Bleacher Report - Articles by Adam Lindemer

Wisconsin's Packers and Bucks Enter a New "Jenn"eration

Adam Lindemer — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:42:58 -0500

The state of Wisconsin is staying on the sports map, and the two guys helping to keep it there just happen to share the same last name.

Though Greg and Brandon Jennings aren't related, they both have been proving the "experts" wrong; Brandon has just done it much faster.

Coming out of Western Michigan, Greg Jennings was a mid-second round selection by the Green Bay Packers in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Some questioned the pick because they believed Jennings was too small (5'10"), too slow, and lacked experience against top-notch cornerbacks.

Jennings answered those questions by putting up some pretty impressive numbers in three-and-a-half seasons.

His stats to date are 259 catches for 4,056 yards and 29 touchdowns. Last year was his first 1,000-yard season, but more are sure to follow.

Jennings is also one of the best YAC men (yards after catch) in the entire league, making him that much more of a weapon against opposing defenses.

Greg Jennings is quickly becoming an elite receiver in the NFL, and he doesn't care who is throwing him the ball any more.

Whether it's Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers, Jennings is certain to make something happen.

Like Greg, Brandon Jennings took a lot of flack from the "experts" for bypassing the college game to play in Europe for a year.

I was intrigued by the decision but non-judgmental.

When the 2009 draft day arrived, Jennings returned to the States wanting to make an impact in the NBA, but nine teams passed up the youngster.

The Milwaukee Bucks told Jennings that if he was available at No. 10, they would take him.

Again, many questioned the pick, saying he was immature, his jump shot was absolutely terrible, and his attitude would be tough to work with.

From what I've seen from his so far as a rookie, Jennings has a pretty good jumper, and his attitude shows that he wants to win.

Perhaps the lack of playing time in Italy humbled him and taught him more about basketball. He learned to shut his mouth and play.

Jennings not only has the state of Wisconsin buzzing but also the entire NBA. They all want to know what he will do when he steps on the court.

He's averaging 25.3 points per game in Milwaukee (8-3) and has scored double figures in all but one game, to going along with his 5.5 assists per game.

But no one should forget his 55-point output against the Golden State Warriors, the highest single-game total in Bucks' history.

The Bucks have slowly been dying in NBA, but Jennings has re-energized them.

His swagger, even as a rookie, is comparable to his city sportsmate Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers. It's not an arrogant confidence, but more of a "Let me prove it to you" attitude.

The Jennings are guaranteed to stay here in Wisconsin a few more years, which makes me glad that I continued to stand behind the Packers and Bucks, no matter how poorly they may have been playing.

It's a new generation for Wisconsin sports fans.

The Green Bay Packers are moving swiftly in the post-Favre "Jenn"eration, while the Milwaukee Bucks have just simply entered a new "Jenn"eration of basketball.

Brandon Jennings Takes His Place in Milwaukee Bucks History

Adam Lindemer — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:36:56 -0500

In just his seventh game in the NBA, rookie Brandon Jennings has already rewritten the Milwaukee Bucks' history books.

If you live outside of the state of Wisconsin, you may have missed Jennings do something that even the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar couldn't do.

Jennings scored 55 points in a single game, surpassing then-named Lew Alcindor's 51-point mark back on Feb. 21, 1970.

The 6-foot-1 point guard from Compton, Calif., did that without recording a single point in the first quarter too.

The Bucks were down 57-49 at the half on Saturday, but Milwaukee's television play-by-play announcer Jim Pachske "had a feeling about the game."

Boy, did he swing and hit one way out of the park.

As a team, the Bucks shot 83 percent coming out of the half, and Jennings had 29 points in the third quarter. He went 10-for-12 from the field, including 4-for-5 behind the arc.

So much for this kid not being able to shoot the rock, huh.

Jennings would lead the Bucks to scoring 43 third quarter points, and build an eight-point lead with 12 minutes to play.

He had a chance to break Michael Redd's team-high of 57 points (that came in a loss to the Utah Jazz), but he would settle for 55 and, more importantly, the win.

Jennings finished 21-for-34 (62 percent), including 7-for-8 from three-point territory. He added five assists and five rebounds.

He is shooting 46 percent from behind the arc and the field this season, and averaging 27.6 ppg and 4.8 apg.

Milwaukee has now won four straight games (5-2), and is halfway through a six-game homestand.

Jennings has been 20 years old for almost two months now, and he is taking the NBA by storm.

He is proving that he's belonged in the league ever since he passed on college and chose to play in Italy.

Jennings will continue to lead Milwaukee, the rest just need to follow the young Buck.

It may be deer season in Wisconsin, but the Bucks are proving to be the hunters early this year, rather than the hunted.

In the 2009 NBA Draft, nine GM's passed on the 19-year old, and I wonder how many are now regretting it? (My guess is nine).

Wisconsin Badgers Now Singing With a Different Toon

Adam Lindemer — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:50:10 -0500

The last name 'Toon' was pretty popular around Madison, Wisconsin in the mid-1980's and continued its popularity into the NFL during the latter part of the decade and the early 90's with Al Toon.

Now, Al's only son Nick, is bringing that last name back into play for the Wisconsin Badgers this year.

In Wisconsin's most recent victory, a 45-24 drubbing of the Michigan Wolverines, Nick had five catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns, doubling his total from the previous nine games this season.

Nick has brought back the glory days of when his father played at Camp Randall Stadium about 25 years ago.

Al Toon was a stand out receiver for the Badgers from 1982-84. Here are his numbers with his all-time ranks in school history.

In three years, Al had 131 receptions (fourth) for 2,103 yards (third), with 19 TDs (tied for third).

Al led the team in all three categorized during his junior and senior years, getting 45 catches for 880 yards and nine TDs in 1983.

He has the second highest single-game total for the Badgers, when he had 252 yards against Purdue in '83.

Al was then the 10th overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft by the New York Jets where he would play all of his eight seasons in the league.

He amassed 517 catches for 6,605 yards and 31 TDs for the Jets, and led the league in 1988 with 93 receptions.

Al was a three-time Pro Bowler from 1986-88, but had to retire from the NFL at age 29 due to suffering numerous concussions, and has suffered from post-concussion syndrome, but has since improved.

Now, the son of the Badgers great, is quickly making a name for himself as a sophomore.

As a freshman, Nick Toon had 17 catches for 257 yards and a touchdown, but has become the go-to receiver for quarterback Scott Tolzein this year.

Through the Michigan game, Nick has 42 receptions for 633 yards and four touchdowns, with career total of 59 catches for 890 yards and five touchdowns, and he still has two games to play this year.

Nick is leading the Badgers in receptions, yards and touchdowns this season.

Like father, like son.

I think it would be safe to assume that Nick is going to challenge dear old dad's marks, and has a very good chance to pass them.

In my preview article for the Badgers, I pointed out that Nick Toon might be a guy to watch, and he is a big reason why Wisconsin is 8-2, and 5-2 in conference.

