The Sports ReKap: June 2014

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Dougie McBuckets: My Type Of Player

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

Get your umbrellas ready Chicago because starting next season, it is going to be raining threes at the United Center.

In a somewhat surprising move Thursday night, the Chicago Bulls acquired former Creighton rainmaker Doug McDermott. Dougie McBuckets, as he is affectionately called, is a perfect fit for the shooting deprived Bulls. He has not played a single minute in the NBA, but he is already my new favorite player in the entire league because he represents everything that the league is not.

When I was a child, my second favorite sport behind baseball was basketball. Growing up as a stereotypical chunky white kid, I was the definition of a hustle player. At least, I thought I was a hustle player. Instead of wooing my team, opponents, cheerleaders, and my family with any sort of shooting, dribbling, or leaping ability, I would just dive on the ground and pretend like I was giving it my all. Truth is, this is still my game plan whenever I step onto a basketball court.

The reason for the in-depth look into my childhood is to show that I actually enjoyed playing the game of basketball. I would get amped up to put on a basketball jersey, play two minutes, and then have my traditional post game snack of M&Ms. I also loved watching the sport, until recently.

Now, the NBA is unwatchable at times. Superstars leave the teams that draft them in order to form super teams blah blah blah. The NBA is a me-first league where players rather leave college early, not get an education and then complain about how they should have been payed in college or how they are broke after their "illustrious" career is over.

I pray every night for three things: that my family is healthy, that Buffalo Wild Wings never goes out of business, and that there is a non-stereotypical player that enters the NBA, let alone plays for my favorite team, that can excite me enough to want to watch the majority of the 82 regular season games. Dougie McBuckets is that guy.

When I say non-stereotypical I know the first thing that comes to mind when you look at McBuckets: his haircut. Okay okay it is the color of his skin. It would take a blind person to realize that the majority of the NBA is made up of African American players. White guys are considered "role players" or "shooters" whose role on a championship team is the same as Michael Beasley. My excitement over McBuckets has nothing to do with the fact that he instantly becomes the guy that looks the most like me in the league. It comes from how he conducts himself on the court and off the court.

On the court there is no denying the guy can shoot. He finally gives the Bulls a shooting threat that will attract attention away from Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. His 45.8 career three point percentage in college is amazing to say the least. Unlike guys like Mike Dunleavy, McBuckets is built to also be a force down low. His ability to not be a one dimensional player will lead to enormous success on the court.

Off the court, McBuckets does and did everything your average NBA player does not and did not do. McBuckets went back to school, not just because it would help his draft stock, but because he wanted to get an education. He does not look for the spotlight, even if it will eventually find him. Instead of throwing his teammates underneath the bus after Creighton's early exit in the NCAA tournament this past season, he blamed himself and said that he was disappointed that he couldn't do more. How many NBA players say that and actually mean it?

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the Bulls got better by acquiring McBuckets. The contributions he will bring to Chicago will be felt on the floor and off it. There has not been this much excitement surrounding a first round pickup by Chicago since their hometown hero was selected with the number one overall pick years ago. McBuckets will never win an MVP award but he doesn't have to. All he has to do is excite Bulls fans with what he brings to the table.

It says that it will take a few weeks for my McBuckets Bulls jersey to arrive in the mail. I can wait.

Agree or disagree with Kap's take on McBuckets? Leave a comment below the link.

The Sports ReKap, hosted by Nick Kapetan and DJ Vogt, will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 9 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

The Sports ReKap's Final NBA Mock Draft

The Sports ReKap's basketball contributor Brendan Garrity constructed his final NBA mock draft. To see which player Brendan thinks your favorite team will take, along with his in-depth analysis, click right here.

Agree or disagree with Brendan's predictions? Leave a comment below the link.

