Welcome to the Saturday Scorecard, a collection of quick riffs on sports and life:
Silver lining? Howard Jones played a gig at Shank Hall this week and his song, "Things Can Only Get Better," would be an appropriate theme for the Bucks these days. While hardly unexpected, a 98-90 loss to Phoenix on Friday night wasn't totally demoralizing for Milwaukee. The Bucks have lost six in a row and 11 of 12 games, but they showed heart in taking one of the league's hotter teams to the wire. With Charlie Villanueva back, Mo Williams expected back Sunday and Michael Redd about 7-10 days from a return, things can only get better for the Bucks, who were in danger of slipping into oblivion.
Excess access: The folks at NBA.com provided an "all-access" look at the preparations for the Bucks-Suns game Friday at the Bradley Center. Fans with broadband connections were able to watch players walking into the arena for the morning shoot-around practices, which were available on streaming video. Later, fans could watch clips of ball boys preparing the Bucks' lockers, an Energee! dance team rehearsal and Michael Redd receiving treatment on his ailing knee.
I checked out some of the coverage and couldn't help wondering: is there such a thing as too much access? The most revealing (and revolting) video was a clip that showed Suns players boarding a shuttle bus to go from the shoot-around to their downtown hotel.
One of the players - how can we put this delicately? - compromised the freshness of the air inside the bus.... Forget that; he farted.
Some people may have found the behind-the-scenes look interesting, but I don't think it's worth angering your company's IT guy to watch it regularly.
Thin ice: Two sad facts about the Bucks' shoot-around: First, it was more exciting than most of the team's games since Redd and Mo Williams got hurt. Second, it probably had more viewers than the National Hockey League All-Star Game had on the channel called Vs. The NHL should have paid to continue its deal with ESPN.
Road to recovery: The Detroit News did a long story about former Brewers pitcher and Milwaukee sportscaster Lary Sorensen, whose life has been derailed by alcohol problems. The link is below.
Happy anniversary: Friday marked the 10th anniversary of the Packers' victory in Super Bowl XXXI. Do you remember where you watched the game? Do you remember where you put that ugly hat with the saxophone on the side? Do you remember watching the players take about a two-hour trip from Austin Straubel Airport to Lambeau Field, riding in open buses without coats? Can you envision such euphoria happening again? What about if Brett Favre retires?
Sign of the times: How long ago was the Packers' victory? Part of the pregame show included a performance by Los del Rio, who performed their platinum dance hit "Macarena." Aye.
Aces up: Veteran right-hander Jeff Suppan got all the headlines this winter, but I think 2007 is going to belong to Ben Sheets. With a bit of luck / health, I think Sheets could throw the first no-hitter since Juan Nieves and make a serious run for all-star consideration if not a Cy Young Award.
Question mark: My forecast for Corey Koskie is nowhere near as rosy. The guy hasn't done anything close to baseball activity and the Brewers don't know when or if he'll be ready to return.
Rising star: Friends who follow prep high school basketball tell me to watch out for Wisconsin Lutheran Flavien Davis, who is drawing interest from some big-time schools including Marquette and Arizona.
Bush league: Even though it was an agent and not a booster who apparently stepped over the line in the Reggie Bush case, you can expect renewed cries that college athletes should be paid by the NCAA. The only problem with that plan is that the top players like Bush will always get more. It will just shift the problem to another realm.
Marketing blitz: One of the great things about the Super Bowl is the way big companies go to extreme lengths to attach themselves to players / coaches from the football world and the way those figures will prostitute themselves if the price is right. Case in point: former Bears coach and current ESPN studio analyst Mike Ditka stumping for Scott toilet paper and the "Clog Clinic."
Legend has it that 90 million people flush the toilet during halftime of the Super Bowl, sending more than 350 million gallons of water through the pips - an amount equal to seven minutes of water flowing over Niagara Falls.
Scott claims that their tissue dissolves faster and can help alleviate some problems.
Cultured Pearl: Some of these big companies should hire Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl as a marketing advisor. The guy is a genius. Midway through his second season, the former UW-Milwaukee coach has won over Volunteers fans with his up-tempo approach on and off the court. This week, Pearl went shirtless and painted themselves orange to support the women's team. Other coaches would run from the legacy of Pat Summit and the Lady Vols. Pearl has embraced the success of the women's program. His body painting stunt got him national publicity because, well, it's almost impossible to imagine Mike Krzyzewski, Bobby Knight or Dean Smith pulling a stunt like that.
Bodacious: Before taking over programs in Milwaukee and Madison, Bo Ryan won four Division 3 national titles at UW-Platteville. This afternoon, the Pioneers will honor Ryan by naming their home court for him. It's a fitting tribute and many of Ryan's former players will be on hand to watch the dedication.
Draft dodge: The Badgers play at Iowa Sunday afternoon, with Kevin Harlan and Bill Raftery calling the action for CBS. When you watch Hawkeyes coach Steve Alford, remember that it was 20 years ago that he wore the short-shorts and led Indiana to the national championship (what, you don't remember that Keith Smart jumper?) Also, remember how upset many Indiana hoops fans were when the Pacers passed on Alford in the first round of the 1987 NBA Draft.
With the 11th pick, the Pacers chose a skinny shooter from the West Coast. It worked out OK, though. Reggie Miller spent 18 years with the team and is headed for the Hall of Fame.
Good cause: Former Packers star Jerry Kramer, the best player not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is holding another online auction to help the Gridiron Greats Assistance fund. Among the items up for bid: Ditka's 1975 NFC Championship ring, some hand-drawn plays by Vince Lombardi and a pair of cleats worn by Eli Manning.
Kramer wants to raise money for retired players, many of whom receive pensions of less than $300 per month and can't afford to pay medical bills. The auction preview begins Sunday on Jerry Kramer.com.
Off-topic: Just wondering: Do Heather Mills McCartney and Juanita Jordan have the same divorce lawyer?
Rights and wrongs: Hats off to DirecTV, which secured the exclusive rights to broadcast Major League Baseball's Extra Innings package. A lot of cable TV subscribers think that they got hosed in this deal and that Bud Selig and the owners made a mistake. It won't be a mistake, though, if a lot of the cable users subscribe to the TV package on MLB.com.
Soaring Eagles: Congratulations to Terri Mitchell and the Marquette women's basketball team, which improved to 18-2 with a victory over Notre Dame on Tuesday. The Golden Eagles hadn't beaten the Irish in 11 tries since 1992. Krystal Ellis of Racine is leading Marquette with 19 points per game and seniors Christinia Quaye and Danielle Kamm are adding 15 and 10, respectively.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