With each passing game, the Badgers are getting re(Toon)ed, with the rest of the Big Ten Conference next, and possibly after that, the nation.

Who Is...Spencer Havner?

Adam Lindemer — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:21:58 -0500

Unless your a fan of the NFL's Green Bay Packers or the UCLA Bruins of college football, you might not know who Spencer Havner is...until now.

Havner has made a little bit of a name for himself in the NFL, as he caught two, yes two, touchdowns passes from Aaron Rodgers, in the biggest game of the year for them.

Granted, Green Bay lost 38-26 against the Minneota Vikings Sunday afternoon in Brett Favre's return to Titletown, but Havner showed fans that he could play a big role in the offense down the stretch.

Havner hasn't played a big role on a team since his days at UCLA, where he was a linebacker.

That's right, he's used to knocking down the guy who has the ball, rather than trying to catch it.

As a member of the Bruins from 2002-05, Havner made himself known right away as a freshman by starting all 13 games, getting 96 tackles and three interceptions, two of which were returned for scores.

He was named as one of the two team captains during his junior year, and responded by getting 125 tackles in 11 games. He was also a semifinalist for the Butkus and Rotary Lombardi Awards.

As a senior, he was a second team All-Conference member, and again was a semifinalist for the Butkus, Lombardi, and Bednarik Awards as the nation's top defender. He finished his Bruins career with 402 tackles.

In the NFL it took Havner a little longer to get recognized, as he went undrafted in 2006.

The Washington Redskins signed him shortly after the draft, but released him before the 2006 season.

During the middle of that '06 season, Havner was signed by the Green Bay Packers to be a member of their practice squad.

The Packers released him before the 2008 season, but resigned him in mid-October and activated him in December because they heard that the Chicago Bears were interested in him.

Before the 2009 season, Havner made the transition to the tight end position, with more of a necessity there for the Packers than at linebacker.

If Havner made the team though, it would be as a player on special teams, and make it he did. With Green Bay hurting at the tight end spot recently, coaches decided to throw Havner into the mix last week against Cleveland.

There, he caught two passes for 59 yards including his first touchdown, on a 45-yard scamper after the catch. He would then make the tackle on the ensuing kickoff.

Using that performance, Havner then exploded onto the scene against Minnesota, in which after both scores, he quickly made his way towards the stands for the famous Lambeau Leap.

Havner has just six catches for 110 yards this season, but three have been for touchdowns.

With Green Bay's No. 1 tight end Jermichael Finley still suffering from a knee injury, and Donald Lee not quite starter material, look for Havner to get several more catches and find the end zone a few more times for the Packers this year.

Brandon Jennings Proving to Milwaukee Bucks That He's Better Than Advertised

Adam Lindemer — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:34:28 -0400

Brandon Jennings has only played two games in the NBA, but already the league is finding out exactly how talented he is.

Jennings was given slack after he graduated high school, when he decided to hop on a plane to Europe and play ball overseas, rather than spend a year in college like a Greg Oden or Kevin Durant.

After a year, he came back to the States, where he was drafted No. 10 by the Milwaukee Bucks.

It didn't take Jennings long to prove to his teammates that he belonged.

In his very first NBA game, Jennings flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in Milwaukee's 99-86 loss to the 76ers on Friday.

Flash forward 24 hours, and Jennings was at it again, this time in front of a home crowd that has just been waiting to explode.

Jennings had just three points in the first half against the Detroit Pistons, but broke out for 16 points in the third quarter alone in the Bucks 96-85 victory Saturday.

He only had three assists and two rebounds versus Detroit, but Jennings did come away with three steals, and one highlight-reel play.

After one of those steals, Jennings was busting it down court against two Pistons defenders.

Jennings pulled off a behind the back, 180 degree layup to put the Bucks ahead by four in the third quarter, to which the Milwaukee crowd went wild. He would go on to score nine out of 12 points for the Bucks during a huge run in the third.

Even though Jennings was a top 10 pick, he is quickly becoming a steal for the Bucks, and even his supposedly downfall hasn't shown up.

It was said that Jennings had an 'ugly' shot, and it is something that he will continue to struggle with.

So far, he is 16-for-31 from the floor, including 5-for-9 from behind the arc.

Last time I checked, 50 percent is pretty darn good in the NBA.

Of course every player in the NBA goes through shooting slumps and peaks, and Jennings will be no different for Milwaukee.

The slogan for the 2009-10 Bucks season is "Work Hard. Play Hard."

Through two games, Brandon Jennings is doing just that. And if he continues to do it, he will win over the city of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin and the rest of the NBA.

2009-10 Milwaukee Bucks: Work Hard, Play Hard

Adam Lindemer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:41:00 -0400

That's the slogan for the Bucks this year, and in a blue-collar town, what more can you ask for. But there's more to the NBA than just playing hard though, you need talent, and the Bucks are slowly starting to acquire that. It may not be LeBron or Kobe talent, but Milwaukee has the players that know how to get the job done. Let's just hope they can do enough to improve on it's 34-48 record from a year ago. Not a lot of people are giving the Milwaukee Bucks a chance this season, but the fact that they play in the Eastern Conference can't be stressed enough, where 40 wins might just be good enough to make the playoffs. Here is Milwaukee's roster of 15 players than plan to work hard and play even harder, as their season starts Friday in Philly against the 76ers.

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A Packer for Purple?: Green Bay Fans, It's Still OK to Like Brett Favre

Adam Lindemer — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:13:17 -0400

I know there's a very large percentage of the people reading this giving me the "Boy, you must be crazy" look right now.

In all honesty though, Packers fans can still like the old gunslinger.

I've been a cheesehead for nearly 20 years, and even though he's now wearing a different color with that gold, I can still call myself a fan of No. 4, the player.

No, I'm not a traitor. It's not like I'm cheering on the 'ViQueens' to win every week, or own a purple 'Favre' jersey. I'm just still interested in what Favre does on Sunday's.

He still loves the game, although he doesn't really like Monday through Saturday much anymore, but he still shows up. This is a man who loves football.

Some think that he came back, and more importantly with the Vikings, to "stick it" to the Packers twice a year. So this year is supposedly filled with spite towards Ted Thompson and the rest of Green Bay's organization.

What about last year then? If his sole motivation is spite against the Packers, then why did he play for the Jets last season, who never even had a sniff of Green Bay. That was not only out of the division, but out of conference as well.

When you've played a game for as long as Favre has, you will love the game until the day you die. So I doubt is sole reason is spite.

Plus, it shouldn't matter WHY he's playing, instead it's the fact THAT he's playing.

He's a big reason for the NFL's growing popularity since the mid 1990's, and he brought Green Bay Packers football back from the dead in the 80's and early 90's.

I'm not willing to erase 16 years of great football memories just because two grown men (Thompson and Favre) couldn't get along.

