Wisconsin Badgers Nearly Perfect, Still Can't Win

Bo Ryan's ballclub has never defeated a top four-seed in the NCAA tournament.
Wisconsin played to a level higher than K2, making 14 3-pointers, including a stretch of six in a row in the second half, yet still fell short to the top-seeded Syracuse Orange 64-63 Thursday night.
Credit Ryan and his players for bringing their best to Boston in a tough Sweet 16 matchup.
Nonetheless, the result highlights yet again the Achilles heel of Badger basketball: the team cannot defeat the league's elite, unless just about everything goes in its favor.
Sometimes, like Thursday night, even near perfection isn't enough.
Certainly the long-ball was working for Wisconsin in the game, but akin to underperforming Duke teams of recent past (with the exception of 2010), becoming too reliant on it can be lethal.
Statistics show the father a player is from the basket, the greater the odds are of a miss.
Syracuse weathered Wisconsin's thunderstorm by continuing to drive the basket and creating open looks off the dribble.
The Badgers kept hucking them up from beyond the arc.
Bucky still had an opportunity to win following a missed one-and-one by Syracuse. Senior Jordan Taylor, however, settled for a off-balance deep 3 that barely grazed iron.
Ben Brust tracked down the loose ball and launched a rainbow from the baseline that sailed wide just before the buzzer sounded.
The Orange advance to the Elite Eight to play the winner of Cincinnati and Ohio State.

Hugo: A Movie Review

The movie "Hugo" stars young actors, is family friendly and teaches good values, but it is not intended for kids.
The film lacked the whimsy, adventure and imagination typically lining a flick for preteen audiences.
In fact, there was very little action other than a scene where Hugo and new friend Isabella steal away into a movie theater, and the hero's constant effort to sidestep the station inspector.
Instead, the film focused its lens on itself.
The story follows an orphan clock winder in Paris who steals parts from a train station toymaker in an effort to rebuild an automaton, left to him by his deceased father.
After fixing the mechanical man with the help of the toymaker's goddaughter, Hugo learns that the man who caught him taking parts from his shop used to be a filmmaker.
From there, "Hugo" spends more than an hour investigating and reliving old films.
While romantic to a degree in its original story line and interesting to see old feature films successfully intertwined inside of a modern-day one, "Hugo" is slow-paced propaganda.
Watch the penultimate scene of the movie to understand.
It's almost as though the filmmakers used a child's quest to find closure with his father and a new family to applaud and commemorate the founding fathers of the moving picture.
For history buffs, Wikipedia would have been a faster way to learn about fictitious old-school moviemakers.

2012 Miss Tootsie Pageant

2012 Miss Tootsie Contestants

The city of Wadena, Minn., got a good laugh and helped a good cause Friday night during the third annual Miss Tootsie Pageant. 
Five area men dressed up as women and strutted their stuff in front of a crowded Wadena Memorial Auditorium. 
Organizer Bonnie Kingsley said the pageant was a success and raised about $2,000 for the Miss Wadena Scholarship Fund. 
“I’m very happy that there are gentlemen that will take this on,” Kingsley said. “To come up and put it out there on the stage (and) have fun with it. Really, without them raising the funds for Miss Wadena, we would struggle to keep the scholarship at the same level.”
Horizon Painting and Restoration owner Tom Anderson, known by his stage name as “Anita Moregano,” took home the crown. 
“This is such a great show and we had fun with it,” Anderson said. “Once you get up there, you really have fun. I didn’t do too bad for a homely looking Italian with a good wardrobe, I guess.” 

Tom Anderson with daughter Haley

Anderson joins his daughter Haley Anderson as Wadena royalty. Haley Anderson is the reigning Miss Wadena. 
Tom Anderson says his experience doing the pageant was memorable and a way to say thank you for what the scholarship fund offered his daughter.
“Well I think it just comes around full circle,” Anderson said. “The pageant has given to my daughter and given her a great experience, so I think I wanted to make sure we gave back.” 
In addition to winning Miss Tootsie, Anderson took home the awards for formal wear, onstage question and talent. 
The other men competing in the Gaga Goo-themed pageant were Erik Osberg as “Penny Wise,” George Behl as “Shelita Buffet,” Kevin Ford as “Alicia P. Supright” and Gary Carsten as “Barbie Buttercup.” Carsten won people’s choice and casual wear.
Kingsley says she is already planning next year’s Ms. Tootsie Pageant and has decided it will have a gypsy theme.

