When the Green Bay Packers fell behind 17-0 last weekend in their wildcard playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals, I was obviously frustrated with my team’s performance but I was not about to call the game over. Even after the Packers could not hold the Cardinals after a couple first half scores and even the touchdown to being the third quarter which put Arizona up 31-10, I thought this team still had a shot.
And sure enough. An amazing second half ensued. The third and fourth quarter were filled with amazing plays and exciting moments such as Greg Jennings’ one-handed catch, an onside kick that the Packers recovered, countless moments where Aaron Rodgers scrambled out of the pocket and made big plays. Then as the game came down to the end, a touchdown by Havner that I was convinced had been scored too soon. And I would have been right had Neil Rackers not botched a short field goal that would have won the game in regulation.
When the Packers won the toss in overtime, I was sure we would win. I said to Heidi, “throw it deep to Jennings on the first play”, reminiscent of the Broncos-Packers overtime game two years ago. Sure enough, Rodgers let it fly, but just a tad to far out of Jennings’ reach. One play and one penalty later, the game was lost on one of Aaron Rodgers’ two bad plays of the game when he lost the ball and it was run back for the winning touchdown.
Although the game ended in heartbreaking fashion, it was the game of the year in my opinion and one of the ten best NFL games I have ever watched. And if nothing else, it gave me hope for the future. Aaron Rodgers is going to become one of the top quarterbacks of the next decade and if Ted Thompson is as good as he thinks he is, this team will be in the playoffs many years to come. There is some work to do on the offensive line and continued learning that needs to be done in the 3-4 defense if they decide to continue down that path. There are other minor details to work out like is Ryan Grant the back they want to stick with, finding a punter, and making some adjustments to the secondary when going against good passing attacks.
But I am confident this team will be a winner again next season. The schedule will be tougher but this team will be better. Ron Jaworski, ESPN analyst for Monday Night Football, made a comment at the beginning of the 2008 season that this was the beginning of a destiny. It’s off to a slowly-improving start, but so was the Packer run of the mid-1990s and many of the championship teams of this past decade. Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay all had many disappointments in the playoffs before winning their championships. I think it is just a matter of time for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
So with football season culminating, it’s time to shift attention to college basketball. And does anyone notice how the Wisconsin Badgers are picked to finish between fifth and eighth in the Big Ten every year. And all they do is finish in the top four every year. The Badgers are once again doing this. I saw them picked to finish as low as eighth place this year in the Big Ten. All they’ve done is beaten Maryland, Duke, Ohio State and Purdue when all those teams were ranked and a couple still are. They are sitting at 4-1 in the Big Ten and are arguably the second best team in the conference right now behind Michigan State.
Here we go as we get set for another exciting final half of the college basketball season!
Check out my website at www.songerstudio.com
Friday, January 15, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
2009 in Review
It hasn’t been the most exciting year in the opinion of this Wisconsin sports fan, but I do have some favorite moments. Here is my personal Top 10:
10. Despite the Packers losing the game, the 4th quarter of the Pittsburgh-Green Bay game in December was one of the most exciting quarters of NFL football of the season. Hopefully we’ll ee more offense like this out of the Packers in January.
9. Marquette defeats the fashionable pick Utah State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in March. The Golden Eagles go on to lose a heartbreaker to Xavier on a bass line violation in the second round. It’s the second year in a row that Marquette exits in heartbreaking fashion.
8. I give up watching Major League Baseball. The inequity of salary and the inability for players, owners, union, the commissioner and fans to see these differences frustrate me so much that I decide it’s best for me just not to follow the game anymore. Happy trails MLB.
7. The PGA Championship takes place a couple miles from our house right here in Chaska, Minnesota in August.
6. The Wisconsin Badgers jump out to an early lead over Duke in December and go on to frustrate the highly ranked Blue Devils en route to a victory. The win also gives the Big Ten a win in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
5. We get to see Marquette play in the Old Spice Classic at Disney World in November. The Golden Eagles defeat Michigan in the preseason tournament semifinal game.
4. The Green Bay Packers show their new 3-4 defense and rally with a huge touchdown pass by Aaron Rodgers in the closing minutes and defeat the Chicago Bears in the NFL Sunday night opener in September. It is Rodgers’ first comeback victory against a team other than the Lions.
