Bleacher Report - Articles by Kyle Jensen

Green Bay Packers: Preview for Week Seven

Kyle Jensen — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:32:43 -0400

After losing three games in a row, the Packers seemed to have found their swagger again after their win against a broken Seahawks team. It started out slow, but everyone found their stride as Aaron Rodgers started throwing better, and the defense had a couple interceptions.

For week seven, the Packers have the Indianapolis Colts.

Normally, as a Packers fan, you would be pretty afraid of this upcoming game against Indianapolis. But this year is different. The Colts are not the Colts of the previous few seasons, especially when they won that Super Bowl just a couple of seasons ago.

Peyton Manning has 1,302 passing yards thus far and an okay 87.8 QB rating. The Colts are coming off of a big stomping win over a Ravens team that has now lost three in a row.

The scariest part for the Packers about that game is that Manning threw for 271 yards and three TDs in that game, and could possibly be back in form.

This Colts team barely beat Minnesota, and Minnesota only kicked field goals in that week two game. That Minnesota team also squeaked one out against the Lions.

The Colts did add running back Clifton Dawson to help them with their backfield that hasn't really produced much.

Rodgers, on the other hand, has thrown better games than Manning overall. He has a 98 rating with 1,482 and 11 TDs.

During the Packers' three-game losing streak, the biggest problem was not Rodgers' play. It was part defense, and part offensive line.

The offensive line all year has been committing silly penalties at crucial points in the game, like the ridiculous amount of false start calls. If the Packers keep this up against the Colts, they should be worried.

The defense is now out with Al Harris and Atari Bigby. Nick Collins and Charles Woodson have been coming up big for this Packer defense, though.

Woodson (as captain) said earlier in the season that he wants the defense to play aggressively and put some hands on those receivers. That has led to a good amount of pass interference calls against the Packers' defense.

The fact that Harris and Bigby are out, and Manning could be in top form might be a problem as well. The Colts' offensive line is a little shaky, however, so look for Aaron Kampman to provide a lot of pressure on Manning.

Ryan Grant is finally starting to run like he did last December. He has started out very slowly at the beginning of the season. Right now he's at 3.4 yards per carry on 106 carries. That stat went up after Week Five and Week Six.

I would expect to see a pretty close game with a good amount of touchdowns, assuming that the Colts can't keep up with Greg Jennings, in which case Rodgers should be able to trust Donald Driver and James Jones as well.

The game could go either way, but it's at Lambeau, so I have to say the Packers will improve to 4-3 after this week, heading into their bye week.

Packers +2 over Colts.

The 10 Most Obscure Cubs Players of the Past Two Decades

Kyle Jensen — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:16:00 -0400

A few of my good friends, my older brother, and I (all Cubs fans) were watching a Cubs/Brewers game a month ago. We started naming obscure Cubs players from the past two decades. It was all pretty much out of comedic purposes. Out of the many we came up with, here are the top 10.

10. Henry Rodriguez

Most notable for his '98 season. Fans would throw "Oh Henry" bars onto the field whenever he hit a home run.

9. Steve Buechele

I remember him more for his thick blonde shaggy hair. He did hit a few solo home runs though.

8. Scott Servais

He was more or less just an average baseball player that could catch. But he was the first guy to shake Mark McGwire's hand after McGwire's record-breaking 62nd home run in 1998.

7. Steve Trachsel

Most notably known for throwing the pitch to McGwire that broke Roger Maris' single season home run record. He didn't have much success for the Cubs but went ahead and did fairly well for the Mets.

6. Mickey Morandini

Mostly obscure because of his name. He had long dark hair that carried over to the Cubs from the Phillies franchise. He's now a high school baseball coach.

5. Felix Heredia

Like the other obscure players, he didn't have much success with the Cubs. He was also the 11th player to be suspended for steroids.

4. Brian McRae

The son of Hal McRae (most notably known for his tirade in his office). McRae was more of a journeyman.

3. Rey Sanchez

I remember Sanchez more for getting a high infield pop fly hit to him and Harry Caray saying, "He's never missed one of these in his life," only for Sanchez to drop the ball and Steve Stone saying, "He just did!"

