The Sports ReKap: July 2014

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

What Could Have Been

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

Just like that, it's over. After three years filled with headaches, the Marquette basketball career of the greatest underachiever in program history is over.

On Wednesday night it was announced that Todd Mayo will forgo his final season with the Golden Eagles and attempt to go pro either overseas or in the NBA Development League. Marquette fans, are you really surprised?

When Mayo first stepped foot on campus, everybody knew him as OJ Mayo's brother. I never talked to him one on one but I have a feeling that he wanted to form his own identity through impressing people with his own unique skill set, and he did so right away.

At his first Marquette Madness, Mayo wowed the crowd with monstrous dunk after monstrous dunk before leaving early with an injury.

People started labeling the younger Mayo as someone that could contribute instantly on what was one of the best teams in recent Marquette history. Unfortunately, Mayo became his own worst enemy.

Visiting his home state of West Virginia, Mayo played a large part in a bar altercation that ended with then head coach Buzz Williams giving Todd, and some of the other players, a slap on the wrist punishment. So many players were suspended that good ole Juan Anderson saw the floor for an extended period of time.

Over the course of the rest of that season and the following two years, Mayo was repeatedly suspended for "violating team rules" which is the politically correct way of saying he did actions that would be a black eye to the program if they came out to the media.

As many people have told me, Mayo was not suspended for measly incidents like skipping out on practice. These were serious offenses that were signs that Mayo has a problem between his ears. He is wired a certain way that focusing solely on basketball and reaching his full potential was not his top priority.

At times over the past three years Todd Mayo was the most clutch player on the team. Big shot after big shot would come from Mayo's fingertips. On a team last year that was desperate to find some sort of scoring, Mayo stepped up big time. Credit him for at least doing that.

The most frustrating part of the whole Todd Mayo saga was how great he was and how much better he could have been. Do not be surprised if you see him one day playing in the NBA. The man has the scoring ability and instinct to be productive at the next level. What Mayo needs most is a mentor.

Yes, with his big brother in Milwaukee this past season, Mayo behaved better off the court. Better for Mayo though meant not getting suspended multiple times. Buzz was an instrumental mentor that stuck by Mayo through thick and thin but he never really disciplined his former player in a way that would change how he acted.

I will always believe that Mayo had something on Buzz. Rumors sprang up that Mayo was going to come out and say how Buzz recruited him illegally. But those were just rumors. Why would Mayo throw himself out to dry just to screw over his coach over lack of playing time? Whatever it was, Buzz never enforced his power over Mayo the right way, which in the end hurt the former Golden Eagle more than it helped him.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm cheering for Mayo to succeed in the future. The Nick Kapetan from two years ago would hate present day Nick Kapetan for saying that but it's true; I want him to make it to the NBA.

Don't get me wrong, I will always label Mayo's time at Marquette as an overall failure. The guy could have been one of the all-time greats. He could have been "the man" on this upcoming years team but instead he did what most athletes with talent do; chase the money. Hopefully, in the end, that decision won't come back to bite him.

Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

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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.

Monday, July 28, 2014

A Big Moment Thanks To The Big Hurt

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

Cooperstown- Being a die hard fan of a sports team is an interesting phenomenon. In no way whatsoever do you play a direct impact in the outcome of the game, but you use the word "we" when talking about your favorite team.

We didn't play well today. We have to make a trade soon if we want to make the playoffs. The line between being just a fan and a member of the team is blurred.

Maybe you have to be a die hard fan of a certain team to understand this, but sports provide various meaningful purposes for an array of people.

For some, it is an outlet away from the struggles of everyday life. For others it is a form of medicine, an escape. For me, being a die hard fan of the Chicago White Sox is my way to connect with my father. If not for this team, I wouldn't feel as close to my dad as I do today.

I have had this syndrome of being a die hard White Sox fan since my debut on this planet on July 10th, 1993. Two weeks after my birth I was at my first game, watching Frank Thomas lead the Sox to a pivotal victory, on their way to a division crown, during his first of two MVP seasons.

The Big Hurt, as he is affectionately called, signaled the beginning of the connection I have with my dad through baseball. Thanks to Thomas, the White Sox were exciting to watch in person, therefore leading to my dad taking me to more games. We would have watched them on television if we didn't make the thirty minute commute south, but there is just something different about being in the building as it shook, while fireworks erupted, after Thomas slammed another homer over the fence.