3. The Wisconsin Badgers fall behind big to Florida State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in March. Not known for being a come from behind team or for scoring a lot of points, the Badgers go on a huge second half run to come back and win.
2. In November, Milwaukee Bucks’ rookie Brandon Jennings goes for 55 points against the Golden State Warriors in only his seventh NBA game. It’s the most points scored by a Bucks rookie ever and third most by a rookie in NBA history. It’s also the fewest number of games it has ever taken a player to score 50-plus in a game.
1. Aaron Rodgers becomes a consistent force for the Green Bay Packers leading the team to a winning season and himself into the middle of the MVP race along with Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and the man he replaced, Brett Favre. Charles Woodson also has an incredible year and is up for defensive player of the year.
10. Despite the Packers losing the game, the 4th quarter of the Pittsburgh-Green Bay game in December was one of the most exciting quarters of NFL football of the season. Hopefully we’ll ee more offense like this out of the Packers in January.
9. Marquette defeats the fashionable pick Utah State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in March. The Golden Eagles go on to lose a heartbreaker to Xavier on a bass line violation in the second round. It’s the second year in a row that Marquette exits in heartbreaking fashion.
8. I give up watching Major League Baseball. The inequity of salary and the inability for players, owners, union, the commissioner and fans to see these differences frustrate me so much that I decide it’s best for me just not to follow the game anymore. Happy trails MLB.
7. The PGA Championship takes place a couple miles from our house right here in Chaska, Minnesota in August.
6. The Wisconsin Badgers jump out to an early lead over Duke in December and go on to frustrate the highly ranked Blue Devils en route to a victory. The win also gives the Big Ten a win in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge.
5. We get to see Marquette play in the Old Spice Classic at Disney World in November. The Golden Eagles defeat Michigan in the preseason tournament semifinal game.
4. The Green Bay Packers show their new 3-4 defense and rally with a huge touchdown pass by Aaron Rodgers in the closing minutes and defeat the Chicago Bears in the NFL Sunday night opener in September. It is Rodgers’ first comeback victory against a team other than the Lions.
3. The Wisconsin Badgers fall behind big to Florida State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in March. Not known for being a come from behind team or for scoring a lot of points, the Badgers go on a huge second half run to come back and win.
2. In November, Milwaukee Bucks’ rookie Brandon Jennings goes for 55 points against the Golden State Warriors in only his seventh NBA game. It’s the most points scored by a Bucks rookie ever and third most by a rookie in NBA history. It’s also the fewest number of games it has ever taken a player to score 50-plus in a game.
1. Aaron Rodgers becomes a consistent force for the Green Bay Packers leading the team to a winning season and himself into the middle of the MVP race along with Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and the man he replaced, Brett Favre. Charles Woodson also has an incredible year and is up for defensive player of the year.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Badgers Beat Duke
Here it is in the middle of football season, and I am talking college basketball thanks to the Wisconsin Badgers. They once again are stealing some headlines from my beloved Packers. And it comes in typical fashion.
The preseason Big Ten basketball predictions once again had Michigan State at the top of the list thanks to Tom Izzo and his incredible job of recruiting top players. Second on the list was Purdue thanks to their young team from a couple years ago now coming together. Then Ohio State again due to great recruiting. Where was Wisconsin on the list? Seventh. Behind these three schools and then overrated Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois.
This is an annual tradition. The so-called experts look at the Badgers and see that Bo Ryan has not gone out and found the top athletes. They say that the Badgers have lost their star players (who four years ago were also not considered very good) and that this Badger team will not be as good as last year. And then year after year, Bo goes out and finishes in the top three in the Big Ten.
Well, it looks like it will probably happen again this year. We got a hint of this when the Badgers smoked Top 25 ranked Maryland in the Maui tournament a couple weeks ago. And then this Wednesday was the big one. Wisconsin went out and ran with fifth ranked Duke in the first half and then enticed them into a typical Badger slow-down game in the second half en route to an upset of the Blue Devils. Not only was it a huge win for the Badgers, but it was the first time Duke ever lost in the Big Ten-ACC challenge. And it was the first time the Big Ten ever combined to win the challenge.
