Just One of Us

     The Sports ReKap is starting a new series where we catch up with a former or current professional athlete to give you a glimpse into their life.  I sat down recently with former White Sox outfielder Michael Huff.

    After going to school in what is technically deemed the North Shore, the northwest suburbs of Chicago, I struggle to imagine many people coming from the area and making an impact in the professional sporting world. There are an immense number of players who come and live in the fancy residences the North Shore provides, but few home grown individuals make a name for themselves in sports. Former major league baseball player Michael Huff is the exception. 

    Huff, who attended New Trier East and Northwestern University in Evanston, came from these parts and has had a lasting impact on the sports scene in the Chicagoland area, even after the end of his career.    

   Michael Huff may not be a household for most of the readers of this blog. In his three years with the White Sox, Huff played in one hundred and fifty four games while striving as a defensive replacement as well as a pinch hitter and runner. He was a part of the 1993 American League West Champion White Sox as a key asset coming off the bench. 

   While his contributions on the field may be overlooked, his work since retirement stands out. Huff, the Vice President of Sports for the Bulls-White Sox Academy, takes pride in teaching kids, no matter their talent level, to be active instead of just playing video games. Just like any former ball player who teaches kids, Huff preaches that “the fundamentals, especially balance” is key. 

    The number of responsibilities Huff has would take up an entire business card. He oversees the fast pitch, baseball, and basketball department as well as the planning of special events, to just name a few. 

    Along with his work at the Academy, Huff fills in for White Sox broadcasts from time to time. After sitting down with Huff, two observations stood out to me: he knows what he is talking about and being a professional athlete has not affected who he is as a person.  

    As a baseball nerd, I jump at any opportunity to talk about the game with someone, especially a former major league baseball player. Huff quickly pointed out to me that the White Sox struggles so far this year can be attributed to the “offense in general” and the defense. In a way that made it seem like I was listening to him give his analysis during a game, Huff commented on how the Sox meager defense “puts an extra strain on pitchers.”

    Our conversation quickly shifted to his time in the majors as he described his first plate appearance against Tom Glavine which resulted in a base hit. Huff, who also played for the Dodgers, Indians, and Blue Jays, has countless stories to tell about his time in the big leagues. The former ballplayer spoke about his favorite teammates including “John Olerud, Chuck Nagy, and Robin Ventura.” He also describes the excitement of being a part of the 1993 postseason chase. 

    I am taken aback by the stories Huff has about his time living out most young boys' dreams. While Huff could have puffed his chest out and acted as if I was sitting in the presence of greatness, his down to earth personality was welcoming. 

   We discussed the famous New Trier-Loyola rivalry and how, after he scored a touchdown in a football game between the schools, lifted the football over his head in a celebratory fashion. Just like most individuals who attended either school, he enjoyed the rivalry and wanted to perform to his highest capability during the match-ups. 

    As I searched for the source of his humbleness, I discovered it when Huff began talking about his family and his time at Northwestern University. Huff preached the importance of having not a lot of “unused time and surrounding yourself with the right people.” Preaching this message, which teenagers now a day hear embedded in rap lyrics, Huff has the view on life needed to teach those that are the future of America.

    He never expected that he could make the majors when he was at Northwestern playing with the great Joe Girardi , but he worked hard both on the baseball field and in the classroom (he received a degree in computer science and industrial engineering). Through events out of his control (his sister was diagnosed with leukemia and his own personal injuries) he faced hardship but was able to have a seven year MLB career playing with the likes of Frank Thomas and Carlton Fisk. Huff shows that people from the North Shore can make an impact in professional sports by possessing the right mindset and caring about more than just oneself.

To find out more about Michael Huff and the Bulls-Sox Academy please visit their website http://www.bullssoxacademy.com/

Follow Nick on Twitter @KapN93

Have a suggestion on who The Sports ReKap should reach out to next, please comment below

It's What The Cool Kids Are Doing

   

     Here is a test for all Blackhawks fans out there: name three, make it one, Hawks player from before 2007. Take a minute. Anyone? Eric Daze? Tony Amonte? Nikolai Khabibulin?

     I am not trying to practice for an audition with the show Stump the Schwab or attempting to impress lovers of sports nerds. My goal is to point out a problem that plagues the sporting world. This issue currently infests the hockey scene in the Chicagoland area. The problem I speak of are bandwagon fans springing up like weeds. 

