Badgers Take Out #1

For the first time since 1981 the Wisconsin Badgers emerged victorious from a matchup with the nation's top ranked team. The Badgers knocked Ohio State out of the top spot with a decisive 31-18 victory on Saturday night.

The Badgers entered the game as the #18 team in the country, the underdog at home against the Buckeyes. The combination of a consistent running game and tough defense helped the Badgers prove the oddsmakers wrong and come away with a win.

This game was the most exciting sports event I've ever attended. The atmosphere was unbelievable at Camp Randall. The stadium was filled to capacity before kickoff, which hasn't happened for quite some time.

David Gilreath's opening kickoff return for a touchdown set the tone for a night full of headaches for Ohio State. The Badgers quickly added two more touchdowns, both on rushes by John Clay, to take a 21-0 lead.



Ohio State then scored 18 unanswered points, making it a three point game. The Badgers responded with a 10 play, 73 yard drive capped by a James White 12 yard touchdown run.

The Badgers managed to control the Buckeye offense for the rest of the game, and Blake Sorenson intercepted a Terelle Pryor pass late in the 4th quarter to seal the victory.

Following the victory, the crowd stormed the field despite the PA announcer's best attempts to convince us otherwise. Camp Randall became a sea red and white, as fans congratulated and celebrated with the players.

John Clay became the first player in 30 games to rush for 100 yards against the Buckeyes. He totaled 104 yards and 2 touchdowns. James White added another 75 yards and a touchdown.

Scott Tolzein threw for 152 yards and connected on 81% of his pass attempts. Nick Toon led The Badger receivers with 6 receptions for 72 yards.

David Gilreath was named the Big Ten Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance against Ohio State. Gilreath's 97 yard touchdown return made him the Big Ten's all-time leader in kickoff return yards. Gilreath finished the day with 163 total return yards, bringing his career total to 2,677 yards, passing the 2.575 yards set by Michigan State's Derrick Mason after the 1996 season.

The Badger defense held Terrelle Pryor to just 156 passing yards and 56 rushing yards. JJ Watt sacked Pryor twice, and Pat Muldoon added a sack as well. The Badger secondary didn't allow a passing touchdown.

The Badgers moved up to #10 in the new polls. Ohio State dropped to #11. The new rankings have Michigan State at #8 and Iowa at #13, making next week's game at Iowa a pivotal matchup for Wisconsin.

Oops!

Watch your hands when you have a female ref!

Two Favorite College Football Plays of the Weekend

So this weekend in the NFL was not worth writing about because the Packers are so frustrating right now. However there were two plays in college football that epitomize the reason I love it. The first one shows Andrew Luck a future NFL one round draft pick, light up USC's Shareece Wright after a fumble recovery. The second one, I love because sometimes college coaches try to get to cute and young college players make the most of the stupid decision. Surprise onside kicks are great in EA Sports NCAA 2005 but not also in the actual game, unless its the Super Bowl of course.








Vote for your favorite!

Badgers Breeze Through Homecoming Border Battle, Prepare for Matchup with #1

The Wisconsin Badgers beat the Minnesota Golden Gophers in UW's homecoming football game on Saturday, keeping Paul Bunyan's Axe in Madison for the seventh straight year.

Wisconsin (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) rushed its way to a 41-23 victory over Minnesota (1-5, 0-2 Big Ten). The Badgers rushed for 250 yards and five touchdowns, with the majority of the production coming from John Clay and James White, who both broke 100 yards in the game. Scott Tolzein added 223 passing yards and threw a touchdown pass to Jared Abbredaris.

The Badgers bounced back from a disappointing loss to Michigan State last weekend.

"After a loss and a bad taste in your mouth, you can't look back, you've got to move forward, and I thought our guys did that," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. "I can't say enough about our ground game. John Clay and James White and the big guys up front blocking up for them are really special."

This was the second time this season both Clay and White rushed for at least 100 yards in the same game. In the past three games White has amassed 361 rushing yards and has found the endzone eight times. White's emergence as a force in the running game comes at a vital point in the season as the Badgers prepare to square off with the newly labeled #1 Ohio State Buckeyes.

After #1 Alabama was upset by #19 South Carolina the Buckeyes jumped to the top spot in the polls. This will be the first time the Badgers faced a #1 team since 2007, when they traveled to Ohio State and lost, 38-17. Wisconsin seeks a different outcome this weekend.

Monday Night Matchup

The Green Bay Packers head to Soldier Field tonight looking to gain sole possession NFC North lead. The 180th matchup (the league's oldest rivalry) between these two teams marks the first time since 1962 when both teams had a record of 2-0 or better.

