ESPN La Crosse 105.5

Packers Sign TE Isaac Nauta

By Adam Roberts – 12/8/2020

Tight end Robert Tonyan has been a big success story for the Packers this season. The 3rd year Indiana State product has made the most of his third season with Aaron Rodgers, catching eight touchdowns (T-6th in the NFL) and racking up 497 yards through 12 games. Believe it or not, he actually began his career with the Detroit Lions, and today another former Lion is on their way to Green Bay.

The Packers signed Isaac Nauta to their practice squad, a second-year player from Georgia who was released by Detroit a couple of days ago. The 2019 seventh-rounder has had limited production this season with just three receptions from Matthew Stafford for 16 yards.

What will be more interesting will be to see if a follow-up move concerning Jace Sternberger is forthcoming from the Packers.

Viterbo Announces Men’s and Women’s Basketball Makeup Dates

By Adam Roberts – 12/7/2020

As high school basketball begins for some this week, we continue to wait and see what will happen to sports at area colleges like UWL, Winona State, WTC, and Viterbo. But at least as far as the last school goes, it looks like some make up dates are on the docket.

The V-Hawk men and women will HOPEFULLY start things off January 2nd at Bellevue, and follow that up with a dual home date January 26th against Waldorf and a January 29th at home against Dakota State.

As for when other schools/sports could return, it sounds like a Minnesota high school sports return could be decided by the end of this week, while UWL is still on hold for the rest of the fall semester.

Badgers vs Louisville PPD; Game Against Rhode Island To Be Played Wednesday

By Adam Roberts – 12/7/2020

As we all know, sports are a day-to-day experience in 2020, and it was only a matter of time before that happened to Wisconsin men’s basketball.

It appears as though the ACC/Big Ten Challenge will now unofficially be the A10/Big Ten Challenge for Wisconsin. Wednesday’s scheduled game against Louisville has been postponed, due to what sources are saying are COVID-19 protocols with the Cardinals. Wisconsin has said that both teams are working to plan an alternate date for the program, but for the meantime, it looks like the Badgers will replace the Cardinals with the Rams of Rhode Island.

So far this season, the Rams have put together a 3-2 campaign, with three straight wins after topping Seton Hall 76-63 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Wisconsin is looking to rebound after a last-second Marquette tip-in dropped them from 4th to 13th in the AP Top 25.

With a 3:30pm Central tip off, expect coverage to begin on ESPN La Crosse 105.5 at 2:30pm Wednesday afternoon.

Rodgers Quickest to 400 TDs; Packers Beat Eagles 30-16

By Adam Roberts – 12/7/2020

While record setting is nothing new to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, he still says he enjoys getting to create those special moments. And he is now the fastest quarterback to get to 400 career touchdown passes, doing it in his 193rd regular season game, 12 fewer than the Saints’ Drew Brees, who held the previous record. Rodgers finished with 295 yards, three touchdown tosses, and no picks in a 30-16 win over the Eagles that was only as close as it was due to two big plays late for Philly. One was a special teams gaff by Green Bay on a punt where J.K. Scott was once again exposed as being unable to make a downfield tackle (I say this as a big, and rare, J.K. fan), and the other was on a 4th and 18 where backup Jalen Hurts completed a dart to the back corner of the end zone.

Rodgers’ big target was once again Davante Adams, who he connected with 10 times for 121 yards and two scores. And in perfect fashion for the duo, Adams made sure that Rodgers would have his 400th touchdown ball, after the 100th, 200th, and 300th balls have been lost to time.

While the defense was once again iffy in the fourth quarter, up to the 7:52 mark of that frame the Packers were all over Hurts and starter Carson Wentz. They got to the quarterback from start to finish with 7 total sacks to go with a Darnell Savage pick to seal the game. Za’Darius Smith said after the game they were given a go-ahead from defensive coordinator Mike Pettine to go in guns a-blazin’ on the beleaguered Wentz, who’s starting status might be gone after a woeful 79 yard, 57.4 QB rating performance.

Green Bay next faces 5-7 Detroit at Ford Field next Sunday, who themselves may have sunken the Bears’ ship yesterday with a late 34-30 win in Chicago.

Milwaukee Bucks Release 2020-21 Schedule Through All-Star Break

By Adam Roberts – 12/4/2020

The Bucks this afternoon released their schedule up to the All Star Break.

