Roll Out the Barrel

They aren't a historical team like the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, or Brooklyn/LA Dodgers, but the Milwaukee Brewers have made their own, and very unique, impacts in the MLB even though it's only been a short 40+ years. Superstar names like Alex Rodriguez, Tim Lincecum, and Albert Pujols only grace the stadium when the visiting team is the Yankees, San Francisco Giants or the St. Louis Cardinals. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is far from a big market city like Chicago, New York or Philadelphia but somehow Milwaukeen's and Wisconsinites alike flocked. Its hard to even say they have a heated rivalry, other than with the Chicago Cubs (and maybe the Minnesota Twins). To everyone but the state of Wisconsin it was a surprise, but we are dedicated to our sports teams. The experience at a Brewer game is different than more than 75% of other ball parks, from the tailgate, to the inbetween innings entertainment to the post game celebrations. They're not a flashy money making franchise like many of the big teams, but we've got our own traditions to be proud of.


Before the Brewers came to town from Seattle in 1969, there were the Milwaukee Braves, playing for 12 years at County Stadium with Hank Aaron revolutionizing the game of baseball. Now Atlanta and Milwaukee both like to claim Hank Aaron as their own, but with the franchise in both cities during his career, the slugger has his #44 retired with both franchises. Once Aaron and the Braves left Milwaukee in 1965, no one thought that Milwaukee would see another MLB team. There wasn't the want and need for baseball like in other cities, Wisconsin was much too consumed with the Green Bay Packers (who up until the early 2000's played some home games at County Stadium). When the Seattle Pilots packed up and moved to Milwaukee to become the "Milwaukee Brewers" no one really knew exactly what was going to happen.


To say the early years in Milwaukee would be a bold faced lie. There wasn't a winning season until 1978 but yet there was something about this team that drew near sell out crowds to almost every game. When the Brewers acquired Aaron in 1974 off a trade, then owner Bud Selig knew he finally had a credible team with fan favorites like Robin Yount, Paul Molitor and "Stormin'" Gorman Thomas. The new mascot, Bernie Brewer, became more popular than most of the players. Only in a city and state known for beer and cheese, would the mascot be a brewer, one who brews beer. Bernie quickly became the face of the Brewers once established that after every Brewer home run he would slide down a slide into a barrel of beer. A barrel of beer, if that's not awesome I don't know what is. It's a different atmosphere in the America's Dairyland. Only here can you take off work in the middle of the afternoon to go tailgate 4 hours before a game and your boss will not only be okay with it, he/she will more than likely be shotgunning beers with you.

Once that first winnings season in '78 came around, things started to look up for the small team. 4 years later they found themselves in the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals after winning the AL pennant. Were the Brewers going to win the World Series only 12 years after their first game in Milwaukee? After a phenomenal 10-0 victory in the first game it seemed possible, but with the loss of Rollie Fingers to injury before the post-season it was going to be difficult. The series came down to the final game, but alas the Cardinals were triumphant, sending the Brewers home emptied handed. Little did we know, it would be the only playoff appearance the Brew Crew would make until 26 years later. Even with 3-time MVP (shortstop, centerfield) Yount they couldn't get past the regular season, thus beginning the long losing years until 1997 when things took a different turn. The Milwaukee Brewers were going National once again.

Joining the National League for the first time since 1965, the Brewers organization were ready for a new change. County Stadium, while serving many wonderful years to the city of Milwaukee, was on it's last breath. A new stadium to be sponsored a named after long Milwaukee Miller brewery, was in the works. It was time for something up-to-date with the new team. After 4 years of building, Milller Park opened in 2001 with the newest feature of a retractable roof, something necessary in the wild climate of the mid west. Major improvments from the seats, to club level suites to even Bernie's Clubhouse out in the left field brought a new life to Brewers baseball. It wasn't until 2005 however that the team was able to record a non losing record (81-81) since 1992. There were still a lot of kinks to be worked out before they could really see success. This is where the players needed to step up.

