Hello friends, about a week ago I wrote a blog after #1 USC beat Ohio State 35-3 and #8 Wisconsin beat Fresno State 13-10. I took a chance and said Wisconsin could play a better game and possibly play with and maybe beat USC if they played well and got a few breaks. Understandably I didn't get many comments from non believers about a team like Wisconsin beating mighty USC. OK except for a comment from a blogger DOGG9011 who told me Wisconsin hillbillies couldn't play with those pros from USC. Ok fair enough Wisconsin didn't play USC but what do you say now that an unranked Oregon State beat USC 27-21 for the second time in 2 years?!. It just proves anyone can be beaten on the right night and maybe I wasn't so far off on my comment that teams could play or beat USC. USC is still a very good team but they are no longer UNBEATABLE friends. Take care and best wishes. fenfan

Hello friends,

This is a blog about Wisconsin teams and what happened this past weekend with the Badgers, Packers and Brewers. And hello to my friend and mentor the fishrmn. I hope this satisfies your craving for Wisconsin sports and a nice win for the Packers Sunday against the Lions.

Aaron Rodgers is playing well and passed for over 200 yards, but the Packers defense blew a 21 point lead before Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense rescued them again and came up big in a 48-25 win over the poor Detroit Lions football team Sunday. It will be much tougher this week as the Packers face the high powered Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field on Sunday Night Football. We'll see how good both of those teams are in a big early season matchup. As for that other great Packers ex quarterback Brett Favre he and the New York Jets didn't do as well losing to the New England Patriots 16-10 even without injured Tom Brady

Saturday night the Wisconsin Badgers went out to Fresno, California and beat Fresno State 13-10 in a game that non BCS school Fresno State was calling the biggest game in school history. Meanwhile a few hours away in Los Angeles the number one ranked USC Trojans pummeled another Big Ten school Ohio State 35-3. Going into the game Ohio State was ranked fifth in the country and Wisconsin was ranked 10th. After Wisconsin's win they climbed to 8th and Ohio State fell to 13th in the national rankings making Wisconsin the only Big Ten school currently in the top ten in the country.

Now I'm not an expert who knows all my X and O's about football but I have a few reasons why I like Wisconsin as a football team and would like to see them take on a few of the bigger boys in college football while Ohio State still a very good football team in the Big Ten an country is a little overrated as a national power. They proved that Saturday night  against USC and getting blown out in the last two national championship games. I'm also not talking about Ohio State being a power in the Big Ten. Yes they can beat Michigan and Wisconsin and others, but how did they get to the national championship game last year after losing in conference to Illinois. There is a flaw in the BCS system there without a playoff..

Now call me crazy but these are a few of the resons I like Wisconsin and think they would have given USC a better game even if they didn't beat them which they could if they had excellent execution and USC made a few mistakes or turnovers like they did when they lost to Stanford in the LA Colliseum last year.

The Wisconsin Badgers are a team that starting with former coach and now athletic director Barry Alvarez and current head coach Bret Bilema sp? have been a ball control running offense with short passes and a bend but dont break defense which tries to minimize a lot of yardage especially as a tem gets closer to the goal line in the red zone which is the 20 yard line to the goal line.

Now I know the Badgers don't have as much speed or talent as USC so they have to try to shorten the field and control the clock. Teams like Ohio State and Michigan have tried to play with USC in a high firepower offense and have gotten burned by teams with more explosive talent like USC. I think that is one of the reasons the slower and more methodical Big Ten teams have had trouble winning out of conference especially against national powers.

But a program like Wisconsin has found a way to make that slower game work to their advantage by contolling the clock with mostly the run and short passes and not turning the ballover a lot. The bend but don't break defense has kept them in a lot of games as well. Instead of playing and trying to match USC as a high powered football team which I think Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois  last year in the Rose Bowl and others have, I think Wisconsin by playing to their strengths while still outmatched in someways could have a better chance with a strength and finesse game to better comete with the USC's and other national powers.

There have been different players obviously but look at Wisconsin's postseason success the last 15 years or so under the Barry Alvarez program. Three Rose Bowls all wins, three victories over UCLA including twie in the Rose Bowl game which is UCLA's home stadium. Also victories over SEC teams Auburn and Arkansas and a victory over BIG 12 team Colorado among others. Plus Wisconsin and their fans travel very well with their support. They basically took over the Rose Bowl stadium at what was UCLA's home field. In the Rose Bowl the last 30 years or so, the rest of the Big Ten has a few victories by Michigan and Ohio State. one by Penn State and Michigan State and losses by Illinois, Iowa, Purdue and Northwestern. Minnesota and Indiana haven't been to the Rose Bowl for decades.

Now I'm not saying Wisconsin is going to win the national championship necessarily. But I do think they have a program that has shown that they can compete on a national level regularly. They are also currently the only Big Ten team ranked in the Top 10 after Ohio State's loss. I would just like to see them play a more difficult nonconference schedule with at leat one top power caliber opponent from the Pac10, SEC or Big 12 which no offense to the Eastern schools in the Big East and ACC which have some pretty good teams too, are probably the best BCS conferences along with the Big Ten. That way I think we can determine a litlle better where Wisconsin stands nationally along with what they have accomplished. so far. At least we could say they've played someone big nffense with respect to the great victory over Fresno State this year.

Anyway those are my thoughts as someone who has watched Wisconsin football and other college football as well. Although there is so much college football to digest that anyone with more experience could tell me otherwise. That is just my opinion from my little corner of the world watching a lot of Badgers and Big Ten Footballalthough I watch nationally as well to an extent and of course I want my opinions to be broader so let me know what you think ok friends.

