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Bucks Sign G Jrue Holiday to 4-Year, $160M Dollar Deal

By Adam Roberts – 4/5/2021

The Bucks are crafting their version of a Big Three with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and now Jrue Holiday. That was made clear with the news of a Holiday extension yesterday.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania both reported on the new four-year, 160 million dollar deal which also includes a player option for the 2024-25 season. Notably on Twitter Holiday expressed excitement at the new deal, calling himself a “Buck for life”. ESPN broke down the investment the Bucks will be making in this new core, with the total salary for the Antetokounmpo-Holiday-Middleton combo 105 million next season, 113 million in 22-23, and 120 million likely in 23-24.

It’s safe to say the team has done its due diligence in investing around Giannis; now we’ll see if results follow as Milwaukee is still looking to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since the ’70s.

Currently Holiday is averaging 17.0 points, 5.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals in his first season with the Bucks, and ranks second in the league in steals per game.

By Adam Roberts – 4/2/2021

While not a local story, it bears mentioning what Major League Baseball has done today with regard to the 2021 All-Star Game.

Earlier today MLB announced it would move the game out of Atlanta, as well as the MLB Draft, in response to new voting laws passed in Georgia. Commissioner Rob Manfred released a statement, among other things confirming they were beginning the process of choosing a new host city with details to be announced shortly.

For context, SB 202 (known as the Election Integrity Act of 2021) was passed in the Georgia state legislature last week and makes a number of major changes to the state’s voting process. Mail-in absentee ballot applications can now be requested 11 weeks before an election, as compared to the 180 days from before the bill, and the final deadline to return an application is now two Fridays before election day. Anyone requesting an absentee ballot would also have to show a copy of their ID to verify their identity. Mobile voting polls are also now prohibited in Georgia expect during a governor-declared emergency; they were used in the Atlanta area during the 2020 election.

Manfred said in a statement today “Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box”.

Sam Kick Commits to UW-La Crosse

By Adam Roberts – 4/2/2021

The UWL men’s basketball program has picked up a premier area point guard talent.

Onalaska senior Sam Kick announced his commitment to Kent Dernbach’s program on Twitter, providing the Eagles with a new point guard prospect as senior Sean Suchomel departs. Kick served as the court general for the Hilltoppers each of the past two seasons, and together with teammates Victor Desmond and Gavin McGrath formed a formidable trio that only Pewaukee was able to slow down this past season.

Kick averaged just south of eight points per game this season and dished out around four assists per contest. He was also named an All-State honorable mention this season along with Desmond.

Brewers Start Season With Walk-Off Victory

By Adam Roberts – 4/2/2021

Yesterday American Family Field welcomed the first 11,740 fans of the 2021 season, and by extension the first fans the Brewers have had at their home games since early fall of 2019.

Lorenzo Cain scored the winning run as the Brewers walked off the Twins 6-5 in 10 innings, but the true magic happened in the inning before that. Travis Shaw re-established himself as the Mayor of Ding Dong City by doubling in two and Christian Yelich singled in another in a three-run ninth for the Brewers to tie it.

On the mound, starter Brandon Woodruff had his struggles, but Josh Hader looked electric; he struck out all three batters he faced in the 10th to pick up the win. Corbin Burnes is scheduled to start the second game for the Brewers tomorrow night against the Twins in Milwaukee. Minnesota will counter with Jose Berrios.

Also, Jackie Bradley Jr. will take his turn in the Brewers’ outfield rotation in the second game after flying out as a pinch-hitter in the opener. The series wraps up Sunday before the Brewers hit the road for six games.

Aaron Rodgers’ “Jeopardy” Run To Be Two Weeks

By Adam Roberts – 3/31/2021

Checking the Twitter feed yesterday, I saw a lot of thoughts on Packers’ Team President and CEO Mark Murphy’s comments, or lack thereof, on committing to Aaron Rodgers past 2021. And that got me thinking: “You know what I REALLY need to know right now: when is Aaron’s run on “Jeopardy” starting?”

