When a young athlete is killed you immediatly think of what might have been. How far could their talent and drive carried them. I thought about that this week again after hearing the news of the death of Mitch Caster. Caster was a 21 year old baseball player from Wichita State. He had just completed his summer season in the Northwoods League pitching for the Rochester Honkers in the Championship game at Eau Claire. He was driving home when his SUV went out of control, crossed the centerline and struck a semi. A teammate of Caster's was driving a car in front of him and witnessed the accident. He thinks a tire blew on Caster's car causing the vehicle to go out of control. Regardless of the cause, another promising future  is gone and leaves family & friends grieving. There is no gaurauntee in this life and this is especially true in athletics. Normally it's an injury that will derail a "Can't miss" prospect but sometimes real life intrudes to our games and we are left to ponder the random chances that leave even the most carefully laid plans in tatters. His family & friends will gather for a memorial service today at Eck Stadium in Wichita. A memorial fund has been established at Home Federal Bank in Rochester and also at Wichita State University.

The Packers take on the Colts tonight. Ryan Pickett says don't worry about the defense. Despite the injures and struggles so far, he believes they will be fine. I asked Mike McCarthy this week about the brouhaha between Tom Brady and Rex Ryan of the Jets. Do players and teams feel the same animosity that seemed to exist years ago? Do players and coaches 'hate' other teams? He said it does exist and that "there are organizations that don't respect other organizations". He didnt mention any names but you have to wonder who he was talking about.

High School football gets under way tonight. I'll have Wausau East hosting Kingsford Michigan at Thom Field. You can hear the game on Foxsports1390WRIG at 645. We will also make our high school broadcasts available as podcasts this year. We will be posting them quarter by quarter on Foxsports1390.com and wsau.com. By the way, the nickname of the Kingsford team is the Flivvers...ask your grandpa what a flivver is.

Songs of the Day  (from my I-pod)

The Girls Can't Help It-Journey (1986) Steve Perry is taking more control of the band at this point as they slide into more power ballads and fewer rockers.

Girls From Ohio-Outlaws (1976) one of the more melodic of the southern rock bands...this Florida outfit combined the triple guitar  attack and three & four part harmonies. A good example of 70's "country-rock"