Ratings

Yes. I'm going back in. Because A.) I said that I would; B.) I can't let it go; and C.) I have no life.

Here is that link to the rankings of the top 400 sporting cities in the US and Canada as put together by The Sporting News.

A reminder on the criteria:

Our Best Sports City rankings, which look at the 12 months from roughly October 2007 to October 2008, are based on point values assigned to various categories, including but not limited to won-lost records, postseason appearances, applicable power ratings, number of teams and attendance.

There are a few things that I want to pull out of here.

First, here are the rankings of the current Midwest League. Before I start, I'll mention that I made a mistake in my post yesterday. I had South Bend as the highest rated MWL city on the list. I forgot that Lansing and East Lansing, Michigan are probably considered the same market.

#68 East Lansing, MI (Lugnuts)
#83 South Bend, IN (Silver Hawks)
#142 Peoria, IL (Chiefs)
#144 Dayton, OH (Dragons)
#189 Fort Wayne, IN (Wiza...er, TinCaps)
#262 Quad Cities (River Bandits)
#291 Grand Rapids, MI (Whitecaps)
#327 Burlington, IA (Bees)
#329 Cedar Rapids, IA (Kernels)
#337 Clinton, IA (LumberKings)
#349 Beloit, WI (Snappers)
#360 Geneva, IL (Cougars)
#367 Appleton, WI (Timber Rattlers)
#372 Midland, MI (Looooooooooooons)

Out of curiosity, here are the rankings of teams that have lost Midwest League teams over the last few years:
#61 Madison, WI
#113 Kalamazoo (Battle Creek), MI
#158 Cedar Falls (Waterloo), IA
#311 Rockford, IL

Not listed (as far as I could tell. I mean there are 400 names on there):
Kenosha, WI
Springfield, IL

The last thing I wanted to pull out of this list is the ratings of the Wisconsin cities.

#37 Green Bay
#38 Milwaukee
#61 Madison
#344 River Falls
#349 Beloit
#367 Appleton

River Falls? Really? Really? With all due respect to the Falcons...really?

I may have some thoughts on these "rankings" later.

Wow...Just Wow...

I've seen a few stories out there on where certain Midwest League cities rank on The Sporting News Top 400 Sports Cities list.

For example, the Journal-Gazette in Fort Wayne has this entry.

Perhaps it was the TinCaps, the new name of the city’s Midwest League baseball team, that vaulted Fort Wayne into the top 200.

In the annual rankings of America and Canada’s top 400 sports cities and towns, The Sporting News ranked Fort Wayne 189th, just 188 spots behind No. 1 Boston.

The criteria from The Sporting News:

Our Best Sports City rankings, which look at the 12 months from roughly October 2007 to October 2008, are based on point values assigned to various categories, including but not limited to won-lost records, postseason appearances, applicable power ratings, number of teams and attendance.

South Bend is at #83 is the highest rated MWL city. I'm guessing it's because the Silver Hawks had a great season. Some small private college may have had a bit to do with that ranking, too.

Peoria is next at #142, just ahead of Normal, Illinois.

Let's skip to the important thing that caught my eye....

#349. Beloit, Wisconsin

#367. Appleton, Wisconsin

AreYouKiddingMe?!

The people at Dow Diamond in Midland, Michigan (rated #372) are really going to be mad when they see this list.

AYKM??!!??

What is this April?

Game Two of the Eastern Division Finals between Dayton and South Bend at the Cove in South Bend has been postponed. Meanwhile the Burlington Bees just sit back and wait.

Also postponed is this:

The National Anthem performance by the Silver Hawks outfielder, Derrick Walker, has been rescheduled for Tuesday’s game.

Calling YouTube video?

*AYKM = Are You Kidding Me

Point-Counterpoint with Camels

Rattler Radio begins a new feature today. Our very own meteorological ungulates have been asked to take opposite sides in a completely contrived topic that may or may not be of interest to anyone. Facts are not welcome here.

Today's topic: Apples vs. Oranges

A+ for Apples by Carl, the Rain-Hating Camel

Greetings, Rattler Radio readers. There is nothing I like more that sinking my teeth into a nice, crunchy -- yet, juicy -- apple. It doesn't matter if it's a Red Delicious, McIntosh, Gala, Cortland, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, or any of the other amazing varieties of that sweet fruit. Turn me loose in an orchard any day of the week and twice on Wednesday. Apples are good tasting and good for you.

