Gritty Gutty Scottie Skiles.
That’s how I know him, because that’s what Dan Patrick always called him on SportsCenter. This was long ago, back before ESPN turned the nation’s best highlight show into Cross-Marketing Daily and Patrick became Jared Lite for Cousins Subs.
Still, those in the know say Skiles hasn’t changed much since then. They also say you sometimes have to add Grumpy to the nickname, too.
But if Skiles can turn the Milwaukee Bucks into a winner – and new GM John Hammond sure thinks he can – we won’t care if he’s Grumpy. Or Grouchy or Crabby or downright Cantankerous. Just look at the Brewers and Ned Yost.
Hammond isn’t the only one who’s convinced about Skiles. Veteran Chicago Tribune writer Sam Smith told the SportsRadio 1250 guys that Skiles’ coaching ability is as par with Phil Jackson and Larry Brown. Yeah, stunned me, too. And over at The Bratwurst, they couldn’t be happier if they were covered in mustard and relish.
Basically, Skiles is a defensive genius who doesn’t put up with egos or fools. Which seems to cover two huge holes for the Bucks.
So why did it end so badly in Chicago, where Skiles turned a laughingstock into a legitimate contender, only to see it implode this season?
First, the Bulls missed badly on Ben Wallace, overpaying for someone who’s clearly past his prime and contributes nothing on offense but missed free throws.
More importantly, the endless preseason and early-season Kobe Bryant trade speculation just killed the Bulls. So many players were involved in so many different scenarios for so long that it had to take a toll. It’s easy to imagine three or four guys – and key guys like Ben Gordon and Luol Deng – just saying, “Screw it. If they’re so anxious to get rid of me, then why should I bust my butt for this team?” When it dragged on into the season, then never got done, the Bulls were finished before they started.
I’m guessing the Bucks won’t be having any Kobe Bryant trade talks, so that shouldn’t be a problem here. But whether Mo Williams and/or Michael Redd are Gritty or Gutty enough for Scottie Skiles remains to be seen.
This Week’s Pop Quiz
1) Why are the Green Bay Packers retiring Brett Favre’s jersey at the 2008 season opener on Monday Night Football.
A) Because they simply couldn’t wait to honor the career and legacy of an iconic player who brought joy to millions of Packers fans.
B) Because, according to Packers President Mark Murphy, “It will make for an electric atmosphere at Lambeau Field, as well as a great opportunity for our fans around the country to share in it while watching the game on the national broadcast.”
C) Because there wasn’t enough pressure on Aaron Rodgers already.
D) Because they wanted Lambeau to have at least one jersey in stock, just in case.
Answer: All of the Above.
In other news…
Waving Hello
Attended my first Milwaukee Wave game on Sunday afternoon. It won’t be the last.
Well, it’ll be the last one this season. The injury-depleted Wave simply ran out of gas against the Baltimore Blast (great name) in the MISL semifinals, but not before putting on a show.
I’m convinced that indoor soccer would be a much easier sell in this city and country if it was called anything other than soccer. Because most Americans simply despise soccer and anything associated with it.
But indoor and outdoor soccer are distant relatives at best. Fourth cousins once removed. It’s like comparing baseball and softball or ice hockey and field hockey. There’s a ball, two nets and only goalies can use their hands. Beyond that, indoor and outdoor soccer are entirely different.
Indoor has the speed and intensity of constant back-and-forth action. It has players with footwork fancier than Michael Flatley’s. And fans are right on top of it all in that intimate arena, which may explain the genuine connection between team and fans. Wave goal-scorers celebrated with the crowd before celebrating with their teammates. Head coach Keith Tozer, arguably the best indoor coach in the nation, wasn’t above waving his arms up and down to get the place louder.
Want a glimpse of it? The Blast face La Raza de Monterrey in the MISL title game at U.S. Cellular Arena Saturday night at 6 p.m.
As for the Wave, next season starts in October. So there’s one reason to look forward to winter.
Panicking about Prince?
Seems everybody’s got a take on Prince Fielder’s early-season struggles – a .222 batting average and waiting until Thursday to hit his first homer of the season. Before that blast that beat St. Louis, here’s what ESPN’s Jayson Stark came up with in his Rumblings & Grumblings.
Scouts and our own Inside Edge data have suggested that Fielder is being pitched a lot differently so far, and hasn’t gotten many pitches out over the plate to drive. But one NL scout has a different theory.
“I blame the pants,” he said. “His pants are so big, the wind catches him and blows him off course.”
So apparently, he’s not lost at the plate. He’s lost at sea.
My take is much simpler. It’s early. The Brewers have played 11 percent of their games. I don’t know about you, but I don’t write off an entire baseball game after the first inning.
Unless…
And Finally…
From Japan comes the story of a high school baseball team that allowed 66 runs before the second inning was over. All credited to the same pitcher. Who threw more than 250 pitches.
Which kinda confused me.
Because I thought Dusty Baker was managing in Cincinnati.
Tune in every Tuesday morning from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. when I join Doug Russell and dance champion Mike Wickett on SportsRadio 1250 AM. And don’t forget to check out our Bar Time column.
