A revised prediction for IU football

I admit it. I made a HUGE mistake before the season started in predicting a 6-6 record for the Hoosiers. So now, after an embarrassing 45-9 loss at home to Iowa, it is time to revise my thoughts.

Here is the bold statement for the rest of the year: IU will not win another game. That would result in a 2-10 record, not bad coming off a bowl bid and all kinds of optimism, right?

Here is the remaining schedule:

• At Illinois Oct. 18 -- The Illini offense is just too good for the IU defense. Even if Kellen Lewis and the Hoosiers get their offense in gear, the likelihood of outscoring Illinois on the road is low. Should be a double-digit loss.
• against Northwestern Oct. 25 -- The Wildcats have surprised everyone this year, but lost some luster after losing to Michigan State at home yesterday. In the loss, the Wildcats still ran up 459 total yards. That is a bad sign for the Hoosiers. This game may be close, but I think Northwestern will pull it out.
• against Central Michigan Nov. 1 -- I said in my pre-season prediction that the Hoosiers would lose this game. CMU has not disappointed this season. They are 4-2 and undefeated in the MAC. Their losses came at Georgia and at Purdue. QB Dan LeFevour has thrown for nearly 1,400 yards and 9 touchdowns. They are giving up more points than they are scoring, but the IU defense seems to be the remedy for offensive troubles. Another close loss as the criticism of the Hoosiers grows.
• against Wisconsin Nov. 8 -- Wisconsin was a Big Ten title contender until they lost three straight. There is a reason the Badgers were highly thought-of. They have the talent and are able to run the football, ranking second in the Big Ten in rushing yards. That is bad news for the Hoosier defense. Big loss, invoke the 21-point rule early.
• at Penn State Nov. 15 -- My heart wants to say trap game for the Lions, but my head says no way. Penn State maybe looking to secure a BCS National Championship game berth with wins the last two weeks. They will be focused. Invoke the 21-point rule.
• at Purdue Nov. 22 --It's a rivalry game, that likely will mean little except for who will get the Old Oaken Bucket. It's in West Lafayette, and is coach Joe Tiller's last game. It will be an emotional game for the Boilers, which should take care of business.

That is 2-10, the worst record for an IU team since 2003 and the first time the team does not win a Big Ten game since 1995.

A side note: How can this team be third in the Big Ten in yards per game (410.7) and 9th in points per game (23.5)? The two teams ahead of the Hoosiers in yards are Penn State, which is averaging 45.3 points per game, and Illinois, which is averaging 33 points per game.

One more game...

The White Sox beat the Tigers today in game 162, 8-2. That means they must play game 163 tomorrow in the stadium formerly known as Comiskey Park.

I was close to throwing things at the TV in the sixth inning, when a throwing error by pitcher Gavin Floyd caused a run to score. It was 2-1 Tigers in the bottom of the sixth, when a bunch of walks and a wild pitch tied the game.

Then Alexei Ramirez, the presumptive AL rookie of the year, came to the plate. The result was a grand slam and a Sox win.

One more win and the Sox are in the dance.

Swimming in quicksand

IU losses to Michigan State 42-29.

The good news: Javon Ringer didn't get 200 yards for the third straight game. He only got 196.

Last week's loss was embarrassing. This one was just painful. IU easily could have won this game and I venture to say they SHOULD have won this game. But it seemed for every good play that was made, there were two bad plays.

The microcosm of the whole game: Third quarter, 4:12 to go. Third down and 8 at the IU 3 yard line. Kellen Lewis throws a 97 yard touchdown pass that gives IU the lead. But it's negated by a holding penalty. And it occurred in the end zone, which is a safety and Michigan State goes up by 7.

IU had nine penalties for 89 yards and it seemed a lot of them came at the worst possible time. Personal foul penalties were called to killed first-down gains. A holding call in the end zone. You name it, every time IU tried to get back in the game a crippling penalty was called.

The Hoosiers slipped to 2-2 and head to Minnesota next week. The Gophers are playing much better, in spite of a loss today at Ohio State. I'm not feeling very good about a bounce-back next week.

Memorize this phrase...

Actually, Hoosier fans probably won't have to, but they likely will not forget it until well after this week's game against Michigan State: "Ringer gets the carry."

Spartan running back Javon Ringer is a Heisman Trophy candidate. And the Hoosier defense had trouble stopping the run against Ball State last week. The Cardinals' top back rushed for 166 yards last week. Expect Ringer to get a lot of carries and a ton of yards, maybe more than 200. Hopefully the IU offense will be able to keep up, otherwise it will be a long day.

Michigan State is an 8-point favorite. Kick-off on ESPN is in 20 minutes.

I'm hoping I don't have to invoke the 21-point rule this week. It was the unofficial football rule when I was a student: when the Hoosiers went down by 21 points or more, you left. Sometimes it was in the fourth quarter, sometimes it was in the first quarter. In either case, it was strictly followed by hundreds of fans.

Finally, a win

Phil Mickelson didn't deliver in his singles match, but the Americans still won the Ryder Cup 16.5-11.5, thanks to some great shots made by the young guns of the U.S. team.

I watched almost the entire six hours of coverage on Sunday without changing the channel, except for updates on the Bears and White Sox games. Almost every match was close throughout and for the most part the play was outstanding.

It was amazing drama to see. I found myself yelling "Boo!!" whenever Boo Weakley made a great shot, or siting on the edge of my coach watching Hunter Mayhan, J.B. Holmes and Anthony Kim make big putt after big putt.

It was a great weekend. Congratulations to Captain Paul Azinger. Now let's keep it in 2010.

Update (Sept. 22): The European press was not impressed with losing Captain Nick Faldo.

The Ryder Cup, Mickelson's dream chance

The U.S. has the lead heading into the final day of the Ryder Cup. After two consecutive beatings, and five losses in the last six competitions, the Americans have a chance to win the cup for the first time since 1999.

For Phil Mickelson, this is his chance to make a name for himself and cement his career legacy. Tiger Woods is not at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. after suffering a knee injury that required surgery. Meaning, the world's best golfer is not leading the U.S. charge. That leaves Mickelson as the U.S. team leader.

While Mickelson has won several majors, he has lived in Woods' shadow the last 10 years. But even Woods has not been able to bring multiple Ryder Cup victories. The U.S. has been the underdog in this event almost since Woods announced after the U.S. Open he wouldn't play the rest of the year.

Mickelson said each of the five matches feel like the final round of a major, all jammed into three days. If the Americans can handle the pressure and hold on in the singles matches to win the cup, much of that praise will rest on Mickelson's shoulders. While not playing brilliantly at times, he has done well, accounting for 2 full points in his four foursome matches, the second highest total on the American squad.