Finally the Milwaukee Brewers have struggled lately in losing 11 of 14 games in September and are now currently tied with the Philadelphia Phillies having blown their lead in the wildcard temporarily. They have also fired their manager Ned Yost who led them this far to an 83-67 record to shake things up for this still young and inexperienced team who is trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982. We'll see what happens but ultimately the players play the game and new interim manager and former Brewers player Dale Sweum sp? will take some of the blame as the manager along with Brewers GM Doug Melvin. Good luck to the Brewers.

Take care and talk soon friends. Have a great and productive day and best wishes always. fenfan

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Hello friends,

As you know I'm a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan and I'm always positive and optimistic and hopeful about their chances each season. But if I look at the Steelers objectively after their Week 1 performance and dominating win against the Houston Texans 38-17, I also am looking around the rest of the NFL and especially the AFC and wondering if the Steelers a division winner from last year and a good team are being underrated?

With the major season ending knee injury for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, the tough loss for the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning against the Chicago Bears Sunday Night and the tough last second loss for the San Diego Chargers against the Carolina Panthers with already injured Chargers Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman who's taking a risk by playing.

Now the Patriots, Colts and Chargers were the other division winners last year and they've all been favored to go to the Super Bowl and gotten more coverage than the Steelers along with the Brett Favre story of course.

So why aren't the Steelers getting more coverage and not being given more of a chance in the AFC?  I know the Steelers are a low key organization who often goes about their business quietlty and performs on the football field when it counts. I know they have what is considered the toughest schedule in the NFL this year playing the NFC East, AFC South and the other AFC division winners mentioned above along with their own division in the AFC North.

But they're the Steelers and for the last 35 years or so they/ve been playing tough competition and handling it for the most part so I'm not worried. They also lost ofensive guard Alen Faneca to free agency but the Steelers have replaced people and moved on well before so again I'm not worried.

Running back Fast Willie Parker came back from a broken leg injury and looked strong with 139 yards. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a strong game and the defense led by linebacker James Harrison and safety Troy Polamalu was strong as well. And they've got rookies like running back Rashard Mendenhall and a solid backup quarterback in Byron Leftwich.

So in summary to sort of quote Kurt Russell from the movie Miracle about the 1980 USA hockey gold medal team that beat the Soviets, Russell quoting the team's Head coach Herb Brooks said "I don't know why were not giving this guy (or team in this case) a heck of a look.

And that's the way I'm seeing the Steelers objectively after Week 1. There's a long way to go and a lot can happen in an NFL season but I like this team both as a Steelers fan and a fan of the NFL.

But you know the Steelers. They'll seldom tell you and just go about their business and you'll likely see their positive results later in the season as they play for and towards a sixth Super Bowl Championship for their franchise.

So good luck to your teams as well down the road and maybe they'll be playing a team like the Dallas Cowboys who also have five Super Bowls for that sixth ring. But that's a long way down the road. I realize that. But for now after Week 1 I think the Steelers are playing well and are a surprisingly underrated football team as they head to Cleveland to face the Browns on Sunday Night in Week 2.

Let me know what you think as always friends and take care and best wishes. Have a great and productive day friends. fenfan

 

 

Hello friends,

I have a couple of current issues that I wanted to touch on today. San Diego Chargers defensive player Shawn Merriman wants to play even though he's injured and the LPGA wants it's lady golfers to speak English so I'll give my thoughts on that as well.

First Shawn Merriman has a tear in his ligaments and four doctors have recommended he sit out the season  and have surgery. But Merriman a 24 year old 3 time Pro Bowl player feels the Chargers have a window of opportunity   to go to the Super Bowl this year which they do. The Chargers are a very good team and I admire Merriman's heart and courage, but is it worth risking his career to play?  This isn't the Sunday touch or soft tackle football league. This is the NFL, the hardest hitting football league there is where one better be 100% and play that way or risk serious injury and that is what Merriman one of the best young defensive players in the league is doing. No one wants to see anyone get hurt but in the NFL they go all out contact and collision wise and they won't go soft on Merriman and take advantage of his injury .

I wrote a blog a few weeks ago about players getting injured in the preseason and how I don't like that especially for the star players and I extend those thoughts to players like Shawn Merriman who want to play hurt. NFL players only have a small amount of time to play football usually and there are no guaranteed contracts in the NFL. So why risk playing abd ruining your career and life in and out of football?  Shawn Meriman is only 24 years old so he has time. There was a player for the Houston Texans this week that had a spine injury and his career is likely over. Once a football player is seriously hurt they should walk away from the game and if they are injured enough where they can come back then they need time to heal and this is what I recommend Shawn Merriman do before he gets worse and it's too late.

Also this week the Ladies Professional Golf Tour, the LPGA said it is requiring it's players a lot of who are foreign born to learn to speak English by 2009 or be suspended from the tour. This decision has got mixed reaction from the media, but in a way I think it is a good and necessary one. At a lot of workplaces in the United States they require their employess to speak English and this is a good thing for communication. Just like if you went to work in another country one should learn to speak some of the language if not fluent. For high priced and visible athletes especially, they are going to be interviewed and questioned and we want to know what they are thinking. Translators are irriating to me because they are speaking through the third person and they take away from the intimacy of the conversation between two people. I would like to know what Foreign stars like Ichiro, Daisuke Matsusaka, Hideki Matsui and other star players from foreign countries are thinking. Yao Ming didn't know how to speak much English when he came to the United States but now he speaks it well. I don't expect people to speak perfectly but I do want to understand and talk to them so I applaud what the LPGA is doing and also hope they try to help these foreign athletes with speaking lessons. That is what I think is fair if they want them to speak English. Let me know what you think friends. Take care, talk soon and best wishes. Have a great and productive day friends. fenfan

Hi friends,

Well college football season is almost here and it's time for one of the biggest parties in sports. Without a playoff system or true determined winner with fair competition for all teams involved what else can you call it. Even at the end over 30 teams get to go home happy with bowl victories. Of course some schools go home happier with bigger checks from bigger bowls. Well at least the universities do while the players who play for them hope to make their money in pro football.

