Well, they did it. Took care of business in A-T-L and now have a chance to close out the series at home. Do the Hawks Fear the Deer now?
Even the team mascot is getting in the act – check out Bango intimidating the opponent with a death-defying dunk getting mad-style hits on YouTube . . . and a rather entertaining skit that calls to mind Andy Samberg’s SNL “Punched” bit.
Can I just say that I love the attitude the Bucks are rolling out? Let the excitement continue!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Bogut-less Bucks Bounce Back
The beginning of the end or the start of something good? After Saturday’s drubbing of the Hawks, the Milwaukee Bucks could easily lose Monday night and bow of the playoffs in ATL with only one win. Such is how the NBA playoffs play out sometimes. On the other hand, this could be the momentum and confidence boost the underdog and short-handed (hoofed?) Bucks need.
Thus far in their series with Atlanta, the Bucks
have been nothing to fear. The Hawks are preying upon the Bucks’ weaknesses and caging their strengths. Last night – with the help of a crowd hungry for Hawk meat (Josh Smith was on special) – the Bucks bound free and dominated the visitors. The Hawks looked more like fish out of water than wild birds of prey.
(I could go all day with these animal metaphors)
Monday night will tell us whether the Bucks found their rhythm or if the Hawks were perhaps just fatigued after flying north.
Let’s hope it’s the former and, come Game 5, the Hawks will Fear the Deer.
Thus far in their series with Atlanta, the Bucks
have been nothing to fear. The Hawks are preying upon the Bucks’ weaknesses and caging their strengths. Last night – with the help of a crowd hungry for Hawk meat (Josh Smith was on special) – the Bucks bound free and dominated the visitors. The Hawks looked more like fish out of water than wild birds of prey.(I could go all day with these animal metaphors)
Monday night will tell us whether the Bucks found their rhythm or if the Hawks were perhaps just fatigued after flying north.
Let’s hope it’s the former and, come Game 5, the Hawks will Fear the Deer.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Well Done, NCAA
Closing the loop on an earlier post, I’m pleased to report on the NCAA expanding the Men’s Basketball tournament from 65 to . . . 68 teams. Whew! Why expand at all? Gives major conferences more bids, while still allowing a decent number of mid-majors to have a shot (way to represent, Butler).
I’m also thrilled that CBS is locked in to carry the tourney for at least the next 14 years (in a multi-billion-yes, I said billion-dollar deal). Call me sentimental but I always come close to shedding a tear every time I hear that theme music (“do do do do do doooo do doooo. . .” Ahhh).
News of expansion isn’t as prevalent as it would be any other non-NFL Draft night of the year. An initial report from ESPN gives us the basics.
I’m also thrilled that CBS is locked in to carry the tourney for at least the next 14 years (in a multi-billion-yes, I said billion-dollar deal). Call me sentimental but I always come close to shedding a tear every time I hear that theme music (“do do do do do doooo do doooo. . .” Ahhh).
News of expansion isn’t as prevalent as it would be any other non-NFL Draft night of the year. An initial report from ESPN gives us the basics.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Brewers Trends a Downer
So Brewers fans, which downer should we talk about – the Brewers’ track record on nationally televised games, or how its stars fare following landing a huge contract? Let’s start by clarifying that expectations for the Crew this year vary; some think the team’s holes from last year have been filled, while others think there are still too many areas of concern for the team to make the playoffs.
Regardless of predictions for the year, I bet all Brewers fans were stoked on Opening Day, high on the hopes that a fresh season brings. Starting the series against three post season favorites – Rockies, Cardinals and Cubs – was daunting, but also an opportunity to build confidence early and get some qualities wins on the record, especially against division rivals.
And heck, to do it on Fox Saturday baseball on a gorgeous afternoon at Miller Park would be . . . a dream. Just like it was last year. Aaaand the year before that. The Brewers don’t have many chances to show the country its talent – mostly because there wasn’t much of that recently. But during the past three years or so, when the Attanasio era was in full swing with Braun, Fielder and Co., the Brewers are woeful in nationally televised games. Oh, well, maybe it’s better to fly under the radar, right? We’ll get back to that in a bit.
