NBA season is exhausting

The Never-ending Basketball Association (NBA) finally concluded its regular season on Wednesday.

Forgive me if I’m not excited.

I love college basketball. But the NBA gives me roundball fatigue. The regular season lasts about 7 months, all to eliminate only half the teams from advancing. 

Then we have long-and-drawn-out playoff series, the reasons being money and television ratings.

Perish the thought that we could have shortened playoffs. There are three rounds in each conference before The Finals (the NBA likes to capitalize it) finally take place while most of us are enjoying outdoor summer activities in June.

Since many of the first- and second-round series are rather decisive, why don’t we just make the first round a best-of-three and the second round a best-of-five? How often does a No. 1 seed ever lose to a No. 8 in a best-of-seven?

I find the series exhaustive. I also don’t like watching the same teams playing each other up to seven times in 2 weeks. It’s OK for the conference finals and then The Finals since the quality is high, but I just don’t find myself getting excited about a potential seven games between the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat or the Portland Trail Blazers against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Every once in a while when I was bored the last couple of months, I watched an NBA game. There are teams that are out of the playoffs by February, at which point they start to tank in order to get a chance at a higher pick in the playoffs. I know the term “tanking” is not to be uttered, but all you have to do is look at the effort of some of these teams.

NBA teams sometimes play three or four games within a five-day span. They arrive at a new city at 4 or 5 in the morning, sleep all day, then play a game that night. Is it any wonder it looks like some players are going through the motions?

I will say the really good teams are fun to watch, but there’s a problem — there just aren’t very many good ones.

The NBA’s power has been in the West for a long time now. I really enjoyed the first year Golden State won the championship because it had been so far down for so long. But success went to the Warriors’ head as the team everybody rooted for became a victim of its success with its constant whining and complaining. I’m not a big fan of watching Draymond Green bellyache from the time he steps on the court.

Houston would appear to be a serious threat to the Warriors, considering Golden State is suffering with some key injuries. As for the other teams, I don’t believe anybody else has a chance.

The teams in the East are mediocre. Toronto has the best record, but find somebody who actually gives it a chance to make The Finals. Cleveland has been the cream of the crop in the East recently and even won a title one year, but the Cavaliers don’t play much defense and let’s face it, LeBron James puts the team on his back. What it comes down to is the East champion will be little more than fodder in The Finals.

Bullpup kickers have versatile offense

The term “one-man team” or “one-woman team” makes every coach I know cringe.

McPherson High girls soccer coach Chris Adrian certainly takes offense to the term, since he believes he has a team that relies on the weaponry of a number of players.

When I interviewed Adrian after Tuesday’s 8-1 Bullpup win over arch-rival Buhler, he pointed out on more than one occasion how the Crusaders apparently thought his team was senior standout Aislinn Hughes and then a supporting cast.

Adrian used Buhler’s concentration on stopping Hughes to his team’s advantage. Hughes at times was a decoy in the second half and it opened things up in the middle and the opposite area where she was playing. The result was a phalanx of goals, seven of them in fact, that led to the Bullpups sinking their arch-rival by a wide margin.

Friday’s upcoming home game against Andover represents the halfway point of the season. MHS is 5-1-1, the lone loss to powerhouse Maize South in the finals of the McPherson Invitational. The tie was a 1-1 headscratcher against Circle, a game the Bullpups nailed the post or crossbar six times, so they were just a few inches away from actually winning that game comfortably.

A big reason for the success is the balance. Adrian is spot-on when he says his team can score in so many ways. 

Hughes is arguably one of the best 10 players in the state for any class. She has great speed and deft ballhandling skills.

But Jessie Kynaston and Claire Hedlund are electric with the ball. They more often than not beat their defenders around the corner because they are blazers, not to mention, like Hughes, they have dynamic footwork.

Freshman Kenzee Godwin has developed into another speedster. If you take her and the three players previously mentioned, you would have one heck of a 4 x 100 relay team. I can recall Hughes being a dominant sprinter during her middle school track and field days and would probably score the Bullpup track and field team a nice sum of points had she chosen that sport.

On Tuesday, the Bullpups’ Hannah Hageman, after scoring just one goal in the first six games, netted three in a matter of 25 minutes in the second half. Hageman has a strong leg and wears many hats on the field as she’s one of the team’s most versatile performers.