As for college football being like a big fraternity party it is in my opinion. Lots of teams are invited but only the biggest teams or brothers win. They are the ones who usually walk off just like with the prettiest girls and win. As for everyone else especially the smaller teams they're just usually hoping to upset someone and get a date to the big dance. And even if they are perfect or almost perfect they're still often hoping or left standings because they don't have the power rankings or strength of schedule to get their way into the biggest games stage and dance.

Without any kind of  true playoff system  the teams from smaller conferences outside the Big 6 coferences really dont have a chance unlike the NCAA Basketball tournament where at least the smaller conference teams can get into the tournament and have a chance to dream on the court.

Instead college football is where a team can lose a game in September or October and their national championship dreams are done. College football is then really about beating your teams rivals, winning a conference championship and making a bowl even if a team has a 7-5 or 6-6 record. How's that for a playoff system? And don't tell me it's a 12 week playoff in the regular season because every team really doesn't have a chance because of the power structure in major college football.

But at least the games are sometimes competitive and sometimes they're not like 70-3 when there's a powerhouse team playing a small cream puff team for money for the smaller schools especially. But then sometimes those small schools shock the powerhouse schools like Appalachian State last year knocking off Michigan in the Big House in Ann Arbor.

But no matter who the schools that are playing college football has the spirit and fun of the games. The action on the field, the enthusiastic college crowds and the pretty cheerleader girls and guys cheering the teams on the sidelines. That's why I call major college football especially a party. Without a true winner or playoff system there is no definitive champion. Even the team we think is the best even if they are often one of the best teams is still undetermined for sure even with a game like the BCS Championship Game where the game is determined by rankings and without a playoff system. A few of these games have come close to a championship game feeling like Texas beating USC in the last minute in 2005 and Ohio State beating Miami in overtime in 2002  But wouldn't it have been nice to know these games were like a college football Super Bowl at the end.

I know a college football playoff has been argued for and against for a long time in college football, but without one we are always wondering who the best team really is. Maybe that's the fun of it. and in the NCAA they don't want to change that. So join the party and enjoy another great and fun college football season. Everyone is a winner for coming and over 30 teams will win a bowl game. So join the fishbowl teams and fans and you'll have fun. If you want to talk about winning, losing and making the playoffs and Super Bowl then you'll have to watch the Sunday NFL games. Maybe that's why college football games are played first because the party is almost always on a party day Saturday. Remmber the Fifth Quarter Tradition in Madison, Wisconsin even after blowout Badger losses.  Best of luck to your teams and enjoy the games friends as long as you understand what they're all about at the big college football party. So bring me my favorite bevearge and a pom pom and we'll cheer for college football season is here. That's my opinion. What's yours? When the Wisconsin Badgers won three Rose Bowls in the 1990s that was their biggest accomplishment because that was the big game to get to in the Midwest and there wasn't a definitive way to get to a NCAA Championship Game. Even with the BCS Championship I still feel the same way because it's based on power structure and rankings.. As I said let me know your thoughts and opinions and we'll talk soon. Best wishes and have a great and productive day friends. fenfan

Hello friends,

Well Brett Favre Is now a Jet and the PreSeason Football schedule has started in full. A backup quarterback Charlie Batch on my favorite football team the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a broken collarbone against the Philadelphia Eagles, and it reminded me the main reason I don't like preseason football and want it reduced or eliminated. Well getting rid of the games isn't possible because coaches and teams need to evaluate players and get them in shape.

But when a player gets injured in a preseason game, especially if he's a veteran like Charlie Batch it gets me upset. Yes injuries are a major part of football, maybe more than any other sport where a single play can end a career, paralyze a man or god forbid end a man's life.

It is a risk football players put themselves through in a collision sport. It can happen anytime maybe even practice but when it happens in an exhibition game like to Charlie Batch, you wonder why was he playing so much if he already has probably made the final roster. Remember Quarterback Trent Green then with the St Louis Rams in 1999. Hit and out for the season with a broken leg. Of course the Rams had a untested backup named Kurt Warner who led them all the way to a Super Bowl Championship. That was the fairy tale unpredictable ending and it worked out all right for the Rams that year.

But most of the time when a veteran player goes down a team has to have a good backup or scramble to find a replacement. In the Steelers case the injury happened to their backup quarterback Charlie Batch and he'll be out 4-6 weeks with his injury. The Steelers third string quaterback is newly drafted rookie Dennis Dixon and their starter is Super Bowl Champion Ben Roethlisberger. Now the Steelers don't want to play Roetlisberger too much in the preseason bcause he is the franchise quarterback and they don't want to play Dennis Dixon too much because he's too inexperienced to be the first backup.

So Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has to search the waiver wire to find a quality backup which isn't easy. So how do football teams get around this delicate problem of getting teams in shape and ready to play without keeping their best players injury free until at least the regular season when the games count?

No one likes to see a player injured but you would rather see it in a regular season when the games count?  Should they have more regular season games or eliminate them like they do in college football where they don't have any? And yes I know a player can get injured in practice as well.

Preseason games are tedious to the fans as well. We wait all summer for our favorite teams and players to play. We get excited and dress up like it's a regular season or playoff game. And then our favorite players only play a quarter or two before giving way to the backups. Ever watch a second half of a preseason game? Local announcers, a blowout score with backup players and you can hear the public address announcer say 3rd and 5 on the 47 yard line. And they're talking about the Shrine Game or whatever.

So can you see why I as a fan dont like preseason football. I wish the veterans never played and I cringe when they do. I don't like to see any player get hurt and it's worse in NFL preseason football than any other sport. And don't give me examples of other sports cause yes I know injuries can happen there. Just not like the frequency and severity of football.

