Funding A Shot Clock For Wisconsin High School Basketball

The Final Four is this weekend, and you've got to admit that the speed of the game is, by and large, amazing. That's thanks to the three-point shot and the shot clock -- those of us that are a of a certain age will recall the boring games that North Carolina's four-corner (lack of) offense brought us.

Thank the basketball gods for the shot clock.

It's just a matter of time before high school basketball in Wisconsin sees the addition of a shot clock.

Coaches are all for it, many other states already have moved that direction. It would seem the cost factor to various school districts big and small might be the major obstacle.

There's a simple solution -- sponsorship.

Would it be a slam-dunk public relations move for the Milwaukee Bucks to step up and fund this for the 529 teams, schools that range in enrollment from 2,529 down to 29. Of the 529 teams, 38 play an independent schedule while the rest find home in 62 conferences (some of which are divided into two or three divisions).

There are other corporate possibilities as well, and perhaps a "team effort" from one or many would make sense. Candidates based in the state, or with state ties, could include Kwik-Trip, American Family Insurance, Rural Insurance, Johnsonville, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Palmero's, Orv's, Jack's or Tombstone.

Hell, I would even throw the Green Bay Packers into the mix, based on their state-wide support and recognition. Or how about a Bucks-Packers-Brewers combo for funding the effort?

Granted, I don't have cost figures on what it would take to put shot clocks in every high school gym in Wisconsin. But I'm sure that sponsorship would help ease the burden for most school districts.

And it makes more sense to bring in a state-based business as opposed to the typical Coke/Pepsi backing.

Brewers Off To Hot Start

Made my annual pilgrimage to Milwaukee for the Brewers' home opener. I think this was my 28th (posting a record of 17-11)...probably the 27th in a row.

Gotta say this was probably the most exciting, and memorable, home opener in my experience. From Christian Yelich and his three-run home run to that incredible game-saving catch from Lorenzo Cain, it was a great day for the crowd of 45,304. Miller's capacity is 41,900 -- so another GREAT day for attendance.

What stood out to me more than Cain's catch was his exuberance, his sheer joy, afterwards, running towards Ryan Braun, hurling the ball towards the Miller Park roof, huge smile on his face. I love to see this group of players enjoying the game and each other. I'm not sure where that ball came down, if it ever did.

National projections for this edition have the defending NL Central champions winning 86.5 games. Last year, counting the one-game playoff to win the Central, the BrewCrew notched 96 wins -- I had projected an 89-73 record. This year, the pesky St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs are better. And while the Brewers improved their every-day lineup, their pitching remains a question -- especially in light of closer Corey Knebel being out for the season with Tommy John surgery.

I see Milwaukee's 89 wins giving the squad the NL Central title again. That everyday lineup should be good enough to get the Brewers to the World Series. After the club won 5-4 Sunday, taking the opening series from the Cardinals, 3 games to 1, I'm even more encouraged.

By the way, the Brewers will celebrate 50 years in Milwaukee next season -- though the team technically met that mark this year, as the Seattle Pilots entered the league in 1969 for a one season run before relocating to Milwaukee.