High School football is back on the air!

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

High school football returns to the airwaves tonight and Friday on AM 1390 and Kat Kountry 105 FM! 

Owatonna v. Wayzata, KRFO-AM 1390

Catch the Owatonna Huskies (0-0) as they take on the Wayzata Trojans (0-0) tonight live from Owatonna High School on KRFO-AM 1390 and www.krforadio.com.  Roy Koenig and Brad Fischer will provide the play-by-play broadcast.  It's the first meeting between the two teams.  Wayzata was a state qualifier in 2009 and has been to the State Tournament five of the last six years; Owatonna was a Sec. 1AAAAA runner-up last season.  The game can also be viewed online (with KRFO providing the play-by-play) at www.owatonna.com, the Owatonna People's Press website.  Game time is 7:00 p.m. on Thursday with the pregame show starting at 6:40 p.m.    

Medford at Montgomery-Lonsdale, Kat Kountry 105

The Medford Tigers (0-0) open their season tonight on the road against the Redbirds of Montgomery Lonsdale (0-0).  The game will be broadcast live on Kat Kountry 105 (KRFO-FM 104.9) and on www.krforadio.com with Randy Sobrack on the play-by-play call.  The Tigers were 4-5 overall last season (3-3 in the Gopher Valley A) under first-year head coach Jerome Johannes.  The Redbirds were 0-9 last season and were shutout six times.  The Redbirds replace Waterville-Elysian-Morristown on Medford's schedule, who defeated the Tigers 34-14 in Week 1 last year.  Game time is 7:00 p.m. on Thursday with the pre-game show starting at 6:45 pm.   

NRHEG at Blooming Prairie, Kat Kountry 105 (Friday)

Tune in for a classic inter-conference battle between defending Gopher Valley A champion Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms (0-0) and their rivals to the West, the NRHEG Panthers (0-0) out of the Gopher Valley AA on Kat Kountry 105 (KRFO-FM 104.9) and www.krforadio.com on Friday night!  Jason Iacovino and Josh Toquam will have the call as Blooming Prairie tries to knock off the Panthers for the first time since the rivalry resumed in 2008.  Last year, the Panthers won a squeaker 15-14, thanks in large part to an inadvertent whistle in the fourth quarter which disallowed a Blooming Prairie fumble recovery at the Panthers' 1-yard line.  This year, the Blossoms will rely on quarterback Luc Zellmer and a re-vamped offensive line, while the Panthers feature junior quarterback Sam Lundberg and tailback Geoff Raymaker.  The two teams will each be using a different quarterback for the third straight year of the rivalry (Zellmer was injured in Week One a year ago and did not play).  Tune in on KRFO-FM 104.9 beginning with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m.

Friday Night Rewind, KRFO-AM 1390 (Saturday at 10:15 a.m.)

KRFO sports director Roy Koenig and Jason Iacovino recap all of the area high school football games on the Friday Night Rewind show, which airs immediately following the KRFO Coaches Shows on AM-1390 Saturday mornings.  Roy and Jason will take an in-depth look at the games that matter, complete with radio highlights and comments from coaches and players.  Guests will periodically join, including Huskies' color commentator Brad Fischer.  In addition to recapping the high school games and looking ahead to next week's matchups, Roy and Jason will get you up to speed on Golden Gopher and Minnesota Vikings football as well.  Keep your dial on your sports source, KRFO-AM 1390, Saturday mornings for the Friday Night Rewind! 

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays on KRFO-AM 1390 at 3:50 p.m.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu. 

2010 Football Preview: Owatonna Huskies

Note: This is the final installment of a five-part series previewing KRFO area football teams.

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

You've heard the expression, "There's more than one way to skin a cat."  Well, in the case of Owatonna football, the "cat" at issue is either the Lakeville North Panthers or the Lakeville South Cougars, and the method is simplifying the playbook and going back to basics.

Thus, the Huskies are once again refusing to join the trend of adopting the spread offense, which is quickly becoming the norm in high school and college football.  Why?  Because in Sec. 1AAAAA, the truth about cats and dogs is the cats are winning the battle.  And we all know the best way to stop a talented, quick strike offense is to keep it on the sidelines.  To do that, Owatonna will use its double wing formation, predicated on power running using a combination of deception and brawn, to control time of possession.  Offenses that are forced to spend a lot of times on the sidelines tend to be rather cold once they finally take the field. 

Obviously, there will be passing, too.  The Huskies went into August practice not sure of who would emerge as their starting quarterback, but thanks to some success in a specialized 7-on-7 tournament over the summer, it appears senior A.J. Lindenbaum is ready to fill that role.  Drew Osmundson and tight end Sam Zappa will likely be the main targets when Owatonna does choose to pass, but the bulk of the offense will center around the running game, which returns plenty of talent in Colin Wencl, Jesse Ebling, and Jordan Zeman.  This amazing depth at running back should be good enough to carry OHS through the Big Nine season, but to win games in the section tourney, Lindenbaum better be ready to air it out. 

The Huskies should be in a better position to contend for a Big Nine title this year because of their returning backs and because teams like Mankato West and Rochester Century will not be as strong.  West has pretty much enjoyed two dream seasons, but that dream is about to come to an end.  The Scarlets should still be among the conference leaders when all is said and done, but their roster suddenly has more sophomores than seniors.  Owatonna should also be better equipped to finish off games late this season, again thanks to the experience at running back, something they didn't do in two of their losses last year. 

Defensively, the key will be to stop the spread offense from picking Owatonna apart.  The best formula there is not to give up the big play and make the offense go on long drives, increasing the chances they will turn the ball over along the way.  In this sense, the 7-on-7 tournament was as much about sharpening pass defense skills as it was about giving Lindenbaum a chance to show off his arm.  It won't be too long before most of the Big Nine will be playing on artificial turf, and that environment almost inevitably breeds the spread offense. 

As for the schedule, the first two games will probably be the toughest.  The good news is they are both home games.  There's no telling what might happen Thursday night when Wayzata brings its army of silver-spoon athletes to the Owatonna field.  It would be fair to call it Class AAAAA's version of David versus Goliath.  Hopefully, the Huskies will not back down.  An inspiring effort in Week One will likely go a long way towards coming up with a home victory over West the next week.  From there, the Huskies have an excellent shot at taking care of business agains the rest of the league--and you know they'll be ready for revenge when they travel to Faribault.

One more thing to think about as the Huskies get closer to sections and those Cats--Lakeville North doesn't have that stud running back who torched the Huskies for close to 300 yards last season.  Take him away, and Owatonna's double-wing, 1980s style offense would've gone to State.  Like I said, there's more than one way to skin a cat.

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays on KRFO-AM 1390 at 3:50 p.m.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu. 

2010 Football Preview: Blooming Prairie

Note: This is the fourth in a five-part series previewing KRFO area football teams.  Next up is Owatonna on Wednesday.

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

I imagine this offseason had to be pretty satisfying for Awesome Blossoms coach Chad Gimbel.  When Coach Gimbel took over the Blooming Prairie program in 1997, it was in stall mode.  Mike Olson, Gimbel's predecessor, had good intentions when he played around with a wishbone offense, but the reality is BP didn't have the strength to compete with the likes of Waterville or even Janesville.

Coach Gimbel instituted an offense known as "The Fun and Gun," or what NRHEG head coach Dan Stork calls, "Basketball on grass."  The Blossoms benefited from a new conference that featured a lot of inept programs, some were tiny private schools in the Twin Cities who didn't have anyone over 140 lbs. it seemed.  Up until the last few years, size would catch up to BP again in the post season.  It's hard to throw the ball all over the place when it's cold, wet, and windy.  There were rumblings that BP should go back to a power running attack and scrap the Dog and Pony show that yielded record-breaking passing careers for Kraig Olson and Spencer Ohm and a record-breaking receiving career for Elliot Herdina.

But Coach Gimbel stuck with his playbook, which has suddenly become the norm in high school football.  After a couple of close calls, the Blossoms finally found out what the spread offense could do under the Metrodome roof last season.  It was likely only a matter of time.  BP has been slowly beefing up its schedule and beefing up its performances in the playoffs.  Gone are the days of getting pounded by Waterville or that 50-8 drubbing in Rushford.  Now BP is competing right through the section playoffs, culminating with a 21-20 win over Goodhue in last year's Sec. 2AA title game. 

This year, the Blossoms added Waseca to its schedule.  The Week 3 matchup in Blue Jay Country will feature two state tournament teams from a year ago--Waseca made it to state in Class AAA.  BP destroyed Class AAA St. Peter last year, so don't expect the Blossoms to be intimidated.  Waseca joins NRHEG, LeCenter, and Mankato Loyola as the tough teams on the schedule.  The other four games should be wins, even as BP has completely re-vamped its offensive line from a year ago.

Led by Aaron Krejci, that all-senior O-line was probably the biggest reason BP ended its state tournament drought.  This year, the Blossoms return its quarterback Luc Zellmer and top receiver Cooper Nelson, but the line play is the big question.  That, and the fact that there are only 4 seniors on the BP roster, makes 2010 smell a lot like rebuilding.  But rebuilding isn't something they've been doing at BP lately--they've had winning seasons all the way back to the 1990s.  This is why the opener against NRHEG is so important.  Nevermind the rivalry factor, if the Blossoms can hang with the Panthers, then they should feel pretty confident about their chances of dominating the Gopher Valley A again in 2010.  But if NRHEG runs away with it, BP might be in for a struggle a year after their best season as a program. 

I'm looking forward to watching Zellmer throw to Nelson and Dylan Hatch (One of the four seniors), but hopefully Zellmer will have time to throw.  Replacing Aaron Niles will also be a hurdle--both in the backfield and in the kicking game.  Coach Gimbel's 14th season might be his most challenging--those lineman who graduated were really, really good. 

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays on KRFO-AM 1390 at 3:50 p.m.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu.

2010 Football Preview: NRHEG Panthers

Note: This is the third in a five-part series previewing KRFO area football teams.  Next up is Blooming Prairie on Monday.

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

David Lindell, Tyler Firme, Kyle Klocek, and Cory Camerer may be gone, but at least the coach is back. 

In football, it always helps to get a few breaks now and then, and the NRHEG Panthers got a huge one well before they kick things off against Blooming Prairie next Friday.  Dan Stork, who has resurrected the program into a consistent Gopher Valley AA contender in his seven seasons at the helm, was let go and then re-hired last spring after a series of cuts at the district.  Budget problems are reality for most schools right now, but the last thing anyone wants is for a football program to lose a motivated young coach to downsizing. 

