Metering is ON

mutka

John Mutka

John Mutka worked full-time at the Post-Tribune for 40 years, covering such events as the 1980 Olympics in Los Angeles, three Final Fours, including Indiana’s …Read More

Search recent columns

More Columns

Mutka: Big Ten gets a kick out of its bowl victories

Football specialists — kickers in particular — don’t receive much attention. Usually, you’ll find them off in a corner with a retriever, or bashing footballs into the net on the sidelines, waiting for the summons when a drive begins to fizzle. Poor neglected souls, they …

Visit to Duffy’s brings out grievances

Deep in the dark recesses of my soul I felt the urge to visit Duffy’s Bar. It’s a dark place where serious drinkers go to disappear, but I needed a retreat from sports. I was growing weary of athletic trivia, of people treating silly games like the fate …

Mutka: Big Ten’s balance of power invites nail-biters

Fasten your seat belts if you’re a Big Ten basketball fan. Halfway through conference play the wild and crazy ride shows no signs of abating. If you believe number-crunchers like Sagarin and RPratings.com, the Big Ten is No. 1 in the RPI ratings. Last time …

Mutka: Reflecting on the year that was

Got those post-Christmas blahs? Me, too. Dodging crazed people wildly driving in and out of mall lots with vacant looks in their eyes helps me understand why bears go into hibernation when the weather turns chilly. It’s like Black Friday extended for two weeks. Scary …

Mutka: Murry Bartow carries on for legendary dad

East Tennessee State basketball coach Murry Bartow was a couple years short of kindergarten when his fabled father, Gene, began coaching at Valparaiso University in 1964. Back then the Crusaders played at Hilltop Gym, a still-used relic  tucked away on the upper west side of the …

Mutka: Valparaiso rookie gridders stride with baby steps

VALPARAISO — Going 1-and-10 is nothing to write home about. So put away your fountain pens if you’re a Valparaiso University football fan. Progress is painfully slow when you’re relying on freshmen and sophomores to absorb bumps and bruises and the Crusaders finished the season …

  • Hoosiers flunk, Purdue holds out Hope

    Changing the culture is a painful process, especially when football is a distant second in this basketball-crazed state. Not even the Indianapolis Colts can contradict that indisputable fact. So we shouldn’t be surprised that Kevin Wilson’s first year as Indiana’s coach was a complete flop. …Read More

    • Mutka: Big Ten bullies hostile outsiders in hoops

    If you pay much attention to preseason basketball polls, everybody but Ohio State is battling for second place in the Big Ten. Right now defiant also-rans are not playing like they’re prepared to run up a white flag. The last time I checked six teams were …

  • Mutka: Boston College continues to give ND fits

    SOUTH BEND — No offense, folks, but Boston College doesn’t have one. When Notre Dame is the designated victim, being anemic doesn’t matter. Even in a bad year the Eagles treat the Domers like their worst enemy. Saturday they departed from the House that Rockne …Read More

  • Mutka: Monon Bell stirs memories for Haklin

    When Joe Haklin was named Wabash’s athletic director in July pleasant memories about his alma mater came flooding back. Inevitably some of them involved the Monon Bell, which the unbeaten Little Giants retained by thrashing arch-rival DePauw. The Chesterton native earned 11 letters in football, …Read More

    • Mutka: VU’s Capobianco roots ex-IU teammates

    VALPARAISO — Indiana University was never like this for Bobby Capobianco. Sitting out his transfer year at Valparaiso, he’s enjoying new-found freedom, something he missed in a rigidly defined role with the Hoosiers. The 6-9 junior from Loveland, Ohio considers himself a skilled player who …

    Wood, Dawson seek to revive Spartans

    Indiana University basketball fans would have been thrilled with 19 victories last season. Michigan State? Not so much. When you’ve averaged 26-plus victories over the previous six seasons and reached the Final Four six times in 13 years a 19-15 record doesn’t invite backflips. It’s …

  • Hoosiers flunk, Purdue holds out Hope

    Changing the culture is a painful process, especially when football is a distant second in this basketball-crazed state. Not even the Indianapolis Colts can contradict that indisputable fact. So we shouldn’t be surprised that Kevin Wilson’s first year as Indiana’s coach was a complete flop. …Read More

  • Mutka: Ripening Hoosiers closing in

    CHICAGO — Eight-and-46. That’s Indiana’s Big Ten basketball legacy during Tom Crean’s three years in Bloomington. This is what he walked away from Marquette for? Triple Ouch! First the good news: Crean welcomed back 13 lettermen at Midnight Madness. The only significant departures are guard …Read More

  • Mutka: Big Ten defenses takes a hit from prof

    Okay students. It’s time for the cranky old prof to dish out mid-term grades for Big Ten football. Before handing them out I’ll have to give the back of my ruler to defenses. Mainly the lack of them. Normally I’m opposed to corporal punishment, but …Read More

  • Mutka: Is ND least in the Big East?

    SOUTH BEND — Usually underrated, Notre Dame generally overachieves in Big East basketball, where beastly bangers take no prisoners. Last year the Irish surprised their rugged rivals by seamlessly adjusting to the departure of former All-American Luke Harangody. After going 27-7 (17-0 at home), they’re …Read More

  • John Mutka: Huge salaries don’t guarantee World Series

    In baseball money talks, but overcompensated players often walk.  Monstrous salaries don’t guarantee World Series rings. The filthy rich Yankees and Phillies provide classic examples of financial flops. They rank 1-2 in payroll, but produced zero results and have retreated to their man caves for …Read More

    • < Previous
    • 1
    • 2
    Next >