2. Tuffy Rhodes

I debated whether or not Rhodes should be number one. Rhodes was the first player to hit three opening day home runs in the major leagues. Rhodes only hit five more the rest of the year. He's now playing professional baseball in Japan for the Orix Buffaloes with much success. He is a co-owner of the Japanese League single season home run record.

1. Turk Wendell

Wendell was all obscure in himself. First of all, there's his name and average success. Wendell was known to insist that the umpire roll the ball to him on the ground. If the umpire would not, Wendell would bump the ball off his chest or let it go by him, then go pick it up off the ground.

Wendell would often brush his teeth in the dugout. When he went to the mound, he would wave at the center fielder and wouldn't stop until the center fielder would wave back. Wendell was very popular with Mets fans after he was traded from Chicago.

There are definitely more obscure Cub players in the past two decades especially. Go ahead and name some more if you can think of some. There may be some that I haven't even thought of.

Chicago Cubs: How to Deal with Being Let Down

Kyle Jensen — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:54:43 -0400

Have you ever had a friend pass away due to unexpected or bizzare circumstances? Nobody ever knows what actually happened, but there's always much speculation as to what could have happened.

It's like the Cubs, especially in their past three playoff appearances. The more you try to figure out what is really happening, the more frustrated you get. The only thing to do is move on—to just know that it happened—and let it go.

Sounds easy right?

Wrong! The difference is, the Cubs keep doing it. The players understand what is at stake, but I doubt that most of them understand what the Cubs' fans have really endured.

Think 1969, 1984, 1998, 2003, and 2007. Of course, in '98 the Cubs were not expected to beat the Braves in the NLDS, but the principle of the matter is that they still lost.

Cubs fans have always been around during those years, the players have not.

Trying to figure all of this out seems harder this year. I don't know why, except that it has been 100 years. They're the favorites in the National League. And yet, it has happened SO many times before!

It is like having that girlfriend that has cheated on you time and time again, and you keep bringing her back, because, "things are different this time." But of course, she cheats on you again. Then, again, you try to figure out why you keep letting her back.

What is the difference in this, though? The law of averages says the Cubs have to win sooner or later, and we Cubs fans are hoping for the former.

During the disaster that was Game two, I got to thinking about how in the world I became a Cubs fan and not a Twins fan, like almost everyone else that grew up in South Dakota.----APOSTRO

I realized that if I grew up without cable, I wouldn't be using a Chicago Cubs mouse pad right now. It would probably be a Minnesota Twins' mouse pad.--APOSTRO

I say this because if you had cable, that means you also had WGN. If you had WGN, when you came home from school you were most likely to catch a Cubs game. And, you would definitely catch a Cubs game almost everyday during the summer.

It's kind of the same as catching sportscenter. You know it's going to be on, you can trust that it will be on. During the offseason, you just can't wait for the Cubs to be back on WGN.

Later, when I was in high school, the Cubs started getting better. Especially during my senior year of high school—the year they choked during the NLCS.

Now, we know how I became a Cubs fan. But staying a Cubs fan? Well, like I said, it's going to be different this time, the law of averages says so.

So my fellow Cubs fans, follow me, and let's not try to think about it too much. Instead, let's just have faith, even if that faith is blind.

Instead of giving up when it seems almost impossible not to, let's keep cheering the Cubs on. They didn't get the No. 1 seed by being a bad baseball team. We know they're better than this, so let's make sure they know this. Because, trying to figure it out will just waste your time.

Chicago Cubs: Best Reserves in MLB

Kyle Jensen — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:07:35 -0400

The last time the Cubs won the World Series, they were sharing the NL with teams such as the Boston Doves (now the Atlanta Braves) and the Brooklyn Superbas (now the L.A. Dodgers). The youngest player on the team was born in 1888 (Vin Campbell). The Cubs played at West Side Park (Weeghman Park was opened in 1914 and would later become Wrigley Field).

The Cubs clinched the N.L. pennant on Oct. 8, 1908 after a tie-breaker with the New York Giants (look-up "Merkle's Boner"). Some of the keys to these victories? The Cubs' reserves.

