Krishawn Hogan: Small-School Stud Ready for the Big Time

Beginning Thursday night, dreams will come true for over 200 young men in the NFL Draft. The
usual suspects will have multiple names called - Alabama, Clemson, USC, etc. - and there will be those from non-Power 5 Division I programs as well. However, there might be one name called from a school never heard from before. Krishawn Hogan of Marian University - Indianapolis.

Hogan, a 6-4, 225 pound wide receiver, wrapped up an illustrious career at Marian in November and he leaves the NAIA as one of the greatest players in history. And he did it all in three seasons. A graduate of Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Hogan played just one season of varsity ball and ended his high school career with 20 catches and one touchdown. Suffice to say, he was lightly recruited and left Walsh University after just one season.

He came back home and took classes at Ivy Tech while working the night shift as a janitor. He enrolled at Marian University, fell in love with the weight room as he likes to say and started tearing up the NAIA competition. Hogan was a touchdown machine, finding the end zone 67 times in 40 games. He won a national title and finished runner-up a season later. All of his work and success led to a Combine invite where he was nearly flawless. Now, the Draft looms.

Stories like Krishawn Hogan's aren't necessarily new. There are guys like him every year in the Draft. But I don't and won't know them. I've had the pleasure of working with Krishawn for the past year at Marian so forgive me if my bias shows through.

Count on Hogan to make it in the league. Will he be drafted or eventually see playing time? That's not something I consider myself an expert on. But will he put in the work and do it the right way? Yes, that I know. Hogan wasn't born with an NFL body. He's made his into one with hours in the weight room at Marian. Last Saturday, the Marian football field was empty (a rare occasion at a school with 24 sports) around 3 p.m. in the afternoon except for one guy - Hogan. There's a million other things a 22-year-old kid could be doing on a Saturday afternoon, but for a guy trying to make the NFL, he was right where he needed to be, putting himself through various drills and exercises.

His journey and unlikely story has drawn national attention. The Indy Star ran a feature on him prior to the Combine and Sports Illustrated featured him as well.  ESPN came to campus last week and will run a story on him during Sportscenter this Saturday. On a small campus, it would be easy for the spotlight to go to Hogan's head. However, he has remained as humble as can be through the entire process and never big times anybody.

Plenty of teams are interested in Hogan, who has been projected as high as the fourth round. But despite all his talent, he must shed the small-school label as the Draft begins. The skills are there and the team that drafts him will get a steal, but it will take a risk. Yet it's a risk worth taking for a guy who can dominate on the field, but also be a quality individual off of it.

A lifetime of work has led up to this for Hogan. An unlikely story, but a story that is about to begin its greatest chapter.

Unpredictable Bulls May Have Saved Best Act For Last

Forgive these Chicago Bulls if they are are disrupting what was expected in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Forgive them if they've put Boston in a sour mood after a stellar regular season, and certainly forgive a few Chicago players for quizzically playing their best ball of the season here in the last two games. Forgive them because this Bulls team can't figure out who they are. They weren't able to do so through an 82-game regular season, but perhaps now they have and it couldn't have come at a better time.

The Bulls, an eight seed, went into Boston and didn't just beat the top-seeded Celtics - they whooped them. Twice. It's only the second time ever that an eight seed has won the first two games of a series against a one seed on the road and now Chicago gets to go back to the United Center for two games.

What a surprise it was to see Bobby Portis play like an animal in game one. Or to see Robin Lopez act like Brook Lopez in game two. Rajon Rondo? He's looked like the 2008 version of himself. Jimmy Butler has continued to play like a superstar and Dwyane Wade bounced back to have a quality game two after a poor game one, which featured a missed dunk on a breakaway.

Chicago earned the eight seed after a rollercoaster season in which they went 22-24 against teams .500 or better, but 19-17 versus teams that were below .500. They were mediocre in every sense of the word and finished 41-41.

For all the unpredictable play in the regular season though, Chicago has looked like anything but an eight seed through two games. The Bulls have been locked in and have hardly suffered any lapses, something that plagued them throughout the regular season. In game two, Boston made several runs at the Bulls, but every time Chicago responded and fended off the Celtics' charges. Simply put, they looked like a team ready to make a run in the postseason.