The Sports ReKap, hosted by Nick Kapetan and DJ Vogt, will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

They Believe That You Will Care: How US Soccer Successfully Sold Their Brand

By: Kevin Saad (@KevinSaad93)

You’ve heard about it by now- the USA has a chance of advancing to the knockout round, even after a gut wrenching draw against a lackluster Portugal. A spot in the knockout round would be awesome, but the Yanks have still turned heads over the past few weeks and crushed previous television viewership numbers for soccer in America. Credit needs to be given to the folks over at US Soccer for some solid marketing and branding techniques to give this team an identity that made the casual sports fans in this country take notice of the drama taking place in Brazil. Here are just a few of the tactics that have successfully given the US Men’s National Team an identity:

Excitement and Drama: This is the main commandment of sports sales- if you win, the sales will come. No matter what other factors come into play, if your team is putting on a good product night after night, the masses will begin to take notice and a fan base will begin to form. And after two games in Brazil, you cannot deny that the USA has given you something to be excited about. You can say many things about this team in the past (lacks skill, not much attacking prowess, etc.) but they always seem keep games close and interesting. They continually fight hard when their backs are against the wall (Slovenia and Algeria in 2010) and they are certain to take years off of your life as we saw against Portugal on Sunday. These dramatic games make for phenomenal television packed into a 2 hour time span so you can still get your thrills but still have time for other activities throughout the day. This energy has been palpable throughout the country the past couple of weeks and has given the average American a shot of patriotic espresso during an awkward gap in the United States’ sporting calendar year.

Influence from Celebrities and Famous Athletes: Let’s face it: the average American is a follower who is led by the opinion of the general mainstream media. Jim from Ohio hasn’t watched a soccer game likely since the last World Cup and won’t pay attention unless ESPN shows the sport some love. This is where the idea of influence becomes so powerful. If Jim sees Aaron Rodgers and Jimmy Fallon tweeting and paying attention to the USA-Ghana game, he's definitely more likely to tune in. Most people in this country want to feel like they fit in and the mainstream media has begun to accept soccer more over the past ten years. As the acceptance grows, the idea of being that guy who makes the typical “soccer is so boring” joke seems less and less cool. It’s like being the resident LeBron hater in 2014. It’s just not funny anymore. The act is old and tired. Jim from Ohio can’t really identify with Alejandro Bedoya, but he’s familiar with Cam Newton, who participated in a SportsCenter USA ad to support the team. It’s all about familiarity and using pop culture influence to sway people toward the team. US Soccer has done wonders in this area by getting cameos from familiar faces (Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Hamm, Ice Cube) to bridge the gap of familiarity to the average American.

The Chant (I Believe That We Will Win): We all know that guy. The one who always breaks out the cliché U-S-A chant. Well, now we have a new one to add to the list. The “I Believe That We Will Win” chant started out at the Naval Academy Prep School in 1998 as a basic idea from a student as a battle cry for his platoon. It was a hit and eventually, a few MLS supporter groups began to pick up the chant, which became a mainstay around stadiums in MLS. ESPN then decided to use a clip of the American Outlaws in a pre-World Cup ad performing the chant during the USA-Mexico World Cup Qualifying game and the rest is history (See the ad here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uEpcfonkt4). The chant has caught on like wildfire and at this point, you will always associate the chant with the Men’s National Team. It sounds deafening inside the stadium and has given the average fan an alternative to the usual U-S-A chant

The Jerseys: One of the unique aspects about soccer is the lifestyle factor of the apparel. A soccer jersey can be worn casually and can be pulled off nicely during the summer months. This look is much tougher with a hockey, football, or baseball jersey. Even basketball jerseys don’t look great on anyone over 23. But the comfy, stylish, and lightweight material of the soccer jersey makes it way more appealing to the average person because of the functional possibilities. Nike, Adidas, and Puma are the major brands that sponsor most World Cup participants and they usually do a great job with the jerseys. Nike has outfitted the USA since the 1998 World Cup and has put out some classic designs. However, they might have their biggest hit on their hands this year. The white home shirt is very simple, minimalist look with a basic collar on a jersey with buttons and red trim. Perfect for the older crowd who prefers a toned down look. The away shirt is where Nike really makes it happen. The only way to describe the jersey is when Dri-Fit meets Captain America.The jersey was debuted with a swift marketing campaign from Nike and US Soccer that included the likes of Andrew Luck, Spike Lee, and Diplo. The firecracker jersey has been a hit and fans have eaten up the extremely patriotic design. I have seen numerous people wearing the firecracker jersey in public and it immediately sparks a conversation. It identifies you as a US Soccer fan without saying a word and gives off a stylish vibe at the same time.

