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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

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  • Mutka: Valparaiso all-star Puetz anything but anonymous

    Garry Puetz came to Valparaiso University in 1969 because he could play baseball there. Four years later he departed for the New York Jets as a two-time All-American offensive tackle. How it evolved makes for an interesting story. “Valpo was the only school which promised …Read More

    • Mutka: Valpo’s basketball future includes downsizing

    Basketball games aren’t won on paper, but Michigan State slammed Valparaiso’s window of opportunity shut — at least temporarily. Minus six seniors, including bigs Ryan Broekhoff and Kevin Van Wijk, the Crusaders will be looking up at five other Horizon League teams who qualified for …

  • Mutka: Hoops marathon switches to NCAA sprint

    CHICAGO — The basketball marathon is over. Now the sprint begins. No more corporal punishment being dished out off the brutal Big Ten menu. Time for dessert. “I’m really looking forward to playing somebody else,” said Michigan State’s weary Tom Izzo, after the Spartans second …Read More

    • Mutka: Valparaiso’s ARC not for the faint of heart

    VALPARAISO — If you’ve got a weak ticker here’s a piece of advice: You might consider staying away from the ARC on Tuesday night. Three straight buzzer-beaters in less than 30 hours over the weekend. Another could be life-threatening. Welcome to the Horizon League, which …

  • Mutka: No. 1 in college hoops? No such thing

    Number One in college basketball? Ain’t no such animal, folks. Being placed on that pinnacle was a recipe for disaster in this wild and woolly season. Ask Indiana’s Hoosiers, who have been knocked off twice since perching on the NCAA’s Mt. Olympus. If Cody Zeller …Read More

    • Mutka: Cardinals, Crusaders, Mustangs thrive

    Hello, you Mid-American Conference football bashers. Time to give the underrated league its props. Food for thought Last season, Ball State, Northern Illinois and Kent State represented the league in bowl games. That’s no surprise to Ball State coach Pete Lembo, a transplanted New Yorker …

  • Mutka: Valpo, Detroit trade games in which they blew big leads

    Safe lead in basketball? Don’t be silly. No such thing. Check out the heated Detroit-Valparaiso series. First, Valparaiso trailed by 22 in the second half at Detroit. Then, Detroit lagged by 15 with 9 minutes left at Valparaiso. Both teams rallied to win. In game …Read More

  • IU’s Wilson hits jackpot with recruits on ‘D’

    If you believe recruiting analysts, long-suffering Indiana football fans should be oozing excitement over Coach Kevin Wilson’s recent harvest. His 22-man bumper crop addresses defensive weaknesses, which have plagued the program since Bill Mallory departed. Consider that IU ranked fourth in the Big Ten in …Read More

  • Mutka: Unbridled Hoosiers need more than one gear

    What makes Indiana a potential national champion should also give fans of the Hoosiers a serious case of nerves. IU’s relentless and reckless attacking approach could contain the seeds of elimination come tournament time. They nearly buried former No. 1 Michigan, but allowed the Wolverines …Read More

    • Gary’s Harmon an all-time legend

    Role models are not always what they’re cracked up to be, especially when they’re athletes. Take 13-time all-pro linebacker Ray Lewis, for example. Kids tempted to embrace him should quote the Raven never more, considering his checkered past. In 2000, Lewis, Reginald Oakley and Joseph …

  • Mutka: Valpo getting a bosst from Matt Kenny, Kevin Van Wijk

    Most of the positive pub about Valparaiso University basketball has revolved around “Rowdy” Ryan Broekhoff. Rightfully so, but the Crusaders pulled another rabbit out of the hat Saturday because of guys like Matt Kenney and Kevin Van Wijk. Outplayed most of the way by Wright …Read More

    • Mutka: Spitting out Keady for Perry worked well

    Nothing against Gene Keady, but the Gary Old Timers caught a break after the former Purdue basketball coach backed out of his scheduled speaking engagement. When Keady, who now assists Steve Lavin at St. John’s, asked if the date could be changed (silly man) he …

  • No Corral-ling versatile Huskie from Hobart

    VALPARAISO — Swish, swish, swish. Nothing but net. Watching Amanda Corral move around the horn in pregame warmups Saturday at the ARC was worth the price of admission. Too bad it couldn’t be more often, but she chose Northern Illinois over Valparaiso even though her …Read More

  • Mutka: New Year’s tips for impatient NWI jocks

    Another year over, another day older. What will the next 364 days bring? Darned if I can wait, so here are a few ideas sprinkled with a dose of wishful thinking for impatient jocks. Basketball A Final Four appearance for Indiana University, including a vengeful rematch along the …Read More

    • Mutka: Rick Majerus left a lasting impression

    My only personal brush with Rick Majerus made a lasting impression. Enough to list the recently deceased coach among my five most unforgettable sports characters. We met during his two years at Ball State when I made a trip to Muncie to do a series …

  • Mutka: Spitting out Keady for Perry worked well

    Nothing against Gene Keady, but the Gary Old Timers caught a break after the former Purdue basketball coach backed out of his scheduled speaking engagement. When Keady, who now assists Steve Lavin at St. John’s, asked if the date could be changed (silly man) he …Read More

  • Karras’ Knights rise from swamp to possible NAIA title

    Five years ago, Marian’s Knights slogged through practices in a nature preserve lovingly dubbed “Ecoland.” Players walked 20 minutes from campus to whet their appetite for football practice. “It’s a wetland which gets kind of soupy when it rains,” notes Marian coach Ted Karras Jr. …Read More

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