Is there a way we can make all the games count? Have a 16 game season with no preseason or one or two games. It's always debated this time of year. Maybe college football has it right with no exhibition games What do you think friends? I welcome your comments as always and thank you for reading. Take care, best wishes and have a great and productive day friends. fenfan

Hello friends,

Well the biggest story of the last month and the NFL offseason, The Brett Favre saga just keeps going everday and it keeps giving everyone something interesting to talk about no matter how much we wish it would go away. But writers and bradcasters love it because it is so fascinating and no one knows how it will end from day to day.

I'll try to look at it from both sides  and give my perspective on it and I'll be interested to hear yours. As of the latest updates it appears that Brett Favre has reached a stalemate with the Green Bay Packers who no longer seem to want him in more than a backup role so it appears that Favre could be traded to either the Tampa Bay Buccaners or the New York Jets. The Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago  Bears, the Packers NFC North division rivals who Favre wished to play for look like they will not  be able to make a trade with the Packers as the Packers not surprisingly do not want to trade Brett Favre to a rival team in their division.

Ezcept for Packers fans and my apologies to them as they are the innocent bystanders in this whole Brett Favre saga, it really would have been interesting to see Brett Favre go to the rival Vikings or Chicago Bears and play against the Packers in the same division. I mean why if the Packers don't want a Hall of Fame quarterback who's still pretty good at 39 years old and led the Packers back to the NFC Championship Game before losing after an interception in overtime against the Giants.is a question to me.

And yes he did retire and "waffle" about coming back and playing as a lot of athletes do even when they say they're defintely hanging it up. But then after a few months or as the new season gets closer they get the itch to play and want to come back and yes  it's frustrating for teams, players, coaches and fans when players  like Favre constanly change their mind and the Packers is this case had to move on with incumbent backup Aaron Rodgers as the starter and they drafted quarterbacks Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn for competition.

But if Brett Favre a Hall of Fame quarterback to be who still has skills and desire,wants to come back why shouldn't he be welcomed with open arms and an "open competition". Now Aaron Rodgers may be a good pro quarterback in the future, he may be a good teammate and person and he may deserve a chance. But  in the NFL and sports it's about winning and WINNING NOW!!  And when a team like the Packers has the window of opportunity to WIN in a parity filled league with a salary cap where success doesn't last more han a few years at a time before players change and things need to be restructured.then why wouldn't the Packers go for it with a proven and winning quarterback like Brett Favre. He's been to and won a Super Bowl and won several playoff games and as I said he got them to the NFC Championship Game last year.

So why would the Packers rather go with a young quarterback like Aaron Rodgers who hasn't proven himself yet very much in the NFL to be the starter? Losing is always tough but if he doesn't win quickly and attain some of  Favre's status as a winner in Green Bay then he will probably be booed and heckled no matter how much of it is or isn't his fault because the Packers are losing and Brett Favre isn't there.

If he is a success he still probably won't live up to Brett Favre unles he wins multiple Super Bowls and there will always be the die hard Brett Favre fans Aaron Rodgers can't please no matter what.

Winning a championship and having success is a rare and brief time period in this world of salary caps and free agency. Sure there have been exceptions the last 10 years like the Patriots in the NFL,  but when a team has a chance to have success they have to go for it especially for the fans and communities that support them.

And sometimes sports  teams like the Boston Red Sox in baseball have to put up with the antics and actions of a Manny Ramirez, Curt Schilling or Pedro Martinez to win a few championships. The same with the eccentric Dennis Rodman on the  Chicago Bulls basketball  teams in the 1990s. Sometimes teams and fans have to put up with the bizarre but talented players to win.

Yes Brett Favre has a big ego as a lot of highly paid athletes do. But he wanted to play for the Packers, he came back and the organization wants to let him go or offer him a ridiculois 20 million dollar nonplaying offer to stay retired. How many of us would quit for that?!  My question to the Packers is are doing everything to keep the window of opportunity for success open as long as they can. Or are they letting pride and doing the right thing get in the way of what should be done. I wish Aaron Rodgers and the Packers success. They've got a good team and can win with a young inexperienced quarterback. My favorite Team the Pittsburgh Steelers won a Super Bowl with Ben Roethlisberger in his second season after leading the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game in his first year. As I said I hope for the Packer's fans sake that a young quarterback like Aaron Rodgers can have the same success.

Just remember there are teams like the Packers rival the Minnesota Vikings who havent won a Super Bowl or NFL Championship intheir 47 years of  existence and are hungry for success. A team like that might love to scoop up a  legend like Brett Favre and beat their rival team with a quarterback who beat their team so many times over the years. The same goes for the Bears. Now it looks like the Packers will trade Favre out of the division to the Buccaneers or Jets, but imagine if it happened and Brett Favre came back and beat the Packers as a member of the Vikings, Bears or any other NFL team.

Now Aaron Rodgers may become a superstar quarterback and the much older Brett Favre will soon fade off into the NFL sunset and his final retirement. But in the meantime we'll find out soon enough who's the better quaterback in the next few years and did the Packers give up on Brett  Favre and their chance to win a Super Bowl soon again. We'll see what happens friends. Take care and have a productive day. Talk soon and best wishes. fenfan 

 

Hi friends,

Well it's July 31st the trading deadline in baseball, the early stages of NFL training camps on and off the field. What will Brett Favre do? And the pennant race excitement now has two months to go. So where do we start on this exciting eventful day in sports?

