Your kid doesn't make the team, so sue the team?

I'm going to be honest, I had originally planned to blog about how I was depressed with the the Brewers and how losing two of three to the Astros is two steps in the wrong direction.
I'll get to that in a minute, but first, I have to vent for a minute about another "Pussification of America" as Covino and Rich all it every Tuesday on Sirius 108/XM 139.
Heard it on Howard 101's Scott Ferrall show tonight that parents in Toronto are suing a youth hockey league for cutting their sons from the team.
So I did some research on the Interwebs and came up with this story on the matter.
First off, I can't believe this would even get to a judge. This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. It's sports, it's life. Cut's happen and with 70 kids competing to make the 17-kid roster a lot of kids were going to go home a little unhappy that day.
If you read that link to the Yahoo! story, the dad says the kid gave his best. Well, I'm sure he did. He should be proud at least if he gave his best and it wasn't enough. I covered the state baseball and softball tournaments a couple weeks ago for that Web site that pays me and of the teams that lost, the coaches were OK with the loss if their team lossed if they played their best and the other team was just a little better.
But this whole thing is showing the kid what is wrong with the world today. What is going to happen when he gets older and he doesn't get the job he applied for? What about when he makes a run at the girl he likes and she says no?
I always look to Michael Jordan about getting cut from a team. It's the famous story that he got cut from his high school team as a freshman and used it as motivation to get better. He did, made the team the next year and the rest, as they say, is history.
I will say, at least the hockey team had cuts. As that site I work for wrote last year, Kewaskum, Wisconsin does not cut kids in any high school sports. Here's the link to the story. Can't say I agree with it. Letting kids cut themselves seems a little like they don't want to be the bad guy. But then, no one wins.
Kids need to be pushed. They need to know what it's like to fail. I didn't say they need to be losers. I said they need to experience a little bit of failure and learn how to come back from it. Why do you think so many people today sue over everything, including being cut from a team? They don't know how to persevere. If everything was easy, what fun would it be to actually succeed. It's all that hard work that makes all the success that much more enjoyable.
Hell, life isn't easy. Kids need to learn that and this story just shows some over zealous parents are trying to sugarcoat everything for their son.


On to the Brewers loss today. A 6-3 homestand isn't much different than a 7-2 homestand, but let's be real, the Crew needed the win Wednesday over the Astros. Dropping two of three to one of the bottom feeders while in pursuit of getting back to .500 does not help.
Sure Villy gave up three runs in the seventh was the back breaker, but let's face it, the Brewers are all over the map with consistency. As much as they showed us with that sweep of the Twins and two of three over the Mariners, the bullpen came up short in two of the three losses to the Astros and the offense was no where to be found in teh third game of the series Wednesday.
It's getting to be desperate times. I'd be OK with a split of the four-game set in St. Louis, but in the next seven-game homestand, they have to make hay and win at least six. Yes it's at that point. And I'm not worried about how far back of the division race they are just yet. They need to get back to .500 before I even consider looking at those numbers.

Enough of the doom and gloom that has been today's blog. The fine folks at Maxim have opened up the 100 semifinalists for the Hometown Hotties Search and it's pretty heated. No Wisconsin entrant reached the semis, but a few from Chicago did. One of the best ones is Elizabeth. Be sure to check her out and vote for her.
Now take a look at her!

If the Brewers are going to turn it around, now's the time

I know I haven't written too frequently to start the baseball season, but let's be real, there hasn't been much positive to write about and I don't really think you want to hear me rant on my Brewers, so I've limited it to about once a week.
During that time I've had a few friends of mine tell me "Two more losses and I'm done with this team. Getting ready for Packers Training Camp." After I stopped shaking my head at their bit of fair weather fandom that I hate, I took a look at the calendar and realized the "Brewers Love" that has surrounded Milwaukee the last two summers could really take a hit unless things turn around on this homestand.
Here's why, the Astros (15-29) and the Mets (22-23) are both last place teams in their respective divisions and both are horid on the road. Both are also quite horrible on the road. The Astros come in 6-11 away from Minute Maid Park and the Mets are 6-14 away from Citi Field. I know the Brewers are the only team in the NL at 4-14 at home that have not won double-digit games at home so far this season. So something has to give. I don't see them struggling at home all season and there is no time like now to turn this thing around and start making hay at the Cathedral that Selig built.
Just as Adam McCalvy wrote on Brewers.com yesterday, the Brewers are in line to hit one of the "ups" of the roller coaster that is the MLB season
Let's start with the Astros, they do come to town first, and the pitching matchups are relatively favorable for this offense to catch a little fire. (PROBABLE PITCHERS)
 It starts Tuesday night with Randy Wolf, who himself needs to bust out of his slump, going against Felipe Paulino who is 0-6 with a 5.36 ERA. That has slump buster written all over it if you ask me.
Wednesday night (a game I will be in the 223 for) is probably the toughest matchup of the series when Roy Oswalt (2-6, 2.66 ERA) takes on Chris Narveson (4-1, 5.17 ERA). Oswalt has taken the loss because the offense hasn't been able to get him run support, so if they can put a couple on him early, Narv Dog can settle in.
Thursday afternoon has Dave Bush making his first start since he only got one out against the Twins Friday night. To be honest, I'm not so confident in him as I have been. He was probably the most consistent hurler they had last year and hasn't shown any signs of even being the same guy on the mound. Brett Meyers (3-3, 3.25 ERA) hasn't been a slouch this season for the Astros and won't be easy to get past.
The Brewers are just one game better than the Astros in the running for the worst record in the NL and I know for a fact they are better than that. Now is the time to prove it. If the bullpen can use today's off day to get right and lined up and a starter can actually get through seven innings (I know I'm asking for a lot) things might fall into place for Braddock, Axford and Hoffman to close things out like they did Sunday.
Now to the Mets, they are dropping like a rock in the NL East and can't win on the road. With Johan Santana (4-2, 3.41 ERA) on the mound Friday night, that might look tough, but the Brewers seem to hit him well. It might be a game Yovanni Gallardo starts which could make it a big-time pitching matchup. As of Monday night the Brewers have not scheduled a starter. But I'd venture to guess they'd go with Yo just to give them the chance to win.
That leaves Saturday open and would could be Manny Parra or Marco Estrada, but could also be Chris Capuano, who would have to be on the 25-man roster by that point or he could ask to become a free agent. Have you seen the way he's pitched? I'd say it's worth a shot. As The Brewers Bar points out, here are the options to make that happen. I'm on board with those. Vargas would be the odd man out, but fresh arms are needed and he's not producing.

OK, now for some good stuff. The Chicago Blackhawks punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup finals yesterday. That's great, but Duncan Keith stole the show by losing 4 teeth and not missing much time on the ice. Here he is postame.


On a non sports, but a damn funny note, found this on SI.com's Hot Clicks today. The Onion is a damn good source of news. HONK, HOOONK, HONK!

Tired Of Traffic? A New DOT Report Urges Drivers: 'Honk'

And finally, it's time for our Nussie Hunter. Now, we like women that like sports. If they're hot, it only adds to the awesomeness. Meet Jenn Sterger. She's been on my radar for awhile, working for SI, ABC Sports and now Versus for The Daily Line. She's on Twitter, has a blog and does a knock down job on the DL. I'm not just saying that to try to get to interview her for this space (Jenn, if you're reading this, hit me up on my Twitter link above!), but because hot girls in sports suck. But if they know what they are talking about, totally fit in. Well, Jenn just shot some photos for Maxim. Check them out.
Here's a sample.