Bryan_Polcyn's Blog

Just when it looked like the Lake Michigan contingent might dominate... disaster.

Three MLB playoff teams less than 100 miles apart.  Not a single win through six games.

Cubs, Sox and Brewers all down 2-0.  Let's hope that string ends on Saturday at Miller Park.

The Brewers have nothing to lose.  The Cubs have everything to lose.

True, both the Brewers and Cubs are down 1-0 in their respective division series.

But, the Crew has already broken its 26-year playoff drought.  It's the Cubs - the World Series favorites? - who are bearing the weight of a 100 years of futility on their shoulders.

This is the "most talented" team in baseball, right? This is the "team of destiny," right?  Suddenly, they're down 1-0... at HOME!

Mrs. O'Leary's cow may not be off the hook afterall. 

(Sorry, I can't resist.  I'm a Cardinals fan, what do you expect?)

Every frame of video you see on television represents roughly .03 seconds of real time.  That's three times LONGER than Michael Phelps' margin of victory in the 100m Butterfly Friday night.   A conventional video camera would not have been able to capture the difference between Phelps winning a record-tying 7th Gold Medal in one Olympics and Phelps suffering a devastating defeat.  Point-oh-one seconds!

To the naked eye, it appeared certain that Phelps came up short (did you see the look on his mother's face? - priceless).  But the high-speed cameras trained on the finish caught the incredible stretch for the touch pad in super slow-motion.

Until last night, I thought nothing could top Jason Lezak's impossible comeback in the final leg of the 4x100 relay to keep Phelps' hopes alive.  This was at least as dramatic.

And kudos to Mark Spitz for coming on NBC via satellite from Detroit to congratulate Phelps.  Contrary to recent comments attributed to Spitz, the legendary Olympic champion was humble, supportive and gracious in support of Phelps' amazing accomplishment.  I think it showed a lot of class.

Brett's finally on a plane back to training camp.  60,000 fans are supposed to be in the seats at Lambeau.  Aaron Rodgers is ready to lead the Pack in the family night scrimmage.  And there's a storm over Green Bay.

Appropriate, no?

As a resident of Wisconsin and a native of St. Louis, the last thing I want to see is the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs.  So, rest assured, I'm not wishing for this to be true.  I just thought it was fascinating.

I'm watching the game Monday night and looking at the Cubs jersey.  It says, in block letters "CHI" on one side of the buttons, and "CAGO" on the other.

CHI, by itself, is often used as shorthand for Chicago.  And, in Roman numerals, "C" is 100.  Since Roman numerals are often used to represent years, you could read "C" as "100 years."

That would make CHICAGO = CHI 100 years AGO.  Chicago 100 years ago.  1908 is the last time the Cubs won the World Series. 

Freaky, isn't it?

So, as a diehard Cardinals fan, I will henceforth refer to Chicago as "CHICAGO-and counting."

No, not a hybrid car.  Not an iPhone.  Not an Aaron Rodgers bobblehead.

I finally got a foul ball at a major league baseball game.

It came in batting practice, but who cares?  I've sat in prime foul ball territory at dozens of MLB games in my life.  I practially grew up at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.  Never once did a foul ball (or home run ball) come closer than 10 rows away.

Until now.  After watching 20 minutes of BP from the right field bleachers at Miller Park, I gave up and walked back up to the concourse.  Moments later, a ball came screaming past the right field foul pole, bounced about 10 feet from where I was standing and ricocheted down the hallway.  I raced after it, weaved in and out of several fans who either didn't realize a baseball was bouncing past them or didn't care, and pounced on it. 

Along the way, my sunglasses fell off.  A kind gentleman picked them up and offered to trade them for the baseball.  Sorry, my friend.  I've waited my entire life for a foul ball.  I'm keeping this one.  (He gave my glasses back anyway.)

The Crew is off to a great start... again.

But this time it's for real, right?  This time, Ben Sheets is healthy, right?  This time, Ricky and Prince and Bill and Tony have matured, right?  This time, Derrick Turnbow won't meltdown?  Ryan Braun won't be a defensive liability?  Ned Yost won't tinker with the lineup too much?  Road trips won't destroy our record?  The Cubs won't rally in the bottom of the 9th against the Crew en route to a 100th anniversary resurrection?

Right?

I couldn't sleep Sunday night.  On the surface, I realize that football is just a game.  But, deep down there was a part of me that just couldn't let go of the dream. 

