Fight to the Postseason

The Twins aren't saying goodbye to the Metrodome just yet.
Jason Kubel hit two three-run homers and Delmon Young added a pair of solo shots powering Minnesota to a 13-4 win Sunday over Kansas City and into a one-game playoff for the second consecutive season, this time against Detroit.
The game will be held at the Dome.
Following an impressive 5-4 win over AL CY Young favorite Zach Grienke Saturday, in which the Twins blew a 4-0 lead before Michael Cuddyer won it in the bottom of the eighth with a blast into the left field bleachers, Minnesota pounded the Royals for 13 runs on an efficient 11 hits, five of which left the park.
Walks to Denard Span and Joe Mauer set up Kubel's first homer. Young's dinger two batters later gave the Twins an early 4-0 after one inning.
And the clouts kept coming.
Kubel went deep in the third after an Orlando Cabrera double and another Mauer free pass.
Kindled by Young's second yardsale and concluded with Cuddyer's second homer in as many days, Minnesota scored at least one run from the fifth inning on.
Kansas City rallied back from an 8-1 deficit, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth and even bringing the tying run to the plate, but Rob Mahay got Billy Butler to strike out swinging to end the threat.
Earlier in the day the Tigers ended a three game slide with a strong performance from ace Justin Verlander, defeating Chicago 5-3.
Scott Baker will face rookie Rick Porcello in Tuesday's one-game playoff.

NOTES:
Cuddyer's dinger was his 10th in September/October, tying him for second on the Twins' all-time list for most long balls hit during those months. Harmon Killebrew once hit 11.
Delmon Young is hitting .529 (9-for-17) in four October games with three home runs and 10 RBI. Since becoming an everyday player on Sept. 7 (24 games), he has batted .347.
Mauer, although his average fell to .363 with an 0-for-3 afternoon, will win his third AL batting title in the past four seasons.
Kubel surpassed century mark for RBI with his second moonshot. He sits at 102.

Tigers Huge Choke Artists

Up seven games three and a half weeks ago, Detroit seemed destined to reach the postseason.
Up three games with four to play Thursday, the Tigers needed to beat Minnesota once more to seal the deal and set up a playoff matchup with the New York Yankees.
They choked -- just like in 2006 when Minnesota claimed the division from them on the regular season's final day.
No team has ever lost the division in the regular season's final week when sitting in first place May 10.
With Minnesota playing its best baseball right now, having won 15 of 19 games, the Tigers could become the first with another loss Sunday.
They'll look to ace Justin Verlander to extend the season at least one more game.
Verlander shut down the White Sox the last time he faced it, giving up an unearned run while going the distance. For his career, however, he is just 4-9 with an ERA barely under 5 against the South Side.

Adrian Peterson Serves as Eagan's Honorary Coach

St. Thomas Academy vs. Hill Murray

Led by its multi-headed rushing attack, St. Thomas Academy continued its string of dominance to begin the 2009 season with a 48-0 romp over Hill Murray, spoiling the Pioneers’ homecoming.

Tailbacks Dan Freund and Augie Braddock powered the Cadets offense with two touchdowns apiece and the defense shut down the Hill Murray (1-3) attack.

St. Thomas Academy, now 4-0, has outscored its opponents 174-27 this season.

The Cadets wasted little time flexing their offensive prowess, scoring on the opening drive of the game courtesy of a 25 yard run up the gut by Freund.

John Garry found Dan Abbott open across the middle for a 10 yard touchdown and Freund ran another in for a 5 yard score on the team’s next two possessions to push STA’s lead to 22, where it would remain through halftime.

The Pioneers never really threatened.

Playmaker Zach LaValle was held in check with the exception of a long screen pass and catch that took Hill Murray into Cadets territory, and starting quarterback Alec Conners was forced out of the game in the third quarter with an injury.

St. Thomas continued to pound the ball in the second half; a tiring Pioneers defense opened the door for some big plays.

Braddock scampered 60 yards untouched into the end zone and ran another in from 10 yards, quarterback Ryan McManus connected with Kyle Rohde for six on a 31-yard strike and John Gould broke numerous tackles during a 64 yard dash on his way to paydirt to cap the scoring.

Catch the Cadets in action next Friday, Oct. 2, as they take on the Henry Sibley Warriors, while the Pioneers head to Tartan to play the Titans.

Brady Loses? A Look at a Couple Week 2 Games

The New England Patriots lost for the first time in 22 regular season tries in games Tom Brady started, falling to the Jets 16-9 Sunday.
The streak began following a 21-0 loss to Miami in December 2006.
(Like that? The Pats had gone 21-0 with Brady since losing 21-0.)

Mario Manningham, a former Michigan receiver who dominated the Big Ten had a colossal game on primetime Sunday. He caught 10 balls for 150 yards and a score in the Giants’ thrilling last-second 33-31 victory over the Cowboys to spoil the opening of the $1.1 billion Dallas Stadium.
The night’s production accounted for 65 percent of Manningham’s career receiving yards and 59 percent of his career catches.
He began playing in the NFL in 2008.

Minnesota Meets The Best

Jukes, speed and quickness
Jahvid Best scores with ease
Gophers suffer defeat

(A Haggy Haiku)

Smile at Misfortune

When your best efforts lead to the worst results -- the showers on the hook for a loss -- there's only one thing to do.
Smile.
The always focused, generally pissed off looking Justin Verlander gave in to the "say cheese" expression Saturday after giving up what proved to be the game-winning hit to Jason Kubel.
The single came with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth of a 2-1 game on a well located 0-2 fastball down and away.
Kubel sliced at the ball, and with the help of Verlander's velocity -- the radar gun registered 100 mph -- blooped it enough to reach the outfield turf for the decisive single.
And Verlander's performance up to that point, holding the Twins to five basehits and one run through 7 1/3 innings went for naught.

Dome Friendly

The Twins are sure going to miss playing at the Metrodome next year.
Thanks to the translucent roof, the Twins pulled off a 6-2 come from behind victory Saturday over Detroit and moved to within two games of its AL Central-leading opponent.
With a runner on in the bottom of the eighth and one out trailing 2-1, the Twins' Orlando Cabrera hit a routine fly ball to left field. Don Kelly, a rookie who had just entered the game as a defensive replacement, lost it in cumulus cloud ceiling.
After searching with his arms raised in obvious confusion, Kelly located the ball in its final 20 feet of flight, and made a desperation dive to his right.
He came up empty.
And the Twins took advantage.
By the time he recovered and relayed the ball into the infield, runners were on second and third.
After loading the bases with an intentional walk to Joe Mauer, who had delivered Minnesota's lone run of the afternoon earlier with his 28th home run, Jason Kubel hit an end of the bat flair base-hit into left field off of Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander to give Minnesota its first lead at 3-2.
Michael Cuddyer followed with an exclamation point three-run blast into left center off of newly inserted Brandon Lyon to ensure that the Twins would at least win this ever important series with Detroit.
It isn't the first time the Dome roof has come into play, but it certainly has to be one of the most timely.
And after sitting seven games back of the Tigers not two weeks ago, the Twins have climbed to within a couple games of taking over the lead in the AL Central.
These two teams play eachother five more times, including tomorrow's game and four at Comerica Park where Kelly and the Tigers should now see that this division battle will likely go down to the wire.

Trojan Triumph

There is a new hero in Southern California.
Just his second collegiate game, 19-year old Matt Barkley, before 106,000 excitable Ohio State fans smelling blood and against the hungry Jaws of defenses nationally, calmly punched the eye of the Buckeyes with a late-game touchdown drive and two-point conversion to lift No. 3 USC to a 18-15 victory Saturday night.
It certainly wasn't the rout of meetings past, but USC, thanks to the big plays by its true freshman quarterback, found a way to move to 7-0 against Ohio State under coach Pete Carroll's tenure and 10-0 against the Big Ten.
Barkley completed passes of 21 and 26 yards and converted two fourth downs with quarterback sneaks on the winning drive that began at the Trojans' own 18 and took 14 plays.
Entering Saturday's tilt, the Trojans' average margin of victory was more than three touchdowns, and zero games were decided by 10 or fewer points.
Those games also featured Trojan teams with well established talent, many of whom are now in the NFL.
After Saturday's impressive performance it's safe to say, Barkley has established that he's well on his way.

