Richard Childress Racing: Crew chief change for Kevin Harvick again! Shane Wilson will now try his hand at working with "Happy" Harvick. Jeff Burton finds himself with a new crew chief in Drew Blickensdefer, who comes over from Roush racing. Paul Menard remains with Slugger Labbe going into his second year with RCR. I'm not a fan of constant changes at the crew chief position on racing teams from year to year as chemistry is key to a success of any race team. However, having said that, the most pressure on this team this year is on the driver who didn't have a crew chief swap and that's the Paul Menard team. Without Clint Bowyer back this year, Menard will have to step his game up to justify Bowyer leaving to go to Michael Waltrip racing. I think it's reasonable to set a goal of two of the three drivers to be in the top 15 at the end of the season.
Roush Racing: Only major thing to happen this off season was the #6 car going from a fulltime ride with David Ragan to a part time ride with Ricky Stenhouse. Will the loss of that full time ride help or hurt Roush racing? This is the first time they've been a three car team, my money is on that it will make them stronger. I believe all three guys will be in the chase, with Carl Edwards winning the championship.
Joe Gibbs Racing: Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin are locks to be championship contenders each and every year regardless of what's happening with the other teams. Thankfully, JD Gibbs didn't overreact and let Kyle Busch go this off season after his off track incident. Joey Logano is in a must win situation this year and unfortunately for him he has to do it with a new crew chief as Zippy left to go help out at Stewart-Haas racing. Nationwide crew chief Jason Ratcliff is the new man in charge and is good enough to help Joey take his game to the next level, now let's see if Logano can do it. His contract is up after this year and it would be a huge step back for Logano if JGR lets him go. I don't think he makes the chase but he better win a couple of race in 2012 to secure his ride for the future.
Hendrick Racing: Welcome Kasey Kahne! This will be a HUGE upgrade in my opinion, Kahne can drive anything given to him and get the most out of the equipment given to him. Dale Earnhardt, Jr is the worst driver of the four guys racing for Rick Hendrick now and it's not even debatable. The one thing Junior has going for him is his last name which will ensure sponsorship and a full time ride with whichever team he chooses to race for. Jeff Gordon isn't getting any younger, but until he shows some signs of father time affecting his driving abilities, you pencil him into the chase. Jimmy "Five Time" Johnson finally had his championship string stopped in 2011 and I'll go out on a limb and predict that after 2012 you will see a change at crew chief for the 48.
I regret to inform you that your product has a flaw and needs to be fixed. At some point Mr. McMahon, you need to let go of the past and move forward. I understand that you deserve credit for building an empire that's known as WWE, however, that shouldn't allow you to become complacent and rest on your laurels. Hulk Hogan put this company on the map and since then you have developed many personalities and made them cultural icons. Whether it be Stone Cold, the Rock, Triple H, the Undertaker or Shawn Michaels all of them became bigger than life to the average fan through their ring skills, mic skills, and roles that they may have played in television shows or movies.
If you noticed, four of those past their prime entertainers will probably be involved in this year's Wrestlemania in Miami. I'm not quite certain if this shows your lack of faith in your current group of people on your roster to carry the biggest event of the year or your lack of motivation to create story lines worth following.
If it's the first reason, then by all means it's time to start bringing in some new talent that have better mic and ring skills. I simply don't understand how guys like Jack Swagger have jobs in the top wrestling company on planet earth. Do you not listen to the broadcasts? The guy is awful and on top of that has a lisp that becomes very annoying. Then there is Cody Rhodes, who let's face it has a job because of his father and your allegiance to him. On top of that the diva division is an absolute joke as you've taken away the sex appeal. If you think people are all fired up to watch women try to wrestle like the guys do, you're dead wrong.
Let's say the reason you bring back the over the hill stars is indeed you and your staff's lack of motivation to write better story lines. Then shame on for you for having let it get to this point. Hulk Hogan went into business with Dixie Carter to have their brand of wrestling that I hoped would generate competition for you and indeed get the competitive juices flowing to write better story lines. That was my fault for assuming that it would motivate you. I guess the only thing that motivates you at this point is dollar signs, which is really a sad sign of the times today.
The Elimination Chamber pay per view is scheduled to be in Milwaukee this Sunday, February 19th. This consumer will not be attending until your product's flaw has been fixed.
Jennifer Hudson: That last minute tribute to Whitney Houston was a very difficult thing to do on short notice. Not only that, but the emotions involved with Jenninfer Hudson having been a close friend of Whitney made it all the more difficult for her. During practice earlier in the day she couldn't get through the performance without breaking down and crying. The fact she did as well as she did was truly amazing to me and has to be deemed as one of the best performances in Grammys history.
Taylor Swift: She consistently brings "A" type performances whether its's in a small little town somewhere in the world or if it's on the biggest stage like it was last night at the Grammys. While some got on her for her shocked look after the performance when she received a standing ovation, I believe she is genuine with her emotions.
