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Badgers Round Up: Wednesday, June 30th

We're halfway through the week and the Badger buzz is picking up.  Speaking of buzz, I've still got one from Taco Tuesday so let's get to it before I ramble on too much.

Derek Landisch, a linebacker from Hartland Arrowhead, gave a verbal commitment to play football for Wisconsin on Tuesday.  You can read more about him here, here, here, and here.

Pro sports teams in Wisconsin are considered small market but that doesn't hold true for the UW football program.  According to figures from the U.S. Department of Education's Equity in Athletics the UW spent $22.7 million on the football program during the 2008-2009 school year.  That's the 8th most in the NCAA and 3rd in the Big Ten behind OSU, the biggest spender in the NCAA at $32.3 million, and Iowa.  Fanhouse breaks down how spending translates to on-field performance.  Money does in fact buy wins, particularly for the Badgers who have a 42-10 record since 2005 against schools who spent less money on their football programs.

At least on student in Madison this summer is doing something other than delivering pizzas, flipping for discounted drinks at Brats, or going to Open Mic night at the Terrace.  The Daily Cardinal gives us five players who will be critical their team's success this year.

Andy Baggot suggests the Big 10 should go to a 10 game league schedule.  I don't see that happening mostly because of the BCS implications.  Adding a championship game will result in a top tier team having one more loss and an additional league game increases the chances for another loss for a team in contention for a BCS at-large spot.

Yesterday I told you about the former Badgers slated to play in the NBA summer league in Vegas.  Marcus Landry could be joining the party.  He's on Indiana Pacers rookie-free agent camp roster.  Landry was waived by the Celtics in April, missing out on a chance to be part of the longest playoffs of any pro sport.

Kevin Paul at Bleacher Report lists his top 20 NFL prospects in the Big 10.  Badgers included on his list include Gabe Carimi (#2), John Clay (#9), and John Mofffitt (#16).

66 days to kickoff.

Inside the Numbers: 33:55

UW's average time of possession in 2009.....which was #1 in the NCAA.  UW has led the country in time of possession in 2 of the last 3 seasons.  The Badgers are 29-8 under Beliema when they hold the ball longer than their opponents. 

Badger Round Up: Tuesday, June 29th

Surprisingly, today's biggest Badger news has to do with two sports, hockey and basketball, that don't begin play for another four months.

The NHL network will be airing the Reebok Presents 2010 NCAA Frozen Four Official Championship Film this week.  The one hour show provides a behind-the-scenes look at each of the Frozen Four teams including practices, locker room speeches, film sessions, and in-depth interviews with team leaders.  The show includes a segment on UW tri-captain Ben Street, who suffered a season-ending knee injury a year ago and returned to score the winning goal against St. Cloud State in the West Regional finals.  The show will air at 8pm EDT and 11pm EDT Wednesday, 11am EDT Thursday, and 2pm EDT Sunday on NHL network (DirecTV channel 215).

Tens of thousands of Badger fans will descend on Las Vegas in early September but a handful of former UW basketball players will be there this July for the NBA summer league.  Badgers slated to play include Brian Butch (Denver), Greg Steimsma (Minnesota), Joe Krabbenhoft (Portland), and Alando Tucker (Milwaukee).  Trevon Hughes could join them.  He was invited to the Houston Rockets mini-camp and has a chance to earn a spot on the Rockets' summer league roster with a strong showing.

In other basketball news, Andy Katz looks at the 2011 NBA draft prospects with the most buzz.  Jon Leuer is on the list.  Here's what Katz has to say about the guy that had a big growth spurt in high school.

Leuer has pro skills and should be the featured player for the Badgers. Wisconsin has done a tremendous job of developing upperclassmen and getting them ready for the jump. Leuer is next in line.

According to Purdue's athletic director, a Big 10 championship game isn't a given.  If ever there was free money to be had it would be betting on a championship game happening.

67 days until kickoff.

Walking the Line - USA vs Ghana Recap

Due to the honest nature of the gambling beast, I feel it my moral and social responsibility to set the record straight regarding the USA vs Ghana World Cup match... I am officially 0-1 in my Walking the Line column.  See, as I learned late Saturday afternoon, soccer betting ends at regulation.  In other words, even though this was the round of 16 and all games must end with a winner, the winning bet was actually the tie.  Some of the more astute readers called out the fact that the "tie" bet was a sucker bet due to the nature of this stage of the tournament but that proved to be a costly mistake.

So now I sit here with a lighter wallet and even 1 more reason to dislike soccer.  That's ok though.  Our next chance to get out of the red is in UW's opening football game @ UNLV.  Coincidence that this road leads to Vegas?  I don't think so.

Badger Round Up: Monday, June 28th

Congrats to d dogg for winning his initial Walking the Line play.  The odds of him finishing .500 or better for football season are +220.  It's another slow day for Badger news but here's what I could track down to keep you distracted on a Monday morning.

Dave Heller at the JSOnline rounds up some of the discussion going on about potential divisions and location of the Big Ten championship game when Nebraska joins the Big Ten.

It's a good month to be a strength and conditioning coordinator.  Either people are suddenly really interested in who these guys are and what they do or writers are struggling for material.  Mike Lucas has a story about the UW guys who get paid over $100,000 annually to run the program for the last two decades.

Want to know how unappealing San Jose State, Northwestern, and Indiana are Badger fans?  The athletic department will throw in a free Palermo's pizza if you buy tickets to all three games.  The 3 game pizza pack goes on sale July 12th along with individual home and away games.  UNLV tickets are $75.  That seems more expensive than the last trip to sin city.

