Here’s the worst thing about hiring Ken Macha (pronounced MAH-kuh). You’re practically guaranteed to hear the Macarena at Miller Park.
It’s a tragic development, one sure to encourage an epidemic of rhythmless gyration. Cue Herb Morrison. Oh, the humanity.
And yet, the reward should be worth the suffering. Because Macha looks to be an excellent hire.
The Milwaukee Brewers braintrust wanted three things from a new manager: big-league experience, a track record of success and an outsider’s perspective. Macha succeeds on each of those fronts, plus a few more for good measure.
He’s not just a winner, but a winner in a small market. Oakland may seem like a world away from Milwaukee, but from a baseball perspective, the two clubs share a lot more than being home to Miller Park. Both franchises must rely on cultivating young talent and judicious payroll management. So it’s a bonus that Macha, who guided the A’s to two playoff appearances in four years, is already a proven commodity within small-market constraints.
Moreover, Macha may be the cure for Milwaukee’s second-half swoons. While the Brewers have that annoying habit of fading late in the season, Macha’s teams have a reputation of finishing strong.
And finally, Brewers fans who tired of Ned Yost’s addiction to certain players (Rickie Weeks, anyone) will appreciate this quote from Macha’s introductory press conference.
“The job of the manager is really not to be buddies with all the players,” Macha said. “You have to make very difficult decisions over the course of a year.”
In other words, players under a Macha administration will be asked to perform. If they don’t, they’ll be asked to have a seat on the bench.
If this bothers any of the Brewers, they weren’t showing it. Reaction to the move has generally been positive.
Well, except at this not-safe-for-work Web site, which still exists from Macha’s days with Oakland. Apparently, seeing Macha fired wasn’t enough. They’re also stalking him to his new club. At least the FireNedYost crew left their target alone after his departure.
Makes you wonder what made them hate the man so much.
Maybe the Macarena’s more powerful than we think.
In other news…
Sveum Comes Home
Looks like time has healed Dale Sveum’s chest wound, and he’s returning to the Brewers as the club’s hitting coach.
Good for both sides. Sveum gets to stay with the team he loves, and the Brewers get some coaching continuity in the midst of change. That’s even more important now that pitching coach Mike Maddux has bolted for a contract as big as Texas.
It also means that the Brewers keep the winningest manager in team history. Yep, Sveum’s 7-5 managerial record, good for a .583 winning percentage, edges out Harvey Kuenn, who went 160-118 for a .576 mark.
Green and Gold
The surprising thing isn’t that Green Bay locked up Aaron Rodgers through 2014 for $65 million. It’s that the move could surprise anyone at all.
This was a done deal the moment Brett Favre rode off into that New York sunset. The only thing that could’ve prevented it was Rodgers falling flatter than Kansas, and that certainly didn’t happen.
My friend Cliff Saunders, late of SportsRadio 1250, writes on his new Web site that Rodgers deserves the money. And though I’m not sure anyone can “deserve” $65 million on the strength of seven starts, when it comes to sports contracts, it’s all relative.
Remember, Dan Gadzuric is making $36 million over six years. Think Rodgers will be twice as valuable as him?
RIP, Karl Kassulke
Milwaukee lost one of its football heroes last week with the passing of Karl Kassulke. While Kassulke’s exploits came well before my time, his story is timeless.
Paralyzed by a bad motorcycle accident at the height of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, Kassulke remained ever the optimist. Former teammates Bob Lurtsema and Carl Eller were effusive in their praise for him. And he’ll be remembered as one of the finest football players this city has produced.
Off on the Right Hoof
It’s a fool’s errand to judge an NBA team just four games into an 82-game season. But with 4.8 percent of the precincts reporting, the early returns look good for the Bucks.
A season ago, Milwaukee won just seven of its 41 road games. This year’s Bucks already have two such victories. (Which reminds me: The Bucks started their season on the road for the 24th straight year. Did Sen. Herb Kohl shoot the schedule-maker’s dog? Steal his wife? Forget election-day fraud. The Justice Department should be investigating this.)
Most promising is that at Saturday night’s home-opener, a 91-87 loss to a stout Toronto team, there was an unfamiliar sight. Good team defense.
Truthfully, the Bucks could’ve won that game, too. Trailing by two late in the game, the Bucks needed to get off a good shot. Instead, they got a bad fall-away corner jumper by Michael Redd, who went to the Will Rogers school of shooting: He’s never met one he hasn’t liked.
I asked coach Scott Skiles what was supposed to happen on the play, and his unhappy answer was succinct.
“Not that.”
Hmm… stay tuned.
And finally…
This just in. The Knicks are no longer the funniest thing in the NBA.
That honor goes to a practical joke on Shaq.
Tune in every Tuesday morning during the 6 o’clock hour when I join Doug Russell and Mike Wickett on SportsRadio 1250 AM for Tuesdays with Howie. You can also find the segments in their Audio Vault. I’ll also chat with Mitch Teich on WUWM’s Lake Effect Wednesday at 11 a.m. And don’t forget to check out our new fitness column, Training with Tim.