The Bears are coming off a big win in Dallas in which quarterback Jay Cutler was able to throw for 277 yards and three touchdowns. Cutler connected on passes to six different players, with running backs playing a key role in the passing game. The running game, however, was only able to amass 32 yards.

The Packers travel to Chicago after blowing out the Buffalo Bills 34-7 at Lambeau Field, a game I was lucky enough to attend. After struggling in the red zone in the first half, Aaron Rodgers had a stellar second half, throwing for two touchdowns and running another in. He finished the day with 255 passing yards.

The Pack saw a significant decrease in run production (not that it mattered against the Bills) after the loss of running back Ryan Grant to a season-ending ankle injury. Brandon Jackson and fullback John Kuhn saw split time as the featured back, and with the aid of Rodgers and newly acquired running back Dimitri Nance, the Packer ground game was able to combine for 91 yards, with both Rodgers and Jackson rushing for touchdowns.

Despite the offensive firepower in the second half, the real excitement from the Buffalo game came from the defense, and more specifically, Clay Matthews. For the second straight week the Claymaker collected three sacks, bringing his season total to a league-leading six. He is the first player in franchise history to have back-to-back games with three sacks, and was named last week's NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He was unstoppable off the edge, and caused Trent Edwards to consistently hurry his throws.

Things to watch for tonight:

Julius Peppers: With Packer's left tackle Chad Clifton showing signs of injury and age, rookie Bryan Bulaga may see playing time in tonight's game. He played the majority of the game last week against the Bills, but Julius Peppers is a different breed of beast. Look for Chicago to line Peppers up against Bulaga to gain a mismatch.

Clay Matthews: Kevin Kolb. Trent Edwards. Neither quarterback has played a snap since playing the Packers, largely thanks to Matthews. The Packers will use him in many different ways tonight.

Jermichael Finley: Tony Romo was able to find his tight end, Jason Witten, five times last Sunday against the Bears. Finley is a more athletic tight end than Witten, and poses huge problems for linebackers and defensive backs. Finley had his first 100 yard game last weekend, I expect to see his first (and second) touchdowns of the season tonight.

Matt Forte: Despite a poor performance last week, Forte is a premier back in the NFL. Last weekend the Bills were able to find successes against the Packers on the ground, expect the Bears to attempt the same. 

Jay Cutler/Aaron Rodgers matchup: Cutler and Rodgers are both having good seasons so far this year. While Cutler may have one more touchdown pass and one less interception than Rodgers, the Packers were able to intercept Cutler five times last season. Both quarterbacks hold mutual respect for each other, as stated in an interview with ESPN:

"It is nice to watch him have the success he has had the first two games, I think. You have got to point to, definitely, some growth in him and understanding that system coach [Mike] Martz is trying to run. It's obviously working very well for him in the first couple weeks. I'm happy for him." — Packers QB Aaron Rodgers on Cutler

"Good player, really good player. Playing at a high calibre. Did it last year. Looks like he's back on track this year. A lot of weapons over there. Tight ends, receivers, running backs. They spread it out a lot. They do some similar stuff we do — create matchups [and] he's able to find them. He moves around well. He's definitely one of the top quarterbacks in the league." —Bears QB Jay Cutler on Rodgers

NFL Eve: On the Brink of the 2010 Season

It's that time again...when web gems and bicycle kicks are replaced with one-handed catches and punt-return touchdowns. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" turns into "Bang the Drum All Day" and foam fingers are switched out for cheese heads. Yes it's football season, the best four and a half months of the year.

The 2010 NFL season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory. Off-season trades, high-profile benchings, quarterback suspensions, aged veterans returning (again), new stadiums, new coaches, new throwback uniforms, rule changes, international stages, and the potential for a 2011 lockout all combine to make this season one for the ages.

The 2010 season kicks off tomorrow night when the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints take on the Minnesota Vikings, a rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship Game. Brett Favre returns to the Vikings for what is likely to be his last opening day start to take on Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees and the high powered Saints offense.

The Green Bay Packers open their 2010 campaign in Philly on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers and the explosive Packer offense will look to outscore the Kevin Kolb quarterbacked Eagles. The Dom Capers-coached defense has a full year of the 3-4 scheme under their belts and looks to improve upon the disappointing performance in last season's playoff loss. They will have to contain the likes of DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek in order to pull out a win.

ESPN and Sports Illustrated recently released week 1 power rankings, here is the top ten:

Several rule changes are in affect this season. A new overtime system is in place. The "Hines Ward Rule" has been altered to protect all defenseless players. The umpire will now line up in the offensive backfield opposite the quarterback's throwing arm (except in the final two minutes of each half) in order to reduce the number of times that the official has been run over in the past. Replay can now be used to determine if a ball was interfered with. Plays will also be whistled dead when the ball-carrier's helmet comes off during the play.

