By Dave Begel Contributing Writer Published Mar 08, 2011 at 4:04 PM

Today's lesson, students, is about civic responsibility.

There are any number of things that we have in Milwaukee that are so unique and depend desperately on public support for their survival that deserve our attention.

Take First Stage Children's Theater, for example. It's one of the top children's theaters in the country and constantly working to raise money. Buy tickets or make a donation and it serves your civic responsibility.

Take the Betty Brinn Children's Museum. It's stressed by parking problems because of the closing of O'Donnell Park and it's one of only a few museums just for children in this country, a place that offers magic for kids that is rare and unique. Buy some tickets or make a donation, and it serves your civic responsibility.

Take Summerfest. The world's largest music festival. Some years it's better than others. If people don't go, because of weather or bad bands or whatever, they have less revenue to improve the next year. Going to Summerfest is fun, but it is also a little bit about serving your civic responsibility.

Now, take the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2002 they had a 56-106 record. The next year they jumped all the way to 68-94. Ticket sales slumped. But the Brewers sold civic responsibility and in 2004, despite a worse record, they sold 300,000 tickets more than the year before. Civic responsibility.

It is not any fault of their own that both these institutions are in need of increased support. It's the nature of the ebb and flow of life dependent on public support.

Now, let us consider our civic responsibility and the Milwaukee Bucks.

I know I'm letting myself open for criticism here, but only the faint of heart fear walking through the door to criticism. I know my usual suspects are going to rip me from top to bottom.

Well, bring it on.

We have one National Basketball Association team. Just one. We are one of the select cities in the country that has a major league basketball team.

There has been in the past, and will be in the future, pressure on this team to move to another city with a newer arena and a hungry and growing population. None of those criteria exists in Milwaukee.

This season, marked by such high hopes because of the excitement of last season and the series of off-season acquisitions, has been a dismal failure. It's not that they didn't try. They did live up to their motto of Work Hard, Play Hard. But injuries and other things conspired to make the team a disappointment.

That disappointment has led to fewer ticket sales. Fewer ticket sales mean less revenue.

The owner of the team, Senator Herb Kohl, is no dummy. He didn't get to be a multimillionaire by being stupid. When he makes an investment he wants to get a decent return. That's how rich guys get richer.

The Bucks will never rank up there as one of the best investments Kohl has ever made. He loses money every year. Because he's got so much losing money on the team doesn't drive him to the edge of collapse. But still.

People have tried to buy the team, but Kohl keeps saying no. He wants it to stay in Milwaukee. His civic responsibility.

And I think it's time, nearing the end of the season, that the rest of us in the Milwaukee area show the Bucks some love and buy a ticket to a game. You can get into a Bucks game for as little as 20 bucks. Watch for the sales and promotions.

It may not be your favorite investment. But the games are fun, wherever you sit. There's basketball, lots of fun, a very, very cute and sexy dance team, food that's bad for you but tastes very good, music, and, again, professional basketball.

You can't see that in every city in the United States. So say to yourself: "Self. I'd hate it if the Bucks left and we didn't have a team. It would be another step in a downward slide toward a Little League city. We'd never get another team. What the hell. I'll buy a ticket."

You'll meet your civic responsibility and feel good about it. You'll also have a good time. I promise.

Dave Begel Contributing Writer

With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.

He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.