Nick's Fourth Installment - My favorite time of the year!

So just to retouch on my last blog entry my prediction that the Steelers would win came right, but it was a lot closer game than I anticipated. What a way to finish the game!

So we are still working at a feverish pace in the Mallards office securing sponsorship deals, selling tickets, ordering merchandise and other such goods that will be utilized during the summer. With all these activities going it makes it really hard and almost depressing to realize the season is still over 3 months away, but before you know it will be May 28th and Mallards Baseball will be back in full swing. Coach usually provides some comedic relief to make the days go by as well (You have to see his imitation of an official at a hockey game dropping the puck in a face-off).

So it’s about that time of year again...no NOT tax season, but time for March Madness! I think this is my favorite time of year, next to the start of our season. I miss the good ol’ days of being in college and skipping classes on the Thursday and Friday of the opening round and doing nothing but sitting around in sweats, throwing back some beers and then hitting up the KFC dinner buffet during the 5:00 news break to re-energize for the night cap. Vern runs a tight ship around here so I don’t think I could justify taking off two days of work.

Another favorite part of watching the tournament is CBS broadcaster Gus Johnson. I mean I have never heard a routine call in the game called so emphatically or with so much energy. Listen to my favorite Gus Johnson call by clicking Here

I am obviously a huge Badger fan and this year has not been such a great year as we have been spoiled with such great teams the past few years. I am glad to see that Bo rallied the troops after the six game loosing streak to put together a five game winning streak. I really thought we had Michigan State on Sunday. They played our type of game the first half, but in the second half we played their game and couldn’t get a good look at the basket while they weaved through screen after screen and got good looks at the basket. I really would have liked to see Tom Izzo whine and complain after the game. I can’t decide if I hate him or Ohio State head coach Thad Matta (aka Gonzo, pictured) more.

I think we have a chance to make the tournament but we need to win out to even have that chance. The trip to Minnesota worries me a little bit, as the “Barn” is always a tough place to win and you have to deal with the whole elevated floor thing. Tubby Smith has turned that program around and they will be a force to reckon with in the coming years. I think we should be able to take care of business in the friendly confines of the Kohl Center against Michigan and Indiana. I mean Indiana….I think they have a few guys from intramural teams playing for them. I think if they can make a push and win two games in the Big Ten tournament they should pretty much secure a spot in the “Big Dance”.

I am going to say the Badgers secure an 11 seed in the tournament and make it to the Sweet 16.

Here are a few teams that I like heading into tournament season:

Marquette Golden Eagles- I like in-state rival Marquette to do some damage. They probably have played one of the toughest schedules in the country and with the depth and experience of having these four guys, Dominic James, Lazar Haywood, Jerel McNeal and Madison native Wesley Matthews, watch out for them to make some noise in tournament.

North Carolina- I think the ACC is a bit watered down from previous years, but as expected Carolina should have a good run in the tournament. With Player of the Year from last season Tyler Hansbrough and a bench of young stars they should have no problem pushing their way into the Final Four.

Oklahoma- Two words. Blake Griffin. He is a freakin' man-child. I think this will be your 2009 National Champ.

Here is my Final Four: North Carolina, Oklahoma, Villanova, and UConn

Well I can’t wait for a few weekends from now when I can spend my whole weekend in a recliner laying in my own filth (I plan on not showering all weekend!), drinking beer and listening to the mellow sounds of Gus Johnson watching NCAA March Madness coverage……nothing better…OK, except for Mallards Opening Day!

Kevin's 3rd Blog - In the Year 2000...

The office has a new life this month as we are re-energized from our Holiday vacations and have a game schedule to finally share with everyone. People are walking with an extra hop in their steps, maybe because of the freezing temperatures and snow outside, but I like to think it is because they are on a mission. "Yes a mission from God, we are getting the band back together." The sales band that is, everyone is excited to be making phone calls to new clients and reconnecting with friends and old clients. Things are in full swing for us around here; people are in and out of the office regularly, phone’s ringing dude ("Big Lebowski" quote), there is a new life in the New Year for the Mallards sales band.

The office moral has also been higher lately as “Coach” is back in the office for a couple of hours a day and he brings endless hours of entertainment, arguments/discussions, and crazy ideas. Right now we are really struggling as the Badgers basketball team is on a five game losing streak and I don’t know if it is going to end anytime soon (Coach is a HUGE, HUGE Badger fan in case you didn’t know). However, it is his creative and off- the-wall ideas which usually get everyone talking. You might think he is just a former baseball player, coach and focused only on sports, but he is always thinking of companies we could work with and creative ways which we can work with them. His thoughts often get the wheels turning in everyone's heads and we hit the ground running.

Take a look, it’s in a book, its Maynard’s Lil’ Ducks Reading Rainbow! Yep, that’s right kids, Maynard G. Mallard has started his first ever reading program for area kids. Hoping to encourage area kids to increase their reading skills and time spent reading, the Mallards have teamed up with area schools to allow kids to earn free Mallards tickets with completion of the program. We all know how important reading is to the future leaders of our communities and hopefully the Mallards can help to improve those leaders.