This looks like a different team and it's all thanks to the role players. Butler, Wade and Rondo are clicking, but it takes guys like Lopez and Portis to make a run in the playoffs. So far those guys have stepped up. It's given the Bulls a real chance to pull off the upset and move to the ECF semifinals. But to accomplish that it will take sustained focus. Inconsistent play doesn't work in the playoffs and the Bulls had 82 games to prove they could play consistent basketball and they couldn't do that.

The time is now for Chicago. They have been the better team to this point and the belief that Jimmy Butler with two seasoned veterans like Wade and Rondo could thrive looks justified. It may not have been pretty during the regular season, but the Bulls are staying true to form. The up-and-down team is trending up.

They couldn't have picked a better time.

The State of College Basketball: Trending Up or Down?

It's the most dreadful time of year for a college basketball fan. March Madness has come to a close, the game is absent from the sports world, and along with that, underclassmen begin to declare for the NBA Draft later in June. Spurning one to three more years of college for the chance at fame and millions of dollars seems like a no-brainer, and the amount of young men who choose that path illustrate that thinking. But while players sign agents, fans are left with the changing landscape of college basketball.

Is the game improving? Quite simply, it is not. A case could be made that the game has been stagnant, but it's difficult to argue that college basketball has improved in the last decade. Choppy gameplay due to fouls, conference realignment, coaching changes and early draft entries have affected the game negatively and continue to do so.

The national championship game between North Carolina and Gonzaga was difficult to watch despite the close score. 44 fouls meant constant stoppages, which led to poor shooting and no rhythm in gameplay. The final 20 minutes seemed to take a lifetime as it became a free throw contest. 52 free throws were shot before the end of the night and both teams were in the bonus with 13 minutes left. In the second half alone there were 27 fouls and it sent nearly every big man for both teams to the bench in foul trouble.

Unfortunately, the national championship was not an anomaly. UCLA, a run-and-gun team that featured quality shooters, versatile big men and Lonzo Ball to orchestrate it all, was a breath of fresh air during a season that would frequently feature games in the 60's.

Four different conferences were represented at the Final Four this season (ACC, SEC, WCC, PAC-12), but not one of those conferences has had the same members for longer than five seasons. Football and the pursuit of the almighty dollar for television networks has led many conference to shift and change over the years. This is nothing new, but it's reached a new level in this decade. It's taken away fantastic basketball rivalries like Kansas-Missouri, Syracuse-Georgetown and Duke-Maryland.

Instead, fans are treated to games like Missouri-Auburn, Syracuse-Clemson and Maryland-Nebraska. Sure, there are still plenty of great rivalries, but a Missouri fan has lost the two best games of the year. A Maryland fan is watching their team in games with no history or passion. A Syracuse fan is pleased to see games against Duke and Carolina, but it's not Georgetown or UConn. The realignment is not what is best for the game despite being what's best for the bottom line.

Speaking of the bottom line, did you watch ESPN's 30 for 30 One and Not Done on John Calipari? His players have made plenty of money in the NBA and very few of them stuck around for more than a year or two in college. The one-and-done topic has been beaten to death, but despite all the talk, there has been no action to fix what plagues the game and the NBA.

For the college game, it's an issue for the fans and that's it. The teams and coaches must continually replenish their rosters, but that has not been difficult for the game's best. For the fans though, they are watching a revolving door. Players come and go and there is hardly any connection between the player and the university. Kyrie Irving can claim to be a Dukie, but 10 games doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things.

Consider all the freshmen who have gone through Kansas in recent years: Xavier Henry, Andrew Wiggins, Josh Selby and Josh Jackson. They have all done well in Lawrence, but departed after a year. Perhaps only a Jayhawk fan can truly answer the question, but is that fun? Those players have brought plenty of wins and that's fun, but is it truly fun to root for the program when the best player is someone new every season? There's rarely a long-term connection with stars anymore like J.J. Redick or Adam Morrison. That's why teams like this year's North Carolina and Gonzaga squads should be treasured.

And it's not just players who leave early. Coaches are guilty as well. No one could ever fault someone for moving up in the ranks and bettering their career, but coaches don't last long at one place anymore. Jim Boeheim vs. John Thompson or Gene Keady vs. Bob Knight? Those kind of coaching rivalries are hard to come by now. Is that a death sentence for the game? Of course not. The game can go on without those, but it doesn't make for a better product.

