Video of the Week: Hands of My Porkchop!

I guess it is time to come out of the closet and admit that I am a Red Sox fan when it comes to baseball...and my dislike for the Yankees is so rich you could sprinkle it over pancakes. But sometimes even Yankees fans make me laugh and remind everyone why they are Yankees fans.

So for this week's Video of the Week I give to you...the dirtiest Yankee fan of ALL-TIME!

Badger Men's Tennis Season Comes to an End

Following an early win in the first round of the NCAA singles tournament Marek Michalika was looking at the possibility of becoming the first Badger to reach the third round since 1955, but that dream is now over.

After handling his opponent in the morning Baylor's Dennes Lukacs proved to be too much for the Badger junior. Lukacs was able to dominate Michalika in the second round sending Michalika back to Madison following at 6-2, 6-3 performance loss.

Joining in the swan song for the Badgers was senior Moritz Baumann who lost his singles match earlier in the day, but also falling victim to a second loss in doubles. Pairing with Michalika, Baumman watched his career at Wisconsin come to an end today.

Unlike the men's basketball team, Michalika and Baumann were unable to defeat the Duke Blue Devils. Paired against Duke's Henrique Cunha and Reid Carleto the duo of Badgers fell in straight sets. Michalika and Baumann were able to put off the inevitable pushing the Blue Devil duo to a second match point but were unable to make a rally losing the final set 7-5.

The loss today means the end for Baumann who is a senior and will now leave the program, but today is not the end for Michalika quite yet. The 2008 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2010 All-Big Ten selection will have one more shot at collegiate tennis in the 2010-2011 season.

Next! Michalika Moves On

For the first time in almost twenty years the Wisconsin men's tennis team has a member moving on to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Wisconsin's Marek Michalika is moving on after defeating Texas Tech's Raony Carvahlo in consecutive sets. Following a 6-2 victory in the first set Michalika finished off Carvahlo in a closer second set by winning 6-3.

The last time a Badger men's tennis player competed in the second round was all the way back in 1991. UW's Jack Waite was sent packing back in '91 after losing in the second round. The last time a Badger made it to the third round of the NCAA singles tournament was in 1955 when Warren Muller made it to the third round.

Thursday wasn't the greatest of days for Michalika's teammate Moritz Baumann. The senior lost to Georgia Tech's Gomez in three sets. Baumann rallied following a loss in the first set to take the second set 6-4, but lost in the third and final set 6-4.

Alvarez Heads to the Hall

For the first time Wisconsin has a coach in the College Football Hall of Fame, and it is none other than Barry Alvarez.

As expected Alvarez was announced as an inductee to the Hall of Fame. The selections came at a ceremony in Times Square and after years of waiting Alvarez will join the likes of Woody Hayes, and Bear Bryant in the Hall of Fame.

Alvarez who was the head coach at Wisconsin from 1990-2006 repaired what was once a shattered program. Before Alvarez the Badgers had won just one bowl game in it's 100 year history as a program. During the Alvarez era Wisconsin won a total of eight bowl games, and three Rose Bowl championships as well.

Barry Alvarez will no doubtingly go down as the greatest coach in Wisconsin history (at least until this point), and the man that switched the direction of the UW football program. Does Barry belong with the greats of college football...with out a doubt...yes.

Video of the Week: Anyone Else Lost Yet?

Usually we go with something sports related for the video of the week. That unfortunately will not happen this week because a higher calling has come for the video of the week.

If you've been living on the moon for the last six years you could have a reasonable excuse to not know what Lost is. So since you probably have not (welcome moon-people if you have) we are devoting this weeks video of the week to Lost. The final episode is this Sunday so check it out one last time. I guarantee you will have no idea what just happened, but if you have other things to do Sunday we're going to help you out.

So for the video of the week I give you: The Lost Spoilers.

New Faces on the Bench

After a remarkable season Mike Eaves discovered that he was becoming more and more alone on the bench, but know he's getting some company.