Mickelson, with a U.S. win, will be able to say he led a U.S. team to a victory over a better European team, without the best player in the world. Woods hasn't been able to lead U.S. teams to victory that were better than Europe on paper.

Mickelson will play Justin Rose in the fourth match of the day today, to help set the American tone. Winning The Masters may have been Mickelson's greatest golf moment, but winning this Ryder Cup may be his career-cementing moment.

A real test? A real failure

Hoosier fans were waiting for a measuring stick of how good this year's team is and we got it. Instead of taking a step forward by beating a quality team, they took two back with an embarrassing loss to Ball State 42-20.

Ball State is undefeated, but there was no reason the Hoosiers should not have won this game. The Cardinals, a pass-happy team running the spread offense, ran the ball all over the lot, amassing 224 yards. And they also put up 239 yards passing. The Hoosier offense couldn't keep up and didn't score in the second half.

The worst part of this game may be that 41,349 people were in the stadium to see it. IU football boosters, me included, have been crying for more fans to show up and watch this team as it has improved. We could win even more games and recruit better players if the fans created a better home field advantage. But who wants to play for IU after this game? And how many IU fans left Memorial Stadium Saturday night saying this team was no better than previous incarnations. How many left thinking last year was a fluke?

I said before the season started IU needed to beat one of the Big Ten's elite to take the next step. But that step also means winning games its supposed to win. The Hoosiers won't be taken seriously until they can do those two things.

Up next: Michigan State next Saturday. After this defensive performance, a win next week is becoming less likely.

The Ball State game, a real test

The Hoosiers take on Ball State tonight at Memorial Stadium. This game is expected to be close, because both teams have high-powered offenses. Even ESPN's Big Ten blogger picked IU to lose in overtime. The line on this game is IU by 3 points.

I was able to watch Ball State's win over Navy two weeks ago and I saw some potential weaknesses that IU can exploit. Navy rushed for 346 yards rushing, an enormous number. Certainly Kellen Lewis and company should be able to chew up some yards on the ground, which would keep the Ball State offense off the field.

Ball State is a passing team, they ran up 326 yards passing. That could be a problem for IU, which comes into the game with safety Austin Thomas questionable. Cardinals quarterback Nate Davis and receiver Dante Love will get their yards. But the key will be not letting them control the game. The Hoosiers should be able to do that.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. tonight. I'm still expecting an IU win.

An interesting question

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports had an interesting column this morning about what is now known as the "Great Home Run Chase of 1998." He apologized for basically getting caught up in the hype.

Rosenthal said almost no one is marking the 10-year anniversary of No. 62 going over the fence because of what we now know about the kinds of drugs the players were using at the time, including Andro and steroids.

He brings up a point I think most of us were victims of -- we were more enamored with the McGwire and Sosa hitting the ball out of the park than we were what it (allegedly) took for them to do it. I got my first job in journalism during the chase. We had a front-page graphic every day detailing whether McGwire or Sosa hit a home run the night before.

ESPN had live cut-ins during their at-bats. That never happened before, and not again until Barry Bonds was chasing 755 home runs.

I think all baseball fans should consider apologizing. We forgot about clean play and embraced excitement. We wanted baseball to "matter" again in American culture. Baseball does matter again, but a big reason is because of the alleged and admitted drug-use.

A beat-down, but expected

The Hoosiers beat up on Murray State tonight, taking a 45-3 lead in the third quarter. The first two offensive drives were nothing much to speak of, but after that things started to click. I was particularly pleased to see the IU running backs play so well. That had been a mentioned point of emphasis for the team on many pre-game shows and throughout the media.

The idea is Kellen Lewis is not going to single-handedly beat a quality team. You need a couple running backs that can get tough yards on third down and move the chains. Today we got that, from Marcus Thigpen, who had 100 yards rushing. According to the ESPN box score, Lewis had one rush for -2 yards in the game, which is really surprising. Ben Chappell is in the game now and has already led the team on a two TD drives.

Unfortunately, this win doesn't really show much about how good the Hoosiers really are. Next week, we'll know a little more. Ball State (2-0) comes to town after beating Navy on Friday night. The Cardinals can score points. It will be a good test for the Hoosier defense.

Note: It's now final: IU wins 45-3. It was a pretty impressive game statistically -- only 149 total yards allowed, including 27 yards rushing. The offense ran up 475 total yards, 261 on the ground.

Are you ready for some football?

The NFL season gets underway for almost everyone on Sunday, including the Steelers and Bears.

The Steelers play the Houston Texans here.

I like the Steelers in this game. They are a 6 1/2-point favorite and I think the Texans just don't have enough defense or offense to stay in this one. I also have fantasy issues, as Willie Parker is one of my starting running backs. So I'm hoping the Steelers run the ball a lot.

The Bears on the other hand, visit the Colts in the first game at Lucas Oil Stadium. As much as I would like to see the Bears take care of business, I suspect the Colts will tear the Bears a new one. The line is 9 1/2 in favor of the Colts, and I have to think Peyton Manning (my fantasy QB), Joseph Addai (my other fantasy RB) and Marvin Harrison (my fantasy receiver) will have a good day.

A good win

The Hoosiers beat WKU 31-13. Offensively it was a good day for the most part, thanks to two big plays by Kellen Lewis. But I was a little concerned about the sputtering at the start of the second half. They let WKU get back into the game and if two WKU field goals had been touchdowns, who knows what would have happened.

IU ran up 450 net yards, including nearly 300 yards rushing, according to the IUHoosiers.com gametracker. The one ugly stat: 7 penalties for 63 yards.

The defense played surprisingly well in the first half, giving up no points and not much in terms of yardage. It was the 210 net yards they gave up in the second half that was a problem. WKU seemed to find a rhythm and the no-huddle seemed to tire the Hoosier defense.

Next week: Murray State comes to town. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. Sept. 6.

Second half sputter?

The second half did not start well, but the Hoosier offense appears to be back on track. The score is 31-13 with eight minutes to go, after a 65-yard Lewis run for a touchdown. It was a similar play to the 75-yard score in the first half. Lewis ran the entire way up the middle almost untouched.

The Hoosiers had to be shaken to wake up, however. Western Kentucky closed to 24-13 before Lewis's run. The Hilltoppers have been moving the ball in the second half. That may have to do with the IU defense tiring somewhat (WKU is running a no-huddle offense) and the lack of some starters, who were suspended.

The Hoosiers could put them away with another score on the upcoming drive, especially if it takes some time off the clock.

By the way, there are some stats available at iuhoosiers.com if you click on gametracker.

