There are so many things on my mind that I can't keep this to just one subject.

So here we go with hockey, The Gravedigger, the worst break you can imagine and a Bill Clinton issue for the Brewers.

Let's start with Gilbert Brown, the Gravedigger. Let it be said that I love Gilbert. I loved him when he was a player. I loved the Gilbert burger at Burger King. But there is now an interesting comparison going on between Gilbert and Mark Tauscher, the right tackle for the Packers.

Both are regular guests on sports talk radio after Packer games. Gilbert joins Peter Brown on WSSP on Monday and Tauscher joins the Homer on WAUK on Tuesday. And to say I have been flabbergasted is an understatement.

Somebody stuck Gilbert with Peter Brown, who does an outstanding job of trying to get the former star to say something meaningful. But I think it's about 50-50 whether Gilbert even saw the game. I actually feel a bit sorry for Brown because he works so hard to turn this into something that means something. But Gilbert just isn't up to the task.

Then take a listen to Tauscher. He's very smart, funny and incredibly honest. This week he said one of the biggest problems is that this team doesn't have any confidence that it can play well. When was the last time you heard a football player admit to a weakness? It's easy for The Homer, who just has to ask a leading question or two and let Tauscher run with it. Tauscher may be the most interesting Packers player since James Lofton.

Now for hockey and the Milwaukee Admirals... All I have to do is mention hockey and the Admirals in a column and the wolves come out. They think I'm nuts. I got a very thoughtful response from a guy who I really respect, Jon Greenberg, the president of the team. And so (let's hear a roll of drums and a howl of trumpets) I'm going to a hockey game. I haven't figured out if I am going as a member of the media or just buy a ticket and go. A report will follow.

Talk about your bad breaks...

The ankle injury to Andrew Bogut has thrown a wet blanket over what promised to be about the only bright spot in the sports galaxy in this town. Good basketball teams, more than just about any other sport, depend of teamwork, familiarity and intimacy. You need time playing together to be good. With the new additions this year, Charlie Villanueva, Steve Blake, Brian Skinner, the Bucks seemed poised to make some noise. But, they say six to eight weeks for Bogut. That probably means two or three months. Big men heal more slowly than small men do. And, we will be well into 2007 before the Bucks can even start working with the lineup they hope will be their future. I like Dan Gadzuric, but he's, well, Dan Gadzuric.

And finally let's all remember Bill Clinton. The issue was what the meaning of "is" is. That word kept the world wrapped up for months. I was reminded of the meaning of words when I heard the Milwaukee Brewers need to "tweak" their roster for next season. And I wonder what the meaning of "tweak" is.

The definition in the dictionary is to "make usually small adjustments." Hmmmmm. This is a team that finished seven games below .500. If they think "tweak" is all they must do then they are counting on lots of things happening. All of the hurt players will come back and stay healthy. All of the young players will actually improve, even though a couple of them didn't play enough last year to really get better. The pitching staff will become more reliable than it has ever been. Geoff Jenkins and Corey Hart will be solid outfielders and Bill Hall will move into left field. Damian Miller will reduce his age and raise his batting average. If all of those things don't happen, it's going to take more than a "tweak."

3 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on Oct. 14, 2006 at 12:05 a.m. (report)

Thomas said: I want the Brewers to do more than tweak things. They need to add some big bats. Getting everyone healthy again would help too.

Posted by OMCreader on Oct. 13, 2006 at 2:02 p.m. (report)

bucksfan said: i think you will be wrong about bogut. i get the feeling he will hurry back. he's not one of those guys who malingers. you may eat your words when he gets back early

Posted by OMCreader on Oct. 13, 2006 at 9:13 a.m. (report)

John Sieger said: Is just is, as in "This column is is very entertaining." Glad you're back. John