Mike Woods' Sports Blog

New blog location

2009-03-23T14:15:00.000-05:00

We've moved the Sports Blog to a new location. Please bookmark http://www.postcrescent.com/section/blogsSports. We'll leave this site up in case you want to read the archives.

Jones and Hill are today's Dumb and Dumber

2009-03-17T13:28:00.004-05:00

This is a contest to see who is more stupid, former UW running back P.J. Hill or former Jaguars receiver Matt Jones.

P.J., who left school early and was at best a second-day pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, was arrested at 2:30 a.m. Saturday on a drunken driving charge. He allegedly led the cops on a short chase before crashing his car near his home near campus.

On Monday, Hill was tentatively charged with drunken driving, fleeing police, second-degree reckless endangerment, driving without headlights and reckless driving. All qualities an NFL team looks for in a draft choice.

Hill not only does dumb stuff here, but in Arizona as well. In Scottsdale he has charges pending against him for drunken driving, unreasonable speed and making unsafe lane changes. He is due back in court in Arizona on Thursday. Hill said he was training in Arizona to improve his draft prospects. Don't think that's working out too well.

Then we have Jones, who had a nice job that paid him $750,000 annually as a wide receiver for Jacksonville.

He was lucky to still have a job last season after he was arrested last July for possession of cocaine.

In a plea agreement reached in October, Jones was ordered to participate in NFL-sponsored substance-abuse counseling and undergo random drug testing through the end of the season. He was told by the judge to return to Arkansas after the season to complete the program.

Jones did, but went and played golf with his buddies and had a few beers. Soon after he failed a drug and alcohol screening and was arrested. On Monday, the Jaguars cut him loose. Jones may not have been aware, but now's not a good time to try and find a job.

Now I'm not sure what's worse, throwing away the opportunity to make six figures or drinking a few beers that cost you $750,000. I'll guess I'll give the nod to P.J., only because at least Jones was able to pocket four years of good paychecks. Hill will likely never pocket one.

Northwestern looking better than UW for NCAA berth

2009-03-05T08:49:00.005-06:00

If the NCAA selection committee had to choose today between Wisconsin and Northwestern for the Big Ten's last spot in the tournament, you'd have to believe it would take the Wildcats.

Yes, a team that has never been to the NCAA Tournament over a team that has been there 10 straight years.

But right now, the Wildcats have a better resume. Their 64-61 victory at Purdue on Wednesday was their third win over a ranked team this season. The Badgers have just two. Northwestern has also won at Michigan State -- giving it victories against the league's top two teams on the road -- and has beaten Minnesota. The Badgers are a combined 0-5 against those same teams.

As for head-to-head, the Badgers and Wildcats have split their season series.

Right now the Wildcats are a game behind the Badgers in the standings with an important game at Ohio State on Saturday while the Badgers will host last-place Indiana.

What this could come down to is which team has the better showing in the Big Ten Tournament. Ultimately, if the Badgers don't make it they will have burst their own bubble. But if the Wildcats advance to the NCAA Tournament, they certainly will have had a hand in the Badgers' demise.

UW's Exceptional Achievement policy for coaches an embarrassment

2009-03-04T07:47:00.003-06:00

College coaches, you may have heard, are a tad under the gun for the exorbitant salaries they are making during one of the worst recessions this country has ever experienced.

I don't agree you can change the rules on a coach's salary because the economy suddenly headed south. However, you can change the rules when it comes to bonuses.

Case in point the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department, which has come under criticism from faculty for its Exceptional Achievement Award Policy. The problem here is the UW sees "exceptional achievement'' as simply qualifying for the NCAA Tournament or being invited to any bowl game.

I mean, football coach Bret Bielema received a $100,000 bonus for going 7-6 and being invited to the fifth of seven Big Ten-affiliated bowl games. Then again, this is the same group that built a statue of its former football coach and current athletic director for winning three Rose Bowls. Barry Alvarez never won a national championship, never even had the Badgers play in a national championship game, but that's what qualifies for exceptional achievement in Madison.