This is not unlike the 2008 Cubs, except the youngest player on this team was born in 1985 (Felix Pie). The 2008 Cubs reserves have helped the team immensely in clinching the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, but not without some mishaps.

Daryle Ward stepped up really well for the North Siders this year. After Fukudome succumbed to a long slump, Ward came in with a .319 on-base-percentage, and a pinch hit three-run walk-off home run against the Marlins in August.

Micah Hoffpauir is one of the big surprises for the Cubs this year. Making his debut on May 18 (coming in for an injured Daryle Ward), he has only had 73 at-bats. But at the same time, he has managed a .342 average, .400 on-base-percentage, and Minor League Player of the Year for the Cubs' farm system.

Mike Fontenot has been probably the most consistent reserve for the Cubs in the 2008 season. With 243 at-bats, a .395 on-base-percentage, and a .305 average, "Little Babe Ruth" (a nickname given to him by Ron Santo) has really helped with the team's success this season. The Cubs just might have gotten a steal with Fontenot, having traded Sammy Sosa to Baltimore for him.

Reed Johnson is one of the reserves to really watch out for. Johnson was cut by the Blue Jays during spring training and the Cubs grabbed him. It's another show of the Cubs improved front office. Reed missed a couple weeks in June due to some back problems, but came back with fire, especially in August. He hit above .500 for the month and played a crucial role in winning big games against the Brewers. On the season, Johnson has a .358 OBP with a .303 average.

Now these are just reserves—guys who will do their job when they need to. Coming into the series against the Dodgers, the Cubs have the advantage and not just because they're at Wrigley. The Cubs already have a great starting lineup, with eight All-Stars on the team, includig four pitchers. The Dodgers are probably considered the hottest team in the Majors right now, but the Cubs have more talent on the team.

In addition, the Cubs have the most runs scored in the National League. They say winning in the playoffs is all about manufacturing runs. How can you count the Cubs out when they have the most runs in the league?

The pitching has been outstanding, with the icing on the cake coming with Zambrano's no-hitter late in the season. The pitching staff is first in Batting Average Against (BAA) and third in the ERA category.

With a team that has been hurt so much in the past century, maybe more pain is awaiting Cubs fans this postseason. But maybe the Cubs will finally win a World Series in 2008 and honor "One Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request" (Steve Goodman).

Josh Howard: Unpatriotic Because He's Black?

Kyle Jensen — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:58:56 -0400

Sports and politics should never really be related. Just because someone doesn't celebrate his/her country doesn't mean I'll disown the person; I might even be friends with him/her if I like the person's other qualities. I don't let differing beliefs get in the way of a relationship.

If you haven't heard, there is a new video of Josh Howard on YouTube talking into a video camera about the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner is going on right now. I don't even celebrate that sh**. I'm black."

Take it how you will, but because he's black, he doesn't celebrate America?

The first amendment allows him to say this, and that is OK. Let me rephrase, in a bit of irony, this country was founded so that he could utter those words.

So he doesn't celebrate the country that gave him the rights to say this, he doesn't celebrate the country that allows him to make millions of dollars to play basketball.

But wait, he said he's black as if that can justify his reasoning for not being able to celebrate his country.

Again, to remind you, it's OK if you don't celebrate this country, it's OK that Josh Howard doesn't celebrate this country.

But when you utter those words, and the only reasoning for your beliefs is that you're black? That's just pure insolence.

You are a public figure, whether you want to be one or not. You can do what you want. But come on now. I may not celebrate other countries, but I respect them. So if you don't celebrate my country, or even your own country, the least you could do is be respectful.

This, I hope, will be my only article that does not relate to sports more than it should.

It's Hump Day, My First Half Of This Sports Week Is Great

Kyle Jensen — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:17:18 -0400

It's 3:31 am CT right now. I have to wake up early, but I'm bored. I just need to write down and let everyone know how my week as been going thus far.

Let me sum it up in one word: "Happiness."

So happy right now, I feel like every AFC East fan (besides the Pats) after Brady got injured (Sorry Pats fans, I love the guy, but it's this best analogy I could come up with at this time).