Note: My dad's alma mater, Pitt, is on the ropes at home against Bowling Green. They have the ball down 3 points with 13 minutes to go.

The Hoosier season is underway

That is a picture of the IU game. On my TV. And its not on ESPN, ESPN 2, Versus, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox or another traditional college football network. It is Big Ten Network. Did I mention it's on my TV?

It's halftime and IU leads 17-0. I liked Kellen Lewis' 75-yard TD run in the first quarter. He outran four defenders the last 30 yards or so. The defense is looking good too. Western Kentucky is not doing much in terms of running the ball. I'm not crazy about some of the big penalties, but that problem should be fixed as they shake off the rust.

For some reason, the stats on the ESPN.com, CBS Sportsline and Big Ten Network sites are not available. But IU needs to come out in the second half and deliver the knock-out blow.

Another alma mater wins

We talk a lot about Indiana University, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears at this blog. But there also is a high school football powerhouse that I am proud of. The Carmel Corsairs in Mundelein, Ill. (I'm class of 94) were ranked No. 7 in the Chicago Tribune pre-season poll. Last night was the season opener against No. 12, and arch-rival, Joliet Catholic. Carmel took care of business, winning 24-12, but may have lost a star fullback.

Next week, the Corsairs take on rival Libertyville. It may seem like a home game, however, because the campus is about a mile away.

The Corsairs are looking for their second trip to the state finals. I was at the game in Champaign, Ill. in 2003 when the team won it all and finished ranked No. 1 in the state.

My house is now a home

My loyalties are clear. I am ready for Saturday.

Let's Go IU!

Don't stop believin'

An interesting story in today's Chicago Tribune by baseball writer Phil Rogers. He argues the worst-case scenario for the Cubs is an all-Chicago World Series -- a match-up with the White Sox.

Sure it would be great for Chicago to be the center of the baseball universe. But the Cubs would have to play up to four "away" games across town on the south side. Rogers said the Sox would have nothing to lose in such a series. I agree. If the Sox lose, that means the Cubs will have won and and broke the curse, and the team that is clearly favored in Chicago will finally have something to celebrate.

If the Sox win, well, the Cubs are once again leave expectations unfulfilled. All the pressure clearly would be on the north side, not the south side.

Rogers said Cub fans should pray the Sox are eliminated early. Are you sweating TJ? And Cubs Nation?

Finally ... a starting QB

In what may be the "Duh" moment of the week, IU Coach Bill Lynch named Kellen Lewis the starter over Ben Chappell.

Lewis led the Hoosiers to a bowl game last year. He was an All Big Ten selection and led the team in rushing and passing. IU's spread offense was implemented with him in mind.I know Chapel looked good in spring practice, but really ... Did anyone expect Lewis would not be taking snaps this season? Did Western Kentucky's coaches develop a defensive game plan for Ben Chappell and not Kellen Lewis? I supposed Chappell got enough reps with the first team offense that he could step in more easily if Lewis gets hurt. But I think every Hoosier fan knows who must be under center if we are to expect wins.

On a side note, Terry Hutchens, the Indianapolis Star's IU beat writer, shows me up and predicts the Hoosiers will go 8-4 this year and plan Wake Forest in the Champs Sports Bowl. Go figure.

The Hoosier Season ... Big Ten

The key to the Big Ten season for the Hoosiers will be to win the games they should win. There are probably four games that even the most optimistic fans would say would end up in losses.

Game 4 -- Michigan State
The Hoosiers' first conference home game should be a tough one. The Spartans are picked to be among the best in the conference this year and typically play well in the first two months of the season before dropping off. The Spartans will be coming off, potentially, a big win over Notre Dame the previous week and should be ready. I don't think the IU defense will have enough to keep the Spartans at bay.

The game should be close, but MSU pulls this one out. IU drops to 3-1.

Game 5 -- Minnesota
This game is on the road, but IU should have enough offense to hammer the Gophers. The team had one of the worst defenses in the conference last year and doesn't have much in the way of returning talent. The problem here is IU thinking they win in a romp. A few mistakes and Minnesota is in this game at the end. The Hoosiers remain focused and move to 4-1.

Game 6 -- Iowa
This is possibly an even match-up, but the game is in Bloomington, giving IU the edge. Iowa is well coached by Kirk Ferentz and will be ready for this game. But I think Kellen Lewis will take over and the Hawkeyes will fall. IU moves to 5-1.

Game 7 -- Illinois
The Illini are facing some of the same issues at the start of the season as the Hoosiers: validate an outstanding 2007, which included a berth in the Rose Bowl. This game will be in Champaign, where Illinois plays well. While both teams run the spread offense, I don't think the IU defense will be able to contain Juice Williams. In a high-scoring affair, the Hoosiers fall to 5-2.

Game 8 -- Northwestern
Homecoming in Bloomington is a wonderful time. And just like the leaves, the fortunes of the Hoosier football team are changing. The Wildcats likely don't have enough to hang with the Hoosiers. It's a happy homecoming and IU avenges last year's lost in Evanston, moving to 6-2. That ensures a second straight .500 season.

Game 9 -- Central Michigan
This doesn't seem like much of a game, but it is another trap. Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour is getting a lot of pub as one of the top QBs in the conference. He through for nearly 3,700 yards and 27 TDs last year. He also rushed for 1,100 yards and 19 TDs. He is as much of a force as Kellen Lewis.

While the Chippewas averaged 34 points a game, they gave up 36. This game may come down to who has the ball last. The Hoosiers are due for a head-scratching loss, and this may be it. IU losses and drops to 6-3.

Game 10 -- Wisconsin
The Badgers are expected to compete with Ohio State for the Big Ten title. Even though this game is at home, I don't think the Hoosiers can stop the Badgers power game. It's a two-game losing streak. IU is now 6-4.

Game 11 -- Penn State
A trip to Happy Valley can never end well. The Nittany Lions may not be a Big Ten title contender, but they will play well at home. IU may put up a fight, but they lose this game too. Now the Hoosiers are reeling at 6-5.

Game 12 -- Purdue
It's not looking good for the Hoosiers. They enter the Bucket Game in the same situation as last season, needing a win to secure a bowl bid. This time the game is in West Lafayette and it is Purdue Coach Joe Tiller's last game. Put aside the rivalry. The Boilers will be playing for Tiller. They win it. IU finishes on a four-game losing streak and ends at 6-6.

There should be a bowl spot available for a 6-6 team. The question will be should IU get it? They will be able to score points, which will impress bowl committee members. But they will have lost four in a row, which may turn them off. I think they squeak into the Motor City Bowl. Book your tickets for Detroit now.