Granted, these bonuses do not come out of taxpayer money but are paid for with booster club funds. Still, as hundreds if not thousands of their supporters are suffering economic hardship can't the UW show just a little restraint? The perception is they are either above reproach, simply don't care or are merely arrogant.

If they're going to have a such a bonus program, make it meaningful. Qualifying for a BCS game would be exceptional achievement, as would advancing to a Final Four. Anything less than that is not, no matter what the economic climate. If those were the minimum requirements, then perhaps we could somehow stomach this program during these times. As it stands now, it's unacceptable.

It's too early to make judgment on Thompson's offseason

2009-03-03T08:07:00.004-06:00

It's barely March, some seven months before the season opener, and the anti-Ted Thompson coalition is gaining members at a record pace.

The frustration is understandable, because when you look back over the past couple of years Thompson has appeared to be a step slow or too hesitant when it came to pulling the trigger on possible acquisitions Randy Moss, Tony Gonzalez and Michael Turner. Now, from the outside, it looks like the same areas of concern apply to their failed pursuit of Chris Canty.

On the one hand, the Packers deserve credit for refusing to overpay on the free-agent market. On the other, the fact that Thompson apparently never even got on the phone with Canty's agent and the fact the Packers didn't appear to do everything possible to at least bring Canty in for a visit is disturbing.

You have to agree with the Packers' stance of not making a financial commitment until they at least got to kick the tires when it came to Canty. At the same time, it's hard to believe they couldn't come to some kind of understanding to at least have him visit Green Bay and meet with the coaching staff.

The one thing you have to keep reminding yourself is it's still early. There's a lot of time for Thompson to find -- clearly not one player -- but a group of players who can make this team better. It's just too early to issue a verdict. At the same time, Thompson is under the gun to some degree to make a strong closing argument.

Marquette has seen this kind of bad break before

2009-02-26T07:32:00.002-06:00

Even if you're not a Marquette fan, you hate to see this happen.

Nearly four years to the day when the indomitable Travis Diener saw his college career come to an abrupt end when he went down with a broken hand, Marquette was bewitched once more Wednesday when senior Dominic James went down with a broken foot, ending his college career.

While Diener was the heart and soul of his team, James was the glue for this year's Golden Eagles.

If you admire anything about James it has to be how he changed his game, and himself, for the betterment of the team.

He was the most heralded of the terrific trio, along with Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal, when he came to Marquette as a freshman and he initially lived up to his billing.

But he was passed by, in terms of his overall game, by both Matthews and McNeal. James, for whatever reason, could not improve his shooting. But he put his ego and shooting issues aside and developed into a solid point guard and the team's best defender.

Now his season is over and likely are Marquette's chances of making a deep tournament run.

Just like Diener before him James, as well as Marquette, deserved a better fate.

February is starting to heat up, finally

2009-02-25T08:52:00.002-06:00

February is usually the worst sports month of any year but today is certainly an exception.

First, Tiger returns to the Tour. This is significant news. In fact, anything this guy does is big news. Though you had to laugh when ESPN showed him teeing off on the first hole of his practice round Tuesday and then had the camera immediately zoom in on his repaired knee. I don't know if it believed there was a possibility it might explode or what.

Tonight we have No. 8 Marquette hosting No. 2 UConn. This marks the first time since 1979 since Marquette has hosted an opponent when both schools are in the top 10. This game will go a long way in not only determining the Big East champ, but NCAA Tournament seeding as well. Note to BCS officials: Having a postseason tournament DOES NOT make the regular season null and void.

I wonder if any member of the media after tonight's game will ask Huskies coach Jim Calhoun's response to Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell's assertion that his tirade at a freelance journalist asking questions about his $1.6 million salary was an "embarrassing display." Let's hope not, for that setting is neither the time nor the place.

Macha's pitching philosophy will test Brewers' bullpen

2009-02-24T10:19:00.004-06:00

Apparently Brewers manager Ken Macha is going to be relying heavily on his bullpen this season.

