The WIAA Banning Chants

In December. the WIAA sent out an email that listed certain words that cannot be chanted at high basketball games because they could be viewed as inappropriate or hurtful towards opposing teams.  The words included in the email include: airball, fundamentals, scoreboard, and phrases like: "We can't hear you," and "Season's Over." All of which are harmless words when it comes to cheers at basketball games. Here is my reaction to this: are you kidding me? These are things that are said at college and NBA games. Do you see the NCAA and the NBA doing anything to prevent fans from cheering air ball or warm up the bus? Absolutely not because it is part of the game. None of the chants are things that can come off as discriminating or inappropriate. All of this recently came to light as a high school athlete by the name April Gehl, a girls basketball player at Hilbert High School criticized the ban by tweeting out a comment with profane language. I do not blame her for lashing out at the WIAA and criticizing the ban. Obviously, she could have said it in a way that does not include profane language. What I am saying is these things are a part of the game. This sort of thing is just ridiculous because these are not things that athletes are going to be offended by. If often makes the experience of being an athlete no matter what the level more enjoyable. In fact, former Wisconsin Badger and now Houston Rocket, Sam Dekker tweeted out that it was his favorite part hearing what opposing students had to say. The WIAA needs to focus on more important things than banning harmless chants like airball. There are more offensive things that could be said than that. Let me give an example, last year in my hometown of Kenosha there was an incident at a middle school basketball game at Lincoln Middle School, which I went to by the way, where there was a cheerleader at the school named Desiree Andrews, who also has Down Syndrome. Anyways at this game, a group of people in the stands made fun of her, and a group of players on the boys basketball team stopped the game and told the group to stop. This story gained all sorts of media attention not only across Wisconsin, but across the nation. This is what the WIAA needs to pay more attention to in my eyes. Prevent people from saying things that could really offend any group of people not just the athletes, coaches, or officials. That is what needs to be more focused on. Yes, you can have the public address announcers at the games say that anyone saying something offensive (keyword there is offensive, not harmless words like air ball) that is intended towards players, fans, coaches, and officials isn't tolerated. But that doesn't prevent people from saying things in some cases. Bottom line WIAA, what I am saying is there are way more harmful things that could be said at games and you should be focusing on that not stuff that is part of the game.

Should Whitewater-Mount Union be considered a Rivalry?

Over the last 12 seasons, the two Division 3 Purple Powers: UW-Whitewater and Mount Union have faced each other 11 times in those 12 years. Nine of those matchups have been in Salem, Virginia, where the Stagg Bowl is held. The other two were in Non-Conference action in 2002 and 2003 (Once in Alliance, Ohio in 2002, and in Whitewater in 2003). This Saturday, the two will face off yet again but this time for the right to go to Salem for the National Championship game. With all that history between these two teams, should it be considered as a rivalry? To me, I'm half and half on this. To me and to most people, there are a few things that really define a rivalry. Usually both teams flat out hate each other and it's usually has to do with teams in the same division or conference. Basically what I'm saying is that a rivalry is something you find on the schedule every year. So to me, a real rivalry in the true definition is Yankees-Red Sox, Brewers-Cardinals, Cardinals-Cubs, Cubs-Brewers, Packers-Bears, Packers-Vikings, Giants-Dodgers, and I could on and on and on with examples of that. As we found out in 2012, it isn't always guaranteed that they meet every single year. As for the other part of the true meaning of a rivalry, meaning the two teams hate each other. That isn't the case, these two teams have mutual respect for each other. To me the best rivalries in Division 3 Football are the Johnnies and Tommies, Whitewater and Platteville, and you can throw in the Whitewater and Oshkosh rivalry. St. Johns and St. Thomas has a lot more history to it. Whitewater and Platteville is another example of that and you can throw in they play for that Miner's Pick every year. Those Whitewater vs. Oshkosh and Platteville matchups often have the conference title on the line. If you were to talk about hatrid between teams at the D3 level, the perfect example of that is in basketball with Williams and Amherst. Those teams flat out hate each other. As I said, I'm half and half on this. If you base a rivalry on just the last 15 years, then yes without a doubt. They've had great matchups in the games between them. There's a lot of key history with the coaches involved: Bob Berezowitz and Lance Leipold on the Whitewater side, and Larry and Vince Kehres on the Mount Union side.  We'll see how first year head coach Kevin Bullis will fare in his matchups with the Purple Raiders of Mount Union with his first matchup against them on Saturday. Based on talent, you can say the same thing. Mount Union with names like Nate Kmic, Cecil Shorts, Pierre Garcon, and Kevin Burke. Whitewater with names like Justin Beaver, Levell Coppage, Matt Blanchard, Matt Behrendt, and Jake Kumerow just to name a few. Some of those names I've named have gone on to play in the NFL. So to close this out, if you talk about rivalries within the last 15 years with the fact a lot is on the line a majority of time in their matchups absolutely it is. But still not guaranteed every year, but it is still a good thing for Division 3 Football.