I think any opposing coach preparing for the Bullpups would have to take into consideration the offensive players other than Hughes. This is a multi-talented MHS attack and any player is capable of a hat trick. Evidence of that is that Hageman’s hatter was the third for a Bullpup this year, joining Kynaston and Hughes.

The Bullpups would appear to have few potholes the rest of the regular season. They have a rematch with Newton, as well as a huge game with Hutchinson, which is very good this season. A season-ending home game with Salina Central is a perfect way to head into the postseason as the Mustangs will be more than worthy.

The Bullpups are still on track for something special to happen. And if it does, it will be because it’s a total team effort.

Amazing night for MHS baseball team

If nothing else, McPherson High’s baseball team is resilient.

The Bullpups, who got off the deck against Buhler last week with a nine-run final inning for a 14-9 victory, showed amazing bounce-back skills throughout Monday’s home opener against Andale-Garden Plain in sweeping the Indians in one of the exciting twinbills in recent Grant Complex history.

In the first game, the Bullpups were down 3-1 and 5-4 before finally winning it in the bottom of the seventh when Honestee Whittker put down a bunt and an overthrow to first by the pitcher allowed Jakob Feil to race home with the winning run in a 6-5 decision.

The second game was a tremendous roller-coaster ride. MHS was down 3-2, 5-4 and 8-6 before staging a stunning rally to send Andale-Garden Plain home with its second straight heart-breaking loss of the night, 9-8.

Zane Myers hit a rocket off the pitcher’s leg and the subsequent error led to MHS again winning it, set up by two walks and two hit batters. The Bullpups scored three runs in the final inning.

MHS coach Heath Gerstner admitted that while honored, he was surprised his young team, chockfull of new starters, was ranked No. 3 in Class 4A Division I. He thought it was based more on past performance, as this is a new team with new contributors.

But this is a never-say-die group. You have no idea, unless you were at the game, how deflated the Bullpups were in Game 2 after Andale came up with its three-run rally in the top of the seventh for the 8-6 lead. 

Two of the first three MHS hitters in the bottom of the seventh made an out, but a walk and back-to-back hit batters gave the team hope. Myers’ line drive off pitcher Zach McCormick’s leg resulted in an overthrow and the Bullpups walked it off. It’s shocking when a team wins back-to-back walk-off games, but for an error by the pitcher to decide both outcomes is borderline remarkable.

The Bullpups didn’t exactly pound the ball in the cold conditions— 13 hits in two games — and they committed eight errors on the night as trying to throw the ball was like handling a bar of soap as the wind chill had to be in the 20s by the time the 5-hour night was over.

But Gerstner said this team —  quite honestly not as talented as the previous three he has coached — showed a grit and determination that is admirable. It never gave up, it overcome adversity and trudged on no matter the odds.

I’m not saying this Bullpup team is going on to win a state championship or even qualify. Question marks still abound in regards to starting pitching and its best hurler, Dylan Werries, is being used in relief. He tied a record set by millions as he was credited with wins in both games out of the bullpen. Kudos, too, have to go to his young sophomore catcher Spencer Whitfield, who was a wall behind the dish and allowed very few balls to get past him.

It will be interesting to track the Bullpups’ progress this year as due to youth and inexperience, it’s a team that will have its up and downs. But for sure excitement, you can’t top what transpired on Monday.

There's no tournament like The Masters

It was arguably the most hyped Masters Golf Tournament ever.

The wave of uber-talented 20-somethings with their fearless games were supposed to go toe-to-toe with the icons of the last 20 years who were going to counterpunch with their cunning and guile.

In the end, youthful exuberance won out as Patrick Reed, just 27, held off spirited challenges by two of the game’s brightest young stars, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth, to earn his first major.

There was the expected drama as the decision wasn’t rendered until Reed knocked in a 3-footer on the 72nd hole to avoid a playoff with Fowler, who had birdied the 18th to finish off a spectacular 67.

Spieth sent roars cannonading through the pines with a textbook 64 as he missed a putt on the final hole for a record-tying 63. It was his only blemish of the day, but just enhanced his image as the Master of the Masters, as he is on a five-year roll at Augusta as he would have two green jackets had he not dunked a few balls into the pond at No. 12 a couple of years ago.