Another disconcerting trend continued this weekend is the flop of a big-money signing. First there was Derek Turnbow, a little-known closer who, after a grand coming out party in 2005 and landed a three-year $6.5 million contract . . . only to struggle following his All-Star Game appearance in 2006 until being sent to the minors in ’08. Then the Crew landed Jeff Suppan, who at the time seemed to solidify the pitching ranks instantly. After the gigantic four-year, $42 million deal was signed, Soup never really blossomed into the all-star the team and its fans expected.
Certainly, one outing does not a season make. In the same way, the first weekend of the year won’t determine its direction for any team. Sunday night, in fact, the Brewers eked out a close win against the Cards on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Hopefully the Crew can build some consistency and momentum during the season. And hopefully Milwaukee – team and fans included – can sustain the excitement we felt leading up to Opening Day through September to buy some quality wins . . . and not bust in October.
Regardless of predictions for the year, I bet all Brewers fans were stoked on Opening Day, high on the hopes that a fresh season brings. Starting the series against three post season favorites – Rockies, Cardinals and Cubs – was daunting, but also an opportunity to build confidence early and get some qualities wins on the record, especially against division rivals.
And heck, to do it on Fox Saturday baseball on a gorgeous afternoon at Miller Park would be . . . a dream. Just like it was last year. Aaaand the year before that. The Brewers don’t have many chances to show the country its talent – mostly because there wasn’t much of that recently. But during the past three years or so, when the Attanasio era was in full swing with Braun, Fielder and Co., the Brewers are woeful in nationally televised games. Oh, well, maybe it’s better to fly under the radar, right? We’ll get back to that in a bit.
Another disconcerting trend continued this weekend is the flop of a big-money signing. First there was Derek Turnbow, a little-known closer who, after a grand coming out party in 2005 and landed a three-year $6.5 million contract . . . only to struggle following his All-Star Game appearance in 2006 until being sent to the minors in ’08. Then the Crew landed Jeff Suppan, who at the time seemed to solidify the pitching ranks instantly. After the gigantic four-year, $42 million deal was signed, Soup never really blossomed into the all-star the team and its fans expected.
Certainly, one outing does not a season make. In the same way, the first weekend of the year won’t determine its direction for any team. Sunday night, in fact, the Brewers eked out a close win against the Cards on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Hopefully the Crew can build some consistency and momentum during the season. And hopefully Milwaukee – team and fans included – can sustain the excitement we felt leading up to Opening Day through September to buy some quality wins . . . and not bust in October.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
New Beginnings
Know the feeling of that first truly spring-like day of the year? When the warm sun and soft breeze hit your skin as you walk outside and smell spring in the air. Ahhh. Doesn’t that feel great? Springtime is like a natural energy boost. It is a time of rejuvenation, rebirth and hope. We have a chance to forget the hardship and shake the doldrums of winter and begin anew.
This year, more so than in years past, I feel this sense of renewal transcend into the world of sports. Donovan gets a chance to reinvent himself in Washington. Four NBA teams at or near the bottom of their division last season in this year’s playoffs. And Tiger Woods . . . oh, Tiger, Tiger. . .
What a coincidence that Tiger is making his return (it remains to be seen how triumphant it is) to golf in the Master’s – which, with March Madness and Opening Day, is one of the truest signs of spring in the sporting world. Tiger certainly has more than bad feelings to shake following his fall . . . and winter. How should the sports world receive him? Should we forgive and forget, or is he tarnished like so many fallen sports heroes before him?
We Americans are obsessed with our athletes. Both on amateur (think NCAA tourney) and professional levels, we put our sports stars on pedestals. We admire them; we rise and fall with their success and failure. Heck, we buy their shoes, wear their clothes and drink their sports drinks. (Don’t deny it – you and I both know you don’t buy Nike T-shirts because of their moisture wicking, aerodynamic fabric engineering)
But how do we treat them when we discover the Brett Favres we thought were down-to-earth, just-like-me heroes are really selfish egomaniacs? Do we stop admiring, watching or obsessing about them? Can we just turn off our love for and fascination about these stars?
