|
The Woelfel World of Sports
March 2009
Monday March 23, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 1:52PM CST on March 23, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL The Milwaukee Bucks are a relatively-upbeat bunch these days. Even though they're without their two best players -- Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut -- they still believe they can make the NBA playoffs. "Destiny is on our side,'' Bucks guard Charlie Bell said. Added Charlie Villanueva: "We control our destiny.'' But the Bucks don't control their schedule and their schedule is considerably tougher than the schedule for the Chicago Bulls, who are in the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot -- 1 1/2 games in front of the Bucks. Consider these facts: -- The Bucks will play only five of their remaining 11 games at home in the Bradley center. The Bulls will play eight of their remaining 12 games at home in the United Center. -- The Bucks will play six games yet in which their opponent has a winning record, including the Los Angeles Lakers who, at .797, have the best winning percentage in the NBA. The Bucks also have to play the Orlando Magic twice; the Magic have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, have won eight of their last 10 and just annihilated the Bucks 106-80 last Wednesday at the Bradley center. As for the Bulls, they'll play one -- repeat, one -- team with a winning record the rest of the way and that's Miami, which is 37-32. For Milwaukee to make the playoffs, it's rather obvious they'll have to buck some incredible odds.
Wednesday March 18, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 10:35PM CST on March 18, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL
If you had trouble filling out your NCAA Tournament bracket, you weren’t alone.
The Milwaukee Bucks struggled just as mightily.
In an informal poll of eight Bucks players, North Carolina emerged as the favorite to win the NCAA Championship. However, three other teams drew votes: Louisville, Pittsburgh and Memphis.
The Bucks weren’t allowed to vote for the college they attended.
Here are their picks and their reasons for them:
LUC MBAH A MOUTE: "They're a team playing well right now and that's very important. They have everything you need to win a championship. Louisville.''
LUKE RIDNOUR: "Carolina. they've been there before. And I think Tyler Hansbrough will have a good tournament.''
MALIK ALLEN: "Pittsburgh. They got a good point guard (Levance Fields) who knows his team and a couple of really good, physical players like (DeJuan) Blair and (Sam) Young. I like Young a lot. He's one of the most under the radar players in the country.''
CHARLIE BELL: "UNC. Carolina beat Michigan State and the way they beat them was impressive. They won by about 30 points and it was at Ford Field, so ...
JOE ALEXANDER: "I'll take one of the 12th seeds; they're overdue. No, I'll take Memphis; I like their uniforms.''
RAMON SESSIONS: "North Carolina .. if Ty Lawson stays healthy. He's their quarterback. He's the key to that team.''
ANDREW BOGUT: "Pittsburgh. Their big fella (Blair) is tough and they got some nice players around him.''
CHARLIE VILLANUEVA: “UNC. I like their experience. They have a lot of seniors on the team.’’ Tuesday March 17, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 5:15PM CST on March 17, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL
Paging Ted Thompson.
Paging Ted Thompson.
I know the Packers general manager is immersed with the upcoming draft and is trying his best to unearth another gem like Justin Harrell.
Nevertheless, I wanted to alert Thompson that the Carolina Panthers are shopping All-Pro defensive end Julius Peppers.
There are reports the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys, along with two other unidentified teams, are intensely interested in Peppers’ immense talents.
If the Patriots and Cowboys covet Peppers – and apparently only for a measly second-round draft choice -- the Packers should be as well.
Can you imagine the impact Peppers would have in the Packers’ new 3-4 defense?
Can you imagine opposing offensive coordinators trying to game-plan for Peppers and Aaron Kampman – two of the premier sackmen in the game?
With a boatload of money at his disposal – estimated to be more than $30 million – Thompson has no excuse, absolutely none, for not trying to acquire Peppers. Wednesday March 11, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 12:35PM CST on March 11, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL
Ask almost anyone who has played for legendary coach John Wooden at UCLA and they’ll invariably speak in reverential tones about him.
Their respect for Wooden is immeasurable, and not just because of his mind-boggling accomplishments as a basketball coach.
They also marvel about Wooden as a person. They admire the way he has conducted his life and the devotion he has shown for his family, especially his late wife, Nell, whose gown still remains on her side of the bed,
But Wooden’s profound influence isn’t restricted to his players. Just ask Luc Mbah a Moute.