Then there was Jon Rahm, who will win a green jacket or two once he tames his emotions, which got the better of him at times on Sunday. He’s an incredible talent who puts such a hurt on the ball with his massive drives, yet has a nice feel on the greens. Oh yes, he’s all of 23 years old.

The only “elder statesmen” who figured in Sunday’s talk was Henrik Stenson, who hits a 3-wood better than anybody in the game. Stenson, though, could manage only a 70 on Sunday, his third straight after a 69 on Thursday. His putter simply wouldn’t cooperate as he never rattled off a hot streak that the others did.

Then of course, there were Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the backbone of professional golf for the last two decades.

I was one of those who drank the Tiger Kool-Aid. I really thought, given how he had performed in tournaments leading up to this moment, that he would no doubt make the Top 10. While his driver was crooked in his recent hot streak, he had regained his precision iron play and was putting well enough to contend.

ESPN, which carried the first two rounds, and CBS, which carried the final two, were panting for a Tiger charge. But Woods’ game was meek as he didn’t break par until Sunday when he was nothing more than a footnote and there was no stress, as it was nothing more than just casual stroll around Augusta.

The Masters should prove to Woods that he still needs more competitive rounds. He can’t just show up for a week or two, take three weeks off, and expect to win. We don’t watch Tiger to make the cut, we watch to see him stare down his opponents, wearing his red shirt on Sunday, and watching them fold like an accordion. I still think it’s going to come together for him, but he needs to play a lot more before golf’s next major, the U.S. Open in June.

As for Mickelson, he scrambled to a 70 on Thursday, but it was a matter of time before his score ballooned as he visited every bad place on the course on Friday for a 79. He wasn’t much better on Saturday with a 74, but at least he didn’t mail it in on Sunday, shooting a 67 that padded his pocket book for $55,000.

I found the Masters to be riveting stuff. Augusta National is unlike any course the pros play with its undulating greens and cadre of risk-and-reward holes. The leaderboard was populated with the game’s best and records were threatened.

It was indeed a tradition like none other.

Reimer will be missed at Mac College

One of the really good guys in the coaching profession announced his retirement today.

Gordon Reimer, who has spent the last five years as women’s basketball coach at McPherson College, will now devote more time to his family, not to mention his golf clubs and fishing pole.

This past season completed a long coaching stint for Reimer, who also served at Central Christian College before making his mark in the profession at Kansas Wesleyan.

Reimer spent eight years at the Salina KCAC school, winning 140 games and losing 105. What makes that record more impressive is that his first four teams were just 42-75, but the next four years he won 98 games and lost only 30.

His highlight season was 2010-11 when the Coyotes won 31 games, captured the KCAC championship and won a game at the national tournament before losing in the second round.

Reimer’s last KW team in 2011-12 went 18-13, but he stepped away from coaching for a year.

The McPherson job was ideal for him. His first two teams produced only 14 wins, but the Bulldogs won 40 games over the next three years, including this season’s 14-16 record as there’s been gradual improvement.

Mac was a tough-luck team the last couple of years, often playing the top teams close but more often than not losing close decisions. KCAC champion Friends certainly knew how capable the Bulldogs were this year, including a narrow one-point Falcon win in the first meeting at Wichita.

Reimer’s final ledger of 54-93 at Mac probably wasn’t what he had envisioned, given the success he enjoyed at Wesleyan. But he recruited well, had teams that were stellar in the classroom and were good citizens.

Reimer succeeded Cy Rolfs as head coach. His first year was interesting from the standpoint that he basically got the job as school started, so none of the players were his recruits.

He was able to recruit locally and in the area, as players like Ashton Bruner of McPherson and Cami Richardson from nearby Hesston were cornerstones for his team. He also recruited Texas and uncovered some gems, such as Kristina Battle, Sonerka White and Brittany Roberts.

Whomever takes the job will have a team with a good foundation. Reimer’s team this year included only two seniors and some of the better young talent in the KCAC.

He’s definitely left the program in good shape. I really hope the Mac administration moves quickly to fill the void because the longer the job is open, recruiting suffers. Reimer’s last team wasn’t that far away from contending with the KCAC elites and if everybody comes back, it should be a playoff qualifier again.