Believe me, when Minnesota plays Green Bay twice this year, I'll be the first one cheering when Favre gets knocked on his gluteus maximus.

I won't have to wait long either, as Favre battles the Packers in front of the entire world for Monday Night Football in Week Four.

I can't wait until he throws his first INT in that game either. The good thing for me though is that I won't have a heart attack when he does throw a pick-six.

Oh, and what wbout the game when Favre goes back home (yea that's right, I said it) to Lambeau in Week 8. I wonder how the fans will react?

Probably more boo's at Lambeau, and I'm not talking about Miller Lite.

My loyalties are with my hometown teams (Packers, Brewers, Bucks, Badgers), but I shouldn't have to feel bad cheering for players who aren't on those teams. Heck, I don't even like everybody that happens to be on one of "my" teams.

But it shouldn't matter where one guy plays that determines whether you're "allowed" to cheer for them or not.

Try this on for size: How many Packer fans out there can admit to liking Barry Sanders and Walter Payton. I can.

They were divisional rivals their entire careers, but I still like Barry and Sweetness every day they weren't playing the Packers.

Or this one; I cheer for Lee Evans, but I am in no way a Buffalo Bills fan.

I love Ichiro and Ken Griffey, Jr. (even when he was with division rival Cincinnati), but I don't care if the Mariners do well or not.

I am simply a fan of sports. Like everybody else, I have the teams that I 'live and die' for, but I also like the guys who love what they do, and do it well.

Everybody loved Favre when he was a Packer, yet despise him when he left, because of the way he left.

I'm not going to tell you that you have to cheer for Favre, but I shouldn't have to deal with the ridicule just because I still like him.

For all the "new" Favre-haters out there though, what are you going to do when his time comes to go into Canton?

Because if you hate him now, I'd feel bad if you had to jump the bandwagon to cheer him on when he gets enshrined with the rest of the all-time greats.

Favre 4-Ever.

*Please no nasty comments, we are all civilized human beings*

Wisconsin Vs. Michigan St.: Badgers Open Big Ten Play With Win, Go 4-0

Adam Lindemer — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:03:46 -0400

The Wisconsin Badgers are 4-0, but I'm still not sold on Bret Bielema's team, seeing as how they allowed two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game.

Wisconsin still walked away with a 38-30 win, but the game didn't have to be that close.

Apparently, the Badgers became too comfortable with their 21 point fourth quarter lead.

Everybody knows that the Wisconsin offense can score, and it proved that again today, but the Badgers will only go as far as their defense allows them to.

That defense was pretty solid for the first three quarters and finished with three interceptions and a fumble recovery, but a fourth quarter lapse allowed the Spartans to get big numbers.

Michigan State finished with 486 total yards, with 396 of these yards coming through the air. They ended up outgaining Wisconsin by 50 yards.

Tight end Garrett Graham stole the show for the Badgers offense, as he caught five passes, with three of them being touchdowns.

Graham found the endzone twice in the first half, and Wisconsin had a 21-7 advantage.

Receiver Nick Toon and running back John Clay, who I said to watch out for in my season preview article, continue to surprise Badger nation.

Toon caught three passes, including a key fourth quarter touchdown reception, while Clay carried the ball 32 times for 142 yards and a touchdown.

After two early fourth quarter touchdowns by Wisconsin, the Badgers had their 21-point lead, but not for long.

The one problem that the Badgers have had every week was the defense, and how it allowed teams back into games.

This week was no different, but luckily Wisconsin's lead was big enough to allow the Badgers their first conference victory.

The Badger's quarterback was 19-for-31 with 243 yards, four TDs and no interceptions.

Wisconsin will travel to the Minnesota Golden Gopher's new home next week, where the battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe will continue.

Wisconsin Vs. Fresno State: Badgers Survive In Double Overtime

Adam Lindemer — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:29:43 -0400

The Wisconsin Badgers certainly aren't winning fans over with their play in the first two games, but the team is 2-0, with a 34-31 victory over Fresno State in double OT.

Philip Welch kicked the winning 22-yard field goal to allow Wisconsin to walk away with their heads held high.

Once again, the Wisconsin defense looked atrocious, allowing the Bulldogs to covert on 11-of-18 third down opportunities.

The defense also allowed 468 yards of total offense by the Bulldogs (289 passing), and several more big plays that gave Fresno State plenty of chances to score.

Bulldogs quarterback Ryan Colburn threw four touchdowns against the weak Badgers defense, but also threw three interceptions, including a costly one in the first OT, that allowed Wisconsin to stay in the game.

Seyi Ajirotutu caught two of the TD passes from Colburn, while Ryan Matthews ran for 107 on 19 carries for Fresno State.

Wisconsin was down 21-7 midway through the second quarter, but that's when the Badgers' passing game woke up.

The Badgers have primarily been a running team in the past, but if they want big success this year, head coach Bret Bielema needs to allow Scott Tolzien to throw the ball more.

After a David Gilreath end around for a touchdown, and a hold from the Wisconsin defense (what a shocker), Welch gave everyone something to talk about, as he nailed a 57-yard field goal as the clock ran out in the first half.

Fresno State led 21-17 at the break.

Neither side scored in the third quarter, then John Clay burst onto the scene in the fourth, as he busted out a 72-yard run for a touchdown to give Wisconsin its first lead of the game at 24-21.

Bulldogs kicker Kevin Goessling made a 41-yard game-tying field goal late in the fourth.

Wisconsin was then the first to score in overtime when Tolzien found recevier Nick Toon for the score. The Bulldogs would answer with a Colburn to Ajirotutu connection.

On Fresno State's drive in the second OT, Wisconsin senior captain Chris Maragos picked off Colburn, and now it was the Badgers' game to win.

And win they did, giving Welch good field position to split the uprights.

Wisconsin's offense looked pretty good against the bulldogs as Tolzien went 17-for-28 with 225 yards and a touchdown. Clay also ran for 143 yards on 21 touches.

The receivers of Isaac Anderson and Nick Toon might be one's to watch out for in the Big Ten. Both had four catches with Anderson getting 70 yards, and Toon claiming 49 yards and a TD.

The key for the Badgers was that they didn't have a single turnover in the game.

As long as they don't give their opponents free opportunities, the Badgers could play a key role in how the conference shapes up.

Of course that's provided their defense understands that their job is to actually stop teams from scoring.

If the Badgers can't get a big win next week against Wofford at Camp Randall, then there will be a lot of people singing a different tune about these Badgers, and I don't mean Nick.

America's (Legend) Dairyland: Top 100 Wisconsin-Born Sports Figures (20-1)

Adam Lindemer — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:09:37 -0400

Alright, the moment you have all been waiting for. The final edition of the Top 100 Sports Figures born in Wisconsin. I don't think anyone can argue with the people that appear in the 20, because all of them have done great things in their careers. I'm amazed at all the legendary names that have called Wisconsin home for a majority of their lives. I know I probably missed some people, so feel free to drop their names in the comment section below.