How about Manny Ramirez who finally got his ticket out of Boston in a three way trade between the Red Sox, Dodgers and Pirates.  The main other player in the deal leftfieder Jason Bay formerly of the Pirates will take over for Manny Ramirez in Boston. Now Jason Bay a talented hitter himself will never be the superstar Manny on or off the field. While Manny's bat won't be equaled neither will his off the field outbursts and maybe that's finally a good thing for all the parties and teams involved and we'll see how his attitude carries out in Los Angeles for Dodgers manager Joe Torre. I'm sure the home runs will be flying out of Chavez Ravine at Dodger Stadium.. We'll see what happens.

As for Brett Favre and the Packers or whoever he ends up playing for if he plays or will he take the 20 million dollar offer NOT to PLAY FOR THE PACKERS. Are they that threatened by the 38 year old quarterback going to the rival Bears or Vikings?  Remember former Super Bowl champion quarterback Jim Mc Mahon ended his career backing up Brett Favre when the Packers won the Super Bowl in 1996. So wouldn't it be interesting to see Favre to the the chagrin of Packers fans end his career as a Bear. Or how about Minnesota and the Purple People. Remember Favre rarely plays well at the Metrodome or loud  domes and artificial turf.  So unless they're going to blow off the roof there I don't know how well that would go either. Finally I don't know how this helps new starting quaterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers who are coming off a NFC Championship Game performance last year. Besides Favre starting running back Ryan Grant is a holdout. Team chemistry is a delicate thing and we'll see how the Packers handle it in next few weeks and months no matter what happens with Brett Favre.

It should be interesting as the Red Sox go on without Manny Ramirez as well. Another legend Ken Griffey Jr who has been often injured in recent years, still has over 600 home runs and a Hall of Fame career to be. And on this July 31st he was traded from the Cincinatti Reds where he has been injured often and somewhat of a disappointment for the small market Reds since being traded there from Seattle in 2000. So now he lands in Chicago with the White Sox where he will be a role player with a more talented team. Whether he plays the outfield, first base or designated hitter in the American League, Griffey will add some productive play and leadership as the White Sox hope to match their 2005 World Series Championship success. Good luck Ken and we'll see what happens for you and the White Sox.

Finally one of my favorite teams, the Brewers lost to another team I like the Cubs except when they play the Brewers. Imagine what that's like liking two teams in the same division, but I liked both teams before the Brewers moved into the National League in 1998. Despite being swept by the Cubs, the Brewers still have a pretty good team and if they can remember last years collapse and learn from experience after losing the lead in the division to help get them through the last couple months this year. It will be tough but the Brewers have a fairly easy schedule according to the experts. If they can get through that and nobody is really easy to play in a peenant race then maybe the young and relatively inexperienced Brewers will have a chance to reach and make their goal of the playoffs. These days they don't have to win the division with the wildcard. That won't be easy either though. Good luck Brewers!! Also good luck to the Red Sox and Manny Ramirez as they part ways. Good luck to Brett Favre and the Packers and whatever team he plays for unless he wants to accept the 20 million dollars to stay retired. For any of the rest of us the money while bringing changes would be a pretty easy decision to take for most of us. But superstar athletes and entertainers like Brett Favre are like kings so it's like being Manny or Brett Favre means almost play money to them in a world where a lot of us are looking for jobs and at $4.00 gas prices. Pass the buck and throw the letovers to the fans who watch and support you. If only it were that simple.

Anyway before I get off track any further, it's been an interesting day and period in this time of sports. But without it we wouldn't be here writing or talking about much interesting. But sports is always changing and interesting and for that even though we don't know what is next we are  thankful because we have something we are passionate about to follow and talk about.  And in these uncertain economic times that is a good thing because it gets our mind off real life. We could talk about the election. But that is a topic for another blog site. So have a good evening and best wishes friends and have a great and productive day. Talk soon. fenfan

Hello friends,

I've got nothing special to talk about tonight except for some pretty good blogs I've been reading on here and putting my two cents in. From the guy who explained why the Steelers won't be as good this year. I disagree with his opinion but the Steelers have always been consistent and rarely terrible. Consider since Chuck Noll's 1-13 record in 1969 the Steelers have never won fewer than 5 games in a season and they have won 5 Super Bowls. I hope I don't jinx them. I just hope they get their ownership situation figured out. A billionare Stanley Druckenmeier wants to buy the team but I hope they can keep the team in the Rooney family who founded the team and made the Steelers the proud team and organization that they are.

Also tundratrugger brought up some good comments on the Brett Favre situation with the Packers. We all like or admire Brett Favre as a football player and person. As football fans we just wish he would make up his mind about his future and go on with it. I couldn't personally go out on an interception in the NFC Championship Game if I knew I had a good team but that's his decision. Lets just make that decision Brett and get on with the 2008 NFL season.

In baseball I'm  excited to see one of my favorite small market teams the Milwaukee Brewers making some big noise in the pennant race again this year. The experience of last year's winning record has helped and so apparently has new acquistion CC Sabathia with a 4-0 record and 3 complete game wins since joining the Brewers. I don't want the Brewers to throw away their future and maybe by signing their core players like Ryan Braun, developing a great farm system under general manager Doug Melvin and getting good draft picks will help the small market Brewers stay competitive in the long run. But in the short term Go For It Brewers and good luck the rest of 2008 and we'll worry about 2009 later. When you think of it that should be every team's philosophy but for a small market team like the Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays it is crical to keep going and keep competive. I wish baseball had a salary cap like the other sports, but with smart management it can be done successfully.

Well I guess I did have some stuff to say tonight about some of my favorite teams. I also enjoyed blogs about the most hated teams in sports and the greatest players to never win a championship. Read those if you get the chance. I always enjoy a good blog and great sports talk and I thank you friends for reading mine. I'm almost to 150 blogs overall now and I hope I keep it interesting for you readers. Take care, best wishes and talk soon friends. Have a great and productive day always friends. fenfan

Hi friends,

I'm getting into the baseball races and my favorite teams, the Brewers, Red Sox and Cubs as they're all in contention and all have the chance to make the playoffs in the same year for the first time. We'll see and I'll discuss my favorite and most memorable moments.

