I was one excited sports fan Saturday…knowing I was about to begin two straight afternoons on the couch watching sports on a big screen HD TV.   In addition, with my lovely fiancee out of town, I was once again supreme dictator of the remote control–which meant non-stop flipping between channels without retribution.

Saturday started well enough, as Wisconsin got out to a 19-0 halftime lead at Michigan.   I held off on any cell phone or text message taunting of Wolverines fan Doug Michaels. knowing full well that there was still another half of football to play.  Michigan looked as offensively inept as any college football team I’d ever seen,  and kept giving the Badgers ridiculously good field position–yet Wisconsin had only cashed in those gifts for 19 points.

During timeouts and breaks in the action, I’d flip over to the Cubs-Brewers game at Miller Park, and things were not going well for the home team.  Waching Milwaukee hitters flail away at the lollypop offerings of Chicago starter Ted Lilly, reminded me of a quote from former Twin Gary Gaetti: "It’s hard to field the ball with both hands wrapped around your throat."  Having tried to play the game of baseball in such a fashion, I know all too well the feeling–whether it’s fielding, hitting, throwing…whatever. 

So…I switched back to the Badgers…just in time to draw the conclusion that Michigan’s offensive ineptitude must be contagious.  Normally, I’m a fan of what UW offensive coordinator Paul Chryst does, but I began to wonder, when Wisconsin became stagnant right around the time that Michigan woke up with two touchdowns.   Still, even with the momentum meter pointing the opposite way, the Badgers had a 19-14 lead.   At this point, I prayed for a return to Barry Alvarez-style grind it out football: pound away with the running game, try to win the field position battle, and hang on with the defense.   So what’s Chryst calling on the Badgers first play after Michigan’s second touchdown?  A slant pattern left!  I screamed at the TV for Allan Evridge not to throw the ball, but my plea from my lower level rec room in Eau Claire was not heard all the way in Ann Arbor.   It would have been bad enough for Evridge to throw into double or triple coverage…but there were four blue winged helmets surrounding the Wisconsin receiver, and two more Michiganders in the vicinity.   Touchdown Michigan….which meant another rendition of "Hail To The Victors" by the Michigan band–which seemingly, only knows two songs: that one, and the Star-Spangled Banner.

With that game going down the tubes, I needed to see what the Brewers were doing.  Shock of all shocks, they’ve begun to rally.  Now I’m flipping channels after every play in the football game and after every pitch in the baseball game.  Right around the time Steven Threet, the lead-footed Michigan quarterback broke loose on a long run, I had a sinking feeling him my stomach….which only got worse when I flipped to the Brewers game, and saw Kosuke Fukudome of the Cubs circling the bases after a 2-run 9th inning homer…it wasn’t over in Yogi Berra terms, but it was over.

Back to the Badgers…at that point, I’m reminded again about the difference between being a working member of the media and being a non-working member of the media.  The former may be disappointed that the team isn’t doing well, but win or lose, there’s a job to do and a deadline to meet.  The latter can only curse and plead….

Maybe the pleading helped.  Passes from Allan Evridge actually started winding up in the hands of guys wearing white jerseys.  An amazing pitch and catch to David Gilreath with time running out got the Badgers within 2 points.  I danced on the sofa when the 2-point conversion worked….then fell to the floor when a penalty flag hit the field.   Illegal man downfield?  From the 2 1/2 yard line?  How in the world does that happen?   The Badgers take another shot, the Evridge pass is incomplete and the game ends.   I am furious, especially since I knew a text message from Doug Michaels was going to be on its way…at 7:09 PM, it arrived: "HAIL 2 THE VICTORS!"

After all that, I wasn’t optimistic when Sunday started.  Some queasy feeling inside was telling me this was going to be one of the worst sports weekends in Wisconsin’s recent memory.   Once again, I rode the football roller coaster: up when an Aaron Rodgers TD pass gave the Packers a 1st-quarter lead, down when Ryan Grant coughed up the football and it wound up as a Bucs touchdown.   

My first flip to the Brewers game was great timing (sarcasm) –a ground ball through Prince Fielder kept an inning going, and the Cubs wound up scoring.   Bad defense by Milwaukee….combined with a non-existent offense…once again, the Brewers look like they’re swinging 60-ounce bats…good thing Sabathia is keeping Milwaukee in the game.   