Following the season not only did Eaves lose a large amount of his players but two assistant coaches. Mark Osiecki bolted for the Ohio State head coaching job, and Kevin Patrick left town to coach a U.S. Hockey league expansion team in Michigan.

Today, Eaves announced the duo that will be filling the void behind the bench for next season. One a Badger and the other....a Gopher?

Some may remember Gary Shuchuk from his days on the ice in cardinal and white Shuchuk was a member of the 1990 National Championship team. Shuchuk at the time held the single season goal record for seniors at UW with 41 in his final year. But you can't beat the head coach at everything. That season Shuchuk came just short of setting the single season points mark for a senior with 80 points, second all time for a senior, just a few short of Mike Eave's 89 points.

The other new assistant may be a little shocked when he hears cheers in Madison, and hears boos in Minnesota. Bill Butters may like the cheers in Madison a little more now than he did in his college days as a Gopher between 1970 and 1973.

Any Badger fan that was around during his playing time at Minnesota may remember Butters not for what he did on the ice but what he did in the stands. While playing at Minnesota Butters didn't just dislike the student section...he actually tried to pick a fight with the student section.

As for his coaching career Butters spent a period of time as an assistant at Minnesota back in the 80s, but most recently, believe it or not, Butters has been involved with the Hockey Ministries International organization as a chaplain. A far cry from the man that once tried to pick a fight with the student section.

Both coaches bring professional hockey experience to the program, but without a doubt both bring a knowledge of what college hockey is all about. Just ask Butters.

Sweet Sixteen...Not So Sweet

The remarkable season for the Wisconsin men's tennis team is over after losing to Ohio State on Friday.

The match which was originally scheduled to be played outside was moved indoors because of rain, but apparently Bucky left his tennis skills outside too. The fourth seeded Buckeyes cruised over the Badgers 4-0 to send Wisconsin back to Madison.

The only match that the Badgers were able to win was a doubles when Patrick Pohlmann and Mike Dierberger defeated their Buckeye counterparts.

The loss marks the 20th consecutive time that the Badgers have fallen to the boys from Columbus, and the third defeat at the hands of the Buckeyes this season.

While the team will head back to Madison there will still be two Badgers competing for a national title. Moritz Baumann and Marek Michalika will both compete in the singles and doubles part of the national tournament which will begin on Wednesday.

A Look Down the Road: NFL Lockout

Every sport has had a lockout at one time or another, but it may be the NFL's turn according to players union head DeMaurice Smith.

Smith announced on Thursday that a possible lockout is becoming a viable option when collective bargaining ends between the union and the league owners in 2011. The lockout would mean big things not just for the NFL, but college football as well.

Looking down the road a lockout could be both good and bad for college football. It could be good for revenues and exposure with a competitor literally watching from the sidelines. But it could be bad if you're looking to enter the NFL draft.

A pending lockout could mean a year off for many players, that is if they league doesn't use replacement players again. If players choose to leave college early to enter the draft they would be giving up eligibility to come back and play.

But what does this mean for the Wisconsin Badgers...everything.

The Badgers this year may be showcasing quite possibly the best back in the country in John Clay. If the lockout appears to be a realistic possibility it is possible that many players will not enter the draft early and take their chances playing one more year in college.

While there has been no word to this point that John Clay will enter the draft next season, and don't expect any official word until after the next season is over. One could put some money on the fact that if Clay has a solid year he could be heading to the NFL after his junior season.

A lockout could mean that Clay could be back in cardinal and white for another season. Signing with another team and joining the players union right before the lockout would mean that Clay would need to sit for another year, and not play.

Coming back to college would mean another year of exposure and practice. I know what some of you might be thinking...what about the money? Good point.

If you have a significant chance at becoming a high draft pick in the NFL, or any other professional league for that matter, you can take out an insurance policy on yourself just in case you get hurt. While the policy would not give you as much as an NFL contract will; it will give you a large sum of money that you can bank on.

So over the next year as the collective bargaining period ends for the NFL...keep an eye on the situation. A lockout will have more than just an impact on the NFL. Expect college football to be greatly impacted as well.

My Take: What do you mean no football championship?

