Back to Blogging – Must Be An Election Year

Well from the looks of it, I haven’t posted in about a year and a half.  I surprisingly didn’t follow up on my September of 2010 posts, after the Scott Walker and Ron Johnson wins, considering those were epic and fun to watch.  I also did not follow the absolutely disgusting display of “protests” by our admirable State Senator’s and public sector employees.  And lastly, I haven’t waxed poetic about the past recalls in 2011 and the impending one in 2012 – but not to worry….I will.

I do try and keep these types of conversations civil, as I state in my “mission statement” for this blog, but I will admit, it is going to be difficult for me, this time around to not be snarky, sarcastic, and somewhat demeaning of the other side.  If I start to get too out of hand, I’ve learned to back off (a little).  The reason I will have such a difficult time is the tactics that have been employed by the left in this state are simply abhorent.  I will go into some more detail as to what actions I find especially stupid, but sufficed to say, there is plenty to discuss.

If you happen across this blog, or are directed to it, I hope you share your opinions (positively and negatively) and I will engage accordingly.  The next couple of months are going to be an extremely bumpy one.  Not just in state politics, but locally and nationally as well.  I will also be blogging about many local sports issues that are out there – Packers playoffs, Bucks swan dive, Badgers Football and their need for a real coach, Badger Basketball and their issues, along with the impending Ryan Braun debacle, and much more.

Happy 2012 and enjoy the ride!!!

Milwaukee Bucks 2009 Season – D-O-N-E

Heard today that Michael Redd tore his MCL and ACL in the Bucks Saturday win over Sacramento….I’m no expert, but when your best player and on-court leader goes down for the season, there is not much hope that you’ll make that up.  I’m hoping that the Charlie V’s, Andrew Bogut’s and Richard Jefferson’s of the world will step up their games (along with ALL of the roll players) and make this a magical season, but honestly it’s just that – HOPE!

Favre Fallout and Subsquent Results

Now that the season is over for the teams and players “involved” in the Brett Favre debacle, it’s time to step back and take a look at the success, or failure, of each teams experiment.  The teams and the quarterbacks I am speaking of are as follows, TEAMS: Packers, Jets, Dolphins and Lions (just wait I’ll get there), PLAYERS: Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Chad Pennington, and Dante Culpepper.  We all know the drama that the Packers and Favre went through, so I will not belabor that point, but what I want to do is provide an opinion on each teams decision, how it effected the team, grade each teams season, and long term prognosis.

 

At the start of the 2008 season, the Packers had traded Favre to the Jets for conditional picks (ended up with a 3^rd round pick because Favre stunk the last 5 games and missed the playoffs).  With Favre at Jets camp, they no longer needed Pennington, hence his arrival in Miami.  Not sure what Culpepper’s status was in Miami, at the time, but he was either gone, or soon to be exiting and moving up to Detroit; all this while the Packers were giving the keys to the 14-4 sports car to Aaron Rodgers.  As for where each team stood when the 2007 season ended, the Packers were 14-4, the Jets were 4-12, the Dolphins were 1-15 and the Lions….well who cares.  This season, there were some changes.  The Packers went 6-10, Jets 9-7, Dolphins 11-6 (made playoffs & won their division) and the Lions ceremoniously went 0-16.  At first glance you’d have to say that the Dolphins were the biggest winner in the Favre drama, which for 2008 is true, but let’s look at this a little further. 

 

The Jets, being 4-12 in 2007, took a risk and brought in the aging, drama-queen Brett Favre.  They structured the deal to limit their risk, and in my opinion, did an OK job at that.  The trade was looking REALLY good for Mangini and the Jets when they were 8-3 and then they go and lose 4 out of their next 5 in December.  A little too cold for you Mr. Favre?  Experiment result – FAIL.  Now, they only had to give up a third round pick for the risk, but with Favre’s recent comments telling the team they may need to go in a different direction, who do they have to take his place and what piece of the puzzle could that third rounder have given them?  I hope the Jets fans appreciated a winning season this year, as sour as it was, because 9-7 will not be seen by that franchise next year and possibly in years to come (assuming they have a typical Jets off-season). 