Thomas was the White Sox. When people think about the organization, the six foot five giant usually is the first thought that comes to the forefront of one's mind. The man gave the franchise an identity. People who had no idea that Chicago had two baseball teams, actually started paying attention to the boys from the Southside, thanks to Thomas.

As I continued my journey through life, my collection of White Sox clothing exploded and my father's love for his favorite team was officially passed on to his unathletic oldest son. Heading to the games with my dad to watch our guys play became an odyssey that never got old.

While Thomas faded during the latter parts of his Sox career due to injury, he still was important to me because he got the ball rolling on my obsession with the ball club. Watching his mammoth shots during my childhood, especially the ones he hit while barely able to walk in 2005, provided me with some of the greatest moments of my youth. To be able to watch these moonshots with my father, along with my brother and mother, was the cherry on top of the metaphorical sundae.

Fast forward to this past weekend. In remote Cooperstown, New York, Thomas was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and I was there with my father. There are few moments in life when you feel like you have come full circle, but during Thomas' speech, that feeling started to take over. Watching Thomas, a behemoth of a man, choke up while explaining his relationship with his late father, got to me.

There I was, watching one of my childhood idols on stage, while sitting next to my biggest idol in life, tearing up like I did at the end of The Notebook. At first I wanted to hide the fact that the waterworks were flowing out of my eyes, but I decided to ditch that plan. I wanted my father to see how much this moment meant to me. Twenty one years after he took me to my first game, we were sharing one of the coolest moments a baseball fan could ever experience.

Being a White Sox fan in the northern suburbs of Chicago is not the most ideal situation in life. Not many of your friends are Sox fans meaning trips to US Cellular Field with them are few and far between. Still, I am grateful because this allowed me to go to more games with my father. He has passed on many great characteristics to me in life; being a die hard White Sox fan is at the top of the list.

Nick Kapetan hosts The Sports ReKap with his co-host DJ Vogt. The show will begin airing again in September on MarquetteWire.org.

Nick- @KapN93

DJ- @DvJ14

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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, July 14, 2014

Welcome to New-aukee: Bucks Making Massive Changes

By: Chris Linskens (@Cree414 )

The situation in Milwaukee turned from one of all smiles to one of uncertainty very quickly these past few weeks.

The Bucks received warm and widespread praise after they drafted a well-spoken, mature and talented 19-year old Jabari Parker out of Duke. He threw out the first pitch to thunderous applause during a Brewers game and gave a speech at his introductory press conference that had some people asking, “Is this kid 19 or 39 years old?” John Hammond and company were all smiles as of last Saturday night.

Then, last Sunday rolled around and out of left field, multiple news outlets reported that the Bucks were in talks to acquire Jason Kidd for some sort of staff position. After listening to WTMJ’s Doug Russell tell me in person that he didn’t like what he was hearing in regards to Jason Kidd being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, I never thought I would wake up to see that the Bucks seemed to have a massive change of heart. To much backlash, the Bucks fired head coach Larry Drew and have named Jason Kidd their new head coach.

Is the new Bucks’ ownership group a pair of heartless fools that care only about the short-term value of the franchise? Absolutely not and in fact, they are the opposite.

Marc Lasary is a New York guy. He and Wesley Edens were looking for a familiar face to turn things around in Milwaukee, someone that would help seal the deal that this team is now firmly under their control. Jason Kidd spent many of his best years playing for the now Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks, so it isn’t much of a surprise to say that Marc Lasary has ties to J-Kidd.

Could Lasary and Edens gone about the firing of Larry Drew in a more respectable fashion? Yes they could have. However, this deal came together very quickly for all parties, even though the Bucks’ new brass always had their eye on Kidd if he were to suddenly become available. Larry Drew got tired and frazzled under the non-pressure of being the head coach of a Bucks squad that was expected to do very little.

Now ask yourself the following question: “Are you willing to gamble the development of the Milwaukee Bucks’ future young stars on another year of an exhausted and confused head coach in Larry Drew?” If you answered that question with a 100% ‘Yes’ congratulations, you have a pure soul, but remain a sucker for believing that the NBA isn’t about winning games.

The Bucks’ new owners are not the organization known as UNICEF and do not give away free money, food and other goods to people that can’t produce for them. They don’t possess the patience of the mighty Herb Kohl, as they need to show the people of Wisconsin that they are serious about putting a quality basketball product on the floor. This product must eventually be worthy of a new arena and won’t just get handed to them by the tax payers/state. Edens and Lasary want to make a splash and bring excitement back to the Milwaukee Bucks brand of basketball. They are off to a good start by hiring a player’s coach in Jason Kidd, (I hope I don’t eventually live to regret those words) and building around Jabari Parker.

