December 6, 2004

REALITY CHECK!!!

By: Marty the Sports Chick
Milwaukeeworld.com
MartyCoultas@Yahoo.com

Welcome back Milwaukeeworlders. What a hell of a week it has been in the world of professional sports. We see Jason Giambi’s testimony released to the public stating that...SHOCKER...Yes, he willingingly took performance-enhancing drugs! Thank God that is finally out in the open since not one of us ever thought any professional athlete was always drug-free. What a freakin joke people. This story is about as interesting and surprising as snow in December. I am sure that this will continue to be the top story on all sports broadcasts, but I for one think it is boring and uninteresting. Therefore, I am choosing to disregard it this week and write about sporting events that matter to us, the people of Milwaukee.

I am not sure if I expected it to hurt so much. While it is true that this column has been observing of the poor play of our defensive backfield since the exhibition season, I cannot truthfully say I expected that our beloved Packers would just one day disintegrate. Maybe it was spontaneous combustion, a heretofore-unexplained phenomenon. Or maybe it was an ill-conceived defensive scheme played by mediocre players who are too slow and too small to stop top-notch athletes. Nonetheless, Sunday was an embarrassment to the entire “Packer Nation” and no amount of spin by the lackey press or the Packer mouthpieces can hide the fact that the emperor has no clothes.

The Monday night game did nothing more than expose the Pack to the rest of the league as a beleaguered group of NFL Europe safeties and corners who have benefited from the over achievement of the middle of the D line and the linebackers. While Kampman and Jackson and Navies and Diggs play at an intense level, the rest of their compadres are blowing coverage and committing infractions that allow the opposition to march forthwith toward the goal line. I know you cannot blame a lack of intensity or talent on the defensive scheme or the coordinator but you do have to create a scheme that is suited to the minimal talent you have in place. The Eagles just flat kicked our ass in every aspect of the game and for anyone to think that we are just as good a team as they is ludicrous. It is time to recognize that the six game win streak was achieved against a group of mediocre teams who are hyped by the NFL and hometown press way above their respective ability. The Vikings are only mediocre and their record shows it. The Rams, Lions, Houston, Giants are all really less than mediocre. That is not the case with the Eagles. They are intense and disciplined and if we play them five more times, the results will not change.

With all due respect, it must also be pointed out that the Packer offense was only a sputtering shadow of it itself until the prevent defense was exercised in the fourth quarter. While Craig Nall did a good job, it was not a true test of ability. I am guessing that even Cade McNown could have had a good day in the latter stages of that thrashing. Brett looked flustered, exercised bad judgment and seemed overwhelmed. Given the situations he has faced over the last year, who can blame him? What he did not get was the support of his teammates and it is important to remember that football is a team game. While it has become common for many fans to expect that Brett can pick up this team and carry them, it would be wise to remember that massive weight on your shoulder will eventually tire you out to the point where you cannot continue. While I think that the offense did everything it could, they are bound to catch some of the virus being spread by a defense that isn’t well and hasn’t been for quite some time. I don’t think there is enough time for us to get well between now and the end of the season but I hope I am wrong. Minnesota and the resurgent Bears on the road will be tough and our expectations should match that reality. And, lest we forget, the Lambeau mystique has been shattered and the Jags are not a team to be taken for granted. Especially by us. We may very well make the playoffs this year since the NFC is short on talent and has become such a pleasant place to work. But make no mistake, this Packer team is nowhere near as good as last year and the pursuit of the championship is nothing but a dream.

Props to the Wisconsin Badgers for making an appearance in the Big Ten/ACC challenge. The Badgers were one of the two teams that managed to beat an ACC opponent. That is important because at least those East Coast, effete, nattering blabbers on ESPN and other networks can’t gloat 100% of the time. Problem is that they have been given the ammunition necessary to continue to fire salvos at the Midwest for the remainder of the regular season. The Wisconsin win over Maryland followed by the win at Rutgers should put the Badgers back into the top twenty. That is really about where they belong. Wisconsin is still a developing team and until they can get the consistent guard play and stop going through these five and seven minute scoring droughts, they cannot hope to compete at the upper levels of the NCAA. I believe they will be there before the end of the season but don’t expect that the boys from Madison will not break your heart a time or two.

Speaking of a broken heart, I am guessing that the Dick Vitale and Jay Bilas from ESPN were more than a little broken hearted on Wednesday night when Illinois destroyed the East Coast darlings from Wake Forest. After those two had first crowned Roy Williams as king of the world, only to have him abdicate in his first game, they then decided Wake was the real deal. I wonder what college that is East of the Allegheny they will crow about this week? They better get over it though since Illinois is about as well coached and athletically talented a team as we have seen in quite awhile around here. It is entirely possible that the Fighting Illini could arrive at the Kohl Center in January with a 19-0 record. Not that I necessarily expect that to happen but the Illini are that good.

With that said Milwaukeeworlders, allow me to sign off for now, as I must get my Holiday shopping completed. Remember that there is plenty of sporting action to come in the month of December and we have so much excitement and I am sure, some disappointments as well as surprises to look forward to!

So, until we meet again, remember to always keep your ears open and your noses clean!

Ciao,

Marty the Sports Chick
Milwaukeeworld.com
MartyCoultas@yahoo.com

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