 

The Dolphins, with their complete and utter joke of a 2007 season turned into the Cinderella story of 2008.  They go from 1-15 in ’07 to winning the division in ‘08?!?!?  I realize there’s parity in the NFL, but a 10 game turnaround?  Unbelievable!  Now I know cleaning house, and hiring a new coach has some benefits, but other than Atlanta, this was the story of the season.  Unfortunately they saw what Jets fans saw much of Chad’s career, in their latest playoff loss, and honestly will probably see a lot more of in 2009 and beyond.  All in all a great story, one that would not have been possible if not for Pennington’s consistent, calming play.  The problem is, Chad still has a weak arm, he is not a spring chicken, and the Dolphins have a decent amount of holes to fill to make playoff appearances and division championships a regular occurrence. 

 

I cannot in good conscience spend too much time on the Lions, because they are just too pathetic.  0 and 16 (NFL record for most losses in a season – I believe) is deplorable, especially for a franchise that is not an expansion team.  They, in gross desperation, took Dante Culpepper off of the scrap heap, hoping to do “SOMETHING”.  Too bad Dante’s best days are, and have been, long gone.  I can’t blame the Lions for going after Culpepper, and for Dante accepting their offer, it’s just that neither party was going to be successful.  In turn the whole thing looked unbelievably horrible.  I’m not sure where that franchise is going, and as a Packer fan, that has attended a game in Detroit, I DON’T care.  Side Note: I’ve been to Chicago and their fans, as much as they hate the Packers, are not nearly as jerkish as Detroit fans, so kudos to all of the Detroit opponents.  I applaud each and every team that beat them (even Minnesota and Chicago) because it warms my heart that the collective group of Lions fans paid good money (either in person or on TV) to see THAT team play each week and got to see history – good for them!

 

Now for the Packers; for clarity sake (if you hadn’t figured it out yet) I am a Packer fan, but one that is realistic.  I predicted a 7-9 season after this whole Favre thing, and came within one game of that prediction.  I’ll also tell you I can’t stand Ted Thompson.  His handling of the Favre mess was unprofessional, arrogant, and stupid.  I realize he saw something in Rodgers and wanted to get him out on the field, but how he got there was embarrassing.  I do believe that Brett Favre would have been, albeit slightly, better than Rodgers this year for the Green and Gold, BUT I also believe that Aaron Rodgers will be a better long term QB for this franchise for the foreseeable future.  His statistics were significantly better than I expected.  His poise, leadership, toughness and athletic ability were much better than I imagined, and I am very confident in his ability to lead this team to great success, especially in the unbelievably weak NFC North.  Rodgers is the real deal.  I am certainly not going to go on and say that this is equivalent to Young taking over for Montana; I’m just saying that I am happy with his ability and future, especially when you compare it to the teams in the North.  Rodgers in the next 2-3 years will be in that tier of QB’s like Philip Rivers, Jay Cutler, etc.  He can, if given the weapons, protection, and coaching reach that Pro Bowl level.  We’ll just have to wait and see.

 

This all leads me to the grades for each team.  I will measure them on the decision to make the change, the result of that decision and the long term ramifications for each team.

 

INITIAL DECISION

Packers            B          (would have been an A, had it not been for Ted Thompson’s joke of a management style.)                                           

 

Jets                  B          (can’t blame them for bringing in a HOFer who just came off of a                                              14-4 season KNOWING the team he was under contract with,                                          didn’t want him)

 

Dolphins           B          (Had to do something with the QB “pen” they had.  They picked                                               up a guy who had career numbers and made the coach and Parcells                          look like geniuses.)

 

Lions                F          (just because they went 0-16)

 

RESULT

Packers            D         (I realize going 14-4 in 2007 was not a true reflection of that team                                             – they were a .500 team then as well, but going 6-10 is bad, period)

 

Jets                  F          (After going 8-3 and in the drivers seat, they go and lose 4 out of                                               their last 5 and miss winning the division AND the playoffs.  Bye                                           bye Mangini and Favre.)

