导出博客文章MADISON, Wis. Robert Parish Jersey . -- Wisconsin cornerback Sojourn Shelton jogged out to practice last season and heard the unmistakable rasp of Rick Ross rapping over a pounding bass through the stereo system. This scene would not normally have given Shelton reason to pause. But when he discovered the orchestrator of the playlist was none other than Badgers head coach Paul Chryst, he couldnt believe what he was hearing.We came in one day, and he had it blasting, Shelton said. He knew the artist, and I was like, Wait, what?Few social circles exist in which Chryst wouldnt be considered tragically unhip. His noncontroversial press conferences, placid sideline disposition and general proclivity toward wearing dad crewnecks during games make him easy fodder for Twitter memes ironically juxtaposing Chryst with coolness -- not that he would care while buried in football preparations. Chryst doesnt even own a Twitter account.But what Chryst does possess is an innate ability to connect with players behind the scenes, despite what can seem like a cultural and generational gap as wide as the Wisconsin River. Those relationships, in part, have helped him quietly lead Wisconsin to the Big Ten championship game against Penn State on Saturday and, improbably, to the cusp of the College Football Playoff.Players say the 51-year-old country music-lover, who has entered national coach of the year discussions, routinely uses song lyrics and movie quotes to provide inspiration and bring the Badgers closer together. Sometimes, he even surprises his players.He liked Young Jeezy before we talked to him, running back Dare Ogunbowale said. A lot of the Florida guys like Rick Ross, so hes become keen to Rick Ross music. Its really just anything that we like to listen to.Chrysts ever-expanding musical knowledge base begins before practice, when the entire team meets at 1:30. He picks a different player each day, based on their assigned seating arrangement, to provide a quote to the team. That player is then given the opportunity to pick the Badgers first song during practice warm-ups. It is not uncommon for a player to select a hip-hop lyric and then choose the corresponding song.The reason for it is this is their team, and they get an opportunity to speak whatever is on their mind that day, Chryst said. And I think its one way that we can learn more about each other, whether its what you choose to share in speaking to them or a song that you want to share with them. Theres thought that goes into it by them. I think its a way for everyone to connect. Its also a platform for them to have in front of their team.Chryst recently listed country musician Phil Vassar as his favorite artist. Kenny Chesney ranks high on his iPod catalog as well. But he loves learning from players about new words or rap artists and sharing his wisdom with his three college-aged kids. Players say they have introduced him to the likes of Tupac, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz and Future.Hell say, OK, I might add that to my playlist, Wisconsin receiver Rob Wheelwright said. I feel like he does a great job of getting to know each player, seeing what they like or getting hip to our new generation.Added Shelton: When we do pick hip-hop songs, he asks, What is this song? If hes feeling it, you can tell because hell take out his pad and write the song down. Coach Chryst has grown to like all types of genres. Its just cool to be around him.That doesnt mean Chryst always understands what is being said. He thought one rap song by YC featuring Future, entitled Racks on Racks, sounded like red zone when repeated quickly. So he made it the teams unofficial red zone drill song.We let him have that, Wisconsin center Michael Deiter said. Thats his thing.When things come on, sometimes you can tell he has absolutely no idea what it is thats being played or what words are being said, receiver Jazz Peavy said. You see him bobbing his head sometimes and things like that. When country songs are on, hes always trying to get in a groove. He tries to get us to listen to the country side, the guys who dont. I dont think he likes some of the music that we pick.As in any strong relationship, there is give-and-take between Chryst and his players, who appreciate his willingness to accept their musical stylings. Most Fridays, Chryst picks a country song for the Badgers practice playlist. Chryst isnt afraid to cite movies and songs that existed before his players were born, with a dry sense of humor that can occasionally be difficult to spot.During his season-opening news conference in August 2015, Chryst was asked how Badgers players were adjusting to a new coaching staff. He wound up subtly referencing a Clark Griswold quote from the 1983 movie National Lampoons Vacation.I think theyre getting the idea that its a great time of the year, he said. Its the most fun theyll ever have. He stopped and laughed. Were on a quest, a quest for fun.He always used to say were on a quest for fun, like they are in the movie, said former Badgers quarterback Scott Tolzien, now a member of the Indianapolis Colts, who played under Chryst when he was Wisconsins