Like I said in an earlier post, I'm not going to provide much commentary/opinion on the Packers, mainly because there are so many avenues for that opinion.
But I can't get over the fact that Brett Favre chose to return to a team that isn't going to win more than five games. Is it really all about the records for him? Maybe he just enjoys playing. Or he thought he'd be traded to the Dolphins or Jets or something.
Whatever it is, I think it's a bad idea that he's still playing. I'm sure most, if not all athletes, don't want to play way beyond their prime.
But Favre reached that point in the 2003 playoffs, when he just gave up against the Eagles and lofted an pass for anyone to grab. He's had a great career, he's a hall of famer for sure, but this is just embarrasing.
Not only that, the team around him is horrible. The offensive line, even if it stays healthy, has problems. The running game shows almost no life. There's no pass rush from the defensive linemen which is going to put a tremendous amount of pressure on the team's young linebackers and Charles Woodson is looking like a complete bust as a free-agent pickup.
Let's just hope that at the end of this season Favre can choose to hang them up rather than having something happen to him this year that forces him to retire.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
State AP rankings should come out soon
I just finished voting in the first Associated Press poll of the season. It's actually the first time I've voted in more than a year. I'm struggling with the ethics of supposed unbiased observes using their opinion to judge the top teams in the state, especially when they couldn't locate a good chunk of them on a map much less see them play.
ANYWAYS, I decided that if I'm going to do it, I'm going to take it seriously. I tried to do as much research as possible for my picks, but there is no fool-proof way to do this. There's no way to have a fair judgement of talent of teams from across the state, so take these rankings for what they are worth — an evaluation by a group of reporters that only get to see a handful of teams each year.
I would have posted my selections here for you to see and comment on, but the voting system we use didn't give me a final list to look over. I do remember that I voted all but one defending champion as the top team in their division, and the one that I didn't (Stratford) I had at No. 2.
Next week, I'll post my selections here, that way you'll know I'm not stuffing the ballot box or anything like that.
ANYWAYS, I decided that if I'm going to do it, I'm going to take it seriously. I tried to do as much research as possible for my picks, but there is no fool-proof way to do this. There's no way to have a fair judgement of talent of teams from across the state, so take these rankings for what they are worth — an evaluation by a group of reporters that only get to see a handful of teams each year.
I would have posted my selections here for you to see and comment on, but the voting system we use didn't give me a final list to look over. I do remember that I voted all but one defending champion as the top team in their division, and the one that I didn't (Stratford) I had at No. 2.
Next week, I'll post my selections here, that way you'll know I'm not stuffing the ballot box or anything like that.
Check out the Sports Guy
Back in the day, one of my favorite columnists of any medium was Bill Simmons on ESPN.com Page 2. He had a stretch where he kind of left the Web site to write for Jimmy Kimmel's show on ABC, and then when he came back his columns were too forumulaic.
But lately, he's been putting out some pretty good stuff. His most recent column should be of interest to those of us that live in Wisconsin. Simmons and a few of his buddies made a trek to Wisconsin to take in a pair of Brewers games and a Packers preseason game.
Aside from the tired shots at Wisconsinites (yes, yes, yes, we are fat, like to drink beer and eat sausage), it's a fairly interesting read. Hope you enjoy it.
But lately, he's been putting out some pretty good stuff. His most recent column should be of interest to those of us that live in Wisconsin. Simmons and a few of his buddies made a trek to Wisconsin to take in a pair of Brewers games and a Packers preseason game.
Aside from the tired shots at Wisconsinites (yes, yes, yes, we are fat, like to drink beer and eat sausage), it's a fairly interesting read. Hope you enjoy it.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
North Fondy looking good
He wanted his players to believe it, but deep down North Fondy coach Nathan Lehman must have known it was just coachspeak.
Before the Orioles' game with Waterloo on Friday night, Lehman told his team that they were going to force a three-and-out and then return the punt for a touchdown.
They did just that.
John Cetnar returned a punt 45 yards for a touchdown to give North Fondy an early lead. It wouldn't hold, however, as the Orioles basically ran out of gas in a 46-26 loss.
It was a fairly impressive debut for a group of guys that haven't played much, if any, varsity football. I'm sure emotions will be high once again on Friday night when it plays host to Ozaukee at Humphrey Field.