I doubt Wisconsin will ever get the credit they deserve especially under Bo Ryan’s non entertaining system, but it’s wins like this that just go to prove that this program is one of the best in the Big Ten and one of the top twenty programs in the country this decade.
On Wisconsin!
The preseason Big Ten basketball predictions once again had Michigan State at the top of the list thanks to Tom Izzo and his incredible job of recruiting top players. Second on the list was Purdue thanks to their young team from a couple years ago now coming together. Then Ohio State again due to great recruiting. Where was Wisconsin on the list? Seventh. Behind these three schools and then overrated Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois.
This is an annual tradition. The so-called experts look at the Badgers and see that Bo Ryan has not gone out and found the top athletes. They say that the Badgers have lost their star players (who four years ago were also not considered very good) and that this Badger team will not be as good as last year. And then year after year, Bo goes out and finishes in the top three in the Big Ten.
Well, it looks like it will probably happen again this year. We got a hint of this when the Badgers smoked Top 25 ranked Maryland in the Maui tournament a couple weeks ago. And then this Wednesday was the big one. Wisconsin went out and ran with fifth ranked Duke in the first half and then enticed them into a typical Badger slow-down game in the second half en route to an upset of the Blue Devils. Not only was it a huge win for the Badgers, but it was the first time Duke ever lost in the Big Ten-ACC challenge. And it was the first time the Big Ten ever combined to win the challenge.
I doubt Wisconsin will ever get the credit they deserve especially under Bo Ryan’s non entertaining system, but it’s wins like this that just go to prove that this program is one of the best in the Big Ten and one of the top twenty programs in the country this decade.
On Wisconsin!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Packers Win But Lose Star Players
The Green Bay Packers are having a nightmarish year. Not only have they lost both games against Brett Favre and the Vikings but now the key injuries are adding up. Already having serious injury issues at running back and offensive line, now the defense is in trouble. Al Harris and Aaron Kampman went down today and are probably both out for the season.
And yet, this team is still 6-4 and in the mix for the playoffs. The problem is that this team have developed no chemistry or signs of putting together a string of good games together. And with the combination of injuries and highly questionable coaching decisions, it's hard to imagine that changing.
With that said, it's the NFL. Anything can happen. The teams that are hot right now are a couple injuries away from coming back to the Pack. The stretch run has begun. And the Packers continue it this Thursday against the lowly Lions. The problem for the Packers is there is no team they can't lose to. And that includes the Lions, especially on Thanksgiving day.
And yet, this team is still 6-4 and in the mix for the playoffs. The problem is that this team have developed no chemistry or signs of putting together a string of good games together. And with the combination of injuries and highly questionable coaching decisions, it's hard to imagine that changing.
With that said, it's the NFL. Anything can happen. The teams that are hot right now are a couple injuries away from coming back to the Pack. The stretch run has begun. And the Packers continue it this Thursday against the lowly Lions. The problem for the Packers is there is no team they can't lose to. And that includes the Lions, especially on Thanksgiving day.
Bucks Continue Winning
Not sure if the Bucks are for real yet, but this has been a great start to the season. To think that Milwaukee might have a superstar player in this league in Brandon Jennings and lately they have been winning with their other two marquee players, Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut is amazing. The way they changed their philosophy and won with a 3-guard approach against Memphis was genius. Not many coaches would go out on a limb and go away from their low post game and try to win in a different fashion in the second game of a back to back with only a couple hours to prepare.
This road trip should be interesting. The Bucks are playing two teams that have been very good in the past, San Antonio and New Orleans, that are currently struggling. And then they go to Oklahoma City to play a Thunder team that may be the best team they play on this trip. If they can follow up a 5-1 homestand with even a 2-2 road trip with their current injuries, I would be very impressed.
Go Packers today!
This road trip should be interesting. The Bucks are playing two teams that have been very good in the past, San Antonio and New Orleans, that are currently struggling. And then they go to Oklahoma City to play a Thunder team that may be the best team they play on this trip. If they can follow up a 5-1 homestand with even a 2-2 road trip with their current injuries, I would be very impressed.