The Hoosier Season ... Pre-conference

We're less than a week from kick-off. Most fans know this season is important for the future of the program, maybe more important than last season's drive to play 13. This is the validation year, the chance to prove last year was no fluke. The full schedule is here, and here are my predictions, game by game:

Game 1 -- Western Kentucky
The Hilltoppers are known more for basketball than football. But this team could surprise the Hoosiers, especially in week one. The team is coming off a 7-5 season and has 14 returning starters. ESPN thinks WKU will scare someone this year, but in their seven wins last season, the Hilltoppers beat no one of consequence. They lost to Ball State and Indiana State, teams IU took care of with relative ease. I think the Hoosiers will win this game.

Game 2 -- Murray State
The Racers play in Division I-AA and really shouldn't be in the Hoosiers league. They were 2-9 last year and have a new coach this year. The Hoosiers offense should overpower this team, taking them to 2-0.

Game 3 -- Ball State
This match-up has trap game written all over it. The Hoosiers had trouble with the Cardinals last year (I was at the game). The teams traded scores in the first half before IU pulled away. Ball St. QB Nate Davis was impressive running their spread offense. Davis passed for nearly 3,700 yards and accounted for 30 touchdowns.

IU Coach Bill Lynch should have the team ready, however, and barring injury, the IU defense should make the difference here. IU wins and goes to 3-0.

And now on to Big Ten season.

Thoughts on the upcoming football season

We're less than a week away from the start of the IU football season and I've been reading a lot Hoosier previews talking about the next step. Can the Hoosiers take the next step after the big step forward last year (winning seven games, appearing in a bowl for the first time since 1993) and become relevant in the Big Ten?

The schedule this year is filled with many games we should win. There are eight home games, an automatic advantage, and four non-conference games against teams that should be below Big Ten caliber. So the Hoosiers should win seven games again this year and should get to another bowl game.

What I'm looking for is the win we're not supposed to get. The upset no one thought would happen. Last year, (in conference play) it was Illinois beating Ohio State in Columbus. The Illini were talented and went to the Rose Bowl, but OSU was a national championship contender and ranked No. l at the time. It was a game where Illinois coach Ron Zook earned a lot of respect around the country, and the Illinois program was thought to have taken a major step up in the college football landscape.

It is a game where your team plays over its head and their team plays down just enough. A game where the students storm the field. Where the highlights make it to SportsCenter at the top of the show instead of on the ticker.

There are two games this season I would count as true upset, completely unexpected, wins: Wisconsin (at home) and at Penn State. Both are BCS contenders and should be favorites against IU.

In my mind, that is the one thing missing from this football program -- the ability to beat a team no one ever thought they could.

Any thoughts out there? Did I miss the "milestone" victory?

Favre to the Jets

So Brett Favre now is out-of-sight and out-of-mind.

The news broke late last night to the football-speaking world that the Green Bay Packers traded the future-Hall-of-Fame QB to the New York Jets late last night. It allows the Packers to move on with their new guy, Aaron Rodgers, and ends the media circus surrounding training camp.

The Packers even get a Favre break for the rest of the season. The Jets will not play the Packers this season. But is anyone wondering whether the NFL is penciling that match-up into next year's schedule maker?

Sox acquire big bat Jr.?

The White Sox reportedly have made a deal to bring Ken Griffey Jr. to town, according to a report on FoxSports.com.

Griffey still must approve the deal, and the story also did not mention what the Sox would give up to get him.

Junior has been with the Reds for several years and fought numerous injuries during that time. But he has been more consistent the last couple years and this year hit his 600th career home run.

plays first base, but Swisher played there this season while I wonder where he is going to play. The story mentions center field, but that is where Nick Swisher and Brian Anderson play. Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye play left and right, respectively. He can't DH, because Jim Thome takes that spot. Manager Ozzie Guillen would have to sit someone and the Fox Sports story indicates that may be Paul Konerko. KonerkoKonerko was hurt.

Konerko could go to the bench (or see less time), Swisher to first and Griffey to center, according to the Fox story.

The deal is not done yet and the trade deadline is this afternoon, so maybe some more moves are coming. This could be an offensive upgrade, but I don't know about a defensive improvement.

Update (1:104 p.m.): Griffey accepted the trade, according to a new FoxSports.com story. The Sox will give up Nick Masset and Danny Richar, the story said, citing CBS Sportsline.

The Jello Stapler

My wife and I are fans of The Office, and on occasion we like to imitate some of jokes from the show. That includes the now famous stapler-in-jello prank. Someone will be getting this one on July 30 ... but who?

There is even a Web site devoted to the stapler-in-jello prank. Here is a link to the recipe.

And here is the video of the very first stapler-in-jello prank, from the British version of The Office. The NBC show was adapted from it.

Hoosier football begins anew

Football season once again is upon us. Today is Big Ten media day in Chicago, where reporters will be asking all the tough questions of the top returning players and voting for their pre-season favorites. New coaches (aka Michigan's Rich Rodriguez) also will be on the hot seat. IU coach Bill Lynch also should face some scrutiny, at least from the Indiana media, about how he's going to follow up on last year's bowl berth, the new no-huddle offense and the Kellen Lewis suspension.

At the very least, someone will say something quotable that will make all the newspapers and TV shows tonight.

The media votes for pre-season conference champ (Ohio State) and offensive and defensive player of the year already were released. ESPN's Big Ten blog, which I really enjoy, should be updating throughout the day.

Game one for the Hoosiers is Aug. 30 against Western Kentucky, only five weeks away.

From a Bears fan: Favre needs to stay retired

Picture this: Aaron Rodgers is about to run on the field after the Green Bay Packers recover a fumble. He is getting the final instructions from Coach Mike McCarthy. As the two huddle, another player is looking in, but not really part of the conversation. He is wearing No. 4 -- I remember him -- and his uniform is strikingly clean, considering it's a cold, muddy late October Sunday in Green Bay.

The sideline chat breaks and Rodgers heads to the huddle on the field, his huddle. The crowd noise still is higher than normal, hoping the Packers can capitalize on the turnover. Rodgers strides to the line of scrimmage, calls the signals and takes the snap. He drops back three steps, looks left, then right and spies receiver Donald Driver a step ahead on the post. He lets it go ... the pass sails perfectly on an arc about 40 yards, hits Driver in stride and he gallops the last 10 yards for the touchdown. Lambeau Field is in a frenzy, and Rodgers runs joyfully to the end zone to celebrate, then to the sidelines. No. 4 pats him on the shoulder pad, then returns to his clipboard and headset. That used to be him, he thinks.

Brett Favre made Packer fans forget about Don Majkowski and now Rodgers had made fans forget about him. Instead of doing what he loves -- playing football on Sundays -- he is watching others play football from the best seat in the house.