Before the Orioles' game with Waterloo on Friday night, Lehman told his team that they were going to force a three-and-out and then return the punt for a touchdown.
They did just that.
John Cetnar returned a punt 45 yards for a touchdown to give North Fondy an early lead. It wouldn't hold, however, as the Orioles basically ran out of gas in a 46-26 loss.
It was a fairly impressive debut for a group of guys that haven't played much, if any, varsity football. I'm sure emotions will be high once again on Friday night when it plays host to Ozaukee at Humphrey Field.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Friday Night Insight
What an opening night. From an overtime game with Fond du Lac to a nailbiter for WLA, it was a great kick off to the high school football seaon.
I was impressed with Fondy quarterback Ben Anderson. He has a great touch and a pretty good arm. It's almost a shame that Fondy is going to run the ball a majority of the time, although you could argue it is those runs that set up the pass.
I've never seen an injured player move more than Paul Biolo. Biolo sprained his MCL and will have it examined today. We'll see if we can get an update. But Biolo was probably more active on the sidelines than he was in the game, and that's saying something. He caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Anderson and played a big role on the kick return teams. But there he was, moving around on his crutches, waving them as pom poms and trying to persuade the trainer to let him back in. When it became apparent that a last-minute field goal would win the game, Biolo, the team's holder, tried persuading anyone that would listen that he could still hold, despite the fact he had an ice pack on his knee on he ditched his shoulder pads a while back. When it missed, Biolo asked, "Was it a bad hold?"
Fondy's defense needs to improve for its game with Kimberly on Friday. There were a handful of times Oshkosh North converted third and longs, and some of those directly led to a touchdown. It wasn't a matter of not getting to the quarterback. North's Juston Wara didn't have much time to throw but he slipped through a number of sure sacks. He looked much improved over last year.
I was impressed with Fondy quarterback Ben Anderson. He has a great touch and a pretty good arm. It's almost a shame that Fondy is going to run the ball a majority of the time, although you could argue it is those runs that set up the pass.
I've never seen an injured player move more than Paul Biolo. Biolo sprained his MCL and will have it examined today. We'll see if we can get an update. But Biolo was probably more active on the sidelines than he was in the game, and that's saying something. He caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Anderson and played a big role on the kick return teams. But there he was, moving around on his crutches, waving them as pom poms and trying to persuade the trainer to let him back in. When it became apparent that a last-minute field goal would win the game, Biolo, the team's holder, tried persuading anyone that would listen that he could still hold, despite the fact he had an ice pack on his knee on he ditched his shoulder pads a while back. When it missed, Biolo asked, "Was it a bad hold?"
Fondy's defense needs to improve for its game with Kimberly on Friday. There were a handful of times Oshkosh North converted third and longs, and some of those directly led to a touchdown. It wasn't a matter of not getting to the quarterback. North's Juston Wara didn't have much time to throw but he slipped through a number of sure sacks. He looked much improved over last year.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Drake Diener makes his Italian debut
Drake Diener scored 24 points and had six rebounds and five steals but his Ignis Castelletto team fell short to Wisconsin, 83-74, in an exhibition game in Italy.
The Badgers are touring Italy, playing five games against professional teams and seeing the sights. Alando Tucker scored 20 points for Wisconsin.
For more on the game, visit http://www.basketcastelletto.it/. Unless you are fluent in Italian, you'll need a translator.
The Badgers are touring Italy, playing five games against professional teams and seeing the sights. Alando Tucker scored 20 points for Wisconsin.
For more on the game, visit http://www.basketcastelletto.it/. Unless you are fluent in Italian, you'll need a translator.
Are you ready for some football?
The question was rhetorical, but if you answered no, then maybe this will get you pumped up.
If you haven't already done so, check out our football preview issue online. You can always order back copies through The Reporter, but if you are really, really nice to me, maybe I'll give you one. There is some web-only content available, including audio clips from our coaches roundtable discussion (click here to listen Fondy's three coaches talk about why they do it) and a really nifty photo gallery.