Badger Football Needs New General

This season should be Bret Bielema's last as head coach.
Brought in for his ability to recruit, Bielema has consistently been outdone by just about every Big Ten school.
The most emasculating moment took place two years ago. Nemesis Minnesota, following its 1-11 2007 season, landed the 17th-best class, according to Rivals.com, whereas Wisconsin ranked No. 41.
Where the Badgers have suffered most is on defense, particularly in the secondary and on the defensive line.
Wisconsin employs a pro-style offense (11th man is a fullback or second tight end rather than a receiver), known for its ground-heavy attack; it led the Big Ten in rushing in 2008. For the most part, that translates to grinding, slow paced football and fewer points. In order to remain competitive, teams using the pro-style need a gritty defense to match.
The Badgers don't have that.
No defensive back recruit has been classified as a top-tier athlete (more than three stars) under Bielema's reign. And while the overall stars of incoming freshmen has improved since the early 2000s, the player development has gotten worse.
Jay Valai at 5-foot-9 is an undersized strong safety and Chris Maragos is only a slight upgrade from the days Shane Carter consistently played an out-of-position free safety. Inexperienced youth sits behind them on the depth chart.
Heck, the home field advantage Camp Randall used to provide seems to becoming a thing of the forgotten past. The Badgers were embarrassed by Penn State a year ago and nearly so versus Cal Poly in their own backyard. Ohio State came away with a road win as well.
Saturday, the Badgers needed two overtimes and a career long 57-yard field goal by Philip Welch to overcome a 14 point deficit and defeat unranked Fresno State 34-31. The upcoming slate of conference games could be painful to watch.
Sure the team is young with 12 new starters on both sides of the ball.
Few have proven capable of solidifying this team as a Big Ten contender, however.
Bielema has had plenty of opportunities to avoid such a decline, and his time can't be up soon enough.

Emailbag 1: Response to Twins Post

Send me a question to khagstrom23@gmail.com and I will answer it. I want to make this blog, when I take time to post my thoughts (which hasn't been too often recently), more interactive.

Here's the first set of questions. They both apply to my posting "Twins Down Now, May Be Out Tomorrow."

Question: "What happened to the scouting we used to have?"

Answer: I somewhat misspoke in writing that something has happened to Minnesota's evaluators of talent. They're still pretty solid; some of the best, in fact. The problem has been that the Twins have been winning and have therefore kept their most marketable pieces (or lost them to free agency or one sided trades) in the past few years.

Small market teams are forced to ride waves. Once they can no longer win with the talent they have, they trade it all away and start from the ground up again.

The Twins were bad from 1993 through 2000 (eight years). They’ve been competitive since (nine years). Just seems like the time is nearing where they will have to start over.

The economy will factor greatly into whether Minnesota can avoid the onset of the cycle of losing.
The Santana deal can partially be attributed to this different era in baseball. In tighter financial times teams are more wary of acquiring a major league star at the expense of depleting their farm. That's why Toronto wasn't able to deal Roy Halladay before the trading deadline. Both situations can also be blamed on the GM for not pulling the trigger at the right time when good, if not ideal, offers were out there.
I do still want to make clear that regardless of economic times, some players just aren’t very marketable. Minnesota has quite a bit invested in guys like Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young and Brendan Harris – the latter two were involved in what should be considered one of the worst trades the Twins have made in my lifetime, giving up an everyday shortstop (which the Twins just acquired back by trading for Cabrera) in Jason Bartlett and a front of the rotation starter (no one has yet filled that void) in Matt Garza.

Don’t forget the Santana trade either.

Management has begun making some mistakes. Large market teams like the Yankees can cover their mistakes by spending.

Small market teams pay the price.

It hurts to watch.

Question 2: "The Boston Red Sox recently acquired catcher Victor Martinez. Do you think they would still be in the running for Mauer, should the Twins be unable to retain him?"

Answer 2: As far as I’m concerned every team that can afford to play the baiting game will in the quest for Joe Mauer. If I’m the Red Sox, I know Mauer is the best in the business and one of the game’s top 10 players, so I go for him. Martinez always has the option of become a full-time first baseman.

Twins Down Now, May Be Out Tomorrow

Losses continue to mount.
The starting pitching with the exception of Scott Baker is crumbling. Francisco Liriano will never again resemble his dominant 2006 self, nor may he ever be a reliable arm in the rotation again (his 11 losses are a major league worst, as is his 5.63 ERA, among pitchers who have hurled at least 100 innings).
And guys like Nick Punto and Alexi Casilla continue to appear in Minnesota's lineup.
The present is bad, despite sitting just 4.5 games out of first place with a 53-55 record.
The future, well that looks worse.
I hesitate to bet on my bold prediction made earlier in the week -- the Washington Nationals will have a better record than the Twins in 2011 -- because the new stadium will bring in additional revenue as new fans emerge among people who enjoy the outdoors, comfortable leg room and backrests, are interested in checking out the team's new digs and any or all of them in between.
With that money the Twins will be able to acquire some mid-level talent and, hopefully, before the start of next season, when the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels and Dodgers start calling, to lock up Joe Mauer for life.
If Twins management creates another mess like it did of the Johan Santana situation, failing to lock up the ace long-term before his market value could truly be assessed, Mauer will walk.
Or, he'll get traded for a bunch of ruffian, mediocre prospects 29 other MLB teams want nothing to do with.
Mauer loves the Cities, sure. He cherishes the idea of playing in front of his family and friends in his hometown, no doubt. He's likely a model citizen that many can rightfully look up to.
But he's not stupid.
No way he, let alone his agent, accepts a hometown discount if it's less than say 80 percent of the asking price.
Should the Yankees offer a seven-year, $136 million contract (which I think is a reasonable estimate of what may go down), the Twins would have to offer, at a minimum, in the range of seven years at $110 million. To go six years, maybe $120 million would cut it.
At least the incentive to re-sign is also there in the form of a protective power bat and pal, Justin Morneau, who is with the team through 2013.
The obvious disadvantage of playing in a small market is the inability to retain your top stars without shelling out top dollar. There comes a point when you just can't compete.
That's why you trade movable chips and stock up the farm system. You understand the concept, I'm sure.
Where once the Twins were strong, now could be their true undoing ... for a long time.
The Big League roster is loaded with undesirable talent of the players Minnesota would be willing to move, especially with the undoing of Liriano.
Because Minnesota can't use players at the big league level as bait -- think Chuck Knoblauch for Eric Milton, Pat Buchanan and Cristian Guzman or A.J. Pierzynski for Boof Bonser, Liriano and Joe Nathan -- or it botches opportunities like the aforementioned Santana deal, the entire farm system is reliant on drafting talent.
Nothing is wrong with the team's player development and scouting staff.
There are just fewer opportunities to acquire top prospects, making life difficult for the Twins organization as a whole.
That contrasts sharply to the days the farm system was thought to be a garden of ripe arms.
It all comes down to this: No talent on the farm and no money to bring it in leaves GM Bill Smith in quite the dilemma, hence the logic behind my on the breath prediction. As an aside, Washington has a loaded farm system when it comes to pitching and an already very talented, potent lineup.
The reason Minnesota couldn't be a player in the race for Jarrod Washburn at the trade dealine was because it didn't have the intrigue Detroit had to offer.
That move alone should bolster Detroit's chances of making it to October.
Chicago also improved its rotation, acquiring 2007 NL Cy Young winner Jake Peavy last week from San Diego. Peavy is recovering from an ankle injury and won't be back until late August at the earliest.
He's a good pitcher, better than Washburn, but hasn't been effective against AL Central teams, posting a 4.54 ERA in seven starts (up from a career 3.29 mark).
Going from pitching in about as pitcher friendly as you can get at Petco Field to one of the most homer-happy parks in U.S. Cellular won't help.
He'll be a solid front end of the rotation guy, not unstoppable.
Chicago gave up way too much to get him and he won't really factor in to this year's playoff race. Should the Sox make it to the postseason, which is a good possibility, Peavy will be a asset to have. He's also signed through 2013.
Enjoy the move outdoors Minnesota, because the sun could very well be the only thing shining over the Twins for years to come.