As we already knew, Milwaukee will open the regular season on December 23rd against the Celtics on the road. That will be followed by a Christmas Day home game against Steph and the Warriors. Other interesting schedule tidbits include back-to-back games against the Miami Heat on the 29th and 30th, a New Year’s Day home game against division rival Chicago, a home game January 21st against LeBron, AD, and the Lakers, and a stretch in February where they will play six straight road games followed by eight straight home contests.

Milwaukee is still waiting for Giannis’s decision on the super max, with no indication that a decision will come in the near future.

NBA Suspends Random Marijuana Tests

By Adam Roberts – 12/4/2020

Looks like players in the NBA will no longer have to heed Stephen A. Smith’s advice to stay OFF the weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed.

The NBA and its players union are agreeing not to conduct random marijuana tests during the upcoming season. While citing the circumstances around the COVID-19 pandemic, a league spokesperson said the random testing program’s focus will be on performance-enhancing products and drugs of abuse. A similar policy was adopted for the NBA’s Orlando restart this summer. What remains uncertain is if there will be no penalties whatsoever for those who are involved in legal trouble with marijuana in their possession.

Training camp is underway and the regular season is set to open later this month. Milwaukee begins the year against Boston on the 23rd.

Aaron Rodgers; Kyle Rudolph Named Art Rooney Award Nominees

By Adam Roberts – 12/4/2020

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph have both been nominated for the 7th annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.

The award recognizes players who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field, and was created in 2014 to honor the late Steelers founder.

Although no Packer or Viking player has won the award yet, a notable player from each has won it with another franchise; Charles Woodson won in 2015 as a member of the Oakland Raiders, while Adrian Peterson was last year’s winner with Washington.

Minnesota High School Winter Sports Could Begin December 21st

By Adam Roberts – 12/3/2020

Anytime the MSHSL Board convenes for a meeting, John Millea is an excellent Twitter account to follow for up-to-date info. And he was busy again today.

According to John, the board today came to a decision on dates for the start of winter sports in Minnesota, which are dependent on the state government’s decision whether or not to extend a shutdown that is currently keeping sports from starting until December 19th. If the shutdown doesn’t get extended, winter sports such as basketball, hockey, and wrestling could begin practicing on December 21st. Otherwise, the earliest things could begin would be January 4th. It’s also important to remember that plenty of finer details have yet to be determined.

In Wisconsin some schools have already begun their winter sports, with Tomah boy’s and girl’s basketball already with a game under their belts, but many remain on pause for the time being. The Sparta boys will begin their season next Monday at Tomah (7pm over on ESPN Sparta 102.1), while Coulee Region Basketball on ESPN La Crosse 105.5 will begin next week Friday in Sparta as they face Adams-Friendship.

Gun Deer Harvest Numbers Up Significantly

By Adam Roberts – 12/3/2020

Though I sadly had to sit on the sidelines once again this year for the nine-day gun deer season, the good vibes I was sending out to all the hunters in the woods/cornfields/marshlands clearly paid off, with 2020 a banner year for whitetail deer harvesting.

According to the Wisconsin DNR, harvest numbers are up 15.8 percent statewide, with 188,712 deer gunned down this year. This could be correlated with an uptick in overall licenses sold this year, with over 820,000 distributed for the hunt (up 3.5 percent from 2019).

The rise in hunters this year could likely be attributed to many seeking an outlet for COVID related stress and anxiety with an activity that not only is pretty easy to do socially distanced, but also can be a truly therapeutic experience and a chance to slow down the hectic pace of everyday life.

Another encouraging statistic was the rise in female hunters this year, with over 92,000 taking to tree stands and deer blinds across Wisconsin.

Congratulations to everyone who harvested a deer this year! And if you have more meat than you think you will consume, consider donating it to a local food pantry this year.

Brewers Trade Corey Knebel To Dodgers

By Adam Roberts – 12/3/2020

A former All Star pitcher for the Brewers has a new home with the world champions.

Ahead of the Wednesday deadline to tender contracts to players, Corey Knebel was traded by the organization yesterday to the Dodgers for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Knebel played in 15 games for the Crew in 2020, pitching 13.1 innings with 15 strikeouts and a 6.08 ERA.

There had been reports that Knebel would be non-tendered, but GM David Stearns said those reports were not accurate.

Also, Milwaukee avoided arbitration with one-year deals for shortstop Orlando Arcia, catches Manny Pina and Omar Narvaez, and first baseman Dan Vogelbach. Outfielder Ben Gamel, reliever Alex Claudio, and Jace Peterson will become free agents after being non-tendered.