    So called Blackhawks fans have come out of nowhere to support “their” team. Hockey sweaters of Kane, Toews, and Hossa have become a fashion fad like sperrys or Oakleys. That is just what being a Hawks fan has become: a fad. 

    Ask most Hawks fans why they cheer for the team and if they answered you honestly they would say “Cause it’s what everyone else is doing.” If you rooted for the Hawks in the early 2000's you were looked at like a homeless man preaching random bible passages on the street corner. Now if you don’t root for the boys in red, and you live in the Chicago area, you are a cast-off. 

    True, there are die-hard fans out there that have been through the days when the Hawks were not on television. I tip my cap to them and pat them on the back. However before the year that ended with Toews grabbing the Cup from goblin Gary Bettman, the United Center would be half-filled for Hawks games. The most popular hockey team in Chicago was the Wolves of the AHL located in remote Rosemont.

    I want the Blackhawks to win another cup; I truly do. Seeing the Madhouse on Madison rocking is a tremendous sight for a city whose baseball teams are struggling right now. Still,the springing up of these fans only after success, casts a negative light on Chicago sports fans. 

   Most fans of the Blackhawks are now the prime example of bandwagon fans. I am not the only one who thinks this. Ask Red Wings fans, Blues fans, or any other fans in hockey. 

    I do not expect this to change any time soon. I do want to get the word out though that if you are a Hawks fan, stick with the squad through thick and thin. If they struggle next year, still pack the UC. Educate yourselves about the non-mainstream players like Sheldon Brookbank and Nick Leddy. Enjoy these winning seasons Hawks fans; we wished we could sniff this success when Jocelyn Thibault was between the pipes. 

   While you guys watch the Hawks throughout the rest of the playoffs, I’ll be enjoying deserted White Sox games. Anyone want to join that bandwagon? Didn’t think so. 

Follow Nick on Twitter @KapN93

The Sports ReKap will begin airing again on MarquetteRadio.org at the end of August

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Bringing Us Back to the Good Old Days

                            

     For a brief second last night, a king was dethroned. The reaction to the simple shove that briefly put LeBron James on his keister, symbolizes the disgust people have for the direction the NBA is heading.     

    Yesterday Chicago Bulls big man Nazr Mohammed pushed the divine James during a second round playoff battle at the United Center. After a technical foul was assessed to James after his brush with Mohammed, Nazr took out his frustration through action.

    The aftermath has caused quite a stir on ESPN and social media. Mohammed has received death threats from LBJ backers and marriage proposals from Bulls enthusiasts. This is not a surprise. Die-hard fans will stick by their players through thick and thin. What caught my attention was the reaction of those considered “casual” NBA fans. 

    Over the years, my interest in the NBA has subsided. A game where defense won championships has turned that aspect of the sport into a joke. Players labeled as “defensive specialists” carry the stigma that they do not belong. Flashy dunks land players on highlight reels, which it seems is all superstars care about. (Ask the Clippers how that mentality worked out for them)

    Nowadays,  I would label myself as a casual observer of a once promising league. My initial reaction to what happened to LeBron during the Madhouse Malay was “take a seat you chach” because as much as I hate the NBA, I hate everything James stands for. 

    Kids line up in droves to buy his jersey and referees provide him with every opportunity to flaunt his talents without obstacles. He controls the league and the media. Major networks flock to cover what he ate for breakfast or whether he will practice for thirty minutes rather than forty minutes before a game.

    Still there are fans and players that are fed up with James as well as the majority of other superstars in the league. The special treatment they receive tarnishes the purity of the game. Good riddance that Mohammed stood up for himself, other non-superstars, and fans that are tired with the new NBA. Someone needed to literally push LeBron off his high horse for a moment. 

    This is not an attempt to stir up a Jordan-James debate. Jordan loved the spotlight just as much as James does, and received the benefit of the doubt quite too often. Former Utah Jazz guard Byron Russell would be the first one to back up that claim. I want to acknowledge overlooked All-Stars like Tim Duncan and Kevin Love as well as Hall of Famers like John Stockton. Guys that went about their business in a professional manner and put their team first. 

