Ray Allen never spoke truer words

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Ray Allen said that he learned his lesson from the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals loss and that the Bucks just expected to rebound back to that level next year, and they managed to miss the playoffs. It doesn't surprise me one bit that that fat slob Anthony Mason and that bum Tim Thomas didn't give it their all. As much as I supported the Anthony Mason trade at the time: a low post player sounded great at the time correct?, and thought Tim Thomas would magically remember he was 6' 10'' and stop being allergic to rebounds. Man was I delusional. And worse yet, that series still haunts me. I need to get over it already.

D-Mase to retire?

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Desmond Mason was traded twice by your Milwaukee Bucks. That is incredible when you consider the fact that he was essentially the cornerstone, long-term piece that they acquired for Ray Allen, unless of course you want to include Gary Payton. But honestly, who wants to do that. Desmond was productive during his time in the Brew City, but I think was always intuitively compared to Ray Allen, a comparison that is neither fair nor valid. Mason will always be remembered for his "snake in the grass" comment about former GM Larry Harris, who after signing Bobby Simmons to an agonizingly over priced deal, promised that both could play together. But instead he traded the swing-man to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets for Jamaal "Big (fat) Cat" Magloire. Mason was truly one of the nice guys to play basketball, most notably using his relative fame as an NBA player to promote his personal artwork. As a former slam dunk champion, he was neither Minor nor Jordan, but solidly somewhere in the middle.

Brady Clark signs minor league deal with the White Sox of all teams

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clarkbr02.shtml

Brady Clark had a good run with the Brewers as the starting CF, even if he played so close to second base he probably could have spit on it. Of course the White Sox, who basically gave him the starting job by acquiring Scott Podsednik. What a great trade by Doug Melvin. Podsednik had his 15 minutes in Chicago, wining a World Series, most notably for his extra inning HR to beat the Astros 1-0 (his only HR that whole season. But Carlos Lee was better. El Caballo as he was sometimes called was a great hitter for the Brewers before signing with the Astros for twice as much as Melvin offered him. I, as a Carlos Lee jersey owner, appreciated his time in Milwaukee, and could never really root against him as an Astro, unless they were playing the Brewers. Contrary to popular belief, it would take a saint to turn down 100 million dollars.

McClunck joins Turnblow

http://twitter.com/AdamMcCalvy/status/8518215316

Seth McClung was a solid bullpen arm for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008. In 2009, McClung seemed disrespected when he was not given the starting job, and had almost as many walks (39) as strike outs (40). His huge 4 inning relief outing against the Cubs the day before the clincher will go down in Brewer lore, but it was time for the two to part ways. Of course, acquiring him for Grant Balfour doesn’t hurt either.

February Scheduling Predictions

Your Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers and Marquette Golden Eagles all have games this month. Let's take a sneak peek about what to expect record wise for the pride of the Badger State.

Bucks

Feb 01 @MIA L
Feb 02 @ORL L
Feb 05 @NY W
Feb 06 IND W
Feb 09 DET W
Feb 10 @NJ W
Feb 17 HOU L
Feb 19 @DET W
Feb 20 CHA W
Feb 22 @NY W
Feb 24 NO W
Feb 25 @IND W
Feb 27 @MIA L
Feb 28 @ATl L

Overall: 9-5.

Interesting that they play the Heat 3 times this month. Overall a pretty cupcake schedule. Have to clean up this month if you want to make the playoffs.

Marquette:

Feb 03 DeP W
Feb 06 @PRO W
Feb 13 SF W
Feb 18 PIT W
Feb 21 @CIN W
Feb 24 @STJ W
Feb 28 @STN W

Overall: 7-0

The opening schedule was brutal, but if you combine February and March, Marquette has a decent chance to win out. Marquette, according to Ken Pom is ranked 17th in the country. Hopefully they have a good enough record to make the tournament, although I suspect that they will have to win 1 Big East game to make it to the Big Dance. This team has the chance to, as a double-digit seed to make a deep run into the tournament.

Badgers:

Feb 02 MSU W
Feb 06 @UM W
Feb 09 @UI W
Feb 13 @IU W
Feb 18 @MIN L
Feb 21 NW W
Feb 25 @IU W

Overall: 6-1

Another easy schedule for a Wisconsin team. Only loss I see is at Minnesota, and only because of the rivalry and the absence of Jon Leuer. Wisconsin is #4 in Ken Pom

http://kenpom.com/rate.php

ON WISCONSIN!

Another former Brewer sent to the wire

http://twitter.com/JaneMLB/statuses/8508870222

Dana Eveland was a big guy who was expected to be a key cog in Milwaukee’s rotation. Instead, he was shipped to Arizona in the trade that got the Brewers Johnny Estrada. What a great bit of service Dana. It's bad enough you have a girl name. The Brewers resigned one member of the trade, Doug Davis. Hopefully the connections to that regrettable trade end there.

