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JJ Watt Surprises Many; Joins Arizona Cardinals

By Adam Roberts – 3/1/2021

I found myself saying when this news broke earlier today, this kind of feels like a wet whoopie-cushion fart of an end to #WattWatch.

After many weeks of speculation, culminating today in people thinking a fake Peloton account held news on where JJ Watt would make his new home, Watt announced today he would join the Arizona Cardinals. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the deal is two years, 31 million dollars with 21 million in guaranteed money. Ultimately, that 31 million dollar mark likely scared away many teams, the Packers included, due to a much smaller cap in an offseason still very much affected by the pandemic.

As for where the Pack look now, likely their draft picks will be the next best chance for a game-changer on defense. Green Bay picks 29th, 61st, 92nd, 136th, 140th, 172nd, and 178th in the 2021 NFL Draft coming up next month.

La Crescent-Hokah Baseball HC Rick Boyer Dies

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.

Fake Peloton Account Sparked JJ Watt Rumors Today

By Adam Roberts – 3/1/2021

What a return from vacation.

After dealing with a power steering issue with my car this morning, the first thing I see when I log into Twitter at work is that a Peloton account linked to free agent JJ Watt listed Green Bay, Cleveland, and Buffalo. Naturally, the reaction was quick and far-reaching; it even caught me off guard, primarily because a Peloton account was the last place I’d expected to hear news about this. Turns out we had every right to be skeptical and humored at the same time, as the account was a fake.

This proves once again that we need to all collectively take a deeeeep breath when it comes to free agent rumors. This reminder usually comes right after something like this happens and is immediately forgotten until the next such incident occurs. Although you know what could have avoided all of this? If Watt would pick his destination already! (I kid mostly, I’m very aware these decisions have to take time due to all the money at stake).

And so #WattWatch continues today, and you can officially add fake Peloton accounts to all the fake Adam Schefters, Wojs, and others that have played a part in misinformation spread on everyone’s favorite app to hate.

Bucks Unveil Second Half Schedule

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.

Bangor’s Hank Reader Named Scenic Bluffs Conference POTY

By Adam Roberts – 2/24/2021

Bangor boy’s basketball might not be in contention for a state berth this week, but that shouldn’t knock what was yet another great season for the Cardinals. Their presence on the All-Scenic Bluffs lists should indicate that, along with who was named the conference’s player of the year.

Senior Hank Reader earned that honor, and was joined on the First-Team list by senior teammate Zane Langrehr. Reader and Langrehr finished second and third in the conference for scoring respectively behind only Cashton junior Bowdy Dempsey. The Coulee Region athletes on the conference list are as follows:

1st Team

SR Hank Reader – Bangor

SR Zane Langrehr – Bangor

JR Bowdy Dempsey – Cashton

JR Presley Brueggen – Cashton

2nd Team

SO Tanner Jones – Bangor

JR Jack Hilden – Cashton

Honorable Mentions

JR Mathieu Oesterle – Bangor

JR Will Reader – Bangor

SR Jarret Carpenter – Cashton

SR Aiden Cook – Cashton

Sports Round Up – February 23rd, 2021

By Adam Roberts – 2/24/2021

Caledonia BBB Beats Rushford-Peterson 72-69; Improves to 11-1

You have to give credit to Rushford-Peterson, they gave #3 (2A) Caledonia all they could handle last night. Three Trojans scored in double figures, including Luke O’Hare with a 19-4-3 stat line, and at halftime Rush-Pete was in front 40-36. But anyone who has tried to take down Caledonia football over the last decade or so knows that when you get a window of opportunity, you need to step on the gas because the Warriors can always comeback. Austin Klug led the way in the second half and finished with 23 points.

Viterbo MBB and WBB Fall in NSAA Quarterfinals

The postseason push for V-Hawk basketball was short lived, with the men falling to four-seed Dakota State 95-88 and women also losing 59-55. The men did shoot over 50% for the game, including 25 from Onalaska senior Noah Fredrickson, 22 from sophomore Jack Monis and 20 from junior Robert Cunitz, while La Crosse’s Sophie Leinfelder led the V-Hawk women off the bench with 14 points.

