Power Rankings - Things that are making me happy this week:
1. Playing hockey. I had my first practice with my new team and it was great to be at the same level as most of the guys (and better than others).
2. Edge's theme song. It's one of the best entrances in wrestling. Sad that he's gotta retire. The song, by the way, is "Metalingus" by Alter Bridge
3. Jersey Giant Original Italian - It's the same as Jersey Mikes, which is delicious.
4. Reruns of Boy Meets World - 7-8am on ABC Family. Recorded every day.
5. A 2-0 lead against the Coyotes 2 mins. into the game - After that kind of start, I knew we would win the game, but I stayed up until 1am to watch it anyways.
6. Discovering how funny "Modern Family" is - thanks Netflix.
7. Less than a month until our Orlando vacation.
8. Peanut butter mochas. The best thing about Iowa City.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
My (Other) Hockey Team
It is no secret that I was a U-M fan until my Junior/Senior year of high school. Touring the campus with an arrogant sorority girl who didn't really want us to get in to U-M and a rejection letter will take the passion for the school out of you. I think this recent commercial sums up the attitude of Michigan State - pretty good, but not boastful. Be proud and get back to work.
Now that I bleed Green and White, I would like to see Michigan's basketball program stay down forever. Hopefully this year was an abberration. I hope that Brady Hoke can bring their football program back to a respectable level; only so it can make our victories over them more meaningful. And so they can stop the production of Ohio State's "Golden Pants". I am taking this chance, however, to admit that their hockey team is my "1B" favorite. Don't get me wrong, my hockey loyalties still lie with Michigan State. The embarrassing loss to U-M in the 2nd Cold War still stings. I hope that the new coach can return the program to respectability, which includes making the NCAA tournament regularly. But I recorded Saturday's National Championship game so I wouldn't miss the chance to root for U-M. Here's my best excuses as to why my fandom is excusable.
1. One of my most memorable, vivid childhood dreams involved me playing in a hockey game for U-M. Which is odd, because I hadn't played hockey at the time. I could hear the crunch of my ice under the blades as I skated quickly down the ice for a breakaway.
2. Yost Ice Arena is the best sporting venue that I've ever been to. It has an older, traditional field house feel to it. The acoustics play well and make it a loud environment (you can hear the band playing before you go in the arena. I even used to have a framed panoramic photo of the arena hanging in my parent's basement.
3. They have won 9 NCAA Championships, the most of any team, and never experience the type of "down years" that their football and basketball teams have faced. They have the most NCAA Tournament appearances and Frozen Four appearances of any team.
4. Red Berenson is still coaching. He's in his 70s, and I don't think he looks any different than the day that I went to my first U-M hockey game.
5. The fans are ten thousand times better than the fans at Munn. I recall debates when we were in college whether or not MSU's student section and pep band should sit down or be placed in a different spot so the other fans could see. The typical MSU hockey fans are grandparents taking their little children. The student section was miniscule (I recognize that I am being somewhat hypocritical since I never bought student tickets when I was in college). U-M, however, has a very large student following who were very much in tune with college hockey. I still recall that they were particularly spiteful to a referee named Shegos. And their traditional taunts can be easily recognized at any game. (Side note: I obviously do not enjoy the "If you can't get in to college, go to State" chant, but recognize the truthiness behind that chant since I did not get in to U-M and did indeed go to State).
6. They've got great hockey jerseys. The name "Michigan" stretching diagnonally down the front is my favorite - that style is not used often enough in hockey. Heck, I even like the retro jerseys that they introduced this year.
7. My final, and best excuse, is that my dad took me to a few hockey games every season. I went to a handful of U-M football games, and one less than memorable basketball game, but I really enjoyed going with him to hockey. The most memorable one was one when we got center ice, front row tickets online (it turned out that the person who sold them to the website had stolen them from someone else, but the real owner let us watch the game from her seats because I was 14 at the time). A few years later, when I was looking at the panoramic photo that I mentioned before, I paid closer attention to it and realized that it was taken of that game where we had front row seats. I looked closer and saw our coats right there in front.
As I said before, I hope that MSU's new coach can return the team to greatness and keep it there. But until that happens, I will live vicariously through U-M hockey.
Now that I bleed Green and White, I would like to see Michigan's basketball program stay down forever. Hopefully this year was an abberration. I hope that Brady Hoke can bring their football program back to a respectable level; only so it can make our victories over them more meaningful. And so they can stop the production of Ohio State's "Golden Pants". I am taking this chance, however, to admit that their hockey team is my "1B" favorite. Don't get me wrong, my hockey loyalties still lie with Michigan State. The embarrassing loss to U-M in the 2nd Cold War still stings. I hope that the new coach can return the program to respectability, which includes making the NCAA tournament regularly. But I recorded Saturday's National Championship game so I wouldn't miss the chance to root for U-M. Here's my best excuses as to why my fandom is excusable.
1. One of my most memorable, vivid childhood dreams involved me playing in a hockey game for U-M. Which is odd, because I hadn't played hockey at the time. I could hear the crunch of my ice under the blades as I skated quickly down the ice for a breakaway.