I used to cast these flawed sports figures on the deadbeats pile; they were forever ruined in my mind and their story ended in tragedy. After living a few years outside my youthfully-idealistic little bubble world, however, I realize that no one is perfect; we humans make life-altering mistakes. Should we live the rest of our lives in shame, or can we repent, receive forgiveness, change our ways and begin a new chapter?
Do sports figures deserve our (their fans) forgiveness?
Some people may still cheer for a tarnished athlete based on his performance between the lines, not how he conducts himself personally. That’s fair.
But some athletes – like Tiger – screw up so badly in their personal lives that it’s hard for even the truest fans to stay on his side. A figure so beloved and followed because of his seemingly perfect persona and tremendous ability has been revealed as anything but perfect.
As Tiger embarks on his new beginning as Master’s play opens tomorrow, consider whether you’re willing to give him – and other starts that have strayed – another shot. We may never know if they really changes for the better, but in the spirit of springtime, shouldn’t we give them the chance?
Or perhaps we just wait for that soft spring breeze to blow in the next star who, maybe, just maybe, will avoid the inescapable web of transgression into which seemingly all our athletes are becoming entangled.
We can only hope.
This year, more so than in years past, I feel this sense of renewal transcend into the world of sports. Donovan gets a chance to reinvent himself in Washington. Four NBA teams at or near the bottom of their division last season in this year’s playoffs. And Tiger Woods . . . oh, Tiger, Tiger. . .
What a coincidence that Tiger is making his return (it remains to be seen how triumphant it is) to golf in the Master’s – which, with March Madness and Opening Day, is one of the truest signs of spring in the sporting world. Tiger certainly has more than bad feelings to shake following his fall . . . and winter. How should the sports world receive him? Should we forgive and forget, or is he tarnished like so many fallen sports heroes before him?
We Americans are obsessed with our athletes. Both on amateur (think NCAA tourney) and professional levels, we put our sports stars on pedestals. We admire them; we rise and fall with their success and failure. Heck, we buy their shoes, wear their clothes and drink their sports drinks. (Don’t deny it – you and I both know you don’t buy Nike T-shirts because of their moisture wicking, aerodynamic fabric engineering)
But how do we treat them when we discover the Brett Favres we thought were down-to-earth, just-like-me heroes are really selfish egomaniacs? Do we stop admiring, watching or obsessing about them? Can we just turn off our love for and fascination about these stars?
I used to cast these flawed sports figures on the deadbeats pile; they were forever ruined in my mind and their story ended in tragedy. After living a few years outside my youthfully-idealistic little bubble world, however, I realize that no one is perfect; we humans make life-altering mistakes. Should we live the rest of our lives in shame, or can we repent, receive forgiveness, change our ways and begin a new chapter?
Do sports figures deserve our (their fans) forgiveness?
Some people may still cheer for a tarnished athlete based on his performance between the lines, not how he conducts himself personally. That’s fair.
But some athletes – like Tiger – screw up so badly in their personal lives that it’s hard for even the truest fans to stay on his side. A figure so beloved and followed because of his seemingly perfect persona and tremendous ability has been revealed as anything but perfect.
As Tiger embarks on his new beginning as Master’s play opens tomorrow, consider whether you’re willing to give him – and other starts that have strayed – another shot. We may never know if they really changes for the better, but in the spirit of springtime, shouldn’t we give them the chance?
Or perhaps we just wait for that soft spring breeze to blow in the next star who, maybe, just maybe, will avoid the inescapable web of transgression into which seemingly all our athletes are becoming entangled.
We can only hope.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Expansion Examination
Would last night's NCAA Men's Basketball tournament final have been the same had Butler and Duke entered the tournament with 94 other teams? There are so many questions and thoughts in the air regarding expanding the NCAA Tournament from 64 to 96 teams. My first thoughts are that expansion would shrink the significance of the regular season, while diminishing the distinctiveness of making the tournament. Sadly, it seems to be all about money.Two USA Today columnists recently shared some interesting insights into a possible expansion. Check them out here:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/2010-03-25-hiestand-mccarthy-ncaa_N.htm?csp=34
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