One Nation, One Team: The main marketing campaign that US Soccer went with was simple: One Nation, One Team (#1N1T on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). The idea of unity is a common one in the sport of soccer, where the success of the entire is put before the praise of individual performance. In my opinion, this slogan lost some credibility during the whole Donovan saga and how so many members of the media, players, and fans seemed divided over Jürgen’s decision. However, the team has responded with admirable effort so far and going into the Germany match, no one is still dwelling on the Klinsmann decision as his young guns have stepped up so far. Therefore, the slogan has gained strength back and gives across a simple, specific message. In a country obsessed with being right and built upon the idea of having people take sides (political parties, ESPN First Take, etc.), it’s refreshing to see people of all walks of life pack bars and watch parties for the same cause. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, accountant, cashier, or even out of a job, it’s nice to see that Americans now have an escape every 4 years from their usual lifestyle so they can support One Nation, One Team.

The drama will be dished out in heavy doses on Thursday and who knows when the USA’s run in Brazil will end. Regardless, US Soccer has already won with their effective marketing and branding of the Men’s National Team. Even if the popularity of this tournament doesn’t transition to Major League Soccer and everyday soccer conversation in America, an identity and culture for the USMNT to the average American sports fan has been born.

Agree or disagree with Kevin? Leave a comment below the link.

Be sure to follow Kevin on Twitter (@KevinSaad93) and tune into his radio show, The Beef, on St. Joseph's University Radio in the fall.

The Sports ReKap, hosted by Nick Kapetan and DJ Vogt, will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

From Hatred to Admiration: The LeBron James Story

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

There are some events in life that are so impactful, that you remember exactly where you were when they occurred. What happened on the evening of July 8, 2010 was one of the events that is still ingrained so vividly in my head. On that night, LeBron James made his “decision” and decided to cheat the system by forming the Big Three that WAS the Miami Heat.

I was at a restaurant celebrating my friend’s birthday when the disheartening news broke that LeBron would not be joining my hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, but instead chose to head south. When I read on my phone that he chose Miami, I remember slamming my fists against the table and making a scene in an establishment filled with elderly people that smelled like mothballs and probably thought LeBron was a rapper that their disrespectful grandkids were listening to.

That moment right there of hearing that LeBron decided to essentially use the cheat codes in pursuit of an NBA championship was what sprouted my hate towards the man. Like most people across the country that had no affiliation with the Heat, I cheered more so for LeBron to lose than for whomever he was playing to win. My hatred formed from that fact that I was jealous that LeBron did not come to the Bulls. If LBJ said that he wanted to “take his talents to the land of deep dish pizza and hot dogs without ketchup”, I would have been ecstatic.

Maybe it was because of how LeBron orchestrated the “not 1, not 2, not 3” premature celebration that cemented my hate for him. Maybe it was the fact that the Bulls received the worst consolation prize ever in Carlos Boozer that made me despise LBJ. Whatever it was, there was no telling that I hated the Heat, their bandwagon fans, and what they stood for. That being said, there is no debating that if LeBron ever came to the Bulls, my pure disgust in the man would turn into pure admiration.

Do not lie to yourself, if LeBron James went to your favorite team, you would instantly run out and get a James jersey and brag that you are the biggest LBJ fan ever. This might now be possible after LeBron decided to opt out of his contract with the Heat.

If you are a Bulls fans you would proclaim that the next Jordan has arrived, if you are a Clippers fan you would yell to the heavens how your team has the final piece to the puzzle, hell if you were a Cavaliers fan and LeBron returned home you would bow down and ask him for forgiveness.

There is no denying that LeBron is one of the greatest players in NBA history. His recent discovery of post moves to complement his ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor makes him an all around force. Inserting him into any lineup, and he drastically improves whatever team he signs with. This is so obvious my seven year cousin can comprehend it. Then why do some people not want LeBron to play for their favorite team?

Humans are known to hold grudges. For some idiotic reason fans’ hatred of LeBron for “stealing” two NBA championships clouds their judgment. However, in order to be competitive in the modern NBA, it’s like the old saying goes: “adapt or die”.