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Life in the Frozen Tundra: Top 100 Wisconsin-Born Sports Figures (40-21)

Adam Lindemer — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:27:29 -0400

Well, we're more than half way through the countdown, so let's bring it even closer to the top 20. With this set of 20, I'll bring in some new cities, that will have most of you wondering exactly where it lies on the map. Even the smallest of Wisconsin cities can produce some pretty big stars. With every slide that I complete, it makes me more and more proud to be a Cheesehead. I even share a common bond with No. 24, so wait and see.

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Sconnie Nation: Top 100 Wisconsin-born Sports Figures (60-41)

Adam Lindemer — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:54:51 -0400

Alright, time for part three of the countdown, where we break into the top half of the sports figures. In case you're wondering, the city next to their names is the city where they were born, and in many cases, raised as well. With each passing slide, I hope the quality of athletes and such is getting slightly better. If not, I tried. Ranking all 100 people was definitely the toughest part in this whole project. So let's continue, satrting with No. 60...

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Milwaukee Brewers: Celebrate, Celebrate, Come On and Celebrate!

Adam Lindemer — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:49:43 -0400

The Milwaukee Brewers really have nothing left to play for this season, and have now been reduced to becoming the "spoiler" team.

So why not have some fun when they find a way to win a game as September rolls around?

The St. Louis Cardinals (mainly manager Tony LaRussa) have never been a fan of Milwaukee's "post-game antics" after a victory (untucking their jerseys, and the way they celebrate).

Well I can only imagine what went through LaRussa's mind when he saw highlights from Milwaukee's game on Sunday, September 6, against San Francisco.

But what was the rest of the league thinking?

In a game where the Brewers had earlier turned a rare triple play going 5-4-3, they forced extra innings versus the Giants.

Then Milwaukee's best player and the king of the castle, Prince Fielder, stepped up in the bottom of the 12th inning to play hero once again.

Fielder hit a hooking line drive over the right field wall to give him another career game-winning hit and the Brewers a 2-1 victory.

But it was what followed his trot around the bases that has Milwaukee fans buzzing, and perhaps the rest of the league wondering.

Just as Fielder rounded first base, he untucked his shirt (I wrote an article last season explaining why they do it), then pointed to the dugout. After seeing the end result, you'll realize why he pointed.

A choreographed celebration was about to take place.

Usually a celebration of this nature consists of the player rounding the bases, jumping on home plate, and then being mobbed by his teammates. The Brewers threw in a little twist last Sunday.

Fielder rounded the bases. He jumped on home plate. Just when he landed, though, the rest of the team (minus coaches and managers) fell over like dominoes, leaving "The Prince" standing on home plate with his arms raised to the sky.

Vince Lombardi once said that athletes "should act like they've scored before," but I think that athletes should celebrate, because they never know when they will play their last game.

I'm not saying that everybody should do the Randy Moss "moon" dance—just keep it within reason. I believe Fielder has done that.

Hey, baseball (football, basketball, etc.) are games, and games are supposed to be fun (Mr. Baseball anyone?).

These guys are paid to play a game, so they should go out and have some fun, like Prince Fielder and the rest of the Milwaukee Brewers are doing.

Brewers' triple play (Casey McGehee-Felipe Lopez-Prince Fielder):

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?affiliateId=CommentWidget&affiliateId=facebook_share&content_id=6505147

Fielder's game-winning solo shot and team celebration:

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?affiliateId=CommentWidget&affiliateId=facebook_share&content_id=6511913

The Power of Cheese: Top Wisconsin-Born Sports Figures (80-61)

Adam Lindemer — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:22:37 -0400

Alright, we've seen the bottom 20 of the list, so let's try and work closer to the middle of it. There may be some surprises to people during this set of 20, and it will only continue to get better with the last three editions. I always thought that Wisconsin really wasn't a breeding ground for professional athletes and such, but after looking at all these names for the past few weeks, I know that many fine athletes call this Midwest state "home", as do I.

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Wisconsin Badgers Get Mixed Reviews in Week One

Adam Lindemer — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:19:00 -0400

The college football season is officially underway with almost every team in the nation having played their first games.

For the Wisconsin Badgers, that first game against Northern Illinois showed promise for the rest of the season, but also gave Badger fans reason to worry.

After Wisconsin stopped Northern Illinois on its opening drive, the Badgers got to work quickly.

On the very first play play from scrimmage for Wisconsin, junior quarterback Scott Tolzien unleashed a bomb to wide open Isaac Anderson for an 80-yard touchdown strike and a 7-0 lead.

Tolzien won the starting job over redshirt freshman Curt Phillips, who the spot locked up until inconsistency hit during the final week of practice.

Phillips did see his fair share of action though, going 3-for-5, and getting 34 yards rushing, while Tolzien was 15-for-20 for 257 and a that early touchdown.

Another late position switch was at running back, where sophomore John Clay was supposed to be the front runner over junior Zach Brown, but Brown slipped ahead.

Both saw playing time, and it was Clay who found the endzone twice, but neither impressed on the field.

Anderson and Tolzein were the standouts on offense, with Anderson amassing 100 yards receving and added a 23-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give the Badgers an eventual 14-6 halftime advantage.

Wisconsin then used two methodical third quarter drives, both capped off by John Clay TD's, and looked to have the game in hand at 28-6.

Then the 2008 Badgers showed up. The team whose defense didn't know how to close out games.

Northern Illinois added a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, and another with under three minutes left and once again, it was a ball game at 28-20.

What made it hurt more is that Northern Illinois actually recovered the on- side kick and had a chance to tie the game.

Luckily, the Wisconsin defense was awake enough to not let that happen and were able to walk away being Bret Bielema's famous "1-0." All in all, this game was a lot closer than it should have been.

The good:

A win is win, so there's momentum off of that. Tight end Garrett Graham continued his success from last year with six catches for 82 yards. Sophomore Nick Toon became a crowd favorite and hauled in five catches for 72 yards. The very young and inexperienced defensive line and line backers looked fairly solid for its first time out on the field.

The bad:

The team needs to learn to close out an opponent when the opportunity rises. They also didn't record a single interception. Kicker Philip Welch still needs to work on accuracy. He may be a sophomore, but he was also the full-time kicker last year too.

Only time will tell on this team, but for now, all Badger fans should be pumped up that football season is finally upon them and relish in the fact that their team is undefeated.

Cheesehead Nation: Top 100 Wisconsin-born Sports Figures (100-81)

Adam Lindemer — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:42:48 -0400

The Badger State, America's Dairyland, Packerland; just a few names to describe Wisconsin. That is a place where the following 100 people can say they were born. They then went on to have some pretty good careers. It only took me a few days to get the full 100, but it took even longer to get the ranking to my liking. You will see mostly sports stars (many still competing), with other figures mixed in from various sports outlets. I made sure to look all around the sports world for these 100. This is part one of the five part series; part two (80-61), part three (60-41), part four (40-21) and part five (top 20). Pretty much the only requirement was that it must be shown somewhere that the person was born anyhwere in the cheese state. Before we start the countdown, let's look at who just missed out making the list.