As a Chicago Bears fan, I would like to see Brett Favre come back, be released, and subsequently sign with the Bears for one more shot at the Super Bowl. But the Packers have said he is not going to be released. If the team is committed to Rodgers becoming the starter, does Favre really want to carry a clipboard this season and listen to the fans chant his name after every mistake Rodgers makes? Or worse, have Rodgers play well and everyone forget about him?

Brett, I feel your pain. You want to continue enjoying the career you had for so long. You should stay retired. Go out on top. Don't fade away on the sidelines clinging to the dream.

Steelers sale update

Here is another story published today in the Post-Gazette. Stanley Druckenmiller told the paper he would not move the team out of Pittsburgh if he was the owner. Like that would EVER happen. Moving the Steelers would be like the Cubs or Bears leaving Chicago or the Packers moving from Green Bay.

Another interesting note at the end of the story. There were concerns among the Rooney brothers that dividend payments had been decreasing over the years. According to the paper, shareholders have been getting less because of increasing player costs.

Here is the statement on the ownership transition from Pittsburghsteelers.com.

Training camp begins July 28. Anyone think this will be a distraction?

How could this happen?

The Rooneys are in danger of losing control of the Steelers, a team they have run since 1933.

This story from the Associated Press indicates the chairman of a Pittsburgh investment firm could get control by buying the shares of several Rooney family members. Dan Rooney and his son, Art Jr., had been trying to buy out their relatives to keep family control, according to the above mentioned story and another I read July 8.

Maybe I'm not thinking about this correctly, but I don't think the NFL would go for this. The Steelers are a model NFL franchise, and Dan Rooney is among the best and most-respected owners in all of pro sports. Aside from all of this is the Rooneys have owned the team for 75 years, which I don't think the other NFL owners would discount easily.

Family ownership has been cited by numerous people on numerous TV shows and in newspaper articles as one of the reasons for the Steelers' success (five Super Bowl wins, tied for the most all-time). The family also is revered in Pittsburgh and I suspect there are quite a few people angry at the potential change.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has its story up as well. It indicates Dan Rooney is apparently up against his brothers in this fight. Several of them went to the financier, who is a die-hard Steelers fan.

There goes the neighborhood...

The situation outlined in Rick Reilly's latest column for ESPN.com is just plain wrong and unacceptable, if it's true.

A Georgia high school baseball team, playing in the state championship, got so irritated with the umpire's call against him that they may have tried to do something about it. In the fourth inning, the pitcher threw a high fast ball and the catcher put his glove up to catch it. But, according to Reilly's column:

"... He drops to his knees before the ball gets to him. Doesn't even try to catch it. Just flops to his knees, with his head looking down at the plate. Never looks up or back. The ball, meanwhile, conks umpire Jeff Scott square in the face mask. Rocks him back. Then squirts up the third-base line."

If this in fact was done intentionally, how low can people possibly get? We've all played in or watched games where the officiating was awful, but come on. Is this really how we fix problems now?

The catcher explained he was expecting a curveball and just dropped the ball. Reilly didn't believe him:

"Yeah, surrrre. I used to catch a little. Happens all the time. You're expecting a curveball and instead you get a fastball so you say, 'Boy, didn't see that coming. I'll just drop to my knees and wait for the next one.' "

My friend TJ may be able to tell some umpiring stories. He was an umpire for Little League games at one time.

Today is the day

IU makes its case in front of the NCAA infractions committee. Former coach Kelvin Sampson, some of his assistants, IU officials and a bunch of lawyers will be present to defend their actions.

The hearing is closed to the public and media. The Indianapolis Star ran a great story today outlining the charges, process and potential outcomes.

Keep your fingers crossed...

Hold open tryouts...

If you wouldn't admit it before, you have to now. Tom Crean is rebuilding the IU program, not reloading, literally from the ground up. Jordan Crawford announced yesterday he is leaving IU.

That leaves Kyle Taber as the only scholarship player returning from last year's team, according to media reports. He averaged 1.3 points per game last season. Crawford was expected to be the focus of Crean's first team, according to this report.

That's 12 players from the 2007-08 team that are now gone, if you include graduations and leaving early for the NBA draft, according to the Indy Star's count. Should IU fans start to wonder if the players know something the rest of us don't? IU is going in front of the NCAA this week to deal with the pending infractions from the Kelvin Sampson administration.

On the plus side, Crean may start the 08-09 season with his own version of the Fab 5. And who knows, I could enroll in graduate school there and use the four years of eligibility I have left...

D-Day nears...

IU will go before the NCAA infractions committee next weekend, hoping the proverbial book will not be thrown at them for issues related to the basketball program.

A summary of the NCAA's case was released Thursday. Media accounts are available here and here (including a pdf of the summary).

According to reports, the summary includes transcripts of three-way phone calls as well as testimony from potential recruits about what subjects were discussed. Former basketball coach Kelvin Sampson has disputed some of the claims.

IU thinks its self-imposed sanctions are enough and its decades-long clean record should count for something. The fate of next season and beyond is in NCAA's hands. Hopefully, they don't make an example of us.

The run ends

After a valiant effort, the IU baseball team fell in the Big Ten tourney semi-finals, losing 11-7 to Purdue.

I wasn't able to watch the game, because I was enjoying my Memorial Day weekend and I am not able to get Big Ten Network. But it didn't look like the Hoosiers were ever in the game. They were down 8-2 going into the seventh inning and 10-3 going into the eighth. IU scored four runs in the top of the eighth, but could not come up with any more in the ninth.

It was a good run. The Hoosiers finished the regular season 28-28, 15-17 in conference. A run to the semi-finals certainly was not expected.

Only three months until football season begins ... Game 1 is at noon Aug. 30 against Western Kentucky. It will not be on TV, not even BTN.

On to the semis

Believe it or not ... a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Hoosiers the win over Penn State 11-8. Big Ten Network coverage is available here.

The Hoosiers move on to the semi-finals at 3:35 p.m. tomorrow, where they will face the loser of Michigan and Purdue, to be played later tonight.

IU was down 8-7 going into the bottom of the ninth after giving up four runs in the top half of the inning on four hits and an error.

The Hoosiers started the bottom half of the inning with two singles, and after a fielder's choice, had runners on first and second with one out. An infield single loaded the bases, bringing up the No. 9 hitter Tyler Cox. The grand slam won the game. Cox was 3-5 on the day.

The Hoosiers had 15 hits in the game. It wasn't a bad double-header. The Hoosiers scored a combined 25 runs on 31 hits. Chris Squires was the winning pitcher.