The NBA has transformed into a players league where a team needs to have at least three superstars to even be considered in the running for a championship. Even the most anti-super team people in the world should know that their team is not going to win crap if there is not a superstar in the mix. Landing the best player in the NBA would put any team on the fast track for sustained success.

This summer of NBA free agency should be filled with excitement. All you sports fans who proclaim that “I hate baseball because it’s boring, when does the NFL and NBA start”, will be entertained by the hoopla that will follow once LeBron is close to making another decision.

Put your hatred of LeBron aside. The guy is not as cocky as he used to be. It is not like Michael Jordan wasn’t a pain in the rear that thought he was above the world. Just check out the guy’s Hall of Fame speech. Not accepting LeBron on your team is like not accepting Kate Upton if she decided to leave Justin Verlander and become your girlfriend.

No matter where LeBron goes, the next month of NBA free agency will be one of the most important and exciting in history. If my prayers come true and LeBron chooses the Windy City as his next home, that will be another event I, and the whole nation, will never forget.

Agree or disagree with Kap's take on LeBron? Leave a comment below the link.

The Sports ReKap, hosted by Nick Kapetan and DJ Vogt, will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

Monday, June 23, 2014

Tom Brady Is Still Elite

By: Matt Barbato (@RealMattBarbato)

The 2013 AFC Championship game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots was supposed to be another epic battle between Hall of Fame quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. But, the Broncos had other ideas and controlled the entire game en route to an eventual beating at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks in MetLife Stadium.

That game not only crowned Denver as champions of the weaker AFC, but also sparked the conversation about the losing quarterback’s ability. Brady’s performance itself wasn’t worthy of dethroning him from the ranks of the top-tier quarterbacks --he went 24-of-38 with 277 yards and one touchdown -- but after a less than staggering 2013 regular season, during which he threw only 25 touchdowns (his lowest total since 2006), many were claiming Tom Brady was no longer an elite quarterback.

The “eliteness” of a quarterback is something that has been debated more-and-more over the years. Perhaps it started in 2011, when Eli Manning made a decree of eliteness (and then proved it by winning the Super Bowl that season), but for years, football fans have tried to assemble this group of superb quarterbacks. While younger quarterbacks like Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick were storming the palace of the elite gun-slingers, Brady was being shoved out by some football pundits.

For the past two seasons, I have ranked the top 32 quarterbacks after season’s end. My top three last season were Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady. Yes, Brady was listed higher than Wilson, or Aaron Rodgers, or Tony Romo or Cam Newton and others. The point I made in February and will make in more detail below is that although Brady’s numbers may have declined, his status as an elite quarterback hasn’t changed.

Numbers don’t always tell the story: Many people look at Brady’s 2013 regular season as a sign of his regression. Yes, 2013 was one of the worst years of his career, but how much is that really saying? Brady completed only 60.5 percent of his passes, the second-lowest percentage of his career, but also threw 628 passes, the second-highest total of his career and fifth-most in the league. Unless a quarterback is incredibly accurate, a higher volume of throws usually results in a lower completion percentage. Brady threw for 4,343 yards (sixth in the NFL) and 25 touchdowns (11^th in the NFL) and only threw a touchdown on four percent of his attempts last season. These numbers are uncharacteristic of Brady, but without completely devaluing the statistic, here are some quarterbacks who had more touchdowns than Brady in 2013: Andy Dalton, Phillip Rivers, Matthew Stafford and Matt Ryan. Ryan Tannehill and Carson Palmer weren’t far behind with 24 touchdowns.

A telling stat from last season was that Patriots receivers were tackled at the 1 yard line eight times, three more times than the next highest team. If half of these completions were touchdowns, Brady would have ranked 8th in the NFL in TDs.

There’s more to a touchdown than just a quarterback throwing the ball. Brady’s touchdown statistic is misleading and shows that what’s being put around Brady hasn’t been up to par with previous rosters.

It is also quickly forgotten that in 2012, Brady threw for 4,827 yards, 34 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. That was easily Brady’s third-best statistical season of his career. He ranked in the top-three among quarterbacks in yards, touchdowns and Total QBR that season.