If you live in the general Fond du Lac area, I'll be making three different radio appearances today. At 11 a.m., I'll be on "The Focus" on KFIZ-AM 1450 chatting with host Bob Hoffmaster about the upcoming football season. I'll join Huffy and Wade Bates for their preview show later that night before the Fond du Lac-Oshkosh North game. I'll also be appearing on the "Coach's Playbook" on WFDL-AM 1170. That show starts at 5 p.m.
If you don't know who is playing, check out today's Reporter for the schedule. Aside from the games in the city, I'd recommend checking out Brodhead-Juda at Mayville. Matt Haass was featured on the cover of our preview issue. Brodhead-Juda is a perennial playoff team and finished the 2003 season as the Division 4 runners-up (it lost to Ripon).
After all the games are over tonight, be sure to check www.fdlreporter.com for updated scores and stories. Then, tomorrow morning, head out to a gas station or grocery store to grab Blink, our free weekly tabloid. For the first time ever we are able to provide Saturday morning game coverage, so there's no need to wait for Sunday's paper to read up on all your favorite teams.
Although, Sunday will be worth checking out anyway.
Enjoy.
If you haven't already done so, check out our football preview issue online. You can always order back copies through The Reporter, but if you are really, really nice to me, maybe I'll give you one. There is some web-only content available, including audio clips from our coaches roundtable discussion (click here to listen Fondy's three coaches talk about why they do it) and a really nifty photo gallery.
If you live in the general Fond du Lac area, I'll be making three different radio appearances today. At 11 a.m., I'll be on "The Focus" on KFIZ-AM 1450 chatting with host Bob Hoffmaster about the upcoming football season. I'll join Huffy and Wade Bates for their preview show later that night before the Fond du Lac-Oshkosh North game. I'll also be appearing on the "Coach's Playbook" on WFDL-AM 1170. That show starts at 5 p.m.
If you don't know who is playing, check out today's Reporter for the schedule. Aside from the games in the city, I'd recommend checking out Brodhead-Juda at Mayville. Matt Haass was featured on the cover of our preview issue. Brodhead-Juda is a perennial playoff team and finished the 2003 season as the Division 4 runners-up (it lost to Ripon).
After all the games are over tonight, be sure to check www.fdlreporter.com for updated scores and stories. Then, tomorrow morning, head out to a gas station or grocery store to grab Blink, our free weekly tabloid. For the first time ever we are able to provide Saturday morning game coverage, so there's no need to wait for Sunday's paper to read up on all your favorite teams.
Although, Sunday will be worth checking out anyway.
Enjoy.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Prep Football 2006 available online
You can read our football preview issue here. The audio links you see on the right are from our coaches roundtable discussion.
Be sure to read today's Reporter
You know that feeling when you are done taking the last final exam before Christmas vacation? That's how I feel the day the prep football preview issue comes out.
It's a lot of work putting that thing together, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't fun to do. There's a reason we put so much work and effort into it, and that's because we enjoy putting out a quality product.
Other newspapers will come out with their preview sections on Friday, so we have a beat on the competition, at least for a day.
If you didn't get to pick one up, at some point most of the section will find its way online. I'll post links here as soon as I get them.
Interesting tidbit for Friday's Oshkosh North - Fondy game
I had a chance to talk to both football coaches at Oshkosh North and Fond du Lac earlier today for a story in Friday's paper, and discovered they both run the exact same version of the Wing-T offense.
First-year Fondy coach Brad Kozaczuk used this offense as an assistant in Virginia, while second-year North coach Chris Kujawa picked it up at a clinic.
Neither coach would reveal too much of their playbook to me, but I'd imagine both teams are going to run the ball quite a bit. The Spartans had trouble doing just that last year, despite a great running back in the since-graduated Charlie Raboin and two 300-pound tackles.
But Kujawa said there's a new attitude in the locker room and on the practice field, so I'd expect Friday's game to be closer than some of you may think.
First-year Fondy coach Brad Kozaczuk used this offense as an assistant in Virginia, while second-year North coach Chris Kujawa picked it up at a clinic.
Neither coach would reveal too much of their playbook to me, but I'd imagine both teams are going to run the ball quite a bit. The Spartans had trouble doing just that last year, despite a great running back in the since-graduated Charlie Raboin and two 300-pound tackles.
