The Woelfel World of Sports
August 2007
Saturday August 25, 2007
Woelfel: Packers are definition of mediocrity
Posted by: gwoelfel at 8:29PM CST on August 25, 2007
BY GERY WOELFEL
Journal Times

If you want the true definition of mediocrity, you don’t have to pull out your Webster’s dictionary.

Instead, just watch the Green Bay Packers this season.

The Packers, in almost every phase of their football operations, are mediocre. They have mediocre running backs. They have a mediocre receiving corps, they have a mediocre offensive line, they have a mediocre kicking game, they have a mediocre defensive back field, a mediocre coach and a mediocre, at best, general manager.

And that mediocrity will be vividly reflected in their record this season. The Packers, just like they were last season, will be a mediocre 8-8.

Of course, the Packers wouldn’t even compile that ho-hum record if they weren’t in the NFC North, the NFL’s most mediocre division. Just by being in that atrocious division guarantees the Packers four wins: two against the lousy Lions and two against the Viqueens.

Throw in Ws against the hapless Raiders and Redskins, along with upset wins over Philadelphia in the opener and the Bears at Green Bay Oct. 7, and you have the Pack’s eight victories.

THOMPSON ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

After the Packers finished their 2006 season on a high note by winning their last four games — of course, three were against non-playoff teams and the other was against the Bears who had already punched their playoff tickets — PackerNation had to be almost giddy about this season.

Of course, leave it up to GM Ted Thompson to zap that enthusiasm. Despite having more than $13 million at his disposal — repeat, $13 million — Teddy Bear remained in hibernation all offseason. His only free-agent signing was Frank "Don’t ever confuse me with Doak" Walker, a pedestrian defensive back. 

In Teddy Bear’s convoluted world, the Packers are overflowing with prime-time talent and don’t need a quality strong safety ... or a proven running back ... or a competent tight end ... or a fullback who can actually block, much less run.

Teddy Bear also did little to bolster the back-up positions. Name one — just one — reserve on the Packers’ roster who could come in and make an impact?

HARDY'S DROPOFF DISTURBING

While everyone in the media, including yours truly, was mystified by Rickie Weeks’ travails at the plate — which ultimately led to his demotion to Class AAA Nashville — teammate J.J. Hardy was doing a major free fall himself.

Hardy, whom one national television broadcaster called a legitimate MVP candidate before the All-Star Game, has been batting like Oliver Hardy since then. 

In the 28 games since the All-Star Game, Hardy has a .257 batting average with just two home runs.

And there are some people who think Ned Yost is the Brewers’ only problem these days.

 AROUND THE HORN

Remember Rashard Griffith, the former UW center whom the Bucks selected in the second round of the 1995 NBA draft? Well, Griffith has yet to play in the NBA, having carved out a nice pro career playing overseas. Griffth’s next stop is Romania. He recently agreed to a two-year, $2.6 million contract ... Former St. Catherine’s basketball standout Matt Lojeski is heading to Belgium, but not after piquing the interest of the Utah Jazz. Lojeski played on the Jazz’s summer league team and acquitted himself well enough to warrant being asked back next summer ... How about those Warhawks? After finishing second in the NCAA D-III playoffs the last two seasons, UW-Whitewater is poised to make another title run. D3football.com ranks the Warhawks second in its preseason poll ... OK, it’s a no-brainer who’ll be the No. 1 pick in everyone’s fantasy football draft — everyone that is, except Teddy Bear’s. But after LaDainian Tomlinson, who’s No. 2? And don’t tell me Steven Jackson, Frank Gore or Joseph Addai. ...As if I don’t have enough concerns trying to figure out whom I’ll take with the 10th overall selection in my fantasy draft, I still have to figure out a way to rectify my hellacious hook before Aug. 29. That’s when SportsRadio 1250 WSSP will co-sponsor a charity golf outing at Windwood of Watertown Golf Course. Money raised from the event will go to the Max McGee National Research Center for Juvenile Diabetes at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. For $125, you get 18 holes of golf, a powered cart, dinner and can ask McGee if he too thinks the Packers will be the definition of mediocrity this season. To reserve a spot, please call (920) 262-9091.

Gery Woelfel is a sports reporter for The Journal Times. Gery can be reached by calling (262) 634-3322, Ext. 322, or by e-mail at gery.woelfel@lee.net Gery’s "Woelfel World of Sports" blogs can be read at www.journaltimes.com


Friday August 24, 2007
Unfortunately, it's been a most memorable summer
Posted by: gwoelfel at 8:43PM CST on August 24, 2007

BY GERY WOELFEL

These are indeed the dog days of summer – especially for sports fans.

Look around the sports landscape and you’ll see it littered with trash. Every major sport has a putrid smell to it these days.

Consider:

FOOTBALL – Just a few years ago, Michael Vick was the face of the NFL. With his strong arm and extraordinary athleticism, Vick was going to revolutionize the quarterback position.

Now, Vick is headed to the slammer after admitting he was part of a conspiracy to operate a dogfighting ring across state lines and was involved in the killing of six to eight dogs either by drowning or hanging.

Count me among those who hope NFL commissioner Roger Goodell never, ever allows Vick to put on an NFL uni again.

BASKETBALL – For years, I’ve taken a lot of grieve for railing on NBA officials, noting how many of them were incredibly incompetent.

As it turns out, maybe they weren’t incompetent; maybe they were just on the take. At least, one official apparently was.

Veteran official Tim Donahy was recently busted by the FBI for betting on NBA games and has since pleaded guilty to two federal charges pertaining to the investigation.

Of course, NBA commish David Stern is fervishly trying to nip what could potentially be the most-damaging incident in NBA history in the bud.