In sports journalism you hear a lot of outlandish things. Sometimes coaches, players, athletic directors, and even commissioners will leave you scratching your head, but this time Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has totally taken the taco.

For the past couple of months all we've heard about in terms of college athletics is the possibility of Big Ten expansion. First it's on the fast track...then it's non-existent. Now the possible expansion is months away.

That doesn't mean that the expansion is not going to happen this year. We have heard from many sources that expansion is years down the road. And to be honest I believe that because I have been hearing about Big Ten expansion for the past decade. If not long before that as well.

We saw the precursor to expansion when Penn State joined the conference in the 90's. We have heard the rumors about Notre Dame kicking around the idea for over 15 years. And now we are listening to reports floating possibly 16 teams in the conference, but yet nothing officially from the heads of the conference.

That isn't what takes the taco though. The fact that this isn't for a conference championship football game is what stuns me. Let's be honest...is there any other point in expanding the conference.

The Big Ten already has a conference basketball tournament. The conference already has it's own cable network. The Big Ten already brings in more money than any other conference on a yearly basis. So what is the point of expansion.

I'm not saying that I personally am against the possibility of expansion. To be honest it is exciting to possibly have a conference that can rival the SEC competitively. But to tell us that this isn't for a conference football championship game is a complete lie.

That has to be the only reason that you would be doing this. I understand being able to get into new media markets with the Big Ten Network. I understand that more schools equals more dollars in the collective pot, but you know what else does. A conference championship football game that the networks will have to pay to get their hands on , or the Big Ten will air it on their own network.

All this is saying is that maybe it is time that the Big Ten stops selling fans a bridge to nowhere. We all know why the Big Ten wants expansion (if they do want it...which would make this past three months a waste) is because it is another revenue stream. So Jim Delany please stop selling the Big Ten fans an outhouse and telling us it's the Taj Mahal. We're a little smarter that you think we are, and that's my take.

Rowing Back to the NCAA

For the third consecutive year the Wisconsin women's open weight rowing team is heading back to the NCAA Championships.

The field was announced on Tuesday and to no surprise the Badgers were back in. The Badgers won both the Big Ten and the NCAA Central Region title this year.

This will be the sixth bid for the program in the last seven years, and the fifth under coach Bebe Bryans in her six years at the helm of the Badgers ship.

The Badgers are seeded 14th in the varsity eight, 8th in the second eight, and 4th in the varsity four.

The NCAA Championships will be held at Lake Natoma in California on May 28-30, where the Badgers will look to beat their best overall finish of 6th from 2006.

Bennett Heading South of the Boarder

The search is finally over for now former Wisconsin women's basketball assistant coach Kathi Bennett.

Bennett has been named the new head coach at Northern Illinois. The announcement came on Tuesday at a news conference in DeKalb, Ill.

The daughter of one time Wisconsin men's coach Dick Bennett will now return to head coaching for the first time since leaving Indiana in 2005. Kathi Bennett joined the Wisconsin program during the 2007-2008 season.

The new job marks the end to a whirl-wind offseason when Bennett was turned down for two head coaching positions. One at Indiana State and the other at Wright State.

Bennett will take over a program that went just 10-19 last season, but returns a solid core of players for Bennett to work with next season.

Fear the Deer...Fear the Hughes?

Former Wisconsin guard Trevon Hughes is getting one his first shots and impressing and NBA team today in Milwaukee.

Hughes in a group of players working out for the team, but part of only two guards in today's morning session of the workout. The other guard is former Cal guard Jarome Randle.

Also in attendance in the morning shift will be: Paul George from Fresno State, Craig Backins from Iowa State, Marquis Gilstrap also from Iowa State, and Tyren Johnson from Louisiana-Lafayette.

Hughes will be looking to impress the Bucks enough to select him in the NBA Draft that will be taking place next month. If Hughes goes undrafted expect to see him either sign sometime after the draft or enter into the NBA Developmental League.

Photo of the Week

There aren't many times when we can say that a religious leader has it exactly right...but this time the Dalai Lama hit the nail on the head.