Congratulations to Reimer on his retirement and I’m sure I’ll see him at the golf course more than a few times this summer.

This could be a special Masters

The U.S. Open may have more prestige and the British Open is the oldest championship (Euros just call it ‘The Open’), but for me the best professional golf tournament on the planet is The Masters.

It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s darn close.

I really don’t go for all the aristocrat stuff (they are not fans, they are patrons), the green jacket that goes to the winner is rather gaudy and tradition has to be followed to the letter or there's a rapping on the knuckles. 

But Augusta National is unlike any course the pros play.

It’s an 18-hole pool table. The fairways look like carpet and the greens are bedeviling. With many risk-and-reward holes, scores often can go low unless temperatures dive or the winds whip around.

There’s very little rough to speak of. There’s plenty of trees and pine needles and the roars echo on the back nine, the signal that a charge is being made.

And this year, there’s a healthy Tiger Woods.

I think we can say without question that Tiger is back. He’s had a nice string of high finishes leading into Thursday’s opening round and when Tiger is contention, the intensity is turned up to high.

To be honest, golf needs Tiger to be in contention. It’s good for the game as “patrons” have one eye on him and the other on the rest of the field.

Right now we have more good players than at any point in recent memory. Even Tiger at his best is matched by Dustin Johnson, Jordan Speith, Phil Mickelson, Jason Day, Sergio Garcia (the defending champion), Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy. Tiger doesn’t elicit the fear from players as he used to because they can now bomb it as far as he does and hit it as close as he does. Tiger’s putter appears to be coming back to the form when every time he had a crucial putt he had to make, he did — much like Jack Nicklaus used to.

I’ll be severely disappointed if the leaderboard doesn’t illuminate like a Christmas tree. There would be nothing better than for the majority of the big names being in contention on the back nine on Sunday — where the tournament really starts.

Sunday could be dripping with drama. Holes 13 and 15 at Augusta are reachable par-5s where the tournament often takes a turn. Both holes have water than can easily come into play, as hopes often splash into Rae’s Creek.

Then there’s the par-3 16th and its traditional pin placement on Sunday, which can produce birdies by the batches, even an ace — like Matt Kuchar had.

The final two holes actually are rather mundane as you don’t see a lot of birdies on the 17th or 18. You’d think for a course like Augusta those holes would be a little more dramatic.

I’m really hoping the stars come out. We had a great Masters last year with Sergio beating Justin Rose in a playoff. Let’s hope The Masters turns into an event like none other.

It's very early, but Royals are struggling

To show how things are going for the Kansas City Royals so far this season, two of their longtime top pitching prospects have been cut loose.

Kyle Zimmer and Miguel Almonte were thought to be two of the crowned pitching jewels of the Royals’ minor league farm system and the cornerstone for the rotation in the coming years. But after exhaustive frustration over a period of years and little signs of development, the Royals have decided enough is enough and set them free.

The Royals have started 0-3 and a big reason has been the starting pitching, as Danny Duffy and Jason Hammel were terrible in their two games, sandwiched around an excellent effort by Ian Kennedy that went for naught because the bullpen coughed up the lead.

Maybe the harbinger of things to come occurred the day before the first game when All-Star catcher Salvador Perez suffered a torn knee ligament while misstepping while carrying some luggage. You just can’t make up stuff like this.

Then the Royals, in their season opener, looked like World Champions — for an inning. They were up on Chicago 4-0 just four batters into the season and everybody was revved up and Danny Duffy looked like nails.

Then he got nailed.

Duffy had one of those Duffy-like outings where he looks like the ace, then has an inning where he looks like Zimmer or Almonte. 

The rest of the rotation is loaded with five- and six-inning guys, which wouldn’t have been too bad in 2014 or 2015, but the foundation of the bullpen has evaporated and now the Royals are throwing guys out there that are marginal at best or would be in the minors if the situation weren’t so dire.

Getting back to Zimmer and Almonte. They were being counted on to head the rotation, but injuries derailed Zimmer while Almonte threw the ball too straight from what I saw. It doesn’t matter if you throw 100, major league hitters will send it screaming if it’s straight.