It all started on Sunday at noon. I got out of bed (in a slightly hungover state), threw on my A.J. Hawk jersey and Packer hat, then turned on the tube (yes, I did forget to put pants on at first).

Aaron Rodgers (the man I truly supported all summer) threw a heck of a first half. Three TD passes and what seemed to be a million yards (I never exaggerate). The game then suddenly started to take a turn in the second half.

The Lions started gaining ground, had a better defensive scheme and eventually took a 25-24 lead. There were many things thrown and punched in my living room at this time (thank god my roommates were not home). T

hen, Rodgers drives the Pack down for a field goal. Then Brandon Jackson scores after a Charles Woodson interception. Then Charles Woodson scores off of his interception. Then Nick Collins scores off of...well, I think you know where I'm going. It was a great way to start a day off.

So I take a shower, put clothes on (including pants), and then go to work. Only one person works each shift where I work. So do the math...I was the only one working on Sunday night.

I know the Cubs game is going on, and I'm listening to a country station because it's the only FM station that comes in on that old 1980s radio. Instead, I just check the score on my phone, but it only tells me the box score (without the hits and errors even).

My best friend texts me at 8:57 PM, "No hitter through six." I text my older brother to confirm (he lives three miles from Wrigley), he replies at 9:12 PM "Z throwing no hitter through seven."

At that point I realized that the radio had AM capabilities, and I used to work at the local radio station that carries all of the Cubs games (on the AM frequency). So, I turned the game on. From the eighth inning on, I got to hear Pat Hughes and Ron Santo call the game. WOW.

On Monday, the Cubs played during the day. and I watched the gamecast all day (we have WGN here, but Cubs games are on either WGN or Comcast Sports Network, during this game, it was the latter).

Ted Lilly, pitching a no-hitter through three, of course I text my best friend to jokingly let him know. Then it's through six, this time you just can't believe it. I went out to mow the lawn, came back inside the house, and saw it got broken up in the seventh. But, one hit? WOW.

Now, my fantasy football team was down 74-71 after Sunday. I have Tony Romo, so I think we all can figure out how my fantasy team fared this week (2-0 on the season).

And this brings us to Tuesday. I was at work again on Tuesday night, listening to the Cubs game. It was a good game, but the Cubs squeaked it out, and their magic number is four (one of my favorite numbers, OK, I'm stretching it a little here).

I am knocking on wood a lot more these days than normal (not Kerry Wood), but wow do I feel great. Let's hope it stretches into October, then into February (Packers) and it ends in March (Duke), only for all of it to start over again. Time for bed at 3:58 AM.

Breaking News: Brett Favre Enters NFL Draft

Kyle Jensen — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:52:47 -0400

It looks like all of the talks were true. In an unprecedented move, Brett Favre held a press conference earlier today and has decided to enter the 2008 NFL draft.

This news coming only months after Favre had decided to hang up the cleats and retire from the game.

After retiring, talks quickly started about his "inevitable" return to the game. Favre even said that if the opportunity came, he would take it.

Asked about this startling news Favre noted, "I have never won a rookie of the year award."

Favre said that entering the draft would enable him a "second" career in the NFL, so all of his previous accolades could not be noted as his current stats can only be used when talking about his "First" career. Thus his name must be Brett Favre the second or Brett Favre ( pronounced Fav-ra).

This second chance would also ensure that he could have a career that doesn't include the all-time interceptions record.

If chosen, Favre would ultimately be the oldest person ever to be drafted into the NFL, (he would have been the second if Mercury Morris had chosen to enter the draft as well, Morris ultimately dropped out after the Patriots lost the Super Bowl).

Roger Goodell sees Favre as just another prospect and says that there would be no references to his previous career.

Therefore, if drafted, he would still have to be chosen out of the University of Southern Mississippi (all highlights must be from his college days as well).

There is also confusion that if the Packers take him, could he wear number 4?

Roger Goodell said no, saying that he can only wear number 4 with the Packers if he decides to go back and play through his "first" career in the NFL.

That means Brett Favre (Fav-ra) could quite possibly be on the field for his retirement of his number for his first career as Brett Favre.

