And Now, On "As The Wheel Of Cheese Turns"...

God lord, can we please get MORE drama in Green Bay?

So, the Green Bay Packers were preparing for yesterday's opening round in the draft (rounds two, three and four today, the rest tomorrow) when BAM! long-time quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he just can't play in Green Bay any more and wants out.

Coincidence? I think not.

Things have been salty between the organization and their MVP quarterback ever since the team took a first-round shot on another quarterback, Jordan Love. Feeling disrespected (and how can you with the kind of money he's making?), Rodgers has pouted about it. Wants a contract extension, then doesn't, etc.

What better way to embarrass the Packers than to have this all blow just hours before the draft?

I thought we learned a lesson from the Brett Favre I'm-gonna-retire-no-I'm-not-yes-I-am fiasco.

Apparently not.

Come on already. Do you want to win Aaron? Then Green Bay is your best shot at doing so. Do the Packers want to win? Then Aaron Rodgers is your best quarterback to do so.

Settle your differences, boys, and play nice.

Keep in mind, Aaron, IF the team does trade you, it won't necessarily be to the team you want to go to.

Let's Get Back To Attending Sporting Events

Want to return to normal?

Want to go to a sporting event that actually has a full, rowdy house pulling for the home team? A full Camp Randall or Lambeau Field or American Family Field?

Want to see crowds at high school football games or small colleges this fall? At fall and winter sports in general?

There's an easy way to accomplish this.....

Get your damn shots!

It's not the typical sports take, but really, all this vaccine business really DOES impact the world of sports. If we want herd immunity and a return to something that resembles normal, then getting the shots is the right move, not just for you but for all of us.

Checking today's paper, it looks like just north of 42% of all of us here in Wisconsin have had at least one shot, and nearly 32% have had both. Doesn't mean any of us can let our guard down, though. And yes, I am as tired of all of this crap as anyone.

But we gotta do what we gotta do.

Stay safe! 

Opening Day 2021 Recap

 Well, we're three games into the 2021 MLB season. And after a memorable 6-5 come-from-behind Opening Day victory, the Milwaukee Brewers are scuffling along with a 1-2 record.

Being at Opening Day, being part of the rowdy crowd of 11,740, was amazing. Seemed so great to actually BE in the ballpark again.

Some thoughts on that game...

A PRE-RECORDED Sausage Race?!?! That was pretty lame. And also generated the loudest boos of the day.

MASKS WERE required in the stands, in the concourse, in line for food. Pretty much everywhere. Judging from the fans in our section, it's safe to say the crowds were probably 98% in compliance.

DISTANCED SEATING was well-executed by the Brewer organization. Seats were sold in pods of two to six, and unused seats were zip-tagged to prevent 'cheating'.

ON THE FIELD, we have to have better pace in games! Thursday's Opening Day tilt took 4 hours, 14 minutes to complete, for goodness sake! All that time to play 10 innings? And the extra inning started with a runner at second base (do like this wrinkle, by the way). But the game featured 13 pitchers, 26 walks (17 issued by Milwaukee pitchers alone!) and 22 hits. 

Come on, MLB, pick it up a little! Saturday's "old school" game, a 2-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins in a pitcher's duel, only went 2:36! But then, when there's only three total walks, that makes a difference.

WITH THE SMALLER crowds, getting to the parking lot, entering AmFam Field, and getting out of the parking lot after the game was a snap. Waits in line for food were not that big a deal, either.

An Opening Day Like No Other

 The Milwaukee Brewers have their home opener on Thursday, their 51st season. It's no April Fools! Actual in-person baseball is back!

There was going to be a LOT of celebrating in 2020 for that magical 50th Anniversary season. Covid-19 got in the way of that, and pretty much every thing else.

I've been to probably 35 home openers. And after scoring tickets to join the "Chosen 12,000" for this year's game, it will be the 26th attended with my oldest son at my side. Doesn't get any better than that.

But this will be a home opener like no other, as the Brewers sent out an email of more don'ts than do's for the 1:10 p.m. game with the Minnesota Twins.

No Tailgating is the one that leaps off the page. How weird will it be to do the walk up to Miller .. er, AmFam Field without the scent of burning charcoal, burgers and brats in the air? No carry in food (there goes my stable, as I have always taken in peanuts to snack on). In fact, each fan is only allowed to bring in one unopened plastic bottle of water, soda or juice.

No cash transactions in the ballpark -- any food or souvenir purchase will be done with credit, debit or digital wallet payments.

Thankfully, the roof will be closed for the game. Initial contacts from the Brewers had indicated it would be open for health protocols, but with the temperatures not hitting 40, I'm thrilled they changed their minds.

All the regulations in the world won't taint this experience for me. Geaux Brewers!