You never know who’ll show up at a Milwaukee Bucks game. And at Saturday’s season-opener, you-never-know was named Rudy Tomjanovich.
He was two seats over from me on press row, fulfilling his duties as a scout and consultant for the Los Angeles Lakers. A coincidence that a Lakers representative was at a game featuring the Chicago Bulls? Must be, because the Bulls have said trade talks about Kobe Bryant are dead, and they’d never lie, right?
Anyway, all the good things you’ve heard and read about Rudy T are absolutely true. Too often, sporting success breeds an ego the size of Don King’s hairdo, but Rudy was friendlier than Mr. Rogers.
“They’ve got me next to a legend,” I said to Rudy, and without missing a beat, he starts swiveling his head.
“Where?” he replies, breaking into a smile. “I thought you were talking about Sidney Moncrief.”
No, the legend was Rudy, evidenced by the autograph seekers and well-wishers who swung by throughout the game. One kid showed up with a basketball, which Rudy dutifully signed, only to have the preteen ask, “You played in the NBA, right?”
Uh, yeah. Did a little coaching there, too. Apparently, John Feinstein’s not very big with the younger set.
Even Marquette coach Tom Crean came up to say hi before the game, and while he didn’t ask for an autograph, he did ask for an impromptu coaching clinic later in the evening.
Late in the game during a timeout, Crean returned with a few scraps of paper. Seems he wanted to get Rudy’s thoughts on a few plays, and Rudy was happy to oblige. Before you knew it, they were scribbling diagrams on the paper like a couple of kids drawing up plans in the playground dirt.
They finished up five or 10 minutes later, at which point Rudy said, “I want a commission.”
Careful, Rudy. You know how the NCAA is.
Early Returns on Marquette
No idea if Crean put Rudy’s play to use in Marquette’s 83-55 exhibition victory over Northern State on Sunday, but the Golden Eagles did little to undermine their top-12 status in the early national polls. Marquette forced a ridiculous 31 turnovers in winning the game.
And lest you say it was just an exhibition game, know this. Crean’s former team, Big Ten favorite Michigan State, played one of those games last week and lost to Grand Valley State.
So yes, anyone can lose at anytime.
Well, almost everyone…
Mars Attacks!
Remember those scenes in War of the Worlds – the original, not Tom Cruise’s bad remake – when the army throws everything it’s got at the Martians, including nuclear weapons? But the aliens shrug it all off like so much Silly String, continue spraying the resistance with laser beams, and suddenly the Free World has lost all hope.
Well that’s what happened Sunday in Indianapolis. The Colts – the footballing Free World’s last hope against those aliens from New England – threw everything they had against the Patriots. The Colts even got every call from the refs and still couldn’t avert New England’s fourth-quarter comeback.
So can anything stop the Patriots now? Can anything prevent their inexorable march on the NFL, the planet and the ’72 Dolphins?
Maybe if they catch a bad Martian cold.
Green Bay with Envy?
Not that there’s much to complain about with the Packers these days – a 7-1 record is beyond everyone’s expectations – but Sports Illustrated’s Peter King reminds everyone that Randy Moss was just a fourth-round draft pick from making his amazing catches for Green Bay.
But that’s getting nitpicky for what might be the best team in the NFC. “Maybe we’re the Saints of 2006,” King quoted Brett Favre as saying after Sunday’s win at Kansas City. “Maybe it’s time to start believing, rather than keep wondering about how we’re doing this.”
Maybe some people already have. Last week, Michael Wilbon said on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” that he thinks the Packers are better than, or at least as good as, consensus NFC top-dog Dallas.
And John Avello, director of the race and sports book at the Wynn Las Vegas Casino, made a telling comment last week on Tony Bruno’s Sporting News Radio show.
“This team, it just looks like it’s fate this year,” Avello said.
When you’ve convinced Vegas, you’ve made your point.
Ted’s Excellent Adventure
You may have missed it, but the Milwaukee Brewers probably named their next manager last week. He’s former Brew Crew catcher Ted Simmons, one of the smartest baseball men around. And while he’s only the bench coach now, take this to the bank: If the Brewers struggle next year, Simmons will make a very attractive midseason replacement for Ned Yost.
And finally…
Nice gesture by the Milwaukee Admirals to continue their tradition of celebrating Veteran’s Day. The Ads are giving free tickets to Thursday night’s game to all current and former military personnel.
Nice of Notre Dame to get in on the act, too. What better Veteran’s Day gift could Navy vets get than Saturday’s 46-44 win over the Irish?
I’ll be back on Nov. 19. In the meantime, quench your thirst with our Bar Time column.