Go Packers today!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Brandon Jennings Goes For 55
It’s not very often that basketball takes my mind off of football before December, but it happened this weekend when Milwaukee Bucks’ rookie phenom Brandon Jennings went for 55 points in a 129-125 victory over Golden State this past Saturday.
It was the third most points scored by a rookie ever in an NBA game. It was the second most points scored by a Milwaukee Bucks player of any age in a game in franchise history. It was the most points scored by a rookie in 42 years. BJ scored 29 of those points in the third quarter as the Bucks rolled to their fourth victory in a row, their longest winning streak in over two years.
So those are the stats. Now for the reaction. I am absolutely amazed at this kid. And I am so excited that we might finally have a superstar in Milwaukee for the first time since Ray Allen (sorry Michael Redd). Watching the highlights of this game was incredible. The thing that impresses me most about Brandon Jennings is how he has a feel for the game. He seems to play well beyond his years.
Of course, there are skeptics already. Reading a blog after the game, I read about fans complaining that he shoots too much. The response to that was would you rather have Charlie Bell jacking up those shots? No thanks. This is a Bucks team that has been terrible for four years. They need someone who shoots too much especially if that player is actually going to make those shots.
The one thing I don’t agree with though is that we don’t need Michael Redd. I think Redd can play a huge role for this team. That is the role of the shooter who spots up and waits for passes from Jennings or Bogut and then drains threes. Of course he is still the type of player who can penetrate and dish the ball as well, but these are not his strengths. The past four years, we have relied on Redd way too much. Now he can settle into a role as one of three major options and concentrate on playing to his strengths.
I might be getting a little ahead of myself seven games into this young season, but I am excited about this team for the first time in a few years. Even if they don’t get to the playoffs this year, the first seven games are a good sign for the bright future ahead.
It was the third most points scored by a rookie ever in an NBA game. It was the second most points scored by a Milwaukee Bucks player of any age in a game in franchise history. It was the most points scored by a rookie in 42 years. BJ scored 29 of those points in the third quarter as the Bucks rolled to their fourth victory in a row, their longest winning streak in over two years.
So those are the stats. Now for the reaction. I am absolutely amazed at this kid. And I am so excited that we might finally have a superstar in Milwaukee for the first time since Ray Allen (sorry Michael Redd). Watching the highlights of this game was incredible. The thing that impresses me most about Brandon Jennings is how he has a feel for the game. He seems to play well beyond his years.
Of course, there are skeptics already. Reading a blog after the game, I read about fans complaining that he shoots too much. The response to that was would you rather have Charlie Bell jacking up those shots? No thanks. This is a Bucks team that has been terrible for four years. They need someone who shoots too much especially if that player is actually going to make those shots.
The one thing I don’t agree with though is that we don’t need Michael Redd. I think Redd can play a huge role for this team. That is the role of the shooter who spots up and waits for passes from Jennings or Bogut and then drains threes. Of course he is still the type of player who can penetrate and dish the ball as well, but these are not his strengths. The past four years, we have relied on Redd way too much. Now he can settle into a role as one of three major options and concentrate on playing to his strengths.
I might be getting a little ahead of myself seven games into this young season, but I am excited about this team for the first time in a few years. Even if they don’t get to the playoffs this year, the first seven games are a good sign for the bright future ahead.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Done with Baseball
For the past 15 years I have had the ultimate love-hate relationship with Major League Baseball. I love the game of baseball and there is nothing like going to a game, especially now that I have a son that soon will probably love the experience. I would love to cheer for the hometown team just like I do with the Packers and Badgers.
But here is the problem. Since the strike of 1994, baseball has done nothing to legitimately fix the disparity between the free spending teams and the financially-strapped franchises. For awhile I was like many of my baseball cheering friends where I would simply enjoy going to the ballpark. It didn’t matter that the Brewers and Twins lost nearly every game I went to in the 1990s. Then I had the ignorant stage where I thought that with smart draft picks and the right manager, my small market teams could compete on a yearly basis with the big boys.
Then I adopted the philosophy that I now have realized is extremely ignorant when the Florida Marlins won two World Series. I thought that this was the rationale for thinking that there wasn’t an issue and any team could win the championship.