For this week's photo of the week we give you his excellency the Dalai Lama sporting the cardinal and white during his visit to Madison.

For more on the Dalai Lama's visit to Madison check out Madison.com

Erasmus James Pleads Guilty to Battery

Former Badger defensive end Erasmus James has plead guilty to a felony battery charge for an altercation at a University Ave. bar last year.

The former Minnesota Viking was arrested after he punched his friend Kyle Massey after being angry that a bartender would not serve him after last call.

James who as drafter by the Vikings in 2005, and last played for the Washington Redskins in 2008, will now enter the first offenders program. If James follows the rules of the first offender program the battery charges will be dropped. Breaking the rules of the first offender program would mean that James would have to return to court for sentencing.

There have been no announcements on the exact rules of the first offender program James will be participating in.

Another Peek at the Schedule

The Badger football schedule is starting to take shape...at least in terms of gametimes.

We know who the Badgers will take on this year, but there are still plenty of questions about when the games will start. Another one of the question marks is gone...at least for one more game.

The match-up between Wisconsin and the Sun Devils from Arizona State will now start at 2:30 on ABC. This will be the first time since 2007 that the Badgers will be featured in a regional network game from Camp Randall in the non-conference schedule.

The last time Wisconsin was featured in that spot was against another PAC 10 team; the Washington State Cougars. A game that Wisconsin went on to win 42-21.

The meeting between the Sun Devils and Badgers will be only the third meeting between the two programs. The first meeting between the two was in 1967 when the Badgers lost 42-16 at Camp Randall and the last was in 1968. The latter was a 55-7 loss to the Sun Devils in Tempe, Ariz.

For any Badger fans that will be out of the region and are worried that they won't be able to see the game. The match-up between the Badgers and Sun Devils can be seen on ESPN2 outside of the broadcasting regions.

Bring On the Wolfpack

Fox Sports is reporting that Wisconsin will take on North Carolina State in the 2010 Big Ten-ACC Challenge.

The Wolfpack went 19-15 last season and lost to Alabama-Birmingham in the second round of the NIT. This will also be the second consecutive season that the Badgers will play a Big Ten-ACC Challenge game at the Kohl Center.

Last season the Badgers took on the eventual national champion Duke Blue Devils at the Kohl Center. The match-up was reportedly in response to a Bo Ryan request that the Badgers play a game at the Kohl Center in the challenge. ESPN, who sets up many of the match-ups for TV, decided to give the Badgers a game against Duke.

Wisconsin eventually took down Duke 73-69 back in November. The reward for the Badgers this season will be another home game, but this time against a team that doesn't quite carry the marquee like Duke does.

The Badgers last took on the Wolfpack in 2005 in the sweet sixteen of the NCAA tournament. Wisconsin won and moved on to the elite eight where they ran into eventual national champion North Carolina.

For the rest of the Big Ten, the other reported match-ups include a game between Illinois and North Carolina. Ohio State will reportedly take on Florida State in another match-up of two teams that should be ranked in the top 25. But the marquee game will feature Bucky's victim from last season. Duke and Michigan State will meet up in a game that should feature two teams ranked in the top five in Durham.

For the Badgers the match-up against the Wolfpack could be a good game as well with NC State returning a quality freshman class. Wisconsin will be looking to improve on their 5-6 record in the challenge (No Big Ten team has a winning record in the challenge), and a move to .500 will mean a win over NC State.

The Video of the Week: Who is "Rojo" Johnson?

You've got to love baseball season. The antics during a baseball game put any other sport to shame. Well just when you've seen everything...you get a minor league player that looks an awful lot like Will Ferrell.

For this week's Video of the Week I give you...Rollin' With Rojo.

The Big Ten Cordially Invites You....

The mess that is the notion of possible Big Ten expansion continues...and this time there are reports of actual invitations being sent out.

An ESPN Radio affiliate in Kansas City, Mo., 810 WHB, came out yesterday reporting that the Big Ten had extended invitations to two Big XII schools. The schools that supposedly received the invites were Missouri and Nebraska. Both Missouri and Nebraska denied that the offers existed.