I'm not sure if this is his philosophy or one born out of the talent available, but he said he's likely not to allow starters to go beyond six innings very often.

On the surface probably a good idea considering, for instance, that in 32 starts Jeff Suppan pitched into the seventh inning or beyond only 10 times last season and Dave Bush managed that feat 11 times in 31 starts.

That will mean a lot of pressure on a bullpen that, as we know, hasn't exactly been rock solid.

Now some people would rather see a manager instill a "start what you finish'' mentality with starters. That can be good, especially if it helps develop mental toughness. But anytime you work a starter too much you run the risk of him fading when you need him most, down the stretch.

Some will agree with Macha's philosophy and others will not. But as long as it fits with the Brewers, that's all that will matter.

Pursuing Haynesworth presents interesting dilemma

2009-02-19T09:55:00.003-06:00

So what would you do if you were general manager of the Packers and you see defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth on the open market?

Here's what you know, or understand to know. Haynesworth wants a better deal than the one given to Jared Allen, the Vikings defensive end who last year got a six-year contract averaging $12.2 million a season with $32 million guaranteed.

That should make you swallow hard.

You know Haynesworth has been very productive the last two seasons, evidenced by his 141/2 sacks, six more than he had in his first five years in the league combined. So you've got to ask yourself, is he a guy who has matured and is coming into his own or is he a guy who knew he was coming up on free agency and thus played accordingly?

You also know that over the past six seasons, Haynesworth has played an average of just 12 games a year and has appeared in all 16 games just once, his rookie year in 2002. Can you afford to give a guy who you can't depend on -- or at least seems injury prone -- that many dead presidents?

Then there are his personal issues. He's had trouble on the field -- remember him stomping on the head of Cowboys center Andre Gurode? -- and off, and he faces possible legal trouble because he drives on the highway like it's the Daytona 500. He has some anger management issues.

There are a lot of risks with Haynesworth, not to mention the possibility he may be one of those guys who shuts it down once he gets his big payday.

The upside could be great, but the fallout could be catastrophic.

So if the you're the general manager of the Packers, what would you do?

It's time to put the A-Rod story to bed

2009-02-18T08:09:00.002-06:00

I'm a little perplexed with our -- and by our I mean the media's -- fascination with A-Rod's tale.

Granted, he seemed to raise as many questions as he answered Tuesday and it's clear the money spent on whatever PR firm he hired was wasted. For those of you who were Leave to Beaver fans, A-Rod easily reminds one of Eddie Haskell; never quite able to tell the whole truth, but always lying with a smile on his face.

But what does it matter now, really? He admitted, after he got caught, to using steroids. His reputation in many circles has been sullied. His chance to get into baseball's hall of fame is currently in doubt.

Does it really matter if it was his cousin Vinny who purchased the PEDs and injected him? Does it really matter to know exactly every PED he ever took? I understand the curiosity aspect, but in the larger picture, that knowledge couldn't possibly damage his reputation more than it has been already. If those facts are ever uncovered, it's not going to change our minds about his actions.

I'm not saying A-Rod deserves our empathy because he doesn't. But he admitted his mistake; the rest is really all inconsequential information at this point. So let's move on.

Catching up with Torchy Clark

2009-02-17T09:30:00.003-06:00

Ran across a column by Jerry Greene of the Orlando Sentinel, who recently caught up with former Xavier football and basketball coach Torchy Clark.

Clark, 80, still lives at his home in Orlando. While cancer has robbed him of much of his jaw which has prevented him from being able to eat a solid meal in years, and illness robbed him of the love of his life, his wife Claire, who died in November of 2007 Clark remains full of life and his humor remains intact.

Here's just a sampling of what he said.

On his inability to eat a solid meal:
"I don't miss eating much, although once in a while I'd love a Grand Slam at Denny's.''

On reuniting with Claire in heaven:
"I expect to see her. We'll have a lot of time. My only worry is that I'll get to heaven and find out she's married John the Baptist.''

On his current health:
"I've had everything except leprosy. I'm good.''

