SB Nation User Blog: Henrik Holger

Kelly Is Out

Henrik Holger — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:34:15 -0000

It says he wants to be closer to home and would like to play for Indiana State. His father said it was not a problem with the coach. It goes without saying, but I shall say it anyway, this is a big loss for Iowa. This leaves Gatens as about the only player who can create his own shot. Gatens does not yet have the ball handling abilities or quickness of Kelly though. If you thought Iowa basketball was hard to watch this year, buckle up.

Kelly will be a tough loss for Iowa fans to cope with but it doesn't even scratch the surface of the loss Kelly has to cope with. Hopefully moving closer to home will help.

Can Milton Replace Jim Edmonds Production?

Henrik Holger — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:20:12 -0000

I think Cub fans, me included, take for granted what Jim Edmonds gave us last year. 19HRs, 49 RBIs, 369/568 OBP and SLG in a little over half a season. I like Milton Bradley and think he will be a good addition. When thinking about his acquisition, however, and analyzing where the team has improved (or not), I find myself thinking "he will add the left-handed pop we were missing last season," completely ignoring Edmonds. After looking at Edmonds's numbers, I begin to think at best Milton can maintain his end of the status quo outfield production we had with Edmonds. Not that that is a bad thing. I'm not sure Edmonds can replicate last year so I would rather have Milton for the coming year if given unlimited money and the choice of one or the other.

Do you think Milton Bradley can equal Edmonds's production over (hopefully) a longer period? 130 games, 25HR, 365/535 would be a good year for Bradley in my opinion. Given that, the only likely offensive improvement would be Fukudome, perhaps a more healthy Soriano.

Would you rather have Bradley - Fontenot/Miles, or Edmonds - DeRosa with a few extra coins in the Cubs pocket?

ISU Hires Paul Rhoades

Henrik Holger — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:43:38 -0000

[Bumped. This is basically Chizik II: The Rechiziking. Thank you Pollard.--OPS]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20081220/SPORTS020602/81220001

From Ankeny, was a linebacker coach at ISU, then defensive coordinator at Pitt for 8 years, then defensive coordinator at Auburn last year. Its an ok hire I guess. If Chizik was the coach to get ISU "to the next level" Rhoades is the coach to get ISU back to McCarney level. Former Auburn defensive coordinators have always worked out in the past for ISU.

Pollard loves to pull out the surprise. I expect him to come out from behind a curtain and do jazz hands when he announces Rhoades, like Gob.

""Illusion, Michael! A trick is something a whore does for money [notices the kids listening to him]... or candy!"

How could no one in the media see this coming? Defensive coordinator at Auburn with Iowa roots is out of a job. I have never even heard about this guy.

Outback, Alamo, Who Cares?

Henrik Holger — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:24:34 -0000

Who cares if its a "January" bowl game if it doesn't mean you performed better during the year than non "January" bowl teams? The only reason I prefer one over the other is the locale. You can argue, rightly or wrongly, that Iowa is a better team than Northwestern and even that Iowa had a better year despite the record and head to head loss. Those are arguments for why Iowa should be ranked higher than Northwestern though.

They are not. Northwestern has a better record, beat us head to head, and is ranked higher in every poll. Northwestern should have beaten Indiana, Iowa should have beaten Illinois, blah blah. It is insane that college football fans are left to ponder and argue over who travels better, has a richer fanbase, and pulls better tv ratings. I know this is the system we have and we have to live with it and play by its rules. They are not rules that necessarily make me proud of Iowa to win by them, however. (I'm proud and happy with Iowa's performance and season, Outback or Alamo will not change that.)

Sorry Billy and Amy, you didn't get into ISU even though you had better grades and a better SAT score, Jimmy and Brenda are in instead, Jimmy has a sweet wardrobe of jorts to bring to campus and Brenda is fatter.

Alex Trebec: You did have the most money at the end of the game Susan, but I am going to declare Tim the winner because he will draw better ratings tomorrow.

Free throw shooting contest, Steve makes 8, Larry makes 7. The rules of the contest say that I can choose Larry because he only missed one more. I pick Larry. Larry wins a Sprite on January 2nd. Steve wins a 7-Up on December 29th.

Who cares?

I'm happy Iowa is going to a bowl game, be it Outback or Alamo. I prefer Outback because I would rather go to Florida and play the SEC. I am not going to brag if we go to the Outback or sulk if we go to Alamo though. The rules of the game make the distinction meaningless.