Brewers are for real despite slump

Milwaukee may be 4-8 in its past 12 games, but the Brewers still lead the National League Central by 6 1/2 games. Brewers fans should take heart, considering their best baseball still lies ahead of them.

Not only are the Brewers young, but they are talented. With a solid pitching corps and a weak division to boot, there is no doubt Milwaukee will be in the thick of things all season. And it's a good bet the Brewers will be playing in October for the first time since 1982.

Tournament doesn't disappoint, talking heads do

It never ceases to amaze me how good the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments are each year.

In Wisconsin, we got to see a depleted Badgers team make it into the second round of the tournament before running into a red hot UNLV squad. There is no shame in Wisconsin's loss, only in the national talking heads who continue to bash them.

Should they have gone farther? Possibly. But without Brian Butch's inside presence, it was tough.

Guys like ESPN's Doug Gottlieb, however, who don't see Wisconsin, Marquette, UW-Green Bay or UW-Milwaukee play on a consistent basis, just don't get it. Gottlieb ripped Butch last year for being a big disappointment. That was far from the truth then as it is now.

He now is ripping the Badgers for being overrated in a down Big Ten. That also could be no further than the truth.

Don't believe me? Look back 10 years to see the difference between college basketball in Wisconsin then and now. All four state schools are relevant these days and that's good to see.

As for guys like Gottlieb, it'd be nice if they just shut up for once and let the players do all the talking on the court.

As for women's basketball, UW-Green Bay sent a statement to the elites like Connecticut the other day when they led 40-38 at the half against the Huskies in an NCAA Tournament second round game. Sure Connecticut came back to win, but it sure wasn't as easy as it was in year's past.

Women's basketball is also making huge strides. Instead of three or four dominant programs, it's nice to see that the difference in talent levels between the haves and have nots is shrinking.

Packers fans spoiled

Green Bay Packers fans are already asking for Mike McCarthy's head after the team's 38-10 loss to the New York Jets Sunday.

But weren't these same fans in agreement that this year may be painful due to the team's need to rebuild? Making rash statements 12 games into McCarthy's tenure is downright ridiculous.

Mike Sherman put this team in a deep hole with several poor drafts. It's going to take time to dig out of that hole.

By changing coaches again at the end of the season is just idiotic. The Packers spoiled fans by winning too much over the past decade and now their expectations are way out of whack.

Give McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson some time and this team will be good once again.

Yes, Sunday's game was painful. But that's the price you pay for the damage Sherman's drafts did.

Buckeyes are the best

Ohio State proved they are the best team in the country on Saturday by downing Michigan 42-39.
The Buckeyes have the offense to beat anyone that steps in their way.

Good games featured tonight

Once again, this week features a number of excellent high school matchups in our area. Here is a look at the top five games. I'm now 14-11 this season on predictions.

1. Oshkosh West at Kimberly: Kimberly can all but clinch its first Fox Valley Association football championship with a win over the Wildcats. West should give the Papermakers all it can handle. Kimberly 21, Oshkosh West 20.

2. Deerfield at Oshkosh Lourdes: The Knights will face their stiffest test to date in the Trailways Large. Lourdes 21, Deerfield 17.

3. Wittenberg-Birnamwood at Manawa: Manawa made a huge statement last week with a rout of Weyauwega-Fremont and should win again this week. Manawa 32, Wittenberg-Birnamwood 20.

4. Appleton North at Oshkosh North (Saturday): The winner of this game moves closer to a playoff berth. Oshkosh North needs to rebound after a bad loss at Appleton East. Oshkosh North 23, Appleton North 21.

5. Oconto Falls at Waupaca. Oconto Falls continues to improve, while the Comets are preparing to make a run in the playoffs. This could go down to the wire. Waupaca 20, Oconto Falls 13.

Hats off to Stratford

The Stratford Tigers came within a couple of plays from tying the longest winning streak in Wisconsin prep football history Friday night. But a blocked punt and subsequent 37-yard field goal with three seconds to go gave La Crescent, Minn., a 34-31 win over the Tigers in non-conference action Friday night.

Stratford had not lost since the 2002 playoffs and was looking for its 48th straight win, which would have tied the mark set by Manitowoc from 1983 to 1987. The Tigers and coach Cal Tackes deserve all the credit in the world for what they have accomplished. It's too bad they couldn't have matched the Ships' record, but their streak is still remarkable.

More blogs to come

For those loyal few who enjoy this blog, I must apologize for not updating this the four times a week I promised when I started this in August. I will, however, try to be better at it in the coming weeks.

Since I am also responsible for putting together Packers Preview each week, I may throw NFL topics out there as well. Any suggestions are welcome.

Prep picks of the week

After going 4-1 last week, I am now 11-9 on the season. That's hardly anything to brag about but it does mean that the games of the week usually can go either way. Here are this week's five best games to watch:
1. Kimberly at Menasha: The Papermakers can move closer to a Fox Valley Association title with a win over the defending champion Bluejays. Menasha needs this game to move closer to a playoff berth. Kimberly 28, Menasha 14.
2. Fond du Lac at Oshkosh West: Fondy and West still have an outside shot at an FVA title and both are eyeing a playoff berth. Add in a good rivalry in the rain and this one is a can't miss game to watch. Oshkosh West 24, Fond du Lac 21.
3. Waupaca at Little Chute: Both teams are among the best programs the Valley 8 has to offer. This one should go down to the wire. Waupaca 18, Little Chute 14.
4. Oshkosh Lourdes at Randolph: The Knights can clinch a playoff berth with a win tonight. Randolph has struggled the past couple of years and are looking for the upset. Lourdes 35, Randolph 16.
5. Manawa at Weyauwega-Fremont: Injuries have hurt Weyauwega-Fremont this year but they still are among the best in the conference. Manawa also continues to improve. Weyauwega-Fremont 30, Manawa 24.

Good games featured

The area conference races are shaping up as the regular season reaches its midpoint this week. So far it's been a rough go for this prognosticator, but that shows just how good football is in eastern and central Wisconsin. Here are this week's top games. My record this season stands at 7-8.
1. Little Chute at Oconto Falls: Both teams are in the thick of the Valley 8 race. Whoever loses this game won't have much of a shot at winning the conference title. Little Chute 28, Oconto Falls 14.

2. Menasha at Fond du Lac: The defending Fox Valley Association champion Bluejays are already behind Kimberly in the standings. Another loss could end hopes of any back-to-back title talk. Menasha 20, Fond du Lac 12.

3. Oshkosh West at Neenah: Neenah put itself back in the mix with an upset win over Menasha last week. The Wildcats need a victory to keep pace with Kimberly. Oshkosh West 24, Neenah 21.

4. Xavier at Fox Valley Lutheran: The Hawks are clearly favored in this one but anytime these former Fox Valley Christian Conference foes meet, anything can happen. Xavier, however, looks unstoppable in the Valley 8. Xavier 42, Fox Valley Lutheran 21.

5. Montello at Oshkosh Lourdes: The Knights came back strong last week in a 35-0 win over Markesan after losing a non-conference heartbreaker to Omro the week before. Montello is also in the thick of the Trailways-Large race and will offer a stiff test this week. Lourdes 21, Montello 16.