The Hlog by Mike Hlas

Mike Hlas
Hi, I'm Gazette/TheGazette.com sports columnist Mike Hlas. This is the Hlog. We will meet here, discuss things, and then go forth in the world to implement our plans.

Blog Posts

Countdown460

In 2013, Iowa football is … No. 81?

And Iowa State is ... No. 92?

I kind of lost track of the Orlando Sentinel’s countdown of FBS football teams from 125 to 1 because, well, it’s a countdown from 125 to 1. That’s no slap at the Sentinel. Matt Murschel’s countdown is filled with good stuff. But once I learned 2013 Iowa opponent Western Michigan was parked at No. 106, [...]

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Aaron White and his team hope to make the next stretch, to the NCAA tourney (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

Summer of experience, experiments for Hawkeyes

Fran McCaffery will look at this, that, and the other thing on Hawkeyes' overseas trip 2

IOWA CITY — They’ll see London, they’ll see France, come November they’ll advance. It’s almost a cliche of college basketball that teams taking overseas trips in the summer are better for it in the winter. But there’s merit to it. How could there not be? The Iowa men’s basketball team seems to be on the [...]

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Podcast: Talking with Hawkeyes’ Fran McCaffery

Iowa's fourth-year head coach takes his team overseas this summer

Hawkeyes’ men’s basketball head man Fran McCaffery joined me to talk about his roots in basketball, his team’s upcoming trip to play six games in Europe and the overall state of his program. Below is the full audio of the interview in the newest episode of “The Mike Hlas Podcast.” You can subscribe to my [...]

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Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery gives a statement during an NIT press conference Monday, April 1, 2013 at the Marriott Marquis in New York. Iowa will take on Maryland in the semi-finals of the NIT tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden.  (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

Preview: Hlas interview with Iowa coach McCaffery

Full podcast with Hawkeyes' men's basketball coach to come Tuesday

Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery talked about the state of the Iowa program and his team’s upcoming trip to play six games in Europe. The full interview will be available Tuesday in an episode of “The Mike Hlas Podcast,” which is available for download on iTunes and Stitcher Radio. Watch the video above [...]

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Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker were playing partners at the 2012 Ryder Cup (Reuters)

Steve Stricker joins Zach Johnson’s C.R. golf event

PGA Tour winners Stanley, Wilson also in the ZJFC field

All you really have to say is Steve Stricker is coming to the Zach Johnson Foundation Classic, and golf fans will know the event has reeled in another marquee player. The ZJFC hasn’t lacked for name-players in its young history, with the likes of Davis Love III, Rickie Fowler and Stewart Cink among the several [...]

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Steven Ihm with a smile and a champion's cup

Prestigious win for Hawkeyes golfer Steven Ihm

Ihm joins a champions' list that includes Simpson, Fowler, Glover 1

Steven Ihm, a senior-to-be on the University of Iowa men’s golf team, claimed a prestigious triumph Sunday when he won the 60th-annual Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions in Johnstown, Pa. Ihm shot a final-round 67 for a 72-hole total of 8-under-par 272. Past winners of the Sunnehanna include U.S. Open champions Webb Simpson and Lucas [...]

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Zach Johnson takes a drop late in his first round of the U.S. Open (USA TODAY Sports)

Johnson criticizes USGA, criticism bounces back

PGA Tour standout not fond of U.S. Open setup or USGA 1

“Whiner” and “excuse-maker” have never been terms people have attached to the PGA Tour’s Zach Johnson. Like most of his peers, Johnson has hidden behind no one and pinned the blame on himself in times when he’s struggled on golf courses. But Friday, Johnson opened himself up for criticism after his own criticism of the [...]

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Paul Rhoads at the Cyclone Tailgate Tour stop in Cedar Rapids last month (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG)

Paul Rhoads was on the satellite Thursday

Rhoads talked pistol offense and more on SiriusXM

Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads was a guest on SiriusXM’s College Sports Nation Thursday with Jack Arute. Rhoads talked about his team, of course, saying he’s excited about using the pistol offense. He said he wants more of Iowa State’s rushing plays that are designed to gain 4 and 5 yards to pick up [...]

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Podcast: Former Hawkeye Ewen, now WWE wrestler

Ettore Ewen, now known as 'Big E Langston,' talks about life journey and playing career

WWE performer Big E Langston, who was a University of Iowa defensive tackle named Ettore Ewen in another life, guests on the latest Mike Hlas Podcast. “Big E” talks about how he went from an injury-shortened career with the Hawkeyes to success in the world of professional wrestling. He’ll be performing in Eastern Iowa on [...]

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Tim Duncan (Reuters)

The San Antonio Spurs and Me: A Love Story

Well, "love" is a bit of an overstatement 2

It occurred to me Tuesday night during Game 3 of the NBA finals that I have seen three San Antonio Spurs games in San Antonio, both at the Alamodome and at the Spurs’ current home, the AT&T Center. I guess I’d forgotten that. It’s not like I take vacation time and my money to fly [...]

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