The group around Brady hasn’t been great since 2011, but last year hit rock bottom: It’s hard to argue that the wide receiver and tight end groups surrounding Brady didn’t have an effect on Brady’s numbers in 2013. The Patriots thought Danny Amendola would be a suitable replacement for Wes Welker, but injuries plagued the speedy wide out and he shifted in and out of the lineup. Brady’s only reliable wide out was Julian Edelman, who caught 105 passes for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns in his breakout season. Brady was also without his favorite red-zone target in Rob Gronkowski, who missed nine games with multiple injuries.

New England hoped for big years debuts from rookies Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson, but neither panned out as a dependable second or third option.

It was the perfect storm in a sense. Without Welker, Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, Brady was forced to adjust to three rookies, a newly signed free agent and two tight ends, Michael Hoomanawanui and Matthew Mulligan, who aren’t known as pass-catching tight ends.

Certainly, Brady deserves some responsibility for the problems in the passing game and he has done a lot with very little in the past, but the Patriots organization did him no favors by letting Welker walk, assuming Gronkowski would stay healthy and failing to bring in any other veterans besides an unstable Amendola (who had only been in the league for four seasons upon signing him).

The good news is Brady will have an entire offseason to work with these new receivers and the addition of Brandon LaFell will, at the very least, give Brady an experienced wide out to work with alongside Amendola (when healthy) and Edelman.

Before you attribute Brady’s low numbers to a regression, be sure to take a look at the outside circumstances first.

Success does not lie: Many have said the Patriots are an overrated franchise that is annually over-hyped. The rationale behind that is because they haven’t won a Super Bowl since 2004. The even more ludicrous argument is that this falls on Brady more than anyone else. Since when does two Super Bowl appearances and five AFC Championship games in the past eight seasons make a franchise or a quarterback overrated?

Brady has been one of the most successful quarterbacks since 2004, when he won his last Super Bowl. In those following eight seasons (excluding 2008 when he injured his knee), Brady has led the Patriots to a combined record of 108-37 in the regular season and playoffs, a .744 winning percentage. To compare, Peyton Manning has a 109-34 record and a .762 winning percentage. Brady has one less win than Manning in those same eight seasons (Manning missed all of 2011 with a neck injury), yet only Brady seems to be the one falling out of the elite ranks. That span also includes six regular seasons with at least 12 wins and a perfect, 16-0 regular season.

During that same stretch, the Pats haven’t had a season with less than 10 wins, which is extremely impressive when considering the constant parity that exists in the NFL. New England has won the AFC East division in every season except 2008, when the Miami Dolphins accidentally won 11 games behind Tony Sparano and Chad Henne.

Brady’s numbers may be declining, but that regression happens to every quarterback with age, especially when the roster around him is inadequate like it was in 2013 and could be in 2014. Yet, despite the tough circumstances, Brady continues to put up consistent top-10 statistics in a league where throwing the ball is rapidly becoming more popular. Until Brady’s numbers consistently decrease in accordance with a drop off in his team’s performance, he is still an elite quarterback.

Agree or disagree with Matt thinking Tom Brady is still elite? Leave a comment below the link.

Be sure to follow Matt on Twitter (@RealMattBarbato)

The Sports ReKap, hosted by Nick Kapetan and DJ Vogt, will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Matt Barbato, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Kevin Saad, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Good Brooks: An Unlikely Hero Heads American Futbol Into the Spotlight

By: Kevin Saad

Five short months ago, John Anthony Brooks was training with the Hertha Berlin reserve team in Germany, struggling to make an impact on his mid-level German club. Last Monday, the German-American, born to a Chicago serviceman, became an American sports folk legend when he banged a header past Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey to give the USA a shocking lead and win against a Ghanaian team that had haunted the USA for 8 years.

It was a story that almost seemed like a Hollywood script. The 21 year old kid was a surprising addition to Klinsmann’s 23 man roster for Brazil and wasn’t likely to see time with Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler making up the solid central defense pairing. But when Besler went down with an injury, Brooks was subbed in at the start of the second half and suddenly was thrown into an extremely tense situation.

It was the ultimate trial by fire. Brooks passed his test with flying colors and more. After snuffing out a flurry of crosses by Ghana for 35 minutes, the US defense finally let in a goal in the 82^nd minute and every USA fan began to feel that familiar feeling of struggle when it comes to playing Ghana. The Black Stars refused to go quietly.