Back to the NFL.   Rodgers scrambles, lunges forward.   Rodgers throws a TD pass and then runs off the field in obvious pain…eventually, there’s a replay which showed the aforementioned scrambling and lunging led to some sort of a right shoulder injury.   I cringe, mainly because I know at that moment, the Rodgers-McCarthy-Thompson haters and Favre lovers are spewing venom posting on Packers message boards.   Rodgers returns, takes a vicious blind-side hit and tosses another interception.    Game over.

I flipped back to the Brewers, expecting more doom.  Except, Milwaukee finds a way to load the bases in the 7th inning, and scores the tying run on a walk.  I began to pace.   WIll this team get a clutch hit?  No, a ground ball ends the inning.

C-C Sabathia pitches a scoreless 8th.   In New York, former Brewer Wes Helms hits a homer to put the Marlins ahead of the Mets.  Maybe it’s happening.   Maybe not…Dale Sveum doesn’t pinch hit for Sabathia in the bottom of the inning.  One out.   Good thing the Brewers fired Ned Yost, to implement that strategy.  But then, Ray Durham singles.   Ryan Braun comes to the plate…promptly hits a 2-run homer.  It is happening…great strategy, Sveum.   Forget the bullpen, let the big lefty win it.   He does.  The Brewers are playoff-bound.  My only regret is that I didn’t hear the Bob Uecker call of the Braun HR and the game ending double play on the radio–but later that night, I found the audio clips online, and only listened to them about five or six times.

I have no grand conclusions from this weekend, no great insight as to what’s next for the Badgers, Packers, and Brewers.   All I know is, this past weekend there was only a certain amount of sports karma for the teams of this state….and it sure seems like it all went to the Milwaukee Brewers.

It was about time.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports

Ned Yost is now a former Brewers manager…the classic fall guy for a team that, since September rolled around, has been playing itself out of a spot in the playoffs.

Milwaukee management had seen enough after a four-game sweep in Philadelphia, which brought the Brewers’ September record to 3-11.   Third base coach Dale Sveum becomes the interim manager, with Robin Yount rejoining the club as bench coach, while Yost ally Ted Simmons is reassigned within the organization.

The reality could be that Yost was the right guy to manage the Brewers as Milwaukee was making progress toward becoming a playoff-contending team, but the wrong guy to actually get them to the postseason.   Or, there could be an alternate reality: owner Mark Attanasio is simply pushing the panic button, and will quickly find out that no one, not even a fiery guy like Lou Pineiella or a genius like Tony LaRussa would be able to snap the Brewers out of their recent funk.  Trading for CC Sabathia paid instant dividends, and is still paying off….who knows what will happen in the wake of the Yost firing.

Right now, it’s in the hands of the players.   Will a managerial firing get hitters to swing at better pitches?  Will the bench presence of Brewers legend Robin Yount miraculously turn Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan into productive pitchers?

We’ll find out over the next twelve games.  Personally, I think it’s a move that if it were going to be made, should have been made after the season.  Baseball is one of those games that often, the harder you try to do something, the worse you perform.   

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports

For the past few seasons, we in the News 18 Sports department have had a friendly game of seeing who is the best prognosticator of the high school games we cover Friday nights on Sports Overtime.  That’s always been an in-house competition–until now.

Before we get to this week’s picks, we’ll recap the season so far.   Stephen Kelley got off to a quick start in week one, correctly selecting the winner in eight of the nine games on the board.   Myself, Bill Port, and Lee DeJarlais were all 6-3, with Demented Brewers Fan Tim Schultz (our talented taker of phone calls) 5-4.    In week two, Stephen stroked his goatee, but it may as well have been his "thought beard," because he went a stellar 10-1, for an 18-2 overall record.   I tried to be the contrarian last week, in hopes of vaulting into first place…and that strategy didn’t work.  Schultz was home moping over the plight of the Brewers, and didn’t make picks–so he’s in last place.  UWEC student and sports Intern Rob Kadonsky filled in for the missing Schultz, and also went 10-1…although there are allegations he merely copied Stephen’s picks.  I find that hard to believe–college kids don’t copy, do they?

