By Adam Roberts – 3/3/2021

Bills working their way through state government in both Wisconsin and Minnesota would prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.

Wisconsin State Representative Barb Dittrich authored the Badger state bill which was introduced yesterday. It would ban transgender athletes from female sports from kindergarten through college. Dittrich and supporters of the measure have cited an unfair physical advantage they say transgender athletes would have over biological females.

Meanwhile, Minnesota State Representative Eric Lucero introduced H.R. 1657 last week which aims to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. Under the proposed legislation, transgender students who identify as women would be banned from trying out for or participating in female-only school sports. Doing so, would be considered a petty misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of three-hundred dollars. Additionally, the bill would also prohibit a transgender student from using communal areas such as restrooms, locker rooms and shower rooms that are designated female. Opponents of both bills Opponents say such proposals violate not only Title IX of federal education law prohibiting sex discrimination, but also rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court. They also argue that such bans will further marginalize vulnerable students and hurt the state’s economy by making it more difficult to recruit both athletes and businesses.

In both cases, officials say the proposed legislation likely won’t become law as Governors Tim Walz and Tony Evers would likely veto any such bill. However, the news comes as multiple states are considering legislation restricting transgender youth participating in athletics.

By Adam Roberts – 3/2/2021

Tonight’s contest for Wisconsin against #23 Purdue could be the difference in the Badgers remaining in the Top 25 after the week is over.

Bucky is clinging onto the 25th spot in the AP rankings at the moment and has actually fallen out of the Top 25 in the Coach’s Poll. The Badgers are 4-and-6 in their last 10 games, sitting at 16-and-9 following the weekend loss to Illinois.

Our coverage tonight from West Lafayette begins at 7pm!

By Adam Roberts – 3/2/2021

We’re a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and while many small businesses have largely adjusted to the realities of the situation it is still a daily struggle of staying afloat. Aaron Rodgers is doing what he can to assist businesses in his home state of California.

The Green Bay Packers’ QB last week gave a million dollars to 80 small businesses near his hometown of Chico. Many of the businesses are restaurants or bars, and all have been struggling with both the virus and California’s lockdowns that greatly limit how they can operate. The hope is that the donation will cover three months of expenses at the businesses.

This is hardly the first time Rodgers has shared his wealth with those in need. He has been involved with numerous charitable organizations, including the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) Fund, The Enough Project, the Starkey Hearing Foundation, Legal Action of Wisconsin, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, among others.

By Adam Roberts – 3/1/2021

News 19’s Scott Emerich has reported that long-time La Crescent-Hokah baseball head coach Rick Boyer has passed away.

As a coach, Rick was a staple of the community, with years of success for the Lancers highlighted by a 2009 Class AA State championship followed by a third place finish the following year and second place finish the year after that. He also played for the summer league La Crescent Cardinals and La Crosse 35ers, and coached the Loggers for two seasons as well.

With me, though, Rick made his biggest impact with how respectful and personable he could be with anyone, inside or outside of baseball. Many people are familiar with Boyers Budger Furniture at the West Ave-South Ave intersection. It was here that I made two of my first major purchases as a young adult: a large black coach with a pullout mattress and a regular queen, both of which I still use today. I can be a difficult person to sell to, just as the car dealer when I took forever to decide on my first car. But Rick was the perfect person to sale a young, cynical adult exactly what I needed.

And for the baseball community, Rick was exactly what we needed as well: a person that other coaches could feel comfortable spit-balling ideas off of (no pun intended), and someone to gauge their own programs against. His presence will be greatly missed in the Coulee Region. A tribute is being planned at La Crescent High School for tonight’s game against Caledonia.

By Adam Roberts – 2/24/2021

While the Bucks have been fairly lucky to avoid any major interruptions to their season via COVID suspensions, other teams this season have not been as lucky. Thus while the unveiled second half of the season schedule today doesn’t mean as much to Milwaukee, we do at least know how that part of the year will play out barring any new suspensions.

Milwaukee plays their first game after the All Star break Thursday March 11th against the Knicks at Fiserv Forum followed by three road games at Washington and Philadelphia. Other second half highlights include a March 31st game at the Lakers, home games against currently second in the East Brooklyn on May 2nd and 4th, and the regular season finale May 16th against the Bulls in Chicago.

Milwaukee has won three in a row and next faces Zion and the Pelicans tomorrow night.