But first a short paragraph to say I'm officially sick of Brett Favre and the Packers saga to see who can outdo each other and blink first. Go away or get back together. But other than giving the media and us bloggers something to talk about.  But What  exactly are we talikng about? Exactly until a decision is made it is all talk and rumors and sports talk radio. I've lost some respect for Brett Favre and the Packers, whatever happens. Let Aaron Rodgers have his time and don't make me laugh with talk of Brett Favre as a backup in Green Bay. Seriously how long would that last. At this rate just as long as these  rumors. Here today Yesterdays news tommorow. Let history go on Brett and save your legacy. You'll never be a Purple People Eater. Vikings or anyone else. The Packers would be foolish to release you because of his legacy with the team but at the same time they have to make the right decisions for the team. Good luck Packers.

Now onto my favorite baseball teams and memories. It's July and for the first time in a long time all three of  my favorite baseball teams are in contention and the thought of them making the postseason brings back some good and not so good memories for me. Maybe it's because it's the week of the ESPY's awards, moments and lists so here goes

First the top 5 great memories with honorable mention for me for my favorite teams the Brewers, Red Sox and Cubs.

1} Red Sox win the World Series for the first time in 86 years in 2004 and a 0-3  hole and comeback against the Yankees to win the AL Pennant. What could beat that!

2} The Brewers win the ALCS in 1982 coming from 0-2 down against the Angels. Has it really been 26 years since the Brewers last postseason appearance?  Hopefully that changes soon.

3} The Cubs win the NL East dvision title and first postseason appearance in 39 years in 1984 and the summer of the famous Ryne Sandberg two home run game against the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

4} The Carlton Fisk game winning home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. It didn't win the World Series for the Red Sox, but other than the Red Sox actually finally winning the World Series in 2004 and 2007 has there been a bigger or more memorable winning moment in Red Sox history?  It felt like they won for a night and all time as a great moment even if they didn't end up winning the World Series.that year or for 29 more years.

5] The David Henderson home run off Donnie Moore in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS to put them ahead and start their comeback to win the series against the Angels that year. Finally the Brewers 13 game winning streak and famous Easter Day Sunday comeback against the Rangers in April 1987. Paul Molitor also hit in 39 straight games that summer only behind Pete Rose at 44 games and Joe Dimaggio's 56 game hitting streak in 1941. Will that hitting streak ever be broken along with Ted Williams of the Red Sox .406 batting average that year.

Sorry Cubs fans you weren't included more in the good moments. Maybe this will be the year to change that after 100 years since their last World Series championship.

 As for the moments I'll unfortunately never forget.

1) Bill Buckner. It wasn't really your fault, Pitchers Cavin Schiraldi, Bob Stanley and manager John MacNamara take greater blame but his error and the Red Sox one strike from ultimate victory will never be forgotten from Game 6 of the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets.

2)  Bruce Sutter and the Cardinals striking out Gorman Thomas of the Brewers to win Game 7 of the 1982 World Series. I've wanted the Brewers to win that Game 7 ever since and 26 years later Brewers fans are still waiting.

3) The Steve Bartman moment and the Cubs 5 outs from going to the World Series against the Marlins in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. Stop blaming Bartman, give him public forgiveness and let the baseball reasons and Cubs futility to win when it counts take over rational thoughts Cubs fans and stop blowing up helpless baseballs to end curses. Billy goat and black cat curses as well for that matter.

4) Two Yankee Home runs that will live in Red Sox infamy. Bucky Dent in the 1978 AL East playoff game and Aaron Boone in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS . Two tough losses but a comeback after an 0-3 start in the 2004 put away the Curse of the Bambino/ Babe Ruth forever.

5} The Cubs 9 game lead and collapse against the Mets in 1969 and the Brewers 8 1/2  game lead and collapse in the division race against the Cubs last year. As a fan of both teams why did the Brewers have to join the National League and same division as the Cubs but in another way it's made their rivalry more fun to watch.

In conclusion if you've stayed reading with me this long  thank you and  I'm sorry for being long winded  friends... If not I'm sorry for your boredom  and I'm just nostalgic about sports memories. My apologies. Anyways as I said earlier I hope this Brett Favre situation blows over so we can get on with life and on to some great football with or without Brett Favre. Believe it or not Green Bay you still have a good team without Mr Favre. Take care, best wishes and talk soon friends. Have a great and productive day. fenfan 

Hello friends Well it's July on the calender and a few weeks from training camp in the NFL. So why doesn't it surprise me that there are "rumors" again that Brett Favre is deciding to unretire?  Why is he doing this or do he and his people like to keep us talikng?!

I made the suggestion on my blog a few months ago that Brett Favre play out his contract for two more years until he's 40. He's never been seriously hurt or missed any games so why not play it out to the end especially since he's got a championship type team in Green Bay the next few years.

No disrespect to Aaron Rodgers but he hasn't earned our respect yet and Brett Favre is a Hall of Famer to be no matter what happens. So why not play it out to the end and see what happens.

Not everyone goes out a champion like John Elway, Jerome Bettis or Michael Strahan, but wouldn't you like to see Brett Favre put everything he has on the table and go out a champion one more time.

Or do you want to see him go out on an interception like he did last year when you knew he had a good team in Green Bay and could give just a little bit more?

None of us can claim to know what Brett Favre feels or thinks in his NFL career, but we can see he's been a warrior on the field and by retiring  a little too early he's not only cheating us but maybe himself and thinking maybe I could have led the Packers back to the Super Bowl and a championship.

If he fails and doesn't get hurt at least he tried. If not we'll all wonder what if? Either way please make your decision Brett and leave your career with honor and dignity. Either way you're a legend and Hall of Famer . Just let us know what your decision is.