UW-Whitewater Men's Basketball 2015-16 Preview

After a disappointing first round exit in the NCAA Tournament for Pat Miller's UW-Whitewater Warhawks Men's Basketball team, there is some uncertainty about this year's team, but by no means that doesn't mean this team can get back into the NCAA Tournament in the 2015-16 season.  Last year a disappointing finish as last year's squad was one of the better Warhawks Men's Basketball teams in recent past. But as Pat Miller can put it sometimes he's had teams that were more talented than his National Championship winning teams in 2012 and 2014. Last year that without was an example. Now going into the 2015-2016 season for the Warhawks, there are some questions going into this year. They lost a lot of their talented core players from last year's season including Cody Odegaard, Steve Egan, KJ Evans, Terrance Bradley, Rahjan Muhammad, Ron Patten, Xzavier Moananu, and one of the best guards in program history (and one of the best that the city of Kenosha has ever produced) in Quardell Young. That leads to questions like this: where is the scoring going to come from this year, and who is going to be their leading rebounder and blocker this year. Those questions to me are going to be more likely to be answered by their newcomers. Doesn't mean I don't think guys like Nate Hensel, Drew Bryson, Cole Van Schyndel, Alex Van Gault, Brandon Thompson, and Jerry Ngobi won't leaders on this team. I would really like to see those guys help with those answers. I would love to see Drew Bryson have a year like his brother Eric did during his years with the Warhawks. I think the guards out of the returning group are going to make an impact however. I like what Cole Van Schyndel can do especially with the ability to stretch to the three. He'll be a good back up to Isaac Quinn this season. My gut feeling about this team is that the leading scorer and rebounder come from the newcomers. Senior transfer Isaac Quinn is one of those players and that isn't me being Kenosha biased (he went my high school alma mater in Kenosha Tremper). Quinn brings National Championship experience from his time at Cardinal Stritch. In fact, he played against the Warhawks last year in their matchup with Stritch last year. He has some size and should be a big presence in the front court. Some other transfers in Shaquille Francis, Tyler Edmondson and Justin Kurash will be other pieces in their back court that could see time. You could seem Deiondre Cunningham and Ethan Guske make some impacts in the back court. Cunningham averaged just about 14.9 points at Joliet. Guske saw 37 games of action at the Division 2 Augustana. Another guy who could bring some scoring with him is Trinson White, who started six games at UW-Milwaukee last year. The other thing I like about this roster is the recruits they brought in with Andre Brown, Mitch Pfeifer, Maurquis Turner. Both Andre Brown and Mitch Pfeifer played in the WBCA All-Star game this past summer. Both could be really big parts of this team this year and the future. Especially Andre Brown, who was the Southeast Conference leading scorer last year. To me and when I saw him play last year at Indian Trail, he's a physical kid with good overall talent. He has a decent three point game. He'll definitely be a guy to watch for the Warhawks this year and on forward. The expectations this year, battle for the conference title again with a similar team in Stephens Point. Get the automatic bid or an at-large bid and get into the NCAA Tournament and see where this team goes. I don't know if they can be a Final Four team this year. Augustana, who they'll have a huge game early in the season at home, will be the team to beat in Division 3. But with the team Whitewater has this year getting to the playoffs is certainly in reach.