But Kujawa said there's a new attitude in the locker room and on the practice field, so I'd expect Friday's game to be closer than some of you may think.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Soda out for first week at least
I realize it's been a while since I've posted. My trusty co-worker, Doug Whiteley, and I have been neck-deep in preparing the football preview special section, which will, as they say in the music industry, drop on Thursday. Check it out.
ANYWAYS, I came across a bit of news when I was out touring the area high schools the last two weeks. Ripon's David Soda, one of the top seniors in the area, will miss at least the Tigers' first game at Clintonville with a bum ankle.
Soda, if you remember, suffered a broken ankle in a playoff game last year and had to watch Ripon's 21-16 state championship victory over West Salem from the sidelines.
However, that's not the ankle that's bothering him. It's the right one this time.
Soda twisted the ankle at a baseball camp before practice started, according to Ripon's Web site.
Ripon should be fine against Clintonville, but could be in trouble the following week when Sheboygan Falls pays a visit to Ingalls Field. The Falcons are one of the top teams in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference and, aside from Waupun, gave Ripon the most trouble last year. Soda starts both ways for the Tigers, and his absence hurts their depth. For a Division 4 school, however, Ripon has tremendous depth at almost every position.
ANYWAYS, I came across a bit of news when I was out touring the area high schools the last two weeks. Ripon's David Soda, one of the top seniors in the area, will miss at least the Tigers' first game at Clintonville with a bum ankle.
Soda, if you remember, suffered a broken ankle in a playoff game last year and had to watch Ripon's 21-16 state championship victory over West Salem from the sidelines.
However, that's not the ankle that's bothering him. It's the right one this time.
Soda twisted the ankle at a baseball camp before practice started, according to Ripon's Web site.
Ripon should be fine against Clintonville, but could be in trouble the following week when Sheboygan Falls pays a visit to Ingalls Field. The Falcons are one of the top teams in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference and, aside from Waupun, gave Ripon the most trouble last year. Soda starts both ways for the Tigers, and his absence hurts their depth. For a Division 4 school, however, Ripon has tremendous depth at almost every position.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Preseason polls are in
Prep football practice started across the state today, and it seems that some Web sites have already posted their preseason rankings.
All rankings done before the season starts shouldn't be taken seriously. Most of the time the person that compiles the rankings don't put too much effort into it aside from looking at what those teams did last year and what they have coming back this year.
And that's not a shot at the people that compile these rankings. It's just the truth. Aside from a few passing leagues, there aren't any summer tournaments for these football teams to see where they stack up against other squads.
That being said, there are some local teams earning preseason buzz.
WisconsinPreps.com has Fond du Lac coming in at No. 6 in its Division 1 preseason top 10, while they are a team to look out for at BadgerStatePreps.com. The Cardinals were 7-2 in the regular season last year and won a playoff game at Madison West.
Ripon is ranked No. 3 in Division 4 by BadgerStatePreps.com, which is surprising considering Rick Kelm's squad has won the state title two out of the last three years. The Tigers lost quite a bit to graduation, but still return quarterback Scott Gillespie and the core of its defense.
There weren't any other major surprises in the rankings and, again, I wouldn't read too much into them. But it does make for good conversation.
All rankings done before the season starts shouldn't be taken seriously. Most of the time the person that compiles the rankings don't put too much effort into it aside from looking at what those teams did last year and what they have coming back this year.
And that's not a shot at the people that compile these rankings. It's just the truth. Aside from a few passing leagues, there aren't any summer tournaments for these football teams to see where they stack up against other squads.
That being said, there are some local teams earning preseason buzz.
WisconsinPreps.com has Fond du Lac coming in at No. 6 in its Division 1 preseason top 10, while they are a team to look out for at BadgerStatePreps.com. The Cardinals were 7-2 in the regular season last year and won a playoff game at Madison West.
Ripon is ranked No. 3 in Division 4 by BadgerStatePreps.com, which is surprising considering Rick Kelm's squad has won the state title two out of the last three years. The Tigers lost quite a bit to graduation, but still return quarterback Scott Gillespie and the core of its defense.
There weren't any other major surprises in the rankings and, again, I wouldn't read too much into them. But it does make for good conversation.
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