Kobe, Lakers Crowned

Kobe passes, defends
Plays team game to perfection
Easy Lakers win

(A Haggy Haiku)

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Kobe Bryant wasn't about to let the Orlando Magic spoil his quest for a fourth NBA championship and first without Shaquille O'Neal. Rather than trying to go it alone -- as done unsuccessfully in the past -- he entrusted his teammates to the task.
The result: an impressive 99-86 win by the Lakers Sunday to earn their fourth title since the Y2K scare.
Bryant played perhaps his best basketball game of the playoffs -- an effort which had the Magic hopelessly searching for a program that would thwart the Lakers' star to avoid elimination.
No such luck.
Bryant was his usual unstoppable self, offensively, scoring 30 points on 10-of-23 shooting, and defensively, recording two steals and four blocked shots.
He got his, no doubt.
But what stood out was the way he involved everyone else.
Either as the primary passer or setting things up with his ability to score at will, Bryant time and time again found open teammates who in turn made Orlando pay.
Four other Lakers finished in double figures, highlighted by Lamar Odom's 17.
Few of Bryant's own shots were forced. And the fluidity, prowess and efficiency of Los Angeles forced even the imposing Dwight Howard and his Magic to bow; they discovered Bryant is king.

Notes:
Phil Jackson passes Red Auerbach and sits atop the record book for most NBA titles won by a coach. He now has 10.

Derek Fisher and Bryant join a select few of active players (O'Neal and Tim Duncan) with four rings.

(Photo taken by Robert Gauthier of the Los Angeles Times)

No Magic in Orlando

Magic fans have to be thinking it's 1995 all over again.

With a chance to make it a two possession game, up 87-84, Dwight Howard stepped to the line. Eleven point one seconds.

The first, a line drive with little rotation. Long.

One more.

Howard wiped his brow and mouthed a few words of encouragement before taking aim.

Rotation and arc restored, the shot soared high into the Amway Arena air, but Howard shifted his weight. Deep inside he knew.

Long again. Timeout. Lakers ball.

Orlando had been given its chance, much like its 1995 team when Nick Anderson clunked four consecutive freebees in Game 1 to open the door for Houston to storm back and tie at the end of regulation, win in overtime and sweep the series.

Now it was time for the experienced Lakers to take charge.

Off the inbound pass from Lamar Odom, Kobe Bryant found Trevor Ariza who swung the ball cross court at midcourt to veteran Derek Fisher. Seven seconds.

Despite obvious woes, including brutally inaccurate shooting throughout the postseason, the gritty veteran cleared past troubles from his mind and pulled up from downtown -- open to shoot because Magic guard Jameer Nelson sagged below the arc defensively.

Swish. Tie game.

Orlando's Mickael Pietrus rushed a shot wide and deep right as time expired, knowing too well it was only a matter of time that the Lakers would prevail. After all, they had weathered the Magic storm, mounting a comeback after trailing at halftime by 12.

Orlando briefly held a lead after a trey from Rashard Lewis on the first possession of overtime. But the team's courage was gone -- replaced by halfhearted hustle and more carelessness (a key turnover with the score still close; 17 in all).

Los Angeles and Bryant found their old gunner to be true again; Fisher drained the game-winning three with 31 seconds to play and Pau Gasol's two dunks secured the 99-91 Lakers win Thursday, putting Los Angeles one win away from an NBA title.

And with history on its side, holding a 3-1 advantage, it seems almost inevitable Bryant and the Lakers will get their first -- without Shaq.

The youthful, resilient men in blue and white were right there. Instead they'll leave this night, and perhaps season, feeling but one free throw short, one turnover away.

Notes:

Kobe Bryant found late-game success when he entrusted the ball in another's hands. Twice he passed the ball in overtime and twice the Lakers scored -- a Pau Gasol dunk and Fisher's game-winning 3-pointer. Even on the brink of his first championship without O'Neal, he still hasn't realized the only way to make that dream happen is through his teammates, not by himself.

Bryant has struggled with his shot in the crunch, due in part to great defense from either Pietrus or someone else and poor shot selection. He followed a 1-of-5 fourth quarter Tuesday in Los Angeles' 108-104 loss with a 2-of-8 effort Thursday. After two characteristic Bryant makes at the front end of overtime (pullups from the right elbow and free throw line), he started to press a bit with his shot, selecting to shoot, and missing, despite being well defended.

Get this: The Lakers are 6-1 this postseason when Fisher scores more than 10 points. He finished with 12.

Orlando missed 15 free throws (22-of-37), including five (2-of-7) in the backend of the fourth quarter. Howard finished 6-of-14 from the charity stripe.

Speaking of the Orlando big man, Howard set a single-game Finals record with nine block shots. He also hauled in 21 boards.

Though his stellar help defense kept the Magic in the game, he proved to be somewhat of a liability on the court, thanks to eight missed free throws, seven turnovers and several rushed, awkward looking shots.

Vikings Get Who They Wanted

First-rounder Percy Harvin should be a dynamic presence on offense.

The Vikings didn't have many picks, but made them count this weekend in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Drafting for need, Minnesota found value and good upside with every pick.
To compliment Adrian Peterson on the ground, Minnesota used its first selection to snare versatile wide receiver Percy Harvin. Harvin is an outstanding athlete who can return kicks, work the slot and come out of the backfield. His speed and elusiveness make him a home run threat from all positions.
Phil Loadholt, the team's second round choice, immediately improves the right side of the line. A mauler with Bryant McKinnie size should open up more lanes for Peterson to pound.
Asher Allen adds depth to the corner position. The Vikings drafted the former Georgia Bulldog in round 3.
For whatever reason the franchise has an affinity with the Gamecocks. Recent drafted receivers Sidney Rice and Troy Williamson attended South Carolina. The Vikings added linebacker Jasper Brinkley to the equation in the fourth round. His speed and coverage capabilities should see the field in a starting role a year or two from now.
The team's final selection, Jamarca Sanford, safety, fills another need.

Notes on Draft Day:

Realizing the absence of a legit wideout after the Plaxico Burress incident shot its chances at a Super Bowl repeat, the Giants grab Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina in round 1 and Ramses Barden of Cal Poly in round 3. Neither has separating speed, but both are big, physical specimens who match New York's identity well.

Just as the Vikings seem to go for Gamecocks, Kansas City doesn't get away from the LSU watering hole. Back-to-back drafts the Chiefs took a former Tiger interior lineman first. Last year it was Glenn Dorsey, this year it's Tyson Jackson.

The Wildcat offense in Miami just got a bit more trippy. Dolphins selected Pat White of West Virginia in the second round.

The Clemson secondary went back-to-back in round 4. Chris Clemons joins Miami and Michael Hamlin is drafted by Dallas.

The Big Zero

Nothing doing on bases
Pitching ruled the day
Five teams held scoreless

(A Haggy Haiku)

MLB Notes

Carlos Quentin, the Chicago White Sox outfielder, hit his Major League-leading seventh home run Sunday afternoon in a 12-2 romp over Tampa Bay.

Jimmy Rollins just needed a benching.
Mired in a 3-for-33 slump and hitting .133 to start the 2009 season, the 2007 NL MVP came off the Phillies bench and belted a game-tying home run in the bottom of the eighth inning versus San Diego.

Kansas City doesn't appear to want to sit atop the AL Central for long. Kyle Farnsworth, the loser of two decisions already, thanks to separate blown leads of two runs, was brought in to pitch the ninth inning in the hitter-friendly confines of the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Texas' Michael Young hit a lead-off walk-off home run. Farnsworth's ERA rises to 18.90 and the Royals fall to 7-5.