The 2010 season is uncapped, as NFL owners voted to opt out of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in 2008. If no new CBA is arranged, a work stoppage will exist for the 2011 season. The threat of a lockout makes this season one to watch even more closely; it may be the last pro football we watch until 2012. 

Big Ten Alignment Announced

The Big 10 Conference has announced the conference alignment that will be in affect starting next season. The 2 divisions have not yet been named.

• Division 1: 
• Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin
• Division 2:
• Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Michigan State, Iowa, Minnesota

Each school will play the other five schools in their division, as well as three teams from the other division, with one cross-division match up guaranteed annually. These are the guaranteed cross-division matchups:

• Wisconsin - Minnesota
• Ohio State - Michigan
• Penn State - Nebraska
• Purdue - Iowa
• Illinois - Northwestern
• Indiana - Michigan State

The Badgers open the 2010 season this weekend at UNLV.

Favre Intends to Play, If Healthy

On Wednesday morning Brett Favre told ESPN's Ed Werder that he intends to play in the upcoming season if his ankle recovers from surgery. He denied reports that he sent text messages to his teammates involving his intended retirement.

the saga continues...

Third Time's a Charm?

On Tuesday morning Brett Favre reportedly informed the Vikings' organization that he will retire. Brad Childress, head coach of the Vikings, has stated he has not heard from Favre directly about the situation. League sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Shefter that Favre sent the text message "This is it" to several teammates.

If Favre truly is retiring (he has already retired twice, once in March of 2008 and another time in July of 2009) he will leave as the NFL all-time leader in touchdown passes, passing yards, pass completions, pass attempts, consecutive starts, victories as a starting quarterback, and interceptions. He remains the only player to be named league MVP three consecutive times. (Favre is also the only known grandpa playing in the NFL today)

While I personally would love to see Favre return (so Clay Matthews can say hi to his facemask) it is undeniable that Favre's retirement lays a path for the Packers to walk away with the NFC North title.

Last season the Vikings torched Green Bay through the air. Now, with Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels, or Joe Webb (who?) at the helm, the probability the Packers will surrender to the passing game is low. This leaves the weight on the shoulders of Adrian Peterson, who rushed for a total of 152 yards against the Packers last season, not exactly a high total for one of the league's best running backs.

While revenge would be sweet for the Pack, I'll gladly take a playoff run in exchange.

Hart Rewarded for Hot Season

The Milwaukee Brewers and Corey Hart reached an agreement Monday on a three-year, $26.5 million contract extension. This comes after pre-season contract arbitration and numerous mid-season trade talks.

Hart was anything but hot coming into the 2010 season. The 2009 campaign and spring training of 2010 were not high points in Hart's career. He was left out of the opening day starting line-up and failed to make the All-Star Ballot.

Despite this, Hart has lit up the field throughout the first half of the season. He made the All-Star Team by way of the players' ballot, and ended up starting for the National League due to an injury to Jason Heyward.

After trade talks surrounded Hart, he publicly announced his preference to stay a Brewer.

"In years past, I think I've pressed too much to worry about what would happen next year," he said. "I told them all along I wanted to be here [in Milwaukee], because my family likes it there and it's a comfort level. Not having to worry about that now, I can take a deep breath and go out there and relax."

As of Monday, Hart is hitting .288, with 23 homers and 72 RBI's.

"The Brewers are very excited to have Corey signed for the next three years," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said in a statement issued by the club. "He is one of our drafted and developed players and with his two-time All-Star performances, Corey deserves this contract that will provide his family security. We appreciate his wanting to remain a Brewer and a part of the Milwaukee community."

Packers Lock Down Bulaga, Bring Full Team to Training Camp

The Green Bay Packers signed rookie offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga to a five-year deal on Friday morning. The deal is worth $14.75 million over those five years, with $8.76 million in guaranteed money.

With training camp kicking off this morning, the Packers have all of their players, including all seven draft picks, under contract. (Last year B.J. Raji didn't sign until 2 weeks of camp were over.

“It’s important for young players to be in camp on time," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said during his pre-training camp news conference on Friday. “The practice time, the meeting time, those are days you just can’t get back. You see it time and time again when players miss because of contract negotiations, they fall behind.”

Rodgers = Hungry

Aaron Rodgers is in the middle of a month-long workout regiment in San Diego, where he is training with Super Bowl champ Drew Brees.

USA Today put out an article about Rodgers, it is very insightful and a good read - you can check it out here.

Big Ten Preseason Player Rankings

ESPN recently released rankings of the top 25 Big Ten players, based on past performances by the player and their potential for the upcoming season. Several Badgers made the cut.