To read the entire story, go to: www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/orl-greene15021509feb15,0,4541643.column

NASCAR ignored simple solution to Daytona 'problem'

2009-02-16T10:09:00.003-06:00

For race fans, there's been a lot of chatter about Sunday's Daytona 500 and the way it ended.

Mother Nature ruined the party and forced the race to be rained out with 48 laps to go. Be it that this is NASCAR's premier event, some fans felt cheated, some felt they should have waited longer before calling the race, some felt they should have packed things up and brought everyone back today.

The bottom line is fans wanted to see all 200 laps completed before a champion was crowned. Not even baseball, which routinely has rain-shortened games during the regular season, will settle for an incomplete game come playoff time. All nine innings are played.

What I don't understand is NASCAR officials knew there was a strong likelihood of rain in the forecast. They knew about when it was supposed to hit. So given that knowledge, why didn't they start the race a couple of hours earlier? Why couldn't they go to FOX and tell them their pre-game show needs to be cut short or thrown out all together?

Since this is their Super Bowl, they should be committed to pulling out all stops to ensure the race is run to its conclusion. Moving the start time up Sunday would have solved that problem. Why NASCAR didn't insist on that taking place is what race fans should be asking today.

One of Packers' all-time greats goes out quietly

2009-02-12T09:17:00.002-06:00

When you think of all-time great Packers running backs, the first guys that likely come to mind are Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung, perhaps Tony Canadeo or Dorsey Levens or even John Brockington.

But arguably the best of the bunch saw his career end Tuesday when Ahman Green was released by the Texans. He is the single-season team record holder, finished just 45 yards behind Taylor on the career list despite playing two fewer seasons and no player in Packers history has gained more yards from scrimmage.

The thing I always admired about Green was he sold out on every play, was never afraid to take or deliver hits, never ducked out of bounds at the end of the run, never took any plays off. He really was the consummate professional.

He was a guy who was discarded by former Packers coach Mike Holmgren in Seattle because he viewed him as a fumbler. But Green came to the Packers and, for the most part, overcame that stigma. He also developed into an excellent receiver out of the backfield, making his value to the team even greater.

Perhaps because he played behind Brett Favre, he never seemed to get the credit he was due, but yet you never heard a peep from him. He just went out and did his job quietly, and Tuesday that's how he left the game.

Hopefully Favre will stay retired this time around

2009-02-11T09:14:00.005-06:00

OK, so Brett Favre is going to try this again. We wish him well.

"Favre Retirement II: This Time It's For Real'' was announced today by virtue of a text message Favre sent to ESPN's Ed Werder, who in turn informed us through his employer. No messy press conference this time around. No tears, no video evidence we could replay over and over again.

We have his word, which, means what we really have is doubt.

The fact that Favre's agent Bus Cook had "informal'' discussions with the Jets to release him so he could sign with another team is Red Flag No. 1 that Favre is not 100 percent sure. Since the Jets said no, Favre had no choice. But don't rule out those discussions coming up again as summer approaches.

It was also made clear Favre did not continue to play last season for all the right reasons. Part of it was his desire to play, but he made clear part of it was to prove something to the Packers. He was bitter, as was his family, and that was his initial motivation to press on. That is understandable to a degree, but it's also sad and unfortunate.

Favre admitted his family was obsessed with him outperforming Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and while Favre claims he did not get caught up in that fruitless game, he said he did gain a great deal of satisfaction with the Jets finishing with a better record than Green Bay. Again, understandable, but what did it gain him?

The Jets collapsed down the stretch, failed to make the playoffs and Favre played horribly in December. If he walked away with any degree of satisfaction after that, if he was at least pleased the Jets finished with a better record than the Packers after that, then we should all be disappointed. Because that's not who he was.

Favre may have been p.o.'d at Packers general manager Ted Thompson, but the Jets this year discovered what Thompson and the Packers already knew: that Favre could no longer sustain a high level of performance throughout an entire season. That his play and his decision making come December, come playoff time, money time, diminished substantially.