The Brewers have by far the lowest pay roll in the majors. They don't have millions upon millions to sign players like Manny Ramirez, Ichiro Suzuki, or Stephen Strasburg but there is the appealing team atmosphere that draws some hidden talents to the organization. Once Mike Attanasio purchased the team in 2005 rebuilt the bridges back to the team from giving away all the season the '05 season closing game and bringing back the ever popular 'ball and glove' logo for retro Fridays. There was a new life in the players, they were playing the game not only because they were being paid, but because they loved the game. They looked like a group of buddies playing a game in the middle of the summer just for the heck of it. Wheels started turning together and after the 2006 season that started so well, ended with a 75-87 record, they only looked forward.

2007. Brewers were a hidden team with so much young talent, as unlikely as it was, they could possibly be a contender. At one point they led by 8 1/2 games behind the 50 home run season of 23 year old Prince Fielder, star pitching in Ben Sheets and NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun. the pressure seemed to get to the team, finishing the season out of the playoffs could have crushed them and at the end of May in the 2008 season it seemed like they weren't going anywhere. Cue CC Sabathia. The mind crushing Brewers puzzle was complete with the addition of the mighty pitcher going into the All-Star break 52-43 the Brewers were on a roll. Backed by the phenomenal 9-0 start by Sabathia with complete games and even hitting a few home runs himself they kept winning, and winning, and winning. Winning 20-28 games in August in style with back to back home runs, double home runs games from Braun and even surprise players like Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks coming out of the woodwork for walk off hits, was the 26 year playoff drought over? In simple words: yes it was.
Finally, something to be proud in Milwaukee besides beer, brats and racing sausages. They were going to the post season for the first time since 1982. It was almost to good to be true. Fans were coming to games again not just for the tailgate or to see the famous Klement's Racing Sausages in the middle of the 6th inning. People were coming once again for the game. Selling out game after game, it was surreal. However, the chance of making it past the future 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies when injuries plagued the team. That was it, the miraculous '08 season was done. Losing many players in the off season including Sabathia (it was bound to happen) made the 2009 season less than stellar besides Fielder breaking the club RBI season record. 2010 wasn't much better.

Here we are in 2011, with a good team, a newly signed Ryan Braun through 2020, star pitching in Zack Grienke, and the potential of having Fielder in his last season as a Brewer, there is yet another new spark in Miller Park. Flashes of brilliance are seen from game to game and if the club cant get all pistons firing, they're going to be a hard team to beat. They don't have a multi billion dollar organization, flashy press conferences when one player hurts his pinkie, nor do they have more World Series trophies than they can count, but the Brewers have something a little different than other teams. It can't really be described. Loyal fans, family atmosphere, and infamous racing sausages it's hard to hate the Brewers. Even if you don't want to, you can't help but get up and polka in your seat during the 7th inning stretch not for the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" but rather for the Milwaukee tradition of "Roll out the Barrel". Only in Milwaukee, land of brats and beer.

And the Green Jacket goes to...

The most elite club in the country, or maybe even the world, just inducted one more member to raise their number to 75. Actually, the number is decreased to less than 75 for players like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods who have won multiple Masters. The Green Jacket is one of the most prized trophies in sports, and it's not even an actual trophy. In fact, does anyone even know what the trophy looks like? In case you didn't, here it is:
To slip on that Green Jacket is an ultimate dream for any professional and aspiring pro golfer. The PGA Championship, The British Open and U.S. Open are all incredible feats but there is something different about winning the Masters. Augusta National, the most historic golf course in the United States with the most elite members founded by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts is still a "men's only" golf club. Some say it's sexist but others call it tradition. Every year people wait for this weekend to arrive and if you're lucky enough you just might get tickets to witness it first hand.

The events begin with the ever entertaining Par 3 contest where past champions and those playing that year play the Par 3 9-hole course. It's a time for the players to let loose and relax before the opening round. Often players will have their kids or entire family caddy for them and many of which will have them putt for them. Unlike any other golf tournament, the goal is not to have the lowest score. Why you ask? because in the 41 years since the contest was established no player has won the contest and then gone on to win the Masters that same year. Talk about a great chance to purposely goof around and miss 2 ft putts. Once the fun is over, it's game time. All focus is put on the treacherous weekend that is known as the Masters.