Wisconsin Basketball: Better Than Average, Nothing More

Photo Courtesy of thebuckeyebattlecry.com

Commuters in Minneapolis rush hour can get to work in less time than it takes the Wisconsin Badgers to score. 

Wisconsin (22-8) finds itself consistently looking like the focal point of a wake. 

While the chemistry and work ethic are there, the team's ability to create (other than Jordan Taylor) and find a steady stream of offense are not. 

The Badgers beat teams with discipline and a sloth's pace. 

They frustrate with aggressive, fluid defense and a patient, pass-heavy offense. 

It works.

The team has reached the NCAA Tournament in all 11 seasons Bo Ryan has coached. 

But it only goes so far. 

No matter how many wins the Badgers collect during the regular season, they cannot get past the more athletic foes. 

Not consistently, anyway. 

Once has UW made it deeper than the Sweet Sixteen, and that was largely due to the fact it played three straight teams seeded 10th or lower.  

During Ryan's tenure, the Badgers have not defeated a top four seed. 

That trend may not soon change. 

The Badgers are 19-2 this season against unranked teams, compared to 3-6 against the best competition. 

Ryan gets the most out of his players and runs a good system. 

But it seems as though there should be a point where finishing 25th in a race becomes unacceptable. 

Jeremy Lin: Ability Without Care

Photo Courtesy of the AP

Jeremy Lin mania has rocked the NBA like Ozzy Osbourne has shaken up the stage.
He is a marketable monolith both domestically and abroad and has rejuvenated a star-lusted league with unassuming dominance.
As great as his start has been, Lin is mistake prone like an AA member.
For every one-and-a-half flashy passes turned buckets and nearly each made field goal, Lin loses the ball.
Since snatching a starting role in the Knicks' backcourt Feb. 6, Lin has recorded just two games with fewer than four turnovers.
Overall, Lin has scored 246 points, collected 94 assists and produced 67 turnovers in 12 games.
The 20.5 points per game is fantastic. So is the nearly eight assists per tilt.
The 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio is bad for a point guard.
And his 5.6 flubs each time out is downright atrocious.
His play-making abilities have certainly helped the Knicks, which are 9-3 since Lin became a starter.
But the decision-making needs to ameliorate before the value of the player matches the attention he receives.

Moneyball: A Fact-Based Review

Reality is a matter of perception that can vary from individual to individual.

The movie “Moneyball” is a transcription of a new-age idea brought to life by the mind of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane.

The story is compelling and romantic in the way the game of baseball is, with characters — most notably Beane himself, played by Brad Pitt — learning to accept themselves for who they are while overcoming past demons.

“Moneyball,” teaches — nay — preaches to “be true to thyself and thyself be true.”

The film showed there is anguish and uncertainty in defeat and confidence and triumph in victory.

Nonetheless, “Moneyball” is not without its flaws.

Some crack the very foundation upon which the flick sits.

“Moneyball” is a story about numbers. Numbers are facts. And facts, although sometimes misconstrued, tell the truth.

Ostensibly the Athletics were in a bind prior to the 2002 season because Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon and Jason Ishringhausen walked for more money. That’s what the movie conveys anyway.

What the movie producers failed to reveal is that the Oakland organization had found, groomed and developed arguably the best front-end starters in baseball.

Barry Zito won the American League’s CY Young Award in 2002. Behind Zito stood Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson.

Miguel Tejada, whose name was only mentioned in passing throughout the film, won AL MVP.

Tejada and Eric Chavez, two players already in the Athletics system before Moneyball techniques were instilled, formed a formidable left side of the infield.

The film isn’t focused on the big picture, though.

Its end aim is to proscribe baseball’s traditions and praise sabermetrics (numbers).

Any other storyline, even if it was a major player behind Oakland’s 103 win season, was omitted from the script.  

Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill) is brought on to “recreate” (as the movie puts it) the void left by the departure of Giambi and company.

Whom the team acquired, though, is not historically accurate.

In the movie, Jeremy Giambi is said to have been coming from the Yankees, swapping places with his brother.

Chad Bradford, another key 2002 off-season sign in “Moneyball,” is described as a nobody, coming from essentially nowhere.

There’s a scene where he personally thanks Beane for being given a chance to prove himself.