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Y.E. Yang Tames The Man Called Tiger

Adam Lindemer — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:49:26 -0400

On Sunday, August 16, 2009, Y.E. Yang did the unthinkable by beating Tiger Woods in a PGA Tour Major Championship.

Woods led the PGA Championship after Thursday. He kept the lead after Friday too. He then took a two-stroke lead going into Sunday's final round.

The Korean-born Yang appeared not to care (or maybe he didn't even know) that Tiger looked to win his 15th major, when he took away the trophy from the greatest golfer in all the land.

In Woods' 14 major victories, he had the lead after 54 holes, and never gave it up. When Tiger has even the slightest of leads after the third day in a major, forget about it, the trophy is his.

Now, all that has changed.

Tiger proved he was human when he missed the cut in the British Open this year, and he proved it yet again by not being able to close things out in Chaska, Minnesota.

Yang will return to Seoul, Korea as a hero to not only his country, but perhaps to the world of golf.

Woods had won 36 consecutive tournaments when entering Sunday with a lead of any sort of lead.

The shot of the day was of course by Yang, on the 72nd hole, which turned out to seal the deal.

Yang was 206 yards away from the hole on the par-four 18th, with a tree in front of him down the fairway, causing him to break out the hybrid club.

He stayed cool, calm, and collected, which is hard to do when the eyes of the tiger are staring a hole through your neck.

Yang hit a towering shot into the green, which bounced just a couple feet away from the hole, then came to a stop within 10 feet.

The pressure was now fully on Mr. Eldrick Woods.

Woods hit a 5-iron into the green, which landed just off the left side of the green in the rough.

Start the presses, Yang is champ.

Even though Woods still had a chance to hole out the chip, it was an uphill battle due to the ugliness of the green-side rough.

The chip was long and left.

Yang now had two putts to win the Championship, but he only needed one, as he nailed his first putt dead center.

This Korean may have been a no-namer for awhile, but now people will never forget the name Y.E. Yang, as he claims victor to the 91st PGA Championship, cementing his name in golf's history.

Yang also proved the one thing that was thought to be unprovable. He beat Tiger Woods in a major, coming from behind to do so, letting all other golfers know that even the great Eldrick can cough away a lead.

Does Michael Vick Have a Place in Green Bay?

Adam Lindemer — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:30:44 -0400

Seeing as how the Patriots have passed on Michael Vick, all the other 31 teams now have a decision to make.

"Do we have a spot on the roster for Vick?"

Recently, reports have shown that Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson isn't ruling out his interest in Vick.

My response: "Really?"

Now, just because the Packers aren't ruling out adding Vick doesn't mean that they are actively pursuing him either. Still, Green Bay hasn't ruled out signing him if the price, and situation, is right.

Green Bay already has three quarterbacks on the roster: Aaron Rodgers, Brian Brohm, and Matt Flynn. Would the Packers really need to substitute Vick in one of those spots?

Let's take a look at both sides of this equation.

Green Bay Doesn't Need Vick

Rodgers proved himself last year by throwing for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also seems to have developed a great relationship with all of his receivers: Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson.

Sure, it would be nice to have a quality backup plan, and Vick would provide that. However, the organization did draft Brian Brohm in the second round last year to give the Packers that option if Rodgers ever got hurt.

Fans would have mixed emotions of whether to sign Vick or not, but I'd be perfectly fine if Brohm had to take the reigns from the man who was as patient as ever during the whole Favre fiasco.

Green Bay doesn't need all those PETA protesters around their stadium, either. There's been enough circus acts in the area for the past three years.

Bring Him Aboard

With this whole Wildcat offense coming full swing, it would be useful if every team had a versatile player in the backfield. In this case, the Packers could use two quarterbacks, with one being the decoy, of course.

If Rodgers does indeed get hurt, Vick would probably be a better option than Brohm, even still though Vick hasn't played in a couple years.

Every team is always trying to get better, and Vick should allow the Packers to have a more solidified backup plan.

Just look at what happened to the Patriots. They were so focused on Brady that the organization forgot about a backup plan. New England got lucky, and Cassel proved to be a worthy No. 2 who earned a No. 1 spot.

Is Green Bay that lucky?

Even if Vick won't start, if Green Bay called his number, it could still help him in the long run. If Vick sees enough action in the Frozen Tundra, he could get a starter's job somewhere down the line.

I don't know how I feel about the Packers adding Vick. He would provide a solid option as a backup, but I don't think that the NFL's smallest market needs to be the biggest media frenzy in the league.

The Packers did survive the Favre fiasco that seemed to go on forever, so they should be able to handle all the hoopla that comes along with Vick.

Is it time for a new circus to come into Titletown?

Hakim Warrick Brings His Athleticism to the Milwaukee Bucks

Adam Lindemer — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:22:10 -0400

The Milwaukee Bucks signed power forward Hakim Warrick to a one-year contract last Friday.

The 27-year old Warrick was the 19th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by Memphis, and spent his first four seasons in the league with the Grizzlies.

Warrick stands 6-9, 219lbs and has career averages of 10.2 ppg and 4.3 rpg in 307 games. He is a career 50 percent shooter from the field and shoots 72.5 percent from the free throw line.

Last season, Warrick averaged 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per game. He appeared in all 82 games, for the second time in his career, and only started seven games.

2005-06: 68 g, 44.3 FG, 66.1 FT, 14.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .3 bpg, 10.4 mpg

2006-07: 82 g, 52.4 FG, 77.1 FT, 12.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, .9 apg,.4 bpg, 26.1 mpg

2007-08: 75 g, 50.2 FG, 70.4 FT, 11.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .7 apg, .5 bpg, 23.2 mpg

2008-09: 82 g, 49.1 FG, 72.5 FT, 10.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, .7 apg, .4 bpg, 21.4 mpg

Warrick played four seasons at Syracuse University (2001-05), and as a sophomore started in all 35 games for the NCAA Champion Orange in 2003.

At Syracuse, Warrick played 135 games, and averaged 31 mpg, 15.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, .9 spg and .9 bpg. He shot 53.6 percent fom the field and 65.9 percent from the free throw line.

As a senior, he was named First Team All-America by the Associated Press, awarded Big East Conference Player of the Year and named First Team All-Big East by averaging 21.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg and shooting 55 percent from the field. He also finished his degree in three and a half years.

He finished his career with the Orange ranking second all-time in free throws made (529) and attempted (803). He is third all-time by scoring double figures in 61 consecutive games. Warrick ranks fourth in points (2,073) and rebounds (1,025).

This move from Memphis to Milwaukee will give the Bucks a true power forward offense, rather than having Charlie Villanueva think "three" first.