Yeah, yeah, I know I can be Sid Hartman-like in my praise for local coaches, but trust me, I'm not a fan of all of them.  And although I don't hang around at NRHEG football practice, I've witnessed enough and heard enough from former players to know Coach Stork is a solid guy.  So that's a start--but on the field, things could be rocky in 2010.   

I'm officially calling the NRHEG-Blooming Prairie matchup next week "The Rebuilding Bowl".  Both teams are missing huge components from last year's team--for NRHEG, it's stud running back / linebacker David Lindell along with some big boys up front; for BP, it's their entire offensive line and most of their defensive line.  The Panthers have come away victorious in this rivalry each of the last two seasons and it seems like the Awesome Blossoms are due.  NRHEG handed BP one of just two losses last year, a 15-14 decision that honestly should've gone BP's way but not for a horrendously untimely inadvertent whistle by a referee.  Don't be surprised if that topic comes up a time or two in the next week.  

The other thing to keep in mind about "The Rebuilding Bowl" is last year BP quarterback Luc Zellmer was injured and did not play, although Isiah Toquam did a fine job in his absence.  Zellmer is probably BP's biggest returner from their state tournament team of a year ago.  You still have to credit the NRHEG defense--I'm convinced the Blossoms would've been held to 14 points regardless of whether Toquam or Zellmer was playing quarterback (Assuming, of course, the referees would've blown the inadvertent whistle either way).  Coach Stork's team manages to keep BP's high-powered offense at bay.  My hunch is next week's game will be low scoring as well, but I haven't the foggiest idea who's going to win.  

The rest of the Panther's schedule is pretty easy to dissect.  The big game is always Waterville-Elysian-Morristown--the Bucs have their quarterback returning from that state championship team, but after that it's a young group.  The good news is the Panthers have plenty of dress rehearsals to get ready for the showdown in New Richland, particularly those first two games--at BP and at USC.  The Panthers start with three of their first four on the road, but the reality is they don't have to travel much this year until their final game at Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop.  Blooming Praire, Wells, and Lake Crystal aren't exactly long bus rides. 

You figure WEM and GFW will be the teams to beat in the Gopher Valley AA, so the Panthers should know if they're in the hunt after the meeting with Waterville.  As far as the section goes, that's a different story altogether.  I posted earlier this summer that Coach Stork insists he's ready to end the WEM-Triton two-step atop Sec. 2AA.  While I love the confidence and enthusiasm, I'm not sure this is the year.  Triton is going to be much improved over a team that struggled at times last year but still managed to reach the section title game, knocking off No. 1 seed USC in the process.  If the Panthers need inspiration, they only need look east, where BP ended a nasty state tournament drought of their own last season, making it to state for the first time since 1984.  Now it's NRHEG who has gone the longest among our area teams without an appearance at state; they've never done it as NRHEG, and did it last in 1985 as New Richland-Hartland. 

But in the end, this season will be about who's ready to take over the leadership roles vacated by Lindell, Klocek, and Firme.  NRHEG will also be working with their third different quarterback in as many seasons in junior Sam Lundberg.  But hey, at least they'll have the same coach!  

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays on KRFO-AM 1390 at 3:50 p.m.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu.   

2010 Football Preview: Medford Tigers

Note: This is the second of a five-part series previewing KRFO area football teams. Next up is NRHEG on Friday.

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

You would have to believe it's only a matter of time before the Medford Tigers have a breakout season in the Gopher Valley A.  SInce re-joining the conference in 2008, Medford is an even 6-6 in league play.  Jerome Johannes did the exact same thing in his first year as Tigers' head coach as Maurice McCabe did the previous year--come up with wins over Randolph, St. Clair, and Bethlehem Academy, and losses against LeCenter, Loyola, and Blooming Prairie.

The reason I think Medford is bound for a big year isn't because of the law of averages, though.  It isn't even because coach Johannes now has that critical first year under his belt.  My reasoning?  Look how good they are in wrestling! 

The sports formula in Medford is quite different from that of its Steele County rival, Blooming Prairie.  BP gets it done with athleticism and poise, thus, their dominance in sports like basketball, baseball, and golf.  Medford gets it done with sheer brute, which is why they dominate the Blossoms in wrestling.  Football is a unique combination of brute and athleticism and, recently, the Blossoms have come up with just enough brute to not be dominated by Medford on the line, yet has the agility to light up the scoreboard, where the Tigers struggle. 

At some point, strength is going to pay dividends on the gridiron--even in today's era of the spread offense.  Coach Johannes knows the biggest problem Medford has is scoring points.  Even when BP was destroying conference opponents by 60 points or more a few years ago, Medford could keep them at bay.  They just couldn't score themselves.  They didn't have a consistent running game and they had no passing game.  I mean zero.  Not since Brent Yule led the Tigers to a Prep Bowl appearance in 2003 has Medford had any kind of passing game to speak of.  Even at the high school level, you can't be one dimensional. 

I'm not sure this will be Medford's year or not, but Loyola and LeCenter are considerably weaker than season's past and Blooming Prairie is going to struggle to rebuild on the lines.  It may just give the Tigers an opportunity to sneak in there, even as much of their talent is young.  Coach Johannes said they are deep at lots of positions, except quarterback.  If they can stay healthy at quarterback and find some semblence of a passing game, they could be 5-0 when they travel to BP on Oct. 8.  To do that, they would have to beat LeCenter and Loyola, and that's not going to be easy. 

The Tigers kick-off the season at Montgomery-Lonsdale on Sep. 2 in a game we'll have live on Kat Kountry 105 FM.  The Redbirds are a much more manageable non-conference foe for Medford than last year's opening act against Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.  Then the Tigers go to St. Clair and Randolph before returning home to face Loyola and Randolph.  It'll be tough starting with three games on the road, but if they can find a way to beat LeCenter, it could become a magical year.  

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays on KRFO-AM 1390 at 3:50 p.m.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu.

2010 Football Preview: Triton Cobras

Note: This is the first of a five-part series previewing KRFO area football teams.  Next up is Medford on Aug. 24.

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

There is no richer tradition in football among area schools than what they have at Triton High School.  The question in Dodge Center isn't whether or not the Cobras will get to the state tournament--the question is usually how far will they go at State?  So what happens when you lose 27-0 to section rival Waterville-Elysian-Morristown in the 2009 Sec. 2AA title game?  "You start thinking and planning how you are going to play them again next year," veteran head coach Don Henderson said. 

Coach Henderson, starting his 24th season as head coach at Triton, knows how to get a football team ready to make a playoff run and he also knows all about W-E-M.  The Buccaneers were the class of Class AA a year ago.  They took a 12-1 record into the Prep Bowl and built a 33-0 lead after three quarters before hanging on to win 33-22 over Moose Lake-Willow River.  It was the kind of title game that reminded you, for a while at least, of that 70-21 drubbing Triton handed Luverne in the 2006 Prep Bowl.  It's probably no coincidence; coach Henderson and coach Jon Bakken of W-E-M are two of the state's best small-school football coaches and they have the hardware to prove it.

For Triton to get back at the Bucs here in 2010, they will need to improve their defense.  Triton gave up 15.5 points per game last year, which doesn't seem like much, but it's the most the Cobras have given up since 2005.  Coach Henderson has always developed teams that win with defense, ball control, and field position.  Now that W-E-M and some other HVL teams have adopted the fancy new "spread" offense, defense is no longer just about dominating the other team's line with size and power.  Triton will need to use speed, both in the secondary and on the ends, to disrupt evolving offenses.  Coach Henderson plans to make the necessary adjustment, but it could take some time for the Cobras to learn. 

"So far it's a little ragged," he said. "Schematically improving on the defensive side of the ball is paramount to us having success this year."   

The nice thing is the Cobras will have a lot of seniors to lead them in 2010.  Logan Spitzack has become a fixture at quarterback and will be counted on to provide speed and leadership on defense as well (Triton is generally not a program where the quarterback doesn't have to play defense).  Kyle Thaden will be the leader of the offensive and defensive lines, bringing back experience from two state tournament teams in 2007 and 2008.

As far as the schedule, Triton opens up with a challenge--on the road against 2009 Class AAA state participant Kasson-Mantorville.  If you're thinking this is going to be a KoMets romp, however, you're underestimating coach Henderson.  No football team is more prepared week-to-week than Triton, and that starts at the top.  The KoMets won 47-28 a year ago in another game where Triton failed defensively, but I just don't see that many points for the team in blue this time around.  

After that, it's usual suspects in the HVL Gold, highlighted with homecoming against Goodhue in Week 5 and a home game against defending league champion Zumbrota-Mazeppa in Week 7.  The Cobras have punished the Goodhue Wildcats since they joined the league in 2007, outscoring them by a combined total of 116-19 in three wins.  As for Z-M, the Cougars have won the conference two straight years and that fact isn't lost on coach Henderson.  "But it's not the ultimate goal," he said.  

"The ultimate goal" coach Henderson is talking about usually involves a meeting with coach Bakken's Buccaneers.  The Triton / W-E-M playoff rivalry has to be one of the best in the state.  The two teams have met for the section title six times in the last decade, with W-E-M winning four of those contests.  And you know 27-0 still hurts, but payback is what those games usually bring.  

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays on KRFO-AM 1390 at 3:50 p.m.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu.

Next up: The Fair and football

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

If things feel a bit different now, it's not just the cold front that moved through Minnesota over the weekend.  Sure, it's nice to be able to crack the windows and get some fresh air at night, but this week also marks a transition of sorts on the local sports scene.  Gone are major golf tournaments--both in Wisconsin and Owatonna.  Gone is local baseball.  Gone is summer league basketball.  Beginning tomorrow, area high school football practice fields will be occupied by coaches and athletes hoping 2010 is their year to shine.  Beginning Tuesday, the Steele Co. Fairgrounds will have pronto pups, funnel cakes, and Hairball.  

For me, it's kind of a win-lose situation.  I love the start of high school football season and the fair is a lot of fun, but I'm not ready to let summer go.  The best season in Minnesota also happens to be the shortest, it seems.  In the next couple weeks, I will be working on some special blogs highlighting the upcoming football season for our five area teams: Owatonna, Blooming Prairie, NRHEG, Medford, and Triton.  I hope to talk to each coach and a few players.  To refresh your memory, Blooming Prairie is coming off their first state tournament since 1984 and their first ever Metrodome appearance, where they lost in the semifinals to Minneota.  Owatonna made a nice playoff push into the Section Finals, only to lose to 28-18 at Lakeville North.  The Triton Cobras lost to eventual state champion Waterville-Elysian-Morristown in a familiar Sec. 2AA championship.  Medford and NRHEG were facing rebuilding projects and didn't make it past the first round of the playoffs.