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Milwaukee Bucks are heavily pursuing point guards Eric Bledsoe, amongst other options. John Hammond is banking on the fact that Phoenix may not want to match a max offer to Eric Bledsoe, since he is a restricted free agent (this gives the Suns the right to match any offer made to Bledsoe).

Last year with the Phoenix Suns, Bledsoe had a breakout year while he averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. However, he only played 43 games after he hurt his shin and meniscus midway through the season. This caused him to miss nearly 3 months of play.

The Suns must think about the potential ramifications of shelling out major money to a potentially injury-prone player in Bledsoe, or risk losing out on Bledsoe becoming even better. Phoenix will do its homework in this decision, after nearly getting Eric Gordon to sign a max deal before his body began to betray him time after time with New Orleans.

This is a hypothetical/potential scenario for the Milwaukee Bucks. However, don’t expect Milwaukee to be a soft team like you saw last year. Whimpering off into the night is no longer an option, at least after some development occurs. Where there is smoke, there is fire and this is just a sampling of what I expect to be a busy and productive off-season for the Bucks.

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

Support the cause to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee by following @SaveOurBucks and @BrewCityPaul on Twitter, or go to http://saveourbucks.com/ for the latest on the Bucks’ future.
Check out The Sports ReKap's interview with Paul Henning, spokesperson for Save Our Bucks, here.

@Cree414 (Chris)

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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 8 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.

FIFA Gets It Wrong Again: Why Messi Was Not the Best Player in Brazil

By: Kevin Saad (@KevinSaad93)

On Sunday night, a spectacular World Cup came to a close when Germany lifted the trophy in the legendary Maracana stadium in Rio de Janiero.

German fans celebrated on the Copacabana beach and back in their native land while Argentinians were left with that empty feeling that fans of 30 other nations can relate to. However, one Argentine in particular was devastated but still managed to walk away with some nice hardware. That Argentine was Lionel Messi.

The global icon was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player to the shock of many. To the fan that saw this news in passing, this may have seemed pretty standard based on his worldwide popularity. If we are using this tournament as a sample size, however, then FIFA was absolutely wrong when picking their tournament MVP, and here is why.

1.) Rising to the occasion on the biggest stage: Messi is an attacking menace. We have seen it for years with Barcelona as he has embarrassed grown men with his amazing skills. And even though he was clutch against Iran and Bosnia in the group stage and played a role in wins against Belgium and the Swiss, he was still absent in the semifinal and final with the entire world watching. On a team with so much attacking talent (Messi, Higuain, Di Maria, Lavezzi), it was the Argentinian defense that dominated by only allowing 1 goal in the entire knockout stages. Phenomenal performances from Mascherano, Zabaleta, Demichelis, and goalkeeper Sergio Romero were the foundation of this team as they made their run to their final. Anyone who says that Messi was the entire team for Argentina clearly was watching a different game. He had a solid foundation and he never was able to find that moment in two of the biggest games of his career.

2.) Better performances from exciting players: One thing that makes this decision so upsetting is that there were so many exciting moments from other players that really put their stamp on Brazil. James Rodriguez’s goal against Uruguay was one of the best you will ever see and he captivated the global audience with 6 goals and a goal in every match he played. Rodriguez was the leading goal scorer in Brazil and led Colombia to uncharted territory in the quarterfinals. Manuel Neuer backstopped Germany to their first World Cup in 24 years by only allowing 3 goals the whole tournament. Tomas Muller was sensational and scored big goals at timely moments. He now has a Champions League title and a World Cup in his trophy case at a modest 24 years old. Arjen Robben was everywhere and used his freakish speed to push the Netherlands to a third place finish. For God’s sake, Messi’s teammate Javier Mascherano tore his anus on a tackle in the semifinal and was still able to anchor the Argentina midfield in the final. Messi was good in this tournament, but not at the same level as these other outstanding players.

3.) FIFA Agenda- We have all heard and seen why FIFA is an evil corporation that must be stopped. From the issues with future World Cup sites Qatar and Russia to the lack of concussion protocol, there are so many things you can nitpick about for the world’s soccer governing body. But one thing is for certain: they love their superstars. In such a huge tournament, they want their stars to shine so they can get higher TV ratings, sell more jerseys, and simply put: profit more from the tournament. FIFA isn’t thrilled about Costa Rica making the quarterfinals because it doesn’t help their bottom line. After seeing so many other great performances in the tournament, I think it was pretty obvious today that FIFA was playing favorites and awarded their golden child the Golden Ball. Think of it as a Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera situation when being awarded All-Star accolades or when LeBron gets a soft call in the playoffs. The Golden Ball was a popularity contest and Messi is winning by miles.