Make no mistake though, college basketball is a great game. March Madness continues to thrill the masses year after year, but that can't be the sole barometer for the state of the game. There are plenty of factors that contribute to college basketball as a whole and as the book closes on another season, it's safe to say there is work to be done.

The NHL's Top 10 Sweaters

It's playoff time in the National Hockey League and the best teams are on display, but not only are the teams great, but the sweaters are too. Hockey gives us the most unique uniforms in sports. When else is it okay to pair a sweater with shorts? The simple answer: never. But in hockey it works and there are some fantastic tops in the game.

Here are the top 10 sweaters in the NHL this season with a little bonus at the end...

1. Chicago Blackhawks (Red)
The bright red color. The primary logo on the front. The secondary logo on the shoulders. The triple-stripe look. This one has it all and it's the best in the game. Chicago's red top looks fantastic and their logo has remained virtually the same throughout time. It's an easy one on the eyes and it's a clear number one.

2. Toronto Maple Leafs (Blue)
The classic to end all classics. Toronto is the center of hockey and the Maple Leafs don't have to change what's been working for a very long time. Toronto unveiled a new logo before the 2016-17 season and it has more of a classic feel. The simple blue-and-white two color scheme keeps it clean and the in year one of the new jersey the Leafs are back in the playoffs.

3. Montreal Canadiens (Red)
The Canadiens wear some absolute beauties and with the added laces it's even better. Lace are always a good call in hockey and adding them along with the iconic logo and the bold blue stripe across the chest makes this one a winner.

4. New York Rangers (Blue)
This is a timeless classic that should never change. It's often imitated with the diagonal word mark, but make no mistake: this is the original and the best. 3-D numbers are also unique. The red, white and blue is impossible to hate and seeing these in the Garden is something special.

5. Boston Bruins (Black)
The triple-stripe style and the laces are a gorgeous combination for this Original Six sweater. Boston's logo has been around forever and the white and black outline around the numbers on the back gives the font a little extra pop.

6. Detroit Red Wings (Red)
There's not much going on here, but there doesn't have to be. The Red Wings are another team that only use two colors, but the classic logo with the bright red from head to toe is something every hockey fan recognizes right away. There have been plenty of wins in the red sweaters.

7. Pittsburgh Penguins (Black)
Perhaps this is a bit high for some, but the Penguins have a sweet logo. It's a Penguin playing hockey! The stripes of white and gold pop just like the Boston Bruins' and the return to the classic gold was the right decision for this franchise.

8. Calgary Flames (Red)
The return to the red and yellow throwbacks has the Flames looking good once again. Black never really worked with their sweaters, but once it was taken out the Flames moved up considerably. The flaming "C" logo is outstanding as well.

9. Edmonton Oilers (Blue)
A great logo and a dynamite color scheme make the Oilers' blue sweater one of the game's best. The logo is what really stands out, but the bright orange also makes these pop out on the ice. Thankfully, they are back in the postseason this year.

10. New York Islanders (Blue)
These are very close to the Oilers, and like Edmonton, New York has a great logo that plays off their name perfectly (despite playing in Brooklyn now). The blue and orange looks great on the ice and when the Islanders are playing the game looks great.

Bonus: St. Louis Blues (Winter Classic)
St. Louis, please listen to this: make the Winter Classic uniforms the full-time uniforms! The lighter shade of blue and the absence of navy in the sweater makes these absolutely beautiful. St. Louis donned them multiple times throughout the season and if they went to them full-time there would be no complaints.

There are plenty of others that look great. The Washington Capitals' alternate red and the Philadelphia Flyers' orange come to mind. The uniqueness of the uniform style and the timeless classics hockey has make each game a sight to see when it comes to the uniforms.

When In Doubt, The Central Still Belongs to the Blackhawks

The winds of change seemed to blow through the Midwest last season as Brent Seabrook's slapshot
caromed off not one, but two posts in Game 7 of the NHL Western Conference First Round against the St. Louis Blues. The shot, which would have tied the game with just 1:30 left in regulation, narrowly missed and the Blues closed the series in dramatic fashion.