Turning Around

Everything is going to be alright.
Ever since Minnesota's seven-run outburst in the eighth inning Friday night, capped by Jason Kubel's dramatic game-winning grand slam, the woes to begin the year have been quelled.
The team has the arms of Kevin Slowey and Glen Perkins to thank. And Kubel's bat.
Slowey pitched seven strong innings Saturday; Perkins followed with eight Sunday -- both wins, 9-2 and 3-1 -- to give the suddenly suspect bullpen a much needed break and chance to regroup.
Entering play Saturday, Twins relievers combined for a 7.61 ERA -- third worst in baseball, behind the Braves, Angels and Rangers.
Since: zero runs in three innings of work.
Kubel followed his cycle 4-for-5 effort Friday with another 4-hit night Saturday to help deliver a 9-2 win.
He hit the ball well all afternoon Sunday, but finished the game 0-for-4.
Minnesota, a team whose history for success has been good baserunning, key situational hits, strong pitching and error-free defense finally put it all together in the last few days.

Kubel Propels Twins to Win

It seems hard to believe, but the Minnesota Twins won.
It wasn't just any win, either, coming back in dramatic fashion with a seven-run eighth to win 11-9 against Los Angeles Friday night.
Jason Kubel belted a bases-loaded home run over the right field baggy to cap the team's rally and his cycle.
The designated hitter produced the first run of the night with an RBI double in the first, singled in the third and tripled in the sixth.
Minnesota's eighth inning went as follows: Michael Cuddyer led off with a single, stole second on a Brian Buscher strikeout and went to third on a wild pitch.
Joe Crede walked before Mike Redmond singled to right to score Cuddyer.
Another walk to Nick Punto and a double by Denard Span scored two more. With first base open, the Angels elected to intentionally pass Justin Morneau, setting the stage for Kubel's memorable night.
He becomes the first Twin to hit for the cycle since Carlos Gomez did it last May, and ties a career high in the process with four hits.
More importantly, Kubel's heroics propelled a team that had lost five of six.
The pitching has been atrocious, giving up another nine earned runs Friday, pushing its team E.R.A. above 6.
The bullpen accounted for five of the Angels' runs and could be in serious trouble later in the year if it continues to throw three or four innings a night. Not only for the shaky performances, but also for wear and tear purposes.
Starter Nick Blackburn pitched four solid innings before running into trouble in the fifth. He gave up three runs on four straight singles and a Denard Span throwing error.
His time ran out in the seventh and he left with a runner aboard and one out.
Enter Jesse Crain, who proceeded to give up four runs.
Matt Guerrier allowed another in the eighth before Minnesota rallied.

Notes: Kubel joins Ian Kinsler and Orlando Hudson as players who have already hit for the cycle this season.

Understanding What We Fear

I wrote this in the fall of 2006 for a journalism class. Enjoy.

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People tend to fear what they do not understand. Americans; business travelers; fathers; mothers; daughters; sons – innocent people had the chance to witness firsthand the meaning behind that statement.
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, a group of “Islamic terrorists” hijacked several commercial planes and drove them through America’s heart. While the bleeding has since stopped for many, now five years after the attacks, the lingering fear and paranoia of another attack remain. Muslims and Muslim Americans have become the recipient of wary stares and grave misunderstanding.
For Saif Syed, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who would one day like to work in patent law, wary stares and mistreatment are commonplace.
Since 9/11, the misunderstanding of Muslims has reached epic proportions, Syed explains. Before then, not many people even knew what Muslims were, let alone how to spot one. But now that their calling card is out there, Muslims like Syed are the victims of profiling.
“People tend to believe that we do not know science, we do not know math," Syed said. "Instead, all we do is fight and oppress our women. That’s the picture that is depicted about Muslims.”
One of the more hurtful experiences of when this stereotyping was put into action came during Syed’s senior year (2001-02) at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee.
About one month after the attacks, Syed decided that he would go to the city library to work on his homework. He set out from his home with some books in hand, and on this particular walk, he encountered an elderly lady coming from the other direction.
As they converged, the woman raced from the sidewalk to instead walk on the road. Of course, as soon as he passed her, Syed recounts, the woman returned to her place on the path.
“Those sorts of things hurt more than the media reports or anything else because those are your personal relations,” Syed said.
His mom is having a difficult time coming to terms with the post 9/11 view of Muslims.
“My mom is constantly worried about me, about my safety,” Syed said.
She doesn’t want Syed to have a beard because, she says, it makes him stand out. Not only does she think that her son should shave, she also worries that Syed’s phone is tapped, or that he’ll go to jail for resembling a terrorist.
Common misconceptions arose surrounding the Islamic faith after many Muslims chose to terrorize America and die for what they “believed in.” The problem with that, Syed says, is Islam is not based on the principles of violence and holy wars at all.
“I believe that [was] an act of desperation, not religion,” Syed said. “They misrepresented the idea of jihad, which does not translate to holy war. It translates to struggle. Jihad refers to the struggle of the inner soul; the struggle to pray five times a day; the struggle to smile; [the struggle] to keep going with life when it’s so tough – that’s what it refers to.
“It does not take a true Muslim long to realize that what happened was obviously wrong.” Although Syed feels the presence of a cold stare on his back or hears the mutterings of an Osama bin Laden joke as he walks past, he casually ignores them. Of course he is somewhat hurt by the musing, but also he knows his place in the world and attributes faith in God as his inspiration. "These reactions [towards me] have helped me rather than held me back and [they have become] a fuel to do more outreach and more education,” Syed explains. “Muslims believe that any calamity can be a tragedy or a blessing. It’s a tragedy if it pulls you away from God; it’s a blessing if it draws you near to God.”
The outreach and educating Syed does is mostly through the Muslim Students’ Association, or MSA. Representing the only voice of its kind on campus, the group gives Syed, the active president of the group, and other Muslims a chance to unite and practice their faith freely.
More importantly, MSA provides outreach services to the Muslim and non-Muslim community alike, all while educating those who will listen to who Muslims are as people and what the faith of Islam is all about.
"I like to do what I do, and I leave the rest on God,” Syed said. “I’m not sure how things match up, and even if they don’t, I’m OK with that. I just like to do my best and if it doesn’t happen it’s from God, and if it does happen it’s from God. I leave it at that.”
The hope is that through education and joint communion, people will see that Islam is not a violent religion and that Muslims are truly loving, religious-minded people.
If such a standard of life can be attained, people like Syed’s mother, victims of discrimination and terror, and even that elderly lady who preferred to stroll among cars instead of Muslims will perhaps one day fear a man with a beard or a woman with a hejab no more.

New Look

Check out my new template. Thoughts?

Anyone reading know how to make a polished Web site? I would like to be able to add video and photos.

Thanks for reading.

Haggy

Silver Lining

An ugly loss to Tampa Bay Monday night may have Yankee fans thinking it's time to play "Apprentice" and start firing people.
Chien-Ming Wang gave up eight runs in one-plus inning of work to raise his E.R.A. to a "we need a crane to lift this" 28.93.
That's not all.
Mark Teixeira, one of New York's $100-plus million dollar men, is out with a sore wrist. Alex Rodriguez is recovering from hip surgery and C.C. Sabathia, the team's top pitcher, has been so-so.
But hey, at least Nick Swisher is doing well.
The versatile switch-hitter scored two of the team's five runs, one on a solo homer, and finished the game 1-for-3.
In seven games Swisher is hitting .450 with 3 home runs, 10 RBI and 9 runs scored. Normally asked to play first base or man the outfield, the versatile switch-hitter, thanks to a 15-5 deficit, was called upon to pitch the ninth inning.
He allowed the first to batters to reach on a single and a walk, but got the next three to end the inning and become the lone Yankee pitcher to not surrender a run.
Swisher even struck Gabe Kapler out swinging.
Who knows, maybe in a couple weeks the Steinbrenner's will say enough is enough, can Wang and insert Swisher into the rotation.
Crazier things have happend.

Cabrera Wins Masters

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson threatened.
Kenny Perry cruised.
But in the end Angel Cabrera won.
Instead of a familiar face donning the green jacket after a memorable final round, or seeing a first time winner of a major at the age of 48, the reticent Argentinian took home the coveted garb, defeating Perry and Chad Campbell in a three way playoff.
All eyes diverted to the pairing of Mickelson and Woods, the co-leader heading into Sunday's final round flew under the radar.
His slow start disinterested those that remained with the final group.
Back-to-back bogies at hole 4 and 5 hole and another at 10 put him three off the lead. He couldn't find the stroke and seemed destined for at best, a top-5 finish.
Not so fast.
He regrouped, collecting birdies at 13, 15 and 16. Perry bogied 17 and 18 and the two, along with Campbell headed into a three way playoff.
Campbell couldn't get the handle on the first hole and was eliminated. Perry took two shots to land the green and two more to reach the cup setting up Cabrera for the win on a six inch putt.
The win was his second major, the other one coming in 2007 at the U.S. Open.