    James and the superstars of today have attracted a novel following to the sport. However, fans of yesteryear desired a nanosecond that would bring us back to the good old days when the name on the front meant more than the name on the back. Those were the days when players were not kings on the court, and divas off it.

Follow Nick Kapetan on Twitter: @KapN93

The Sports ReKap will start to air again next August on MarquetteRadio.org

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If you agree with Nick's view tweet using the hashtag #Lebroning

Last Minute Packers Draft Coverage

Biggest Needs (in no particular order)

Defensive Line- Well, this position has Ted Thompson written all over it. Hmm.. has he ever drafted DL in the draft? The answer. Try almost every year with multiple picks, which makes this one a no brainer because of ongoing struggles. If you don't agree then look up a recap from the the playoff game against San Francisco. They need to find a guy who can stop the run and they need to get him in the early rounds. 

Running Back- I hate this one. Do they really need a running back? The problem I have with running back is that I don't see a sleeper like Alfred Morris in this draft. I certainly don't think Green Bay should burn their first round pick on this one either. The Packers have seen some solid production out of Dejuan Harris recently and lets be honest, if Cedric Benson returns..he will be wearing Green and Gold again being paid the league minimum. Overall, I feel the Pack has plenty of options with so many RB's on their roster.

Cornerback/Safety- The Packers chose not to bring back Charles Woodson, but they still need to fill the role and bringing in young talent is the best way to do that.

Offensive Line- Green Bay allowed the most amount of sacks last season. Don't be to frightened by this fact because they also throw a lot more than the majority of the league. However, it is still a problem and the loss of six-time pro bowler, Jeff Saturday, loses a lot of leadership and depth. Look for the Pack to pick a OL with there third or fourth pick.

Overall Thoughts- This could be an ideal draft for Green Bay. They have plenty of needs to acquire, as does every team. With eight picks in the draft and a lot of quality players in the positions they need, the Packers have the opportunity to be very flexible.

Who will they pick first?- My guess is that they go with the best available. That is simply how Ted Thompson makes his decisions. It is also the reason that the Packers are year after year among one of the best teams in the NFL. Do you think Thompson had it planned out that he was going to pick Aaron Rodgers at 24 overall? Of course not! All you cheese heads need to respect the unpredictable man. If you were a fan of any other team,  you would realize how darn good of a GM you have.

Therefore, here is my projected picks at the 26 selection. Keep in mind that this is based on my thoughts of who will be picked before Green Bay is on the clock.

FS John Cyprien College: FIU 

FS Matt Elam College: Florida

DT Sylvester Williams College: North Carolina

DT Jesse Williams College: Alabama

RB Eddie Lacy (not sold on this but if he is the best available) College: Alabama

Packers Sleeper Pick- RB Marcus Lattimore College: South Carolina. This guy is the real deal. Sorry, what I meant to say is that he used to be the real deal. And then the terrifying knee injury happened. Green Bay has eight selections so they have the ability to take a risk with Lattimore in a later round.

Finally- who I actually go with if I am the Packers. NOBODY! There is going to be a ton of teams who want to trade for that pick. They could work out great for Green Bay if they consider some offers.

Bold Prediction of the Draft

The Chiefs take Eric Fisher instead of Luke Joeckel. Keep in mind no one outside of the public and media cares about where the kid went to college. The main difference between Fisher and Joeckel is that Joeckel played in the SEC and blocked for Johnny Football. Eric Fisher went to Central Michigan. Plus I know how Kansas City is and they would be the one to shock the world with their pick rather it be a good thing or bad thing.

The other thing I see happening is that they trade the first pick because of the high interest teams will have in Joeckel. I am not saying I want these things to happen. In fact as a Chiefs fan, I would like to see them draft a guy that can give Alex Smith time in the pocket. At the end of the day it is not my decision and these are just the things I could see occurring.

He Gone

                                  
 
    Another day, another Marquette University basketball player leaving. This time it was Vander Blue who has foregone his senior season to enter the NBA draft. 

    The buzz around campus has been whether or not this was the right move. While none of us are Vander Blue, we all have an opinion on if this was a logical choice. Well place me in the “What in the world are you doing Vander” category. 