However, Brooks’ defining moment was about to arrive. After Fabien Johnson won a corner kick, Sporting KC star Graham Zusi swung in a perfect cross to Brooks, who sent bars and watch parties around America into a frenzy with his powerful header.

The goal signaled an arrival of the national team in the United States. We hear all the time about “when will soccer arrive in America” and “the lack of excitement” in these games. These are both cases of lazy, old, out of touch journalists (Michael Wilbon, Bill Plaschke, Mike Francesa) who don’t expose the sport to the masses because they simply know nothing about the game and have no educated stance on the topic. If they attempted to have a serious conversation about the sport, they would be taken as seriously as a man from Belarus trying to talk about the NFL Playoffs.

For example, Francesa asked questions on his radio show Tuesday such as “Are there guys who kick with both legs?” to his “World Cup Expert”, the Saint John’s University men’s soccer coach. This incredibly stupid conversation just shows how some dinosaurs need to die off in order for this sport to truly hit the mainstream.

Even with this media trolling, Brooks’ goal still made waves around the country with clever headlines such as “Johnny Futbol” and gave ESPN their highest rated programming since Jameis Winston’s performance in the BCS title game.

A nation was captivated and in addition to the USA game, the entire tournament has been a major success. Besides the extremely scrutinized protests in Brazil during the tournament, everything else has gone off without a hitch. Goals aplenty from superstar players like Neymar, Arjen Robben, and Lionel Messi and instant classic games (USA v Ghana, Spain v Chile, England v Italy), have led to the ratings on both ESPN and Univision being through the roof and we still have more than half of the tournament to go.

The conversation around the water cooler has changed from MLB midseason games and NBA Finals talk to where to watch 6:00 PM ET World Cup game. It has become must watch TV and even the out of touch, aging sports media (Francesa) cannot deny that.

Now that Ghana has been defeated, the focus shifts toward a banged up Portugal side who were trounced 4-0 against Germany. This huge loss cost more than just three points and lots of dignity. Injuries to Hugo Almeida, Fabio Coentrao, and possibly Cristiano Ronaldo have Portugal limping into the huge match against the USA. Starting central defender Pepe was also red carded against Germany and will miss the USA match. With these huge stars missing or in doubt, things are looking good for the United States. Here are the important things to watch.

1.) Michael Bradley - Bradley is clearly one of the standouts on this USA team and is the engine that makes it all happen. One of the reasons for the lack of chances after the early goal was the Ghana defenders smothering Bradley. His rare off night on the world’s biggest stage can’t carry over into Sunday if the USA want to leave Manaus with a W. All eyes will be on the Toronto FC midfielder as he tries to solidify his legacy with the national team by helping his team escape the Group of Death.

2.) Set pieces (free kicks, penalties, and corners) - We all know how important the Brooks goal was for the USA, so continuing to create good chances from corners and free kicks is essential. Pepe’s suspension means that Portugal will have an inexperienced center back pairing, which means Alejandro Bedoya and Graham Zusi will need to be swinging in quality crosses all day long to challenge Portugal’s defense. If they can knock in an early set piece goal and catch Portugal sleeping like Clint Dempsey did to Ghana, the USA can dictate the pace of the game and really get their confidence to a new high. Conversely, Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler (or possibly John Brooks) will need to be on point for all 90 minutes of the match to hold off Portugal’s attack and specifically………

3.) Cristiano Ronaldo- You know the name. You know the talent. You know the hair. And you now know about his nagging knee problems. Ronaldo has been nursing knee problems since the epic Champions League Final against Atletico Madrid in May and will definitely not be 100% for the game. Regardless of his health, Ronaldo realizes the pressure that he and Portugal are under after the Germany embarrassment and he will need to perform at his highest level to silence his critics. If he does come out with all cylinders firing, the US defense will need to swarm him, not allow him to create and essentially make his day a living hell. If not, we could be looking at another dramatic, shirtless celebration as Ronaldo leads Portugal to a big win.

