Welcome back to The Sports Ace, where we're in such good shape that we never break a sweat during two-a-days.
Tomorrow night (already!) is the unofficial beginning of fall and the 2008-09 sports season, as high school football teams from across the area lace 'em up for the first game of the year. I look forward to this day every year, and it's not just because I'm a football TV announcer in Bloomington. We finally have something else to read about in the sports section besides the Lynx and offseason NFL news...
As a self-dubbed Lake Conference football expert, here's my preview for the upcoming season. Teams are ranked in the order that I pick them to finish.
1. Eden Prairie
The two-time defending state champs are a bit short on star power this year, and they have to replace nearly all of their starters. But they haven't lost in almost three years, and that's primarily because of their truly awesome depth. Eden Prairie will be there at the end...you can count on that.
2. Eastview
These guys went 11-2 and made it to the Dome last year, with both losses to Eden Prairie. Much of that team is back, and they're hungry.
3. Lakeville North
They went to state last year, and they have a good chunk of skill position players coming back. If there's one thing you can count on from Lakeville football teams, you can expect them to play 48 minutes of tough, hard-nosed football every time out. That will keep them in games, and now they have the talent to win them late.
4. Lakeville South
They have one of the best coaches in the state in Larry Thompson and a boatload of returning players from a middle-of-the-pack team. No real stars here, but the Cougars will do the little things right. The real travesty: the two Lakeville teams do not play each other this season. Not only is it a great crosstown rivalry in a big football city, but these two teams would have put on quite a show this year.
5. Apple Valley
They lost their first seven games last year, thanks partially to a bunch of players being suspended, but then won three in a row (including over 2-seed Kennedy) and ran to the section finals. A lot of the team is back, and with their late run last year, they think they can win. Keep an eye out for Varmah Sonie, a dynamite, lightning-fast corner who had 8 INTs and 2 TDs last year, not to mention several electrifying kick returns.
6. Bloomington Jefferson
They have a freak of nature athlete at QB, and he's committed to Minnesota for next year. But this is the year when he needs to put it all together and start playing like the top recruit he is. If he can do that on a consistent basis and emerge as a strong leader, this team could be one of the real sleepers in the metro.
7. Burnsville
This team has been down for a couple of seasons now, and knowing Burnsville football, you just can't keep them down for this long without them roaring back. They're bound to improve, but they just don't have the horses to reach the upper echelon yet.
8. Chaska
They're supposed to be good in the backfield and the wideouts, but what about the QB? And the defense? The jury's still out on this team.
9. Rosemount
These guys lost a heartbreaker to Apple Valley in last year's playoffs, and it seems their bumper crop of talent has been lost to graduation. Can they re-stock and surprise?
10. Bloomington Kennedy
No team, outside of Eden Prairie, lost more to graduation this year than the Eagles of Kennedy. They had their best team in 24 years last fall, and took third in this ultra-tough conference, but they fell hard in the playoffs and I don't think they can keep up the pace this year. They have some very talented players, but they don't have nearly the talent they did and they're not very experienced or deep. The hunch is they'll wear down over the course of the season.
11. Eagan
They've won just two games in the past two years, and this season doesn't figure to be any better. Eagan fans, be sure to catch some volleyball this fall...you may actually see some wins in the gym.
I don't think the 5A state champion will come out of the Lake this year (my money's on the Classic Lake, with Wayzata, Minnetonka, Edina, etc.), but you have to think the conference will put 2-3 teams in the state tournament for the fourth year in a row. With this tough conference as a training ground, someone always makes a run at the end...the only question is who it will be.
And my first announcing game of the year: Eden Prairie at Jefferson. Oooh...I can't wait...
I'm out like the Twins' defense.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
USA...USA...
Welcome back to The Sports Ace, where our medal count is always on top.
It was a memorable Olympics in Beijing...so many wonderful performances by so many athletes. But I have to give special recognition in this space to the men's volleyball team. Of course, the heinous attack on the Bachmans has been well documented in this space and beyond. The emotional rollercoaster that the entire family, including that volleyball team's head coach, has been on has been incredibly sobering. And then the team goes out and navigates the Olympic tournament undefeated, winning the gold medal with style on the last day of competition. To quote John Popper and Blues Traveler, from the hit song "Runaround," "Hollywood's calling for the movie rights..."
In a crazy sort of way, I got real emotional when I saw that team win gold. I know the Bachmans, and I know them to be among the nicest and most philanthropic people I've ever known. They've had the worst two weeks anyone could imagine going through. Yet, in the end, one of their own has achieved the ultimate prize in their chosen course in life, overcoming all the obstacles along the way. What's more, Barb is recovering better than doctors envisioned, the family has rebounded, our community and my extended network has rallied and an overwhelming negative of international scale has somehow produced an optimistic ending. I've written before that it's just terrible when bad things happen to great people. Well, that happened in this case, but a very short time later some really great things have happened to the same really great people. What a beautiful yet bittersweet set of circumstances.