Over the past 18 weeks, the Packers got us to believe in their magical Super Bowl season.  It started as a glimmer of hope.  Then possibility grew into probability.  And probability morphed into virtual certainty.  By Sunday afternoon, Packers nation was ready for the coronation of our 2007-2008 NFC Champions.  And in the blink of an eye, the dream vanished.

I've always loved the Super Bowl.  But this one will be a little harder to watch.

You know an instant classic when you see it.  While I'm sure Seahawks fans would disagree, there is no doubt yesterday's 42-20 Packers victory was more than a playoff win.  It was an epic moment that immediately reestablished the fading Lambeau mystique. 

Favre's last shot at another title.  Holmgren's return.  The 14-point deficit 4 minutes into the game.  The sudden burst of heavy snow.  Number 4's stumbling, underhand pass.  Ryan Grant's incredible yo-yo from playoff goat to playoff legend.

Even Bears fans have to admit (painful as it may be), that was something to behold.

You might think Green Bay Packers' cornerback Al Harris is THE man.  But, my 5-year-old daughter isn't so sure.

Sunday, Harris picked off a pass.  I cheered.  My daughter snapped her head toward the TV and spotted the long, braided dreadlocks. 

Without hesitation, she said, "Daddy, the girl Packer caught the ball!"

Time Warner and Charter must be saying a big, fat THANK YOU! to the NFL Network right now.  Why in the world would I switch to satellite to watch one of the worst professional sports broadcasts of all time?

Bryant Gumbel is dreadful as a play-by-play announcer (how many times did he call the Cowboys the Pack?).  And Deion Sanders appeared to be clueless (did you see the sideline report he did facing backwards?!).  But, it was more than that.  The whole production seems like it came from a team of rank amateurs giving this football thing a go for the first time.

Favre will be fine.  KGB and Charles Woodson will be back.  The Pack will make the playoffs.  I'm not worried about the loss.  But I'm no longer dying to pony up extra money for a network that's clearly not ready for prime time.

If you think the most incredible thing about the matchup between Missouri and Kansas is that they both made it this far with a chance to win the national title of college football, you don't know the half of it.

This is a rivalry that goes way beyond sports. 

Check this out from the Wall Street Journal.

I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri.  I graduated from the University of Missouri.  I lived and worked in Kansas City from 2000-2004 at WDAF-TV (FOX 4).  My first child was born in Kansas City, which - by the way - is NOT a city in Kansas.  It's in MISSOURI.

There are most certainly better sports rivalries, but none that burns deeper.

GO TIGERS!!!!

You think his dad used to say that? 

I've never heard that expression until watching tonight's Packers game., but I have a feeling it'll be on T-shirts all over Wisconsin by next week.

ESPN had Brett Favre mic'd up against Minnesota when he set the all-time touchdown record.  Tonight, they played the audio of the touchdown.  You hear Favre doing some pep-talking in the huddle.  You hear the thuds of the defensive players crashing into him as he releases the record-breaking pass.  Then, you hear Favre hootin' and hollerin' like a kid after Jennings makes the catch.  Finally, they cut to Favre shaking everybody's hands on the sideline.  And that's when he says it, over and over again -- "Put 'er in the ol' vice!"  "Put 'er in the ol' vice."  "Put 'er in the ol' vice."

 As fun as that guy is to watch as a quarterback, he's even more entertaining when you can hear him.

And 5 wins is even better.  If the Pack plays .500 the rest of the season (5-5), they'll win 10 games!  And the Bears are once again 3 games back.  This is a good position to be in at the bye week.

Now is when your team needs you most.  I'm listening to the radio on my way in, and it sounds as if the whole city has given up hope.  Yes, the Brewers have been bad - feckless, you might say - since a few weeks before the All-Star break.  But, they are STILL in 1st place.  As bad as this division is, it is STILL theirs for the taking.

I love my Cardinals.  With all due apologies, I will be thrilled if they repeat as Central Division Champs.  But, c'mon Milwaukee!  Don't give up so easily.  The Brewers don't need to win 90 games to compete for the World Series.  Remember 2006?  How many wins did the Cardinals have in the regular season?  Who won the Series?

The Brewers just need to tread water until Sheets is back.  Then, it's game on... unless everyone is ready to concede the division to the mighty Redbirds again.  ]

(Note: My favorite part of all this is that no one seems worried about the Cubs, even though they're 2 games closer to 1st!)