As some of you might have read, I'm originally from Chicago. Before you click off this column though, understand that my folks saw the light early and moved to God's country in Wisconsin before I was 2-years-old.
I have maintained an intense interest in any sports rivalries between the Windy City and Milwaukee. I also detest the wind bags (that's why it's known as Windy City, you know) who treat Milwaukee as a northern suburb of their city.
So, let's establish early in this column The I-94 Rivalry Club. You can join simply by reading this column regularly. You might even want to leave a few commentaries yourself here and/or on a message board I've established on The Brew Crew Review (http://brewers.rivals.com). We'll make sure the Windy City bags get wind of them some way (since computers are beyond many of them.)
What's the status of the I-94 Rivalry these days? Well, the Bucks took the Bulls apart last week. Jerry Reinsdorf and Jerry Krause are showing they don't have a clue in the post M.J. and Phil Jackson era. Sources also say they are treating Jordan and Jackson like dirt, as if the two legends are the reasons the Bulls stink.
That shouldn't surprise anybody, since Reinsdorf has never been known for his class. So, the basketball version of the Rivalry is very one-sided to the north.
The Brewers also have a good chance to tilt the pavement toward Milwaukee in the baseball version of the Rivalry. The Cubs have been very active in the free agent and trading markets this off-season, but they primarily have signed has-beens and retreads.
Look for the Brewers and Cubs to play long, crazy games again this coming season, with Milwaukee coming out on top more often.
As for the White Sox, they built a winner last regular season, but then choked in post-season. It's just too bad they couldn't be in the same division as the Brewers, too.
The hockey Rivalry between the Admirals and Chicago Wolves has been a good one for a couple years. The Wolves have been a power in the IHL, but the Admirals always give them good games and often win the fights.
This season, the teams have split two games, with the Admirals winning, 4-2, and the Wolves taking the second game, 3-2.
The Arena Football League expanded to Chicago for this coming season. Chicago doesn't even have a team in the NPSL, so the Wave doesn't get to beat up on any teams from south on the I.
So, when will you get a chance to root for the good guys to beat those Chicago teams? The Bucks don't host the Bulls at the Bradley Center until March 3, but if you don't mind risking losing your hubcaps you can watch them play in Chicago on Feb. 20.
The Admirals travel to Chicago on Jan. 21 and host the Wolves on Feb. 9. The Mustangs will host the expansion Chicago Rush on May 25. Root for the Cheesers in all these games and keep up on The I-94 Rivalry Club through this column and on the Review.
Bucks Buzz
Don't look now, but up until this weekend the Bucks had been beating people with......DEFENSE!!!! That would have been virtually unthinkable earlier this season and much of last.
But, George Karl apparently harped on these guys enough that they actually have committed to trying to stop the other guys from scoring, as well as scoring themselves.
"I think we have definitely done it with our defense," said Tim Thomas who is one of the players who has made a difference on the D end of the court, as well as the other end. "George put in a couple different things, and I think we are just more committed to it."
Thomas has joined Ervin Johnson, Scott Williams, Jason Caffey, Mark Pope, Lindsey Hunter and the other grunts in improving the Bucks' defense, but the Big 3 of Ray Allen, Sam Cassell and Glenn Robinson also have increased their efforts in that area.
My old high school coach always told me "you need talent to become a scorer, but anybody can make himself into a good defensive player through hard work." Apparently, Karl has gotten the Bucks to work a little harder. (By the way, I became a good defender - albeit I played combat rules defense.)
The Bucks also have been passing the ball very well. Big Dog had seven assists in a win over Cleveland last week!
If the Bucks win the division title because of their defense and ball movement, Karl gets my vote for Coach of the Year.
--Kudos to Ray Allen for setting a team record for consecutive games when he played in his 329th straight against Vancouver Sunday. Allen has never missed a game since signing with the Bucks. In these days of over-paid, pampered athletes, Allen's work ethic and stamina really stand out.
--The Bucks play three of their next four games at the Bradley Center. The Washington Wizards come to town Tuesday, followed by the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday and New Jersey Nets on Saturday. After a trip to Washington on Jan. 15, the Bucks return home to play the Los Angeles Clippers. All these games are very winnable. If the Bucks keep playing well, they could be solidly in first place in the NBA Central by the middle of the month.