Thursday's opening round did not disappoint, much like the first round of the NCAA tournament this year. Lots of great golf. Birdies, long drives, chip-ins, you name it but there was also a lot of missed fairways, bogeys, doubles, and even triples. That's what any golf tournament will do to someone but when it's the Masters it seems like every mistake is multiplied by 10. This years tournament was dominated by the younger generation of up and coming pros. Right out of the gate Rory McIlroy was in control of the course shooting a 65 in the first round and not slowing down anytime soon with a 69-70 Friday and Saturday. With experience players like past champion Angel Cabrerra and KJ Choi still in the hunt it was anyone's jacket. It's okay to say you thought McIlroy was going to win, going into the final round it seemed that way. Even going into the final 9 holes he was holding strong. Then everything changed. Let's start with the other players before we get to McIlroy's final 9 holes.

Was this going to finally be Tiger's redemption win? With his -5 under charge on the front 9 it sure seemed so. Watching him hit the ball it seemed as though the eye of Tiger was back but with 120 putts he wasn't going to win. Despite his -6 round of the day, it wasn't enough with as many people behind him still left to play. He can take away from this weekend that it wasn't a poor showing but he just needs to go back and work on some aspects of his game. The Tiger is well on his way back and I wouldn't be surprised if he won a major this year after his round on Sunday. This weekend wasn't his. Nor was it Jason Day or Adam Scott. Or Geoff Ogilvy or Luke Donald. All of the men atop the leaderboard shared the lead at some point on Sunday going back and for with birdies, pars and bogeys. For a good 4-5 holes it seemed no one was willing to take the chance and go for it. It really became a neck and neck race as 3 round leader Rory McIlroy started to unravel.

For 63 holes the young Irish fellow (21) led the tournament and in the front 9 it seemed as though he was still going to take it all home. But slow and steady wasn't going to win with players charging up the leaderboard. Going into 10 McIlroy had to make a move but when he schanked it far left off the tee everything started to go against him. Saying that it went left was an understatment. He hit the ball into the houses that are right off the course seemingly needing to knock on their door to ask if he could even hit the ball. Once he got it on the fairway it still wasn't going right and he hit his approach behind the scoreboard. Somehow he only tripled the hole, but with his 4 shot lead he had going into the final round he was far from out. This is where mental toughness and experience come into play. If he could rebound he'd still have a chance, but he didn't. He followed his triple with a bogey-double bogey on the next two holes. Put a fork in him, he's done. The only thing he can walk away with from this tournament is the experience and the lesson learned on how he needs to keep it together on the final day. In a post round interview he said it very well "it'll bother me for a few days, but then I'll get over it and move on". Some players never recover from this disastrous of a final round in a major but this will ultimately prove how good he is if he can bounce back.

Charl Schwartzel become the opposite of McIlroy. Going into the final holes of the tournament he was right among the 8-10 players still in contention. All seemingly not ready to take the measures needed to grab hold of the lead. Schwartzel wasn't however. With 4 holes left someone needed to step up or else we were going to see a play off. Jason Day finished birdie birdie to end the weekend at a -12 276 and Adam Scott finished with pars on the last 3 holes for the same score. Schwartzel birdied 15...then again on 16... and once more on 17. With a beautiful straight down the middle tee shot on 18 Schwartzel was in good hands to win as long as he didn't succomb to the pressure and bogey he would be the 2011 Master Champion. Approach shot to the 18th green left him about 15 ft from the hole. 2 putts and he wins by 1 shot, birdies out and wins by 2. Charl lines up the putt, hits the ball, after a millisecond of it seeming to not go in, it rounds the edge of the cup and softly lands at the bottom. Roars from the crowd, arms in the air, it looks and sounds like we have a new masters champion.
the 75th Green Jacket was slipped on by South African Charl Scwartzel to join the club of golfers including Palmer, Nicklaus, Woods, Phil Mickelson, Mark O'Meara and fellow countrymen Gary Player. Schwartzel took what could be the hardest round of the year on the PGA and wrestled it to the ground for a victory. He didn't just sneak by, he took control in the closing holes and never looked back. But now the questions remains, will he become a one and done type winner at the Masters like Mike Weir or will he stand on 18 and wear another Green Jacket? As much as the physicality and talent as it takes to win, golf is more mental than most other sports. If you can tackle the mental game and you've got the talent of the sport, you have what it takes to be successful. As Bobby Jones once said: "Competitive golf is mainly played between a 5 1/2-inch course... the one between your ears". McIlroy did not conquer that element on Sunday but Schwartzel did. He conquered it and then some. Safe to say, the Schwartz was with him.

