portal and play his final season elsewhere.
There are those critics who are cheering, but they forget that Hornibrook had a 26-6 career record, including 20-4 in the Big Ten. He completed 426 of 704 passes (60.51%) for 5,438 yards with 47 touchdowns and 33 interceptions.
And who can forget his electric Orange Bowl game on Dec. 31, 2017 -- earning game MVP honors by hitting 23 of 34 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns, beating a very, very good University of Miami defense, 34-24.
BUT, today's society takes a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately approach. After Hornibrook struggled in his injury-plagued season, I can see the logic.
It might well be that Hornibrook took a look around the rest of the Badger roster, where Jack Coan, Danny Vanden Boom, Chase Wolf and highly touted incoming freshman Graham Mertz will have battled him for the position (and thought about his concussions) and said enough is enough.
Keep in mind, there are many who feel that stellar quarterback play is the only thing keeping Wisconsin out of the national title picture. The Badgers are traditionally built around a strong running game, a great offensive line and a better-than-average defense. Big Red will NEVER be a throw-first offense, so attracting that upper tier quarterback (Mertz appears to be the exception) won't happen.
Thank you, Alex, for your efforts on the field and a classy exit from UW. Best of luck down the road!
Friday, March 1, 2019
Manziel Banned In Canada
This word might have passed under the radar this week -- the Canadian Football League has effectively banned quarterback Johnny Manziel.
A former Heisman Trophy winner, and a first-round selection in the National Football League, Manziel had started his CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was then shipped to the Montreal Alouettes. The Alouettes announced this past Wednesday that they had been instructed by the league to terminate Manziel's contract because he "contravened the agreement which made him eligible to play in the league."
CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie informed the rest of the CFL teams that his office would not approve a Manziel contract.
Hey, you gotta be pretty poor to get tossed out of the CFL. So now that he's failed to last in two professional leagues, will his third strike be far behind? The upstart Alliance of American Football league, which is three weeks into it's first season, is suddenly salivating over the prospect of getting Manziel.
Well, that is one way to get media attention and maybe put fannies in the stands.
A former Heisman Trophy winner, and a first-round selection in the National Football League, Manziel had started his CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was then shipped to the Montreal Alouettes. The Alouettes announced this past Wednesday that they had been instructed by the league to terminate Manziel's contract because he "contravened the agreement which made him eligible to play in the league."
CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie informed the rest of the CFL teams that his office would not approve a Manziel contract.
Hey, you gotta be pretty poor to get tossed out of the CFL. So now that he's failed to last in two professional leagues, will his third strike be far behind? The upstart Alliance of American Football league, which is three weeks into it's first season, is suddenly salivating over the prospect of getting Manziel.
Well, that is one way to get media attention and maybe put fannies in the stands.
Monday, February 18, 2019
Moose Is Loose In Milwaukee
Welcome back, Mike Moustakas!
The free agent third baseman will be back in a Milwaukee Brewer uniform for 2019, with the club negotiating for an option on 2020.
This is good news for Milwaukee fans. Moustakas was an excellent pickup by the Brewers last July, acquiring him from the Kansas City Royals. With Milwaukee, he batted .256 with eight home runs, 33 RBI and a .767 OPS in 54 regular season games. He batted .364 in the three-game sweep of Colorado before cooling off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
It seems that Moose is also a good clubhouse guy, adding to a solid team chemistry.
Lost in this, though, might be the sacrifice of Travis Shaw. Though a third baseman by trade, one who had never played anywhere else in the majors, Shaw made the move across the diamond to second base.
It's often said that "there is no 'I' in team". And with Shaw, this is clear. Here's a veteran who could have balked -- many players in the past have said no way to a change of positions. Yet, for the good of the TEAM, Shaw stepped up. He played the position pretty well last year, and I expect that will continue this spring as he spends more time at second.
This gives Manager Craig Counsel a little more flexibility with his lineup AND lets 22-year-old Keston Hiura more time to season in the minors. Hiura is thought to be the second baseman of the future for the Brewers. Certainly doesn't hurt him, or the Brewers, to have a little more seasoning.
A win-win for Moustakas, Shaw and the Brewers.
The free agent third baseman will be back in a Milwaukee Brewer uniform for 2019, with the club negotiating for an option on 2020.
This is good news for Milwaukee fans. Moustakas was an excellent pickup by the Brewers last July, acquiring him from the Kansas City Royals. With Milwaukee, he batted .256 with eight home runs, 33 RBI and a .767 OPS in 54 regular season games. He batted .364 in the three-game sweep of Colorado before cooling off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
It seems that Moose is also a good clubhouse guy, adding to a solid team chemistry.
Lost in this, though, might be the sacrifice of Travis Shaw. Though a third baseman by trade, one who had never played anywhere else in the majors, Shaw made the move across the diamond to second base.
It's often said that "there is no 'I' in team". And with Shaw, this is clear. Here's a veteran who could have balked -- many players in the past have said no way to a change of positions. Yet, for the good of the TEAM, Shaw stepped up. He played the position pretty well last year, and I expect that will continue this spring as he spends more time at second.
This gives Manager Craig Counsel a little more flexibility with his lineup AND lets 22-year-old Keston Hiura more time to season in the minors. Hiura is thought to be the second baseman of the future for the Brewers. Certainly doesn't hurt him, or the Brewers, to have a little more seasoning.
A win-win for Moustakas, Shaw and the Brewers.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Has Baseball Finally Figured It Out?
Spring training began this week with pitchers and catchers reporting in Arizona and Florida.
Among the missing are two of the bigger names in free agency -- OF Bryce Harper and SS Manny Machado, who are both represented by agent Scott Boras (NOT the most popular guy with team owners). Also absent is 3B Mike Moustakas, who could still re-up with the Milwaukee Brewers, who traded for him during their amazing 2018 stretch run.