In reality, Giambi and Bradford had already been with the team.

Concerning Bradford, he pitched in 35 games for Oakland the season prior.  

Never mind Beane’s daughter in the movie was singing a Lenka song that released in 2008, when the film was set in 2002.

Other parts of "Moneyball" were just odd.

For some reason, the movie seemed to climax during the game between the Kansas City Royals in which Oakland blew an 11-run lead before winning it courtesy of a walk-off home run from Scott Hatteberg.

During this time, Beane thought back to his failure as a “sure thing” player, which flayed his peace of mind and challenged his resolve.

Sure, the A’s were trying to make history by winning for the 20^th consecutive time.

There’s drama in that.

Had Oakland lost, though, the course of the season would not have changed.  

The real climactic point in the movie seemed to be an afterthought.

The movie scarcely seemed to play up final game of the year, a loss to the Twins in Game 5 of the ALDS after holding a 2-0 series lead.

Oh well.

Overall, “Moneyball” entertained.

Despite its glimpses of magnificence, however, the movie, like the A’s teams under Beane, doesn’t win its last game. 

NBA All-Star Game: Hollywood Hoedown

The NBA All-Star starters were named Thursday and the Western Conference is almost entirely from Los Angeles.
Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum of the Lakers and Chris Paul and Blake Griffin of the Clippers will join Kevin Durant for the West in Orlando Feb. 26.
They will play opposite three-time All-Star and reigning league MVP Derrick Rose, game host and leading vote-getter Dwight Howard, the Heat's Dwyane Wade and LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
The league locked out to start the season has seen marquee players, including three All-Star Game starters (Paul, James and Anthony), move from small markets to big cities in the past year.
It's understandable the game's lesser exposed talents due to their location -- Kevin Love, for one -- would not be voted in to start.
Overall, though, the fans got this one right.
Reserves will be named next Thursday.

J.J. Barea: Good Acquisition, Frustrating Results

David Kahn showed some business sense when he went out and acquired insurance for incoming point guard Ricky Rubio.
An altogether new lifestyle and new language faced Rubio when he arrived in Minneapolis prior to the start of the season. To simultaneously help hasten and accommodate the proclaimed point guard of the future, Kahn acquired Spanish-speaking and Puerto Rican-born J.J. Barea.
The 6-foot veteran point guard is a high energy player who was considered to be an x-factor during Dallas' run to a title last season.
If Rubio struggled early, Barea would be a viable option for the Wolves, in addition to the returning Luke Ridnour, at the point.
The team chemistry move for Barea was brilliant on Kahn's part, especially since Rubio has been so fantastic -- he was named Rookie of the Month for January.
When it comes to Barea's own production, however, a lot is amiss.
In fact, the Wolves would quite possibly be better off without him.
Barea has been hampered by various leg injuries for much of the season.
The Wolves are 2-5 in the seven games he has played versus 8-7 in the 15 he has missed.
During his collegiate career at Northeastern, Barea shot anything and everything, en route to leading the country in shot percentage; he took more than 38 percent of his team's attempts.
Relegated to a backup role in the NBA, Barea hasn't had the opportunity to become a full-fledged black hole.
But it's still pretty bad.
Barea settles for a lot of 3s early in the shot clock and is notorious for driving wildly into the teeth of the defense. He often throws up prayers at the rim hoping Newton's laws of motion or the referees and their whistles will bail him out.
Most of the time, they don't.
Overall, he is shooting below 38 percent on the year, yet it is he who leads the team in shots per minute played, at a touch under .5.
Not even the proclaimed ball-hog and inconsistent Michael Beasley shoots at that rate (.454).
There's the defensive woes, too.
Barea has a negative plus/minus when out on the floor because of his small stature, this coming from a guy who has played for good teams throughout his career.
Beside, Minnesota has a lot of depth.
Coach Rick Adelman is admittedly tasked with finding playing time for all of his contributors.
One solution would be to let Barea ride the bench and simply be a cultural mentor to Rubio.

Wisconsin Hockey's Biggest Fan

Montee Ball Ties, Doesn't Top Barry Sanders' Historical Season

Historic season

Touchdown record did not fall

Good news for football

(A Haggy Haiku)

         ======================================================

As much fun it is to see records from seasons and generations past fall, it was extremely gratifying to see that Montee Ball did not overtake Barry Sanders in the history books. 