Allen was blindsided, there’s something we have in common

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I’ve written about the dreaded Ray Allen-Gary Payton, and I still haven’t fully forgiven the Bucks for that trade. I remember being 13 and constantly refreshing the Journal Sentinel website thinking it was some kind of hoax. You weren’t alone Ray. Milwaukee, still, misses you. Ernie Grunfeld you still make me sad sometimes. I was happy for you to win a title; you are as deserving as any NBA player. Perhaps you could resign in Brew City? One can only dream.

Elson out 6 weeks

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2010-02-01-3085591471_x.htm

I would like to be able to tell you how key this loss is for the Bucks, and how they will struggle without his veteran presence, but Francisco Elson is as much of a Buck as I am. He is terrible, inactive most of the time, and although I wish him the best as a person, his abilities as a basketball player will not be missed.

George Karl an all-star?

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Any Buck fan knows that George Karl is a bum who destroyed the Bucks, was run out of Seattle, and in 2 years will not or should not have a job with the Denver Nuggets. The 2001 Bucks were infamously jobbed of making, and winning the NBA Finals in 2001. Too bad Stern and A.I. decided to rig it. But I digress. George Karl is a scum who leaves his players out to dry, takes owners money, and then loses his players, and shortly thereafter his job.

Bogut should've been an All-Star

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Andrew Bogut is probably best known to NBA fans as a bust of a #1 overall pick. Quite the contrary. Averaging about 15.5 points and 10.5 rebounds with 2.5 blocks a game to go with countless charges are all-star numbers. Playing in Milwaukee won't get you an all-star bid and neither will someone as unflashy as Andrew Bogut, but hopefully as the Bucks improve, so will Andrew's notoriety around the league. and All-Star berths will come around for the former #1 pick.

No One Wants TJ Ford?

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Shocking. TJ was so good in a Bucks uniform in his first season, when the Bucks surprisingly had a .500 record and qualified for the playoffs. His selection in the 2003 NBA Draft, #7 overall, was considered another quality addition to the famously incredible 2003 Draft Class. The missing piece in the Glenn Robinson trade to Atlanta for Toni Kukoc and the draft pick later used on Ford, TJ wowed Milwaukee with his endline to endline speed with the ball that seemed to be second to none in Terry Porter's high octane attack. But just 3 years and a heart-breaking spinal cord injury later, he was shipped off to Toronto for Charlie Villanueva, who would ultimately breed the same disappointment TJ did. Ford has done nothing since that first season, and probably is finished being a productive NBA player. What a shame to say, after his career started out so promising.

I'll tell you how Wes Matthews went undrafted

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Wes Matthews went undrafted for one simple reason: he didn't appear to have the potential to be a super-star. It was pretty obvious in the "Three Amigos" Sophomore seasons that Matthews would be the The NBA draft is such a joke sometimes. It is amazing that some people still have GM jobs after some of the blunders that they have pulled. Matthews has an NBA body; size and strength, yet that still isn't enough. As happy as I am that the Bucks selected Brandon Jennings, he is the strong exception, not the rule. Look no further than Joe Alexander or Marcus Haislip. At least the Bucks get away from their potential over production selections in the 2nd round, routinely picking solid contributors such as Michael Redd, Ramon Sessions, and Luc Mbah a Moute. Reaching for the potential superstar RARELY works. The NBA draft process is broken, just look to the Houston Rockets for examples of teams that have exposed this weakness to become successful NBA franchises.

Could Ray Allen be traded for Monta Ellis?

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Ray Allen was one of a very few amount of players that I continued to follow and admire after he was traded, I mean given to the Seattle Sonics for a washed up Gary Payton: George Karl and Ernie Grunfeld you devils. Ray Allen is the epitome of class in the NBA. I don't think that the Celtics should trade Ray and not for Monta Ellis. I don't have a problem with Monta Ellis as a player, but he needs the ball to be effective; Ray Allen does not. Ray Allen is a perfect fit with the Celtics. Maybe after his contract expires this season, he will sign on for another tour in Milwaukee? One can only dream. Which cap does Ray Allen don in the Hall of Fame? Milwaukee? Seattle? Boston?

Charlie Villanueva accused of assalt?

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Almost two years ago, Charlie Villanueva, allegedly, beat a man in a fight in a Milwaukee night club. Class act Charlie: Showed more fight in a night club than you ever did in 3 years as a Buck

Bucks beat native son Wade, win 6th straight home game

Dwyane Wade went 30-1 at the Bradley Center in his 2 year career at Marquette, but tonight fell to 5-5 there since being drafted #5 by the Miami Heat in 2003. An all around good effort by the Bucks, most notably Hakim Warrick and Andrew Bogut. Warrick had 22 pts off the bench, including 3 straight jumpers to put the game out of reach in the 4th quarter. A stall-worth 2nd quarter was followed up by a sloppy 2nd half by the Bucks, but they were able to pull out the "w". Andrew Bogut had a scary moment, falling to the ground holding his groin, but ultimately he was okay. The Bucks will head to Miami for a quick rematch Monday night.