On a completely random note, yesterday in the office we somehow got started talking about Conan O’Brien and his “In the Year 2000” skits which he has on his show. If you have not seen Conan or are not a fan of his comedy then you will probably not like the following but I wanted to try and add some humor to my blog. (The skit is comprised of totally random and weird predictions which are going to happen in the year 2000, the big the millennium scare, yet they continue to do them way after the year 2000.)

In the Year 2000. . . . Mallards Manager CJ Thieleke will have a tirade and throw all of the bats, gloves and back-up catcher’s equipment onto the field to protest a called ball by the umpire to load the bases for the River Bats in a 1 run game…he is immediately ejected leaving the mess for Coach Kus to clean up. . .

In the Year 2000. . . . A certain man, let’s call him N. Staehler…no that is too obvious, Nick S. will propose to his special lady friend underneath the “Duck Pond’s” stadium lights right before the human cannonball performs. . .

In the Year 2000. . . . The Mallards will win the Northwoods League Championship after playing with an all pitcher infield due to an abundance of players returning to school, and winning by 14 straight bunts. . .

In the Year 2000. . . . The original “Dude” from the hit film “The Big Lebowski” will attend a Mallards game opening a whole new relaxed atmosphere around the ballpark and attitude by players and Coach Thieleke . . .

Last Tidbits: Mallards front office teams continue to spiral out of control, as curling has now lost 8 straight matches, and basketball is on a 3 week skid. I guess sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes, well… the bar eats you. . .

Coach C.J.'s first blog entry - Your Wisconsin Sports Report

Good morning everyone. I'm coming to you live from Iowa City, IA, where I typically spend the off-season working at a nearby company while spending time with my girlfriend.

It's been an especially frustrating fall for Wisconsin sports fans. The one thing about sports across the board is that you can either choose to make excuses, or choose to look in the mirror and face the facts. The problem with the Packers and Badgers football teams is that neither team has played smart all year. Penalties have killed the Packers to no end this season and ended up costing the game versus the Houston Texans last weekend when a drive on Houston's 25 yard line was killed after a holding penalty and sack forced the team to punt. My message to all NFL officials: Keep the flags in your pants!

The first thing I preach to every new Mallards team each summer is to play smart. Whether it's hitting with two strikes, moving baserunners over, or getting the sure out on defense, I firmly believe that the smarter teams accumulate the most wins over the course of a Northwoods League season and have a better chance of winning close games. Playing "small ball" may not be the flashiest or most exciting brand of baseball at certain times, but it does translate into victories at any level, and as coaches, wins & losses are how we're judged on a year-to-year basis.

I've been spending every single day thinking about the upcoming summer and how to put the best lineup on the field during every foreseeable situation. The most intriguing part about coaching baseball is that no two situations are ever the same...there's always some variation involved.

The 2009 Mallards should be a very exciting team. We'll be a bit younger than year's past, but the neat thing is that every one of our kids think they have a realistic shot at being a big leaguer someday. That's pretty special. Obviously, not all will advance to that level, but to have a group of collegiate athletes who are extremely self-confident while at the same time are extremely humble should translate into a very fun team to watch on the field next season. I tell the players that the NWL is an educational process and playing in this league is like having a summer internship during college.

I also think that "old school" is becoming the "new school" in college athletics. I see more and more players buying into the team concept and really pulling for each other. This is a very good thing.

Here are five observations I've made recently about our beloved Brewers, Badgers, and Packers:

1) Give the Brewers credit for doing all they could to retain big CC Sabathia. Still today, when the Yankees and Red Sox get involved in negotiations, small-market teams aren't able to compete.

2) This year's Badger hockey team reminds me of the Mallards last season...a slow start to begin...followed by a string of victories...then both sitting in first place at the halfway point in their respective seasons.

3) If the Badger basketball team can get exceptional guard play from juniors Jason Bohannon and Trevon Hughes, the team should finish in the top three in the Big Ten this season. Watch out for Jon Leuer as well...this will be his breakout season.

4) I like the Badgers chances of winning the Champs Sports Bowl versus the Florida State Seminoles. Even though it's been a tough season, sometimes the best cure-all heading into the following season is a hard-fought bowl victory over a storied program. It's evident that running back John Clay is the future of our football team and we should be in the running for the Big Ten title next season.

5) The Packers defensive line is the root of all of the team's problems, and the loss of DE Cullen Jenkins was too big to overcome...there's absolutely no pass rush whatsoever. And we've learned that linebacker Nick Barnett (who is out for the season with a torn knee ligament) is a little bit better than we thought too.

That's all I have for now...I'd like to wish everyone, including former players, coaches, friends, and family, a very Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. I can't wait for the grass to turn green and having the opportunity to send runners home around third base. It should be another exciting year of Mallards baseball!