#4 - RB John Clay

Clay finished at #9 in ESPN's 2009 postseason player rankings. The Big Ten Offensive Player of the year finished 1st in the Big Ten and 12th nationally with 1,517 rush yards (116.7 yards per game). He scored 18 touchdowns and rushed for at least 100 yards in 9 games.


Clay averaged 5.43 yards per carry last season, good enough for 3rd all-time in Badger history. He also sits 10th all time in school history for rushing yards (2,401) and 6th in career touchdowns (27). Clay was the Champ's Sports Bowl MVP last season.

#11 - LT Gabe Carimi

Carimi was first-team all Big Ten last season.He was part of the 2009 Wisconsin offensive line that led the Big Ten in scoring (31.8 points per game), rushing (203.8 yards per game), and total offense (416.9 yards per game).

Already being called Bryan Bulaga's replacement as the "premier left tackle in the Big Ten", Carimi has been named to the Rotary Lombardi Award preseason watch list, as well as been selected as a preseason All-American by several outlets. ESPN college football specialist Mel Kiper Jr. predicted Carimi to be the 2nd tackle selected in the 2011 draft.

#15 - G/C John Moffitt

The senior offensive lineman will be starting for the 4th consecutive season.

Moffitt also made the Rotary Lombardi Award preseason watch list for the 2nd year in a row. Mel Kiper Jr. has predicted Moffitt to be the 5th guard drafted in 2011.



#16 - LB Chris Borland

Borland did a little bit of everything for the Badgers last season. As a freshman, Borland Tied for 1st in the Big Ten with three fumble recoveries, and tied for 2nd with five forced fumbles. He was 3rd among Badgers in sacks, with 5, and tackles for loss, with 10.5. He blocked a punt, returned 6 kickoffs, had an interception, and kicked 3 extra points.

In 2009 Borland won Big Ten Player of the Week honors for both defensive and special teams play. He was also chosen as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

#19 - QB Scott Tolzein

Tolzein won the starting job for the Badgers last season and proceeded to lead the Big Ten in pass efficiency with a QB rating of 143. He also finished 2nd in the Big Ten by completing 64.3% of his passes. In 6 games he threw for at least 240 yards.

Tolzein was never flashy in 2009, but he played consistently for the majority of the season. He executed when he needed to, and was a nice complement to the strong running game for Wisconsin.

#25 - DE J.J. Watt

Watt had a breakout sophomore season. He finished 2nd for the Badgers in fumble recoveries, with 2, and pass breakups, with 5. He also finished 6th in the Big Ten with 15.5 tackles for loss.

J.J. will need to pick up the pace this season, as O'Brien Schofield's graduation leaves him as the featured pass rusher on the team.

Honorable Mention: WR Nick Toon

Toon caught 54 balls for 805 yards last season and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Midway through the 2009 season he began to develop a connection with Tolzein, look for that relationship to continue in 2010.

BrentFavre.com

I recently had an article published on brentfavre.com. (Thanks for the hook-up Brendo!). It's a pretty cool blog put on by SconnieNation. You can check out the article here.

I'm Ready for Some Football...

It's now July...which means it's almost August...which means it's almost time for (American) football!

In celebration, here are a couple of my all-time favorite Packer plays.

Enjoy!

The Photogenic Aaron Rodgers

I recently ran across this picture and thought it was hilarious. Apparently Aaron Rodgers  had a running joke where he always made sure he appeared in the background of the pictures of the team captains. This tradition was started by former Favre backups Doug Pederson and Craig Nall. Rodgers took the joke one more level, adding odd facial expressions and using props.

You can see the picture here as well, you can zoom in to see it better.

Wimbledon Update

So today was a pretty eventful Wednesday with the USA winning in dramatic fashion and at Wimbledon the longest match in tennis history was suspended due to darkness.

First off the World Cup, so today I was at work and unable to watch the World Cup game. However, I went to ask my boss a question in his office and the game was on. It was at the 90 minute mark and I asked him does this mean we are done. He responded that unless there was a miracle, yes the underachieving US was done. Crazy the minute I watched of the World Cup might have been the most exciting of the entire tournament. Cool goal, go USA prove to the world you can do well in sports you barely even care about.

History was at Wimbledon today with the longest match ever between USA born John Isner and Frenchie Nicolas Mahut. But the real history made was the guy in the crowd who had one of the most obvious picking of the nose and eating it. Watch for yourself folks this guy has no shame!

GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!

Sick of World Cup

Sorry but I am not a huge World Cup, I know complain how I have no appreciation for the best WORLD sporting event. But frankly if I don't like watching soccer why would I like it when it means a lot! All I am saying I watched this YouTube video and it made me remember why America doesn't care about soccer! While a bad penalty can screw up a REAL football game, a silly offsides calls in a "football" game can wreck a country's chance in the World Cup.