Mel Kiper Jr. already has Favre in the sixth round, being chosen by none other than the Atlanta Falcons (Brett Favre's first team in his previous career). Since nobody could talk about his first career when speaking about Favre's entry to the draft, Kiper noted that Favre "has been out of the game for a while now since college, he might be a little slow. Though he could definitely be a big steal."

Favre said in his press conference that, "I just want to make sure I leave a legacy, but if I do not get drafted by a team without Randy Moss, I will demand a trade."

Aaron Rodgers likes the fact that Favre is entering the draft, but is afraid that the Packers could choose him. For obvious reasons too.

There is a lot of confusion about this, but it looks as if Favre could very well be the oldest rookie of the year ever, another record that quite possibly could never be broken.

The Kicker Position: Not Just for Kicks

Kyle Jensen — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:01:20 -0400

Everyone knows the kicker isn't a true "football player" if you will. It's obvious because all he does is...well, kick a football!!

But that doesn't mean that the kicker can't get respect, so I'm going to show some love for the almighty kicker position.

Part of my reason for writing this article is because I grew up and graduated high school with that kicker from Wisconsin; Taylor Mehlhaff. So when you google search his name, and his potential in the draft, you have to look a little further than the quarterbacks and wide receivers.

So we'll use Mehlhaff as an example for this article, he was one half of possibly the best kicking tandem in college football in recent years (the punter was Ken DeBauche).

In high school, Mehlhaff kicked a 54 yard field goal. After a safety, he kicked the ball 70 yards in the air before landing into the end zone for a touch back (a kick I will never forget, you can find it on one of his videos on scout.com).

During college, while I was working for a radio station, I was watching one of his games on TV. I believe this was freshman year of college, and Ted Ginn Jr. was about to run a kick return for a touchdown, and then Mehlhaff gave him a good lick and knocked him out of bounds (he was an all-state hockey player in high school as well).

Now that we have established that not all kickers are wimps, let's go to their job.

The kicking position is not easy to say the least. My school has a domed stadium, and a couple of times my older brother and I went kicking field goals, I don't think I kicked one past 30 yards.

These guys sometimes are expected to make it past 50 yards, with a defense trying to block them, and sometimes in nasty weather.

Sebastian Janikowski was actually picked 18th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. Teams used to just never draft kickers, but eventually started to realize the value of the position.

Mehlhaff said that there are some teams interested in him, he had a couple of workouts with Baltimore and Atlanta recently. He said he has a pretty good chance of going to Kansas City though.

That seems very likely too since the Chiefs have 3 picks in the fifth round, and most people project Mehlhaff to be a fifth rounder.

Anyway, with the glitz and glammer that most of the other players are noticed, the kicker can not be forgotten. Especially with the possibility of either being clutch like Adam Vinatieri, or hearing "Wide Right" the rest of your life like Scott Norwood.

April 17th—A Day the Chicago Cubs Are Meant to Win

Kyle Jensen — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:54:56 -0400

It's my best friend's birthday today, and it is also a day the Chicago Cubs play.

I don't remember a time when the Cubs have lost on my friend's birthday. Sometimes, we act like this is how his year is going to go. So far, since the Cubs have won, it seems that he has had a good year.

Don't break tradition for us, Cubbies!

Ken Griffey, Jr. just now hit a home run as I was writing this line. It is 8-2 in the top of the seventh. Give us the win, Cubbies. You can do it.

With the wind blowing out, and the Cubs' offense, you'd think they would get some more runs.

Yesterday was a good 13-2 victory. It felt good, especially against Dusty Baker. I've seen weirder things happen, and the Cubs can get going here.

I actually wish that manager Lou Piniella brought up Matt Murton rather than Eric Patterson (Reds just hit a double in the top of the seventh, two outs).

Sure Eric is Cory Patterson's little brother, but it's not like Patterson had a wonderful career with the Cubs. Eric is a different guy nonetheless.

Why Matt Murton?

He's patient, he has a high on-base percentage. You could have a below average batting average, but still have a high on-base percentage (walks). Fukudome, definitely an OBP at lead-off.