Over his final five seasons, in the month of December, Favre finished with 13 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. The harsh reality was that he no longer was a quarterback that could lead a team to the Super Bowl. So the Packers moved on.

Now the Jets will too. And hopefully, most importantly, Favre will too.

Rodriguez name should be removed from Babe Ruth field

2009-02-10T11:00:00.005-06:00

We've been down this road before but, since Alex Rodriguez has been busted again, it's worth revisiting.

We have the only known Alex Rodriguez Field in America, sitting out at the USA Youth Sports Complex. It was so named in 2003 by the Fox Cities Sports Authority, in part, because Rodriguez began his career with the Appleton Foxes in 1994.

He played a total of 65 games here, or just less than half a season. He's never been back, has never donated a dime of his millions to us. We were just a pit stop on his road to the major leagues.

We have a right to be proud, I suppose, that this is where he got his start. But that was more luck and circumstance than anything else.

But since he's left, he's done more to damage his reputation than make us proud. His recent admission to steroid use -- along with well-documented missteps in his personal life -- have not made him a model citizen or a role model for our youth.

Which is why there is no need to have his name on a Babe Ruth field in Appleton any longer. There are far more deserving folks, like Bob DeNoble, considered the father of Little League baseball in Appleton, who should be so honored with their name on a field.

The Foxes and Timber Rattlers are an important part of our baseball history. But when it comes to honoring someone by placing their name on one of our fields, we should chose one of our own.

Sheets a disappointment to the Brewers to the very end

2009-02-06T11:21:00.004-06:00

Just imagine if the Brewers had decided to extend Ben Sheets' contract before the start of last season.

Sheets would be reviled, general manager Doug Melvin would be in witness protection and the name Teddy Higuera would be popular once again -- for all the wrong reasons.

In the "some of the best deals are the ones you never make'' department, the Brewers hit the jackpot when they decided not to re-up with Sheets prior to the season in light of the reports Sheets is going to have surgery on a torn flexor tendon near the elbow, an injury that ended his 2008 season.

Sheets and the Rangers reportedly had reached agreement on the parameters of a two-year deal, but that went south went Sheets couldn't pass the routine physical.

But even when he's now someone else's problem, Sheets continues to bring disappointment to the Brewers.

If he goes ahead with surgery and does not sign with a team before the All-Star break, the Brewers will lose draft-pick compensation for a Class A free agent. In other words, they were in line to receive a first- or second-round pick from the signing team as well as another pick between the first and second rounds. Now they could end up with nothing, and could be stuck with Sheets' medical bills.

Sadly, that would be a fitting end to the Ben Sheets' era in Milwaukee.

A little Phoenix, a little football and a little laughter

2009-02-03T09:31:00.004-06:00

UWGB has had precious few signature wins in coach Tod Kowalczyk's seven seasons and Monday's 75-66 victory over No. 11 Butler was certainly the program's biggest during his tenure. But in order for it to mean anything, the Phoenix must finish strong and make a deep run -- or win -- the Horizon League tournament. Otherwise that win will be just a minor blip on the screen for a program that for the past decade has been beset by apathy.

Still can't believe the NFL didn't take all the time it needed to review Kurt Warner's "fumble'' at the end of the Super Bowl. I've see the replay a 100 times and it still looks like an incomplete pass to me. How the NFL can take all the time it deems necessary to rule on James Harrison's 100-yard fumble return and Santonio Holmes' TD catch, then rule on this in the time it takes to snap your fingers is inexcusable. It put a black mark on an otherwise wonderful game.

My 20-year-old daughter has never been a big football fan, but she made the mistake of opening her mouth in front of her two brothers near the end of the first half of the Super Bowl.
After hearing Al Michaels make a reference to Pittsburgh, she responded:
"I thought Denver was playing.''
That brought the usual abuse from her siblings while she defended herself as saying all she cared about were the Packers.
Her brothers challenged her to name one.
She couldn't, asking for assistance and a player's first name.
"Aaron,'' they said.
"Aaron Rodgers,'' she responded proudly, then quickly added "and Emmitt Smith is one of his receivers.''
She is, however, an expert in all things HGTV.