It also give Milwaukee an excellent shot blocker on a defense that is non-existent. Warrick's numbers may not look like a shot blockers, but all you have to do is take a look back at the 2003 National Championship game to see what he can do. That 7-1 wingspan will disrupt a lot of shots.

I have a feeling that Scott Skiles will make Warrick the starter at the four, considering the only competition seems to be newly acquired Amir Johnson.

The biggest positive out of Warrick is his shear athleticism. He is quick and can jump over anyone who may come in his path.

Warrick is one of the best dunkers in the league, and Bucks radio announcer Ted Davis should be calling plenty of "shot clock-shakers", "rim-rockers" and "ceiling-scappers".

Bucks fans should think of Warrick as just a taller Desmond Mason, but with a better post-up game.

If Warrick sees 30 minutes a game this season with the Bucks, it will definitely be a career year for him.

A Quick Look at the 2009 Wisconsin Badgers

Adam Lindemer — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:36:55 -0400

The Wisconsin Badgers are about a month away from kicking off their fourth season under head coach Bret Bielema. In the previous three years, Wisconsin is 28-11, with a 15-9 conference record. Wisconsin had an up and down season in 2008 and lost plenty of play makers from the 7-6; 3-5 team. Too many times the defense let the team down late in games, and the offense just wasn't solid enough to regain the lead when it mattered most. The 2009 Badgers will have 31 freshman, 28 sophomores, and 23 juniors and seniors. Having 59 underclassmen might force Wisconsin to go young in their position battles. A new season brings new hope to any team, and the Badgers certainly need that hope. Before we look at what's in store for 2009, let's take a step back to last year.

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10 Pitchers the Milwaukee Brewers Should Target

Adam Lindemer — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:47:52 -0400

It's no secret that the Milwaukee Brewers need pitching this year if they try to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Owner Mark Attanasio and GM Doug Melvin can do one of two things in order to be playing in October. They can either try to pull off a trade and get a top notch arm, or they can do nothing and see if the can contend in the NL Central with what they've got. The six teams in the division are still relatively close to one other, considering it's almost August, and the crown may still be up for grabs. When the Brewers' hitters are on, they are one of the most dangerous in the league, but the pitching just can't match the offensive fire power this season. I don't Milwaukee will play meaningful baseball for long with the current pitchers on its staff. So, here's a list of ten pitchers (starters and relievers) that I think the Brewers should try to pull of a trade for within the next six days.

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The Kid and the Home Run Derby: How 'Bout One More Show?

Adam Lindemer — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:28:33 -0400

When Michael Jordan was in his last year with the Washington Wizards, he was given the chance of playing in one last NBA All-Star Game. I think the same needs to be done for the guy who has the sweetest swing in baseball, Ken Griffey Jr. I felt that the 2009 Home Run Derby was missing something. No, make that someone. Griffey should be given one last invitation to the Home Run Derby, even if he can't muster an All Star bid. After all, he is the one the made that event "cool". When everybody else took it seriously and tried to hit every ball to the moon, Griffey would step up to the plate with his hat backwards, be cool, calm, collected, and simply have fun hitting the long ball. Plus, his swing is a beauty to watch. So let's give "The Kid" one more chance to swing for the fences; if there's still time. **I know the pics don't match the years, but I just wanted to show off Griffey that sweet swing.**

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Bill Hall: Should He Stay or Should He Go...to the Minors?

Adam Lindemer — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:14:39 -0400

The biggest problem for the Milwaukee Brewers this year may not be their starting rotation, or even whether or not to send Mat Gamel down to Nashville.

I think their biggest decision is in regards to the four-year, $24 million man—Bill Hall.

The 29-year-old from Nettleton, Mississippi is the cause of many headaches to Brewers fans, but there may be a simple solution to all of this.

Every team does it with a middle of the pack player, and that is to send him down to Triple-A, or lower, to help him get his game back.

Milwaukee has already done it to Rickie Weeks and Tony Gwynn, Jr., and is currently doing it to Manny Parra.

So, why not send Billy down for a month-long tuneup in the minor leagues?

Hall is nowhere near what he was in 2006, and people still question the one-year spike.

He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1998 Draft, and (slowly but surely) his numbers were on the rise. Then Hall was signed to a multi-year deal, and it acted as a kiss of death.

Take a look:

2002: 19 G, seven hits, 2B, 3B, HR, 5 RBI, three BB, 13 K, .194/.256 OBP/.361 SLG/.617

2003: 52 G, 37 H, nine(2B), two(3B), five HR, 20 RBI, seven BB, 28 K, .261/.298/.458/.756

2004: 126 G, 93 H, 20(2B), three(3B), nine HR, 53 RBI, 20 BB, 119 K, .238/.276/.374/.650

2005: 146 G, 146 H, 39(2B), 6(3B), 17 HR, 62 RBI, 39 BB, 103 K, .291/.342/.495/.837

2006: 148 G, 101 R, 145 H, 39(2B), 4(3B), 35 HR, 85 RBI, 63 BB, 162 K, .270/.345/.553/.898

2007: 136 G, 115 H, 35(2B), 14 HR, 63 RBI, 40 BB, 128 K, .254/.315/.425/.740

2008: 128 G, 91 H, 22(2B), 3B, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 37 BB, 124 K, .225/.293/.396/.689

2009 (through 7/5): 62 G, 37 H, 10(2B), five HR, 18 RBI, 15 BB, 59 K, .198/.256/.332/.588

Career: 817 G, 2,645 AB, 366 R, 671 H, 175(2B), 17(3B), 101 HR, 361 RBI, 49 SB, 224 BB, 736 K, .254/.312/.447/.759

Hall has been hovering the Mendoza Line (.200) for quite a while now, but when will management realize that this is a problem that needs fixing?

Granted, if you take Hall off the roster, you lose a right-left platoon at the hot corner, but a stint in the minor leagues may make Hall the player that he once was.

I know a lot of you are thinking that the Brewers should trade him away, or just down right dump him.

Here's why you're wrong.

Bill Hall plays great defense, even when he can't hit the broad side of a barn at the plate. For eight years, it's always been that way with Hall.

He excels at second base, third base, and shortstop. Just when he mastered those three positions, the Brewers asked him to move to center field.

Did Billy balk at the idea?

No way.

He accepted the move like a professional and continued to work hard to excel at a fourth position.

One year later, he's back to the infield. You'd think that this would cause some hiccups in the defense, but not for Hall.

Even this year through 60 games in the field, Hall has committed just three errors in 149 chances, and has been involved in 13 double plays while playing third base.

For the man who once destroyed left-handed pitching, Hall has found himself in a deep offensive slump, mostly due to the fact that he is tweaking his swing.

So, if that's the case, wouldn't you want him getting four at bats everyday to work out the kinks?

That's simply not going to happen while he's still in Milwaukee. Send him to Nashville where he can take hits cuts on a consistent basis and possibly get back to form.