2. Yost Ice Arena is the best sporting venue that I've ever been to. It has an older, traditional field house feel to it. The acoustics play well and make it a loud environment (you can hear the band playing before you go in the arena. I even used to have a framed panoramic photo of the arena hanging in my parent's basement.
3. They have won 9 NCAA Championships, the most of any team, and never experience the type of "down years" that their football and basketball teams have faced. They have the most NCAA Tournament appearances and Frozen Four appearances of any team.
4. Red Berenson is still coaching. He's in his 70s, and I don't think he looks any different than the day that I went to my first U-M hockey game.
5. The fans are ten thousand times better than the fans at Munn. I recall debates when we were in college whether or not MSU's student section and pep band should sit down or be placed in a different spot so the other fans could see. The typical MSU hockey fans are grandparents taking their little children. The student section was miniscule (I recognize that I am being somewhat hypocritical since I never bought student tickets when I was in college). U-M, however, has a very large student following who were very much in tune with college hockey. I still recall that they were particularly spiteful to a referee named Shegos. And their traditional taunts can be easily recognized at any game. (Side note: I obviously do not enjoy the "If you can't get in to college, go to State" chant, but recognize the truthiness behind that chant since I did not get in to U-M and did indeed go to State).
6. They've got great hockey jerseys. The name "Michigan" stretching diagnonally down the front is my favorite - that style is not used often enough in hockey. Heck, I even like the retro jerseys that they introduced this year.
7. My final, and best excuse, is that my dad took me to a few hockey games every season. I went to a handful of U-M football games, and one less than memorable basketball game, but I really enjoyed going with him to hockey. The most memorable one was one when we got center ice, front row tickets online (it turned out that the person who sold them to the website had stolen them from someone else, but the real owner let us watch the game from her seats because I was 14 at the time). A few years later, when I was looking at the panoramic photo that I mentioned before, I paid closer attention to it and realized that it was taken of that game where we had front row seats. I looked closer and saw our coats right there in front.
As I said before, I hope that MSU's new coach can return the team to greatness and keep it there. But until that happens, I will live vicariously through U-M hockey.
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Cutting Down College BB Arguments
I've heard each of the following arguments in the past week.
1. VCU and Butler don't deserve to win the championship based on their regular season records
...Then why do we have a playoff system? Every major sports tournamens has teams with poor records; most include teams with even worse records. If the NBA tournament began today, two teams would have losing records. The one exception to this is baseball, however Bud Selig and others have said that playoff expansion has been considered to make it more exciting and inclusive.
The NCAA tournament is difficult enough to prevent a bad team from going on a hot streak and winning it all. Some people point to a loss to 9-21 Youngstown State in the middle of the season to argue that Butler doesn't belong. One game doesn't exemplify an entire season, however. The 2000 Michigan State National Championship team lost to a Wright State team earlier that season that finished 11-17.
2. VCU's success from the "First Four" onwards proves that the tournament should expand
VCU isn't in the range of the 60th-68th best team by virtue of being in the "First Four". They were ranked in the 40th-46th best range by virtue of being an 11 seed. What VCU's success does prove, however, is that we don't have the right 68 teams in the NCAA tournament. There are 346 teams in Division I basketball right now, so roughly 20% make the tournament. The talent difference between teams like Kansas and VCU is significant. Not too much, however, that VCU can't have a special run and beat Kansas. The talent difference between a team like Kansas and Boston University is astronomical. So much so that no team that is seeded 16th has ever won, teams ranked 15th have only won four times, and the highest a 14th seed has advanced is the Sweet 16 (which happened only twice). The tournament committee almost made a mistake by leaving a quality team like VCU out of the tournament. However, VCU hasn't won the championship yet, so the severity of that potential mistake isn't yet known. Rather than expand, the NCAA should either demote some teams to Division II or eliminate the automatic berth for conference tournament champions so we can strengthen the talent among the 64-68 teams.
3. You can't root for VCU or Butler to win it all if you didn't support TCU having a shot at the BCS title
Yes I can and yes I am. The argument that "if you support mid-majors in one sport, you have to support them all" is valid, but the two sports aren't comparable right now. I would be in favor of a college football tournament that would include undefeated "non-BCS conference" teams. March Madness includes a wide variety of teams that all have an equal shot. The tournament committee takes conference strength into account when selecting the field. That's why 23-9 Butler from the Horizon League was given the same seeding as 20-13 Michigan from the Big 10. The BCS has to take conference strength into account as well and that is why a team with 1 loss from a BCS conference will, and should, be chosen time after time over an undefeated Boise State or TCU. The challenge and rigor that comes with playing a schedule with teams like Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Penn State; Florida, Auburn, and Alabama; or Oklahoma, Texas, and Oklahoma State doesn't compare with Utah, San Diego St, and Air Force.
4. It is a slap in the face to Purdue for Matt Painter to interview with Missouri
"When you talk professionally with other people, it stays private," Painter said. "You have to assess where you are, where you're going, but through discussions of that nature, you're listening. Talk is cheap and it comes down to action. I'm happy to be a Boilermaker."