The mighty Chicago Blackhawks, owners of three Stanley Cups since 2010, had fallen. Not only had they fallen, they bowed out early to a Central Division opponent. Since the NHL realigned in 2014 and adopted its current playoff format, the Blackhawks were 4-0 in playoff series against Central Division opponents until last year's loss.

The analysts had been trying to hype up the story for years - that the Blues, Wild or Predators were ready to unseat the Blackhawks. When the Blues won, the media only heightened that chatter, highlighting the physical youthfulness of the Blues against the tired legs of the Blackhawks, a franchise that had finally lost a step due to years of success both for Chicago and Olympic teams.

Those winds of change have been silenced as the Blackhawks, perhaps rejuvenated from a longer offseason, marched to a Western Conference-best 50 wins this season. Now it's time once again, to see if someone can dethrone Chicago.

Nashville will have the first crack. The Predators have come close before, but have yet to defeat Chicago in the playoffs with Jonathon Toews and Patrick Kane running the show. The offseason trade for P.K. Subban was a change for Nashville as they try to advance past the second round for the first time in program history. First though, they have to beat a Blackhawks team that has been so deep and well-rounded that there's no telling who will do the scoring night-in, night-out. If the past tells us anything it's that Chicago may just go win the Stanley Cup again. The past two times they played Nashville in the first round (2010, 2015) they won it all.

The Blues have looked incredible at times this season and they have been especially sharp since firing Ken Hitchcock in favor of Mike Yeo. Yeo was fired by the Wild at the end of last season and that makes the matchup between St. Louis and Minnesota extra enticing. There's no doubt Minnesota would like another crack at Chicago, while St. Louis would love to prove that last year's series win and this year's Winter Classic third-period demolition of Chicago were no fluke.

While all three Central Division playoff opponents have their strengths, no team can boast the talent and experience Chicago has. Three banners from this decade hang in the United Center and the front office in Chicago has found a way to retool the team around the core year after year.

The Blackhawks may have left the playoff party earlier than usual last season, but that doesn't mean the times have changed. In fact, it may mean this year they are stronger than ever.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Central Division Playoff Schedule
April 13 Nashville Predators 8:00 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks United Center
April 15 Nashville Predators 8:00 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks United Center
April 17 Chicago Blackhawks 9:30 p.m. Nashville Predators         Bridgestone Arena
April 20 Chicago Blackhawks TBD Nashville Predators         Bridgestone Arena
April 22 Nashville Predators TBD Chicago Blackhawks United Center
April 24 Chicago Blackhawks TBD Nashville Predators         Bridgestone Arena
April 26 Nashville Predators TBD Chicago Blackhawks United Center

April 12 St. Louis Blues 9:30 p.m. Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center
April 14 St. Louis Blues 8:00 p.m. Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center
April 16 Minnesota Wild 3:00 p.m. St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
April 19 Minnesota Wild 9:30 p.m. St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
April 22 St. Louis Blues TBD Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center
April 24 Minnesota Wild TBD St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
April 26 St. Louis Blues TBD Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center

It's Okay To Not Stick To Sports

On this blog we talk about sports. You name it and we've probably touched on it, but sometimes there are current events in this world that take precedence over the games and the athletes. Here on our blog, Nate and I have sometimes ventured out (examples here, and here) beyond the borders of sports and written about those, like Carmelo Anthony, who chose to step out of the sports bubble. Sometimes there are things that are simply too important to brush to the side, although we try while escaping to sports.

Athletes, coaches and sports media figures are stepping out of the sports bubble more than ever and giving the media and fans their thoughts on the world's current issues, leaders and political debates. Check the comment or replies section after any of these opinions are given and there's the same old comeback of "stick to sports."

Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr, the USWNT and a whole host of NFL and NBA players have given their opinion on Donald Trump, Black Lives Matter, race and equal pay matters. Reporters like Richard Deitsch, Seth Davis and others are willing to talk politics on their social media networks. Every time each person listed above strays from sports topics they are told to just "stick to sports."

Sports is an outlet for people. It's a place to get away from the political debates and the issues of the world we live in. For three hours, a fan's worries can just be about the bad call the umpire made or the dropped catch by their favorite wide receiver. Sports is an escape, but it seems some would like to completely forget that there is more to an athlete, coach or media member than their job. They have earned a platform and they are entitled to use it how they see fit.