Actually, this would be one of the most patient lineups that the organization has ever seen.

Anyway, now that I saw Tom Arnold sing the seventh inning stretch, I can't see too much hope. Come on, of all days, my best friend's birthday, Tom Arnold? I'd rather have Ozzy Osbourne come back. Maybe Roseanne could have sung God Bless America while they're at it?

Anyway, it's the top of the eighth now and the Cubs are still down. But on this special day, for a couple of Cubs fans, let's put the "W" flag over Wrigley today!

Steroids: ESPN's Take on the Mitchell Report, Fair or Free?

Kyle Jensen — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:20:31 -0400

Writer's Note: This is an article I wrote a little while after the Mitchell Report was released.

I just read an article by Le Anne Schreiber, titled "ESPN (mostly) rises to occasion with Mitchell Report." Not going to lie, I did get a little bored reading the article (mostly because I have read a ton of articles regarding the issue), but I made my way through it.

She mentioned a lot of unfair reporting by ESPN, and she is not the only one.

I have watched ESPN since I could remember; my dream is to be on the staff of ESPN, even if it were to be a janitor (or in the words of "Half-Baked," "a master of the custodial arts").

At the University of South Dakota, we have the almost brand new Al Nueharth Media Center. In the media center, you will find a quote that you can't miss, visible anytime one walks into the media center. It reads: "The first amendment guarantees us a free press, we in the media must make sure it's a fair one—Al Nueharth, USA Today."

This is something that, since being engrained in my head, I will always live by.

Being a sports channel, a lot of ESPN's journalistic nature comes from games and highlights. ESPN is not CNN, nor Fox News and so, knowing that, they need to find a balance during issues like the Mitchell Report.

Most of these reporters (the exception being former athletes) were journalism majors, and should know about granting a fair press.

In a case like the Mitchell Report, I do not believe it's wise to put former baseball players on the show. It creates a bias and, thusly, an unfair press.

The players know more about what was going on in their clubhouse than anyone else, so when former baseball players try and analyze the situation, of course they're going to get a little upset and, therefore, be more biased. It also makes it seem as though the analyst is denying, rather than telling the truth.

Unless you stay in your home all day with nothing to watch or read, then you know that steroids has been an issue in baseball since Justin Timberlake was sharing airtime with the Spice Girls.

I will put a lot of the blame on Bud Selig. He has been the only commissioner of Major League Baseball I've known since I could remember watching sports.

Baseball is my favorite sport and always will be, but as long as MLB has this owner's puppet as commissioner, the steroids era won't end anytime soon. How is it that just naming names will get people to stop using?

We have two guys, both of whom being are granted a free life as long as they tell former Sen. George Mitchell some names (88 to be exact). There is proof in the form of checks, money orders, etc.

Like all other sports fans, when the Mitchell Report was first released, I opened that PDF File faster than VH1/MTV granting C-list celebrities their own reality dating shows. Again, like the average sports fan, I skimmed through and only looked at all of the names.

Some of them came to no surprise to me, and some did. People don't care about explanation these days, they care about names and when.

Of course, Roger Clemens was a surprise to everyone, and of course, since the average person doesn't care about explanation, they automatically believed he cheated. With the amount of information given by the media, I can not make an assumption as to whether he did or did not cheat.

But I will say that ESPN did not help his case at all. Even Page 2 columnist Jemele Hill called him "Fraud-ger." Because of the information given by the media, assumptions are that easy to make? Give me a break.

Now, I'm not going all out saying that I'm giving Clemens the benefit of the doubt. I know he doesn't help his case so much with this ferocious all-out blitz campaign on Brian McNamee, but it is showing something.

Clemens said on 60 Minutes that the Hall of Fame is the least of his worries. Well, good! Clemens' biggest worry should be being innocent by the court of law and not by the public's eye.

That's where it's a little contradictory: he's going out in public so hard about this, that it seems he is trying to repair his image a little more than making sure he'll be found innocent.

The fact is that Clemens will probably be found innocent in a court of law, but not in the public's eye. Therefore, his Hall of Fame days will be delayed indefinitely. Seems to me that baseball has reached its own McCarthy Era.