Former Negro League baseball standout Buck O’Neil was once asked (after a long autograph session during a Kansas City Royals game in August, 1994, which was well after his playing days of the 1930′s & 40′s) if a little time spent in a baseball uniform can take years off one’s age.  O’Neil’s response: “You got that right.”

I think I can speak for some of the other alums present this past Sunday:  Buck O’Neil definitely knows what he’s talking about.  Despite a few extra aches that I hadn’t felt prior to the alumni game, it was, once again, a worthwhile way to spend a fall afternoon.

Back Row (L to R): JR Bauman ’89, Bryan Nelson ’02, Tim Godfrey ’83, Jacob Anderson ’11, Grant Bowen ’11, Dan Matthews ’10, Jake Riss ’09, Paul Riss ’77
Front Row (L to R): Dan Lojovich ’10, Jeff May ’88, Doug Sylvester ’08, Russ Fujisawa ’10, Bob Bradovich ’82, Dan Rohr ’72.
(Also present, but not playing was Jon “Whitey” Nicholson ’58, as well as former baseball & football coach Bob Sullivan)

Thanks to an influx of young alums (and an innovative, albeit, unorthodox 6-outfielder defense), the game was more competitive than the 2010 version.  Final score: Varsity 14, Alumni 7.   The young kids did a nice job of hitting the ball, and managed to find gaps in the crowded outfield…although, in many cases, the outfielders were clustered together, since it’s much easier to carry on conversations that way.

It’s hard to top actually playing baseball, but the day is always enhanced with the banter before, during, and after the game.  I especially enjoyed the being one-half of the Serbo-Croatian right side of the alumni infield (with Dan Lojovich at 1st), as well as catching up with former teammate Tim Godfrey and former head coach Bob Sullivan.

There are always new teammates to meet, and interestingly enough, you find that you’re connected to these people in some way.  JR Bauman and I crossed paths with many of the same characters in our respective times at Carleton, while both Grant Bowen & Jake Anderson graduated last June with Kilian Murphy (Eau Claire’s own, who made the blog last year).  On top of that, Anderson’s kindergarten teacher  in Anoka, Minnesota, was none other than the mom of News 18 5:00 P.M. anchor Krista Hostetler.

Once again, thanks go out to current head coach Aaron Rushing, for organizing what’s become an incredibly enjoyable annual event–capped off by a bratwurst cookout.   Kudos also to Grant Bowen’s parents, (who were on hand Sunday), for their generous contribution to the program, which allowed the construction of the new grandstand at Mel Taube Field.

Tim Godrey ’83 & Bob Bradovich ’82

I only have one request of the varsity: throw me a strike!  Apparently, all the crowing in last year’s blog about my having the lone alumni RBI in 2010 got the young pitchers quite worried, and undoubtedly led to my being walked three times in four plate appearances.    Either that, or they were trying to remind me of my own brief time on the mound when I was a junior searching in vain for that rectangle known as the strike zone. 

Until next year…

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports

There’s nothing wrong with heaping praise on Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson.  After all, he plays the glamour position in football, and he’s led the Badgers to three one-sided wins.  Plus, he seems to be a likeable, mature guy, and his new teammates respect him.   Wilson’s new coach gushes over him, while the Madison media fawns over him.

His numbers are staggering.  Wilson has completed 50 of 66 passes, for 791 yards, 8 touchdowns, and one garbage time interception.  Do the math, and the ratios are ridiculous: 8:1 TD’s to INT, to go with a 75% completion percentage.

Still, here’s the number to remember: 3.  As in, the number of games Wilson’s played as a Badger.   Before anyone books a flight to NYC for the Heisman Trophy Award presentation, or makes plans to add Wilson’s name to the upper deck at Camp Randall Stadium (right next to Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne), consider that 3/4 of the season still remains.  That’s nine full games; eight against Big Ten opponents.

Maybe Wisconsin will win the Leaders Division of the Big Ten, and then come out on top in the conference’s inaugural  Big Ten Championship game.  If those things happen, and if Wilson comes even remotely close to keeping up his present pace, then he totally deserves to be in the Heisman conversation.

Maybe the hype is needed.  After all, the “experts” at ESPN who are ranking Heisman candidates after a couple weeks of the season don’t even have Wilson in their current top five (Andrew Luck, Kellen Moore, Landry Jones, Marcus Lattimore, Robert Griffin III).

Why that conversation is taking place in mid-September is another matter.   Give this season some time to breathe.  For that matter, give Wilson some time to breathe.  After all, he is a UW graduate student–the man needs to study.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports