By Dave Roloff Published May 29, 2004 at 5:25 AM

{image1} Memorial Day weekend is upon us and all over the state people will be traveling to their favorite vacation destinations to enjoy the weekend. I'll leave you with the a few current issues to mull over during the drive.

Honestly, there isn't much going on even though baseball is in full swing, the Stanley Cup Finals is tied 1-1 and the NBA is in the midst of its conference finals. Mid-May baseball is actually exciting because the Brewers are beginning to scare people just like the Bucks did this season. Are these guys really this good or is this just another setup to be disappointed one more time?

Last week's column discussed MLB's all-time team. This week I opened the forum to various issues that readers have chimed in with. Feel free to weigh in with what you might have to say but - like Jim Rome says, "Have a take and don't suck."

Issue #1: You mentioned last week that Rickey Henderson's stolen base record of 130 in a season will never be broken. What do you think are some of the others?

DR: Most would start with DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak, but there are a few more that are more out of reach than that. Cy Young has three records that are so far out of the realm of today's game that pitchers would need to have two outstanding careers to reach them. Cy Young career record: 511-323 and 749 complete games.

That equals more than 25 20-win seasons, 25 seasons of 12 or more losses and 25 seasons of completing every games pitched.

Issue #2: Where did the NBA we grew to love go?

DR: It has become trendy to bash the NBA lately, but it is almost impossible not to. There are a few reasons for the demise of the NBA:

First, Jeff Van Gundy and Pat Riley came up with the idea that if you foul on every play that there is no way that referees will call every one of them. The problem is that they are right.

Secondly, the '80s NBA didn't have guys like Ben Wallace. How is he that big and that quick off of the floor at the same time?

Thirdly, let's face it, until a team like the Mavericks win a title without playing any defense, the league will stay on a defensive trend. Teams will continue to sacrifice shooting and offense to win with defense.

Finally, there aren't any open shots anymore, and even when players do get open shots they are not the players that should be taking them. Today's teams play better team defense than they used to. Today's teams never push the ball for easy baskets in transition and today's team's fifth player is a defensive stopper instead of a knockdown shooter like Danny Ainge.

Issue #3: Is there any way to save hockey??

DR: Amazingly enough - YES! Three very simple things need to happen for hockey to make a resurgence (without mentioning lowering ticket prices and players' salaries). First, eliminate the red line. This would open up the ice by making teams cover more of the playing area. It would also create much more skating and stick handling, which has been virtually eliminated by the neutral zone trap. It would also eliminate two-line passes, which is the dumbest rule since the NBA decided to allow zones.

Secondly, ban the Wirtz family. They have single-handedly destroyed the Chicago Blackhawks. They won't pay to keep his players and even if they did you can't watch them on television. You build a fan base by reaching out to fans, not by shutting them out.

Lastly, promote stars like Jerome Iginla. He is the league's top sniper and nine out of 10 people would not be able to pick him out of a lineup. If a current star carries a nothing franchise to the Stanley Cup finals and it doesn't make a sound - does it actually happen? For those of you that are unfamiliar with Jerome Iginla, he is black. Black hockey players are not a common sight in the NHL, but it is also not a common sight on the PGA tour. Tiger Woods has opened many people's eyes to the game of golf. There is no reason why Iginla, if given the chance, could open hockey to a whole different demographic.

Issue #4: Even though Lyle Overbay is red hot do you still look to move him with the impending arrival of Prince Fielder?

DR: This is not a dilemma. Remember that Fielder will only be 20, and there is absolutely no reason to rush him to the bigs now that Overbay is proving his minor league stats weren't a fluke. Doug Melvin made a great trade, but he would even have to admit that he fell into it a bit with how Overbay has been hitting. Fielder is going through his first down period of his career, and time will tell when he is ready to make the jump. The plan is still for 2005, but let's enjoy the good baseball we are seeing in 2004.

Issue #5: What are the unwritten rules of baseball?

DR: Let's write some of them down for future reference. Here are 10:

1. When winning or losing by more than seven runs late in a game, bunting and stealing bases will get one of your teammates hurt. Also known as the Davey Lopes Rule. (Games at Coors Field are exempt)

2. If our best player gets hit, expect your best player to get hit also.

3. When intentionally hitting a batter, the pitch stays below the shoulders.

4. When you get hit, don't rub it.

5. When you hit someone don't apologize.

6. When breaking up a double play, keep the spikes down and no roll blocking.

7. When arguing balls and strikes, don't turn your head toward the umpire. Unless you are looking for an argument.

8. If the catcher can't catch the ball cleanly, it's not a strike.

9. Never intentionally walk anyone to bring up the winning run. Except Barry Bonds.

10. When a pitcher has a perfect game or a no-hitter in progress, bunting is illegal.

Issue #6: Bush or Kerry?

DR: There is nothing wrong with mixing a little sports with your politics. Although, when you break down basics of politics and sports they are exactly the same. Two teams, when one team is on the offensive the other is on the defensive, each have a coach/campaign manager, a quarterback/candidate, linemen/cabinet and offensive and defensive coordinators/ad campaign managers. There is headhunting, some bench clearing brawls and the team with the most points wins.

My theory on politics is quite simple. I'll vote for stupid over stiff and proactive over blaming anytime. John Kerry is a tall version of Michael Dukakis who flip-flops to serve his own agenda more than Jay Marrioti. Not to mention, I appreciate my safety in my own country. The Democrats would rather attack the homeland security issue with hugs and feather boas than with anything that might cause them to take a stand.

Issue #7: What happened to the Americans in Paris?

DR: When was the last time you saw a red-clay muni court?

Everyone travel safe and enjoy the weekend!

Dave Roloff
Dave was born and raised on the south side of Milwaukee. He is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh where he graduated in Business while playing four years of football. He is a sports junkie who, instead of therapy, just watches the Bucks and the Brewers. Dave is a season ticket holder for the Brewers, Bucks and Packers, as well as a football coach at Greendale High School. Dave still likes to think he still can play baseball but has moved on to the more pedestrian sports of bowling and golf. Dave is a Pisces and it depends on whom he is walking with to determine whether he likes long walks on the beach. Dave writes with an encyclopedic knowledge and a sarcastic flare. Mainly to insure his sanity.