Oregon limited the Wisconsin running back and Heisman Trophy finalist to one touchdown in its 45-38 Rose Bowl victory Jan. 2. 

Just one more score and Ball would have set the single-season touchdown record, passing Barry Sanders. 

Instead, Ball and Sanders will share the distinction and total (39).

Similar to Roger Maris' home run feat in 1961 to best the Sultan of Swat Babe Ruth's mark of 60 in one season, another score and Ball would have edged Sanders while playing in more games. 

Ruth's 60 dinger effort in 1927 was over a 154 game season. Maris' 61 came during a 162 game schedule.   

Sanders scored 39 touchdowns in 11 games (the five he scored in the 1988 Holiday Bowl were not counted). Ball needed 14. 

Not to take anything away from Ball, Sanders simply put together a better season (and more touchdowns if you include the bowl game). 

As such, it would have been unfair to recognize the Wisconsin back as the single-season touchdown king. 

Matt Millen Broadcasts Fiesta Bowl

Worse than the BCS, which needs to go, failed Detroit Lions executive now ESPN analyst Matt Millen got the nod for Monday night's Fiesta Bowl between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Stanford Cardinal.
The marquee matchup between the No. 3 and 4 team in the country, one which features incredible talent on both sidelines, was underscored by the presence of Millen in the broadcast booth.
Football knowledge he has. But like his days in the corner office of the Lions organization, Millen makes mistakes and personalizes the game in front of him too much to warrant such a billing.
Thank goodness the game lived up to the hype.

Aaron Rodgers v. The Green Bay Packers

Matt Flynn set records for the Green Bay Packer passing attack in his second career start that Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre never achieved.
Rodgers' backup from LSU threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns, including the game-winning strike to Jermichael Finley with 70 seconds remaining to lead Green Bay over Detroit 45-41.
The game meant more to Detroit, who was trying to win for the first time at Lambeau Field since 1991 and avoid having to travel to the Superdome for a first round matchup with the red hot Saints.
Instead Flynn, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to start while Rodgers rested for the postseason, upstaged Matthew Stafford, who amassed 520 yards passing to eclipse 5,000 for the year and five scores of his own.
Flynn, in Rodgers fashion, found Jordy Nelson for three touchdowns of 7, 36 and 58 yards. He hit running back Ryan Grant for an 80-yard score and connected with Donald Driver from 35 yards out in a back-and-forth fourth quarter before finding Finley with the game-winner.
The win did not change Green Bay's postseason outlook; the Packers had already clinched home-field advantage.
It did open up an interesting question about the value of Mr. Rodgers.
With Peyton Manning in 2010 the Indianapolis Colts went 10-6. Without this year: 2-14.
The Packers, on the other hand, won with Flynn against a Lions team with everything to play for.
Rodgers was unstoppable for 13 consecutive weeks. When Greg Jennings went down with a knee injury, he lost to Kansas City.
Now this.
There's no question the defending Super Bowl champ is an elite signal caller. But like the chicken or the egg question, is it the system and personnel of Green Bay that makes Rodgers so good or the other way around? (Or maybe simply the Detroit Lions defense is just that bad.)
Let the debate begin.

Health Escapes Unfaithful

First it was Tiger Woods, now Kobe Bryant.
Woods was an unstoppable force until the media and his wife caught wind of his extra-marital affairs.
Soon after the top blew off on his secrets, injuries and inconsistency beset him.
Now it's Bryant's turn.
In the days following his wife Vanessa's move toward divorce because of unfaithfulness, Bryant plays in Los Angeles' final preseason game and tears ligaments in his wrist.
What's next? Is it to be two years before Bryant shows any sign of recovering?

War Horse: All Quiet on the Western Front Parody

Take the brutality, loss of innocence and violence that took place in the trenches of World War I. Now throw a horse in the middle of it all that runs around and winks at the camera every chance it can and you get War Horse. Watch a show on Hulu to see the 25 second trailer. It's better than the official trailers when it comes to seemingly making a mockery of one of the deadliest wars.
The trailer honestly looks like a parody sketch you'd see on SNL or Family Guy. I mean, come on, it's a horse.
Let me know if I'm wrong.

Stern Rule

Leviathan rule
Small in stature, big with fists
Negates Chris Paul trade

(A Haggy Haiku)