A move to the minors for Hall would also allow the Brewers to see if Gamel truly is major league ready.

It's a win-win situation for Milwaukee.

If Gamel struggles, then they're no better off than when they sent Hall down a level in the first place. If Hall can get "it" back, then the Brewers get another bat to return to the lineup.

Sure Hall would be furious. First, Gamel gets called up and puts questions in his head, then he gets shipped to Nashville.

If this move were to happen, I can guarantee you the following things would happen:

Hall will get over it and realize it needed to be done, work his ass off to get back to Milwaukee, and prove that he can be the third best hitter on the Brewers' roster.

So give Billy a break, and a chance to clear his head in Nashville (because this problem is definitely a mental thing).

Make the move now, and by August, Milwaukee could have two new starting pitchers (the new Manny Parra and one traded) and the old Bill Hall back in the dugout.

Sometimes, as a player, you have to move backwards before you can go forward again.

The Prince That Has Become King

Adam Lindemer — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:21:45 -0400

LeBron James has his "witnesses", but to Prince Fielder, we are all his "subjects".

Fielder is a jack of all trades, and he came up aces once again Saturday, June 27, against the San Francisco Giants.

First, a quick game recap.

With the Brewers down 4-0 in the sixth inning, Prince...er King...Fielder crushed a three-run homer to the right field bleachers off Barry Zito, and was followed by Casey McGehee going solo with the very next pitch from a new pitcher.

Game tied at fours.

Trevor Hoffman enters in the ninth in a tie-game situation and proceeds to allow two runs. Uh-oh, and 6-4 Giants.

Milwaukee manages to tie it once again, which sets up the dramatics for Fielder. With runners on first (J.J. Hardy) and second (Corey Hart), Fielder delivers a 2-2 pitch down the right field line.

Game over. Brewers win 7-6 and guarantee a series win against Frisco.

The entire team rushes to Hart, who scored the winning run, then make a mad dash for Fielder, who was standing just behind the mound, with both arms toward the sky.

Boy, I wonder what St. Louis thinks of THESE antics?

Prince has always been "keeper of the drama" in Milwaukee, as he carried the team at the end of last year.

Once again, he has the 24 other guys on his back, and has quickly become one of the most feared hitters in the game.

Here's a quick view of Fielder's stats, showing why the new name is in order.

2005: 39 G, 59 AB, 17 H, two HR, 10 RBI, two BB, 17 K, .288/.306/.458/.764

2006: 157 G, 569 AB, 82 R, 154 H, 35(2B), 28 HR, 81 RBI, 59 BB, 125 K, seven SB, .271/..347/..483/.830

2007: 158 G, 573 AB, 109 R, 165 H, 35(2B), 50 HR, 119 RBI, 90 BB, 121 K, .288/.395/.618/1.013

2008: 159 G, 588 AB, 86 R, 162 H, 30(2B), 34 HR, 102 RBI, 84 BB, 134 K, .276/.372/.507/.879

2009 (through 6/27): 74 G, 263 AB, 44 R, 79 H, 18(2B), 19 HR, 73 RBI, 53 BB, 65 K, .300/.420/.601/1.210

Career: 587 G, 2,052 AB, 323 R, 577 H, 122(2B), 7(3B), 133 HR, 385 RBI, 288 BB, 462 K, .282/.377/.545/.922

Fielder isn't short on the heroics, nor the drama, and Milwaukee has rewarded him because of it.

Before the start of the season, the club signed him to a two-year/$18 million deal, avoiding two years of arbitration. The deal also opens a window of signing the slugger long-term, like his partner in crime Ryan Braun.

If the Brewers are able to lock up those two youngsters for the long haul (Braun through 2015), imagine the damage that will be done in the National League Central Division by those two bats.

But from now, through at least the 2010 season, all Brewers fans should enjoy the show being put forth by the 5-11, 268-pound, 25-year-old from Ontario, California; also known as Prince Semien Fielder.

Also, any one that watches a game in Miller Park during that time must realize the royalty that they face, for they are now watching the King perform in his castle.

*photo: Morry Gash, AP

The Milwaukee Brewers Have Some Holes That Need Fixin'

Adam Lindemer — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:57:22 -0400

The Milwaukee Brewers were the hottest team in all of baseball not too long ago, but now the Crew is struggling to stay on track. They recently fell out of first place in a division where the six teams are separated by a total of six games. That means a streak by someone here, or a streak by someone there and a mass shuffle occurs. Milwaukee lost second baseman Rickie Weeks for the rest of the year a month ago, and somehow the offense has also lot its consistency. I'm not hitting the panic button just yet, but I'm still trying to figure out how a team goes from getting swept by the Rockies at home, to sweeping the Indians on the road, to getting swept yet again, this time by the Tigers. With any ball club, questions begin to swirl as the All Star break nears, and I think that the Brewers have plenty of questions that need answering. These questions need to have solutions rather quickly if Milwaukee plans on making back-to-back playoff appearances.

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The 10 Prettiest Faces of the NPF

Adam Lindemer — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:44:38 -0400

OK, this is my last "Prettiest Faces" piece, I swear. Having covered golf, tennis and basketball, I felt that I should do one for my favorite sport: baseball/softball. The National Pro Fastpitch softball league consists of just five teams; Akron Racers, Chicago Bandits, Rockford Thunder, Philadelphia Force and the USSSA Pride. Each team plays about 42 games, and like any other sport, a champion is crowned by going through playoffs. Like every other list I've done, these ladies are more than just some pretty faces, they have also succeeded in the sport of softball. So without further ado, these are the 10 prettiest faces of the NPF.

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Ten Players the Milwaukee Bucks Could Take at No. 10

Adam Lindemer — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:53:32 -0400

With the 2009 NBA Draft a week away, it's time to really look at who each team might be taking. The Milwaukee Bucks have the 10th overall pick this year, and I have seen numerous mocks drafts with several players in that slot. This list is made up of players I have seen at No. 10 as well as guys who have hovered around that pick. These 10 players range four different positions and each has his own style of play. So let's check out the guys who could be wearing the greed, red and white next year (ages in parentheses). **All stats are from the 2008-09 season**

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The Green Bay Packers Can't Change History, No Matter How Hard They Try

Adam Lindemer — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:48:30 -0400

Something drastic has been happening in Green Bay, WI for awhile, and quite frankly, it sickens me.

The Green Bay Packers, and most of their fans, are trying to erase 16 years of history in the most storied franchise in all of the NFL.

Brett Favre came to the smallest NFL city in 1992 under the genius of then GM Ron Wolf.

Favre had a less than comfortable exit after the 2007 season, in which he delivered his retirement speech, but came back to the league about four months later.

There are many speculations as to why Favre was shown the door in Green Bay, and the way it was handled.

We all know the story.

My take on this whole thing is exactly what Favre said recently on Joe Buck Live, "It is what it is."