Watch this video and explain to me why the World Cup is more fun to watch then the NFL!

Bad Luck Chuck?

It happens to everyone. No matter how hard you try, you grow old. Things ache that never used to. Gray hairs are no longer attributed to stress. And, as Toby Keith best said it, ya ain't as good as you once was. No one should be realizing this more today than Chuck Liddell. Previous to the conclusion of UFC 115, doubts had been raised about the UFC hall of famer's health and ability in the octagon. People said he was getting old. Up-and-coming younger fighters were going to be too much for him to handle. They questioned the toll fighting had taken on his body and mind. And after getting leveled by a right hook from Rich Franklin Saturday night, I would have to say that the critics were right.

But Chuck is a fighter. Always has been, always will be. I'm sure he didn't care he hadn't fought in over a year. I'm sure he didn't care he had lost two fights in a row, both by KO. He was driven. Driven to prove people wrong. And for the most part, driven to kick the crap out of his arch rival, Tito Ortiz. Chuck appeared on the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter as one of the coaches, alongside Ortiz. Tensions were always high between the two, until they reached a boiling point when Tito withdrew from their end of the season PPV fight. Chuck was furious. He had been training to fight Tito and now, just when he was about to start his comeback run against the man he hated most, the rug gets pulled from underneath him. But he wouldn't make excuses, that's not the style of a true fighter. So he accepted Dana White's decision. Insert Rich Franklin, and a couple months later, Chuck comes to staring up at the ceiling of the General Motors Place in Vancouver, B.C..

Chuck came out in the first round guns blazing. He looked impressive, considering his age and ring-rust. He even broke Franklin's arm on a heavy duty leg kick. I scored the first round to The Iceman. But he got anxious, and exposed himself with only 7 seconds left. That was all Franklin needed. It took one punch and Chuck was on his back. Unlucky indeed. He looked terrible after he came to. Worn out, exhausted and a little like a man who knew it was over.

So this raises the question. When should fighters no longer be allowed to fight? Do guys like Dana White have a say in the matter? When are the signs of too much fighting enough to call it quits? After watching the Ultimate Fighter season, I could tell that Chuck wasn't as quick thinking as he used to be. He took a lot longer to answer questions asked of him. He seemd slow, almost dim-witted at times. Could that be the result of getting punched one too many times? It's hard to say but this type of scenario happens to everyone. An elderly father is confronted by his son about his driving. It's no longer safe, the son says. But is it really that easy to admit to yourself that you no longer can do something? I certainly don't think so. There is too much pride involved. But while it is not easy, it takes a real man to know when to fold the hand you're dealt. Chuck could have walked away from the UFC a hall of famer, and a legend in his own right without having to deal with the criticism that he is too old. But he didn't. And he is entitled to that. I believe that fighters have every right to declare that they themselves are still able to fight. But I also believe that promoters, like Dana White, can deny them the fights, for their own good. If Chuck wants to go fight at another promotion like Belator, that is his prerogative. But something should be said when everyone is saying it's time for a fighter to call it quits.

So is it bad luck that makes it seem a fighter isn't what he used to be, or is it simply due to old age? Maybe a little bit of both, but it is clear that the Iceman isn't as impervious as he once was.

Suppan Released by Brewers

Veteran pitcher Jeff Suppan was released by the Milwaukee Brewers today in the most costly cut in Brewer history. Suppan, in the final year of his contract, still had more than $10 million left on his contract.

Suppan, in 2 starts and 13 relief appearances, had an 0-2 record and an ERA of 7.84.

His spot on the roster is being filled by right-hander Chris Smith, who will be promoted from Triple-A Nashville. Smith played 35 games for the Brewers last year, and has been dominant so far this year in Nashville, compiling a 2-1 record with 16 saves and an ERA of 1.71.

This is the statement released by Suppan earlier today:

"I want to thank Mark Attanasio and Doug Melvin for all they have done for my family and me, especially how they handled this situation.  I've played with a number of organizations, and the Brewers are one of the classiest.

"When I signed in 2007, I was committed to winning, and to this day I still am.  Nobody is more disappointed than I am with how things have turned out.  I enjoyed my time here in Milwaukee as both a player and a member of the community.  As such, I will continue my involvement with Brewers Charities for the remainder of the 2010 season.  My commitment to this cause and the people it serves is unwavering.

"I wish the Brewers organization, its fans and especially my teammates all the best."

Duke Lacrosse Redemption

It took three years, but the Duke lacrosse team has finally overcome the 2006 scandal that brought a promising season crashing to the ground. On Monday the Duke Blue Devils became the 2010 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Champions, the first championship in school history.