Boys of summer move on

The Hoosier baseball team took care of Illinois 14-7. They advance to play Penn State at 3:35 p.m. today. Another win would get them to Saturday's semi-finals where they would play the loser of the Michigan-Purdue game tonight.

IU catcher Josh Phegley went 4-4, including two homers, and drove in six runs in the win. IU had 16 hits in the game. Pitcher Tyler Tufts got the win, going nine innings and give up six earned runs.

Hold open tryouts Part II

More news comes out today as Tom Crean continues his house cleaning. The latest casualty is Brandon McGee, who would have been entering his sophomore season. He apparently didn't meet academic and team guidelines, according to the Indystar.com report.

That leaves us with two (yes, two) players remaining from last year's team: Jordan Crawford and Kyle Taber. Crean still has 11 scholarship players, a mix of freshmen and junior-college transfers, coming to Bloomington in the fall.

I must admit, I didn't think Crean would clean out the program as fast as he did. Maybe it's a good thing. Since Hoosier Nation expects him to win now, he has to get his ideal team put together as quick as possible.

The IU boys of summer

Those of us who are IU alumni likely don't have too many fond memories of Hoosier baseball. Not because the team isn't a national powerhouse ... OK because the team isn't a national powerhouse. But the Hoosiers are competitive and this year qualified for the Big Ten tournament. Only the top six teams are invited the the double-elimination event. The winner gets a bid to the NCAA tournament.

IU was the last team in. After getting clobbered by Penn State 6-1, IU beat Ohio State in 10 innings Thursday to stay alive. The team plays No. 4 seed Illinois at 12:05 p.m. today. A full bracket is here.

Michigan is hosting the tournament this year and is the top seed.

Update (1:11 p.m.): I almost forgot, my friend and fellow IU alum T.J., knows all too much about IU baseball. He covered the team one spring for the IDS.

The Hoosiers are leading Illinois 7-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning after a three-run homer by Josh Phegley.

Schedule open tryouts

The Hoosiers are down to three returning scholarship players for next season, according to this report from ESPN.com. The program is supposed to announce today that Armon Bassett,
Jamarcus Ellis will not be reinstated and that DeAndre Thomas and Eli Holman also are leaving.

Holman's departure is no surprise after the issue yesterday where police had to be called when he lost it during a meeting with Head Coach Tom Crean.

According to the story, there are eight players returning, including the incoming JC players and freshmen. Maybe Crean should scout the IU intramural basketball games or hang out at the HPER and watch the pick-up games this summer. There probably is someone there worthy of wearing the Indiana uniform. Either way, IU may end up with only five or six players in its rotation next year.

Two Hoosiers in a row

Just as I think Hardy is going to drop a ton, he is picked right after Porter. Hardy is going to the Buffalo Bills, who used the 41st pick to get him.

Hardy was the fourth wide receiver taken overall, which is one better than he was projected. Most of the grades I saw had him as the fifth-best in the draft.

The first Hoosier is taken...

The first wide-out went at pick 33 -- it was Donnie Avery from Houston.

The big IU story today was that Tracy Porter was selected before James Hardy. Porter went at Pick 40 to the Saints. There was talk among the ESPN guys that the Saints may have been trying to work a trade to get Jeremy Shockey, but it didn't materialize at that time.

It's good that the Hoosiers had at least one player taken in the second round. It is an indication the team is able to attract some quality talent. And as the rebuilding, I mean building, process continues, potential recruits will notice that.

James Hardy still not picked

IU receiver James Hardy was projected to be selected late in the first round. The first round is now over and Hardy has not been picked. In fact, no wide receivers were selected.

We'll see what happens in the second round. There were no receivers graded as can't-miss impact players, so maybe teams decided they weren't worth a first-round selection.

The Steelers are on the clock

And the pick is ... Rashard Mendenhall. This is kind of a surprising pick for me. The Steelers have Willie Parker and Najeh Davenport. Parker is the speed guy. They need a bruiser back and I didn't think that was Mendenhall. The NFL.com bio (linked above) says he is a physical runner that does well between the tackles. So maybe I'm wrong.

If the Steelers were going to draft a running back, they needed to get a straight-ahead type of back, one who is going to get the tough yard on 3rd and one.

The prediction here was offensive line, but most of the good linemen were gone. My only guess is Mendenhall was the best player left and they couldn't pass him up. He was predicted to go a lot higher.

The Bears are on the clock

The guess is offensive line by ESPN ... and it's offensive tackle Chris Williams.

The Bears more than nine minutes of the 10-minute allowance. That leads me to believe they waffled back and forth on the pick or they were entertaining trades. Running back Rashard Mendenhall still was available and I think the Bears considered taking him to shoulder the rushing load in case Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson still can't get it done.

Offensive line was the safe pick and fills an important need. The Bears need to protect their quarterback (whoever it will be) just so their offense can get started.

Draft is underway...

The ESPN draft tracker is here. The NFL.com version is here and CBS's version is here, along with NBC's.

Through the first seven picks there were no surprises. Even the green room is now empty, meaning all the top guys expected to go high have been pick. The only minor surprise was the Patriots trading the seventh pick to the Saints.

The Ravens just traded their pick to Jacksonville, which now is on the clock. The Bears should be picking in about an hour.

Draft Day begins

But there apparently isn't any reason to watch the first half hour of the draft, because the first three picks already are set. ESPN reported during its four-hour pre-show that after Jake Long is picked by the Dolphins, that the Rams likely are going to take defensive lineman Chris Long. And now the Falcons really want to take quarterback Matt Ryan with the third pick, ESPN says. Steve Young says they have to take Ryan to get over the Michael Vick saga.

There's always the chance this is just gamesmanship by the teams, and it wouldn't be the first time the media has been used to distribute some misinformation. I guess there's still some reason to watch, but I wouldn't be sure you are in your seat with your beer and popcorn right at 3 p.m.

Show time

The NFL draft is less than a day away and I'm sure wide receiver James Hardy, defensive back Tracy Porter and a couple other former Hoosiers are having trouble sleeping.

Hardy is projected in two mock drafts to go in the late first round to San Francisco. An NFL.com mock draft has Hardy going to the Cowboys.

Porter could go as high as the second round. Long snapper Tim Bugg also is considered a prospect, as is fellow defensive back Leslie Majors.

All the fun begins tomorrow at 3 p.m. Saturday on ESPN. We already know who the first pick will be: its offensive lineman Jake Long from Michigan going to the Dolphins. The Rams now are on the clock. The Bears have the 14th pick and the Steelers pick 23rd.

Update (4-26): The L.A. Times mock draft has Hardy going to the Titans in the first round. Less than five hours until Long is announced as the top pick...

The Bears on the other hand...