This year Owatonna should win a Big Nine championship.  Mankato West's big guns have finally graduated and the Huskies return a lot of starters from a team that finished fifth in the conference a year ago.  The Huskies really didn't play to their full potential at times during 2009, losing tough games at Rochester Century and home against Faribault.  Owatonna was able to exact revenge against Century in a playoff blowout at least.  As for Blooming Prairie, repeating as section champions will be difficult.  They lose the core of their team--a veteran offensive line comprised of five seniors.  The Blossoms are always competitive in the Gopher Valley and have seemed to catch up with the likes of Goodhue and Rushford-Peterson in Sec. 1A, but they will need to reload in a hurry on the line.  It will be interesting to see what, if any, progress is made in Medford now that coach Jerome Johannes has one year of head coaching under his belt.  Triton is always competitive and NRHEG has to feel like they are better than the 5-4 finish of a year ago.

As I said, look for team and season previews later this month here on the blog.  Some early season games I'm already pumped for are the annual Blooming Prairie-NRHEG rivalry, which the Panthers have won the last two years.  Owatonna vs. Wayzata should also be a lot of fun as I think we're all curious how the Huskies will stack up against one of the best programs in the state.  Triton will also play one of its toughest games of the season right off the bat when they travel to Kasson-Mantorville on Sep. 3.  I expect a big season from Don Henderson's squad, which usually comes back with a vengance if they didn't make the state tournament the previous year.

I will once again be bringing you the Kat Kountry 105 game of the week this upcoming season, featuring our four area teams: Blooming Prairie, NRHEG, Medford, and Triton.  We have a double dip in Week 1, with coverage of Medford at Montgomery-Lonsdale on Sep. 2 and the big NRHEG at Blooming Prairie rivalry on Sep. 3.  The Owatonna Huskies open their season on Sep. 2 at home against Wayzata and Roy Koenig and Brad Fischer will have the call, as always, on KRFO-AM 1390.  Check our webpage for complete schedules to be posted soon.  

If you head to the fair this week (And why wouldn't you?), stop by our KRFO-Kat Kountry stage and give my friends Roy, Loren, and Lisa a hard time!  We have great entertainment nightly and the always popular women's nail driving contest, featuring emcee Jim Gleason.  Trust me--it's the most exciting 30 seconds in all of sports!  Hairball will take over the beer gardens on Tuesday night and if you haven't seen these boys rock it out yet, I'm just saying you have to be there.  Hairball will make you feel like it's the 80s again with authentic-sounding 80's rock, complete with full costumes and sound effects!  To me, it's the highlight of the week.  

And with football...comes the Vikings.  I didn't see a single play of the Saturday preseason game at St. Louis, but I heard Sage Rosenfels put on quite a show.  (Yawn).  Wake me up when Favre comes to town and Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, and / or Percy Harvin take the field.  Still, you definitely feel there's change in the air, and if you're a sports nut like me, it's pretty exciting stuff.

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays on KRFO-AM 1390 at 3:50 p.m.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu. 

Tiger can salvage some (golf) respect this week

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

CBS Sports calls the PGA Championship "The season's final major; Glory's last shot".  Tiger Woods' chances of finding "Glory" at any point in 2010 have long come and gone.  All he has left now is one last opportunity to save some golfing face. 

Though I've been a sharp Tiger critic this year, it is impossible to deny that major championship golf isn't the same without him in the hunt.  For so many reasons, a modern golf tournament really isn't a "major" unless Tiger is a factor.  This year, I would argue Tiger was virtually nowhere to be found in the season's first three majors, even as he finished tied for fourth at The Masters and the U.S. Open.  At Augusta and Pebble Beach, he basically bowed out of both tournaments with ugly front nines on Sunday.  At the Open Championship, Tiger's week was over before it started.

Common sense might dictate that we shouldn't expect Tiger to be among the leaders this weekend.  At Firestone last week, a course that he has dominated throughout his career, Tiger shot his worst four rounds in any professional tournament, culminating with an ugly 77 on Sunday.  He would've lost his World No. 1 ranking, but Phil Mickelson was even more brutal, finishing with a 78 in the final round.  That's not exactly the kind of lead-in you would expect from the top two golfers in the world heading into a major. 

But we are still talking about Tiger Woods.  He knows he still has a chance to make 2010 a successful season, but anything short of victory this week won't accomplish that.  When Woods spoke to the media earlier this week he indicated as much, saying that anytime you win a major, you've had a great year.  Tiger has been majorless since the 2008 U.S. Open, although he missed the Open Championship and the PGA that season due to injury, so we're talking about a 7-tournament major drought.  Phrasing it that way is laughable if we're talking about anyone other than Tiger or Jack.

We're not, though.  We're talking about the man who is supposed to represent golfing immortality; instead, he is starting to represent professional golfing mediocrity.  He thinks he can win this week and he certainly has the game to get it done.  Yes, Thanksgiving Gate has taken its toll; refreshingly, Tiger is starting to admit as much.  "It's been a long nine months," Tiger said.  No kidding.  But if you think it's been a long nine months because Tiger and Elin are having a tough time with reconciliation, my hunch is you can think again.  Personally, I think it's been a long nine months for Tiger because he lost his sponsors, his swagger, and his swing coach in one of the ugliest nose dives we've seen in sports.  It ain't O.J.-like, but the guy's image hasn't exactly done a Ray Lewis this year.     

But I go back to my theme: It's still Tiger Woods.  He can absolutely put it all behind him and win.  I don't think he will, mind you, but he sure can.  He knows what's on the line.  Tiger's all about playing mind games.  So far in 2010, his mind has the better of him.  This week, if he goes out and wins, he can spin it as though there was nothing wrong with his golf game this year and come back in 2011 primed to continue his journey towards breaking Jack Nicklaus' record.  If he doesn't, who knows where his psyche will be next year.  I get a kick out of Tiger, actually.  He still thinks he can sell us on this theme that "dad" is helping him through these tough times.  I really wish he'd end this fantasy of making the American people think that Earl Woods carried the gospel of morality.  I think we all know what Earl Woods was to Tiger--a hell of a golf coach for many, many years.  

But whatever works.  It's still Tiger.  If he can convince himself life is good long enough this week to pull it off, it will be one heck of a comeback here in 2010.  On the golf course, that is.  As far as the rest of his life goes, he can't fix that problem in one weekend. 

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays on KRFO-AM 1390 at 3:50 p.m.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu. 

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

The 2010 Owatonna City Open started with pouring rain and lightening and ended in sweltering 95 degree heat.  Jon Blazek withstood the heat--both from his competitors and mother nature--to win his first City Open title.  And he can't even buy a beer to celebrate.

Blazek, a 2008 OHS graduate and college golfer at Minnesota-Crookston, shot a 4-over par 75 Sunday to win by 2 shots over Chad Hacker, who led the tourney by a stroke after day one.  The front nine ended up being the difference on Sunday, where Blazek carded a 37 and Hacker shot 41.  By the time the final group reached the 18th tee, Blazek had a four-shot advantage.  He would bogey the hole after a perfect drive while Hacker sunk a long birdie putt.  It was too little, too late to catch Blazek, however.  

The best story of the weekend might have been Kerry Shea, though.  Shea improved 13 strokes on Sunday to capture her second women's championship, going 94-81 for the weekend.  Her 81 at Brooktree was quite impressive.  Shea, a 2002 OHS graduate, was a standout basketball player for John Kuehn in high school.  Apparently, she can kick my butt (As well as Coach Kuehn's) in golf as well. 

Shea's amazing round notwithstanding, the weekend uncovered an interesting theme: Brooktree has more teeth than the Country Club.  None of the eight players in the men's championship flight who were in the 70s on Saturday at the Country Club improved their score at Brooktree on Sunday.  This came as no surprise to me.  The Country Club was in phenomenal shape on Saturday, with lightening-fast greens even after a two and a half hour rain delay, but the layout doesn't test a golfer like Brooktree.  This is especially true on the back nine, where Brooktree has some holes that basically require perfection off the tee to make par.  What's funny is scores probably would've been even higher on Sunday had the pins not been in generous spots on Nos. 16 and 18, but the course ended up flexing plenty of muscle.  The fairways were perfect at Brooktree, but the greens were considerably slower than what the field experienced at the Country Club.    

On a personal note, the weekend was extremely disappointing for me as I had to withdraw from a golf tournament for the first time in my life.  It was my first City Open, but it won't be my last.  I took a hard fall waterskiing a week ago and bruised some muscles in my chest.  I was determined to play through it all week, and couldn't pass up the chance to play the Country Club in mint condition on Saturday, despite the fact the pain wasn't getting any better.  It was probably a mistake because I could barely move on Sunday morning.  I apologize to my fellow competitors for having to withdraw and look forward to competing again next year.  Even with my WD, I met some fantastic people on Saturday and it got me pumped up for playing golf in Owatonna for many years to come.  No excuses, either: My 90 on Saturday could easily have happened on a healthy day as well. 

My thanks to the folks at Owatonna Country Club and Brooktree Golf Course for hosting such a great event and showing off Owatonna's two beautiful golf courses.  We have it pretty good here. 

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays on KRFO-AM 1390 at 3:50 p.m.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu.

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of all the Brett Favre talk. 

Actually, let's try that again.  I'm tired of talking about Brett Favre's activities between now, and say, Sep. 9. 

From now until then, Favre can throw to high schoolers, Favre can take cell phone pictures, and Favre can call his buddies Ed Werder and Rachel Nichols with a new scoop for Sportscenter.  That's what Favre does, and I couldn't care less. Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels can warm the boys up in Mankato and Eden Prairie while Favre rides mountain bikes in Mississippi. 

Brett Favre has nothing to prove in January or February, much less August.  He's going to go down as one of the greatest NFL warriors of all-time.  He's already shown the Green Bay Packers they made a huge mistake by not agreeing to play his game.  Successful NFL quarterbacks are very hard to find.  The Packers had one.  They didn't have one who was past his prime or out of gas; they had a real, live winner in the flesh and they turned their back on him.  Sure, Favre is a pain to work with, but this is the NFL--it's not about playing nice, it's about winning.  The Packers think they have another winner on their hands to replace Favre, but that remains to be seen.

In the meantime, he's ours.  You may have heard some media reports on Tuesday that Favre told some of his teammates and / or Vikings personnel that he was retiring (Again).  If you're like me, this news made you cringe for about 10 seconds, until you realized the source of the reports was Favre himself, and you carried on with your day knowing full-well how inaccurate those reports were. 