The station also reported that the Big Ten also made offers to Notre Dame, and Rutgers to join the conference. Notre Dame has already came out saying that they recieved no such offer from the conference. Rutgers has not denied that the offer to the Big East school to join the conference exists...yet.

There has been a lot of talk about the possible expansion of the conference this spring, and reports that it could be picking up steam. The rumors have been a possible expansion to 16 teams, which would mean that a fifth team would need to be offered to join the conference, but there has been no confirmation of any offers have actually been made.

The Big Ten has already came out saying that the report that any possible offers have been made is false. But look to the month of June as a sign of where the conference is heading. Big Ten chancellors and presidents will head to Chicago for the yearly meeting during the first week of June.

It has not been determined if the expansion of the conference is going to be a point of discussion, but anything that comes out of the meetings could be a big sign of where the Big Ten is heading.

Badgers Pick Up Brust

After a long appeals process, and visits to possible schools...Ben Brust has officially signed to become a Badger.

Following an official visit in Madison last Friday, Brust made his official decision. He wants to be a Badger. While on the official visit Brust made the decision and according to a report by madison.com, Brust celebrated becoming the newest Badger at a barbecue at Bo Ryan's house this past weekend.

The road for Brust to become a Badger was indeed a long one, and in many ways an odd one. When Brust was being recruited earilier in his high school career he thought about becoming a Badger, but signed with Iowa after Vander Blue committed to UW. But just a year ago Blue de-committed and decided to head to Marquette.

After the termination of Todd Lickliter at Iowa, the Hawkeyes allowed Brust out of his commitment, and he was flooded with new scholarship offers. But coming to the Big Ten was still a long way off for Brust.

Because of a conference rule Brust would not be able to come to another Big Ten school and receive a scholarship after committing to Iowa. Again Brust's path to college basketball would take another odd turn.

The departure of Ian Markolf from the men's basketball team opened up another scholarship at UW. Markolf who left the team in order to focus on his school work created a hole in the 2010 freshman class that needed to be filled or left until the 2011 recruiting class. The exact spot that Brust will fill. Without Markolf deciding not to continue at Wisconsin as a player, Brust would most likely not have the opportunity to be a Badger.

Northwestern, Minnesota, and Wisconsin would all sponsor and appeal on Brust's behalf after his first appeal to the Big Ten failed. The support was all that Brust needed to get over the hump. He was granted a waiver from the rule and would be allowed to attend another Big Ten school and receive a scholarship.

After a visit to Northwestern earlier last week Brust found his way back to Madison. This time Brust has decided to stay...and play.

Wisconsin's Dual Threat...Kyle Jefferson

It happens every once and a blue moon. We've seen it with athletes like Deion Sanders, and Julius Peppers, but usually not on the track.

Wisconsin wide reciever Kyler Jefferson isn't just showing his speed on the field...he's showing it on the track too. The sophomore helped the Wisconsin track and field team take home three victories at the Musco Twilight Invitational on the teams sprint group this past weekend.

Jefferson is also the anchor of the 4x100 meter relay team that has moved up to the No. 2 spot on the Big Ten performance list. He also won the 400 meter individual with a time of 46.93 seconds.

A special accomplishment for any athlete when you are playing a second sport. Not too mention a second sport as physical as college football. While Jefferson only accumulated 34 yards last season he does know just how physical football can be.

Jefferson made highlight reels across the country in 2007 when he was hit by Michigan States Nehemia Warrick after making a catch across the middle. The hit was so brutal that Jefferson was almost imediately knocked unconscious.

Many have asserted that Jefferson was never quite the same after the hit. In his freshman season Jefferson had already racked up over 400 yards. But history would again repeat.

In 2008 Jefferson would again be knocked out by another opposing player...this time a Gopher. Jefferson needed to be hospitalized for observation and came out on top again. But since the latest concussion Jefferson has only racked up 45 yards; compared to the over 500 yards he had prior to the last concussion.