Without a doubt, Messi is an elite player and has captivated people worldwide of all ages with his skill during his time at Barcelona and with Argentina. But I think I am in the majority when I say that Lionel Messi was not the MVP of this World Cup and it wasn’t even close. Regardless of what the record books say, the memories of this World Cup will live on forever and unfortunately for Messi, his will not be on the mind of most soccer fans around the world.

Be sure to visit Chicago Soccer, the newest sponsor of The Sports ReKap, for the latest in soccer apparel. Visit their website chicagosoccer.net.

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, July 8, 2014

It is Time to Trade Starlin Castro

By: Nick Kapetan (@KapN93)

Four years ago, the Chicago Cubs had no direction, no plan, and no solution. One year after an 83 win season and two years removed from a second straight playoff berth, Chicago’s inability to provide consistent offense and feature a stable rotation, cost Lou Piniella his job.

After an 11-13 April to start the 2010 campaign, the Cubs called up an unproven shortstop from Class AA to get some experience at the major league level. With incumbent shortstop Ryan Theriot shifting to his more natural position of second base, prospect Starlin Castro began his big league career with a three-run homer and six RBIs in a Cubs 14-7 victory against the Cincinnati Reds. This memoarble debut would serve as a precursor to Castro's first four plus years in the majors. Since 2010, the 24 year old has 790 hits while being elected to the All Star Game three times.

Throughout his hand full of years in the pros, Castro has experienced as much change and struggle as a grizzly veteran. He has played for four different managers, two different general managers, and is the longest tenured Cub on the current roster. Even during the complete overhaul of the Cubs roster done by almighty savior Theo Epstein, Castro has become dependable at the plate.

Sure Castro has had his growing pains in the past. At times, the shortstop’s defense has his coaches shaking their heads and fans cursing him out. Castro makes the difficult plays look easy and the routine ones appear impossible. On countless occasions he has either been out of position or just not paying attention. His .245 average and .284 OBP last season made fans question if the pressure from trying to live up to the 8 year $60.57 contract extension he received in 2012 and the distractions off the field, finally caught up to him mentally.

Despite his struggles in 2013, people believed that Castro's long term, team friendly deal, should have signaled that he was the shortstop of the future. What team gives a guy who has already accumulated more than 200 hits in a season, that type of contract and not have him in their plans moving forward?

There were still people proclaiming that the contract was not indicative of anything; that it was not a sign that Castro was the presumed face of the franchise. With shortstop superstar prospect Javier Baez impressing everyone in the minors, people believe that he will be the future at that position.

For the first three months of the season, Baez’s rising stock still did not give anyone definitive evidence that Castro would be moved because individuals believed that Baez would eventually make the transition to second base. Then, last Friday happened.

At the beginning of the Fourth of July weekend, the Cubs pulled off a deal to acquire Oakland Athletics’ top prospect, shortstop Addison Russell. The newest Cub could be the player that finally pushes Castro out the door.

Whether Russell or Baez makes the move to play second base, having both in future plans means that Castro’s days are surely numbered. Some believe that Castro would shift to third with powerhouse Kris Bryant likely moving to the outfield. However, Castro’s value to the team is greater on the trade market, than at a different position in the field.

The Cubs have a plethora of position players in the minors that will stabilize the lineup for the foreseeable future. One thing that Theo’s rebuilding plan lacks is elite, young starting pitching. Moving Castro to a team in desperate need for their own shortstop of the future, for example the New York Mets, could bring back a pitcher heavy package.

Zack Wheeler and Noah Syndergaard are two high upside arms that Theo would be looking for in return from the Mets. Arms like these that would make an immediate and lasting impact for the big league club, are what the Cubs would covet. While it is highly unlikely that both are moved for Castro, building a package around one should be sufficient to pry the shortstop away from Chicago.

Castro has never been a guy that has fit in Theo’s master plan. A holdover from the Jim Hendry days, Castro’s inability to consistently sport a high OBP is not what Theo is looking for from someone he hopes to have at the top of the order for the next decade.

With Baez sure to make a splash on the scene when he is called up, and now Russell likely to do the same, the middle of the Cubs infield is crowded. It is now time for the ball club to make it a little less congested by shipping off Castro to a team who needs him more.

What are your thoughts on trading Starlin Castro? 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.

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