Now let's talk about Sep. 9.  The Vikings open the 2010 season in the same spot they ended the 2009 season--at the Louisiana Superdome against the New Orleans Saints.  This time, instead of an NFC Championship game, it's a nationally televised Thursday night game to kick off the NFL season.  Again, no matter what August brings, Favre will be quarterbacking the Vikings on Sep. 9.  If you think he needs August to warm-up, I would remind you last season he threw for over 4,200 yards (Most since 1998) with 33 touchdowns (Most since 1997)  and just 7 interceptions (Fewest ever)--and he spent most of August in Hattiesburg, Miss., with the high schoolers.  If August is truly important for a veteran NFL quarterback, then I suggest they all find a high school team in Mississippi. 

The other great thing about Favre after Sep. 9 is the Vikings are once again guaranteed two Superbowls this year--Oct. 24 at Green Bay, Wis., and Nov. 21 in Minneapolis.  Believe me when I say if Favre wins both of those games and the Vikings win the NFC North again, anything that happens after that will be a bonus.  Yes, Favre came here to win another Superbowl, I get that.  But to Vikings fans in my generation, the Superbowl is kind of like a mythical destination, much like landing on Mars--it's too impossible to dream about.  Beating the Packers two more times with Favre at the helm isn't. 

The Vikings bring virtually everyone back from a 14-2 team in 2009.  There's no reason to think we won't be a major NFC contender again this year with Favre leading the way.  You know it, I know it, and most importantly, Favre knows it.  So let's cut the bull about retirements and ankles here in August and just wait until this train gets rolling again on Sep. 9.  If Jackson starts at quarterback on that night, then we can worry about what Favre is up to. 

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays on KRFO-AM 1390 at 3:50 p.m.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu. 

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

How good is the American League Central?  Well, the Minnesota Twins are winners of 8 in a row, including 10 of their last 11, and they still trail first-place Chicago by one-half game. 

How bad is the American League Central?  The Twins' 59-46 record would be good for fourth place in the AL East, behind New York, Tampa Bay, and Boston. 

So here we are on August 2 and I have a question that I'd love to have answered: Is this the same 'ol Ron Gardenhire Twins team that dazzles us with an AL Central crown in a fierce race only to fall flat on its face in the playoffs, or is this the kind of team that can beat anyone in October?  I suspect I will have my answer later this month.

The Twins did a marvelous job of taking advantage of a seriously weak schedule in late July, culminating in their current 8-game winning streak, which has managed to make even Kevin Slowey look good.  They've won 10-of-11 without the services of their MVP first baseman Justin Morneau and are quickly revealing another potential MVP in Delmon Young in the process.  Danny Valencia is proving the Twins were foolish for ever thinking Nick Punto was a superior option at third base this season.  Jason Kubel is sprinkling in clutch RBI hits in the midst of lengthy slumps and Joe Mauer is slowly starting to look more like Joe Mauer. 

There are other signs this team might be ready for more than the White Sox or Tigers.  We upgraded our bullpen by trading for National's closer Matt Capps.  Jason Repko gives us a much needed extra outfielder, one who isn't carrying an elephant on his back when he runs.  Jim Thome is looking like he's in his prime again.  Heck, even Alexi Casilla is performing. 

Oh yeah, and we have not one, but two, ace pitchers.  Remember back in June when we were certain we couldn't get to the playoffs without an ace and were desparately calling for Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt to come knocking?  Now we have pocket aces in Fransisco Liriano and Carl Pavano.

I suppose everything looks good when you get the league's four worst teams in succession.  Now the Twins will have to play four 60-win teams in August, starting tonight when they open a four-game series at Tampa Bay.  Then there's a home-and-home with the White Sox in the middle of the month, followed by another four-gamer on the road against Texas on Aug. 23-26.  There are a lot of highs and lows in baseball and I will be very impressed if the Twins are able to stay on their high through this more difficult stretch.  It is possible that Justin Morneau will return to the lineup sometime shortly after the Twins return home on Aug. 13.  Whereas last year the Twins really needed Morneau when he was hurt in September / October, this year they will have to actually remove a strong hitter in their lineup (Either Jim Thome or Jason Kubel) to make room for him.  

Give credit to Gardy and the Boys for putting themselves in playoff position once again this season and not allowing Vikings hype to dominate the Minnesota sports landscape in August, when only fake football is available for viewing.  It's not easy to consistently compete for a division title, just ask any number of teams big (Chicago Cubs) and small (Seattle Mariners).  Still, with Target Field and sold out crowds, expecatations are raised.  Twins fans can only be teased for so long. 

Ten out of eleven is a good start.  Now let's see if we can capture first place and build a lead while battling the league's toughest teams.  As much fun as last year was, I could go without a Game 163 this time around.

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays on KRFO-AM 1390 at 3:50 p.m.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu.

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

My favorite national sports columnist is the provocative Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star and foxsports.com.  His latest foxsports.com column hits the nail on the head when it comes to recent NCAA investigations into rules violations by amateur athletes and their athletic departments, headlined by the mess Pete Carroll left behind at USC.  Whitlock contends it's the NCAA's structure that needs investigating, not rules violations by the athletes which it exploits.

The column was spot on in my view except for one stretch: Whitlock, who often invokes race issues into his commentary and is himself black, compared NCAA rules to Jim Crow laws and slavery.  Now Whitlock is known for his bold takes, but this one insults victims of slavery and the brave souls who fought to eliminate racist policies in the 20th century when much of the country still didn't get Abraham Lincoln's memo.  It insults Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

I'll give Whitlock a pass only because I assume his analogy was meant to be pure hyperbole and if you asked him honestly if he felt NCAA athletes are being treated like slaves, he'd admit that notion is ridiculous.  Still, calling Reggie Bush a "runaway slave" is just as insulting as Kellen Winslow telling the media "I'm a soldier; I'm at war" or Latrell Spreewell saying he needs a bigger contract because "I've got a family to feed" when he's making $13 million. 

Having said all that, Whitlock outlined what I've been trying to convince my friends of for a few years now: the NCAA is exploiting young men.  They are making oodles of cash off athletes in exchange for what Whitlock correctly describes as "a currency they don't respect and haven't been properly been prepared to use" (Namely, a college education).  Not that young men are prepared to be handed millions either, but that's a different morality debate altogether.  The fact is the NCAA and its member schools, along with college presidents, coaches, and athletic directors are making tons of cash through multi-billion dollar TV deals for football and men's basketball while the players get the relative equivalent of a free McDonald's value meal.

Of course, the minute they dare accept a meal at Red Lobster, they're slapped on the wrist for violating the rules.  It's a joke.  And as Whitlock pointed out, the NCAA further insults these young men by redistributing the money made off football and men's basketball into other sports that few people care about and are played by actual student-athletes, who have nothing in common with the players who produce the cash.  That's where Whitlock is correct in pointing out a racial component to this whole situation.

Still, we're not talking slavery here.  No one's forcing anyone to accept a scholarship offer.  And as my friends all point out, there are millions to be made in the pros.  However, anyone who justifies not paying the players with that logic doesn't get it; there is less than 1 percent of football and men's basketball players who make it to the pros, and nothing is guaranteed.  Unless you're talking about those huge BCS and March Madness contracts; those are guaranteed.  Season ticket money is also non-refundable.  As Whitlock pointed out, USC can take away Bush's Heisman Trophy, but you can be sure they won't refund profits from his jersey sales, tickets at the gate, or the millions Pete Carroll made with Bush's help. 

My solution?  Treat revenue sports like a job.  I had jobs working for the University of Minnesota when I was a student; I still had to pass my classes.  The players, likewise, would still have to follow a path to graduation while they played, they would just get a healthy paycheck for the "work" they do for the university while they are there.  And I'm not talking millions, here.  I don't think a few thousand is too much to ask for.  Look, obviously there would be logistical issues to iron out, but we managed to put a man on the moon, so I think we can figure out how to fairly compensate student-athletes. 

So that's my take.  I realize it's not a popular one, necessarily.  But I think Whitlock's right...I think it's time the media stop patting themselves on the back for these "investigations" that uncover player-cash transactions, player-agent communications, and improper text messaging and start asking the tough questions:  For instance, when is this ridiculously unfair system, where a key player who contributes to a billion dollar industry is suspended for accepting a steak dinner, going to be reformed?

I may be in the minority, but I don't think it's right. But I also wouldn't play the slavery card. 

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays at 3:50 p.m. on KRFO-AM 1390.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu.

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

Much like many fields in today's economy, it's tough to keep your job if you're a teacher under 50.  NRHEG football coach Dan Stork bounced around from building to building between Ellendale and New Richland, carrying several job titles, until budget cuts forced his lastest position as dean of students at the high school to be eliminated last spring. 

Stork began polishing his resume and applying for a new job when he was urged by Mindy Sparby, whose husband was also the victim of cuts at the district, to apply for her old job as athletics director.  After Paul Sparby's position as elementary principal was eliminated, Mindy Sparby accepted a job as AD at Belle Plaine.  That left one last chance for Stork to continue on at NRHEG, where he's been either a teacher or administrator in some capacity since 1995.  Stork was offered the job last May and accepted.  That means he will return to the sidelines as NRHEG football coach for his 8th season this fall.

And what about that AD gig?  Stork joked that he was surprised officials would want to work with him after years of barking from the sidelines, but it's perfectly normal for a coach to do double duty as athetics director in a smaller district.  Now he'll have to master the art of lobbying with officials on game nights while playing nice with them on scheduling matters during the day.

On the field, Stork will face challenges in 2010.  He's coming off a somewhat disappointing season in 2009 after going 15-1 combined in the regular season from 2007-2008.  The Panthers have most of their skill positions back from last year, but there are some notable leaders who graduated, including David Lindell and quarterback Taylor Bollinger.  United South Central took the Gopher Valley AA by storm in 2009, adding a new player to what has been a league dominated by Waterville-Elysian-Morristown, NRHEG, and Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop. 

Then comes the section tournament, where the real headaches begin.  Section 2AA has been won by either W-E-M or Triton for as far back as anyone can remember.  It's probably no surprise, since both the Buccaneers and Cobras are led by veteran coaches who have multiple state championship trophies.  With the Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms making it to the Metrodome last season, NRHEG now has the longest state tournament drought of the four area football teams we cover each season on Kat Kountry 105 FM.