Mavericks traded away a bright future in Harris

2009-01-30T08:36:00.003-06:00

It seems certain now that the Dallas Mavericks made a mistake.

They traded potential for a proven commodity in hopes of winning an NBA championship.
But Jason Kidd has proven he is not the missing piece to the puzzle, and now the player he was traded for is coming into his own in a big way.

Former Badger Devin Harris is an NBA all-star for the first time in his career, named as an Eastern Conference reserve Thursday. He is just 25.

This season for the Nets he's averaging a career-best 21.6 points a game and has scored 30 points or more eight times. Coming into this season, he had never scored more than 30 points in a game. He's on his way.

Kidd, meanwhile, is 35. He's still playing well, but is averaging about five points less and one fewer assist per game than his career averages. He's heading toward the downside of his excellent career.

And so are the Mavericks, though it wouldn't be that way if Harris were still on the team. Then they'd be a bonafide contender in the West.

Kramer's absence from Hall hard to figure

2009-01-29T09:57:00.006-06:00

Finally, former Packers great Jerry Kramer was selected for the Hall of Fame.

But not the one he wants or deserves to be in.

Earlier this month Kramer was inducted into the East-West Shrine Game Hall of Fame, joined by Charley Taylor, Brad Van Pelt and Doug Williams.

But Kramer remains on the outside looking in when it comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They will elect the class of 2009 on Saturday, and Kramer's name is not expected to be called.

No one has been able to explain, or figure out why. A signature member of the Packers' championship teams under Vince Lombardi, a five-time All-Pro, made famous for his block in the Ice Bowl, even kicked three field goals in a 16-7 win over the Giants in the 1962 NFL Championship Game and a bubbling personality that made him popular with the media.

Even today, when reporters want to look back at the Packers' past or need a question answered, they know who their go-to guy is and Kramer is always willing to talk.

He has everything going in his favor, except the necessary votes.

And that remains a mystery.

If only we had money to try those Super Bowl bets

2009-01-28T08:48:00.002-06:00

The thing you love about the Super Bowl is all those crazy proposition bets. Following are a few select choices from bodoglife.com, along with how I'd bet if I had no kids in college.

What will the result be of the Super Bowl coin toss?
I'm a Tails never Fails guy.

Which Super Bowl commercial will have a higher rating on USA Today's annual ad meter?
Got to go off the board here and say that banned PETA commercial will be seen by more eyes than any commercial they'll show during the game.

What song will Bruce Springsteen sing to begin his halftime show?
I'm going to go with the favorite, The Rising, though I'm a little nervous because I'm not sure how Springsteen will react under the pressure of a Super Bowl.

Will Matt Millen pick the correct team to win Super Bowl XLIII during the pre-game show?
Yes. Are you kidding me? The guy hasn't picked anything right in the last 10 years, the odds have to be heavily stacked in his favor.

Who will the Super Bowl MVP of the Game thank first?
It will be God unless it's Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, who will thank his hairdresser.

How long will it take for Jennifer Hudson to sing the National Anthem?
The over/under is two minutes, one second. So if it's under 65 degrees, I'm going with the under.

How many times will NBC show Brenda Warner on TV during the game?
Hard to pick a number. I'll just say more times than Kurt Warner.

Which QB will John Madden mention first by full name after the Opening Kickoff?
Madden? Once again we have to go off the board. It will be Brett Favre.

Marquette shows that size doesn't matter

2009-01-27T09:06:00.002-06:00

I always wondered how Marquette would hold up when it went against a true threat in the middle this season.

Turns out the Golden Eagles held up better than most probably expected.

Marquette traveled to Notre Dame on Monday, a place where the Irish had won 45 of their past 46 games and featured reigning Big East player of the year Luke Harangody, a 6-8, 255-pound Mack truck.

Harangody went off for 29 points and 17 rebounds, but scored only 1 basket in the final 12 minutes. But even when he was scoring from every which way, Marquette was able to hold its own, often with a lineup of small fries.