--The two games the Bucks couldn't pull out were in the Pacific Northwest. One was last Friday at Portland, where former Milwaukee coach Mike Dunleavy has put together a powerhouse. But, Tim Thomas, who had a career-high 39 points, and the Bucks showed the Blazers than they would be able to play with them if they meet in the NBA playoffs. What a great game, almost like the old racehorse (and much more entertaining) NBA games of the past. By the way, did you see The Sporting News story on Dunleavy's son, also Mike, who plays for Duke? Mike started his career here in high school while his dad was the Bucks coach and GM.
--While on the subject of former Bucks coaches, a speedy recovery to Don Nelson, who had his malignant prostate removed last week. Doctors said there was no evidence that the cancer had spread. Nellie could be back as Mavericks' coach before the end of the season.
--Finally, former Bucks assistant coach, ex-Marquette coach and current Utah coach Rick Majerus is returning home to recuperate from some heart problems. Karl, a good friend, says he and Rick are "going to go someplace" to take care of their weight problems after the season. The two of them have been known to hit the pubs and restaurants to add to their weight problems in the past. From Mama Mia's to the Fat Farm; hey, guys, welcome to middle age.
Brewers Buzz
GM Dean Taylor had a quiet week, but that doesn't mean the trade rumors stopped. Various media sources speculated that Taylor would still make a deal for a third baseman.
Others said the Brewers are willing to pay half of Marquis Grissom's $10 million salary over the next two years, just to dump him. Jeromy Burnitz kept popping up in other rumors. Check out the rumor mill on The Brew Crew Review.
--Let's give thanks the worker involved in a minor explosion of a heater at the Miller Park site received only minor injuries. That project doesn't need any more accidents as it barrels toward its grand opening.
--The Brewers depart on their annual winter tour of the state next Monday, with trips to Green Bay and other cities. The tour continues Tuesday through Thursday and concludes Friday with the Diamond Celebration at the Pfister Hotel. I'll be with the team in Green Bay, Appleton, Beloit, Madison and at the Pfister, doing some promo work for "Down in the Valley: The History of Milwaukee County Stadium." I will file some coverage of the tour on the Review. Next week's Buzz on OnMilwaukee.com also will look at the Diamond Celebration.
Admirals Buzz
The Admirals were still under .500, but they became the first IHL team to beat every other team in the league at least once. That shows they can play with anybody on a given night. Look for them to still make a run at a playoff spot.
--Kudos to the Admirals for a very successful Brendan Heart Fund event. The team raised $25,000 for the fund at Children's Hospital through an auction and part of the proceeds from the Dec. 29 game. The fund is named after two-year-old Brendan Ward, who died in 1986 from a heart problem. The Admirals have held a game to benefit the fund since 1988.
Wave Buzz
The Wave extended 41-year-old goalie Victor Nogueria contract by two years. Anybody who has watched Victor work knows he is still a master in the goal, and is in great shape.
I don't think you'll see Victor trooping off to any Fat Farm at middle age. By some standards, he's already reached it, and is still playing.
Pro Golf Buzz
Pro golf, from a Wisconsin and Milwaukee perspective, also will be dealt with from time to time in this column. Let's hope Steve Stricker can build on his million dollar win in Australia this past weekend to go on to a season more like 1996 - when he finished fourth on the PGA money list -- than 2000.
Stricker went into the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play event in Victoria, Australia, ranked 90th and would not have gotten to play in the 64-player tourney if so many of the top pros, like Tiger Woods, David Duvall, etc., had not decided to skip the event. But, Stricker can still be a major talent on the tour.
Sports Media Buzz
Every once in a while, I'll include some buzz about one of my colleagues out there in the Milwaukee sports media. This is about Brewers' announcer Matt Vasgersian, who can be found everywhere if you have cable.
Matt is the host of the popular, Sports Genius, trivia show on Fox, for which he also does some game of the week action during baseball season. You also can catch him on FX as the announcer for the Tough Man competition, along with that clean liver, Lawrence Taylor. He will soon join Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura in the booth for XFL games. With all those X's on the resume, just make sure you stay off the Spice Network, Matt.
Gregg Hoffmann is a veteran journalist, senior lecturer in journalism and mass communication at UWM and publisher of The Brew Crew Review at brewers.rivals.com. Hoffmann also is the author of "Down in the Valley: The History of Milwaukee County Stadium."
