About Me
- Name: Nick W.
- Location: Wisconsin, United States
Libertarian observations from within the Ivory Tower by an archivist, librarian and researcher.
Email me at
libertarian_librarian@hotmail.com
Worth a visit or two
- Andrew Sullivan
- The Ornery American
- Iraq the Model
- Dennis the Peasant
- Tim Blair
- James Lileks
- Views from the other side of the aisle
- Views from the XX side of genetics
Archives
- February 2005
- March 2005
- April 2005
- May 2005
- June 2005
- July 2005
- August 2005
- September 2005
- October 2005
- November 2005
- December 2005
- January 2006
- February 2006
- March 2006
- April 2006
- May 2006
- June 2006
- July 2006
- August 2006
- September 2006
- October 2006
- November 2006
- December 2006
- January 2007
- February 2007
- March 2007
- April 2007
- May 2007
- June 2007
- July 2007
- August 2007
- September 2007
- October 2007
- November 2007
- December 2007
- January 2008
- February 2008
- March 2008
- April 2008
- May 2008
- July 2008
- August 2008
A university is just a group of buildings gathered around a library. ~Shelby Foote
Friday, September 01, 2006
Flame Outs!
Ye gods, the USA basketball team lost to Greece in the semi-finals of the FIBA World Championships. So much for Coach K inspiring better team play and more consistent effort from our boys. So much for putting together a team that shoots well, rather than just being able to drive to the hoop, to adjust for the format of international basketball competitions. Team USA shot a pedestrian 32 percent from the 3-point line and a pathetic 59% from the foul line.
Oh, and defense. Coach K was going to get the team to actually play some perimeter defense this time around. Greece shot 63% from the field. Now, part of that is just great shooting, but part of that-- likely a good-sized part-- is poor perimeter defense. It's a lot harder to drill long-range shots with a hand in your face than if you have time to set yourself and have a clear look at the basket. So, we pretty much blew that part of the equation, too.
Very sad.
But not as sad as my Milwaukee Brewers. The Brew Crew is currently mired in a 7 game losing streak, firmly and completely ending any shot at the post-season and probably ensuring that they won't even do as well as last year's 81-81 record. Not coincidentally, the 7 losses have all come on the road. Milwaukee has proven themselves to be one of the worst road teams in the majors this league, with only the woeful Pirates, Royals and Devil Rays sporting a worse road winning perecentage this year.
I have hope that much of the current struggle is do to the complete ineptitude of the offense, which is in large measure do to the loss of not 1, not 2, but 3 starters on the infield plus the loss of slugger Carlos Lee via trade. Rickie Weeks, JJ Hardy and Corey Koskie should all be back next year, and Corey Hart and Tony Gwynn, Jr. look like they may be adequate replacements for Lee and slumping right fielder Geoff "I'm not Brett Favre" Jenkins.
Certainly the pitching, particularly the starting pitching, has been very good recently-- showing that if the starting five of Capuano, Sheets, Davis, Bush and Okha can actually all stay healthy for most of a season, the Brewers really will have a rotation that matches up with anybody. And the bullpen has looked much better of late, too.
Oh dear. I've been reduced to this. Sigh. Oh well, here it is then:
WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!!
Oh, and defense. Coach K was going to get the team to actually play some perimeter defense this time around. Greece shot 63% from the field. Now, part of that is just great shooting, but part of that-- likely a good-sized part-- is poor perimeter defense. It's a lot harder to drill long-range shots with a hand in your face than if you have time to set yourself and have a clear look at the basket. So, we pretty much blew that part of the equation, too.
Very sad.
But not as sad as my Milwaukee Brewers. The Brew Crew is currently mired in a 7 game losing streak, firmly and completely ending any shot at the post-season and probably ensuring that they won't even do as well as last year's 81-81 record. Not coincidentally, the 7 losses have all come on the road. Milwaukee has proven themselves to be one of the worst road teams in the majors this league, with only the woeful Pirates, Royals and Devil Rays sporting a worse road winning perecentage this year.
I have hope that much of the current struggle is do to the complete ineptitude of the offense, which is in large measure do to the loss of not 1, not 2, but 3 starters on the infield plus the loss of slugger Carlos Lee via trade. Rickie Weeks, JJ Hardy and Corey Koskie should all be back next year, and Corey Hart and Tony Gwynn, Jr. look like they may be adequate replacements for Lee and slumping right fielder Geoff "I'm not Brett Favre" Jenkins.
Certainly the pitching, particularly the starting pitching, has been very good recently-- showing that if the starting five of Capuano, Sheets, Davis, Bush and Okha can actually all stay healthy for most of a season, the Brewers really will have a rotation that matches up with anybody. And the bullpen has looked much better of late, too.
Oh dear. I've been reduced to this. Sigh. Oh well, here it is then:
WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!!
Labels: Sports