These are highly productive every-day ballplayers without a job as spring training begins. Granted, they probably need less time to get season-ready than pitchers. But the fact that they are still on the open market is truly amazing.
Perhaps the Powers That Be in Baseball have finally figured out that long-term, big-money contracts are not the way to go. Perhaps the days of the 10-year deal (Alex Rodriquez, Albert Pujols) might be over. The worst of these deals was Pujols, who the California Angels signed in 2012 (at age 32) to a 10-year deal worth $240 million. This albatross won't expire until 2022, and the 39-year-old Pujols is still owed $87 million.
Ouch!
I think you'll see more short-term contacts, contracts in the two-to-four year range, with club and player options after a couple years. Better for teams in the long run, and players will always get paid.
Good example of this? The one-year deal the Brewers signed catcher Yasmani Grandal to. More club-friendly, and if he has a stellar season, then Grandal will make more on his next contract.
Among the missing are two of the bigger names in free agency -- OF Bryce Harper and SS Manny Machado, who are both represented by agent Scott Boras (NOT the most popular guy with team owners). Also absent is 3B Mike Moustakas, who could still re-up with the Milwaukee Brewers, who traded for him during their amazing 2018 stretch run.
These are highly productive every-day ballplayers without a job as spring training begins. Granted, they probably need less time to get season-ready than pitchers. But the fact that they are still on the open market is truly amazing.
Perhaps the Powers That Be in Baseball have finally figured out that long-term, big-money contracts are not the way to go. Perhaps the days of the 10-year deal (Alex Rodriquez, Albert Pujols) might be over. The worst of these deals was Pujols, who the California Angels signed in 2012 (at age 32) to a 10-year deal worth $240 million. This albatross won't expire until 2022, and the 39-year-old Pujols is still owed $87 million.
Ouch!
I think you'll see more short-term contacts, contracts in the two-to-four year range, with club and player options after a couple years. Better for teams in the long run, and players will always get paid.
Good example of this? The one-year deal the Brewers signed catcher Yasmani Grandal to. More club-friendly, and if he has a stellar season, then Grandal will make more on his next contract.
Friday, February 8, 2019
NFL Combine Important Shopping Stop For Packers
For second-year General Manager Brian Gutekunst, the NFL Combine set for Feb. 26-March 4 will be an important one.
Adding to the defensive cupboard for DC Mike Pettine, giving quarterback Aaron Rodgers a few extra weapons, adding to the overall quality speed and depth of Coach Matt LaFleur's first the team. All are keys for Gutenkunst and his scouts.
The Packers have six picks in the first four rounds, two in the first round -- 12th and 30th. That means six of the top 128 players -- three of the top 75 -- in the country will be available. Every pick could be a difference-maker.
Here's a name you may want to track heading into the combine and the draft. Louisiana Tech's Jaylon Ferguson, three-time All-Conference USA pick with more career sacks and tackles for loss to his credit than any other active FBS player. A fifth-year senior from Saint Francisville, LA, the 6-5, 262 pound edge rusher finished his Louisiana Tech career with 45 sacks, thanks to 17.5 in his final season. He broke the career record of 42.5 set by Terrell Suggs of Arizona State University.
Any Packer fan who watched the team struggle defensively all season knows the team needs some speed coming off the edge. Ferguson will give Green Bay that speed. And I wouldn't be surprised if another early pick went with a speedy outside linebacker.
Adding to the defensive cupboard for DC Mike Pettine, giving quarterback Aaron Rodgers a few extra weapons, adding to the overall quality speed and depth of Coach Matt LaFleur's first the team. All are keys for Gutenkunst and his scouts.
The Packers have six picks in the first four rounds, two in the first round -- 12th and 30th. That means six of the top 128 players -- three of the top 75 -- in the country will be available. Every pick could be a difference-maker.
Here's a name you may want to track heading into the combine and the draft. Louisiana Tech's Jaylon Ferguson, three-time All-Conference USA pick with more career sacks and tackles for loss to his credit than any other active FBS player. A fifth-year senior from Saint Francisville, LA, the 6-5, 262 pound edge rusher finished his Louisiana Tech career with 45 sacks, thanks to 17.5 in his final season. He broke the career record of 42.5 set by Terrell Suggs of Arizona State University.
Any Packer fan who watched the team struggle defensively all season knows the team needs some speed coming off the edge. Ferguson will give Green Bay that speed. And I wouldn't be surprised if another early pick went with a speedy outside linebacker.
Monday, February 4, 2019
Give The Devil His Due
With the New England Patriots winning Super Bowl LIII yesterday, I think all the credit goes not to quarterback Tom Brady, but to Head Coach Bill Belichick.
His defensive schemes, thanks to coordinator Brian Flores, pretty much contained the high-scoring Los Angeles Rams.
Defense wins championships, and on a day when the Rams' defense was going toe-to-toe with the Pats and keeping Brady in check, New England's job on LA was amazing. Some of us do enjoy defensive football. And the game was entertaining in that respect. Had the Rams shown any sort of offense, they had a chance to win.
For Belichick, that's six championships in 18 years. So I'll give the devil his due.
His defensive schemes, thanks to coordinator Brian Flores, pretty much contained the high-scoring Los Angeles Rams.
Defense wins championships, and on a day when the Rams' defense was going toe-to-toe with the Pats and keeping Brady in check, New England's job on LA was amazing. Some of us do enjoy defensive football. And the game was entertaining in that respect. Had the Rams shown any sort of offense, they had a chance to win.
For Belichick, that's six championships in 18 years. So I'll give the devil his due.
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