In 2006 the now-discredited rape case eventually caused Duke to end their season after only eight games. After investigations cleared all members of these charges, the NCAA awarded 33 Duke players an extra year of eligibility. Those 33 built the foundation of the "post-incident" Duke lacrosse team.


A few of those players took the field Monday, and were able to end their careers with a National Championship.

"It was hard," said Ned Crotty, who is now a fifth-year senior. "We knew no one liked us and we definitely leaned on each other. We realized the only thing that mattered was us. We knew everyone else hated us, so we knew we only had each other. That's why this team is so tight-knit."


The Blue Devils, whose high-powered offense came into the National Championship averaging 17.5 goals per game, were up against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, whose goalie just happened to be the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, 6-foot-4, 254 pound Scott Rodgers.


The match-up would lead to the lowest scoring game in tournament history, as regulation ended with a 5-5 tie.


It took just 5 seconds in overtime for sophomore long-pole C.J. Costabile to win the opening face-off, sprint down the field, and score the game winning goal.



“It's sick,” Costabile said about scoring the game-winning goal. “The best feeling about it is we set this goal from the beginning of the year. Guys who have been here before me, [those guys] who have been here three times before and finally seeing them walk-off that field with a big smile on their faces are the best moment about that.”




The seniors who remained on the team after the 2006 scandal walked away from the stadium hoping this victory would change the stigma the Duke lacrosse team had been branded with.


"I hope this takes over the story of Duke lacrosse," Crotty said. "Hopefully we can put everything else to rest, so when people think of Duke lacrosse, they think 2010 national champions."

Roy Halladay, Ubaldo Jimenez, and the Brewers

,On Saturday, Roy Halladay threw the 20th perfect game in Major League history, and the second this season (Oakland's Dallas Braden was the first). Halladay was absolutely nasty, making the right pitches at the perfect time and striking out 11 Marlins. This is just another great accomplishment for Halladay, who already has a Cy Young award and 7 All Star Appearances. With a 1.99 ERA, you'd think he'd be the frontrunner for this year's NL Cy Young, but a certain Colorado pitcher is blowing away the competition...

Rockies righty Ubaldo Jimenez has been absolutely lights out this season. He is the first pitcher to 10 wins and only two months have passed in the season. His ERA is filthy; 0.78 in 80 innings pitched. That means that he has only given up 7 runs all season. He even beat 2-time reigning Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum yesterday. It is probably inevitable that his numbers will go up a little bit, but right now a Jimenez start essentially means a Rockies win. If he keeps up this pace, he is undoubtedly headed for an All-Star Game start, Cy Young award, and even in the running for NL MVP. We could be in for a historic season watching him.

Finally the Brewers. How disappointing this season has been. Already 9 games under .500, no one is fearing the beer right now. A couple thoughts:

• John Axford looks like a keeper in the Milwaukee bullpen. He throws super hard and has the potential, with fellow prospect Zach Braddock, to be in the back end of the Brewers pen for years to come. Plus he's trying to grow a handlebar mustache.
  
• I'm excited to see what Chris Capuano has to offer, as he is getting the start Thursday in Florida. I hope he does well, as he's come so far, but I don't think he could be as bad as Chris Narveson and Manny Parra have been.
• Corey Hart is on fire. Trade him while he still has value!
• How bad is the Brewers pitching? Besides having the third worst ERA in the majors (5.36), it is so bad that Brewers hitters lead the league in many of the major statistical categories and they still can't keep up. Ryan Braun is third in the NL with a .318 batting average, Casey McGehee is first in the NL with 41 RBIs and Corey Hart leads with 13 home runs. Alcides Escobar even leads the league with 5 triples. The old addage is that pitching wins championships and that is soooo true!
• Yes, everyone is saying this, but Jeff Suppan is horrible. Plain and simple. If the Brewers have better options than him, he shouldn't be on the team. I'm obviously not the person to determine that, but at this point money should not be a factor in deciding whether he stays or not.
• Bill Hall, still making roughly $8 million from the Brewers this season, threw a 1-2-3 inning for the Red Sox on Friday night.
  

UFC 114- Rampage seems not so Bad Ass Baracus

As Mike Goldman put it so eloquently seconds before Suga Rashad Evans walked out of the tunnel... " And now, it's time for the most highly anticipated match in UFC history."

Well, that's quite the statement Goldy, even if you were going for a hyperbole.