All of us as football fans need to go on and so do you. Best wishes and have a great and productive day friends. fenfan

Hello friends,

I just wanted to write a short post to ask a simple question and get some good responses hopefully. What kind of fan are you?  Are you a casual fan who might not watch sports much but will watch the Super  Bowl, World Series, Final Four or NBA Finals.

Or are you a passionate fan of a team or sport, but you have a good and busy life otherwise when you aren't rooting for your teams..

Finally are you a fanatic who can't turn off ESPN, gets hooked on blogs like these and is often being told there's more to life than sports even though you already know that. It's a passion and you can't get away from it easily.

I'm a proclaimed sports fanatic although I try to have a life and enjoy it too. I hope that's the case with most of you other sports fanatics.  I woiuld be interested to hear your opinions as always friends..

Best wishes and have a great and productive day. fenfan

HELLO FRIENDS,

Today as I write my 141st blog on here over the last two years since starting to write in June 2006, I want to say thank you to all the friendship and support I have gotten from all of you here at foxsportsblogs. There are a lot of you I could mention but I don't want to forget or leave anyone out so I'll just thank all of you for your great support of my blogs and others here in this fine sportswriting community.

This is a wonderful tool for aspiring sportswriters like me and for passionate sports fans also like me who want to vent their opinions and feelings. It gives most of a chance to give our opinions and feel like we are being seen or heard no matter what the national media says about blogging. If you have an opinion and are credible and factual then you are relevant  here as a sports blogger.

I do want to give special thanks to a friend of mine on here known as fishrmn because he knows my passion of sports and writing and he found foxsportsblogs for me and thought it would be a good outlet for my sportswriting and passion of sports. Thank you fishrmn!!

As for the timing of this blog I wanted to write it after the NBA Finals because that goes with the timeline of my two year blogging anniversary and it also starts the period of sports which I call Summer Vacation which was the title of one of my first blogs back in June 2006. Summer Vacation is the period of time after the NBA Finals in mid June until regular season football starts in September. During this time I think you should enjoy your summer sports but also take a break and enjoy the summertime and try to relax somewhat and enjoy the things that make life wonderful and important. Yes we all have work and other responsibilities, but summer vacation is also a time to step back and focus on what is truly important in life. We should be doing this all year of course, but for us sports fanatics summer is a time to step back take a breath and get ready before the next full season of sports when football starts in September. So enjoy your summer friends.

Congratulations to Tiger Woods for winning the US Open golf tournament in a 19 hole playoff over 45 year old Rocco Mediate who performed valiantly as an underdog against Tiger and almost won and for Tiger Woods winning his 14th major golf tournament two months after having knee surgery. As great as he is that was a valiant effort and victory as well.

Also congratulations to the Boston Celtics for restorinfg their proud franchise in winning their 17th NBA title. Led by the superstar trio of 10 year Celtic and NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce and first year Celtics Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, the rest of the Celtics and coach Doc Rivers. It was a great finals for the NBA as the Celtics beat their long time nemesis the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2.

Finally a short note about New York Mets manager Willie Randolph getting fired at 3:15 am on a West Coast trip. I know the firing had long been rumored because of the Mets struggles and it's New York with the biggest salaries and media market, but it could have been handled a lot better because Willie Randolph is a classy and honorable baseball man and deserved better, but that's my opinion and sports is a cold bottom line business sometimes.

One last thing before I close I want to give my condolonces to the families of long time political commentator Tim Russert of NBC's Meet the Press and also longtime NBC sportscaster Charlie Jones. Both died of heart related problems and will be greatly missed. The presidential election this fall won't be the same without Tim Russert and Charlie Jones was a longtime football announcer back to the days of the 1960's AFL and he also broadcast the Colorado Rockies baseball team as well.

Once again thanks so much for your support and friendship. I always try to give my opinions to the best of my knowledge and what I think and believe. I appreciate your feedback so much as well. Take care and best wishes and we'll talk soon again friends. Have a great and productive day. fenfan 

 P.S. BREAKING NEWS: ESPN reported that Tiger Woods will be out for the rest of the golf season including the majors the British Open and PGA Tournament. Good luck with your recovery Tiger and we hope to see you at the Masters next April as you continue to pursue Jack Nickalus's record of 18 majors.

Hello friends,

It's the NBA Finals between the Celtics and the Lakers which is one of the most popular matchups in sports especially for Celtics and Lakers fans, the media and anyone who is looking back for the 1980's in these finals. You probably won't find it or be disappointed unless you turn on ESPN Classic.

So I thought I'd ask what are your dream finals in different sports? It can be two teams you love but have trouble deciding with or it can be love vs a team you love to hate. Whatever I'm interested in hearing what you have to say. When it's not my team or teams I'm really interested I always dream of different finals matchups I'd like. What are yours? I'll tell you some I would like and why.

Since we're in the NBA finals now  I'll start with that. I'm a San Antonio Spurs fan and I grew up in Milwaukee liking the Bucks so while the networks would hate this small market matchup I would find it interesting because both have passionate basketball towns. If you want to throw in the Celtics, Lakers, Pistons, 76ers or Mavericks as rivals I have no problem with that.

Next I'll go to the NFL. My favorite team since my childhood in the 1970s has been the Pittsburgh Steelers because they were the best then an continue a standard of excellence on and off the field today. Another class and historic franchise in the NFL is the Green Bay Packers .  I have a lot of family and friends in Wisconsin who I have had a friendly rivalry with over this team and I would like to decide it once and for all in a Super Bowl. It almost happened a couple times in the 1990s and there will be no Brett Favre this time but I think America would love this Super Bowl matchup between the Steelers and the Packers. If not I wouldn't mind playing the Dallas Cowboys again. I think their last Super Bowl in the 1990s was the highest rated ever I believe.