I hope to be at Todd Bachman's funeral this week, and I hope I get to give my support to his family, my friends, in their time of need. But I also hope to meet Hugh, say hello to Wiz and help the family celebrate its amazing triumph over evil; funerals also are celebrations of life, after all. Todd's life and accomplishments alone certainly are worthy of toasting, and I think the Bachman family has offered us all a poignant lesson (building on all the lessons I learned from Barb, Wiz and the others in my childhood) about what's possible in life, even when the chips are down. It's an inspiration and a comfort that I will keep with me for a long time to come.
I'm out like Beijing 2008.
It was a memorable Olympics in Beijing...so many wonderful performances by so many athletes. But I have to give special recognition in this space to the men's volleyball team. Of course, the heinous attack on the Bachmans has been well documented in this space and beyond. The emotional rollercoaster that the entire family, including that volleyball team's head coach, has been on has been incredibly sobering. And then the team goes out and navigates the Olympic tournament undefeated, winning the gold medal with style on the last day of competition. To quote John Popper and Blues Traveler, from the hit song "Runaround," "Hollywood's calling for the movie rights..."
In a crazy sort of way, I got real emotional when I saw that team win gold. I know the Bachmans, and I know them to be among the nicest and most philanthropic people I've ever known. They've had the worst two weeks anyone could imagine going through. Yet, in the end, one of their own has achieved the ultimate prize in their chosen course in life, overcoming all the obstacles along the way. What's more, Barb is recovering better than doctors envisioned, the family has rebounded, our community and my extended network has rallied and an overwhelming negative of international scale has somehow produced an optimistic ending. I've written before that it's just terrible when bad things happen to great people. Well, that happened in this case, but a very short time later some really great things have happened to the same really great people. What a beautiful yet bittersweet set of circumstances.
I hope to be at Todd Bachman's funeral this week, and I hope I get to give my support to his family, my friends, in their time of need. But I also hope to meet Hugh, say hello to Wiz and help the family celebrate its amazing triumph over evil; funerals also are celebrations of life, after all. Todd's life and accomplishments alone certainly are worthy of toasting, and I think the Bachman family has offered us all a poignant lesson (building on all the lessons I learned from Barb, Wiz and the others in my childhood) about what's possible in life, even when the chips are down. It's an inspiration and a comfort that I will keep with me for a long time to come.
I'm out like Beijing 2008.
Friday, August 15, 2008
An Olympic-Sized Update
Welcome back to The Sports Ace, where winning gold medals in world-record time is standard procedure.
It hasn't been that long since I posted (yes, it has...I'm sorry), but a lot has happened. Let's get caught up.
The Sports Ace has a new job! I'm now the Manager of Public Relations for a growing data storage/IT company based in the Twin Cities area. It's one heckuva opportunity that's bound to consume plenty of my time, so please understand if I don't get a new post up every day from now on. Employment + kids: no time.
Brett Favre is a Jet. One thing struck me about this development: it was the perfect ending to the perfect mess of a story. Seriously, the plot twisted every day for more than a month, and the ultimate twist came at the end when Favre moved to the Big City. TSA's guess: Favre plays one season in NYC and then brokers a trade to Minnesota for the 2009 season. Do you think he's really going to be happy in New York? He just needs some time to put space between him and Green Bay...and then he'll get right back on his righteous horse and manufacture his next move. It could happen.
Michael Phelps goes for eight gold medals this weekend, and he already has six. Congrats to him on a truly superior achievement, and to his relay teammates for their roles in his success. Two things bother me though: 1) his relay teammates are getting nowhere near the credit they deserve for their roles, especially Jason Lezak, who swam the best relay anchor leg in history to give the U.S. victory over France. And 2) Phelps is not necessarily the best Summer Olympian ever. He's won the most gold medals ever, and he's definitely earned a place in that debate. But that doesn't necessarily mean he's better than all those who dominated their sports but simply had fewer chances to medal. Jesse Owens? Mia Hamm? Misty-May Treanor and Kerri Walsh? Carl Lewis, who won nine golds in a wider range of athletic disciplines than Phelps? Just a few of the other worthy candidates.
Back at training camp, the Vikes' biggest question mark for the upcoming season? Defensive end. Seriously, you can't make this up. After a whole offseason of Jared Allen talk and visions from media and team of the Vikings having the best D-line in football, one injury has made them thin at the position and worried about their prospects for success. Oh, how things can change in a hurry. To the Twin Cities football media: you should be ashamed of yourselves...you drank too much Kool-Aid. To the Vikings PR people: you've had a brilliant offseason and training camp.