UW-Whitewater Women's Basketball Preview

If there are a few things that stand out from the 2014-2015 Warhawks Women's Basketball team, it was that they had a rough schedule last year and the word inconsistency.  Last year, Keri Carollo's squad was 2-14 against teams with 12-14 wins or better. That included teams like DePauw, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Superior, and a George Fox team that made the National Championship game last season. This year their schedule seems a bit easier than last year with not as many tough teams. There aren't really too many non-conference games that you could say could be really tough games for them. The tough games they'll have are Coe College (18-9 last year), Illinois Wesleyan and Elmhurst (Elmhurst and Illinois Wesleyan are in the CCIW, which just like the WIAC is a tough basketball conference), and Luther College, who is ranked No. 23 in the D3Hoops.com preseason poll. Then you add in the two conference games against UW-Oshkosh, it makes for some tough teams on the schedule, but it isn't as jam packed with tough non-conference games like last year was. When you talk about last year's team, there was some inconsistency with last year's team.  You never really knew who your leading scorer was every game, which seemed to change every game at some points during their season last year. That's not a bad thing though, there is a lot this team can build off of coming into this season. Brooke Trewyn, Malia Smith, Andrea Meinert, and Kate McKay were all freshman last year and each of them had their moments last year. Abbie Reeves, Emily Jensen, and Lisa Palmer all gained WIAC honors last year as well. So they have a lot to look forward to for the upcoming season. Looking at this year's team, the point guard spot could be a back and forth.  Reilly Stewart, who had backed up Kaitlyn Thill her freshman year most likely will split time with Malia Smith there in the starting lineup. The Warhawks should have two solid scorers at guard this year in Abbie Reeves, who led the WIAC in threes last year, and sophomore Brooke Trewyn who had some good scoring games for the Warhawks last year. Jensen and Palmer will round out the lineup in 2015-2016, with solid backups behind them in McKay and Meinert.  The biggest question there is can the Warhawks finally get a healthy year out of Lisa Palmer. She has been plagued with a few injuries the last two years after a freshman year where she backed up Cortney Kumerow.  With the Warhawks bench, Jaya Perkins could play a big role coming off the bench. If there's two players on this roster that I would like to see a bounce back year from it's sophomores Andrea Olsen and Reilly Stewart. Olsen was someone I kind of expected a lot out of last year after how well she played last year. You didn't really see that last year. Stewart was sort of on and off last year at point guard and Malia Smith took her place in the starting lineup last year because of that. Put all of that together, this should be a team that can make some noise in the WIAC and battle UW-Oshkosh for the automatic bid and maybe get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing it after back-to-back Final Four appearances the two years prior to that. As for if they can make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, who knows. Everything has to be solid and consistent. You can have a game where two of your best players go 1-13 like Stewart and Reeves did in one game last year. They can have those type of games, part of that was how many tough teams the Warhawks played last year. With an easier schedule than last year, they should be in the conversation for a conference title this year and appearance in the NCAA Tournament.  I'm not going to put this team in the National Championship talk yet with the DePauw's and Thomas Moore's of the Division 3 Women's Basketball world.  The Warhawks have some work to get to that point again. If they have multiple scorers that put up double digits each night like they did the years they went to back-to-back Final Fours with players like Mary Meg, Kaitlyn Thill, Katie Burton, Amy Mandrell, and Kumerow. If the Warhawks can make that happen with Reeves, Trewyn and the rest of the lineup they have, they could right now I don't think they are a Final Four type team this year, NCAA's are definitely in reach for this year's UW-Whitewater Women's Basketball team.