The one thing that we hope heading into this next season is that Jefferson will take what he has gained from track to the field. Jefferson is not just sending a message to the rest of the Big Ten in track...but hopefully he's sending one to his Big Ten football counter parts.

See if you can get another hit like that on Jefferson...if you can catch him.

Baumann and Michalika in NCAA Tournament

For the first time in over 30 years the Wisconsin men's tennis team will have more than one member heading to the NCAA tournament.

Senior Moritz Baumann and Marek Michalika have both earned at-large births to the NCAA tournament. This years tournament will mark the third appearance for Baumann and the second for Michalika.

Although they do not know who they will face in the tournament, the bracket will be released May 25th, they do know they will be in more than just one event.

Because the Badgers are sending two members of the team they will participate in both singles and doubles. As a doubles tandum the two went 10-5 this season and 8-1 in the Big Ten.

In terms of singles the unanimious All-Big Ten selections were also impressive this past season. Baumann went 14-6 in dual play this season, and his counterpart, Michalika, led the Badgers with a 19-4 dual record after starting the spring on a 14 match win streak.

The duo will now head to Athens, Ga. when the tournament starts on May 26th.

Where You Going Next Bucky...Disney World!

Where the Wisconsin men's basketball team will spend Thanksgiving is now set in stone...this year it will be Orlando.

The Badgers have been chosen to go to the Old Spice Classic at Disney World this November. And the Badgers will not be the only big names hanging out with Mickey.

Joining th e Badgers will be last year's PAC-10 champions the Cal Bears, and Atlantic 10 champion Temple. Other notable participants include Texas A&M, Notre Dame, and Boston College. The mid-major in next years Old Spice Classic will be Manhattan.

Last year the state of Wisconsin almost brought home the invitational title when Marquette lost to Florida State in the finals. This year Wisconsin will look to finish what Marquette couldn't finish in Orlando in 2009.

This will be the fifth year in the last six that Bucky has traveled to a Thanksgiving Break tournament. Taking only 2007 off, and playiing in Maui last season, the Vriginia Islands and South Padre in years past.

Adios P.J.

Plenty of former Badgers are on the market in the NFL, and former Wisconsin runningback P.J. Hill can put his name on the list as well.

The Washington Redskins have let Hill go after signing former Nitny Lion and Kansas City Cheifs runningback Larry Johnson back in March, and Willie Parker from the Pittsburgh Steelers in April.

Combining Johnson and Parker on the Redskins, the team should feature one of the deepest group of runningbacks in the league. Featuring two former starters as backups, and one of them [Parker] wearing a Super Bowl ring. Clinton Portis is still expected to be the starter, but the Redskins have definitely bulked up in the backfield.

In two seasons in Washington P.J. Hill racked up a giant doughnut for total yards backing up Portis. Hill also joins four teammates leaving the team, including another runningback.

The New Ice Bowl

The Wisconsin Badgers and Illinois Fighting Illini are planning on dusting off the snowblowers...if mother nature cooperates.

The two schools have announced that they are moving two games between the two schools to December in the 2011 and 2012 football season.

Speculations are that the reason for moving the game is too increase awareness of the schools late in the season; as opposed to not participating in games while other conferences are holding championship games. With a later schedule the two teams will be able to be seen by poll voters later in the season if either was capable of being in a BCS game situation.

Wisconsin has never hosted a game in December at Camp Randall in the stadium's history. So mark your calendars...that long trend will end December 1, 2012 against Illinois. The Badgers will head to Champaign, Ill. on December 3, 2011.

Video of the Week: Don't Run on the Field...Or Else

This week's video of the week could be funny or just plain wrong...we'll let you make the call.

A teenage Philadelphia Phillies fan ran onto the field at Citizens Bank Park during the eighth inning of a Cardinals-Phillies game, and was tasered by a Philadelphia police officer.

The odd part of the story is that the kid called his father to ask if he should do it before he ran on the field. Probably not the best idea in hindsight...too bad for the future Penn State student.

For the Video of the Week I give you....the future pride of Penn State.