Stern insists Donaghy is a "rogue’’ official, that he is the only miscreant of the NBA officiating crew. Stern can only hope that’s the case.

But there are reports Donaghy is ready to snitch on 20 -- repeat, 20 -- other NBA officials. If Donaghy does that, what is now a brush fire could escalate into an out-of-control, raging one.

BASEBALL – Because of the sordid stories involving Vick and Donaghy, one tends to forget about another reprehensible sporting moment: Barry "Counterfeit’’ Bonds breaking Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record, the most hallowed of ALL sports records.

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve spoken to a couple of individuals who know Commissioner Bud Selig and Aaron. They insist Selig and Aaron are dismayed by Bonds’ achievement – even though they’ll never acknowledge it publicly.

And that’s perfectly understandable. Aaron and Selig are not only friends, they both fully realize Aaron’s accomplished his feat the right way. Sadly, nobody is saying that about Bonds.

Yes, the summer of 2007 has been a memorable one -- for all the wrong reasons.


Friday August 10, 2007
Clay clears big hurdle; passes summer courses
Posted by: Dustin at 8:41PM CST on August 10, 2007

BY GERY WOELFEL

BadgerNation can only wait.

Johnny Clay, the University of Wisconsin’s blue-chip football recruit from Racine, has completed his summer school work and will find out fairly soon whether he’ll be eligible to play for the Badgers this fall.

Clay, a 6-foot-2, 222-pound running back from Park High School, took two English classes this summer at Horlick High School with the hopes of gaining his eligibility.

While neither Wisconsin nor Park officials would discuss Clay’s situation, it was believed Clay needed an "A’’ and a "B’’ in those courses to be eligible at Wisconsin.

I’ve been told Clay attained those aforementioned grades and that Park officials have since forwarded his grades to the NCAA’s Clearinghouse.

It’s unknown how long it’ll take Clearinghouse officials to make a final determination on Clay’s status, although there is speculation it’ll be within two weeks.

Even if Clay is cleared to play, it’s still highly unlikely he’d be ready to play in the Badgers’ season opener Sept. 1 against Washington State.

Clay would, however, likely be ready to play in the Badgers’ Big Ten opener Sept. 22 against Iowa at Camp Randall in Madison.

While Clay hasn’t been able to work out with the Badgers and hasn’t been assigned a playbook, he has been working out religiously.

Clay, who intends on majoring in business at Wisconsin, was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country. He rushed for 5,005 yards and scored 58 touchdowns during his decorated high school career, which included being a three-time all-state first-team selection.

Clay was recruited by a "Who’s Who’’ of the country’s top football programs and opted for Wisconsin over Iowa.


Bucks' roster starting to fill up
Posted by: Rob at 12:04PM CST on August 10, 2007
By Gery Woelfel
 
The Milwaukee Bucks are close to signing another free agent, although it’s not Charlie Bell.
 
While the Bucks are still negotiating with Bell , who was the only Buck to play in all 82 regular-season games last season, they appear on the brink of signing free agent Awvee Storey.
 
Storey, a 6-foot-6 forward, played on the Bucks’ summer league team in Las Vegas last month. He impressed Bucks officials with his versatility, toughness and rebounding.
 
“I think we’re moving toward a deal,’’ said Mark Bartelstein, Storey’s agent, in a telephone interview Saturday afternoon. “Hopefully, by Monday, we’ll have it wrapped up.’’
 
The Bucks have been interested in signing Storey since the start of free agency on July 1.
 
 
“He really enjoyed the summer league with the Bucks,’’ Bartelstein said. “He liked his teammates and coaches and felt comfortable being around them.’’
 
Storey, 30, is a veteran journeyman. He had brief stints in the NBA with New Jersey in 2004-05 and with Washington in 2005-06. Last season, Storey played with the Dakota Wizards before being suspended and then dismissed from NBDL after punching teammate Martynas Andriuskevicius in practice.
 
The7-foot Andriuskevicius suffered a skull fracture and concussion and was placed in intensive care in a Bismarck , N.D. hospital.
 
“It was really unfortunate,’’ Bartelstein said. “It was a reaction type of thing. He reacted at the moment. He felt terrible. He was very, very remorseful.’’
 
Bartelstein, who represents a slew of NBA players with top-notch reputations, said Storey’s punch was totally out of character.
 
“He is as good of kid as you’ll find; he’s a terrific person,’’ Bartelstein said of Storey, who wound up playing last season in Germany. “I would stand behind him any day of the week. He’s right there at the top with any of my guys as a good person.’’
 
Bartelstein said details of Storey’s contract were still being worked on, although it is believed Storey will sign a two-year contract for $770,000 per season.
 
Storey is one of four players Bartelstein has represented in contract talks with the Bucks this summer. Last month, Bartelstein cut deals with the Bucks for point guard Mo Williams and center Jake Voskuhl and is now working on a new deal for Bell . Bartelstein also represents another Buck, forward Bobby Simmons.
 
Bartelstein said there weren’t any new developments concerning Bell ’s situation. However, he wouldn’t disclose whether Bell , a restricted free agent, had received an offer sheet from another team.
Bell is regarded as one of the best guards still available in free agency.
 
“I don’t want to get into that,’’ Bartelstein said.
 
If Bell received an offer sheet from another team, the Bucks would have one week in which to match it and retain his services.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Contrary to a published report, Mason's two-year contract with the Bucks isf $10.3 million. He'll make $5.0 million this season and $5.3 million next season.
Mo Williams' six-year contract is for $51.263 million. He'll make $7.75M next season and then $8.353M, $8.86M, $9.30M, $8.50M and $8.50M. He has an ETO after the fourth year and a player option after the fifth.
 
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...
Report Photos