Lucas at Large

Nobody is questioning his loyality to the fan base, however fickle. Nobody is questioning the urgency to mark his turf as a leader, however challenging. Nobody is questioning his freedom of expression, however misleading. Nobody is questioning the burden of expectations in Green Bay, however magnified. But many are questioning the timing and intent of what Aaron Rodgers had to say. Why now? Why is Rodgers fighting a fight that he can't possibly win? My first reaction to the QUOTE? I thought Rodgers was smarter than that. I thought Rodgers was more savvy than that. I thought Rodgers was over that -- that West Coast Slick that he carried as a rookie. Until further notice, he will be branded by the QUOTE. Lower case would not do it proper justice. "I don't feel I need to sell myself... READ MORE

When University of Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema informed Bill Nayes that the Sporting News was coming to Madison to do a story on Nayes, the UW's director of football operations, there was a moment of silence followed by a predictable response. "I thought Bret was kidding,'' Nayes said. "I was definitely caught off guard.'' Nayes was featured in the May 26 edition of the Sporting News which spotlighted a variety of "dirty jobs'' ranging from wedge-busting (in the NFL) to poop-scooping (behind the University of Colorado mascot, Ralphie the Buffalo). Nayes was flattered by the attention even though he was unsure why his job, Football Ops, made the list. In making the transition from an NFL job with the Seattle Seahawks -- Nayes worked five seasons for coach Mike Holmgren -- to a Big Ten job with the Badgers,... READ MORE

There has always been more gruff than fluff with John Palermo, the former University of Wisconsin defensive line coach. Even today, during his on-going transition to the National Football League with the Washington Redskins, you can see the Lou Piniella (the fiery Chicago Cubs skipper) in Palermo, more so than the Lou Holtz (who nonetheless was a mentor to Palermo at Minnesota and Notre Dame). Despite his exterior toughness, Palermo has always had a soft spot in his heart for his players, ranging from Tarek Saleh to Anttaj Hawthorne to Matt Shaughnessy. This particularly Badger trio has been singled out because of their roots: the state of Connecticut. Saleh is from West Haven, Hawthorne is from Hamden and Shaughnessy is from Norwich. Palermo recruited all three. Palermo always had the sense, too, that Shaughnessy was going to be special from... READ MORE

You don't have to be a genius or a blogger (mutually exclusive items) to recognize that Ned Yost is on the clock. This is not to say that he still can't save his job or salvage the season. After all, nothing sparks nothing (a Yost toast), though Ryan Braun has  sparked some lively debate and speculation on Yost's future with the Brewers. Reportedly, there's no truth to the rumor that Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin and Nashville manager Frank Kremblas were spotted together on the grassy knoll. I'm not sure there is a knoll in Nashville, although I'm reasonable confident that you could find some grass (read: Hippie lettuce, honky tonks and music industry).  The 41-year-old Kremblas, an Ohio native, is an interesting study. As a minor league player, he was a cliche; a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. He played... READ MORE

It just dawned on me why Mel Kiper is so annoying on television. Too many moving parts. We're not talking about his freeze dried hair. That hasn't moved in years. But Kiper's spastic jaw action can be a distraction when he's engaged in debate or straining to make a point. His message is easier to digest when he's on the radio. To this end, Todd McShay has been an upgrade in many instances simply because of his delivery. He has less experience than Kiper. But his presentation is better. On the second day of the draft, Cris Carter was an upgrade as an analyst over dopey Keyshawn Johnson, who offered little when he offered anything at all. Trey Wingo was also an upgrade as a moderator over sappy Chris Berman, who has yet to gain any separation from the Eagles, Hotel California or the late '70s. One of... READ MORE

Couldn't help but think of Eddie Bumbacco when Notre Dame squared off against Boston College in the NCAA men's college hockey finals Saturday night. Couldn't help but think of the legendary Charles (Lefty) Smith, too. Indulge me by hitting rewind to the 1972-73 season. Anybody under 40 must get permission from their parents before accepting a ride in the time machine. Especially if you can't tell the difference between a Butters (Billy), a Bessone (Amo) and a Bumbacco. Bumbacco? A high-scoring Notre Dame forward. John Noble was his crafty center and Ian Williams was his powerful wingman. Bumbacoo led the WCHA in scoring that season with 31 goals in 28 games. The Irish, coached by Smith, could do more than just score, thanks to the skill of Bill Nyrop on the blue line. Bumbacco and Nyrop were All-Americans. Although Denver won the... READ MORE

When the irascible Bob Huggins bolted for his alma mater, West Virginia, there was an immediate sense of betrayal on the K-State campus, not unlike what Marquette loyalists may be feeling today on the heels of Tom Crean's sudden departure to Indiana. But whereas Crean established deep roots in Milwaukee during his successful nine-year run, Huggins was more of a house guest, a transient in Manhattan. Huggins left after one season, making a hasty and unpopular exit. Not unlike Crean's unexpected move last week that caught almost everyone off guard and bruised some egos. Fearing the loss of credibility with returning players and incoming recruits, K-State acted quickly in filling the Huggins void by naming one of his assistants Frank Martin. It was widely viewed as an "appeasement'' hire. The Wildcats wanted to hold on to Bill Walker and a... READ MORE