In fact, NRHEG has never made it to state in football since the school consolidated in 1992.  New Richland-Hartland last made a state football appearance in 1985; before that they reached the state tournament three other times, including two Class B championships in 1976 and 1978.  Stork is making it a goal to change that in the near future.  "Absolutely, we're going to do it," he said confidently when a doubting radio announcer asked him about the possibilities of someone other than W-E-M or Triton winning Sec. 2AA one of these years. 

The Panthers probably had their best chance of making it to state in 2007, when they dominated the regular season at 8-0.  Eventual section champion Triton was fairly depleted after that lethal 2006 campaign, but the Panthers never got their shot at the Cobras, because No. 8 seed United South Central pulled of a huge upset in New Richland in a first round playoff game.  Since then, the Panthers have been eliminated by the Cobras the last two years.  

Logic would dictate that if anyone's going to spoil the W-E-M / Triton party in Sec. 2AA it would be Stork's Panthers.  Stork has been with the program since 1995 and he knows the Buccaneers and Cobras well.  It might not be this year, considering the Bucs have almost everyone returning from last year's state championship team.  But the good news for Panthers fans is it appears coach Stork will be around long enough to back up his claim that there's room at the state tourney for NRHEG.

To be totally secure, though, Stork may want to brush up on his math, literature, and science teaching skills just in case they cut his position again.

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays at 3:50 p.m. on KRFO-AM 1390.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu.

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

It doesn't take Abner Doubleday to figure out this formula: Good starting pitching = wins.

Or this one: Bad starting pitching = losses.

For all practical purposes, the Twins split a key four-game series with the first-place Chicago White Sox over the weekend because they got two very good starts (Fransisco Liriano, Carl Pavano) and two very bad starts (Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn).  As it turned out, the Twins were able to take 3-of-4 from the Pale Hoes thanks to closer Bobby Jenks blowing a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday.  The Twins scored four times to earn the walk-off win; the White Sox did not record an out. 

Still, four-run ninth inning rallies cannot serve as the basis for a second-half playoff push in a tight pennant race.  Heading into Monday's game against Cleveland, the Twins were 0-for-2 in getting post All-Star break bounce back starts from struggling pitchers in Slowey and Blackburn.  Monday, the Twins were hoping the cortizone shot Scott Baker received during the break might inject some life into his pitches as well as subdue some of his pain.  Instead, our pain continued.  Baker gave up 6 runs in 4 2/3 innings, continuing this disturbing trend among the Slowey-Blackburn-Baker trio.  This time, there was no miracle comeback and the Twins lost 10-4.

Last Thursday during Slowey's start, Twins television commentator Dick Bremer came up with a very unique, yet not surprising, excuse for Slowey's poor outing: Many pitchers apparently consider it difficult to take the ball the first game after the All-Star break.  I guess all that rest can wear you out.  Luckily, former Twins Tim Laudner and Bert Blyleven set the record straight, agreeing that if a pitcher doesn't want the ball in that situation, there's something very wrong.  Monday, Bremer pointed out that Baker hadn't pitched since July 8. 

Forget the excuses, here's the reality: Manager Ron Gardenhire has a serious problem.  He has three woeful starters and only one real solution--insert Brian Duensing into the rotation.  But as Gardy pointed out Sunday morning during his weekly radio show, Duensing can only fill-in for one of the starters--what happens if the other two continue to struggle?  The Twins' AAA affiliate in Rochester, N.Y., no longer has a plethora of quality young starters waiting for their chance.  Texas won the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, and now that Yankee starter Andy Pettite will be out for a month, the Twins will have the deepest pockets to outbid if they want to acquire a starter via trade.

Don't get me wrong--I'm standing by my statement that the Twins are primed for a second half push.  The 3-of-4 taken from Chicago was a great start, even if it did come with an unlikely 4-run rally against a quality closer.  But the fact remains, if the Twins starters don't improve or the organization doesn't do something to replace some of them, there will be no October baseball at Target Field. 

Star Tribune baseball genious Jim Souhan opined in Monday's column that the comeback rally against Jenks and the White Sox could be a turning point for the 2010 season.  My only guess is he didn't see Blackburn's outing; he must have only seen the string of Twins' base hits leading to the 4-run ninth inning rally.  Because if he had seen Blackburn's effort, he would've realized the Twins' starters haven't turned any corners yet. 

I'm ready to believe in some August and September magic like we saw in 2006 and 2009.  To get there, however, one way or another, we need the starting rotation to do a 180.  And by that, I'm not talking about the movement of their heads after the opposition sends another ball into the seats. 

Jason Iacovino can be heard Tuesdays and Fridays at 3:50 p.m. on KRFO-AM 1390.  Email him at jjiacovino@stthomas.edu. 

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

The Owatonna Huskies football team lost 28-21 to Rochester Century last season in Week 4 thanks to a late TD pass and two-point conversion by the Panthers, stripping Owatonna of a lead and dropping the Huskies' record to 2-2.  Owatonna would go on to win five of their next six games, including a 63-22 drubbing of those same Panthers in Rochester in the Sec. 1AAAAA semifinals.

Century earned home-field advantage for that playoff game but they really didn't get a benefit because its field was too muddy to use.  Instead, the game was played at Rochester Community and Technical College, where artificial Field Turf had been installed.  I'm not saying Field Turf accounted for a 48-point turnaround for the Huskies in their second go-round with Century, but I imagine the Panthers would've had more of a chance if the game was played on their muddy field.  After all, three games earlier, the Huskies lost 36-31 to rival Faribault in Owatonna on a field that was more suited for pigs than pigskins.  

My friend Ian Stauffer at the Owatonna People's Press inked a couple of fine articles this week outlining the possibility of Field Turf at OHS.  Not surprisingly, football coach Jeff Williams and athletics director Ryan Swanson are both in favor of bringing artificial turf to OHS.  Also, not suprisingly, the big hurdle is money and much of the public is not keen on the idea of forking over about $1 million to the district for a project that doesn't involve reading, writing, or arithmetic.  

Still, I'm here to tell you, it's a matter of "when", not "if", OHS will get an artificial field for football, soccer, and lacrosse.  It makes sense on so many levels.  

I'll get to the money part momentarily, because I'm aware that is the real issue.  First, I would point out there are beautiful grass football fields in neighboring Dodge Center, Blooming Prairie, and New Richland.  Last season, we had quite a bit of rain in the fall and many area fields were quite muddy in October.  By the time the playoffs came around, though, the fields recovered for the most part.  The difference between Owatonna and the smaller surrounding schools, of course, is you don't have soccer or lacrosse helping to tear up the grass at Triton, BP, or NRHEG.  With the addition of boys and girls lacrosse, Owatonna's field takes pretty much a year-round beating.  Field Turf has become quite common in the Twin Cities metro area, and it will be here before long.  

I'm not going to waste much time debating the merits of Field Turf over grass in terms of function.  There's simply no comparison.  Field Turf is much easier to maintain, it's just as good, if not better, for protection against injury, and it allows the field to get unlimited usage.  

What we have to debate is how to pay for it.  Even a huge sports fan like me understands how silly it sounds to pump close to $1 million into an athletics budget when we can't afford to keep teachers around and pay for classroom supplies.  This is one project which will take creativity and time to fund.  Best case scenario, we might be looking at 2012 as a target date for Field Turf.  Ian's article kicked around the idea of naming rights (Think "Federated Field"), but the reality is it would be nothing more than a donation on the part of a business.  No business is going to get anywhere near the necessary return on a $1 million investment to get its name on our high school field.  And the way businesses have been laying folks off in recent years, that's a pretty tough sell at the corporate level I would imagine.  

That having been stated, it's been done before.  Businesses stepped up to fund River Springs Pool, and unlike that project, no one is going to question whether artificial turf is a sustainable option or whether it was worth it.  Field Turf will have an immediate positive impact that will last for years and years.  It will serve at least seven athletics programs (If you count boys and girls track), and the marching band is going to love it as well.  So anyone who tells you Field Turf would be a blank check for the football team is wrong.  Heck, I'd run out there and hit some wedge shots through the goalposts on that stuff.

To summarize, the debate isn't over whether or not Field Turf is necessary or if it would be an improvement.  Those things are obvious.  It's going to happen.  The debate is how to pay for it.  It's unfortunate this topic is coming up in such a painful economic time.  If you think you have the answer to the funding question, I'm sure Mr. Swanson would be more than happy to take your call.     

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

No, Cliff Lee isn't coming to town.  I doubt we'll get Roy Oswalt or Dan Haren, either.  After spending loads of money in March on Target Field's favorite single (And singles hitter), the Twins will likely have to survive the 2010 stretch run without the help of a big trade.  It's a good thing last year's featured trade acquisition, Carl Pavano, is still paying dividends. 

None of this should deter Twins fans from thinking there won't be a strong playoff push again this year.  While it's true there is plenty to be pessimistic about (Most notably the inconsistency of our starting rotation), I'm seeing the glass half full.  You can usually count on our friends on Twins television to provide misleading statistics which create the illusion that everything is A-okay, but Sunday they actually pointed out something worth noting: In the Ron Gardenhire era, there have only been two seasons where Minnesota played below .500 baseball after the All-Star break, those being the non-playoff years of 2005 and 2007.  

Carl Pavano proved Sunday that this club does have an Ace.  If Nick Blackburn has to be replaced in the rotation by Brian Deunsing or Anthony Salama, that likely wouldn't be the end of the world.  And despite his sub-par effort last Friday against Detroit, Fransisco Liriano still has electric stuff and a low ERA.  Baker and Slowey have to improve, or we will be in trouble.  

Here are some other potential signs of good things to come in the second half:

-The White Sox can't stay hot forever, can they?  Chicago has won 25 of their last 30.  That's an insane pace which certainly can't be sustained in the last 2+ months of the year.  I do think Ozzie's club will provide Minnesota with the greatest challenge going forward, however.  I don't see the Tigers hanging around for long.  

-Minnesota plays 38 of its remaining 74 games at home, and they have 21 games remaining against the Indians and Royals.  Yes, I know the White Sox and Tigers get to play Cleveland and Kansas City quite a bit as well, but Detroit in particular will not get the string of consecutive last place teams on its schedule that they miraculously enjoyed in the month of June.  The Twins also get 4 games against last place Baltimore and 6 games against last place Seattle (Although it should be pointed out that the Mariners beat the Twins in 3-of-4 at Safeco Field in May/June).  