Mbah a Moute is rookie for the Milwaukee Bucks and, while he never played for Wooden, he had the chance to meet him three years ago while playing for the Bruins.
“He was at one of our practices,’’ Mbah a Moute said of Wooden, who coached UCLA to 10 national championships. “After practice, I walked over to talk to him.
“We talked about basketball but we talked more about life. He is a great man.
“He is a better man than he was a coach and that’s saying a lot because he was maybe the greatest coach ever.’’
Mbah a Moute will never forget his encounter with Wooden, who is now 98. Nor will he ever forget him.
That’s because in Mbah a Moute’s wallet, amidst his credit cards and money, is a laminated card given to him by Wooden.
“Coach Wooden asked me if I wanted to sign his pledge card and I said I would love to,’’ Mbah a Moute said. “He said he had all of his players sign the card when they played for him.
“He had them sign the pledge card, saying they would be good to the game and be good people.’’
The “Coach Wooden’s Sportsmanship Pledge’’ card contains the following inscription:
“I’ll be a good sport When I win or I lose. No whining, complaining or making excuses.
I’ll always keep trying. One hundred percent. To give my best effort. In every event.
This sportsmanship pledge Will bring out my best. Coach Wooden has taught me To be a success.’’
Mbah a Moute is having a successful season, a surprisingly successful one. Few people, if any, ever envisioned him starting for the Bucks as a rookie, especially after being a second-round selection in last summer’s NBA draft.
But Mbah a Moute, like Wooden, knows there's more to life than basketball. And that's why Mbah a Moute will return to his native country of Cameroon after the season and try to improve the conditions of his impoverished land.
It is also why Mbah a Moute, when his career is over, won't settle down in the United States and live in some swanky mansion in the hills but instead rejoin his family in west central Africa.
And when he does go home for good, you can be certain that little card in his wallet will accompany him.
“I’ll go through my wallet sometimes and I’ll read it,’’ Mbah a Moute said. “It reminds of coach Wooden and what a great man he is.’’
Monday March 9, 2009
Posted by: gwoelfel at 2:36PM CST on March 9, 2009
BY GERY WOELFEL
It paid off rather nicely for his brother.
Now we’ll see if it pays off for Marcus Landy. Landry, the University of Wisconsin's talented senior forward, has accepted an invitation to play in next month's Portsmouth Invitational Tournament at Portsmouth, Va.
“We’re happy to have him,’’ said Mahlon Parker, the chairman of the PIT. “He’s a blue-collar player; he does the yeoman-like work.
"And you know he's well-schooled: You know that when you get a guy out of Wisconsin.
“Marcus will fit in quite nicely here.’’
His brother, Carl, certainly fit in well at the PIT two years ago.
After a fine career at Purdue, Landry performed well at the PIT in impressing a horde of NBA general managers, player personnel directors and scouts in attendance.
Carl's strong performance at the PIT helped him get selected early in the second round of of the NBA draft by Houston. He is now a key reserves for the Rockets.
The 6-foot-7 Landry, who is the Badgers’ leading scorer at 12.7 points per game, might not be the only college player from the state to play at the PIT, which will be held April 8-11.
Parker is still awaiting word from Wesley Matthews, Marquette's talented guard.
Matthews, who is having an excellent season and is the Golden Eagles’ second-leading scorer at 18.5 points a game, is projected as a mid-to-late second round pick.
Matthews’ teammate, Jerel McNeal, apparently turned down an offer to play at the PIT a couple of weeks ago when he was considered a late-first or early-second round selection.
But McNeal, who is Marquette's leading scorer at 20.1 points a game, may have seen his stock take a hit after a recent succession of poor shooting performances.
McNeal went 9-for-23 against Connecticut, 3-for-19 against Louisville, 8-for-24 against Pittsburgh and 9-for-24 against Syarcuse.
In that four-game stretch, McNeal shot a combined 29-of-90 – a dismal 32 percent.
The last Marquette player to participate in the PIT was Steve Novak, who played well and then was chosen in the second round by Houston. He is now a reserve for the Los Angeles Clippers.
|
About This Blog
  1 rating(s)
Older Posts
Current Entries
November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007
Latest Entries
Loading...
 |
Leave a Message
Leave a Comment
Request a Friend