Weekend Sports Recap

-The disappointing season for the UW football team continued Saturday, losing badly at Iowa, 38-16. I may have been too optimistic in an earlier post when I said that I believed the team still had a good shot at reaching a bowl game this year. Should the team make Scott Tolzien the new starting quarterback? I think the Badgers are heading to a quarterback by committee approach, where whoever is playing well will get to lead the offense. The only real bright spot this season has been running back John Clay, who ran 16 times Saturday for 89 yards. For the season, Clay has 394 yards rushing on only 65 carries, which is an average of 6 yards per carry. He may be the starting tailback now if PJ Hill is sidelined with yet another injury.

-The Green Bay Packers improved to 4-3 this year with an impressive 34-14 victory over the Colts at Lambeau. The two things I took away from the game: 1) what a performance from the defense, which shut down the Colts' passing attack and provided two touchdowns off of interception returns; and 2) how great was it to watch a discouraged, dejected, depressed, aggravated, flummoxed, and angry Peyton Manning? I can't remember seeing Manning look so defeated before, and it was a nice added touch to the victory. What a strong way for GB to head into the bye week (Speaking of strong, Ryan Grant looks 100% now, and that is great news for the Packers - 31 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD).

-The other big Packers-related news item from the weekend was the latest chapter in the Brett Favre soap opera. If the allegations are true, that Favre has provided other teams with information about the Packers, it will be a devastating blow to his legacy. Charles Woodson, who is one of GB's leaders now, had probably the best response:

"He contacted them?" cornerback Charles Woodson said with raised eyebrows. "I don't respect that. If they called him and he gives them information, that's one thing. But to seek a team out, because, you know, I guess you're trying to sabotage this team, you know I don't respect that. I know he's been the greatest player around here for a long time but there's no honor in that."

-It was a busy weekend for the Brewers too. Doug Melvin's contract was extended. Dale Sveum was interviewed and told "we'll get back to you." The Brewers got back to him and said adios. And now the search is on for an "experienced manager that has a reputation for winning." There is apparently a handful of candidates that have sought out Melvin for the position. If it were up to me, I would choose either Buck Showalter or Bob Brenly. Both have demonstrated a good knowledge of the game, and both have prior accomplishments in their careers.

-The World Series is now set and it's not pretty: Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay. Here is why I'm cheering for the Phillies: 1) if they win, then Brewers fans can say at least our team got knocked out by the eventual World Series champions (this would ideally be directed at cubs fans), 2) Tampa Bay really annoys me - from those stupid mohawks to the lame song they play after wins to shots of Dick Vitale cheering obnoxiously from the stands to Grant Balfour's ridiculous mannerisms on the mound, and so on and so forth, 3) if the Phillies win, we won't have to listen to stupid Philadelphia sports fans cry about their city not winning a championship since 1980, and 4) The DEVIL Rays have only been around as a franchise for 10 years! - there are a number of teams that deserve to win a World Series title before some team that can't even sell out home playoff games.

-The UW men's basketball team got to work for the upcoming season. The Badgers, defending Big Ten regular season and tournament champions, play their first exhibition game November 1. The Final Four this season will be in Detroit - see the rest of you Badger fans there!

Favre And Jets Win

If you head over to JSOnline right now, a picture of a smiling Brett Favre will greet you. Can you spot what's wrong with the picture? That's right, he's not wearing a Packers uniform.

Here's Favre's line from his debut today as the new quarterback of the J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS!:

15-22, 194 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs

The most important stat of course is 1-0, which is New York's record after week 1.

And suddenly the Jets are a legitimate contender in the AFC East.

Favre Vs. The Packers, Round (Week) One

So what are you more excited about this weekend: the debut of the New York Jets' new quarterback, or the debut of the Green Bay Packers' new quarterback?

Or the debut of the Miami Dolphins' new quarterback? (Joey?)

Personally, I'm just as excited to watch Favre's debut with the Jets as I am to see the Packers begin the post-Favre era on Monday. Does that make me a weak Packers fan, or a strong Favre fan? Or just another Wisconsin football fan struggling to come to grips with reality?

It's funny to think that exactly a year ago, most Packer fans were not predicting a winning season (let alone a trip to the NFC Championship game - for the record, I predicted that last year's team would finish with a winning record and make the playoffs, but I digress).

Here are a few fearless predictions for the 2008 NFL season:

-Green Bay finishes 9-7 and grabs a Wild Card spot in the playoffs.

-New York Jets finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs.

-Miami Dolphins finish 5-11, and Joey suffers from low self-esteem.

-Brett Favre puts up better numbers than Aaron Rodgers. Ted Thompson suffers from insomnia.

-I finish in the top 3 of both of my fantasy leagues.

Favre Story Of The Day

Here is the latest twist on the mess that is the Brett Favre story.

Tom Silverstein at JSOnline is blogging about various reports that say Favre intends to report to the Packers' training camp, which begins on July 28.  This is an interesting development, because it appeared as if the Packers were going to grant Favre's wish and trade him to another team.

Silverstein makes a good point in stating that this could just be a bluff by Favre, and that it will likely lead to more pressure on the Packers.

I've really kind of enjoyed watching this whole mess unfold - each day the two sides engage in a PR battle, and each day a new side has the upper hand.  It's probably the biggest game of chicken the NFL has ever seen, and it will be interesting to see which side blinks first.

Sabathia Trade Talks Heating Up

Tom Haudricourt over at JSOnline's Brewers Blog has recently posted a few items concerning the possible trade for Cleveland starter C.C. Sabathia (funny how a rumor can get quite serious in just a matter of days - between this story and the Favre comeback whisperings, Wisconsin is becoming the number one state for sports gossip).

The possibility of acquiring a quality starter like Sabathia is very exciting to think about - imagine Sabathia, Sheets, and Parra as your first 3 starters in a playoff series.

Here are Sabathia's numbers so far this season:

6-8, 3.83 ERA, 123 Strikeouts, 34 Walks, 1.23 WHIP

Sabathia is also a big innings-eater...he is averaging almost 7 innings per start this year. And while he got off to a slow start this season, he has not lost a decision since June 5.

I actually pulled the trigger on a Sabathia deal in my fantasy league a couple of months ago, and acquired him cheaply. I'm now coasting in first place in that league.

Favre to Visit Late Night TV

Former Green Bay Packer quarterback (ouch, those words are still hard to type) Brett Favre will appear on David Letterman tonight. Perhaps Brett will use the platform to announce his return to pro football.