-The Twins should be at near full strength starting Thursday when they host the White Sox for four games at Target Field.  With any luck, our middle infield won't go MIA for a month like they did early this season.  Morneau's sore neck should be fine by Thursday and Mauer should be rejuvenated to the point where he will be motivated to improve on his first-half numbers.  If Danny Valencia can keep hitting (.310 avg. in 58 at-bats), it should keep Nick Punto, who is 1 for his last 20, in a utility role.  The Twins can rotate Valencia / Cuddyer at third so Jim Thome's bat can stay in the lineup regularly.  

-The bullpen has looked better.  No, I don't think Jesse Crain has turned his season around.  It's nice to see he's no longer a gas can, but I'd like to see him get key outs in a few pressure situations.  Mijares and Guerrier have been a tad inconsistent, but there's enough depth there for the Twins to feel good.  I'm not sure anyone saw Jon Rauch with 20 saves at the break, either. 

The one roster upgrade I'd like to see almost immediately is a change at backup catcher.  Drew Butera is dismal at the plate, and although Jose Morales is currently listed as a "DH" on the Rochester Red Wings roster, I think the Twins would benefit from bringing him up to either supplement or replace Butera on days when Mauer doesn't catch.  Morales has been swinging a good bat lately at AAA.  Other than that, there's not much Rochester can do to help this club. 

I know the Twins have rubbed fans the wrong way with their effort in the last 20 games or so, but I firmly believe they have a lot of good baseball left.  It's fun to watch Delmon Young continue to develop, even if it is from the No. 7 or 8 spot in the batting order.  It's also fun to watch Jim Thome in his groove; I think Gardy would be best suited to keep him at DH for most games.  Obviously, whether the Twins can win the division in the inaugural season of Target Field will depend largely on the starting pitching.  Blackburn is one more bad start from being demoted to the bullpen and Baker might not be far behind if he continues to give up long balls. 

I'm thinking the combination of the schedule, the lineup and pitching depth, and the experience of the manager in motivating the troops during the stretch run should give Minnesota a great chance to defend its AL Central title.  It should be fun.  

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

For once, I was actually shocked. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Ron Gardenhire's starting lineup for Saturday's mantinee game against the Tampa Bay Rays.  J.J. Hardy just came off the disabled list, so you knew he was going to start at shortstop.  That wasn't the shocker.

The shocker was Gardy kept this Cuddyer-at-third thing going, leaving Jason Kubel and Delmon Young in the outfield and DH'ing the hot-hitting Jim Thome.  It all seemed to make sense except for one glaring omission: Gardy left Nick Punto out of the lineup.

It's no big secret among Twins fans that Gardy favors Punto over others for reasons that logic cannot explain.  We know he makes great fielding plays.  He's also not immune to the occasional error, but more importantly, the guy can't hit.  He would make a fantastic utility player on any team, but Gardy, who probably sees a lot of himself in Punto, insists on making him a starter.  Since 2005, Punto has had at least 400 plate appearances in every season, with the exception of 2008 when he spent significant time on the disabled list. 

During that span, Punto put up starter numbers in just one season, that coming in 2006, when he hit .290 with 45 RBI. Last year Punto hit .228, but proponents will point out he walked 61 times against 70 strikeouts.  This year, he's striking out twice as often as he walks.  

For those who thought Gardy had finally seen the light, Tuesday night set the record straight.  It does appear Gardy is prepared to take his best outfielder and turn him back into a third baseman, but it doesn't appear Gardy is prepared to let Punto take the fall.  Jim Thome, the logical odd man out should Punto return to full-time action, went 5-for-11 over the weekend, including hitting two homeruns on Saturday, moving him past former Twins great Harmon Killebrew for 10th on the all-time list.  So Gardy looked like a genius in keeping Thome's hot bat in the lineup.

Then came Tuesday.  Batting ninth, shortstop, Nick Punto.

Look, Nick Punto should now be in the role of pure utility man.  That means give any infielder a break, if needed.  It doesn't mean start in front of J.J. Hardy on a Tuesday night after a day off when Hardy had over a month off prior to returning to the roster on Saturday.  So Hardy went 0-for-4 on Sunday after picking up two hits in his return to the lineup on Saturday.  That means Punto starts in front of you?  In the words of Hawk Harrelson, "mercy".  

Does this mean Punto will start in Orlando Hudson's spot on Wednesday because Hudson went 0-for-4 on Tuesday night?  Punto failed to produce in multiple key spots on Tuesday, going 0-for-3, leaving 5 on base, and lowering his average to .249.  Mark my word, come August, that average will stand at about .219 if Punto continues to see regular starting time.  We've seen how this movie ends already.  

I say all this knowing full well that many fans are inspired by Punto.  They love his toughness, tenacity, drive, or whatever positive term you want to plug in there.  I like all that stuff too, believe me.  But I also like a team that's comfortable with their roles.  I bet if you took a peek inside J.J. Hardy's mind when he saw the lineup before the game on Tuesday, you'd see some interesting thoughts.  The Twins didn't bring Hardy in to platoon with Nick Punto.  Sure, Hardy doesn't have the greatest average at the moment, but he has something that Punto will never provide--extra base power.  

And I get the fact that the Twins might not be concerned with who hits ninth when they have such a potent lineup they can afford to bat a guy like Delmon Young eighth.  Still, I don't foresee Cliff Lee flying into town any day now, and with the shaky starting pitching we've been getting, the more offense the better.  Let Punto play on getaway days and fill-in as a late-inning replacement for Cuddyer at third.  

One thing Gardy can do as a manager to help this team out is to establish a good rapport by letting everyone know their role.  Punto's role should be obvious by now--let him be the heart and soul of the team as the world's greatest bench player.  If O-Hud or J.J. get hurt, he's there when you need him.  Don't confuse everyone by using him to replace one of your starters on a random Tuesday night, because you're asking for trouble there.    

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

We're at about the halfway point of Monday night league at Brooktree Golf Course.  You would think scores would start to get lower as the season goes on, but that hasn't been the case with me this year.  I'm hoping for a breakout July, beginning on Saturday, when my brother from Arizona comes to town.  We'll see what happens.

Something that has improved in the last month--and dramatically, I might add--is the condition of the golf course.  Superintendent Rick Smith and his staff deserve a lot of credit for bringing Brooktree back the beauty it should always stand for, even if the budget isn't as big as many of us would like.  Rumor has it, season passholders have gone up at Owatonna's public course this year, but that probably shouldn't be a surprise now that Hidden Creek has shut down.  If you don't have a season pass, I believe you can get a special half-season rate for the remainder of the year, and hopefully we'll have a lot of golf left this summer and fall.

Brooktree may not have some of the trimmings as year's past (For instance, they have yet to mow an intermediate cut of rough and the walk paths from the tees to the fairway are gone), but the important thing is the greens and fairways are back.  The greens were brown thoughout most of April and May, making the ball bounce around quite a bit.  Now, thanks to some rain and heat, they are nearing perfection.  It makes a huge difference because you need softer greens to hold shots.  This is especially true at Brooktree, where the greens are small for the most part. 

The fairways are also nice and the rough is thick, making Brooktree one of the more challenging public courses in the area, especially off the tee.  I always tell newcomers you have seven holes to figure out how to hit a straight tee shot at Brooktree; after that, prepare to get punished for inaccuracy.  Of course if you're lucky like my 1-handicap brother-in-law, you can hit a shot dead right (At the water) on No. 8 and have it end up hitting a rock bed and bouncing high and safely onto dry land.  I guess when you're a 1-handicap, you pretty much make your own luck, though.  No, Brooktree has yet to yield a round in the 70s for me this season I'm ashamed to say, so I decided to take my game on the road for a day. 

The demanding tee shots at Brooktree are in stark contrast to the open fields of Wedgewood Cove Golf Club in Albert Lea.  I played the new links-style course last Sunday with my dad, and came away slightly disappointed.  The clubhouse and practice facility were absolutely awesome, but the fairways were shaggy and for some reason they don't have bent grass fairways.  The layout is nice (Except for hole 2, where for some reason the designer thought it would be fun to stick seven trees in a line cutting directly across the fairway).  I played the black tees (7,000 yards) and shot 84, including three double bogeys.  The greens are slower, but that's typical of a new course.  It definitely has potential, but for $60 per round, I was disappointed they built it without bent grass. 

It was nice to be able to spray your drive a touch and still be in the fairway at Wedgewood.  It gives you a sense for just how challenging Brooktree can be.  However, at the end of the day, Brooktree is going to make your game better.  I hope to see you out there during the second half of the golf season. 

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

The Minnesota Twins lost 5-0 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, marking the first time the Brewers have swept the Twins since Milwaukee joined the National League in 1998.  Brewers Ace Yovani Gallardo was brilliant in a 5-hit shutout and he even had two hits of his own.  For a while, there was a chance Gallardo would out-hit the Twins all by himself, before Drew Butera singled in the sixth inning, breaking up Gallardo's perfect game. 

Even as the Tigers have a chance to pull within 0.5 games of the Twins later today, the sweep in Milwaukee shouldn't put Minnesota in panic mode.  Sure, I've enjoyed baiting our friends from Wisconsin with the Twins' recent dominance over the Brewers, but I'll get over it (Brett Favre is a few short months from re-taking the field, after all). 

What is quite disturbing, however, is the Twins are now 1-6 in their last seven "getaway" days, failing to score more than 4 runs in any of those contests.  For the uninitiated, a getaway day is generally the term used to describe a day game after a night game, where the team will hop a flight for a new city once the game is over.  A lot of times on getaway day, you'll see a much different starting lineup, designed to let some of the reserves get some playing time while offering much-needed rest for a few of the starters.  

For the Twins, a getaway day lineup will always have one particular point of interest--whether or not it includes Joe Mauer.  Mauer, you recall, signed a franchise-record 8-year contract extension worth in excess of $180 million prior to the start of the 2010 season.  Manager Ron Gardenhire would likely tell you that to ensure Mauer will be around and effective for the next 8-seasons, he needs to take some days off.  That certainly sounds reasonable, but here's the problem: the Twins are not nearly the same team offensively when Mauer is left out, or even when he is moved to DH.  

With Mauer out of the lineup altogether, you are replacing him with Butera, whose career average is .190.  When Mauer plays DH, Butera is still in the lineup and you have to sit one of your regular DH's, like Jason Kubel or Jim Thome.  Plus, if Butera comes up late in a game in a key spot, Gardy cannot use a pinch hitter because the Twins would lose the DH and there would be no backup catcher in the event Mauer would get hurt.  