Three games doesn’t make a season, but the five alarm bells are going off and red flags are popping up everywhere. I thought this team was good enough to win 75 games, but it’s starting to look like those so-called experts — Sports Illustrated being one of them — might be right and it could be a team that makes a run at 100 losses.

The dark, dank and dismal days of Royalsmania from 2014 and 2015 might be over and it could be a return to the days when the the typical 13,000 showed up every night at The K.

Villanova's shooting gave KU no chance

Maybe the fans entering the cavernous Alamodome in San Antonio on Saturday should have been issued umbrellas.

At least the Kansas Jayhawk fans.

Villanova rained 3-pointers the likes never seen before in the NCAA Tournament and its game with KU was practically over just after it started.

The jaw-dropping shooting display put the Jayhawks behind 22-4 barely after the first TV timeout and had KU mind-blown.

Unlike most games where KU would have come back with a big run and made it competitive, the margin never got under double digits and the game many were calling the probable championship contest — especially after the Michigan-Loyola stinker — short-changed the fans from a suspense standpoint, but they were mesmerized by a performance on par with Bill Walton’s 21-of-22 game against Memphis.

The Wildcats were practically allergic to the paint in the first half, making a mind-boggling 13 of 26 treys, while testing KU’s interior defense just 7 times, making 4.

Kansas' defense simply couldn’t catch up to the shooters, as Villanova’s offensive spacing was textbook. The Wildcats took advantage of the slow-footed Udoka Azubuike, who reminded me of George Foreman in his famous “rope-a-dope” fight with Muhammad Ali. All of the 280-pounder’s chasing on defense wore him out and he was physically spent 10 minutes into the game. While he did score 8 points and grab 5 rebounds, he wasn’t the force KU needed and it should open his eyes about declaring for the NBA as at this point in his career he doesn’t have the stamina to play more than 4 or 5 effective minutes at a time.

It wasn’t just one or two players for Villanova, it was a collective effort. In going 18 of 40 from beyond the arc, seven Wildcats got into the act and six of them made more than one. It was surprising KU ended up tied with Villanova in rebounding since there weren’t that many caroms to grab.

Devonte’ Graham had a nice game in defeat for KU in his career finale with 23 points, but many of those came after the fact. Malik Newman kept up his sizzling pace with 21 and also pulled down 8 rebounds, probably signaling the end of his career as he’s likely to go pro. Svi Mykhailiuk’s last game was a 10-point effort, but he had only 2 rebounds.

Legerald Vick was relatively quiet, but KU received a spark from Silvio DeSousa, who scored 7 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, but was a defensive liability.

KU fans should be thankful the Jayhawks even reached this game. This was as up-and-down of a season that coach Bill Self has experienced, but the team played well at the right time and getting one step from the national championship game should be a nice touch on his Hall of Fame resume.

KU fans can’t really look ahead to next year as they simply don’t know who the team is going to have. I wouldn’t be surprised if Self has to replace the entire starting five, as Azubuike could get some bad advice, while I have a feeling for whatever reason that Vick may test the pro waters.

If everybody that can come back does, KU has an influx of newcomers to blend in, including three talented redshirts who have experienced success at other schools, while it also had three players who showed a lot of promise in the McDonald’s All-Star Game.

The beat will go on for KU, though the sound may not be as loud as it was with this trip to the Final Four.

Unlikely KU team one win from finals

If you listen to the so-called “experts,” the Kansas Jayhawks have little chance to beat Villanova on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four.

That’s all right. This team has been doubted all year. In fact, it’s starting to wear the underdog label like a badge of honor.

Sometimes it seems a team plays better when the least is expected. This KU team has been maligned, bashed and criticized throughout the season for not having enough size, not enough bench and for being “soft,” a term Jayhawk coach Bill Self called it midway through the season when this was looking like a year KU might win one, maybe two games, in the NCAA Tournament and then make an early exit.

The turnaround of Malik Newman probably is the major reason for the resurgence. Newman was having a pedestrian season through the first half, having misplaced his shot and looking nothing like the player considered among the Top 5 in the country when he came out after high school.

Newman scored all 13 of KU’s points in overtime against Duke and even with his corkscrew-looking shot, he finished with 32 points. He has the ability to slash and get to the basket unimpeded as he’s developed into a dynamic offensive performer.