May lose their season after the first five weeks. They are the sacrificial lamb for the Colts to beat down in week 1 (Indy's new stadium opens this fall). Then they play at the Panthers, before coming home to play the Bucs and Eagles. All four could end up being losses. Another loss at the Lions could make the Bears 1-4 or 0-5 before travelling to Atlanta, where they should get a win.

Three straight home games against the Vikings, Lions and Titans could net a win or two, and three straight road games at Green Bay, St. Louis and Minnesota also could lead to a win.

Of course the problem is the Bears will be piling up losses throughout this process. I'm guessing by week 14, they could be 6-7. Then games against the Jaguars, Saints, Packers and Texans, should effectively end the season. An 8-8 or 9-7 season should be the best this team can expect. But it may be worse if the team can't find a quarterback.

The draft is only a week away. And there are some quality QBs available...

Steelers preparing for 2008 gauntlet

Prepare for potentially an ugly football season in Pittsburgh. The new schedules have been released, and the Steelers don't much room to breath.

Apparently a 10-6 record and first round exit from the playoffs warrant a tough slate the following year. The season opens with a home game against the Texans, but weeks 2 through 9 are all potential losses: at the Browns and Eagles, followed at home against the the Ravens, then at the Jaguars (who beat them in the playoffs last year), at the Bengals, and at home against the Giants (who won the Super Bowl).

After a "break" in Washington against the Redskins, the Steelers are home against the Colts and Chargers. Weeks 13 and 14 are at the Patriots followed by a home game against Dallas. After games at the Ravens and Titans, the season comes to a merciful end against the Browns.

If the Steelers can get through the first eight weeks with four wins, it would be pretty impressive. Another 10-6 record may be the best this team can hope for, if the talent level is similar to last year. The good news is, this team will have film on the best teams in the NFL if they make the playoffs.

Hoosier spring practice

No I'm not talking about basketball. Hoosier football spring practice is in full swing, and with a new offense nonetheless.

The new Hoosiers, for now without starting quarterback Kellen Lewis, have switched to a no-huddle scheme. New QB Ben Chappell led the team in the first spring scrimmage, throwing for 137 yards and a touchdown. The team ran 60 plays, according to IUHoosiers.com.

Is this a good thing? Well if Lewis is not coming back for a while, the Hoosiers need an offense that can fit a non-mobile quarterback with a suspect offensive line. The virtue of the no-huddle is it makes defensive substituting difficult. And if the Hoosiers can keep those big defensive ends off balance just a little bit, they should have a slight advantage.

Lewis always was a threat to run, especially if the pocket broke down. Now the Hoosiers need something else to keep the defense honest. We'll see if this works.

Another scrimmage is scheduled for Friday.

Did anyone really NOT expect this?

The Indianapolis Star reported this morning that IU star Eric Gordon will enter the NBA draft. Their sources were unidentified, but the story indicated IU will distribute information about the upcoming announcement today.

Maybe I held out a little hope that Gordon would stick around for another year, if for no other reason because he fizzled toward the end of the season. The injury to his left hand really affected him, and by extension, the team.

I also thought Gordon had some issues he needed to work on that would make him a better pro. He really had a tendency to commit way too many turnovers. Many of them killed scoring bursts and some came when IU was trying to get back into a game. He averaged 3.6 turnovers a game, by far the worst on the team. That was more than 26 percent of the per game turnover average for the entire team.

But the scoring was impressive, at 20.9 points per game, including almost 34 percent from 3-point range. And the 83-percent free-throw shooting also helped down the stretch.

Gordon deserved first-team all Big Ten and freshman of the year honors. But I think if he took another year and dominated college basketball, his draft stock would rise even more. And who knows what Tom Crean could do with him back.

Tom Crean takes over

Tom Crean, sporting a "Crean and Crimson" T-shirt, took over as IU basketball coach yesterday. He said the reason he left Marquette was because "It's Indiana." Apparently the name on the door still means something in a lot of coaching circles, even though the Hoosiers' post-season record over the last decade has been less than stellar.
Press conference photos are here.

There was an interesting story in the IDS, linked to its basketball blog, about Jamarcus Ellis and Armon Bassett, who were dismissed by now former coach Dan Dakich. Ellis said he quit the team and wanted to get his academics in order. He also said the two didn't see eye-to-eye with Dakich on some issues. He told the IDS, while playing a pick-up game at the HPER, he hoped to return to the team.

We'll see if that happens. Media reports about Crean's meeting with the team indicate the two were not invited.

Finally, a defender gets the radio

The NFL decided at its owners' meetings today that a defender will get a radio speaker in his helmet beginning next season.

The rule allows the defense to have one player on the field with a radio link to the coaches, similar to the quarterback on offense. Only one player on the field can have the defensive radio link and no more than two defensive players can have the radio total.

I blogged about this issue earlier on Lake Affected.

The defensive substitution issue came up again, but I don't see it as a big deal. I'm sure there are defensive players that are on the field all the time that can have the radio and call the plays. And if there is a substitution, make the defensive call the old-fashioned way. The offense has the same problem if they substitute.

If Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger came off the field because (now former) receiver Antawn Randle El was going to play quarterback on a gadget play, then someone else had to get the play signed in to the huddle. It didn't happen often, and I think defenses will find their trend is the same.

The important thing is the temptation for teams to steal defensive signals has been all but eliminated.

A new regime and a new team, too?

IU will announce tomorrow Marquette coach Tom Crean is its new coach, according to ESPN.com, he likely will have to rebuild almost the entire starting line-up.

Before the coaching news came out, the unfortunate news that starters Jamarcus Ellis and Armon Bassett had been kicked off the team by interim coach Dan Dakich. The two apparently missed mandatory team meetings and then didn't run the laps Dakich put on them as punishment.

That means potentially all of the regular starters from this season will be gone. Eric Gordon is expected to enter the NBA draft, D.J. White and Lance Stemler are graduating, and now Ellis and Bassett have been dismissed.

Ellis led the team in assists, Bassett led the team in three-point shooting, Gordon lead in scoring and White led in rebounding and field goal percentage.

I like hiring Crean. He put Marquette back on the basketball map and has a Final 4 appearance, although it was forgettable. The Golden Eagles lost to Kansas by 33. He is a good coach moving to an elite program, similar to Bill Self going from Illinois to Kansas. There is nothing wrong with Illini basketball, but in terms of tradition and quality, it doesn't compare to the Jayhawk program.

Crean better leave the press room tomorrow and head straight for the recruiting trail. He has a lot of work to do. Jordan Crawford is the Hoosiers' top returning scorer. He averaged 9.7 points per game last season. He's also the leading rebounder returning.