Thoughts:

Woods wasn't in top form for whatever reason. His mechanics and approach were just a bit off. But Woods at his worst still finishes tied for sixth-place. Anyone else at his worst probably doesn't make the cut.

If Mickelson (-9) had sunk just about any putt on the back nine and/or avoided the water at 12, he could have been in line to win his fourth major championship. He made history, tying three others with a front nine 30 and would get as close as a stroke off the lead after sitting tied for 10th to start the day.

John Merrick ran out of time. The young man shot a day low 66 to end up tied for sixth with Woods and two others.

Steady doesn't win ... this time. Perry pared the first 11 holes and 13 of 14, but ended up losing in the playoff thanks to two bogies on the final two holes. They were just his fifth and sixth bogies of the Masters, certainly coming at a costly time.

R.I.P. Nick Adenhart

Scoreless season debut
Life full of promise
Can change when light turns red

Much too young to die
Drunk driver stole him away
Never got his chance

(A Double Haggy Haiku in honor of one of the top prospects in the Los Angeles Angels' farm system who had so much to offer but was slammed to an end prematurely by a drunk driver)

Heels Stomp Spartans, Win National Championship

Good things come to those who wait.
Ask North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, or Ty Lawson. Talk to Wayne Ellington and Danny Green.
All four elected to return following a disappointing loss to Kansas in the 2008 Final Four, passing up a chance at millions of dollars in the NBA for a chance at something with which stacks of Benjamins cannot compete: a national championship.
Monday night, before a partisan Detroit crowd, the Tar Heels fulfilled that goal, winning 89-72 over Michigan State.
In what has become the custom in the NCAA Tournament, North Carolina outran, outhustled, outshot and ultimately knocked out the Spartans.
Lawson was the game's most valuable player, scoring 21 points and setting the NCAA Final Four record for steals with eight.
Ellington, the Final Four's MVP, added 19 points and several big 3-pointers in the first half to help North Carolina get off to a fast start.
By halftime, North Carolina set two more records: the most points scored in the first half of a NCAA Championship game (55) and the largest halftime lead (21).
Then again, the Tar Heels have made the competition look like a Steve Urckel punch; the team's tightest margin of victory was 12, coming in the Elite Eight against Oklahoma.
Green, who wore the Carolina blue for a team record 145 games and Hansbrough, who fought tooth and nail on every possession of every game for four years en route to becoming fifth on the NCAA's all-time scoring list, capped a perfect ending to their collegiate careers as national champions.
Perfect.

What Did You Say?

Before the championship game could be played, a prediction had to be made.
As part of the CBS pregame show, Greg Gumble asked his "in studio" analysts Greg Anthony and Seth Davis to breakdown the game and select a winner.
Both said Michigan State.
Davis' rationale for selecting Tom Izzo's bunch was this: defense, depth, Detroit and ... destiny.
Michigan State won the NCAA Championship 30 years ago. It has the "home court" as the game will be played at Detroit's Ford Field and can go 12 deep without losing much in the way of tempo and ability.
None of that matters when compared to North Carolina's talent, teamwork, track record and ... destiny.
North Carolina has four players who will be playing in the NBA either this coming season or the next. The Tar Heels average 90 points per game this season and play off of one another better than those guys from "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
Not to mention the Heels have won every game thus far in the NCAA Tournament by at least 12 points, and who did you predict to win?
Come on. Get it together.
North Carolina will win it running away, 84-67.

Scares, but Nothing Doing

Top seeds given scare
Find way to make the big play
Upsets are extinct

(A Haggy Haiku)

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Try this for mind boggling.
The first two rounds of NCAA Tournament play have been like returning home after a day at the office and realizing everything is as you left it; as it's supposed to be.
Only one school seeded higher than fifth is still alive, and the top four seeds from two regions were unharmed.
Teams, after all, are ranked based on their talent and play during the season and respective conference tournaments. Surely the higher seeds should win.
Still, something seems amiss. Such as the feeling experienced when you think that you maybe left the garage door open.
To find when a similar scenario last played out, we must travel all the way back to the year in which the Cold War ended and Nintendo was re-launched: 1989.
Back then, No. 11 Minnesota represented the lone hope for upset-seekers across the country. Now, it's 12th-seeded Arizona (whose history is anything but surprising or Cinderella-like, having reached the Big Dance in 25 consecutive seasons and won the national title in 1997).
Teams like Louisville, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Duke, Gonzaga and Michigan State struggled this past weekend to pull away from lower seeded opponents.
In the end, they all came through.
By comparison, the 2008 tournament saw four teams seeded higher than fifth in the regional semifinals, including two 12-seeds (Villanova and Western Kentucky), a 10-seed (Davidson) and a 7-seed (West Virginia).
Even in a tamer 2007, where no double-figure seeds reached the Sweet Sixteen, only one region advanced all of the top four teams.
2009 could be an anomaly. It's one year. Hardly a trend.
But for this year, at least, the upset is dead.

Letter of Congratulations

Dear Mark Johnson,

Congratulations to you and the Wisconsin women's hockey team for winning yet another national championship. That makes three in the past four years and four straight appearances in the championship game. Wow.
Through hard work, dedication, leadership, unity, confidence and resilience -- personality traits you try to instill as a coach -- anything can be achieved. The Badgers certainly proved it.
It's fantastic to see that goaltender Jessie Vetter won the Patty Kazmaier award, given to the best NCAA Division I women's hockey player.
In four seasons at Wisconsin, Vetter became the new NCAA recordholder for career shutouts (38), single-season shutouts (13) and career victories (90). Amazing.
Enjoy the moment. And let's get another one next year.

Warm regards,

The Wisconsin Badger nation

Payback

This time the computer said no.
Wisconsin qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2008 on a computer-based tiebreaker (RPI, which calculates strength of schedule). The same program left the Badgers out of the 16 team field this year.
Ohio State had a higher RPI.
The Badgers wrapped up their season with a 4-1 win over North Dakota in the WCHA Tournament third-place game to finish 20-16-4
Last year, the team needed everything short of a miracle to reach the NCAA Tournament.
Notre Dame lost in its conference tournament, while Princeton won the ECAC's. And the Gophers beat up on Minnesota State to lower its RPI.
All that allowed UW to squeeze through and become the first team with a sub-.500 record to play in the NCAA Tournament.
No such fortune this year.
The focus now will be on grooming backup goaltender Scott Gudmandson to replace departing senior Shane Connelly, and retaining some of its many underclassmen with pro potential for next year.

Picks

March Madness is set to begin Thursday. Here are the champion picks of various people I've associated with over the years.

Mine: UNC

My mom's: UNC

Dave McGrath, sports editor of The Badger Herald before me: Duke

Michael Poppy, former roommate and sports editor of The Badger Herald: UNC

Kyle Turris, former No. 3 pick and Badger and current Phoenix Coyote: Syracuse

Bassey Etim, New York Times Web content assistant: Louisville

Bleacher Report

Florida State vs. Wisconsin

Big Ten Tournament: Badgers vs. Buckeyes

When There's Madness, you Know It's March

Instant classic
UConn and the Orange battle on
Into sixth OT

(A Haggy Haiku)

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Get out your garden hoe, March Madness is in full bloom.

Well, not quite.

But if the Big Dance resembles anything that happened in the conference tournaments Thursday, it should be exciting.

Baylor upset No. 1 seed Kansas 71-64 in the Big 12 Tournament and, at 2-14 in ACC play, the 12^th-seeded Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech knocked off nationally ranked Clemson 86-81.

Later, Oklahoma State stuffed Blake Griffin and 6th-ranked Oklahoma 71-70 and West Virginia upended No. 2 Pittsburgh 74-60 before the stage was set for the six overtimes thriller at Madison Square between UConn and Syracuse.