offensive coordinator. What he meant by that, along with getting a laugh out of us, was its about the process and its about the journey.Chrysts oldest daughter, Katy, said her dad likes to find the meaning in song lyrics and movie quotes before offering them to players. He has regularly applied lyrics to the song He Lives In You from The Lion King 2.He shared that with me, and then he shared that with the football players, Katy said. For the football players, hell tell the quarterbacks, Youre playing for the quarterbacks that have been playing for years here.If he was talking to Alex Hornibrook, hed be telling Alex, You have Russell Wilson, all these quarterbacks living in you that have the legacy of Wisconsin. Hell take a song thats completely random, like a Disney song, and hell make that a life lesson.Chryst might not be the hippest person to walk the earth. But his natural warmth, compassion and curiosity have allowed him to quickly build trust with players and attain a 20-5 record in two seasons with the Badgers. That in itself, players say, is pretty cool.He definitely tries to stay with the times, Ogunbowale said. Its kind of funny just the difference in taste in music. We dont have to try to keep him hip. He wants to be into the pop culture and stuff like that on his own. Marcus Smart Jersey . 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PHOENIX -- The New York Mets picked things up after manager Terry Collins lit into them Thursday afternoon.Maybe it is Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hales turn.New York left-hander Steven Matz took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of a 5-1 victory over San Diego on Sunday, marking the first time the Mets had won consecutive games before the All-Star break, July 6-7 against Miami and Washington.After sweeping the Mets to draw Collins ire early in the week, the Diamondbacks lost the final three contests of the six-game road trip in Boston by a combined score of 31-9. The Red Sox finished it off with a 16-2 victory over Zack Greinke on Sunday, as Mookie Betts had three homers -- one off Greinke in each of the first two innings -- and Dustin Pedroia had five hits.It was one of those days, Hale told reporters. Weve all been there. Weve all been on the good side. Weve all been on the bad side. Its a tough day. Its a tough day for the pitching staff. Its one of those days you deal with. Thats our ace, our No. 1 guy. They got him. We win as a team, we lose as a team. Today was a tough one.The Mets and Diamondbacks will begin a three-game series Monday at Arizona, a quick turnaround after the Tuesday-Thursday series in Citi Field last week.Collins challenged the Mets effort after they were outscored 17-5 in the series. Arizona trailed in only one of the 27 innings, thats when the Mets scored in the first inning of the series opener.I know one thing -- theres got to be a passion to come and play, Collins told reporters after the Diamondbacks finished the sweep in a 9-0 shutout Thursday behind rookie right-hander Braden Shipley.You owe a responsibility to our fan base, the organization and yourself to respect this game to come out and grind it out. ... Youre going to get beat and youre going to get beat bad sometimes. But you need to pick yourselves up and move on. ... Starting (Monday), were going to get after it. AAnd those who dont want to get after it, I will find somebody else who does, because in Las Vegas theres a whole clubhouse filled with guys who want to sit in this room. Dennis Johnson Jersey. Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray will face right-hander Bartolo Colon in the first game of the series Monday, a rematch of Arizonas 3-2, 12-inning victory last Wednesday and the next start for each. Ray gave up three hits with no walks in seven scoreless innings in that one. He did not walk a batter, a career first in games he had pitched into the seventh.Colon gave up only one run, that coming after Jean Segura stole second base in the third inning, took third on a throwing error by the catcher and scored on Paul Goldschmidts single.Colon is attempting to become the 18th pitcher in major league history and the third this season to beat all 30 teams. The D-backs are the only team he has not beaten in a career that began in 1997. Cubs right-hander John Lackey and Nationals right-handed Max Scherzer did it this season. Colon is 0-1 with a 3.20 ERA in three career starts against the Diamondbacks.Arizona stole 13 bases in 15 attempts in the series, tied for the third-most in the majors in a three-gamer series since the Diamondbacks began play in 1998. Only Miami (17, 2000) and Texas (14, 2010) had more.The Diamondbacks got three quality starts in the Mets series, the first time that had happened since they had four quality starts in a four-game sweep at Philadelphia from June 17-20.Arizona starters gave up 23 runs (17 earned) in 8 2/3 innings against Boston, and left-hander Patrick Corbin was moved to the bullpen after giving up eight runs (four earned) Friday. Corbin (4-12) leads the majors in losses and earned runs (82) in his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2014 season. ' ' '