In hockey news, sophomore defenseman John Ramage (4th round) and incoming freshman Jason Clark (3rd round) were selected in last week's NHL draft.

If you're interested in learning a little more about Nebraska and what Husker fans think about joining the Big 10/11/12, Big Ten Network blogger Brent Yarina interviews a Nebraska blogger.  Also, here are Barry's thoughts on the newest addition to the league.

68 days until kickoff in Vegas.

It's Wedding Season

There are a few former Badgers getting married this summer.  Kirk Penney tied the knot with former UW volleyball player Audra Jeffers yesterday (June 26th) in Madison.  Clayton Hanson is getting hitched July 17th and Freddie Owens & Tanner Bronson are both taking the plunge in August.  Cheers!  

Walking the Line - June 25th

Welcome to the "Coming Out Party" for my column titled Walking the Line.  Walking the Line is intended for the iced out, rush seeking degenerate gambler who, when looking for a spark in their life, hits up the likes of sportsbook.com, betonsports.com or their local bookie.  I will be relaunching this come Badger season but I figured I may as well capitalize on this World Cup thing and help give some of us more of a reason to watch other than the occasional goal or a referee call.

So here we are, gearing up for the round of 16 and a USA match-up against Ghana.  Here is the line:

USA +145...Ghana +185...Tie +210

Over 2.5 + 130...Under 2.5 -180

Thoughts: The USA comes in as a slight favorites which brings up some serious red flags.  First of all, this US team is notorious for giving up the early goal and they have not shown much in the way of making a fix thus far in the tournament so I don't see anything changing before tomorrow.  Another red flag regarding the US bet is the general public.  The general public is generally wrong (that is why the Vegas lights are so bright) and sportsbook.com is reporting that 86% of money is being bet on the US.  The final red flag in play here is that this line will be set knowing that US betters will be emotional coming off of Wednesday's amazing win.

Notable notes: Ghana is the only remaining team in the round of 16 from the African continent.  This sport has, if nothing else, proved that it can be swayed by the refs.  I can only expect that FIFA would love to see a host continent competitor continue to play well into the tournament.  Look for the 50/50 calls to go Ghana's way.

The Play: Take Ghana +185.  Unpopular I know...but in this segment of sports, money is king.

Why Being a Sports Fan is Awesome

I've been a huge sports fan as long as I've been old enough to know what sports were.  In a recent job interview the guy I was talking to asked me what my hobbies were.  My answer?  Sports.

For the last nine-plus years my wife has watched the emotional roller coaster I go through during a season, or even a single game.  She's seen me go from unbridled optimism to temporary depression in minutes, often dodging flying objects in the process.  All the while wondering to herself why someone would subject himself to such pain.

Landon Donovan's stoppage time goal against Algeria Wednesday is the reason why.  In a matter of seconds that goal captured the collective hear of the nation and brought pure joy to millions of Americans who all shared one common trait.  They were fans.

Don't believe me?  See it for yourself.

It's moments like these that make all the times you had your heart ripped out worth it.  I will gladly trade an untimely fumble by a future Heisman winner trying to run out the clock, a blowout loss that ending an undefeated football season, or a frustrating NCAA tournament loss to mid-major team, for the feelings that comes with an improbable win.

Feelings like storming the Kohl Center floor and giving Bobby Knight the finger when the Badgers beat Indiana to essentially clinch a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Or jumping up and down shouting with joy with my college roommate at the front of a Las Vegas sports book when Freddie Owens drained a last second 3-pointer to send the Badgers to the Sweet Sixteen.

Or running circles around my house, naked, when Scott Starks returned a fumble for a game-winning TD against Purdue.

Or having my friend Kurt leaping into my arms and carrying him around my house, clothed, when Ben Strickland recovered a blocked punt by Jonathan Casillas in the Metrodome.

Or the feeling of shock sitting alone in my sister-in-law's living room when Michael Flowers drained a three and stole ten ensuring inbounds pass to steal a victory in Austin.

Or a my profanity-laden reaction directed at Tom Izzo and the Michigan State fan base when Michael Flowers intercepted Drew Neitzel's pass for the game-winning layup in the Big Ten Tournament semi-finals.

I just hope this year's football and basketball seasons bring the joy and leave my heart where it is.

This Badger belongs in Wisconsin

Not a current news story here, but fantastic nonetheless.

A Badger in Germany got so drunk on overripe (and thus alcoholic) cherries that it stumbled into the middle of the road and refused to budge.  A motorist called police near the town of Goslar to report a dead Badger, only for officers to arrive and find the animal alive, but drunk.

Officers eventually chased the animal from the road with a broom.

Good thing he was more of a sleepy drunk than a fighty drunk...I'd be quite pissed if I was trying to sleep one off and some mall cop with a broom whacked me in the ass.

I think we should all be proud of this animal..he's really living up to the reputation we all carry as Badgers.

Makes me feel better about the swigs of warm Margarita mix I took a few weeks ago to catch a buzz when I had unforgivably run out of beer.  At least I didn't resort to the overripe cherries.

Elsewhere, a Wolverine was found with a slight caffeine high after wandering into a Dunkin' Donuts dumpster in search of a rat with whom he had hoped to lose his virginity.  The 36-year old Wolverine was unsuccessful in his mating attempts and currently spends his days wandering Michigan in search of returnable aluminum cans and someone to listen to his stories about that one time you could actually hear the crowd in Michigan Stadium.

No More Erin Andrews at the Kohl????

Say it isn't so Badger Fans but our favorite ESPN reporter Erin Andrews appears to be leaving the network sometime this summer. Basketball games at the Kohl Center won't be the same will they?