Jonny Flynn scored a game-high 34 points and the Orange defeated the Huskies 127-117 in what was the second longest game in NCAA Division I history.

It was a matter of survival. Syracuse won.

UConn's top three scorers on the night -- A.J. Price, Hasheem Thabeet and Stanley Robinson -- all fouled out. Thabeet and Robinson picked up their fifth fouls midway through the fourth overtime.

Looking back on the other games ...

In a stacked Big 12 and sitting on the proverbial bubble of the field of 65, Baylor needed the victory more. The Bears came to play.

The Wildcats didn't.

They hit just 40.3 percent from the floor and could do nothing to stop the shooting of LaceDarius Dunn who hit six threes and scored 24 points.

...

The Clemson Tigers as a program have risen from the the once unfertile soil into becoming a NCAA regular (this year will make three straight appearances). Gritty, hard-nosed basketball has allowed the Tigers to exceed expectations. Immaturity from a history of failure, and horrendous free throw shooting have found a way to catch the team's success and buck it like Bones does potential riders.

It happened again today. Georgia Tech dropped an anvil on Clemson's chest Thursday and left the once solidified four or five seed (in the NCAA Tournament) Tigers doubting themselves once more.

...

Pittsburgh, like Kansas, didn't show up.

That's what happens when its team's best rebounder and second leading scorer (DeJuan Blair) fouls out after playing just 18 minutes and the rest of his teammates can't find the mark.

In a 16-team field such as the Big East has, it's tough for even the nation's best to pull through every night.

...

The same can be said about top teams in a jam-packed Big 12.

It's always tough to beat a team three times in the same season, especially when placed back-to-back; that's what the Sooners faced. And if not for a wishy-washy foul on Griffin in the game's closing seconds that sent James Anderson to the line for the winning free throws, Oklahoma would likely still be vying for a No. 1 seed in the round fo 65.

All that's left is to see what craziness will present itself tomorrow.

Catch 22

Unable to be
Altruistic by request
Asking is unfair

(A Haggy Haiku)

Badger Herald Guest Column

Check It Out

Tucker Starts

Tucker got his chance
Logged big-time minutes and scored
May be start of dream

(A Haggy Haiku)

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It's good to see former Badger Alando Tucker finally get his opportunity at the next level. A rash of injuries to the Phoenix Suns allowed Tucker to start for the first time in his career Thursday against Los Angeles.
He made the most of his opportunity and point guard Steve Nash's absence, scoring a personal-best 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting.
Playing in garbage time of just six contests during his rookie campaign in 2007-08 and none until the turn of the new year this season, Tucker didn't seem fit for the NBA.
Scarcity can be a beautiful thing.
Tucker -- considered an undersized forward at 6-6 with underwhelming quickness and outside touch -- has played in 15 of the team's 25 games since his recall from the Developmental League. Shaky, garbage minutes again, until Thursday.
He must have done something right in practice this week. Certainly, his exposure to the D-League helped. Suns interim coach Alvin Gentry selected the former first round pick to start -- ahead of Matt Barnes, who has started 16 games this season.
It's only one game. But when you're living day-to-day at the end of the Phoenix bench, solid production like that can make all the difference.
Maybe it's the real start to his professional career.
If so, Tucker, welcome to the NBA.
With solid production, albeit in a blowout loss,

Crede Sign of the Times

To many, it's about time the Twins spent money.
In reality, that's hardly the case.
The Minnesota Twins reached an agreement with Joe Crede Saturday, signing the oft-injured third baseman to a one year contract.
In any other market at any other time a top-tier free agent, even with chronic back problems, would draw a multi-year deal worth tens of millions of dollars.
Not this year.
So while the Twins went out and bought talent, they didn't and shouldn't pay the price.
Crede's base salary is $2.5 million this season, to become $7 million if he remains healthy and makes 500 plate appearances.
The hope is Crede will add much needed power from the right side of the plate to a team that ranked 29th of 30 teams in home runs.
His17 dingers in 97 games a season ago would have ranked third on the Twins.
If Crede can't shed his back problems and contribute, the Twins give up the $2.5 million -- next to nothing when compared to the $6.6 million they spent to have a career backup, Mike Lamb, at the same position.
Finally, the Twins didn't mess up a free agent sign, and fans have something to smile about even while the economy continues to falter.

2009 All-Star Game: Marketing Ploy

Media circus
Shaq and Kobe share top honor
"Storybook" ending

(A Haggy Haiku)

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It's pretty clear that the media fixed the final ballot to ensure that the two former teammates, turned enemies, turned acquaintances shared the stage one last time.
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal finished with six votes apiece and were named co-MVPs of the 2009 NBA All-Star Game.
Together they won three straight championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, though the feuds had already begun.
To each, the other was selfish. Both wanted more touches. Neither could lead in the other's eyes.
Following a disappointing effort for a fourth title, the Lakers disbanded. Shaq left. Kobe nearly did the same.
An NBA title of his own in Miami deepened the pool of mockery. Bryant, after the breakup, remained silent.
O'Neal took it a step further -- and too far -- last offseason, with a rap in a New York night club. He mocked Bryant for losing to the Celtics in the NBA Finals by saying, "Kobe can't do it without me" and "Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes."
Suddenly only O'Neal was seen as the bad guy, so the public relations monolith quickly reported that it was all a publicity stunt. Everything that had happened between the two, just an act.
Not really, Bryant said.
Or was it?
To be sure, the NBA played it as such as the odd couple reunited in harmonious, gregarious fashion Sunday night, feeding more to the other's ego with every lob and behind-the-back pass. Bryant finished with a game-high 27 points and O'Neal added 17 in 11 minutes.
Fact of fiction, feud ongoing or stopped, the NBA got what it wanted: a perfect ending to an imperfect relationship.

Steroids Abound

It should mean something
But the league waited too long
A-Rod did no wrong

(A Haggy Haiku)

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Alex Rodriguez admitted Monday to steroid use for three seasons after accusations arose that he tested positive for the now banned substance in 2003.
The news prompted a Yahoo! Sports columnist to write about the travesty of the game as another one of its bigger than earth stars was caught in the drug scandal.
The game will forever be tainted, yes, but what's done is done.
Baseball could have implemented stricter rules long before Mark McGwire blasted 70 home runs on the juice to oddly enough save baseball from its post strike years of depression (see a contradiction?). And Players could have avoided the stuff out of the kindness of their hearts.
Neither happened.
Instead A-Rod, the biggest name to confess to his wrongdoing (occurring from 2001-03 with the Texas Rangers), played "20 Questions" with Peter Gammons while the entirety of the sporting world looked on with disgust. Admitting wrongdoing has to count for something (ask Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro and Barry Bonds).
No matter, it was legal at the time AND pitchers bulked up with the same product.
Whatever happened to all things being equal?
Catch these cheaters, whatever the cost. It's all for the purity of the game's sake -- that's MLB's new mantra.
What in the world is pure anymore -- if that word is even relevant today? People, for the most part, aren't, so why should a game played, managed, owned and watched by them be?
A-Rod made a mistake. Steroids are bad for the game and worse on the body.
Baseball is never going to be the same, just as the past cannot be changed, but learning from it can help shape a better future.

Torn Apart

Just when the Timberwolves started earning respect, an awkward fall inveitably tore it apart.

Al Jefferson shredded ligaments in his knee Sunday night in the waning seconds of a 101-97 loss -- just the fourth of the new year -- and Minnesota is suddenly starless.

Worse, in a league full of versatile big-men, the Timberwolves now look awfully small.

"Unfortunately for us, the season is not over," said coach Kevin McHale, who has led the Timberwolves to a 13-10 record since a 4-23 start.

Rookie Kevin Love is the only 4 or 5 (power forward, center) who has logged steady minutes this season.

Only 20, the Wolves had hoped his rookie campaign would be about progress and baby steps. Whatever he contributed, the Wolves would take.

Now he must be a playmaker and scorer. Now the ball will run through him in the post. Now the pressure Jefferson felt in terms of double-teams, defenders, scoring and leading will land on Love.

He hasn't played particularly well as a starter, but there is no way around it: Love must rise to the occasion. The rest of the team must too pick up the scoring slack and the 19.7 shots Jefferson attempted per night.