National League Playoff Preview

With tonight being the National League Wild Card playoff game, let's preview the playoffs in the National League. Starting with the matchup in the Wild Card game, I like the Pirates over the Cubs because there is more experience from the Pirates. More experienced lineup with McCutcheon, Alvarez, Walker and Aramis Ramirez in it than what the Cubs have. The starting pitching matchup for this game goes to Jake Arrieta over Gerrit Cole, however because has been one of best pitchers this year leading the National League in wins with 21. Both Cole and Arrieta could both go deep into the game tonight, and I think what it will come down to is the bullpens for both teams. The reason I think the Cubs are a year or two off of winning it all is because they need more experience at the back end. Rondon hasn't done it that, Rodney has but they need some experience there outside of those two. Pittsburgh has Melancon and some more experienced arms at the back end, and that is what it will come down to.
As for the Divisional round matchup between the Mets and the Dodgers. The Mets to seem to be the odd team out in the National League playoffs this year. The other teams in the National League playoffs have better teams on paper than the Mets. If you are the Mets going to this series, you have be scared because of Kershaw and Greinke are two of the best pitchers in baseball. If the Mets can't steal one away from one of them it's over for them. Starting pitching is what will determine the series, not so much offensively. The Dodgers have the better offense in this series with Eithier, Puig, Crawford, Jimmy Rollins and Joc Pedersen, who had an amazing rookie year. I'll take that over David Wright, Cespedes, and Granderson. If the Dodgers can click offensively and get what is expected out of their rotation. They'll win this series easily.
As for the St. Louis Cardinals, and even though I don't like admitting this. They are the frontrunners to win the National League. Every time you think that team isn't going to get it done, they just get it done. Even if they lose one of their big name starting pitchers like they have with Wainright, Carpenter, and Wacha in the past, they just know how to get it done. They always have the pitching and the hitting. This year is no exception with Wacha, Lackey, Garcia and a healthy Adam Wainright for the playoffs in their rotation along with Rosenthal to close games. Offensively it is all about Matt Holliday and Jason Heyward leading the charge.
As for predictions, I think it will end up coming down to the pitching as the Cardinals and Dodgers are my two picks to end up in the Championship series in the National League and that would be an entertaining series with what both teams have on their roster.

American League Playoff Preview

The Hunt for the World Series is finally here as it's time for some post-season baseball. As for my predictions, I'll start with the wild card game. I like the Astros over the Yankees because of youth the Astros with Carlos Correia and George Springer along with the power of Colby Rasmus, the speed with Carlos Gomez, and guys like Evan Gattis and Jose Altuve. Offensively, I like their bats over the decent lineup the Yankees with Beltran, Ellsbury, and Alex Rodriguez. The Astros definitely have the better bullpen with Luke Gregersen and Pat Neshek at the back end. With Sabathia out for the playoffs, I think it puts the Yankees at a disadvantage in the Wild Card game. He is such big pitcher that brings so much to that rotation. So in the American League Wild Card game, I think Keuchel will have better game in it than Tanaka. I'm picking the Astros over the Yankees in the Wild Card game.
As for the rest of the playoffs, the two best teams in the American League are clearly the defending American League champion Royals and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals are riding the experience from last year's run. They have some good pop in their lineup with Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakus, Kendry Morales, and Lorenzo Cain. Jarrod Dyson, Alcides Escobar, Alex Rios, Salvador Perez, and Omar Infante are reliable bats as well. Greg Holland is so dominant as their closer. This year has a different feel to it with their rotation because last year James Shields was a huge part of their rotation. Yordano Ventura and Johnny Cueto at the top of the rotation this time out with Kris Medlen along with that. You have to like their chances to get back to the World Series. Of the other playoff matchup (the Rangers vs. the Blue Jays), I think Toronto is the better team on paper than Texas, but I do think this is a series that could go five games. You have to like the possibility of seeing a pitcher's duel out between Cole Hamels and David Price. This could be a series all about pitching with Hamels and Gallardo for the Rangers and Price and Dickey for the Blue Jays. But it could also end up being a series about offense with Beltre and Fielder for Texas and the loaded lineup of the Blue Jays with Bautista, Tulowitzki, Encarncion, and Donaldson. In the Rangers-Blue Jays matchup because of those factors, I'll take the Blue Jays in five games. As for the American League as a whole, I'll take the Royals over the Blue Jays in close series of big bats and good pitching to end up repeating as American League champions.

