You are a grade-A jackass, Leonard, and I’m glad your done at the Herald. What business is Tuck’s injury to you? Barry Alvarez ducks injury questions more often and in a more terse way. Would you prefer that? There are all sorts of reasons for the coaches to keep quiet about a player’s injury status for medical privacy laws to “gamesmanship”, why would they disregard all ‘em to tell a two-bit “journalist” like yourself what he wants to know about a player’s injury status? Eliminate the mens’ soccer program and bring back baseball? I don’t know where to begin with that idiotic suggestion. Do you even realize that when they decision to cut baseball was made, the soccer team was one of those “teams that rank among the nation's best” that you “obviously like covering” and remained so for years afterwards? Yes, baseball garnered the “America’s pastime” label many many years ago, but which sport is more popular, forget about in the world, but how about the state at the high school and (formerly) collegiate levels? I think the Regents gave you the answer years ago. And yes, Schumacher should listen to you, just like Bo Ryan should. Your coverage would assuredly make his team better and college cross-country running as popular as, well, college baseball in your book. And speaking of Bo Ryan listening to you, keep trying to tell him how to bring excitement or success to a basketball team despite his national championships before coming to UW and his Big Ten titles since. Good riddance, Leonard. Good luck getting a job, much less a job in journalism, now that you’ve done us all the favor of leaving.

Sheez, I’ll try to tiptoe between all the spewage from the last guy’s vent.

I agree with you about the mindless bore that soccer is to competitive sports people. I mean, really, what’s the first thing they do to entertain the retards at recess? They put them in a circle and throw a soccer ball in there. End of conversation.

I’ve had some passing reservations about whether you could make it to the next level of journalism, too, but they have been few, and probably only during writer bloc periods. Hey, good luck man.

I agree that soccer sucks, but Wisconsin hasn’t been much of a baseball state since 1982…or even 1957. Don’t get me wrong; baseball is my favorite professional sport, but it’s hard to look forward to upcoming seasons after the Brewers spend the winter meetings lamenting the price of talent, unreachable for them. However, what I consider to be the perennial downside to Wisconsin sports is Bride’s-maid-itis in the sports that REALLY count. My Alma Mater will NEVER be National Champion in football or men’s hoops, just as my previous Alma Mater, Eau Claire Memorial, will never again be State Champion in either (not that they’ve EVER been in football). Maybe new NCAA Hockey Champion banners will hang at the Kohl, but GREATER honors will always elude the Cardinal and White…and the Purple and White, as well.

I agree with the first poster. Jake is a jackass. Seriously, what kind of moronic asshole puts King Lear references in his columns? And let’s not forget the countless nods to Greek tragedy and mythology to be found in the headlines you’ve written. And “who's kidding whom?” Fucking correct grammar.

Oh, wait, you’re not leaving? What’s that I hear? You’re moving on to be Managing Editor? Oh.

Jake Leonard is a scholar and a gentleman. A prince among theives. His wit and wisdom are only matched by his charm and grace. I only hope to attain such glory when I grow up.

-charles

Great work this semester, Jake. Now you have a semester of sitting across from Daglas to look forward to. Eek.

-BGuks

Another response to the first poster. College baseball is more popular than college soccer. It isn’t even close. Seen that College World Series on ESPN lately? The only college soccer match I saw posted on any ESPN ever was last weekend for the national champisonship.

In high school its about even, no one really shows up for either except parents.

“What business is Tuck’s injury to you?”

What’s of interest to the fans is of interest to us.

And Jake, I hope you do make it to the next level of journalism… I need more references.

-klemz

BBBB - Bring Back Badger Baseball!!!! Yes it is still the National Pastime and a Big Ten University should still have an active baseball team. I love Badger football and hockey and know the money flows through Camp Randall, but baseball is a “Must in Madison”. The Commisionor of baseball in a Wisconsin Alum!

Do you think Barry would like to have signed one of the top 3 high school quarterbacks in Lockport Illinois Jake Christenson? Jake signed with our rival Iowa, who can also offer Jake the chance to continue to pursue college baseball along with a Big Ten football championship!

How many other football/baseball players may have picked another Big Ten school that offers baseball instead of Wisconsin?

If it’s money, let Barry use some of the scholarship money given to 2 sport football and hockey athletes to help rebuild Badger baseball! Oh, I forgot. Then UW needs to add a woman’s sport too! Just drop The Most Boring Sport, Soccor, from the roles and fund Badger baseball.

I love UW but am ashamed to say we don’t have a baseball team. Bring Back Badger Baseball

Wow, that first guy sounded pissed…must have been the UW-soccer coach. Jake, I hate soccer as much as the next guy but to say its low scoring games don’t give you a thrill is rather spurious. Hockey is like soccer with a puck (as far as scoring tallies goes, and with the exceptional checking) yet we as UW students love our hockey. Why? Cause we win. If the soccer team didn’t suck so much and they were a callibur team, I bet you would be singing a different tune. Good article though.

i think that, on a day in which a column appeared in the badger by an editor who has been diagnosed with cancer, it might be nice to all take a step back and look at what sports are. they’re supposed to be fun. they’re supposed to make us laugh and cringe and yell and everything else that’s fun and good. they’re even, as this article made clear, supposed to make us complain (or whine, choose a word). but they’re not supposed to make us hate. entertainment is a distraction from the fact that the world can really suck sometimes. let’s not go using it as an excuse, like mr. psycho-killer from comment 1 did, to mean-spiritedly attack anyone or anything. disagreeing about whether soccer is a good sport or not is fine. disliking each other because we disagree isn’t.

you are pathetic…look at the trends of youth baseball. they are shrinking every year because no one wants to watch a college game. the prime time players would never come to wisconsin. but more then anything you just suck ass. i am so glad that you are done at wisconsin. i agree soccer in america is very weak, but if you have ever stepped out side of the US…you would realize that it is the worlds sport. it is far crazier then nba, nhl or football. the fans and atmosphere is crazy…you cant even put baseball and soccer in the same breath on a world wide scale…eat a dick