Although the playoffs are out of reach, owner Glen Taylor may think about swapping one of those four first round draft picks for size before the Feb. 19 deadline to assure the remaining fans the team is still swelling and heading in the right direction.

Bigs Jason Collins, Mark Madsen and Calvin Booth are there for moral support. Among them, 21 points have been scored in 22 games.

The Timberwolves are down. They showed it in practice Monday.

Respect at stake, can they get back up?

Check These Out

My run-down of Wisconsin's Signing Day

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/119878-class-act-wisconsins-signing-day?just_published=1

and my recap of the Minnesota-Illinois basketball game Jan. 29.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/colleges/1405386,CST-SPT-ill30.article

Giant Loss

Super Bowl XLIII may have looked a lot different if one of the stars from last year's big game didn't shoot himself and his team in the leg.
Plaxico Burress has always had character issues. This time he went too far.
And November 29, 2008 will be remembered as the night the New York Giants' season changed.
Inclined to show off his wealth by wearing thousands of dollars in bling, Burress insisted on packing a gun at a Manhattan nightclub.
Instead of someone giving him trouble for his jewelry, Burress mugged himself and his season. His gun went off lodging a bullet into his thigh.
Adding insult to injury, Burress faced felony charges for carrying an unlicensed loaded gun into a nightclub.
The Giants suspended their star receiver indefinitely; they went from sitting atop the NFL at 11-1 and seeming destined to repeat as champions, to stumbling to a 12-4 finish.
Against the Eagles in the playoffs, Eli Manning looked lost, obviously missing his favorite 6-foot-5 target. Manning threw just two touchdowns in his final five games of the season compared to 19 in the first 12.
After seeing what happened to the Giants without a go-to-guy and the flipside with Arizona and Larry Fitzgerald, it's clear New York and Burress need each other.
The Giants better hope Burress keeps his hands they can see them.

Doh-pe

What smells so nasty?

Millions burning into ash

Phelps' high, new low

(A Haggy Haiku)

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He sure can swim, but boy is he dumb.

Olympic hero Michael Phelps made possibly a $100 million mistake: he smoked pot in public.

The incriminating photo published in a British newspaper may cost the 14-time gold medalist his endorsement deals and perhaps a spot on the 2012 Olympics.

You have to ask yourself, Michael: Was it worth it?

Mid-season Shopping

Expect the Minnesota Timberwolves to be active participants in the NBA's midseason shopping spree.
Not in the interest of making this year's playoffs, the Timberwolves will likely be testing the market to see if they can't acquire a few role players or future draft picks ahead of the Feb. 19 trading deadline.
Here are those who may be dealt.

1. Mike Miller: the reason Minnesota made the deal with Memphis exchanging O.J. Mayo for Kevin Love, has had an unproductive, injury-riddled half season. Miller was supposed to add range to the Timberwolves' paint-heavy offense. That hasn't happened and, according to owner Glen Taylor, may land him in a different uniform by the 19th.

2. Rashad McCants: A shooter who can't do much else. McCants has been the model of the Timberwolves under former coach Randy Wittman: undisciplined, lazy and selfish. Coach Kevin McHale hasn't played the former No. 1 pick (14th overall in 2005) since Jan. 7. In the last year of his rookie contract, McCants could provide a viable scoring threat for the second half in the right environment. It's hard to imagine any takers, but if Gerald Green was tradeable, there's a chance. Otherwise McCants will be stuck seeing more of the lonely end of the bench.

3. First Round Draft Picks: worthwhile, but superfluous at a certain point. NBA teams can only carry 12 men on their active roster and 15 total. Four first-round picks is a bit much no matter how you look at it because contracts are guaranteed. Look for Minnesota to try and package one or two picks with McCants or Miller, rather than trading straight up for a current player.

Missing Piece=Kobe Time

There's certainty amidst doubt.
Kobe Bryant will pick up his scoring while teammate Andrew Bynum recovers from a torn MCL. That's what he does.
But is it enough?
Last season Bryant dropped 48 points the game after the Lakers' big man sprained his left knee and missed the remainder of the season. This year he went for a Madison Square Garden record 61, including a perfect 20-of-20 from the line in a 126-117 Lakers win.
His average rose from 27.0 PPG with Bynum in the lineup to 29.3 without a year ago. A similar climb should be expected this go-round as well.
For the most part, the Lakers have coped fine minus Bynum's presence in the center. They won at roughly a .700 clip in 2007-08 regardless of who manned the middle.
At 38-9 in 2008-09, the Lakers' competition is virtually non-existant. San Antonio is closest, sitting 5.5 games back (32-14). Winning seven out of 10 the rest of the way should secure the No. 1 seed.
Where the injury will matter is if Bynum, like a season ago, cannot fully recover, find a rhythm and contribute come playoff time. It was Kobe versus the Celtics in the NBA Finals. That -- and blinks from Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and the rest of the Lakers -- simply won't do.
Bynum brings a big body that isn't intimidated or timid. He doesn't need to score to make his presence felt.
Against West and the best the East has to offer in Boston, Orlando and Cleveland, the Lakers are going to need him back if they want a 10th NBA Championship.

Super Time

The commercials brought the viewers, but the game kept them tuned in.
Pittsburgh defeated Arizona 27-23 in one of the most exciting fourth quarters, if not games ever.
Funny, because with a defense first Pittsburgh team competing against an average until the postseason and awful historically Arizona team, the Super Bowl seemed duller than Ben Stein's voice.
Arizona battled back from a 20-7 deficit to take a 23-20 lead on a catch and run of 64 yards by Larry Fitzgerald, his second touchdown of the fourth quarter.
The clock read 2:37.
Too much time.
The Steelers calmly drove six plays and 72 yards in less than two minutes to set up first-and-goal from the Cardinals' 6. Two plays later and what seemed like the Lord of the Rings trilogy later (Arizona's front four got absolutely no pressure), Ben Roethlisberger lofted a ball for Santonio Holmes in the back right corner of the end zone. Becoming one with the ground, following a well-timed jump and catch, Holmes hit the turf just as the reality of a comeback for naught struck the Cardinals.
Touchdown.
The Cardinals had one last-ditch drive, in the closing seconds, but Kurt Warner fumbled.
The game also featured a 100-yard interception returned for six right before the half that put Arizona in an emotional hole deeper than Lake Baikal and a goal line stand that prevented Pittsburgh from opening up a big lead early.
Endless heart, emotion and big plays ruled the night.
And no matter who you were rooting for, the Super Bowl was truly an enjoyable spectacle.

What Dream?

Judge not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character.
As Barack Obama is coronated this afternoon, America, the people hope, will move in a new direction. They believe that change is coming.
What they don't need to think about is race. The media is to blame, really.
During the primaries, the U.S. saw a man who was different: Intelligent, eloquent, vibrant and compassionate; a man who said all the right things and made the United States believe better tomorrows lay a pasture away.
During the election debates, the U.S. saw a man who was different: calm, collective, fresh, while the candidate opposite him was irascible, discombobulated, and stale.
What the U.S. didn't see was his skin color.
They voted for the man who, in their minds, would be a better leader.
For a moment, the words, the sentences, the message Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered on August 28, 1963 rang true just like the freedom and equality to which he alluded.
On election night, and ever since, that has changed.
People everywhere continue to talk about how much it means to have a black man finally elected president. His portrait, not what created it, has made Obama into a patron.
The media controls the message and it has tossed Dr. King's aside to be ignored or forgotten like yesterday's news.
If everyone is meant to live harmoniously and build relationships by the qualities others possess within them, why is there such a distinction between black and white with Obama?
Society hasn't learned that some things are better left unsaid.
We, as a people, have a hard time letting go and moving on.
Voraciously ingest the moment, admire this historical achievement, but also understand that Obama has been elected to raise the United States up from turmoil and decline, hardship and recession.
Whether he will ultimately succeed or falter -- a stark contrast we may not see if too worried about black versus white and whether criticizing Obama's policies is seen as racist -- will be determined over the next four years.
Even if Obama can change the U.S. for the better, it would be unwise to believe the same about people and their copious thirst for color.