The sudden improvement of freshman Silvio DeSousa has been another factor. He joined the team in December and looked lost in the wilderness. I thought at one point that Self should just shut him down and wait until next year as he didn’t seem to have a clue how to play at the collegiate level.

But the light went on for him in the Big 12 Tournament and where would the Jayhawks have been in the regional final without his 10 rebounds as fellow big man Udoka Azubuike labored with fouls and stamina.

Against Villanova, I think Azubuike is the key. I’m concerned about his inability to go for more than a few minutes at a time as KU obviously is better when he’s on the floor because the offense runs through him. He’s had enough time for his knee to heal, but when he gets tired is when he collects silly fouls. He’s been plagued recently by hooking his opponents when he gets the ball on the block. He’s strong enough just to spin and go up as he’s 280 pounds of humanity.

Another key is Devonte’ Graham. He’s among the Top 5 for the Wooden Award, but all the minutes he has piled up appears to have taken something away from his game. He hasn’t shot it well the last seven games and defensively he’s been getting burned. Hopefully he can fend off fatigue for two more games.

Villanova is the best team remaining, no question. But as we have seen throughout the NCAA Tournament, the best team doesn’t always win. Just ask Virginia.

I believe Michigan will take care of Cinderella entry Loyola of Chicago, the feel-good story of the tournament. The Wolverines are just too physical and the magic is going to run out for the Ramblers.

Hopefully KU will be doubted until about 10 p.m. Monday night when it’s cutting down the nets.

Invite title game tonight has state tourney feel

It’s going to feel like May in March, except for the cold.

When McPherson High’s girls soccer team plays Maize South at 8:00 tonight in the championship game of McPherson Invitational at McPherson Stadium, it’s going to have the feel of the Class 4-1A Final Four May 25-26 at Bethel College in North Newton.

Maize South was 18-2-1 and finished third in the state last year. McPherson High was 15-4 and lost in the state quarterfinals, one step from the Final Four.

Both teams are chockfull of stars. Both have blasted their way into the tournament finals with a pair of offensive eruptions.

Bullpup coach Chris Adrian said it’s been a while since his team has made its way to the Invite championship game. It’s exactly the type of game he wants his team to play this early in the season as we’re in the infant stages, a long way until postseason play.

Adrian, of course, would like to win the tournament. But most of all he wants to see how his team reacts to the big-game atmosphere. What he wants to take away from this tournament is for his team to keep doing what it’s doing well and also improve on what deficiencies are exposed in this game, which through three games of the season are minimal.

The Bullpups have started the year 3-0 and have outscored their opponents, 14-1. They gave up an early goal to Salina South, but since then have been airtight, due partly to good defense and maybe more importantly, the fact MHS possesses the ball about 75 percent of the time.

Adrian has repeatedly said this year he believes this could wind up being his best team ever. The Bullpups came close to winning a state championship in 2015, losing in the finals to Topeka Hayden. They were third in 2016, so they have been on the cusp of claiming their first-ever state banner.

It’s not easy to replace a Wall of Famer like Alayna Wallace, but the Bullpups have hardly missed a beat. Aislinn Hughes, Jessie Kynaston and Claire Hedlund make up a dynamic returning triumvirate and now speedy freshman Kenzee Godwin is added to the mix as the Bullpups can turn on the jets.

The defensive backline is anchored by sisters Laiken and Lauren Hein, along with Maisie Edmonson. Adrian has rotated three goalies, though in crunch time it will be steady veteran Riley Hett, but he also has been keeping Meghan Smith and Laykn Schieferecke sharp by playing them a half at a time. Honestly, none of the MHS goalies have faced too much pressure because of the offensive domination and the defensive line lets little past it.

Maize South has been just as dominant in this tournament. The Mavs have scored six goals in each of their two games, but probably haven’t faced the level of competition as the Bullpups. MHS’ first opponent, Andover Central, was a quality team that was 9-6-1 last year and Newton has been a Class 5A staple.

Quite often when you get two teams so offensively outstanding, it turns into a defensive battle. It could very well come down to which team makes that one big mistake.

Win or lose, the Bullpups know they’ll be tested unlike any other time the rest of the season.