For him to interview with Missouri specifically, sure. They don't compare with Purdue as a basketball program. However, I don't think that he would have ever chosen to go to Missouri. This was a "power move" to guarantee himself more money. Some people would argue that the new contract he received last year for $1.3 million per year through 2016-2017 should be sufficient. His new contract takes him through 2018-2019 and pays $2.3 million. I find it hard to criticize any coach for making business decisions since they have less job security than any of us ever will. If an 18 year old kid does something against the rules that they don't know about or if they have two bad seasons in a row, they could be gone in an instant. Layoffs are a possibility for any industry, but a skilled worker can usually find a comparable job. Head coaches gain stigmas that live with them forever.
Contract negotiation is one aspect of sports that I wish was covered much less than it is because it always damages one's image. Most people, however, would leave one job for a comparable one that offers more money. We shouldn't criticize players and coaches just because their figures are in the millions rather than the tens of thousands. If being an operations manager involved working all day, traveling a few times a week, and was broadcast on TV, I would think it's reasonable to fight for an extra million dollars too.
1. VCU and Butler don't deserve to win the championship based on their regular season records
...Then why do we have a playoff system? Every major sports tournamens has teams with poor records; most include teams with even worse records. If the NBA tournament began today, two teams would have losing records. The one exception to this is baseball, however Bud Selig and others have said that playoff expansion has been considered to make it more exciting and inclusive.
The NCAA tournament is difficult enough to prevent a bad team from going on a hot streak and winning it all. Some people point to a loss to 9-21 Youngstown State in the middle of the season to argue that Butler doesn't belong. One game doesn't exemplify an entire season, however. The 2000 Michigan State National Championship team lost to a Wright State team earlier that season that finished 11-17.
2. VCU's success from the "First Four" onwards proves that the tournament should expand
VCU isn't in the range of the 60th-68th best team by virtue of being in the "First Four". They were ranked in the 40th-46th best range by virtue of being an 11 seed. What VCU's success does prove, however, is that we don't have the right 68 teams in the NCAA tournament. There are 346 teams in Division I basketball right now, so roughly 20% make the tournament. The talent difference between teams like Kansas and VCU is significant. Not too much, however, that VCU can't have a special run and beat Kansas. The talent difference between a team like Kansas and Boston University is astronomical. So much so that no team that is seeded 16th has ever won, teams ranked 15th have only won four times, and the highest a 14th seed has advanced is the Sweet 16 (which happened only twice). The tournament committee almost made a mistake by leaving a quality team like VCU out of the tournament. However, VCU hasn't won the championship yet, so the severity of that potential mistake isn't yet known. Rather than expand, the NCAA should either demote some teams to Division II or eliminate the automatic berth for conference tournament champions so we can strengthen the talent among the 64-68 teams.
3. You can't root for VCU or Butler to win it all if you didn't support TCU having a shot at the BCS title
Yes I can and yes I am. The argument that "if you support mid-majors in one sport, you have to support them all" is valid, but the two sports aren't comparable right now. I would be in favor of a college football tournament that would include undefeated "non-BCS conference" teams. March Madness includes a wide variety of teams that all have an equal shot. The tournament committee takes conference strength into account when selecting the field. That's why 23-9 Butler from the Horizon League was given the same seeding as 20-13 Michigan from the Big 10. The BCS has to take conference strength into account as well and that is why a team with 1 loss from a BCS conference will, and should, be chosen time after time over an undefeated Boise State or TCU. The challenge and rigor that comes with playing a schedule with teams like Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Penn State; Florida, Auburn, and Alabama; or Oklahoma, Texas, and Oklahoma State doesn't compare with Utah, San Diego St, and Air Force.
4. It is a slap in the face to Purdue for Matt Painter to interview with Missouri
"When you talk professionally with other people, it stays private," Painter said. "You have to assess where you are, where you're going, but through discussions of that nature, you're listening. Talk is cheap and it comes down to action. I'm happy to be a Boilermaker."
For him to interview with Missouri specifically, sure. They don't compare with Purdue as a basketball program. However, I don't think that he would have ever chosen to go to Missouri. This was a "power move" to guarantee himself more money. Some people would argue that the new contract he received last year for $1.3 million per year through 2016-2017 should be sufficient. His new contract takes him through 2018-2019 and pays $2.3 million. I find it hard to criticize any coach for making business decisions since they have less job security than any of us ever will. If an 18 year old kid does something against the rules that they don't know about or if they have two bad seasons in a row, they could be gone in an instant. Layoffs are a possibility for any industry, but a skilled worker can usually find a comparable job. Head coaches gain stigmas that live with them forever.
Contract negotiation is one aspect of sports that I wish was covered much less than it is because it always damages one's image. Most people, however, would leave one job for a comparable one that offers more money. We shouldn't criticize players and coaches just because their figures are in the millions rather than the tens of thousands. If being an operations manager involved working all day, traveling a few times a week, and was broadcast on TV, I would think it's reasonable to fight for an extra million dollars too.
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