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Did you hear the one about the quarterback who... |
| By Drew Olson Senior Editor E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Drew Olson |
Welcome to Saturday Scorecard, where we wrestle with the important questions of the day, such as: What the hell happened to July? Seriously - you go out to fetch a new propane tank for some Fourth of July grilling and the next thing you know training camp is kicking off and the back-to-school signs are out.
The clock is ticking, so let's get to it.
Enough already: The Packers / Brett Favre saga may be headed for a merciful end this weekend. Or not. Conventional wisdom holds that the Packers will trade the quarterback to the New York Jets or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Then again, the guy might just proclaim that he wants to stay a Packer and dare the organization to go through with its plan to make him a backup.
The whole thing is fascinating, frustrating and ultimately fatiguing. It's like watching the "World Series of Poker" in real time, without the flashy edits or those cool cameras / graphics that let you know what cards each player is holding.
Fly on the wall: Remember when Packers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters that he considered an offer from HBO to allow the "Hard Knocks" people to film things behind the scenes during training camp?
How cool would it have been if this had been the year?
Brewer fever: Everybody is buzzing about the Brewers these days, with good reason. That 7-0 trip to open the second half was historic and set the stage for the huge showdown next week when the Cubs come to Miller Park.
For those who weren't around back for the hysteria in 1982, here are five ways to know that the local baseball team is hot.
1. Seller's market: Tickets for this homestand - and the rest of the season - are beyond scarce. "I've never seen it like this," said a salesman friend who uses tickets to reward clients. "I'm getting crushed with people who want tickets and there just aren't any out there."
2. Fast friends: While watching the post-game show Thursday night at Mo's Irish Pub - the Downtown location - our group was visited by a stranger who came in from outside and was not aware of Ryan Braun's ninth-inning homer. "Did the Brewers win?" he asked. Informed that they had, the guy demanded a high five. Things like that happen all the time when your team is good. People from across different social spectrums discover they have common ground. The pennant race, which really won't heat up for another five or six weeks, is like having a Packers game every day.
3. Location, location, location: You expect to hear Brewers talk at a sports bar, the barbershop or a hardware store. When you start hearing it at unusual places, like church, the dentist's office and symphony concerts, you know your team is good.
4. Puff pieces: The local media has been a bit preoccupied with the Favre fiasco, but the Brewers will eventually rule the day and you'll see funky feature stories like "Which player is hottest?" (That ran in Phoenix when the Diamondbacks were in the World Series) and endless "fan on the street" stories and reporters standing outside the empty ballpark at all hours of the day and night.
5. Fashion statements: You're going to see a lot of Brewers merchandise near the entrance to your local department and discount stores. And you're going to see people going to great lengths to show their devotion to the team. That means face paint, homemade banners and a lot of kids named J.J., Rickie, Ryan and C.C.
Saving par: Other than the Brewers, virtually every even this summer has seen a decline in attendance due to the economy, gas prices, the weather or other factors. The U.S. Bank Championship didn't draw big crowds and could be in jeopardy if the title sponsor decides it can get better use of its promotional budget.
That would be a shame. Even though the tournament will never be a "big time" event when it's opposite the British Open, it is a great asset to the community and is worth preserving. If the PGA leaves or U.S. Bank pulls the plug, perhaps a Champions Tour or LPGA event could take its place.
Quick hits: I'm actually looking forward to the Summer Olympics, but don't really care about basketball. Is that un-American?... Doesn't it seem ridiculous that the Cubs make their first visit to Miller Park the same week that State Fair kicks into gear?... Watch for Windell Middlebrooks, the Miller High Life Delivery Man, to throw out the first pitch at the ballpark tonight... I asked Windell about the MillerCoors merger and he said "I think of them like the in-laws. We're sitting at the same table and we've got to get used to each other."... If you're worried about Miller Park becoming MillerCoors Park, all you have to do is think of the stadium in Denver. What are the odds that Coors Field will become MillerCoors Field?
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