It was a very impressive defensive display.

No question Marquette is playing some of its best basketball, led by its trio of senior guards. Let's just hope it has more room before it hits its ceiling, for the Golden Eagles are the only Division 1 team in the state equipped to make a deep tournament run come March.

Underappreciated athletes? How about those X Games guys and gals

2009-01-26T10:41:00.003-06:00

The most undersold, underappreciated athletes in the world are ... no, not NASCAR drivers.

It has to be those X Games soles, who sometimes put life and often limb on the line during this annual four-day competition.

What they're able to do on snowboards, skis and snowmobiles not only defies logic, but common sense. Their skills may be underappreciated, but their daring is not. Every year they're able to stretch themselves, as well as physics and gravity, a little bit more.

A double backward somersault on a 450-pound snowmobile? Who thinks that's a good idea?

And unlike a lot of other competitions, it's easy to see these guys are having fun. You know they'd be doing the same thing without the cameras on, but because they are they are able to entertain us with their free-spirited energy -- perhaps with a little help from Red Bull.

When I was a kid, the most daring stuff made available to us was standing on a toboggan and "surfing'' downhill or jumping off my parents garage roof into a pile of snow. That was OK, but I sure would have liked the opportunity to take a run on a snowboard down the superpipe.

It will be hard for Melvin to keep his arbitration streak intact

2009-01-21T09:23:00.003-06:00

The numbers are in and it's hard to believe Doug Melvin's streak of avoiding an arbitration hearing will continue.

Prince Fielder wants $8 million, the Brewers offered $6 million.

Corey Hart wants $3.8 million, the Brewers offered $2.7 million.

Rickie Weeks wants $2.8 million, the Brewers offered $2 million.

First, Weeks should take the Brewers' offer and run. He's overpaid at $2 million a year. The guess here is the two sides won't end up in a hearing.

Hart is a tougher problem. He slumped at the end of last year and into the playoffs which certainly didn't help his value. But he still has an excellent upside and the guess here is the Brewers would be happy to meet him at least halfway, or more.

As for Fielder, that's not looking so good. Both Fielder and his sometimes notorious agent, Scott Boras, are already peeved at the Brewers as they believe he was lowballed when the Brewers renewed his contract last spring at $670,000.

If anyone is willing to hold the line, it's Boras. With the relationship already somewhat strained, I'm sure the Brewers don't want to sit down at a table and tell Fielder why he's not worth $8 million.

But no club wants to feel pushed around by an agent. It's not good for current and future negotiations. But if anyone is going to get Melvin to participate in a hearing, it will be Boras.

'Appleton Factor' is why Steelers won't win the Super Bowl

2009-01-20T08:08:00.006-06:00

As you look for those all important insights when deciding which team to, ah, um, root for during Super Bowl XLIII, consider the 'Appleton Factor.'

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been to six Super Bowls and have won five of them. Each time they've won, they've had an Appleton resident on the roster: Rocky Bleier (1975-76, 1979-80) and Erik Jensen (2006).

The one Super Bowl they lost, 1996 to Dallas, they had no Appleton resident on the roster.

Once again, this year's Steelers team has no Appleton resident on the roster.

Just something to consider for all you, ah, um, fans out there. An Arizona victory just may be in the cards.

Packers' choice of Capers a good start

2009-01-19T07:58:00.003-06:00

So Dom Capers is the guy. If you're a Packers fan, you have to be pleased with Mike McCarthy's choice as defensive coordinator for Capers has been around the block a time or three and, when given talent to work with, has proven to be successful.

And that's where GM Ted Thompson comes in. Whether Capers runs a 3-4, a 4-3 or a combination of the two he needs players. Good players. Right now the Packers don't have enough to run either system successfully, no matter who is calling the plays.

And lest we forget, Capers' hire is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. If he is to be successful, he and/or McCarthy must hire quality help to coach the linemen, linebackers and secondary. Capers' success will also largely depend on getting the right people in those spots.

But as far as a starting point, Capers is certainly a good place to start.