Regardless of what goes down Sunday, the match will be a huge success for ratings around the United States. With the huge crowd already engaged from the Ghana match (more viewers tuned in than for the NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals, or the U.S Open), the interest and excitement is only growing for this USA team. Add in the casual fan, teenage girl, and Eurosnob fascination of Cristiano Ronaldo on a Sunday evening on ESPN in the summertime and you have a viewership gold mine on your hands. So enjoy a lazy Sunday this weekend and let’s hope Cristiano Ronaldo has the same idea, so that the Red, White, and Blue can keep marching forward.

Agree or disagree with Kevin's take on the excitement surrounding USA soccer? Leave a comment below the link.

Be sure to follow Kevin on Twitter (@KevinSaad93) and tune into his radio show, The Beef, on St. Joseph's University Radio in the fall.

The Sports ReKap, hosted by Nick Kapetan and DJ Vogt, will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

Like Us On Facebook

Be sure to visit Sobelman's this summer, the official sponsor of The Sports ReKap, and try their array of mouthwatering burgers. Visit their website: http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/

It is still over 9 months away but please start considering joining a Relay For Life team at your school next year. For more information on how to join a team at Marquette please contact Kristen Krawczyk at kristen.krawczyk@marquette.edu

The Sports ReKap is happy to announce the additions of Kevin Saad, Michael Felish, Chris Linskens, Matt Barbato, Kevin Clancy, and Brendan Garrity as full-time contributors to the show. If you want to be a part of the show this year email Nick at nicholas.kapetan@marquette.edu.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

The $550 Million Draft Pick

By Chris Linskens (@Cree414)

Every Bucks fan knew entering the 2013-14 NBA season that the biggest story surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks was off the court, even though the Bucks went Extreme Makeover: Entire Team Edition on themselves while blowing up their roster.

OJ Mayo, Brandon Knight and Larry Drew were just a few of the wholesale changes made by General Manager John Hammond over the course of the 2013 NBA off-season. Gone were the goons (Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis) that made up the Bucks’ backcourt, who took the Bucks to the Holy Grail that was the 8^th seed in the Eastern Conference! Gone was Jim Boylan, the coach that was thrown under the bus publically by J.J. Reddick for not being able to communicate like an adult for weeks at a time. It seemed like after a not so great run to playoff mediocrity, the Bucks had the pieces to put together a respectable team.

Larry Sanders was coming off of a season almost worthy of the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, but missed the majority of the season for a variety of reasons. OJ Mayo proved that he would live up to his silly name, as he became fat. He played only 52 games and only started 23 of those games. Larry Drew became famous for his ridiculous line-ups last season. He often started Khris Middleton at power forward over the much more talented, taller and proven Ersan Illyasova. Middleton started 64 games and played in all 82 games, while Ersan started 47 games (played in just 55). The only key addition that proved to be a positive one by Hammond (minus the Greek Freak) was Brandon Knight. Knight averaged a career best 17.4 points per game and his shooting percentage improved by 15 percent over his last season. The Bucks finished a dismal 15-67 on the season, the worst record ever in their history, and the worst record in the NBA.

Now here comes what this article is supposed to be about *end rant about crappy season*.

After this season, the Bucks had a 25 percent chance of winning the NBA’s Draft Lottery. Instead, the Cleveland Cavaliers made NBA history, winning the number one overall pick in the NBA Draft three out of the past four years. The Bucks grabbed the number two pick, which if this had happened any other year, I might be complaining. However, the 2014 NBA Draft is arguably the deepest draft class since the draft class of 2003.

You remember that draft, don’t you? LeBron, Darko, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Kirk Hinrich and TJ Ford all drafted in the top 10. Nine of those 10 players made significant contributions to their teams within two years of being drafted, while Darko Miličić taught NBA GM’s everywhere to think before gambling on a European ‘star’.

Not only do the Bucks get to draft with the number two pick, they have the number 31, 36 and 48 picks in the draft. John Hammond has never been shy about making trades on draft night, (see trading Jimmer Fredette) so I wouldn’t expect him to be shy about trading some of these second round picks.