Rodgers’ run filling in for the late Alex Trebek as the host of the long-running quiz show begins next Monday, and he actually will be hosting for two weeks instead of just one. While I think it’s unlikely that Rodgers will become the full-time host of the show once the producers decide on a permanent Trebek replacement, it would be possible even with his football schedule. I was listening to Dan Patrick this morning, and he said in a conversation he had with Trebek before his passing, the taping of episodes is done over a 50-day period so it’s not unreasonable that production could work around a football schedule.

In any case, fans of the show will likely be ready for Rodgers to take over the host position, as television personality Dr Oz has received a mixed to less-than-stellar reception to his hosting.

Brewers Will Start Season with 25 Percent Capacity

By Adam Roberts – 3/31/2021

As the Brewers get set for tomorrow’s season opener against the Twins, the team will officially start the season with 25-percent capacity at American Family Field.

There will be no bags allowed, no cash payments, and it will be pod seating with masks. The Brewers are selling tickets for home games through May 2nd and hope to gain approval from the City of Milwaukee Health Department for increased spectators after that. Also as many have expressed ire with, there will be no tailgating permitted in the parking lots, a staple of Brewers baseball.

This follows a new poll that is casting some doubts on the attendance of paying fans. Less than half of the respondents in the poll feel comfortable attending live sporting events during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The poll was conducted by the Washington Post and the University of Maryland. Returning fans will be facing a variety of COVID protocols and restrictions. Outdoor sporting events get a higher comfort rating than indoor events.

Packers to Play Overseas Within Eight Years

By Adam Roberts – 3/30/2021

It sort of slipped underneath the conversation about the expanded 17-game regular season, but the NFL owners have also voted to change up the scheduling process for overseas games.

Beginning in 2022, the league will play four overseas games each year between the UK, Mexico, and possibly Canada and Germany. Each team would play in at least one regular season game overseas over an eight year period meaning the Packers, who remain the only team to not have played overseas yet, will finally lose that moniker.

Teams may still protect certain games on their schedule from being played internationally and teams will not be required to play more than one international game in any season.

NFL Makes 17-Game Schedule Official; Packers to Play Kansas City

By Adam Roberts – 3/30/2021

What we already knew was going to be official in a matter of time was officially confirmed by the NFL today: 17 games are coming for 2021.

The debate on the merit of a 17 game schedule will likely continue all offseason, but as for the details: an extra week has been added to the NFL regular season, with teams competing in the extra game against an opponent from the opposing conference that finished in the same place within their division the previous season, much like the two games a team already plays against in-conference opponents that aren’t in the division they’re slated to play entirely. For the Packers, this means the extra game will be against the defending AFC champions from Kansas City, adding on to an already tough schedule, while the Vikings will face the LA Chargers.

On top of the extra regular season game, the preseason will be reduced from four games to three.

Brewers’ P Topa Out For Months With Elbow Injury

By Adam Roberts – 3/30/2021

We’re two days away from the start of the 2021 MLB regular season, and yesterday the Brewers got bad news on a bullpen piece.

Brewers reliever Justin Topa will miss at least half the season with a right elbow flexor strain.

Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said before a spring training game with Texas that Topa is seeking a second opinion, but the plan is rest and rehabilitation. The 30-year-old right-hander has had two Tommy John surgeries.

Vikings Sign S Xavier Woods, Welcome Back CB Alexander

By Adam Roberts – 3/29/2021

The Vikings defense is getting a little spruce up this week.

The team is bringing back a former Minnesota cornerback in Mackensie Alexander, who spent last year in Cincinnati, and also signing safety Xavier Woods from Dallas.

The Cowboys brought in a number of new safeties last week, which opened the door for the Vikings to make a one-year, 2.25 million dollar deal with Woods that includes 1.75 million in guaranteed cash. The team must have really wanted Woods, as CBS Sports reports they upped an initial offer in order to secure his services.

As for Alexander, he started 10 games for the Bengals last year after leaving Minnesota as a free agent last year. He had 47 total tackles and recorded an interception for Cincy in 2020 and will hope to improve on those numbers in his fifth year with Minnesota.