Unfortunately, this whole scenario is fairly unique to the Twins because we're the only team in baseball whose best hitter is also our catcher.  And Mauer isn't just our best hitter, he's one of the top three hitters in the Big Leagues in any given season.  During the 1-6 stretch on getaway days since May 18, the Twins are averaging 2.43 runs per game.  Minnesota has started Mauer on the bench in three of those games and have used him as a DH one other time.  Not surprisingly, Mauer was the starting catcher in the lone win over that span, a 4-1 decision last Sunday in Philadelphia.  

I certainly don't have all the answers to this getaway day crisis, but might I offer one relatively simple suggestion on the Mauer dilemma: Designate Brendan Harris for assignment once and for all and bring Jose Morales up from AAA Rochester as a third catcher.  The downside is, much like Harris, Morales has picked a bad time to slump (He's hitting just .244 in 135 at-bats for the Red Wings).  Still, Morales has proven he can hit big league pitching with his time as the Twins' backup catcher last season.  He might also give Gardy a 3B option instead of the 'Cuddy at third' experiment, which seems contrary to logic at this point (Kind of like forcing yourself back into a relationship-gone-bad from 5 years ago simply because you happen to be single).  

Whatever they decide to do, trotting out the B-squad on all getaway days is not going to cut it in a tight divisional race.  You would think this wouldn't be that big of a deal, considering the Twins are second in the AL and eighth in baseball with a team ERA of 3.87.  Trust me, though, it is.  Just ask the Kansas City Royals if they wouldn't mind a new hitter or two despite the fact they lead all of baseball in team batting average.  Sometimes stats have a way of deceiving.  Two of the national league teams ahead of the Twins in team ERA are Colorado and Atlanta, both of whom handed the Twins a getaway day loss recently.  The Mets are also ahead of the Twins in team ERA and we get them on the road starting tomorrow.

I'll be curious to see what the lineup looks like on Sunday.

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

Sometimes in America's culture of sports Superstars, it seems that no amount of off-field adversity can knock a king from his throne.  The one sport where this may not apply, however, is perhaps not coincidentally a four-letter word.

Consider three examples:

*Seven years ago Kobe Bryant was facing rape allegations in Colorado.  It didn't stop him from dominating on the (basketball) court as the world was wrapped up in the he said, she said of Kobe's sexual activities at a Colorado hotel.  In the end, the victim declined to press charges and Kobe bought his wife a big diamond ring and apologized on national television.  Last night, he hoisted his fifth NBA Championship trophy, with his wife and kids at his side. 

*The night before the Superbowl in January 2000, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was out with his buddies in downtown Atlanta, and their activities involved encounters with others, where two people ended up dead.  Lewis pleaded to obstruction of justice in exchange for testimony against two of his companions and ended up serving minimal jail time.  In January 2001, Lewis was the MVP of Superbowl XXXV, and the next season he was on the cover of John Madden's video game.  Today, Lewis is viewed as the ultimate team player and one of the best linebackers to ever play the game. 

*Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, a favorite target of New York tabloids for having alleged extra-marital affairs and taking steroids, has hit no fewer than 30 HRs and 100 RBIs in every season since joining the Bombers in 2004.  Last year, he was heavily cheered by fans at Yankee Stadium as he was instrumental in leading New York to its first World Series title since 2000. 

Yep, Kobe, Ray-Ray, and A-Rod all were dragged through the mud and have managed to come out relatively spotless and shiny.  Rape allegations didn't keep Kobe from shooting a basketball through a hoop, murder allegations didn't keep Lewis from flattening NFL quarterbacks, and allegations of adultery didn't keep Rodriguez from being at the top of his game, either. 

So why does it seem that Thanksgiving Gate has kept Tiger Woods from continuing along as the most dominant player in any sport?  If you've ever had the privilege of playing golf, you probably understand.  Hardcore golf guys like my brother-in-law Chris will try to explain away Tiger's struggles in 2010 as injury-related, rust, or the breakup between Tiger and his famed ex-swing coach Hank Haney.  I asked Chris last month when we could begin attributing Tiger's play in 2010 to Thanksgiving Gate.  After dismissing such a notion as "ridiculous", he admitted we could maybe start going there if Tiger comes up short in each major.

Sorry Chris, I'm going to jump the gun if that's okay. 

Let's take a look at the five PGA Tour events in which Tiger has played since Thanksgiving Gate.  Recall he made his big return at Augusta for the Masters and finished tied for fourth at 11-under par, five back of winner Phil Mickelson.  Many viewed that as a decent showing considering the long layoff (Ignoring the fact that Tiger really only missed three events that he would've otherwise played).  Then there was the disaster at Quail Hollow, where Tiger missed the cut for just the sixth time as a pro.  At the Players Championship, Tiger was well on his way to a dismal showing before he withdrew on the seventh hole in the final round.  An MRI would later confirm Tiger could've taken a couple Aleve and finished up.  Finally, there was the Memorial in Dublin, Ohio, aka "Jack's Tournament".  Tiger showed off for the golf legend he's chasing down by finishing 12 shots behind winner Justin Rose.  

To summarize, that's a tie for fourth at Augusta (Without ever really making a run on Sunday), a missed cut in Charlotte, a WD at Sawgrass, and a T19 at the Memorial.  To analyze the Augusta situation a bit further, we should point out that of the 47 players who failed to make the cut, only 35 were competitive golfers.  Five were amateurs and another 7 were APC's (Ancient Past Champions), including Mark O'Meara, Larry Mize, Craig Stadler, Ben Crenshaw, Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle, and Bernard Langer.  

Thus, so far Tiger is 1-for-3 in finishing the tournament where there is a legitimate field.  He took that momentum into Pebble Beach this weekend for the U.S. Open, a tournament he won at the same venue in 2000 by 15 shots over Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jiminez.  So far in 2010, after playing alongside Els for two rounds, it's Tiger who is on pace to lose to the South African by double digits.  Woods struggled on the back nine Thursday on his way to a 3-over par 74 in the cold wind of Carmel Bay.  Today, Woods looked very average as he hit several tee shots into trouble, hit mediocre approaches, and made only one significant putt, a badly needed birdie on the 114-yard par 3 seventh, his 16th hole of the day.  Prior to that birdie, Woods made par on the relatively easy par 5 sixth hole after coming up just short of the green in two shots.  His chip looked like something I would do.  

As I write this, Tiger is seven shots back of the leader Graeme McDowell and will likely just eek over the cut line.  Am I saying the world's number one player doesn't have a chance to come back and win this thing?  Well, I guess I am.  If I'm wrong and Tiger comes back to win, I'll gladly accept "I told you so's" come Monday, Chris.   

It's only my opinion, but I believe Woods is battling a set of inner demons that cannot be overcome on a golf course.  Golf is not the game to turn to when you feel mentally defeated.  Don't get me wrong, it's not that I think Tiger is feeling a lot of remorse for having cheated on his wife and children with dozens of women.  I think he feels completely insecure about the fact that he is no longer in control.  Humility has never been Tiger's strong suit, and despite the fact that fans standing outside the ropes continue to offer him support, there are still plenty of everyday Janes and Joes who held Tiger to a higher standard than Ray Lewis or Kobe Bryant.  I think that's what's eating at him.  

I don't know if Tiger will ever return to form as the immortal golfer we all knew and loved.  I don't know if he'll break Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships.  It seems like it's going to be a long road to recovery for his mental toughness.  Golf's not the kind of game where you can put bad thoughts behind you and go out and beat your opponent with sheer physical will like football or basketball.  Perhaps one day he will wow us as a great champion once again, just don't expect it to happen this weekend. 

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

The last time the Golden Gophers played Nebraska in football, the Cornhuskers embarrassed Minnesota 56-0 in Lincoln, Neb., on Sep. 22, 1990.  Before that, Minnesota lost to the Huskers 48-0 at the Metrodome on Sep. 23, 1989.  In 1984, it was a respectable 38-7 loss in Lincoln when Nebraska was No. 1.  A year earlier, we had the infamous 84-13 thumping under the Big Top.  Add it all up, and you have Nebraska 226, Minnesota 20 since 1983. 

So you can understand why Minnesota has kept Nebraska off its schedule since that 56-0 drubbing in 1990.  The Huskers would seem to have been a logical non-conference opponent for Minnesota, given the geographic proximity and the economic boost Minnesota would generate by inviting many thousands of corn growers to the Twin Cities every other year.  But this is one instance where the actual game meant more to the University than money.  Minnesota was tired of being embarrassed, so they opted to pay Ball State or Louisiana-Monroe to play in front of a half-empty Metrodome instead of allowing Nebraskans, and their money, to take over our state for a weekend. 

Why, then, should we be excited about the news this week that Nebraska will apparently be joining the Big Ten?  For starters, 20 years is probably enough of a cooling off period to recover from those beat-downs at the hands of the Cornhuskers in the 1980s.  Nebraska was a different team then.  They were constantly in the chase for the national championship.  Minnesota was also a different team.  They were constantly in a chase to win more than 3 games per year.  We can argue whether or not Minnesota has made any real progress in its football program since those headache seasons of Joe Salem and John Gutekunst, but one thing's for certain: Minnesota is a lot closer to Nebraska than we were before.  

You might also be surprised to learn this: Minnesota actually leads the all-time series with Nebraska in a rivalry that began with the Gophers beating the Cornhuskers 20-12 in Lincoln on Nov. 29, 1900.    With that kind of history already in place, I think it's time we put memories of a Dome filled with Big Red and lopsided scores behind us and embrace what could be an awesome rivalry going forward.  TCF Bank Stadium is supposed to ensure that Minnesota is no longer embarrassed by opposing fans drowning out our home field advantage.  So far, this hasn't translated into wins on the field. 

Still, I doubt Iowa is going to be able to call The Bank their own "Kinnick North" the way they did with the Metrodome, even if they do stomp us again this fall.  Nebraska hopefully won't be able to either, despite the fact that on any given college football Saturday you will be greeted with hordes of red-clad city slickers from Huskers Country at Joe Sensor's in Bloomington.  For a Gophers and Miami Hurricanes fan like me, that gets quite annoying.

It would be logical to think that with Nebraska joining the Big Ten, two divisions would be formed, one featuring Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Illinois, and the other comprised of Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State, and Penn State.  In this scenario, Minnesota would face Nebraska annually in the Big Ten West.  Even if this is all about money, what's not to love?  I'd much rather play Nebraska every year than Indiana.  Sure, the battle for the Little Brown Jug won't come around nearly as often, but we only win that thing about once every 20 years anyway, so I don't think we'll miss it that much.  