So the story has shifted gears yet again as Favre wants to come back and play in the NFL for a 19th season.

Brett Favre has been considered "dead" to many Packer fans already just because he showed his face in a uniform that was not the Green Bay Packers.

Now, to Packers fans, Favre is contemplating blasphemy as he wants to play again, but this time he's looking to return as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.

I can still hear the collective gasps from the Frozen Tundra, as they continue to call Favre a traitor.

However, he can't be a traitor if he was 'forced' out of the city in the first place, right?

Why is Green Bay punishing a man who has done nothing wrong to its fans or the city itself?

Yes, he retired, took it back, and was shipped to New York because he didn't want to play second fiddle to Aaron Rodgers, but it wasn't his fault.

Favre gave his heart and soul to the Packers organization for 16 years and fans were grateful for every moment.

Why the change of feelings?

He changed the way outsiders looked at Green Bay. It was no longer just a small city in Northern Wisconsin, but rather it was Titletown once again because of good old No. 4.

Why are people turning their backs on a guy who simply wants to play a game forever?

That's the motive behind all of these charades. He just wants to play football, and he doesn't care where, nor should he.

Should the whole 'Favre leaving Green Bay' fiasco have been handled differently? Yes.

Should the entire Packers fan base shun Favre simply because he refuses to quit? No.

The only thing that he is doing wrong is committing, then taking it back. If you watched Favre play football though, he's doing things exactly according to plan.

How many times did Favre leave the huddle with one play on his mind, then completely change things at the line of scrimmage?

This is nothing new that fans are seeing from Favre. So he is not the puppet master, and we are not the puppets in this show.

Favre has one thing on his mind wherever he goes though, and one thing only: football.

He would play quarterback on his hands and knees if he had to because football is all he knows.

When Favre finally leaves the game, it will be forever. That's it, game over.

Favre is impossible to forget, yet many Cheeseheads have washed themselves clean of him overnight.

How can a football god become the peasant in a matter of months?

I'm a Packer Backer until I die, but I'm a Favre addict even longer. Why?

He plays the game the right way, and will do so until he himself his gone from the game.

Did people think less of Joe Montana because he went to Kansas City? No.

What about the feeling towards Michael Jordan when he returned with the Washington Wizards? They didn't change one bit.

To me, it doesn't matter WHERE Favre plays, all that matters is THAT he plays, because the NFL without Favre is the true blasphemy.

Danielle Lawrie: The Next Jennie Finch?

Adam Lindemer — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:30:07 -0400

If you don't know who Danielle Lawrie is by now, you seriously live in a bubble.

The University of Washington pitcher led her team to the first National Championship in school history, after 16 consecutive years of making of the NCAA Tournament (every year of the program's existence).

The Langley, British Columbia native was the go-to girl on the mound, and Lawrie didn't not disappoint Huskies fans, or softball fans in general.

Jennie Finch did put the sport of softball on the map with her dominance and remains one of the most popular players of all-time to this day.

I love that dominance shown on the mound (Finch/Lawrie), and it helps that Lawrie has 'that look' to keep people intrigued.

There are two things that I find interesting about this Canadian:

1) Can she settle on one hair color? Blond or brunette? Honestly, I don't think it matters though. 2) Who she be more famous than her brother? Brett is a second baseman in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

Back to Lawrie. She has the ability to keep softball on that map set by Finch with her own dominance, and could surpass Finch's popularity.

Don't believe me?

Let's first take a look at Finch's numbers through her four years at the University of Arizona.

Finch went 119-16 with 64 shutouts and had a 1.07 ERA. She struck out 1,028 batters in 876.2 IP. Her best year was 2001 in which she went a perfect 32-0 with 207 strikeouts.

Finch now plays for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch softball league, one of five teams in the league. She also had a 36-2 record as a member of Team USA.

Lawrie has played three years for the Huskies and has one more year of eligibility, due to her red-shirting during the 2008 Olympic year to train with the Canadian National Team.

Here's what Lawrie has done so far:

2006

As a freshman, Lawrie went 23-16 with a 1.44 ERA and set a then school record of 387 strikeouts. She pitched 257.2 IP and had a .186 opponent batting average.

Lawrie threw a perfect game on February 26 against Utah Valley State in six innings, where she struck out 15, including 14 consecutive.

She set a school record for strikeouts in a seven inning game with 19 and was named to the All Pac-10 second team.

2007

As a sophomore, Lawrie improved to a 31-13 record with a 1.54 ERA and had 11 shutouts. In 278 innings, she struck out 457 batters, breaking her own school record.

She threw a no-hitter, had six one-hit games and had seven games with 15 or more strikeouts. Lawrie also had two games of 20-plus strikeouts.

She was named to the All Pac-10 first team and had 25 games with double-digit punch outs.

2009

As a junior, Lawrie was named the National Player of the Year, as she guided Washington to the title over a University of Florida team that had lost just three games all year (Gator pitcher Stacey Nelson was 39-3 with a .40 ERA).

Lawrie compiled a 37-7 record (UW was 51-12) with a .84 ERA and threw a no-hitter against UCLA and Arizona, becoming the first pitcher to accomplish that feat. Lawrie had 19 shutouts, including eight versus Top 10 teams and yet again broke her own strike out record with 472.

Lawrie threw 39 complete games and opened the year going 15-0 with a .14 ERA. She went 64.1 consecutive innings being unscored upon and 90 innings without allowing an earned run. She also hit .277 with six homers and 25 RBI.

The Huskies spent three weeks on the road during the 2009 College World Series, and yet Lawrie went 5-1, threw a two-hitter in Game 1 and kept the title in the Pac-10 Conference.

Overall, Lawrie has a 91-36 record with a 1.27 ERA. She has struck out 1,316 batters in 843.2 IP and still has one more year to go.

Lawrie already ranks fifth in the Pac-10 in strikeouts and 15th nationally, way ahead of Finch at 23rd. She can also surpass Finch's win total, needing just 29 in the 2010 season to do so.

It's a shame that softball could be leaving the Olympics for awhile (or possibly, for good) because Lawrie could've done some serious damage.

However, the NPF does allow these women who love the game to play softball well beyond their college years.

Back to the original topic though; can Lawrie be just as famous as Finch?

The answer...definitely.

I can't say that Lawrie will follow the exact footsteps through Pros vs. Joe's, SI's Swimsuit Edition or Celebrity Apprentice, but the opportunity should surely be there for this Canuck.

Alphabet Soup: The Best of the Bucks

Adam Lindemer — Sun, 31 May 2009 03:26:58 -0400

Alright, on to the Milwaukee Bucks version of my Alphabet Soup series. There are no 'Q', 'U' or 'X' here either, but there were a couple of tough decisions to be made. You will see All Star's and MVP's, but you will also see some 'one-year wonders'. So, through 41 years of Milwaukee Bucks basketball, here is the list of the best players A to Z.

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