Here are the current standings:

STEPHEN KELLEY: 18-2

BILL PORT: 15-5

LEE DEJARLAIS: 14-6

BOB BRADOVICH: 12-8

ROB KADONSKY: 10-1

TIM SCHULTZ: 5-4

And, here are the games we’re covering this week:

MENOMONIE VS. EAU CLAIRE NORTH

HUDSON VS. CHIPPEWA FALLS

FALL CREEK VS. COLBY

STANLEY-BOYD VS. SPENCER/MARSHFIELD COLUMBUS

CADOTT VS. ALTOONA

GILMAN VS. OWEN-WITHEE

AUGUSTA VS. THORP

SPRING VALLEY VS. MONDOVI

ST. CROIX CENTRAL VS. COLFAX

BOYCEVILLE VS. ELK MOUND

SOMERSET VS. DURAND

And, without further adieu, our picks:

BRADO: Menomonie, Chi-Hi, Colby, Stanley-Boyd, Altoona, Owen-Withee, Thorp, Mondovi, SCC, Elk Mound, Somerset

BILL: Menomonie, Chi-Hi, Colby, Stanley-Boyd, Altoona, Owen-Withee, Thorp, Mondovi, SCC, Elk Mound, Somerset

STEPHEN: Menomonie, Chi-Hi, Colby, Stanley-Boyd, Altoona, Owen-Withee, Thorp, Mondovi, SCC, Elk Mound, Somerset

LEE: Menomonie, Hudson, Colby, Stanley-Boyd, Altoona, Owen-Withee, Thorp, Spring Valley, SCC, Elk Mound, Somerset

SCHULTZ: Menomonie, Hudson, Colby, Stanley-Boyd, Altoona, Owen-Withee, Thorp, Spring Valley, SCC, Elk Mound, Somerset

ROB: Menomonie, Chi-Hi, Colby, Stanley-Boyd, Altoona, Owen-Withee, Thorp, Mondovi, SCC, Elk Mound, Somerset

We’ll check back in after the show to see who’s crowing about their prognosticating prowess.

Posted under Hometown Sports

Football fans in Wisconsin have to feel better now about the quarterback situations for the state’s Division 1 college team and its NFL team, respectively.

After one of the most turbulent offseasons in the history of the Packers, the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay began Monday night with Rodgers operating at an extremely efficient level: completing 18-of-22 passes,  for 178 yards and a touchdown.   Oh by the way, Rodgers’ single-game completion percentage of 81.8% is 4th best in Packers history…the great Brett Favre only posted one better percentage in his 16 seasons as the starter.  Beyond the passing numbers, Rodgers’ mobility helped keep drives alive: 8 carries, 35 yards, and 1 rushing touchdown. 

Against the Vikings, Aaron Rodgers showed off his good feet and a very strong arm–but his best quality may be his ability to be unfazed by what’s going on around him, on the field and off.  The seemingly unflappable Rodgers may have felt the pressure of replacing the legendary Favre, but he’s handled his end of a volatile situation with a lot of class.   Football is all about production, and while Favre showed he can still still be an effective NFL QB at the age of 38 (going on 39), Rodgers outdid Favre statistically…for one week, anyway.

The "other" #4, Allan Evridge of the Badgers, one week after doing very little other than handing off the football, acquitted himself nicely in a 51-14 drubbing of Marshall, completing 17-26 passes for 308 yards and 1 touchdown.  Evridge has shown very good leadership skills as the Wisconsin QB.  He may not have the quick feet of his predecessor, Tyler Donovan, but Evridge can tuck the ball and run effectively, while his arm strength and accuracy look as good as anyone who’s led the Badgers offense in recent memory.   

Both QB’s face tough road tests this week.  The UW heads to a very difficult road environment at Fresno State, while the Packers play at Detroit…and the Lions will be smarting after a week one debacle at Atlanta. 

But for now, it’s a good time to be a QB in WI.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports

It’s a rare September here at News 18…for the first time since I’ve been in Eau Claire (I arrived in September, 1996) I have to account for Brewers coverage in our daily sportscasts.

Every other September, the Brewers have been an afterthought…once the high school, college, and pro football seasons kicked off, baseball in Milwaukee had been relegated to a mention, perhaps a scoreboard, but not extensive highlights and postgame reaction.  Things have certainly changed.

After seasons of futility, when the franchise was barely competitive, the Brewers are now a factor in the National League, thanks to an increased payroll (courtesy of owner Mark Attanasio), and sound personnel decisions by general manager Doug Melvin and his staff.   As it stands, the Brewers are in line for their first playoff appearance since 1982.      