These are turbulent times in our world. Political leaders in multiple countries pose a threat, violence is on the rise both at home and abroad and the divide between the American people seems to be at an all-time high. Now, more than ever, it would be great if we could just stick to sports.

But we can't. There's more to this life than just sports and there are decisions being made by our leaders that will greatly affect the trajectory of this country and this world. These are no small matters when we talk about people's freedoms, equal pay, race relations, etc. More than ever, sports figures are taking responsibility for their cities and the happenings in them. The platforms they have are massive, reaching millions of people each day. Thankfully, most choose to use them for what they believe in.

You might not agree with their opinion and that's okay. You may disagree with Colin Kaepernick kneeling for the National Anthem or you might disagree with Derrick Rose and LeBron James wearing "I Can't Breathe" shirts in warmups. That's okay. You might not understand why the US Women's National Team is asking for equal pay with their male counterparts. That's fine. But what is not fine is telling them to just stick to sports. Appreciate the fact that they are using their platform for what they see as positive change.

Can you imagine if no one used their platform for change? Why do we ask sports figures to stay in a box, but not others? If everyone confined themselves to their profession then Martin Luther King would have just been a preacher. No person in today's world thinks that MLK should have "just stuck to his day job." Chance the Rapper is very dedicated to seeing Chicago prosper and recently donated $1 million to Chicago Public Schools. No one suggested he "just stick to music."

Rather than asking these sports figures to stick to sports, we should commend them for speaking up. When young black men are being killed unjustly, we should respect the fact that men with a platform speak out. When women aren't earning equal pay, we should appreciate that some of the most influential women in the US are setting an example and enacting change. When our President is causing strong divisions among the American people and a coach says it's wrong, bravo to the coach for taking a stand.

Sticking to sports is a tired comeback to those who choose not to. It's asking sports figures to put themselves in a box and not use the platform they have been given. Don't like it? The unfollow button isn't far away. Go ahead and give it a click.

Molina's Legacy Cemented With New Extension

With the stroke of a pen, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina cemented his legacy and joined an elite club this past Sunday. Just before the Cardinals opened the 2017 season against the Chicago Cubs, Molina signed a three-year extension, which signals that he will most likely finish his career in St. Louis. By the end of his contract, Molina will have spent 17 years as the Cardinals' backstop. The club might as well make some room for another statue on the corner of Clark and 8th Street.

Molina has been a top two catcher in baseball for almost his entire career. His resume speaks for itself: seven All-Star games, eight Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, two World Series rings and four trips to the World Series. That resume along with the fact that he's a clubhouse leader, fan favorite and still the game's best defensive catcher (did you see any World Baseball Classic highlights?) makes the extension an obvious move for the Cards.

However, the thing that stands out most about the extension is what it means for Molina's career. At the completion of his contract, he will have spent 17 seasons for one team. If that sounds rare it's because it is. Players just don't do that in this era of free agency and frequent trades.

Molina can become the third Cardinal to spend the first 17 years of his career in St. Louis. The other two are Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Bob Gibson. Molina can also become just the sixth catcher to spend 15-plus seasons with one team and only 52 position players have ever accomplished the feat, according to MLB.com.

Leaving a team certainly doesn't taint a star's legacy. Albert Pujols left St. Louis for Anaheim and, while his production has dipped, his spot in Cooperstown is still reserved. Molina didn't need to stay in St. Louis to get into the Hall of Fame, but it only enhances what is already an impressive resume.

Still, the extension means the Cardinals believe Molina can continue to succeed. They most certainly didn't sign him just to be a good story and to check a box for his legacy. Molina's game may be fading a bit, but he is the heart and soul of the Cardinals and he's what makes the pitching staff go.

"To me, this is much more than what he's done," GM John Mozeliak said. "What it means to me is what he's going to do. In a way, today is just the next chapter in our future. We believe he can compete at the highest level, and we still feel that Yadi is one of the greatest catchers in the game. He's in great shape. He trains well. He eats well. And he knows what's important about not only today, but tomorrow as well.

"So today is not about a sun-setting career. Today is about us retaining the greatest catcher to ever wear a Cardinals uniform."

Mozeliak is right - the Cardinals can compete at the highest level and they can give the Cubs a run for their money, but they can't do it without Molina. Luckily for St. Louis, they won't have to for quite some time.