But then I started coming around to reality. There is no chance for a small market team to compete on a yearly basis. The Marlins had two good years over the past 15 and caught lightning in a bottle. They benefited from baseball’s lone saving grace, the playoffs where anything can happen (unlike the regular season where the best team is almost guaranteed to win over the course of an obnoxiously long 162-game regular season). Others that disagree with me will bring up the Minnesota Twins’ division championships this decade. The Twins are in the AL Central which has one large market team, the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox have been one of the largest underachieving big city teams of the past 15 years which has allowed the Tigers, Indians and Twins to win the division. Put the Twins in the AL East and they would experience the same thing Toronto, Baltimore and Tampa Bay have experienced year after year this decade: playing third fiddle to New York and Boston.
But speaking of Tampa Bay, what about the Rays’ division championship a year ago and Bud Selig’s comment that they are not a one-year wonder? Well Bud, like nearly everything you’ve done as commissioner, you are wrong. The Rays have had one good year in their history and probably won’t have a second for quite awhile, especially in that division.
So now, my feelings on Major League Baseball have gone from disgruntled fan to not a fan. I have given MLB chance after chance and get continually frustrated. And now look at which cities are in the playoffs this year: Philadelphia, New York, Boston, two L.A. teams. I’m done. I am absolutely done with Major League Baseball. I am done watching games. I am done caring who wins. I might take my son to a game here and there and let him decide if he likes it, but I am done.
I do not do this hoping to start a movement, and I know that Major League Baseball doesn’t care about losing fans like me. There are plenty of fans who don’t care about the payroll disparities and don’t analyze how the Yankees and Red Sox make the playoffs nearly every year and many other teams have to have nearly everything go right (and yes that includes being in the “right” division Twins fans) to just have a chance once every few years. I’m just saying that I’m done. MLB has lost me.
Good riddance.
But here is the problem. Since the strike of 1994, baseball has done nothing to legitimately fix the disparity between the free spending teams and the financially-strapped franchises. For awhile I was like many of my baseball cheering friends where I would simply enjoy going to the ballpark. It didn’t matter that the Brewers and Twins lost nearly every game I went to in the 1990s. Then I had the ignorant stage where I thought that with smart draft picks and the right manager, my small market teams could compete on a yearly basis with the big boys.
Then I adopted the philosophy that I now have realized is extremely ignorant when the Florida Marlins won two World Series. I thought that this was the rationale for thinking that there wasn’t an issue and any team could win the championship.
But then I started coming around to reality. There is no chance for a small market team to compete on a yearly basis. The Marlins had two good years over the past 15 and caught lightning in a bottle. They benefited from baseball’s lone saving grace, the playoffs where anything can happen (unlike the regular season where the best team is almost guaranteed to win over the course of an obnoxiously long 162-game regular season). Others that disagree with me will bring up the Minnesota Twins’ division championships this decade. The Twins are in the AL Central which has one large market team, the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox have been one of the largest underachieving big city teams of the past 15 years which has allowed the Tigers, Indians and Twins to win the division. Put the Twins in the AL East and they would experience the same thing Toronto, Baltimore and Tampa Bay have experienced year after year this decade: playing third fiddle to New York and Boston.
But speaking of Tampa Bay, what about the Rays’ division championship a year ago and Bud Selig’s comment that they are not a one-year wonder? Well Bud, like nearly everything you’ve done as commissioner, you are wrong. The Rays have had one good year in their history and probably won’t have a second for quite awhile, especially in that division.
So now, my feelings on Major League Baseball have gone from disgruntled fan to not a fan. I have given MLB chance after chance and get continually frustrated. And now look at which cities are in the playoffs this year: Philadelphia, New York, Boston, two L.A. teams. I’m done. I am absolutely done with Major League Baseball. I am done watching games. I am done caring who wins. I might take my son to a game here and there and let him decide if he likes it, but I am done.
I do not do this hoping to start a movement, and I know that Major League Baseball doesn’t care about losing fans like me. There are plenty of fans who don’t care about the payroll disparities and don’t analyze how the Yankees and Red Sox make the playoffs nearly every year and many other teams have to have nearly everything go right (and yes that includes being in the “right” division Twins fans) to just have a chance once every few years. I’m just saying that I’m done. MLB has lost me.
Good riddance.
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