Forget the speed bump in Toronto, this Bucks team is much better than last season's, if it can stay healthy. Three games in, and trends are beginning to develop. And Ruben Patterson may keep the starting small forward spot even when Bobby Simmons is 100 percent. That might also be a way for Simmons to ease back into playing shape, and perhaps to find his new niche as the sixth man off the bench.
It’s a lock that the NCAA will sit down in the off-season and address the Badgers' burning up the first half clock against Penn State by purposely running offsides twice to kill time. Bret Bielema had a big smile on his puss while the chicanery was going on, but clearly within the new clock rules set down this season where the seconds start ticking when the kicker’s toe makes contact. Bielema found the loophole, and Joe Paterno didn’t like it. Too bad JoePa -- but griping to the officials wasn’t the sounding board you needed.
This rule from the BCS is just plain BS. I’m referring to the one where no more than two teams from the same conference can play in one of the BCS tilts. Wisconsin may tally just one loss, but won’t get invited because the two slots will go to Ohio State and Michigan. You can’t tell me that the major sponsors from these major bowl games won’t nudge the committee in the future to get them marquee teams from powerhouse conferences. There’s too much cash involved, and the folks from Allstate, Tostitos and FedEx would rather see the Badgers and their traveling cocktail party over Boise State any day.
Mike McCarthy was visibly upset with the Brett Favre miscues that cost Green Bay a win on the road over Buffalo. But like the Mike before him, the current Mike didn’t confront the future Hall of Famer face to face. The last Mike to scold his QB is now coaching in Seattle, but since Favre reached icon status, no one questions his thought process, or lack thereof.
Former Badgers wide receiver Lee Evans is experiencing the same problem that his buddy in Miami, Dolphins wide receiver Chris Chambers, is dealing with -- a merry-go-round at quarterback. On my weekly football radio show in Madison, Evans told former Badgers center Derek Engler and myself that it’s tough establishing chemistry with your signal caller when he’s a different body every couple of years. Everyone was comfy-cozy on Sunday -- J.P. Losman and Evans connected for a TD against the Packers, and Chambers caught one from Joey Harrington.
Speaking of the Dolphins, explain that game in the Windy City to me. Miami loses at home to the Packers, but rolls all over the previously unbeaten Bears in Chicago? The Fish were a two touchdown underdog and reeling, but showed the once-perfect Bears that they do indeed have flaws after all. That feared Bears defense looked worn down, and Rex Grossman looked more like Kyle Orton!
UW-Milwaukee’s exhibition loss to UW-Parkside shouldn’t come as a complete shock. For one, the Rangers came to play -- they shot the ball well and forced the Panthers to take bad shots. But UWM isn’t the same tourney tested team fans have embraced the last few seasons. You look out on the court and don’t see Adrian Tigert, Joah Tucker or Boo Davis anymore, and it’s weird. Rob Jeter and his staff have lots of work to do, but they knew that going in that the cupboard was bare for now.
I actually witnessed the ejection of the chain gang guy who holds the down marker at a WIAA football playoff game. Racine Lutheran said enough is enough, and complained to game officials in the third quarter of their contest Friday night at Deerfield. The gentleman, wearing the home team Demons cap, was jockeying for position rather abruptly along the Crusaders sideline. An exchange of words broke out, and the zebras were called in to sort things out. End result -- the ref threw him out and replaced him with someone from the stands.
Bob currently does play-by-play at Time Warner Cable Sports 32, calling Wisconsin Timber Rattlers games in Appleton as well as the area high school football and basketball scene. During an earlier association with FS Wisconsin, his list of teams and duties have included the Packers, Bucks, Brewers and the WIAA State Championships.
During his life before cable, Bob spent seven seasons as a reporter and producer of "Preps Plus: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel High School Sports Show."
And the joke is, Bob has a golf shirt from all four Milwaukee television stations. Sad, but true: Bob has had sports and news anchor/reporter/producer stints at WTMJ, WISN, WDJT and WITI.
His first duty out of college (UW-Oshkosh) was radio and TV work in Eau Claire. Bob spent nearly a decade at WEAU-TV as a sports director and reporter.
You may have heard Bob's pipes around town as well. He has done play-by-play for the Milwaukee Mustangs, Milwaukee Iron, and UW-Milwaukee men's and women's basketball. Bob was the public address announcer for five seasons for both the Marquette men and women's basketball squads. This season, you can catch the starting lineups of the UW-Milwaukee Panther men's games with Bob behind the mic.
A Brookfield Central graduate, Bob's love and passion for sports began at an early age, when paper football leagues, and Wiffle Ball All Star Games were all the rage in the neighborhood.