Nonetheless, one of the better hyped grudge matches of the UFC took place in Las Vegas last night when Quinton Jackson squared off against Rashad Evans. The two former TUF coaches had been verbally abusing each other for over a year including Rashad referring to Jackson as an "Uncle Tom". Turns out Rashad could have said anything he wanted as he walked away with the unanimous decision. The fight started off rather quickly as Evans cracked Jackson early in the first round and sent him reeling. Evans then trapped Jackson against the cage and we didn't see much change in scenery after that. Evans dominated Jackson in the clinch and scored a couple of very solid takedowns. Jackson has a very high takedown defense percentage and Evans really made him work to stuff the TD attempts he didn't land. As Jackson was getting a pep talk before the third round, you could hear his corner telling him he was down 2 rounds and needed the KO. Jackson came out swinging and landed some huge shots that sent Rashad to the canvas. Jackson should have smelt blood and the killer instinct should have taken over...we should have seen this "Rampage" character take over as Jackson has proclaimed so often before. Instead, Jackson just sort of laid on Rashad. Simply put, he ran out of gas. Fight ends. Evans wins.

In my opinion, I don't really think Evans won the fight as much as Jackson lost the fight. Jackson had the opportunity to finish this fight but lacked the killer instinct in order to seal the deal. As a result of his performance, I question Jackson's dedication to the sport and wonder if maybe he is ready to enter the Hollywood realm as he has often stated is his plan. Maybe things would have gone differently for Rampage had he kept the BA Baracus mohawk for the fight. I know I would have enjoyed the shameless advertising.

So what's next for these two fighters? Evans has earned himself a title shot with Shogun Hua later this year and Rampage...well he has some soul searching to do.

Capuano defies the odds

Chris Capuano, a former 18 game winner and All-Star for the Brewers is making his return after being away from the game for 30 months. He underwent his second Tommy John surgery in 2007, with most believing his career was over. Yet Cappy never gave up and finally got a chance to prove himself this year down in the minors. Between Single-A Brevard County and Triple-A Nashville, he went 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 7 starts. The Brewers were forced to make a decision today on whether to bring him up to the majors or allow him to be a free agent and sign with another team. Obviously intrigued by his minor league stats and most likely not wanting to see 3 years of commitment to him while injured get flushed away, they agreed to call him up.

With a few of the Brewers starting pitchers in flux (aka Chris Narveson, Dave Bush, and Manny Parra), it should be interesting to see if he gets an opportunity to start or if he will exclusively pitch out of the bullpen. I'd personally like to see him start over Narveson, but Macha really seems to like Narveson. The Brewers have yet to make a corresponding move, but it's likely that Marco Estrada, who has actually pitched very well since being called up, will get sent down. Personally, I'd like to see the Brewers make a statement and get rid of Claudio Vargas or even Jeff Suppan, but Brewers management doesn't really seem to work that way. I'll be at today's game, so I'm very excited to see #39 back on the field, even if he doesn't get into a game. If he does get a chance to pitch, I expect a huge standing ovation from the Milwaukee faithful.

Brewers Prospect's Warmup Music

Cutter Dysktra, an infielder from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers shows that anyone can get pumped up by Miley...

Favre Expected to Return in 2010

It appears Brett Favre will return to quarterback the Vikings again this season.

Favre underwent ankle surgery on Friday, a surgery he was informed he must have in order to play football again.

His injury did not need to be treated otherwise, so it stands to reason that Favre intends to suit up for his 20th season

James-Calipari Package?

The Chicago Tribune recently reported that basketball-broker "Worldwide" William Wesley is attempting to sell teams on the player-coach combination of free agent LeBron James and Kentucky Wildcats' head coach John Calipari.

Calipari religiously attended all Cleveland's playoff games, and his similar attendance of the Bulls' playoff games has caused much speculation over the possibility of both stars landing in Chicago.

Although Calipari has adamantly denied that he will be leaving Kentucky for the NBA, rumors have it that Calipari has talked to Chicago.

The Nets and Clippers have also been in talks involving a possible James-Calipari deal.

Delonte West Cougar Hunter!

Could it be that Lebron's recent struggles could be credited to something else? Well the rumor going around the league right now is that Delonte West, one of Lebron's teammate is "having relations" with Lebron's Mama.

If the reason for the "giving up act" Lebron pulled the last two games, I think it could be one of the best sports story of the year. I don't care about Tiger Woods' relationships with cocktail waitresses across the country. Unless it is found out Woods' mistress was Phil Mickelson's wife or even better Phil's mother, not as great of story.

If one of the greatest players of all time gave up during a series because of a teammate getting with his mom, this could be my favorite sports story of all time. If one of the best players ever leaves his hometown for New York because his mother's "cougarness", I may drop out of school and just cover this story.

Big ups to Delonte West to letting Lebron know who really runs Cleveland. It seems as if this Akron native is no longer "the King of Cleveland" and now he must go Newsies on the NBA because I guess it seems Lebron is about to be "The King of New York".