NFC NORTH PREVIEW

1. Green Bay Packers (Last Year: 12-4)

Going into this season, the Packers are the favorites in the division and one of the favorites to land up in San Francisco for Super Bowl 50.  The biggest question the last few years has been keeping Aaron Rodgers healthy for a whole season, and that is going to be key for this year as well.  This year is rare because the Packers return all their starters on their offensive line thanks to Bulaga staying in Green Bay.  The bigger question however on offense is how they replace big play threat Jordy Nelson after he went down with the Torn ACL.  Randall Cobb and Davante Adams bump up to 1 and 2 on the depth chart, which makes Cobb more of a focal point for defenses, but also will allow Adams to get more touches.  As for replacing the production lost from Nelson, look for second year players in wide receiver Jeff Janis and tight end Richard Rodgers to have big years this year as well as rookie wide out Ty Montgomery.  Janis missed parts of last year and has similar build to Jordy Nelson.  Montgomery could take some attention off of Cobb as he is similar to what Cobb is and will play a big part in the Packers return game as well. With the loss of Nelson, Rodgers will have to spread the ball around even more between his receivers.  Eddie Lacy and James Starks could be even more of a factor with Nelson gone as it could also open up the running game.  As for the defense, one of the big questions is how effective will Casey Heyward as a starter along with the rest of the secondary with the losses of Tramon Williams and Davon House.  Some guys to look out for with Packers in secondary are the two draft picks: Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins along with LaDarious Gunter. Gunter was one of the players who made biggest impression in preseason.  Another guy to watch out for is safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who came out for the Packers at the end of the year last year.  Micah Hyde will play a factor the secondary as well as some pressure gets lifted off him with Montgomery taking off the return duties. In the Packers Linebacking corps., the question is who will step up on the outside.  Clay Matthews will be moving around a lot this year between inside and outside.  It seemed last year that the defense was better when he was inside.  So with that being said they need guys like Nick Perry and Sam Barrington to step up big this year.  Early in the year, the other question will be who can step up for Datone Jones and Letroy Guion with both them being suspended early this season.  As for expectations for the Packers, they should win the division and have deep run through the playoffs once again.

2. Minnesota Vikings (Last year: 7-9, Third Place finish in the NFC North)

Second and third place in this division could be a big toss up this year, but I think between the two I think the Vikings could be the most likely to challenge the Packers in the division.  Teddy Bridgewater had his moments last year, and this year he can build off that with Adrian Peterson actually on the roster.  With Peterson back on their roster, it will open things up for the Vikings passing game. Matt Asiata who filled in decently well for the Vikings in place of Peterson last year will kind of give them that one and two punch in their running game.  As for the Vikings receiving corps., there isn't much depth but for Bridgewater he'll have two solid receivers to go to with Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Wallace.  As for the defense, there are some solid pieces defensively with safety Harrison Smith, cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, linebacker Chad Greenway, and newcomer Terrance Newman.  The thing I like about Newman is that he gives an experienced mentor for former Kenosha Bradford product Trae Waynes at corner. 

3. Detroit Lions (Last year: 11-5, 2nd Place in the NFC North, Wildcard team in 2014)

As I said, it will be a battle for second and third place in this division.  There are definitely somethings that set both of these two teams apart. The Lions have a more experienced quarterback in Matthew Stafford along with a more experienced receiving corps. with Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, and Brandon Pettigrew. With drafting Ameer Abdullah, it gives them a one-two punch in the backfield.  Offensively, the Lions are going to be a good team.  Defensively, there are questions.  A guy who anchored their defensive line, Ndamukong Suh is gone (THANK GOD!!!) along with Nick Fairley.  Replacing Suh is former Super Bowl champions Haloti Ngata, who is reliable veteran to replace him. Exekiel Ansah will have to carry a big load defensively on their line with Suh gone. For the Lions, they could be a playoff team depending how good they are as a whole. 

4. Chicago Bears (Last year: 5-11, last place in the NFC North)

As much as I would like to put the Bears in this discussion for the division with John Fox as head coach now, I just can't.  Yes, I agree John Fox has won everywhere else he's been, but it is a few years away at all until he does anything in this division with how good the Packers are and how good the Vikings and Lions are as well. This team needs to just move on from the crybaby in Jay Cutler. Yes they have some good pieces offensively with Forte in the running game and Alshon Jeffrey and Martellus Bennett along with seasoned veteran Eddie Royal in the receiving game.  Jared Allen along with Lamarr Houston to the anchor the front seven.  Tracy Porter will give them a bit of a lift in the secondary especially with some experience there and no more Charles Tillman as their ball hawking corner. But this team isn't going to go too far with Cutler at quarterback, they have to move on next year from him if they are going to make any push towards being a challenger in the NFC North or yet alone be a Wildcard team.