In major league baseball you know fenwayfanatic is a Red Sox fan and wouldn't it be neat this fall if they finally played the Chicago Cubs in the World Series and give most of America the dream World Series they want. I might even root for the Cubs since the Red Sox already have a couple championships now.  That doesn't mean I wouldn't root for the Red Sox as well. Also if my old hometown Milwaukee Brewers ever got back to the playoffs or World Seriies I would love to see them take on the Red Sox or Yankees. Small vs big market. In the late 1950s they called it Bushville when Henry Aaron's Milwaukee Braves split two World Series with Mickey Mantle's Yankees.

In the NHL Stanley Cup hockey finals we had a dream matchup this year between the Original Six Detroit Red Wings and the upstart Piittsburgh Penguins led by 20 year old superstar Sidney the Kid Crosby. In this years finals I was actually hoping for a matchup between the Dallas Stars who I follow in Texas vs the Pittsburgh Penguins. It would be a reversal of the matchup for me between Dallas and Pittsburgh  because in football I like the Steelers over the Cowboys but in hockey I'd like the Stars over the Penguins unless they played the Toronto Maple Leafs who are my favorite team in hockey because they are a Canadian team with one of the biggest hockey traditions  but they havent won a Stanley Cup or been to the finals since 1967. Canada vs the United States or Canada vs a Canadian team. Not the greatest for US ratings but Ii want to see matchups where hockey is loved most.

Finally my college matchup would be between the state I grew up in Wisconsin and the state I now live Texas. How about that for a BCS National Championship Game or Final Four Matchup? Two strong athletic programs in a lot of sports. Texas is also good in baseball and Wisconsin has won 6 NCAA hockey championships. Anyway this would be my dream NCAA matchup.

Those are my favorite matchups in sports. So what are yours? Please let me know and we'll discuss them further soon. Take care and best wishes and have a great and productive day friends. Always, fenfan

 

Hi friends,

It's been a busy week in sports with shining moments, championship retirements and a big horse whose Triple Crown dream went down and out.

First the shining moments and how about Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics getting off to a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals at this writing. We all saw him get injured and then make his Larry Bird type return. I forget the year he came back on the court to lead the Celtics to victory. Anyway with the help of Celtics teammate Leon Powe and others the Celtics are off to a good start and coach Phil Jackson of the LA Lakers is getting the frustrations Pat Riley had with the games in Boston in the NBA finals.

Last week the  Detroit Red Wings won their fourth Stanley Cup in the last 11 years. The young Pittsburgh Penguins with Sidney Crosby played well in defeat and never gave up, but they were outmatched experience wise in the end. And as I posted here a few weeks ago the Red Wings won in six games and Henrik Zetterberg as I also predicted won the Conn Smythe trophy. Chris Osgood was oustanding in goal for the Red Wings and he helped to send out fellow 43 year old goaltender Dominik Hasek to retirement with another Stanley Cup. Congratulations to Dominik and the Red Wings.

Next on Monday June 9, 2008 for history Ken Griffey Jr became the fifth player in major league baseball history to hit his 600th home run and with all the steroid controversy involving Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and others, it was nice and refreshing to see someone achieve the milestone clean of controversy in this era and it's only too bad Griffey was injured often the last few years or we could have seen him appraoch the numbers of Bonds, Henry Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays.

As I said in the previous paragraph Dominik Hasek retired after being a part of another championship team and on Monday Michael Strahan retied after a great career with the New York Giants and he went out a champion as well and as the all time sack leader. That is great as an athlete and competitor to go out a champion. Athletes in different sports like Bill Russell, John Elway, David Robinson, Ray Bourque and Jerome Bettis have gone out with championship rings in their hands. I couldn't think of a specific baseball player but I'm sure there were manty especially with all the Yankees championships over the years.

Finally Big Brown and his Triple Crown dreams went down at the Belmont and like 11 others before him since 1978 when Affirmed last won a Triple Crown in horse racing, Big Brown came up short and actually finished last in the race. Big Brown was the big favorite to win the race and Triple Crown. He had a cracked hoof but the horse trainers and doctors said he was ok and good shape. There were the tragedies of horses like Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby Barbaro last year and even as far back as the filly Ruffian in the 1970's. Anyway Big Brown's jockey Kent Desormeux sp? pulled up Big Brown in the stretch when it was apparent he wouldn't win so he wouldn't get hurt and there wouldn't be controversy. So what went wrong if he wasn't injured?  I think you have to remember Big Brown is a horse and he might not have liked to feel of the track or another horse possibly on that day. It doesn't diminish his performance as a great racehorse. Belmont is a longer track and shows how much credit you have to give past Triple Crown winners like Secretariat who won by 31 lengths at the Belmont in 1973 and the last two Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed in 1978. Besides great race horses it also takes some luck and perhaps that's when we'll see a Triple Crown winner again when we least expect it. Until then it's been 30 years and counting for this the longest Triple Crown drought in horse racing.

We'll it's been an exciting and historic week in sports and we'll see what happens next. That's the most exciting part of sports and finally in closing the sports world lost a legendary broadcaster in Jim McKay who was most famous for being a part of the start of ABC's Wide World of Sports in 1961. He also covered several Olympics including the tragic 1972 Munich Olympics was 11 Isreali athletes were killed and McKay sadly said eloquently "They're all gone." He also did several golf tournaments, horse racing and other sporting events. It's sad to see the Jim McKay's of the world die because the under 30 pre cable, pre internet and cell phone crowd of instant gratification don't remember what it was like to grow up with four tv stations and a radio. So all our condolones to Jim McKay's family, friends and colleagues. As for me it's been my pleasure to talk with you as always and we'll talk soon again. Until then best wishes and have a great and productive day friends.