Unfortunately for you Cardinal sports readers, you are stuck with me for another year. The Pep Talks are gone, and you will just have to deal with a column name that still does not make sense to you (Seriously, just think: ""A Hole in One"").
The good news is that you get a three-month break. A three -onth break not only from me, but also a break from school and maybe even Madison. But while we are off the newspaper stands for 90 days, the sports still go on without us.
Sure, we already know a lot of the storylines. We know Roger Clemens will be coming back in early June and thus, we know the Yankees will still be on ESPN three times a week even if they never get over .500 again this season. We also know that no one will watch the NHL playoffs and that Tiger Woods will be the center of attention during all three remaining major tournaments.
But what are the storylines we don't know about?
I leave you this year with four bold summer headlines:
Brewers nab Crede at trade deadline
I look at the NL Central and can only hope the Cubs make a small comeback so the nation does not forget about the Brewers as they run away with a 20-game lead and their first division title since 1982.
The Brewers still need to make a move, though, if they want to be a serious contender once they are in the playoffs. Their biggest hole right now is at third base, where Craig Counsell and Tony Graffanino are not major league starters. The Brewers could make a move for pitching, but if Corey Koskie does not return from his post-concussion exile (is the guy still alive?), Doug Melvin needs to grab a third baseman.
I can already see myself buying a Joe Crede Brewers jersey.
It sounds crazy and is probably unlikely, but it actually makes sense. Crede is under the White Sox control through 2008, but a long-term deal still seems unlikely as Scott Boras and Kenny Williams go together like lamb and tuna fish.
Crede is still very inexpensive for what he brings to the table. His glove would be an incredible improvement at the hot corner, and he could bat as high as fifth in the Brewers order. Melvin probably could not sign the guy to a long term deal, but Crede has already shown how clutch he can be in the World Series, and the two sides could still reach a deal through arbitration for 2008, when he would once again be trade bait and bring young players back to Milwaukee.
The deal really does make sense, but that's just coming from a guy who knows his favorite player is leaving the South Side soon and still wants to see him play close to home.
The NBA Playoffs will never end
NBA Commissioner David Stern announced Tuesday that the NBA Finals will start Sept. 1. I know, I know—the Badgers play Washington State in their home opener that day. Bummer.
Seriously, why do these teams need two days off in between games? With the Warriors as the exception, we pretty much know what is going to happen in each of these series. It doesn't matter if the games are played on back-to-back days or two weeks apart. In the end the Pistons will win the East, and no one really cares whether the Suns or Spurs win the West.
Unfortunately, we won't know who will win this thing until September.
A-Rod passes Aaron before Bonds
Think this is a stretch? First off, Bonds is going to get hurt one of these days—he's been healthy too long. But even if he doesn't get sidelined with an injury, A-Rod has been so hot he could pass Aaron this season.
Come on, only 278 more home runs. He can do it.
In all seriousness, it will be a very sad day this summer when Bonds hits number 756 and passes Aaron. It seems inevitable at this point, so my only response is to just ignore it. Instead, I'm going to see how many guys pass 500 home runs this season. Frank Thomas (491), A-Rod (478), Jim Thome (477) and Manny Ramirez (475) all could do it this season. Here are four guys that maybe used steroids, but at least have never had their names connected to the steroid probe.
To me, this is the bigger home run story of the summer.
UW picked to win Big Ten
Yeah, the ESPNs and the Sports Illustrateds are going to go with Ohio State or Michigan to win the Big Ten, but Wisconsin honestly has the least amount of questions.
Ohio State's offense and quarterback questions are worse than UW's, and Michigan could have some major defensive problems, while the Badgers have arguably the best returning defense in the conference.
I'll be the homer and go with Wisconsin.
For now, see you Sept. 1 for the Badgers' opener and the start of the NBA Finals.
Tell Hoge what you think about his summer headlines. He can be contacted at hoge@dailycardinal.com.