    From a purely untainted perspective this move was not the best Blue could have made. He could have returned for his final year to be a part of one of the deepest teams in Marquette history. Blue could have risen his stock value even more by continuing to showcase his athleticism while tutoring the plethora of fresh faces that will be on the squad next season. Vander could have fine-tuned his average jump shot and added more bulk to fill out his frame. Of course these are what could have been instead of what actually will happen. 

    Blue has decided to do what is best for him personally rather than what is superior for the program, which may be his downfall. 

    Vander Blue, as of April 16^th, 2013 is not an NBA type player. He is too small to have a specific position, or even play a particular role on an NBA team. One year removed from a season that can be labeled as average (8.4 PPG), Blue still lacks a consistent perimeter shot. Yes, Vander is one of the most athletic guards in the draft. His scoring has risen significantly this season (14.8 PPG). Blue’s defense caused havoc for opposing teams all season long. However, he is still a work in progress. 

    Buzz attempted to convince him to stay but to now avail. Here is the problem. Vander Blue seems to be a guy that was just waiting to have one year of above average play. 

    He was a one and done in the making when he arrived on Marquette’s campus three years ago. After two years of not living up to expectations he shined on the big stage that is March Madness. One cannot blame a guy for chasing his dreams, but this announcement was a rush to judgment. An attempt to take advantage of a weak draft class. 

    This move is similar to Blue’s mindset when he was on the court his first two years at this school. The ball starts rolling his way so he makes a decision based on this temporary confidence. A baffling judgment, but not surprising. Good luck to Vander with his basketball career wherever it may take him. He should make sure he is stocked up on Rosetta Stone, you know just in case his journey lands him to Europe.

Follow Nick Kapetan on Twitter @KapN93

Tune in to The Sports ReKap Fridays 6:30-8PM CT on MarquetteRadio.org

Telling Him Where to Put His Money

 

 
    A refreshing occurrence transpired on Thursday night in San Diego, California. What happened needed to take place whether people think so or not. It was necessary for someone to take a stand against the changing landscape in sports, and Carlos Quentin rose to the occasion.

    The incident arose in an early season matchup between the high spending Los Angeles Dodgers and the financially strapped San Diego Padres. The Dodgers had their prize off-season signing Zack Greinke on the bump. In the sixth inning, with the Dodgers up by one run, Greinke hit Quentin with an 89 mile per hour pitch. Greinke’s fastball usually touches higher than that on the radar gun, especially on an out pitch with a 3-2 count.

    A benches clearing brawl ensued after Quentin rushed the mound like a middle linebacker hunting down a running back. At first glance this did not appear to be a headline story. However, once you consider the main characters in the narrative and the ill effects of the brawl, one realizes why this drew attention.

    First let us go back to 2009. The Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals are playing in an anything but pivotal midseason contest. Greinke, on the Royals, drills Quentin with a pitch. Quentin walked towards the mound, they exchange words, but that is the end of it. 

    In present time, it is difficult to remember that incident. Only one obsessed with one of those teams (guilty as charged) would remember such a non-prominent moment. 

    Fast-forward four years. Tensions between the two have not subsided. But why would the mainstream media pick up on the repercussion of something that took place four years ago? Well glance no further than the man on the mound and the name on the front of the jersey.

    When Zack Greinke signed his eye-opening six year one hundred and fifty nine million dollar contract with the Dodgers, he catapulted himself into an elite group. Let us label this illustrious assemblance of individuals as the sports’ version of “A-list” celebrities. Due to their mammoth salary, they become greater than the majority. 

    Calls get made for them. People overlook their flaws. Most importantly, if one were to be involved in a scuffle, every one else would run to his or her corner. 

    Do not believe me? Take a gander at the history of the national sports coverage of particular events on television. Kirk Hinrich became a villain for bear-hugging LeBron James to the ground. Dahntay Jones received hate messages for injuring the beloved Kobe Bryant. Tom Brady has a rule named after him following a season ending injury caused by a hit below the waist. 

    However, all of these instances are different than the Quentin-Greinke saga. None of the other incidents featured two individuals who had prior history. 

    This case was different. Quentin knew what he was doing and the repercussions he would face for his actions. Most media outlets labeled him as a monster for running into Greinke and causing him to be out for up to eight weeks with a broken left collarbone. 

    If it was a pitcher with a smaller paycheck, Quentin’s head would still be called for, but not at this extreme of a level. Quentin continues to receive an enormous amount of blame because he injured the Dodgers’ prime gem. I however, applaud him for what he did.

    Do I condone fighting? No. Did I want to see Greinke taken down to the ground causing injury? Absolutely not. But we should all at least pat Quentin on the back. 

    He took out a personal grudge when the unwritten rules of the hierarchy of sports would not allow it. Players are taught to not attack those with the largest bank accounts. He did it anyway. 

    Players on teams like the Padres, or those at the bottom of popularity, are not permitted to cause havoc to an individual on a media loving team like the Dodgers. He did it anyway. 

    When there is a fight between men, one should not take sides based on salary. Recognize that Greinke was in part responsible. Quentin stood up for what he believed was right.

    He broke through a wall, which stands around particular athletes, that was created by the media. For this he does not deserve to be chastised, but given respect.

Follow Nick Kapetan on Twitter @KapN93

Tune in to @TheSportsReKap on Fridays from 6:30-8 PM CT on MarquetteRadio.org

Better Than Monday Night Football

Many could make a claim that it is a blessing that the Golden Eagles play Big East powerhouse Syracuse in Milwaukee. After losing at Villanova on Saturday, the Golden Eagles look to bounce back against Syracuse (22-5) Monday night at the BC.

Marquette, who was tied for first place in the Conference last week has put themselves in a tough situation with their lack of wins on the road. So what do you do when you haven't played very well on the road? You come back home and beat the #8 ranked team in the country. 

Whats at stake?

-Marquette holds the 2nd longest home winning streak in the country with 23 straight; longest among power conferences since Syracuse loss to Georgetown at home on Saturday.

-Joe Lunardi (Mr. Bracketology) has moved Marquette up and down from 4 to 6 seed projected in the tournament. A win against the Orange could make up for one of the bad losses on the road and keep them among the 3-5 range.

-The Golden Eagles had a steady spot at the top of the Big East. Now tied for second with some names like Syracuse and Louisville, as well as Notre Dame and Pitt right behind them makes me feel a bit less secure of a BYE come March. Marquette wants the Double BYE when it is time to head to New York for the Big East Tourney.

Keys for Marquette Offensively:

-Figure out how to break the zone that Georgetown, Louisville and Villanova both used against the Golden Eagles. They both used a 2-3 zone and dominated Marquette's offense. In order to get something going offensively, MU needs to penetrate the zone. Yes, it is fine to swing the ball around the perimeter. However, they have to look for paint touches and then the kick out if they want quality shots.  I think all Marquette fans can agree that they would be fine with MR. AUTOMATIC, Davante Gardner, receiving the ball in the key and having the chance to go up with it or pass it off.  We have not seen anyone on the Marquette squad that can consistently create their own shots.  Therefore, breaking the 2-3 zone and getting the ball inside is imperative for Marquette's success.

-Get Vander Blue quality chances to score. Blue had a subpar game on Saturday. He did not make a lot of mistakes. He also did not do anything extraordinary. Overall average stat-line if he was a bench player, but this is the star player were talking about. It all goes back to breaking the zone. When Vander gets good looks, he tends to be dominate at home. When he doesn't, he tends to take contested shots or make difficult passes. I can promise you one thing, get this guy going early and he will get the crowd into it and that certainly would not hurt.

Keys for Marquette Defensively:

DO WHAT YOU DO AT HOME. There is a reason that this team has not lost in over a year at home. The answer. Defense. Syracuse is full of shooters but we now know after their loss against Georgetown that they are stoppable. There is not a more difficult schedule offensively than what the Orange have already started to face in a three day span. 

Players to watch: 

The former ineligibles.

James Southerland. Southerland played 34 minutes off the bench in Saturday's loss against the Hoyas. He led the team with 13 points. He also chipped in seven rebounds, two steals, an assist, and a block. A very impressive performance from an important player to the depth of this team.

Todd Mayo. It's a pleasant feeling to see a sophomore with such a pure shot not only start hitting some shots, but also creating his own and getting to the line where he is shooting 82% and hasn't missed since February 3rd against Louisville. Hopefully Mayo will see a little more time after putting up 9 points in only 13 minutes.