ESPN La Crosse 105.5

NFL To Consider Revolutionary Overtime Change

By Adam Roberts – 3/5/2021

In an era of apparently ever-decreasing attention spans, sports leagues have been experimenting with a number of different ways to attract viewers and new fans. Some proposals, like those instituted in baseball last season have drawn eye-rolls from many. As for the NFL, it seems every season brings some slight tweak to the way the game is played, be it penalty changes, instant replay fixes, or other less-visible things. With this latest proposal, it would be hard to miss.

The NFL is looking at a number of possible changes to overtime, including one that would be truly revolutionary. The Baltimore Ravens have proposed a spot-and-choose approach with one team choosing the yard line where overtime would begin and the other team deciding to play offense or defense. The Ravens also propose teams playing a full seven minute and 30-second overtime period, rather than a sudden-death format.

Another proposal would restore overtime to its original sudden-death format, with the team that scores first winning, showing that there’s at least mild interest for a return to the old way.

Study Shows Few Pro Athletes With COVID Developed Rare Heart Issue

By Adam Roberts – 3/4/2021

A new study shows just five of 789 professional athletes that came down with COVID-19 were later diagnosed with an inflammatory heart disease.

The research from JAMA Cardiology had doctors affiliated with six U.S. based leagues follow the infected players between May and October of last year. Before returning to play, the athletes went through three non-invasive tests that track heart rhythms where the cases were discovered. Also in the research, the five athletes that were discovered to have the heart disease all had beyond mild cases of COVID-19.

Concern about the heart disease fueled debate on whether to play sports during the pandemic. One of the diseases discovered, myocarditis, can be deadly if left undiagnosed and untreated.

American Family Field To Open At 25% Capacity; No Tailgating

By Adam Roberts – 3/4/2021

More Brewers news today, and it’s a mixed bag for those wanting a traditional Miller Pa…erm, excuse me, American Family Field experience.

Today, the team announced they have reached an agreement with City of Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson to allow 25% fan capacity at home games for the 2021 regular season. Previously, the team had hoped for 35% capacity, but in the official statement said the 25% could increase as pandemic conditions in Milwaukee County dictate.

25% capacity at AmFam looks like roughly 11,000 to 12,000 fans in the stadium pending re-mapping of seating, and for those worried it’ll look like a ghost town, I would point to how the Packers were able to make 9,000 in the Lambeau bowl look somewhat normal. A date for individual ticket sales still hasn’t been determined, but should be unveiled ahead of Opening Day on April 1st against Minnesota.

There is one VERY big downside to the announcement though. As mentioned in the title, there will be NO tailgating before Brewer games to begin the season. The wording leaves this likely subject to change as well, but understanding the tailgating culture at Brewer games makes this news tough to swallow.

President of Business Operations will speak to the media later this morning to likely go a little more in-depth on the team’s plans.

Brewers To Sign Former Boston CF Jackie Bradley Jr.

By Adam Roberts – 3/4/2021

Honestly, who breaks news of a signing at 3:25 in the morning? Apparently Boston Globe beat writer Julian McWilliams, that’s who!

McWilliams broke the news very early this morning that the Red Sox would not pay center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and that he would instead sign a deal to join the Brewers. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the deal will be for two years, valued at 24 million dollars with an opt-out option after year one.

Looking at his stats, Bradley Jr. is a batter who strikes out very rarely with a career-low 22.1% K rate in 2020. He hit .283 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, and five stolen bases last year, but is more known for his fielding abilities; the 30-year-old won a Gold Glove in 2018.

As for depth, the Brewers’ outfield now features names like Bradley Jr, Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, and Avisail Garcia. How GM David Stearns and manager Craig Counsell want to doll out starts and position assignments will be interesting to watch.

Winona State P Jordyn Kleman Pitches 8th Career No-Hitter

By Adam Roberts – 3/3/2021

The name on our logo reads ESPN La Crosse 105.5, but every so often we’ll peer over at what’s going on in the community about 25 minutes north of here and witness greatness.

Today, greatness, thy name is Jordyn Kleman.

The senior from La Crosse once again lived up to the laundry list of accolades she has earned with the Warriors over her collegiate career today, pitching five innings of no-hit softball in Winona State’s 10-0 win over Bemidji State in St. Paul’s domed softball facility. Kleman had seven strikeouts while earning her second win of the season and was a hit batter away from a perfect game.

The 12th-ranked Warrior women are 3-0 to start the year and play the Beavers again this afternoon before switching to Springfield, Illinois tomorrow.

Wisconsin, Minnesota Legislatures Debating Transgender Ban From Female Sports

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.

TE Kyle Rudolph Released by Vikings

By Adam Roberts – 3/3/2021

A face of the Minnesota Vikings’ offense for the last decade is wearing purple no more.

The Vikings have officially parted ways with veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph. The 31-year-old has been released after 10 seasons in Minneapolis.

The move saves the Vikings more than five-million dollars in cap space in a year when the cap is being heavily affected by the ongoing pandemic. Rudolph was a second-round pick by Minnesota in 2011.

Wisconsin MBB Out of Top 25

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!

Gomez, Gallardo, Rodriguez To Be Added To Brewers WOH

By Adam Roberts – 3/2/2021

The Brewers are adding three more faces to their Wall of Honor.

The team announced Monday that center-fielder Carlos Gomez, starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo, and closing pitcher Francisco Rodriguez will be three new additions to the team’s WOH. The Brewers also announced that Gomez will retire as a member of the Crew. The Milwaukee Braves Historical Association announced alongside the Brewers that they will induct the late Wes Covington onto the Braves’ Wall of Honor during the 2022 season.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on things at the newly-minted American Family Stadium, you may have also noticed the addition of Bernie’s Chalet in left field and also a new party deck-looking area next two it sponsored by Miller Lite. I don’t know about you, but that combined with forecasted temperatures this weekend in the 50s has me ready to run through a brick wall.

Aaron Rodgers Donates One Million To California Small Businesses

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.