 

Dolphins           B+       (Would have received an A if it were not for Pennington’s 4 INT                                               playoff appearance, but considering they were 1-15 last year,                                        Dolphin’s fans should be ecstatic.)

 

Lions                F          (Does it need to be said, again?)

 

FUTURE

Packers            B+       (Jury’s still out on many positions, but at the skill positions, they                                                 are young, talented, and improving)

 

Jets                  D         (Favre’s gone – more than likely – coaching position is vacant,                                      several holes to fill, and their receivers are getting older and less                                                effective.  I’m not too confident.)

 

Dolphins           C         (I’m impressed by the Sparano/Parcells team, Pennington probably                               has another decent year or two in him and you never know what                                          can happen….)

 

Lions                F          (Even though they have nowhere to go but up, going 2-14 next                                      year will still be 2-14.  There are so many holes to fill I wouldn’t                                            even want to start to analyze their “future”.

 

Good luck to all (except of course Detroit) and always realize, this is the NFL – anything’s possible.  Just ask the Dolphins!

 

NFC Championship Game Loss For The Packers….Disappointment?

I’m going to state the obvious, if you didn’t know it already, I’M A PACKERS FAN!!!  I wrote a post awhile back indicating how impressed, surprised, shocked, and amazed I was at the Packers unbelievable season.  If you would have told me in August of 2007 that the 2007/2008 GB Packers would be 13-3, host a playoff game AND host the NFC Championship game I would have told you to stop drinking and get some help.  In my head, at the time, I said to myself, what if, what if?  I would be happy with that, I would be OK with making that the pinnacle of my season, as a fan.  Now, I’ve completely changed my mind.  I am not and will not be OK with JUST making it to the NFC Championship game!!!! 

 The stars have aligned for the Packers, and their aging quarterback, to make a run at the improbable….A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!!!  I realize that 1) the Packers have to win this game – most important! and 2) that the Patriots (more than likely the representative from the AFC) will be the prohibitive favorite, but it’s all there for the Packers to take and run with it.   

 If the Packers lose this game, it will be a monumental disappointment.    If they do lose, I more than likely not even watch the Superbowl.  Well, that’s probably not true, because I’ll probably play in some SB pools, and try and make some money on a game that I will detest watching!  Thinking about it further, it would be more than a disappointment it would be a sports travesty (I know I’m being dramatic, but it would really su**).  I realize the Giants are 9-1 on the road this season (that stat is Unbelievable), with two of those wins in the playoffs (with the last one against the best team in the NFC), but they are indeed a 5 seed in the playoffs, they are coming up to Lambeau, and they have a relatively untested, skittish QB, so not only should the Packers win, they should win handily.  I’m not sure if that will actually happen (a blowout), but I do believe that the Packers will come out of this game the victors, if for no other reason other than the stars told me so……

Anti-Fan Network – Continued

ARRRGGGG.  Another Badger Football game being televised on the BTN (Big Ten Network, or as I like to call it, Bad Television Network).  Ventures like this and the NFL Network should not be put on the air without having cable agreements in place.  I’m not saying some government entity needs to step in, hell it’s just college sports, but this sucks.  Thanks Delaney, you arrogant…..well, I’m going to leave it at that.

Anti-Fan Network

The anti-fan network, better known as the Big Ten Network.  Now if you’re a Dish Network or DirectTV subscriber you don’t much care about the fact that the common cable subscriber (which is most of the TV watching public) can’t watch their favorite college football or basketball team on their TV, but you should.  Yes, right now you’re able to watch Wisconsin play Ohio State, or Michigan State vs. Illinois, but if I’m in Milwaukee and have Time Warner I CAN’T. 

 This isn’t a satellite vs a cable thing, there’s a bigger picture involved here.  Trust me the Big Ten is not starting this venture (an exclusive network) because of the betterment of their Big Ten fans and/or students, it is purely money and the possiblility of having “subscribers” pay more down the road for higher profile games.  You want to see Michigan play Ohio State?  Well that will cost you an extra, oh let’s see, $25.00. 

Are we so naive to think the other big conferences, the BCS conferences, aren’t watching the success or failure of this Big Ten test, and looking to start their own network?!?!?  Here’s the scenario…. 2012, LSU is playing Florida (on the SEC network), while USC is playing Oregon (on the Pac 10 network), LSU beats Florida, and USC beats Oregon, except only 1% of the LSU, Florida, USC, and Oregon fans see the games.  Now, LSU plays USC for the national championship, except it’s on the NCAA network, and you have to pay the equivalent of Tyson vs Holyfield just to see the game (approx $100).  Sound far fetched, just ask any Big Ten fan….especially come basketball season.

THE Green Bay Packers – HUH?

Wow, I’ve been a Green Bay Packer fan for….well, for as long as I can remember, and this year is one of the best I’ve seen in close to 8 years.  Not because they are that good, but because I thought they were going to be TERRIBLE.  I told friends and family that they were going to be 7-9, but realistically I thought they were going to revert back to 2005 numbers and go 4-12 (sorry everyone).  For them to be 7-1 at the middle of the season is nothing short of a miracle – and I just started going back to church.

 Her is my mid-season synopsis:

1) Brett Favre: Nothing short of a Pro Bowl QB.  I can’t and won’t throw out the MVP moniker (I’m not crazy, considering the likes of Tom Brady….HOLY COW, and Adrian Peterson), but he is playing like he’s 30 years old, much to the chagrin of the NFC North.  Keep it up Brett, and if you play like this the rest of the year, I for one will be championing you to come back for the 2008-2009 season (and no, that has nothing to do with the fact that Brett is slightly younger than I am (by 7 1/2 months)).

2) Defense Line: Front Line – deep, solid, and intimidating.  Specifically Aaron Kampman is, dare I say, unstoppable.  Now, he’s no Reggie White, or Dwight Freeney, but there is no doubting his talents and stats.  Depth in this league is quintecential and this team has it in their D-Line.  If the Packers make any noise in the playoffs, one of the main reasons is this part of the squad.

3) Linebackers: Coming into this season, it was supposed to be one of the strengths of this team, and quite honestly they have not lived up to expectations – specifically A.J. Hawk.  Remember, he was the #5 pick, and be honest, how often to you hear his name?  I understand that’s not the only way to analyze a player (especially a 2nd year player), but watching him throughout this season, he’s playing more like Na’il Diggs than a top 5 pick in the NFL draft….Dude, step up!  Nick Barnett is a good linebacker, but is exposed too often.  Not many people could step into his position and do the job he’s doing, but he’s, in my opinion, suspect.  Poppinga: Average, can’t say anything bad, but equally, can’t say anything glowing either.

Secondary: One word: Psychophrenic!  One thing is for sure, the safeties on our team are by far the weakest part of our defense, and I don’t see it getting any better (Nick Collins injured).  Both Woodson and Harris have a lot of penalties, but that is more about their legitmate/legal aggressiveness, than the phantom calls that are: ’illegal contact’ and ‘pass interference’.  NFL referees call those penalties as effectively as I do a cricket match….NOT WELL!!!!

Offensive Skill Positions: Favre, (see above), Donald Driver, another Pro Bowl season – NO QUESTION, Greg Jennings, possible Pro Bowler, and definite Favre “Go-To Guy”.  If not this year, certainly in years to come.  James Jones, if not for Adrian Peterson, he could have had as much rookie press in 2007 as Marques Colston had in 2006.  Donald Lee, re-signed for years to come and for good reason….he has brought back the TE in Green Bay’s offense (who would’ve known).  Koren Robinson is back, Ruvell Martin has stepped up his game – all of which bodes well for the rest of the season.  RB’s – Incomplete.  I say incomplete because a lot of the infectiveness comes from the O-line.  Look at the stats by the end of the season, and we’ll talk again.

Good Luck y’all!