Oranges? Don't make me laugh. Ever hear of Mom's Home-made Orange Pie? What kind of America Hater doesn't like Apple Pie? Brick, that's who.

Orange Juice? Blech. There is more pulp in a paper mill than in a glass of that stuff. Now, a good glass of Apple Juice. Refreshing.

Orange Peels? Nothing like making it almost impossible to get to the actual edible part of the fruit. Apples? Ready to eat right off the tree.

Apples are also a food of the people. Johnny Appleseed made his way throughout the Midwest planting Apple trees wherever he went. Orange groves are off in some distant location on the fringes of the country. You may as well get a banana.

It's not 'An orange a day' that keeps the doctor away. Apples help you live longer. Oranges will kill you. It's not me saying this...It's science!

In closing, no child ever presented a teacher with an orange. Think of the children, they could teach us a few things about life and the proper selection of a terrific


Orange You Glad for Oranges by Brick the Bad Weather-Hating Bactrian

Has there ever been a more perfect delivery system of Vitamin C than the Orange? Brick didn't think so.

Apples are, quite simply, evil. What fruit did the serpent get Adam and Eve to eat in the Garden of Eden? Kiwi? Peach? No, it started with an 'A'...Avocado? No! Wait! Apple! That's it! And you remember who the serpent was?....That's right...The Devil. Enjoy the official fruit of Hell, Carl.

You can count on Brick's humps the number of things that Brick likes, but the clean, citrusy smell of an orange is one of those things.

And what's wrong with a little work to get at something as tasty as an Orange? Nothing. Plus, try this little experiment. If you can stomach it, take a few bites out of an apple. Then, peel an orange and have a few slices, if you can stop at a few. Walk away and come back in a few minutes. Which one of those fruits is starting to turn a little brown? That's right. The devil's fruit.

Apples corrupt the young. Children use Apples as a gift for teachers? Try Bribe for the teacher and you'll be a little closer to the truth.

Speaking of truth, the only time an apple is somewhat good is when it is not in its original form. Coated in caramel, baked in a pie, squashed into juice, or mixed into a butter. Somewhat palatable, yet, still from the same evil produce.

One orange and all its vitamin goodness have done more to combat disease and starvation than the demon red fruit.

In closing, Apples, bad. Oranges, good.

Thank you, Carl. Thank you, Brick. Insightful and vengeful points all around.

Oddly, as video proof of both their points of view, Carl and Brick both submitted this 1975 Sunkist orange television commercial.



Tune in next time for another edition of Point-Counterpoint with Camels.

When did the paper start copying ESPN

Steve Czaban has a few phrases for shows like Around the Horn on ESPN. Volume over fact...I can yell louder than you...

The Post-Crescent has been employing a point-counterpoint columns for the past year or so (I guess I just answered my own question from the title of the post.)

Today's columns are titled thusly:

Cory Jennerjohn point column: Timber Rattlers a fun experience

Brad Zimanek counterpoint column: Blizzard a better vaule for fans

I can do without these pieces. They aren't that interesting. But, they have caught several eyes here at the stadium this morning.

What is the point in this exercise? To see who can come up with the most cutting remark?

Jennerjohn:

At Fox Cities Stadium, everything is big. From the home runs to the mid-inning birthday wishes, the Rattlers make every game like an event. However, the Blizzard plays with mini-sized field goal posts, a smaller field and fewer players on the field than that other pro football team in town.

Zimanek:

I attend at least five Timber Rattlers games each year, but the product the last few years is getting stale.

The atmosphere and the yeoman's work the team's staff does with its promotions can only carry you so far.

The team on the field — the baseball — is horrible.

Mission Accomplished. Congratulations, I guess.

The Green Bay Blizzard of Arena Football League 2 have a great product and a loyal following. So do we.

Pre-game is in about 25 minutes and I still have to fill in my scorebook. I might have more on this later today.

But, I'm curious to see if any of the five readers I have in Northeast Wisconsin have any thoughts. Leave a comment below, but make sure you go and read both pieces first.

If they were looking for traffic on this, you may as well give it to them today.