Monday Mornings

by Brock Huard

After three months on the job, and as football season rapidly approaches, it is time to start this……a Monday Morning Column. This past week ESPN College Football informed me of my broadcast schedule for 2009, and it will be SEC Football. So, along with the Huskies, Cougars and Seahawks to dissect every Monday from September to February (maybe) I am sure the SEC will add additional color. So, without further ado, here’s how I see the weekend that was…..

#7) The US Soccer team was compelling and 45 minutes from a FIFA championship up 2-0 at half. Very clearly, even to a very naked soccer eye, that old adage in sports, about “being there before” revealed itself. Brazil ripped out the heart of Landon Donovan and the Americans with 3 goals in the final 45 minutes to win 3-2. This could be a foundational building block for US Soccer.

#6) I had no idea that 33 years old with young children meant attending birthday parties every weekend.

#5) Bone Spurs are a real pain. Heartbreaking news to hear that Adrian Beltre needs to go back under the knife and repeat the surgery that had hoped to rid him of the problem last offseason. From my experience, and having a number of those nagging spurs in my low back, simply cleaning them out is much easier said than done. They do often reappear, especially if the same routine and trauma follows, and at just 30 years of age Beltre has a lot of baseball ahead of him.

#4) The Mariners are now 29-10 when they score 4 or more runs in a game, an incredibly relevant statistic and trend in my book.

#3) I love Felix’s emotion and I think his teammates do to. I know baseball is a long season, and guys don’t want teammates to show them up or make it appear with their emotion they care more than others, but Felix knew the magnitude of the situation Saturday Night and he willed his teammates. Last 7 starts, 4-0 with a .85 ERA. Ace.

#2) John Wetteland reminds me a bit of Jim Zorn. They are Eccentric and Innovative, and when players buy in and share the conviction and trust with that type of coach, David Aardsma happens.

#1) Wak, Bruce Bochy (SF Giants) and Jim Tracy (22-7 as replacement in Colorado) are my 1st Half managers of the year in MLB. Torre, Francona and Leyland have plenty more to work with, and I know the Angels have had their injuries and adversity to overcome, but Wak leads on my ballot. How’s this little acronym to close out the first column….