O-Line: GREAT pass protection….GREAT.  Yes, Favre is making better decisions, as a whole, but the O-line is protecting him pretty well.  Now the bad news; their run offense is terrible and I put most of the blame on the O-line.  They can do better, and they had better change that attitude.  I believe they’ll pick it up as the season goes along, but it is not easy (as you can see).   

Offensive Line: Considering their success at the end of 2006 into 2007, this group has regressed.  They had a great O-line with the zone blocking scheme, especially with Ahman Green, but the only good thing (and it’s the biggest offensive revelation this season) is that they are pass protecting MUCH better than expected.  I do expect a much better second half regarding the run offense, and if I’m right, the Packers will have home field throughout the playoffs.

First half grade: B+  How do I grade a team that was projected to be, at best, 4-4 at this point, instead of 7-1?  Simply, because they haven’t played their best games, and they have obvious holes.  I may have raised the bar to high, but this is the NFL, and ANYTHING can happen.  Packer fans, ride this wave, because you never know when the wheels will fall off…..ENJOY!

Brewers…..

I did mention in my first post that this weblog was not going to be strictly about politics, so I am going to comment on my favorite MLB team, the Milwaukee Brewers.  Basically, even after one month of the Brewers not playing, I am still disappointed.  Disappointed that even with all of their young talent, serviceable starting pitching,  a shut down closer, and a weak division, they were unable to make the playoffs.  Admittedly their pitching was suspect, from Ben Sheets health, to Suppan’s meltdown, to our middle relief blowing lead after lead, but that doesn’t make things any easier.  I know there’s always next year.  The young guys will be a year older, Bill Hall will be more comfortable in his CF position, they should go after some more pitching, and they will be somewhat “battle tested”, etc, etc., but for now 2007 was bitter sweet. 

Now for my analysis: If Doug Melvin is listening (stop laughing):

1) Deal Ben Sheets.  Physically he is too much of a question mark, and he’s not getting any younger.

2) Jenkins….well he’s gone and even though he was a good soldier in the dark days, he got paid WAY too much for hitting .255, 21 HR’s, and 64 RBI.  I do wish him good luck in whatever he does.

3) RESIGN Cordero.  This is not negotiable.  Now, could he pull a Gagne???  Sure, but look at these 2007 stats http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=mil&playerID=150188

4) Get a legitimate #1 or #2 starter(either by trade of free agency).  This is the toughest one, because for one, they’re generally not that many out there, and two they are notoriously iffy when it comes to putting up the big numbers after getting that big payday (just ask the SF Giants – Barry Zito)

5) Work on defense ALL off season.  Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Bill Hall and others have to focus their whole off season on defense.  Even though I did not like our pitching staff, they did have more pressure put on them because of the poor defense.  Errors create, at the minimum, a higher pitch count, at worst extra outs, correlating to more runs.

6) Get a freakin’ catcher.  Estrada….lazy and overrated, Miller…..good clubhouse guy, but he’ll be 38 (that’s like 80 in catcher years), Munson…..did Chad Moeller change his name? (’nuff said), and Rivera…..report card: incomplete, but nothing says he can fill the position full time.

7) Note to Brewer players for 2008:  Get your “Road Head” on straight.  It’s great to be able to see win after win at Miller Park, but to make the playoffs, and win some post season series you have to make it look like you didn’t go out to the strip clubs the night(s) before.

I do have to say, in retrospect, it was good to finally have a winning season.  It was good to see us playing important, playoff contending baseball in September.  It was also good to see the St. Louis Cardinals fade into the sunset late in the year, and look as if they were fielding a team from the local nursing home (bodes well for future seasons….Good Luck LaRussa).  And it was AWESOME to see the likes of Prince Fielder (youngest player to hit 50 HR’s and potential MVP candidate – at 23), JJ Hardy hitting GREAT numbers throughout the year, Ryan Braun, lighting up pitcher after pitcher, game after game, along with the possibility of winning Rookie of the Year, and (for me) the surprise hit of the season, Corey Hart. 

This is the first offseason that I can actually tell everyone I know that I am excited and extremely optimistic for the next Milwaukee Brewer season.  Haven’t been able to say that since 1992.  Go Brewers!