Still, plenty can happen over the remaining 23 games of the regular season.   Just this past Sunday, I was ready to proclaim Milwaukee as a lock for the postseason after a sweep in Pittsburgh…but then the Brewers returned to Miller Park and dropped three straight to the Mets.   I like the Brewers’ chances, but decades of missing the playoffs tends to make one a skeptic.  Sure, Jeff Suppan and Dave Bush pitched well through August, but I’m still not convinced they can keep that up in September.    Can CC Sabathia keep winning?  Will Ben Sheets stay healthy?  Can this team play consistent defense?  Will I ever stop hyperventilating when relievers Guillermo Mota and Eric Gagne take the mound?

There are three possible outcomes: Milwaukee overtakes Chicago and wins the NL Central, the Brewers stay where they are and grab the wild card spot, or the Crew tanks it and winds up on the outside looking in.    Whatever happens, at least there’s something for Brewers fans to look forward to this September: meaningful games…finally.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports

HIGH SCHOOL: Menomonie losing its opener at Marshfield wasn’t that much of a surprise–it was the fact the Indians lost a 15-0 2nd quarter lead by giving up 23 unanswered points.  Menomonie head coach Joe LaBuda had been 19-0 in season openers with the Indians prior to that game.  You wonder just how motivated he’ll have his team for its home opener Friday night with a solid Wausau West club.  Don’t forget, the Warriors went to Chippewa Falls in the 2007 playoffs and beat the Cardinals in a Division 1, Level 1 playoff game.   West has most of its line and two good running backs returning from that team.  However, unless we’ve entered the bizarro world of local HS football, there’s no way I see Menomonie falling to 0-2.   

The three Eau Claire schools will return home for games this week.  Memorial and North will switch opponents, with the 0-1 Old Abes hosting La Crosse Logan Friday night, while the 0-1 Huskies have a rare Saturday morning kickoff at Carson Park against La Crosse Central.  After that, 1-0 Regis will take the turf for a game against 0-1 Altoona.   The Railroaders played Stanley-Boyd very tough for one half before the Orioles ground out a win.  There will be wins this season for the Eau Claire schools…but just not this week.

One of the better matchups this week will be when Cloverbelt favorite Colby goes to Osseo-Fairchild, an impressive 48-0 winner at Spencer/Marshfield Columbus in week one.   Also in that conference, look for both Stanley-Boyd and Fall Creek to improve to 2-0 with home wins.

Local rivalry games really spice up the non-conference portion of the schedule, and this week we have three very good ones: Durand at Mondovi, Baldwin-Woodville at St. Croix Central, as well as Elmwood vs. Spring Valley (which includes a great individual matchup between the Raiders’ Steven Pax and the Cardinals’ Tyler Bosshart).   If I had to pick winners, I’ll go with Mondovi, B-W, and Elmwood.

Westby should offer defending Division 7 state champ Eleva-Strum a tougher challenge than the Cardinals faced last week at Tri-County, but E-S hasn’t lost a home game in a while and probably won’t this week.

Another game that jumps off the schedule has perennial power Mosinee making the trip to Bloomer–a very tough test for John Post’s 1-0 Blackhawks.   Last week Bloomer blew out Colfax 48-0, as the Blackhawks scored an amazing three touchdowns on three consecutive offensive plays.   I’ll be a Chippewa Valley homer and take Bloomer in this one.

What’ll happen this week?  Here’s an easy prediction: the News 18 Sports Team will be all over the area covering the biggest games and putting together the most exciting highlights…so watch us do our thing during Sports Overtime, Friday at 10:00 P.M.

COLLEGE:  Beating Akron 38-17 was a good start for the Wisconsin football team.  Sure, the score certainly could have been much more lopsided, but the Badgers coaching staff shouldn’t have to worry about their guys being overconfident heading into a game with what figures to be a tougher opponent in Marshall.  Wisconsin won’t have to alter the game plan very much this week…look for another game in which the Badgers pound away with their road-grading offensive line opening holes for running backs P.J. Hill, Zach Brown and John Clay.   I saw enough good things out of Allan Evridge to feel confident about the 1st-year QB, but I’m concerned about a couple of decisions, one of which was an end zone interception.    Defensively, the Badgers are a work in progress…we’ll see how much improvement happens from the first game to the second.   Marshall may score and roll up some yardage… but the Thundering Herd won’t win.   I’ll say: Wisconsin 31, Marshall 14.

-BOB BRADOVICH

Posted under Hometown Sports