That's assuming he stays at IU.

Update: ESPN.com has updated its Crean story. The Indianapolis Star also has a story on the news.

Red Sox-Dodgers at the Coliseum

According to the Boston Globe, the Dodgers sold more than 115,000 tickets to the exhibition game against the Red Sox, which was played at the L.A. Coliseum. It was part of the celebration of the Dodgers' 50 years in L.A. and featured a left field fence 201 feet from home plate. The right field foul pole was 440 feet away.

The Red Sox won the game 7-4. Here is a link to the Boston Globe's photo array from the game. The L.A. Times photos are here.

The Coliseum is a football, track and Olympic facility. The attendance was impressive, but the stadium was not designed for baseball. And it was clear from the odd-ball configuration of the field that this idea should remain a novelty used during spring training. Unfortunately it doesn't work as well as playing a hockey game outside at a football stadium.

The MLB season opens on American soil in about an hour (its 7 p.m. in Fort Wayne). Here's to the games counting and the beginning of the 7-month marathon. The White Sox open Monday along with just about everyone else. They begin a 3-game series against the Cleveland Indians, followed by a 3-game series against the Detroit Tigers. Unfortunately, the Sox may end up starting 2-4 or worse, 0-6. Is April too early to be counted out of the pennant race?

Hoosier coaching rumors

It's difficult to tell whether this story is true or not, but Foxsports.com is reporting IU offered the men's basketball coaching job to Tony Bennett of Washington State.

This seems difficult to believe since the Cougars just lost to Carolina just a couple days ago in the Sweet 16. Stranger things have happened, but I don't think Bennett would be in extended talks with IU during a tourney run and I don't think it would have been kept secret that IU got permission to talk to him.

Terry Hutchens, the IU beat reporter at the Indianapolis Star, wrote a great blog post today about the rumor. He said he talked to several people who seemed to indicate the story was false and that Bennett hadn't talked to anyone.

It seems unlikely that the IU search committee will get to talk to anyone before their teams are eliminated from the tournament. And the interview process likely will take some time.

Everyone just needs to calm down and be patient.

Don't worry about opposite-field homers

When the Red Sox play the Dodgers in a pre-season game Saturday, March 29, there will be no reason for right-handed hitters not to look to pull that inside pitch. The game will be played in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, where the Dodgers spent their first four seasons in California.

The stadium was not built for baseball -- the left field "fence", I mean screen, will be a paltry 201 feet from home plate. A pop-up to short could be in danger of falling in the seats. Fans sitting in the first few rows will have to be on the look-out for line drives.

To even things out, right field is where fly balls will go to die. That fence is 440 feet from the plate. The NYT story I linked above has a great quote from Dodgers likely starting left fielder Juan Pierre. He likely will get the best view of the ball coming off the bat that he has ever had from the outfield. He just will have to be careful to call off the shortstop and third baseman every time he makes a play.

This exhibition is part of the Dodgers' 50th anniversary in L.A. More than 100,000 are expected with standing-room tickets included.

It's hard to believe the Dodgers hosted the the 1959 World Series against the White Sox at the Coliseum under nearly the same conditions. By the way, the Dodgers won that series in six games.

Photo found at www.ballparkwatch.com

Reflections on the NCAA first round

Am I the only one that has a nervous feeling about IU's first round game tonight versus Arkansas? Not because the Razorbacks are a good team that won 22 games this year. Not because they like to run the floor and score a lot of points, which could cause IU problems.

It's because tonight could be an embarrassing loss. The kind of loss that makes potential recruits go somewhere else.

The Hoosiers are in a mini-slump. They have played two games in a row where they looked a good high school team could beat them. The players have been accused of giving up on the season by at least one pundit. For some reason, I have images of the 1997 first-round loss to Colorado dancing in my head. The team didn't look interested throughout the game and lost 80-62. I sat in my frat house room and watched the debacle on my little 15-inch television, wondering why the players even made the trip.

Another disappointment comes to mind: the 2000 first-round loss to Pepperdine 77-55. Same problem, the team didn't seem to be ready or in the proper mindset for the game. Luckily I was on a plane and missed that one.

Will I be praying for something to throw at the wall tonight? I hope not. But this is setting up to be a classic Hoosier give-up moment. I want this game to be a season re-start and this weekend to be a proper send-off for D.J. White, and likely Eric Gordon as well.

The talent is there to beat Arkansas and even give North Carolina a good game in the second round. Dan Dakich needs to find the confidence and attitude the Hoosiers displayed in victories over Kentucky, at Illinois and Michigan State. All they need is a spark.

Speaking of the Cubs...

I would like to thank the Chicago Tribune for coming up with this Web gem (The link is embedded in the story). They posted a multimedia application that allowed users to place their own name on the Wrigley Field marquee.

Here is my offering (right).

In case those of you reading this blog don't follow the Cubs, here is the issue. New Tribune Co., Cubs and Wrigley Field owner Sam Zell is considering selling the naming rights to the ballpark. It would be a crime to change the name, which is as classic as the structure, even though the brand of baseball played on those hallowed grounds has been lousy for most of the last century.

Our friend T.J. has written extensively on the issue. It turns out the State of Illinois also could purchase the stadium, just as they own the former Comiskey Park.

Changing the name of Wrigley Field would be similar to changing Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium to something else -- it's just unthinkable. Maybe they should consider a naming rights deal similar to what Rose Bowl officials negotiated: The Rose Bowl Game presented by (insert sponsor here). How about this: Welcome to Wrigley Field, Home of Chicago Cubs, presented by (insert sponsor name here).

No that would be just as bad.

Sox-Cubs issues

Our friend T.J. is correct, as is Hire Jim Essian, in surmising that Sox fans still feel animosity toward Cub fans. Would I trade the 2005 World Series victory for a guarantee the Cubs would never win a title again? No.

This is my problem with Cub fans and pretty much most of Major League Baseball when it comes to the White Sox. The Sox don't get any respect. They never get the benefit of the doubt, they never attained that lovable quality the Cubs have a monopoly on. The Sox win the World Series, and they don't get the cover of Sports Illustrated. SI instead puts Peyton Manning and Tom Brady on the cover to push its preview of a regular season NFL game. As many south siders pointed out, that was a true measure of where the White Sox rank in baseball lore. You can guarantee that when the Cubs win the World Series, they will get the cover of EVERY major sports magazine and even mainstream news magazines like Time.

In the end, it seemed MLB and pretty much no one outside the south side of Chicago cared about the Sox breaking an 88-year drout. The team has about as much pull as the Anaheim Angels: 'Way Good for you. But we're more interested in the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Dodgers or Cubs winning the World Series.'