I have enjoyed this college basketball season as much as any in past years. I grew up in Milwaukee and am a Marquette fan first but I have to say I have enjoyed watching this Wisconsin team play more. Bo Ryan's slow play doesn't offend me at all. Finding a way to best get the job done is the way Bo goes about getting the job done and im good with that. The Badgers get to every 50/50 ball, they take care of the glass for the most part, and have no legit stars on their team ( save freshman Sam Dekker a rising star). Badgers have clearly overachieved,and have beaten some big boys again this year.
What is there not to love about watching this lunch pail team? Yet Bo will get heat for his style of play. That doesnt bother me at all. He's in the conversation for a conference title and once again will likely finish in the top four in the Big Ten. That's all I care about.
Im not sure the Packers are in a position to cut struggling kicker Mason Crosby. Obviously Crosby's accuracy is a lot to be desired and warrants a release. Crosby has a proven track record and his struggles are a major surprise to the organization and fans alike. There isnt much of an alternative at this point of the season.
Im sure Ted Thompson has looked at other "street" kickers but didnt see a better option. Mike McCarthy will just continue to throw his support behind Crosby and hope for the best. Its a shame that this is in the position that the Packers are in but there is not much of a choice at this point of the season. Crosby may have some company at next year's training camp.
Other than Boise State's Chris Pederson,there isnt one name that stirs the pot for me on the
Badger coaching hire list. Not Paul Rhoads from Iowa State.. Not Al Golden,who may have moved off the Badger radar anyway. Other than Paul Chryst,there isnt any candidate with the link to Badger football. I dont think Joe Rudolph is ready. I have a feeling that anyone Barry hires,other than Pederson,will not excite many. There isnt a hot shot candidate out there ready to take over a plum job like Wisconsin.
Probably no where in the country present or past,can a coach take his team to a BCS Bowl three straight years and be as criticized as much as Bret Bielema was at Wisconsin.. Mike and I,this morning,fielded four hours of calls from listeners. Most saying "good riddance" to the outgoing coach..If three straight Big Ten titles isnt enough ,what must the next man do?
Bielema was filing big shoes replacing Barry Alvarez because of Barry's rep for turning the Badger football program around and for winning all three Rose Bowls he was in. Forgotten with Barry,were numerous disappointing seasons when many times the Badgers were not even in the running for the Big Ten title. But when Barry got to the Rose Bowl,,he made it count. Bielema failed, That's how Bielema was measured by alums and fans.
That would have been a crummy night last night.. Bucks blow a big lead.... Marquette loses a buzzer beater...Monday Night Raw wasn't very good again.. It rained.. and my kids Lomira freshman boys basketball team got pummeled in their opener..
But all that took a back seat to the wonderful Monday Night Football game. Nothing better than seeing "Bear Fan" humbled a few notches as they did last night after their team got blown out in San Francisco. That Bears' loss equals about two Packer victories in my book..
There is no doubt I'll be getting a traditional " Packer NFC North" division title T shirt for Christmas again this year. In fact, I need to add closet space for all the ones I have collected and for my new addition..Those T shirts will be out in stores shortly
I know its early but the Milwaukee Bucks needed this type of start. i know its only 4 and 2 but winning in Philly on Monday night was another positive baby step for this team. It would be nice to feel good about the Bucks for a change and build some positive momentum for a number of different reasons. The Bucks,more than any team in this state,badly needs to win and create some buzz. The early returns are good and Brandon Jennings is definately playing with a purpose in his contract year. Lets check back in a couple weeks on this.
Is the Green Bay Packer organization that good or are some of these teams the Packers have beaten in recent years just flat out bad.. The Packers won another game on Sunday with a depleted team, lost 3 more key players in the process,yet they are 6 and 3. There are not many teams in the league who could lose half of their starters yet find themselves in the playoff mix at this point of the season.
And its just not this year. Year after year, the Packer remain a bonafide contender. As I told my partner Wickett this morning,it starts at the top with a great president with Mark Murphy and works its way thru player development.. There isnt some rich owner sitting at the top,wondering how he is going to save money. The Packers and Steelers are ideal models for pro franchises. Football people running a football operation. No wonder why those two teams are in the playoff mix nearly every year.
I probably shouldnt let " Bear Fan" get to me but for some reason but they are this season. "Bear Fan" is gloating over his teams 5 and 1 record against horrible opponents. Thats fine..Enjoy first place in the NFC North.. For now.. Just point to the scoreboard " Bear Fan".. Looking forward to going to Soldier Field Dec 16 for the next matchup with the Bears. By then ,the Packers should be looking at clinching another division title and doing it in "Bear Fan's" House. I hope the Bears do make the playoffs. I really do. It would be great to put another end to their season.
As much as I enjoy going to Packer gameday experience in Green Bay, the Badger gameday in Madison is even better. Walking thru the streets of Madison on gameday,making your way to Camp Randall is a awesome experience..Of course, as for the game,Packer football is on its own level, but the Saturday gameday experience in Madison can't be beat.
Looking forward to covering Saturday's game against Minnesota.. Mike and I talked on the show this morning that there isnt much of a rivalry between the two schools even though the schools will say otherwise.. Love seeing the Badger players grabbing the Paul Bunyan Ax after a victory and "chopping" down the goalpost. But that is the extent of the Badger/Gopher rivalry
Really? im finding it really hard to believe that Packers Coach Mike McCarthy has lost his senses..At least according to some Packer fans out there..There had been mounting criticism in the last few weeks for Mac..He has gone from a genius to a dunce in a span of a year.Are these the same people who thought Ted Thompson didnt know what he was doing a few years ago? im really looking forward to Wednesday' morning's show of " Chuck and Wickett" .. We will address the issue in the morning..In the words of Bart Scott " Can't Wait".