Meanwhile, the Big Ten will get two premier national games each year--the annual Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, plus an added conference championship game, which is the whole reason the conference wants to add a 12th school in the first place.  Sure, Ohio State and Michigan won't be able to play in the title game, but who wants to see that series moved to a neutral field anyway?  Let 'em duke it out in the Big House and the Horseshoe, the way mother nature intended it, and have the winner stomp the Big Ten West winner in a made-for-TV game at Soldier's Field each year.  True fans realize how artificial these conference title games are anyway, and you wouldn't want to taint the best rivalry in all of sports by turning it into a dog and pony show where Dr. Pepper brings us some goofball from the crowd to kick field goals at halftime.  

At first, when they discussed all this conference shakeup stuff, I was very skeptical.  I didn't want Syracuse, or Rutgers, or Missouri.  Texas made no sense, either.  Notre Dame is Notre Dame.  I didn't want the Big Ten to become the Notre Dame Conference.  But Nebraska I can live with.  A football program rich in tradition and another backyard brawl for the Gophers.  Sure, we might end up taking it on the chin for a few years, but it won't be 84-13. 

Owatonna will take on Rochester Mayo for the Section 1AAA baseball championship tonight starting at 5:00 PM from Red Wing Athletic Park.  Roy Koenig and I will have the call on Kat Kountry 105 (104.9 FM) and www.krforadio.com.  If Owatonna wins the first game, the two teams will play again for all the marbles.  Owatonna earned its first trip to State since 1988 last year when they defeated Rochester John Marshall twice on championship night.  They'll have to do the same to Mayo tonight in order to defend their section championship.  No official word yet, but chances are Mike Sebring and Tyler Smith will be the starting pitchers for Owatonna.  The Huskies and Spartans split a doubleheader in Rochester earlier this season.  Owatonna advanced to tonight's title game(s) by virtue of their seventh inning comeback against Hastings on Monday night.  Down to his last strike, Sam Zappa drove in the game-tying run with two outs in the seventh on a double to center.  Paul Satterlund followed with a game winning single, scoring Zappa.  If you are planning on going to Red Wing, directions to the ballpark are in the post below.  Otherwise, we look forward to bringing you the game tonight on Kat Kountry 105.

-Jason Iacovino 

UPDATE: Today's baseball playoff game(s) between Owatonna and Rochester Mayo have been postponed until tomorrow, beginning at 5:00 PM.  Kat Kountry 105 (104.9 FM) will broadcast Owatonna playoff baseball tomorrow beginning just before 5:00 PM.  If Owatonna wins, they would play Mayo again at approximately 7:30.  Both games will be available on www.krforadio.com. 

 For those planning to go to the game, you can either take A) The easy-to-remember route or B) Jason's East Owatonna custom route...

A) Take I-35 North to Exit 69 (Northfield exit), go east on MN Hwy. 19 through Northfield and proceed through Cannon Falls.  Continue east on MN Hwy. 19 to Red Wing and turn right (South) on U.S. Hwy. 61.  Turn right on Bench Street.  Turn left on Pioneer Road.  Turn left on Twin Bluff Road.  Turn right on Maple, ballpark is on the right. 

B) Take Rose Street east out of Owatonna, turn left on Steele Co. Rd. 43.  Turn right on Steele Co. Rd. 8.  Turn right on Steele Co. Rd. 12.  Turn left on Steele Co. Rd. 10.  Turn right on Steele Co. Rd. 13.  Turn left on Rice Co. Rd. 26.  Turn right on Goodhue Co. Rd. 12.  Turn right on MN Hwy 60 in Kenyon, turn left (North) on MN Hwy. 56.  Turn right on Goodhue Co. Rd. 9, then take an immediate left on Goodhue Co. Rd. 24.  Take Co. 24 into Cannon Falls, turn right on MN Hwy. 19 in downtown Cannon Falls.  Follow MN Hwy. 19 to U.S. Hwy. 61, turn right (South) and turn right again at Bench St. Turn left on Pioneer Rd. Turn left on Twin Bluff Road.  Turn right on Maple, ballpark is on the right. 

-Jason Iacovino

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

I'm probably too closed-minded when it comes to sports.  I love my Twins, Vikings, and golf.  I enjoy Gopher's hoops and March Madness, but I don't watch much college basketball in December.  I'll check out the Olympics for a bit when it comes around, and I, like most American men, love the NFL.  I was never a college football guy growing up, but that changed when I went to the University of Minnesota and became a Gopher football season ticket holder.  After years of agony watching the Gophers, I realized maybe it was a good thing they were never on TV in my adolescense, when I developed my sports loyalties.

My best friend, Nick James, a native of Austin, Minn., exposed me to more college football when we were in law school.  Specifically, the Miami Hurricanes.  Now I love college football and I love both 'U's'.  A few months ago, Nick texted me about a soccer game he was watching.

Say what?  Soccer? 

I've poked in at a NASCAR race a few times; I watch hockey occassionally.  I'll keep my eye on college softball and volleyball, too.  I draw the line at soccer, though.  I have been amazed at how much time, energy, and money is being spent by ESPN to promote the upcoming FIFA World Cup tournament.  Well, I should say I was amazed, until I realized one disheartening truth: I'm getting old. 

When I was a kid, my dad played soccer.  He would take me to his adult league games, both indoors and out, and I would bring along a football or a baseball mitt.  I'd watch a bunch of sweaty guys aimlessly chasing a ball around for a few moments, then I'd pretend I was Kirby Puckett or Bucky Scribner.  I just didn't get soccer.  It wasn't in my blood.  Soccer wasn't offered as a high school sport in Blooming Praire, but we played it during phy-ed a lot.  I daydreamed of baseball when we played soccer.  To me, soccer was like marathon running, except every three blocks or so you get to kick a ball.  

But that's me.  Today, there's a whole new generation of athletes who were literally raised on soccer.  And I'm not just talking about guys from Europe or Mexico, either.  I'm talking about American youth.  These kids were handed a soccer ball at a very young age and instead of shooting hoops with it like I did, they took the time to learn the game.  

And here's the real shocker--not only do they play soccer, they actually watch soccer.  The only time I ever remember watching soccer is when Brandi Chastain took her shirt off in 1999.  If attractive women took their shirts off after scoring a goal all the time, I'm sure soccer would've become a larger part of my sports diet over the years.  But kids today don't need a strip tease to gather interest in soccer.  They love it just the way it is.  So my original theory that ESPN is trying to slam a new sport down our throats during a lul in the sports calendar, much like they've done with Texas Hold 'Em, is off base.  The reality is there is a huge fan base with an appetite for soccer.  Believe me, I've tried, I just can't do it.  Soccer isn't a "new" sport like MMA or arena football.  Like I said, it was available to me at a young age.  But much like a vending machine does to a wrinkled dollar bill, I took soccer in and spit it out.

I'm no longer offended that soccer is becoming popular in America.  It doesn't take away from baseball or football.  Soccer is the ultimate test of endurance and concentration.  I would much rather my daughter spend her afternoons on the soccer field than a playground stirring up gossip and pulling someone's hair.  I give soccer players credit, I do.  And I don't blame them for sitting down and watching a soccer match.  I get it.  As much as it's like watching paint dry for me, I totally respect its entertainment value for others.  

I will just have to get used to soccer becoming a significant part of American culture, I guess.  I doubt I'll watch much World Cup this month, but I also am no fan of getting old. 

Posted By: Jason Iacovino

Major League Baseball umpires took a couple hard shots to the gut on Wednesday.  Jim Joyce robbed Detroit's Armando Gallaraga of a perfect game on an inexplicably bad call on the game's final play, while Dale Scott cost the Twins a chance to pull out an extra-inning win by making an equally awful call in favor of Seattle on that game's final play. 

So it's with great pride that I can report the umpiring was very good during Owatonna's heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Hastings in the Sec. 1AAA playoffs in Red Wing on Thursday night.  As members of the media, sometimes we can get carried away criticizing officials.  At the high school level, I try my best to keep criticisms to a minimum and I never like to get personal.  It's great to see when players, coaches, and especially parents and fans, are respectful to officials.  Unfortunately, we know that doesn't always happen.

Thursday's game featured two stellar starting pitching performances by Owatonna's Mike Sebring and Hastings' David Schoeberl.  Both starters went seven innings and gave up just one earned run.  Unfortunately for OHS, Sebring also gave up an unearned run, and he ended up taking a tough one-run loss.  Thursday's game also featured a home plate umpire who had an incredibly consistent strike zone.  It was apparent from the first inning that he was giving both pitchers a little extra off each corner, but had a tighter zone top to bottom. 

It stayed that way the whole night. 

Meanwhile, on the bases, the ump made great calls on close pickoff plays at first base and correctly called Sam Zappa out on a fairly close play at second when Zappa tried to steal a base after delivering a lead-off single in the sixth inning.  These things may not seem like much, but given how inconsistent officiating can be at the high school level, I was very impressed.  Here we had a great pitcher's dual in a big playoff game and the umpires were not the story.  They just did their job and they did it well. 

Owatonna lost on Thursday based on a combination of the Huskies not being able to take advantage of scoring chances and one ill-advised walk to the Hastings' No. 8 hitter to lead off the seventh inning.  Sebring struck out Aaron Stoneberg in both of his previous at-bats, but ended up walking him the third time around.  Stoneberg came around to score after a sac bunt, single, and sac fly to right field by Austin Nelson. 

At the dish, Owatonna simply didn't come up with enough big hits.  The Huskies tied the game at 1 in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly, but left the go ahead run at third.  In their final at-bat, Owatonna left the potential tying run in scoring position after a two-base error by Hastings' shortstop Brian Amble opened the door for the Huskies to get back in the game.

"Bummer, huh," Owatonna coach Tate Cummins said as he greeted me after the game.  My thoughts exactly.  It was a great game, we just happened to come out on the short end.  I have full confidence Owatonna can work their way to next Tuesday night's Section Championship games by winning two on Saturday.  Owatonna now has to win four straight games in order to make it to state.  The good news is there will be no more surprises.  The Huskies lost a nail-biter to Hastings' best starting pitcher and they know all about Rochester Mayo and Winona, the other two remaining teams.  

In short, Owatonna knows it can beat any of these teams.

And while the rest of the baseball world wastes its time and energy worrying about Jim Joyce's feelings and how to expand instant replay, we can enjoy our local nine fight back to the state tournament the hard way.  Hopefully, along with quality baseball, we'll see quality umpiring like we saw Thursday night.

*NOTE: Owatonna's Section playoff game from Red Wing on Saturday will be broadcast on AM 1390 KRFO beginning just before 11 a.m.  If Owatonna wins, their second game will be on AM 1390 KRFO beginning just before 4 p.m.