Packers/Holmgren connection keeps on giving

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/01/27/packers-lose-front-office-staffer-to-holmgren/

When Mike Holmgren left the Green Bay Packers after the 1998 season, it was the end of an era. Holmgren ran to greener, or at least limer, pastures with Seattle, and had a relatively successful tenure there, reaching and losing one Super Bowl while qualifying for the post season 6 times including 5 in a row from 2003 to 2007. Notable connections existed throughout Holmgren's tenure in Seattle between the Seahawks and the Packers, most notably Matt Hasselbeck coming from Green Bay, and Ahman Green and Ted Thompson flying in from the Emerald City. This off-season, Holmgren took the job of President of the Cleveland Browns, in the process attempting to rectify one of the NFL's most dilapidated franchises. With this being the second executive to leave the Packers this offseason, hopefully the team-building process will not be too greatly affected, and not stop the great progress that has been accomplished over the last several years.

Dennis Sarfate again looking for a job

http://masnsports.com/2010/01/the-corresponding-roster-move.html

Dennis Sarfate always had a blazing fastball, but never had the control to harness it. With upwards of a 97 MPH fastball, pitchers like Dennis always get a 2nd or perhaps even 3rd look for the MLB scouting community. Initially, division rival Houston gave him a shot, before shipping him off to Baltimore in the trade for SS Miguel Tejada. Now with the 2010 Baltimore Orioles giving Tejada 6 million for a second stint with the team, Sarfate has again been kicked to the curb, ironically both Tejada and Sarfate were involved in each transaction. Sarfate, while a Brewer, was infamous for his father bad-mouthing the organization. One can only wonder if those issues came up again with his subsequent teams.

Ted might actually spend a high pick on an offensive lineman

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/82703482.html

I am not going to sit here and lie, I have never seen Idaho G Mike Iupati play, and if things stay as they are, no one will see him in a Packers uniform anytime soon. LG was horrible for the Packers this season, Daryn College was atrocious, finishing worst on the team in pressures allowed (40.5) and sacks (7.5), not to mention his hold in the riveting but ultimately heart-breaking loss to the Cardinals in the playoffs. The offensive line needs to be addressed, and I am glad that Ted Thompson seems to be making the effort to improve the talent level of the group. Perhaps Thompson could use a high(er) draft pick on an offensive line for a talent infusion, as no impact lineman are set to become free agents. Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher will probably be brought back for another go-around, Scott Wells solidified the center position for the Pack, and Josh Sitton has been the lone Thompson draft pick along the line to really solidify himself as a bona-fide starter in the NFL. Also nice to see the Packers looking to improve the running backs and the linebackers. I believe that the Packers are one dynamic receiver out of the back field away from being an unstoppable offense from a skill position standpoint.

Brewers sign Jim Edmonds: Add to glut of LHOF

As Rex pointed out earlier, the Brewers have signed Jim Edmonds to a minor league contract, and yes brings back nightmares from that horrendous 4 game series at Miller Park, most notably his grand slam off of Dave Bush. As I mentioned previously, Doug Melvin has signed several OF to minor league deals this offseason to compete for the 5th OF job, behind Ryan Braun in RF, Carlos Gomez in CF and Corey Hart in RF, with Jody Gerut locked in as the 4th OF. Jim Edmonds fits the mold that Melvin established with his other signings, a left-handed batter. Edmonds had a stellar season for the 2008 Cubs, most especially at the plate compiling a .256/.369/.569 slash line (19 HR and 49 RBIs) in 298 AB almost exclusively against RHP. But, as with all small sample sizes, we must do some further investigation to determine what we should have expected, all things being equal. The first order of business is to qualify that most of his AB were against RHP, inflating his stats. Because Edmonds will not be playing every day, as long as his AB are monitored to only place him in these situations, his production should be fine. Another metric to look at is his BABIP and xBABIP, which were .260 and .315 respectively, means that Edmonds was in fact unlucky in 2008, and should have accumulated approximately 10 extra hits. His offensive game seems fine as long as he is used essentially as a platoon player, which should happen with the aforementioned 3 starting OF in Milwaukee being RH. Now his defensive game is another story, which was an atrocious -23.3 according to UZR/150 and -26 according to Plus/Minus in 2008. UZR needs to be evaluated over multiple seasons to be most effective, but -23.3 is pretty brutal. As it stands now, Edmonds, assuming he makes the big league roster out of spring training, will most likely be the first PH off the bench with some starts against tough RH over Carlos Gomez and even Corey Hart assuming he fails to take a step forward this season.

Marquette (finally) wins a close game

Oh my heavens, what a game. Milwaukee basketball teams, Marquette and the Bucks alike seem to struggle to win the close games, but Marquette pushed through with a 70-68 win over the #19 UCONN Huskies. Although UCONN is not playing to the caliber they generally achieve this season, especially because of the leave of absence of Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun, Marquette desperately needed a 1) road win in the Big East and 2) a win in a close game, and achieved both of these with a win over the Huskies. Lazar Haywood had a big game with 20 pts and 3 rebounds before fouling out, and Jimmy Butler finally came through in the clutch with a jumper with 3 seconds to go in the game. David Cubillan iced the game with a late steal, and Marquette came away with the victory.