If the story ends up being true I think its the main reason why I love sports blogging because there is very little chance before the "blogging era" ESPN would have ever ran this story.

BUT THAT'S JUST MY TWO CENTS FROM THE NOSE BLEEDS!!!

"WE ARE LEBRON"

Please save our downtown! I think Cleveland doesn't want to be the next Detroit! The way Lebron played at the end of the last series it seems as though he wants out!


EMBED-We Are Lebron Video - Watch more free videos

Freudian Slip?

Reporter slips up saying something everyone was thinking.

Happy Mother's Day Nosebleed Mom's

This is all I think about when I think about sports and Mother's Day! Bill Hall's walkoff!

Will Ferrell Pitching Against the Nashville Sounds

Will Ferrell pitched as Rojo Johnson against the Brewers affiliate the Nashville Sounds. Enjoy the video!

Greg Jennings on Criminal Minds

Here is Greg Jennings cameo on the show "Criminal Minds".

An Honor to Uecker

Bruce Drennan must feel bad the Bob Uecker is out for a few months with his heart problems so he is trying to honor his performance in the movie, Major League. Drennan who is ironically also the Cleveland Indians announcer, gives a rant on bad the Indians stink! This guy is crazy enjoy!

Eric Byrnes Gets Paid 11 Million to play softball

Eric Byrnes has decided after getting waived by the Seattle Mariners to play for a different team. He hasn't decided to play for the Angels or the Cubs, but for a softball team in Menlo Park, California. His team is sponsored by a burger and beer pub. Byrnes thinks it is going to be a great time playing with his buddies one day a week.

Is this just me or is the best decision ever? Why travel all around the country playing for a dysfunctional Mariners when you can play softball and drink beers before and after the game.

I wonder if Jeff Suppan gets cut whether he will also play softball with his buddies. My other question is, do you think softball teams would pick up his ERA?

Dork's Video Game Skills Pays Off

This guy was the first to throw a perfect game on MLB 2K10, so he won a million dollars. This guy's interview is painfully awkward, it is no surprise he happened to win this contest.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

Packers Talk to Pac-Man

It recently became public that Green Bay talked to Adam "Pac-Man" Jones last week about coming in to tryout for the Pack.

Jones, who has recently played for the Titans and the Cowboys, is currently a free agent. He has talked to the Bengals, the 49ers, and the Lions (as well as the Packers) but has yet to have been offered a tryout from any NFL team.

The 5'10" 186 pound cornerback/return man/rapper/TNA wrestler has had numerous off-the-field problems in the past years and has been suspended by the NFL.

Despite these problems, Jones could be a big help to the Packers' lackluster return game and could provide added depth to an aging secondary if the Green Bay organization attempts to take a chance on him.

Greg Jennings' TV Debut

Green Bay Packer wide receiver Greg Jennings will be appearing on the CBS drama Criminal Minds on Wednesday night (5/5).

Jennings is appearing in a cameo role as a lab technician, and has a few speaking lines.

The entire crew dressed in Packer apparel for the filming of the episode.

"It was fun, it was fun," Jennings said. "I was going in letting them know this is not what I do. I'm on the football field. That's me, that's my domain. But the cast members were great, giving me feedback. They opened their arms and helped me as much as possible and tried to make me look as good as possible."

Fear The Deer, For Real!

Playoff Loss Ends Exciting Season

Earlier today the Milwaukee Bucks came up short in Atlanta as the Hawks took the series four games to three, the only series from the first round of the playoffs to need seven games to finish.

Poor shooting and lack of rebounding were the main pitfalls for the Bucks today.

Milwaukee shot just 33 percent from the field and made only four three-pointers, a series low. The Bucks were also out-rebounded 55-34.

It was painfully obvious throughout this series that the loss of Andrew Bogut to an injury was an obstacle the Bucks wouldn't be able to avoid for long.

In the three games the Bucks won they shot the ball with deadly accuracy from outside the paint. But when those shots didn't fall, Milwaukee struggled to keep up with the bigger and more athletic Hawks.

Despite the loss early in the playoffs, this season should be viewed as a success by Bucks fans. For the first time in many seasons Bucks' games were actually exciting. The addition of Brandon Jennings and the mid-season acquisition of John Salmons and Jerry Stackhouse helped propel Milwaukee to their best record in years.

The successes the Bucks achieved this season can be used as building blocks for the future. With the return of Bogut the Bucks will have one of the best centers in the league and an emerging star in Jennings at point guard. The Bucks bench was the second best among all NBA teams in points scored, this depth will also help Milwaukee to continued successes in the season to come.