Last but certainly not least, I know you've all heard about the attack in Beijing last Saturday on the Bachman family, known for its ties to U.S. volleyball. This one hit close to home for me - I grew up going to church with the entire Bachman family. I wasn't especially close with Todd, who was murdered, but knew him to be a stand-up guy who was a wonderful, giving CEO, father and person. I was - and still consider myself to be - friends with Barbara, the mother who was attacked while trying to save Todd, and her youngest daughter Wiz, who played for the U.S. team in 2004. Trust me when I say that you may never meet a nicer person than Barb Bachman...she directed me in church choir for several years, and just two weeks ago when I saw the entire Bachman family at a funeral, she had a big hug for me and couldn't wait to hear what I'd been up to. This is a profound tragedy, and it would be for anyone in any place, but one that has deeply affected a lot of people from my neck of the woods. I hope Todd is in a better place, that Barb keeps improving and makes a full recovery, and that the Bachman family and company can move on from this despicable act with the same spirit and generosity that has been their hallmark for decades. I'm one of the many who will line up to support them with anything they need when they return from China.
I'm out like baseball as an Olympic sport.
It hasn't been that long since I posted (yes, it has...I'm sorry), but a lot has happened. Let's get caught up.
The Sports Ace has a new job! I'm now the Manager of Public Relations for a growing data storage/IT company based in the Twin Cities area. It's one heckuva opportunity that's bound to consume plenty of my time, so please understand if I don't get a new post up every day from now on. Employment + kids: no time.
Brett Favre is a Jet. One thing struck me about this development: it was the perfect ending to the perfect mess of a story. Seriously, the plot twisted every day for more than a month, and the ultimate twist came at the end when Favre moved to the Big City. TSA's guess: Favre plays one season in NYC and then brokers a trade to Minnesota for the 2009 season. Do you think he's really going to be happy in New York? He just needs some time to put space between him and Green Bay...and then he'll get right back on his righteous horse and manufacture his next move. It could happen.
Michael Phelps goes for eight gold medals this weekend, and he already has six. Congrats to him on a truly superior achievement, and to his relay teammates for their roles in his success. Two things bother me though: 1) his relay teammates are getting nowhere near the credit they deserve for their roles, especially Jason Lezak, who swam the best relay anchor leg in history to give the U.S. victory over France. And 2) Phelps is not necessarily the best Summer Olympian ever. He's won the most gold medals ever, and he's definitely earned a place in that debate. But that doesn't necessarily mean he's better than all those who dominated their sports but simply had fewer chances to medal. Jesse Owens? Mia Hamm? Misty-May Treanor and Kerri Walsh? Carl Lewis, who won nine golds in a wider range of athletic disciplines than Phelps? Just a few of the other worthy candidates.
Back at training camp, the Vikes' biggest question mark for the upcoming season? Defensive end. Seriously, you can't make this up. After a whole offseason of Jared Allen talk and visions from media and team of the Vikings having the best D-line in football, one injury has made them thin at the position and worried about their prospects for success. Oh, how things can change in a hurry. To the Twin Cities football media: you should be ashamed of yourselves...you drank too much Kool-Aid. To the Vikings PR people: you've had a brilliant offseason and training camp.
Last but certainly not least, I know you've all heard about the attack in Beijing last Saturday on the Bachman family, known for its ties to U.S. volleyball. This one hit close to home for me - I grew up going to church with the entire Bachman family. I wasn't especially close with Todd, who was murdered, but knew him to be a stand-up guy who was a wonderful, giving CEO, father and person. I was - and still consider myself to be - friends with Barbara, the mother who was attacked while trying to save Todd, and her youngest daughter Wiz, who played for the U.S. team in 2004. Trust me when I say that you may never meet a nicer person than Barb Bachman...she directed me in church choir for several years, and just two weeks ago when I saw the entire Bachman family at a funeral, she had a big hug for me and couldn't wait to hear what I'd been up to. This is a profound tragedy, and it would be for anyone in any place, but one that has deeply affected a lot of people from my neck of the woods. I hope Todd is in a better place, that Barb keeps improving and makes a full recovery, and that the Bachman family and company can move on from this despicable act with the same spirit and generosity that has been their hallmark for decades. I'm one of the many who will line up to support them with anything they need when they return from China.
I'm out like baseball as an Olympic sport.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Can't We All Just Get Along?
Welcome back to The Sports Ace, where opposing managers and coaches always can't seem to get enough of our squad.
