{image1}The Brewers are still playing in hopes of finishing above .500, but football on all levels takes over the State Sports Buzz in September.
Miller Park will host 17 games, including series with the I-94 rivals Cubs, Astros and Cardinals, in September. So, if you're a baseball fan, you'll have plenty to watch.
But, the Packers open their season Sept. 11 at Detroit, and play games at Lambeau Field against the Browns on Sept. 18 and Tampa Bay Bucs on Sept. 25.
Don't be too discouraged by the pre-season results. The Packers should still be competitive, despite a patchwork offensive line and real question marks on defense.
Brett Favre still has a great arm and some fine receivers to pass to. Ahman Green still has explosive power and speed, but both need blocking to do their jobs. They might not get as much of that with the loss of guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera. But, most experts still give them a shot because of Favre.
"When it's time to talk about the NFC North, it all starts with Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers," says NFL.com senior analyst Pat Kirwan.
"Minnesota Vikings fans don't want to hear that and Detroit Lions fans believe their time has come to knock him off his perch, but the numbers don't lie for Favre in the NFC North.
"The Packers have won the division the last three seasons and Favre was 14-4 in the 18 divisional games during that time. His numbers within the NFC North were 13 touchdowns against only three interceptions in the six regular-season games against Chicago, Detroit and Minnesota last year; the Packers won five of those games. Today, Favre says he's refreshed and ready to play football again, so once again knocking off the surefire Hall of Fame quarterback is job No. 1 for the other teams."
College football starts this weekend. The UW Badgers play Bowling Green Saturday at Camp Randall. The Badgers also play Temple on Sept. 10 and Michigan on Sept. 24 at home.
Barry Alvarez, entering his final season as head coach, admitted he is nervous about the opener and isn't sure what to expect from the Badgers this season. "That's why you play on Saturday," he said at his Monday press conference.
"That's what we'll find out on Saturday. You like to think that guys who have been in the program can move it forward, but that's the great thing about this sport, you know. Everybody wants to know what's going to happen beforehand; that's what you find out.
"So I'm always nervous. I've never gone into an opening game overconfident. I'm always very nervous, particularly, even when we've had veteran teams, I've gone in very nervous about what's going to happen and worrying about the guys who haven't played before and then whether the freshmen who will play will understand the speed of the game. All those things are things that we're going to find out Saturday."
UW-La Crosse will start its quest for its fourth straight NCAA Division III championship when it plays at South Dakota State Saturday.
The two state NAFL teams will wrap up their regular season schedules in September. Both are fighting for spots in the playoffs, which start Oct. 1. In case you missed it, the Marauders beat the Racine Raiders for the second time this season last weekend.
Prep football started in late August. Games will continue through September and into October.
Another great annual event in September is The Milwaukee River Challenge crew race. Some of the best collegiate and amateur crews in the country race through Downtown along a 2.2-mile course on the river. This year's Challenge is Sept. 17. Read more about it in Weekend Sports Buzz as the date comes closer.
Wave United ends its soccer season on Sept. 10, but the Admirals will start the hockey season with an exhibition game on Sept. 28.
But, football is the sport that really takes over in September.
The Name Game
Closer Derrick Turnbow earned the Sports Buzz Brewers' Player of the Month award for August after allowing only one run all month (up to this writing Tuesday night). He didn't allow any runs in July ... Former Brewer Paul Molitor returned to Milwaukee Monday to speak to cancer patients and their families and friends as part of Strike Out Cancer, a national program that educates people about cancer, during an event at Miller Park. Molitor lost his father to lung cancer shortly before he was inducted into Cooperstown ... Former Buck Ervin Johnson has re-signed with the Bucks ... Steve Spratte gained 276 yards on 25 carries to lead Waukesha West to a 28-10 win over Greendale in prep football ... Nate Robinson scored five touchdowns and gained 275 yards in 15 carries to help Lakeside Lutheran beat Jefferson 44-14.
Beyond Milwaukee Sports
Former area radio sportscaster and newsperson Judy Steffes, who also is a former student of this writer, is traveling around the world, mostly by bicycle. She reached Barcelona, Spain, this week ... Josh Deml passed for 208 yards to help La Crosse Logan break an 18-game losing streak with a 52-34 win over Eau Claire North. Logan's losing streak dated back to 2002 ... John Klinkhammer ran for 182 yards and passed for 44 more to lead Wisconsin Rapids Assumption to a 28-20 win over Wausau Newman Catholic... Wisconsin NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth won his first race in over a year at Bristol Speedway in Tennessee.
Hot Tix
The Brewers host the Padres in a four-game series starting with a 7:05 p.m. game on Thursday. Other game times are 7:05 p.m. Friday, 6:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday.
Kickoff for the Badgers game against Bowling Green is 11 a.m. Saturday. The best game involving state college teams is Whitewater at St. Norbert on Saturday.
The Packers hope to show improvement when they their final pre-season game Thursday night in Nashville.
Looking long range, the Bucks announced this week a 75-game regular season television and cable schedule on the club's flagship station, UPN-24, and the club's cable partner, Fox Sports Net North (FSN North). The Bucks' 2005-'06 season opener at Philadelphia on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. (CST) tips off the slate of games televised by UPN-24. The Bucks cable schedule on FSN North begins Tuesday, Nov. 8, when Milwaukee welcomes the Golden State Warriors to the Bradley Center at 7 p.m. (CST).
Jim Paschke returns for his 20th year as the play-by-play announcer while Jon McGlocklin will be back for the 30th season as analyst for the broadcasts.