So the big question is, “Who do the Milwaukee Bucks pick with the number two overall pick?” That question became a much harder one to answer, after Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry bought the Bucks in April for $550 million. It gives some optimism to Bucks fans that both the new ownership duo and Herb Kohl will gift a combined $200 million to help pay for a new arena. To put things in perspective, the estimated cost of a new arena in Milwaukee is between $450 and $550 million. However, if there is no solid feeling from the NBA, or a plan in place coming from the City of Milwaukee that makes a significant effort to build an arena by 2017, the Bucks will be bought back by the NBA for $600 million and likely be moved to Seattle.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker wants the state to help Milwaukee get a new arena to keep the Bucks, as it would look bad for Wisconsin’s government to lose such a strong, economic revenue source. However, according to a source of mine that is on the board of trustees in charge of finding solutions for a new arena, Walker won’t make a decision on the matter until after his November campaign for re-election.

Since government funding is temporarily on hold, the Bucks must improve their product on the floor to gain more public support/fans. Here is where I break down the options for the Bucks at the number two spot, since it is very unlikely that they want to trade this pick.

Option 1 (seems to be the most likely outcome): The Cleveland Cavaliers take Joel Embiid at number one, leaving the Bucks to choose Andrew Wiggins from Kansas or Jabari Parker from Duke. There are no other players that have the potential star power of Wiggins and Parker, as these are the two names NBA scouts have been praising for years.

Wiggins averaged 17.1 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game during his freshman year at Kansas, all while shooting nearly 45 percent from the field. Wiggins’ athleticism is incredible, as he has a 7-foot wingspan and a 44-inch vertical leap standing at 6’8”. LeBron James also has a 44-inch vertical leap, just to put things into perspective.

Jabari Parker averaged 19.1 points, grabbed 8.7 rebounds per game in his lone season at Duke and shot over 47 percent from the field. He is 6’9” and has a 6’11” wingspan. The two are very comparable and I think the Milwaukee Bucks would be lucky to get either of these two.

If I were making the pick, I would take Andrew Wiggins. Many NBA scouts think that Andrew Wiggins has a higher ceiling of potential than Parker. Option A is a win-win situation in my opinion, as taking Parker or Wiggins would be a smart decision. Now, I will present the less attractive options.

Option 2: Surprise! The Cleveland Cavaliers take Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker instead of Joel Embiid. Take that sports media; Dan Snyder is the king of misdirection, incompetency and insanity (the latter comes from how he responded to LeBron’s departure, then took back his comments)!

Should the Bucks draft Joel Embiid? NO, they already have Larry Sanders who is a strong defensive anchor at center. Even if the Bucks felt that Embiid would fit them better at the five, what would the trade market be like for Larry Sanders? He has a strong temper (led the league in technical fouls a year ago) and has had off the court issues. Larry Sanders has time to grow into his position and time to mature. Selecting Embiid feels like it would be a step backwards. This option could happen, but if Cleveland doesn’t pick Embiid, the Bucks should not take him. Whoever is left between Parker and Wiggins is the smart pick, since either of the two fills a major void at Small Forward that opened up with the departure of Caron Butler.

Option 3: The Milwaukee Bucks have decided to become Charlie Kelly from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, “Wild Card Bi****s!!” The following hypothetical option isn’t totally insane, but is very misguided to say the least. Despite the Cavaliers’ decision to pick whomever at number one, the Milwaukee Bucks take Dante Exum at number two.

The logic behind why some people think this could happen comes from the idea that Brandon Knight can’t be an elite point guard. True, he is more of a natural shooting guard, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play point guard (he already has adjusted to playing the one this past season). Knight is slightly short for the two and switching him out of the point guard spot seems counter-productive for his development. Not to mention, why take the chance on Dante Exum, who sat on the sidelines this entire past year even though he had the option to play college basketball? Yes, Exum has potential to be a very good player, but his risks and unknowns outweigh the potential gain of drafting him.

So there you have it. My idea for success would be for the Milwaukee Bucks to take Andrew Wiggins, improve their on-court product and wait for Scott Walker to help out with state funding for a new arena. The excitement around this draft is warranted and if Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry get their wish, the Bucks will thrive in Milwaukee like the Thunder do in Oklahoma City.

What do you think about Chris's assessment of the Bucks' options on draft night? Leave a comment below the link.

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@Cree414 (Chris)

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