In case you've been hiding under a rock, Twins fans were rather unruly in the 7th inning of last night's victory over the Pale Hose. Gardy was ejected for arguing a terrible call, and then punted his cap on his way off the field. Of course, being the followers that Minnesota sports fans are, a few donkeys threw their caps and baseballs on the field after Gardy left, causing a five-minute delay in the game and an evacuation of the field by the visiting team.
I was reminded immediately of the Chuck Knoblauch fiasco, and the national black eye that Twins fans took in the hours and days afterward. I was there...the brunt of the action happened just a couple of rows in front of me in the lower deck left field area. I promise you that what happened that night was much worse than the events of last night. There were more people throwing more dangerous items - I even feared for my own safety. This is not to say, however, that last night's festivities were somehow all right. They were absolutely not.
I'm not exactly sure what it is about the Minnesota sporting public that makes us snap like this. I'm sure the booze has something to do with it - well, maybe a lot to do with it. But maybe it's the fact that Twins fans want so badly for the team to win - because Minnesota fans haven't had a lot of other good teams to cheer for lately - that they almost have an edge about it. It's kind of like the Cubs/Bartman syndrome...the ultimate example of fans having an edge. The Cubbies were 5 outs from a pennant, and Bartman got in the way of Alou catching that foul ball, and now he's in hiding because of the threats he's faced ever since. Maybe it's the fact that Twins fans are nostalgic and can't ever seem to move on when things happen, as evidenced by the fact that A.J. Pierzynski still gets booed in every plate appearance in the Dome (come on people...he was a great Twin, and his departure was the best thing that he ever did for the team because it brought in Nathan, Liriano and - ahem - Bonser). Whatever it is...again, today, one of ESPN.com's top headlines calls out Twins fans for their idiocy.
I hate being embarrassed to be a die-hard Twins fan, and I hate donkeys that can't control themselves and cause us to take it on the chin. To the people out there who are guilty of last night's events: shame on you, and I hope you pay the appropriate price. There's nothing wrong with being a passionate fan. But there is a line we just can't cross, and because this has happened more than once now, I fear this isn't just a blip anymore...it's a trend. And the thing about trends...there's bound to be a next time.
On a brighter note, I got my first look this morning at the still-being-built TCF Bank Stadium. I have seen the future of Gopher football, and my oh my, it is going to be good.
I'm out like Jared Allen from last night's scrimmage.
In case you've been hiding under a rock, Twins fans were rather unruly in the 7th inning of last night's victory over the Pale Hose. Gardy was ejected for arguing a terrible call, and then punted his cap on his way off the field. Of course, being the followers that Minnesota sports fans are, a few donkeys threw their caps and baseballs on the field after Gardy left, causing a five-minute delay in the game and an evacuation of the field by the visiting team.
I was reminded immediately of the Chuck Knoblauch fiasco, and the national black eye that Twins fans took in the hours and days afterward. I was there...the brunt of the action happened just a couple of rows in front of me in the lower deck left field area. I promise you that what happened that night was much worse than the events of last night. There were more people throwing more dangerous items - I even feared for my own safety. This is not to say, however, that last night's festivities were somehow all right. They were absolutely not.
I'm not exactly sure what it is about the Minnesota sporting public that makes us snap like this. I'm sure the booze has something to do with it - well, maybe a lot to do with it. But maybe it's the fact that Twins fans want so badly for the team to win - because Minnesota fans haven't had a lot of other good teams to cheer for lately - that they almost have an edge about it. It's kind of like the Cubs/Bartman syndrome...the ultimate example of fans having an edge. The Cubbies were 5 outs from a pennant, and Bartman got in the way of Alou catching that foul ball, and now he's in hiding because of the threats he's faced ever since. Maybe it's the fact that Twins fans are nostalgic and can't ever seem to move on when things happen, as evidenced by the fact that A.J. Pierzynski still gets booed in every plate appearance in the Dome (come on people...he was a great Twin, and his departure was the best thing that he ever did for the team because it brought in Nathan, Liriano and - ahem - Bonser). Whatever it is...again, today, one of ESPN.com's top headlines calls out Twins fans for their idiocy.
I hate being embarrassed to be a die-hard Twins fan, and I hate donkeys that can't control themselves and cause us to take it on the chin. To the people out there who are guilty of last night's events: shame on you, and I hope you pay the appropriate price. There's nothing wrong with being a passionate fan. But there is a line we just can't cross, and because this has happened more than once now, I fear this isn't just a blip anymore...it's a trend. And the thing about trends...there's bound to be a next time.
On a brighter note, I got my first look this morning at the still-being-built TCF Bank Stadium. I have seen the future of Gopher football, and my oh my, it is going to be good.
I'm out like Jared Allen from last night's scrimmage.
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