Bucks Beat T’Wolves 139-112; Khris Middleton Snubbed for All-Star Game

The Bucks put up 79 first-half points en route to a 139-112 win over the Timberwolves at Fiserv Forum. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 37 points as Milwaukee won its third straight, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Forward Khris Middleton was left of the All-Star reserves list, despite averaging 20.5 points, six rebounds, and a career-high 5.7 assists per game. It would have been his third-straight All-Star appearance. The Bucks continue their home stand tomorrow against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.

Tiger Woods Being Treated For Leg Injuries After Car Accident Today

By Adam Roberts – 2/23/2021

You’ve likely heard the news from earlier this morning, but in case you haven’t: Tiger Woods is in the hospital after a serious roll-over car accident in the Los Angeles area. NBC News’ Gadi Schwartz says Woods had to be extricated from his vehicle with the “jaws of life.”

Woods was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Video from the scene shows what appears to be a cross-over vehicle on its side with major damage. A golf club bag can also be seen in the dirt close to the vehicle. Woods was the only occupant of the vehicle. It happened this morning just after 7 a.m. local time on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes, just south of Los Angeles. Tiger’s agent Mark Steinberg said Woods “suffered multiple leg injuries” and he is currently in surgery. Steinberg added “we thank you for your privacy and support.”

Stay listening to ESPN La Crosse 105.5 today for updates on this story.

3B Travis Shaw Signs Minor League Contract With Brewers

By Adam Roberts – 2/23/2021

We had a feeling that the Mayor of Ding Dong City would be with the Brewers in Arizona this spring, and today the organization confirmed that Travis Shaw will in fact be in Maryvale with the team on a minor-league deal.

Shaw’s 2017 and 2018 seasons saw him rack up a .239/.335/.456 average list along with 70 home runs and 62 doubles, though his production dipped considerably in 2019 with just a .157 average in 86 games played. Shaw was non-tendered after the season and spent 2020 with Toronto.

Milwaukee plays their first spring training game February 28th against the White Sox.

Rodgers To Start “Jeopardy!” Guest Host Run April 5th

By Adam Roberts – 2/23/2021

One of my great joys has always been playing along with the game show “Jeopardy!” whenever I get a chance. Half of the time I feel like a gahd dang genius, while the other half is spent lamenting the fact that I didn’t pay as much attention in my British Literature class in high school (the only Shakespeare that really sticks with me was Much Ado About Nothing, and that was probably only A) because it was the only play we read that had a movie accompany it and B) “Get thee a wife”).

If you’re a Green Bay Packers or Aaron Rodgers fan and also enjoy the game show, this news should pique your interest. While we learned a while ago that Rodgers would fill in as one of the guest hosts as the program finds a full-time replacement for the late Alex Trebek, now it appears his start date has been revealed. According to numerous reports, Rodgers will start his ten-show run on April 5th, right after Doctor Oz.

Rodgers of course has previously appeared on the show, winning 50,000 dollars for the MACC Fund back in 2015.

WIAC Men’s Basketball Championship Quarterfinals Set

By Adam Roberts – 2/22/2021

I had a feeling the month of February would fly by once I learned that the abridged WIAC men’s basketball season would be just eight games and be wrapped up by the end of the month. And sure enough, here we are in the final week of the season.

The UWL men and women are taking on Platteville this Wednesday and Friday, and the men in particular will be facing a tough task of downing an 11th-ranked Pioneers team fresh off a two-game sweep of Whitewater. It should be a good playoff primer for the Eagles though, who are currently 5-1 after their win Friday against Stout.

The first round of postseason match ups are also set. The UWL men will be the one-seed in the West Division and face the East’s four-seed Stevens Point. Platteville is the other one-seed and gets a by to the semifinals.