Sports

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Top Wisconsin athletes of the spring semester

Men's Basketball: Frank Kaminsky

NFL Draft Update: Rams draft Havenstein with No. 57 overall pick

In a surprising move, the St. Louis Rams selected Wisconsin offensive tackle Rob Havenstein with the No. 57 pick overall Friday night at the NFL draft in Chicago.

Athletes, fans and social media hang in delicate balance

In today’s digital society, the relationship between the fan and the athlete has become closer than ever. Social media allows fans to have a more personal relationship with players than ever before. While it’s great to be immersed in the off-the-field lives of our favorite athletes, this increasing connection often does more harm than good.

Chargers trade up, select Gordon with the 15th overall pick in NFL Draft

The San Diego Chargers clearly had their sights set on Melvin Gordon.

New approach bringing hits for Miller

When it comes to archetypes, sports are chock-full of them. There’s the tall but slow center in basketball, the loud, team-leading middle linebacker in football and the low average, power-hitting catcher in softball and baseball.

Gordon headlines UW prospects in NFL Draft

The 2014 NFL Draft was the first since 2010 that did not feature a Wisconsin Badger walking across the stage in the first round. Melvin Gordon should be able to put the school name back in the spotlight Thursday, like he did all season on the field.

Wisconsin bats fall silent as Badgers get swept by Gophers

The Wisconsin (3-16 Big Ten, 19-30 overall) offense struggled once again, but this one might have hurt a bit more. The Badgers got swept and mercy-ruled in their final home series of the season at the hands of rival Minnesota (17-3, 43-8).

Big MLB contracts are not automatically disastrous

Obvious statement: the Angels regret giving Josh Hamilton $125 million. They paid a king’s ransom for three mediocre, injury-plagued seasons and a whole lot of (semi-deserved) bad press. Pro tip to Arte Moreno: Don’t “Mean Girls” a recovering drug addict while trying to use a contract clause that doesn’t exist to recoup money you freely gave to him knowing the risk associated. You’d think they’d teach that in billionaire class.

Parallels between the NBA Playoffs, college life run deep

The first round of the NBA playoffs has a little bit of everything: the wonderful play of the Warriors, the crap pile that was Toronto, the wonderful Spurs-Clippers series, the Rondo disaster and everything in between. The ups and downs as well as constant swings in momentum are what makes it so appealing and what makes it so similar to life.

Border battle wraps up UW’s home stand

Wisconsin (3-14 Big Ten, 19-28 overall) will play their final home games of the season in a doubleheader Wednesday against rival Minnesota (15-3, 41-8).

Clement flaunts dynamic personality

It’s no secret that Corey Clement is going to be the star of Wisconsin football next year. He’s already got four multi-touchdown games under his belt, and has a career average of seven yards per carry. That’s a higher rushing average than James White, Montee Ball and John Clay. Everyone’s waiting with bated breath to see what he will do, and that’s a lot of pressure.

Love’s shoulder injury changes scope of Eastern playoffs

This past Sunday, a violent tug of the shoulder may have changed the landscape of the entire Eastern Conference playoffs. Kevin Love’s dislocated shoulder in Cleveland’s Game 4 victory over Boston could be a season-altering play for many other teams besides the Cavs.

Brewers must break out of recent mediocrity and rebuild for future

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony once famously rapped in 1995, “See you at the crossroads (crossroads).” It referred to the conjunction between life and death, the place where Bone Thugs paid tribute to their recently deceased mentor, Eazy-E.

UW woes continue with Husker sweep

Nebraska (15-5 Big Ten, 29-19 overall) swept Wisconsin (3-14, 19-28) in a three-game series at Goodman Diamond this weekend, the fifth straight loss for a Badger team struggling through conference play. 

Erickson, Wheelwright lead unproven wide receiver corps

Wisconsin wide receivers not named Alex Erickson combined for 39 catches and 427 yards in 2014. Wisconsin receivers named Alex Erickson compiled 55 catches for 772 yards. When Joel Stave and Tanner McEvoy dropped back to pass, they didn’t have a whole lot of consistent options on the outside to throw to.

New linebackers stand out, solidify hold on starting spots

Josh Gasser put on an absolute dazzler Saturday afternoon, as he racked up 35 points, while Duje Dukan chipped in seven of his own.

UW Athletic Board retains, does not extend contracts of Eaves and Kelsey after poor seasons

After guiding their respective teams through disappointing 2014-’15 seasons, Mike Eaves and Bobbie Kelsey have both been put on notice by the UW Athletic Board.

Positions to watch during the spring game

After losing their star player and head coach from last season’s Outback Bowl champion squad, the Badgers will trot out a different looking team to open the 2015 season when they take on Alabama Sept. 5. But before that, there figures to be plenty of intrigue entering Paul Chryst’s first spring game as Wisconsin’s head coach.

UW battles offensive juggernaut Nebraska in weekend series

The Wisconsin softball team will host a three-game series this weekend against a sizzling-hot Nebraska club that has earned wins in 6 of its last 7 outings while outscoring opponents by 34 runs in the process.

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