Beach Boys: The job done by Maroon 5 was simply marvelous. The Beach Boys themselves, while old, still were good enough to resemble what they sounded like back in the day. Did kinda wish that "Uncle Jessie" was playing drums but other then that was happy with the performance.
Bruno Mars: While I don't really know any of his music, the performance was totally "old school" and reminded me of something people may have watched back in the days of when my parents were growing up. He does something that totally stands alone today among other artists and deserves a bunch of credit for doing it and doing it very well.
Bad:
Chris Brown: I don't understand what he did to deserve being on twice during the Grammys, I do know the outrage that I saw in social media over it wasn't worth it. People were bringing up his incident with Rihanna, while I don't agree with that being the entire reason of why he should't have come back, it certainly should have played into the decision. The first song he did during the night was nothing special and the second song was decent but wasn't a can't miss performance.
Sir Paul McCartney: While I'm not a Beatles fan, I can certainly tell when somebody needs to hang it up and this appears to be that time for McCartney. That love song that he sung would have been better with somebody else singing it because the actual music itself was outstanding. Then to bring him back again at the end of the show to jam on a guitar that sounded like a wall of noise was another bad decision by the Grammys people.
Bon Iver: I don't understand how he receives an award considering he released in album in 2007. Besides that little nugget, the shout out to Eau Claire was nice but let's face it the stereotype that goes with living here fit that guy to a tee.
Ugly:
Nicki Minaj: That performance that seemed like a satanic ritual NEVER should have been allowed to be on television. Somebody should be fired or for that matter a bunch of people for having approved that performance and thinking that was good for the event and for that matter the country. I am not the most religious person in the world but that made me sick to my stomach.
I had a chance to ride a mechanical bull last night at Bootz Country Bar. I'm not sure if it's a "manly" thing to do or not, my friend Lex in Arizona, claimed only women who are seeking attention get up on the mechanical bulls. Remember, I was the one who wanted to try a "real" bull during a PBR event in Milwaukee this last fall, but the PBR wouldn't return my calls. Upon getting up on the bull, I realized I had no clue as to what was the right way to do it. I asked for tips, and was given none as everybody was eagerly waiting for me to embarrass myself. So there I was holding on to a piece of rope with one hand and not really knowing if I'd last more than a few seconds. The bull started moving and I was feeling pretty confident as I had made it past five seconds but as the pace picked up and it started bucking harder I realized I wasn't going to last very long. I was told that a girl that works there can go for two minutes, which doesn't seem very long, but once you are riding you realize two minutes is an eternity. As I hung on for dear life from the rope and was focused on the rope with my head down, I got tossed off the bull after forty three seconds. I was pretty happy that upon my first time doing this I lasted that long, but now I have a goal of two minutes and plan on going back to continue to practice. I did learn after I was done what the proper technique is and plan on applying it the next time I go to ride. Now the question is, how long can you last?
What really is a role model? By definition: a person who serves as an example, whose behavior is emulated by others If that's the definition of role model, how is Brandon Jennings not?
According to his tweet after the loss to the Suns on Tuesday night he apparently doesn't want to be one. I understand that Charles Barkley started all of this athletes shouldn't be role models talk, however, athletes are role models whether they like it or not. Kids all over this country imitate what NBA players do on the court when they play on the playground. If you don't want to be a role model, then end your deal with Under Armour and stop promoting "your" shoes to kids and adults all over the country. Tell the Bucks you'd prefer them not sell your jerseys anymore. Go to Kmart and buy an ordinary shoe that any average person can buy for 30 or 40 dollars, let's get rid of twitter because that clearly influences people as well, when you start talking about your personal life like what type of music you listen to or your thoughts on women and other aspects of life.
For the life of me, I'll never understand the mentality of professional athletes who many boys and girls grow up wanting to be like. I think many of them forget what it was like growing up idolizing their favorite players, and how they would do anything to be in their shoes. Then one day, they reach a level similar to that person and all of sudden don't like being held to higher expectations then everybody else. Sure they like the free stuff that comes with it and all the people that want to be with you or around you. However, when you may not give full effort or pout like a baby when you don't get your way and people criticize you because they don't understand how a person making that much money to play a "game" could act that way, you get angry and shout "I'm not a role model".
Based on the way Brandon acted Tuesday night, maybe he's right, maybe you should tell your kids to pick somebody else to be their role model in basketball. I don't have kids but if I did, I wouldn't want my kid acting the way he did. How about you?
I understand we are coming off the Super Bowl and it's the most popular championship game in any sport in the U.S.. However, while the game seems to be as important as the halftime show and the commericials, the actual NFL season leading up to the game as become irrelevant.
Think about this, the Packers won 15 games in the regular season and owned the best record in the league and were rewarded for that by sitting home like you and me watching the most important game of the season. Many argue that the BCS formula for college football is flawed and that we have to go to a playoff format to make it fair. I don't understand the logic, I thought everybody wants the two best teams in the championship game at the end of the season and instead you end up with the hottest teams at the right time. The Packers last year caught fire at the right time, like the Giants did this year, and like the Giants did in 2007 when they beat an undefeated Patriots team. So now when history looks back at the 2011 season, the NY Giants will be thought of the best team, but were they?
Rickie Weeks joined Hot Stove Weekly on Thursday night, a week after Corey Hart did the same, and when asked who the leader of the team was last year he answered with Craig Counsell. I can't say we were really all that surprised by his answer after Hart said the same thing last week. However, Leroy Butler, on the Wendy's Big Show last week had a problem with a leader being a guy who struggled to bat his weight last year. I tend to agree that it doesn't make much sense that a role player like Counsell that has NEVER been the best player on any MLB team he played on, would be the guy that a group of grown men would look to for his leadership.
I decided to get on the internet and look up the definition of leadership: Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent. I read that a couple of times and each time I read that, I didn't see anywhere in the definition that the person had to be the most successful person in the organization. It also didn't say that leadership is derived from somebody with large amounts of money that others sought after to try to attain the same amount of money for them.
If that definition is indeed correct, then why should so much attention be given to the fact that Prince Fielder wasn't the main leader on the Brewers or that he might not have been a leader at all? Just because he was one of the two best players on the team and one of the highest paid players on the team doesn't automatically mean that he is the leader of the team. At the place you work, is the highest paid employee the leader of you? I'm not asking if that person is your boss, but is that person the one that everybody rallies around? If not, then that person might just be the Craig Counsell of where you work. Don't take him or her for granted because one day that person will be gone and you'll be the one that might be counted on to lead the people around you.
Recruiting day for a Michigan or Ohio St. fan is probably like Christmas day as they anticipate all the great things they're new players will do when playing for their teams. Think about it, four and five star recruits who are just oozing potential that leave fans dreaming of Big Ten championships and National Championships.
Then there's Wisconsin under Barry Alvarez and Brett Bielema, whose philosophy involves hard work and commitment to being as good as you can be. That sounds great, I'll admit if I was a mother or father I'd be all excited for my child to go play in Madison. However, I simply don't grasp how a coach just simply accepts not competing to be the best of the best and instead seems content to go after three star recruits with a few four star recruits sprinkled in. JJ Watt earlier today supported their motto by saying it's not all about the stars. I was really shocked by that as they didn't even offer him ride out of Pewaukee, yet they will take credit for him at the end of the day, and Watt will allow them to take credit as I'm sure he loved playing there. While people are willing to accept what Wisconsin has been in the past and what it appears it will continue to be, I find myself depressed by not being able to bring in classes like top tier teams from across the country. This day should be a joyous one, instead it's just another Wednesday of the year that doesn't separate itself from any other day.
Are you kidding me? The general manager of the Packers wins Executive of the Year for doing what? Yeah, the team went 15-1 and yes they were the best team during the regular season. What moves did Ted make this year? Was it worthy of winning an award?
Let's go over this…Nick Barnett? Gone…AJ Hawk played well enough to convince everybody that that was the right move?...Then there was Cullen Jenkins, who Ted showed the door to. Yep, that worked out well, they had ZERO pass rush without Jenkins on the field. The OLB position opposite of Clay Matthews showed little to nothing all season. The magic carpet ride for Frank Zombo and Eric Walden officially crashed in 2011. It didn't appear that Ted was anticipating a fall off from those guys that overachieved in 2010 and it cleary showed on the defensive side of the ball.
If there is an award that should be headed to GB, it's the MVP award for Aaron Rodgers for winning 15 games despite the horrible defense all year. Mike McCarthy and his coaching staff deserve an award for overcoming a lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball and putting their players in position to still have a chance to make plays.
So please tell me why Ted Thompson deserved to win Executive of the Year…….
When you saw Andrew Bogut land on a Houston Rocket players' foot Wednesday night and roll his own foot you probably had this sinking feel in your stomach. I on the other hand didn't have that reaction, instead I had one of somebody that was just bitten by a mosquito in the middle of the summer in Milwaukee. You know mosquito bites happen in the summer just like you know Andrew Bogut getting hurt during the NBA season is bound to happen.
Then comes Thursday evening and WSSP Basketball Insider Gery Woelfel tells us that Bogut will be out for at least two weeks according to his sources after an MRI revealed a fractured ankle. Now anger set in for me as I realized that the season and any playoff possibilities probably went out the window with the news that shouldn't surprise anybody. I'm not angry at Andrew Bogut, it's not his fault that bad luck seemingly has followed him throughout the last three or four years of his career. I'm angry at myself that after having won 3 of 4 games, that I thought a .500 record and a playoff berth was a certainty in 2012.
After the anger left my body, I became kind of relieved and in a weird way a little excited about what the future held for this Bucks team. Without Bogut for a good portion of time, history says this team will probably not be able to overcome it and begin losing at an alarming rate. While I will be doing the Robert Haack Diamonds Basketball Post Game Show after each of these games, I will also be dreaming of what this team might look like with Anthony Davis of Kentucky or Harrison Barnes of North Carolina. So while Bogut's ankle is fractured, my feelings are as well….What about you?