The Big One Got Away ... Again

Bob Stoops proved he isn't a big-game coach.
Not anymore, at least.
The Oklahoma coach's latest Bowl Championship Series loss came against Urban Meyer and Florida in the national championship game 24-14.
His losing streak in such bowl games has reached five. His losing streak in title games, three.
That's no small feat for the man who coached the Sooners to a national championship in 2000 but has followed with big stage losses since.
Let's mathematically break down how significant this "accomplishment" truly is.
First, let me explain my logic.
BCS games are played on neutral sites between two well-deserving teams (usually). More specifically, for purposes of my calculations, the teams have equal chance of winning; one in two, or 50 percent.
Taking 1/2 to the fifth power (.5 x .5 x .5 x .5 x .5) to represent the probability that Stoops would lose (or win) all five games gives us this result: .03125, or 3.1 percent.
According to the laws of probability, values of less than 5 percent are considered statistically significant.
There you have it.
Now go tell your friends or family that the topic of whether Stoops struggles when it matters most has been disabused: He is.
Math proved it.

Hill Rumbles Out of Wisconsin

Get out while you can.
That's the phrase that must have come to mind for Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill because he declared his intention to become draft eligible last Thursday.
The decision likely came as a surprise to many since the redshirt junior doesn't possess any of the skills NFL teams seek from the position. He isn't oxen strong despite weighing 228 pounds. He's not fast. He's not dual purpose. And for a straight-ahead "bruising" back, he's often hurt, missing parts of two games in 2008 and four in 2007.
To top it off, ball security is an issue.
So far Hill leaving Wisconsin early seems highly questionable.
Not so.
He'll get money much sooner, and it's not like he would raise his draft stock any by staying another year.
John Clay is the present and the future of the Badgers' ground attack. Hill not only would have gained nothing financially in returning, but he would have partially set Clay back another season as well.
Third on Wisconsin's rushing list with 3,942 yards and tied for second in touchdowns (44), Hill will certainly leave a lasting legacy behind. But like the record holder in both categories, Ron Dayne, it seems destined that Hill will have too many barriers to climb and too little talent to make a lasting career out of football.
So while it was a good decision all around for Hill to rush out of Wisconsin early, don't expect it to be the difference in his professional success. That is, if he has any at all.

Chargers Safety Has Rough Game

Carom off his dome
Missed tackles and assignments
Weddle was dreadful

(A Haggy Haiku)

It's really unfortunate I could never use sesquipedalianistic in one of these haikus. Having a tendency to use really long words, sesquipedalianistic, at eight syllables, demonstrates itself beautifully.

Donating to Charity

It's a wonder what Shaq can do with a bit of motivation.
In shape and healthy entering training camp for the first time since his MVP campaign in 1999-2000, Shaq has restored the dominance that made him perhaps the game's greatest in that department.
Not that it ever completely left.
Averages of 17.4 points and nine boards are his best totals in three years, and the Big Fella isn't getting any younger, turning 37 in March.
Shaq has stepped in nicely as the team's No. 1 option during the games playmaker Steve Nash has missed due to injuries or the times top scorer Amare Stoudemire was in foul trouble.

Most impressive has been O'Neal's stretch and leap to respectability at the foul line. Including a stretch of 13 consecutive makes, his 62.8 percent efficiency at the stripe is the best of his career. If only he had been motivated from 15 feet away the past 16 years.

Pittsburgh Defeats San Diego

Snow dusting the field
Big Ben doesn't stop ticking
Steelers strike down Bolts

(A Haggy Haiku)

Baltimore Moves On

Titans errs, no call
Delay of game not flagged
Baltimore profits



(A Haggy Haiku)



Much to the chagrin of football idealists, the game-winning drive was aided by an inexcusable referee blunder. On third-and-2, from his half of the field, Joe Flacco stood behind center, preparing to snap the ball.
Two seconds after the play clock struck zero, he hiked it, threw and connected for a 23-yard gain to tight end Todd Heap.
Instead of facing a third-and-7 from their 28-yard line, the Ravens had a first-and-10 from the Tennessee 45.
Plays later Matt Stover kicked the eventual game-winning field goal.
Turnovers, including two in the red zone, not that call, cost the Titans the game. Still, the back official's job is to watch the play-clock and manage the game, not be a leading player in the decisive drive.

This Week's Picks

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Florida over Oklahoma 34-27

(OU coach Bob Stoops can't shed the "Doesn't Win When It Counts" label. The Sooners had a bad loss to West Virginia in Fiesta Bowl last year, a worse defeat to Boise State two years ago and failed to win a national championship back-to-back years in 2003 and 2004. That's the reasoning behind my pick).

NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS
Tennessee over Baltimore 20-12
Pittsburgh over San Diego 13-10
New York over Philadelphia 24-13
Carolina over Arizona 34-21

(Let's see how off I am)

Living on That Prayer ... and an Easy Schedule

Read "Prayer for Relief" to get the background, then come back and check out these thought. Done?
OK.
The Timberwolves won for the fourth straight time Wednesday. Minnesota made all the noise, blitzkrieging the Thunder 127-89.
Have the Timberwolves turned the corner thanks to some divine presence? Inspired play? What?
The answer is simply a soft schedule -- wins against Oklahoma City (5-31), Chicago (15-20), Golden State (10-26) and Memphis (11-25) tell much of the story-- combined with a stronger familiarity and connection between players and coach.
That, and Kevin McHale began sensing the "Out of a Job" recliner approaching.
It will be interesting to see how Minnesota handles Miami or Phoenix, two playoff-bound teams, next week.
McHale, see you in church.

Recipe for Keeping a Job

Norv Turner has got to be one of the worst coaches in the NFL.
Most, if not all, the success San Diego has had is due to talented individuals finding inspiration to play to their potential.
If you need convincing, here goes: Turner didn't know what to do on second-and-12 from the Colts' 20-yard line in overtime of the AFC Divisional Playoffs. Quarterback Philip Rivers suggested isolating scatback Darren Sproles on a linebacker.
Turner obliged.
Game over.
Sure Turner told Matt Scifres -- all six of his punts were downed inside the 20 and he set an NFL playoff record with a 51.7-yard net average -- to do well, but a coach can't take credit for a guy who has come up big throughout his career.
If anything, Turner has limited the team's playing abilities.
He and the rest of the coaching staff were the ones confused on the play where Manning hit Reggie Wayne for a go-ahead 76-yard touchdown. Chargers were standing about looking to the sidelines for help when Manning and the Colts offense got set at the line of scrimmage and ran that scoring play.
All season, primarily because of LaDainian Tomlinson's nagging toe injury, the Chargers were much better when they got the ball down the field to receivers Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd or Chris Chambers (when healthy). When Rivers averaged 9 yards per pass or better, San Diego won six of seven games. Their only loss, coming Week 2 against the Broncos -- a game San Diego would have won if not for referee Ed Hochuli ruling an obvious Jay Cutler fumble imcomplete just seconds before Denver scored a touchdown and game-winning two-point conversion.
Despite all this, Turner insisted on sticking to the run and short passes.
Truth is, San Diego hasn't played up to its potential since he became its coach at the beginning of 2007. The Chargers started 5-5 before rattling off six straight wins to close the regular season and two more in the playoffs.
This year, San Diego needed an onside kick recovery and Denver to roll over just to make the postseason, finishing 8-8.
Playoff wins are great -- they are the ones that truly count -- but know the Chargers could have won just the same (three January games in two years) without him.

Coming Down to Earth

Bored playing so well
Celtics shed bulletproof vest
Wins mark out of reach

(A Haggy Haiku)

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Boston started 27-2. Since rattling off 19-straight wins, the Celtics have gone 2-5. Included, are losses to Charlotte (13-22 ), New York (13-20) and Golden State (10-26).
No need to worry here, Boston is merely in a midseason slump. The entire team is a bit off the mark. Despite having three future Hall of Famers, the Celtics go as Rajon Rondo goes. He had a nine turnover game Tuesday and is averaging 4.8 drops in those five losses.
Boston is still the team to beat in the East; Cleveland and Orlando seemed to have closed the gap.
It certainly makes you respect what the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls were able to do, losing back-to-back games once during the regular season en route to a 72-10 record.