Who needs a regular season?

It wasn't a very pretty end to a miraculous post season run, but a win's a win. No matter how ugly it was, it's not going to bring down the UConn Huskies and their contingent of fans off Cloud 9. No snide remarks like "Any other team could have beaten both of those teams last night" or "UConn wasn't THAT good this season" can wipe the smiles off the alumni and the 16,000+ undergrad student currently enrolled in Storrs, CT. In simple terms, it doesn't matter. Those other teams didn't win when they needed to advance so they got eliminated. The only team who stepped up to the challenge every single time was UConn and look what it got them, the National Championship.

Yes Butler exhibited the worst shooting performance ever in NCAA title game history, shooting a measly 18.8%, and while as un-entertaining as it was for the rest of the sports world, it will go down as quite possibly one of the greatest sports moments in UConn's history. Most of the world expected it to be a defensive game, but with more of an offense to it from both sides. Neither team shot well, UConn just shot better and that's all they needed. What was their defensive key to winning this game? REBOUNDS. UConn had 51 rebounds on the night. They blocked out the normally outstanding Butler rebounding team, who didn't lack in rebounding with 43, but they just didn't have the offense to match. UConn's Jeremy Lamb lit up the 2nd half, scoring all of his 12 points reigniting the entire Husky Nation. While Butler failed to make any of their shots go in, UConn didn't let up one bit. They kept the pressure on causing the Bulldogs to scramble and hope they could make something work. UConn's relentless defense shut down Butler's inside game completely with 10 blocks and holding them to just 3 2-pt field goals. If you would have asked Brad Steven's before the game that UConn was only going to score 53 points, he would have been thrilled, but not with his team on the losing end of this surprising end to the season.


Last night's title game brought an end to one of the greatest post season run's in NCAA history. No I'm not being biased because I'm a Husky Hardcore, but it's undeniably one of the greatest. There's something about this title for UConn Country that is just a little bit more special than 1999 and 2004. In 99, Rip Hamilton and his team took down the mighty Duke Blue Devils 77-74. Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon and Co. roared through the 2004 tournament as a #2 seed proving to many they should have been a #1. 2011 is different. There was a different walk a different smile on Jim Calhoun's face when accepting the trophy. It wasn't all about flash and fancy plays, it was back to basics. One simple thought: win.

Starting with their heartbreaking loss to Michigan State in the 2009 Final Four, they took a step back and started over. Rather than recruiting All-Stars who don't always need coaching, Calhoun found raw talent in players like Shabazz Napier, Alex Oriakhi and Jeremy Lamb who were willing to learn and be coached. What was going to reignite this team was Kemba Walker. The ultimate success of this team would fall on his shoulders. As Calhoun said post game "I needed this team as much as they needed me". The bond of trust from Calhoun to Kemba and then Kemba onto his team mates can't be matched. If Kemba wasn't having a good night against Arizona, Calhoun trusted him when he said they needed to give the ball to Jeremy Lamb and in turn Lamb trusted Kemba to get him the ball to score.

Pre-season, Connecticut wasn't even ranked. Besides the star power in Kemba Walker no one really knew just how good they were going to be. After the Maui Invitational, a lot of people changed their POVs. The Huskies stormed through Hawaii defeating future NIT Champions Wichita State (83-79), Michigan State (70-67) and future Final Four Kentucky (84-67). Kemba Walker and the Huskies had arrived. Regular and conference season began with more ups and downs than the roller coasters at Six Flags. They started pushing their way up the ranks of the AP polls but then suffering tough Big East losses would throw them back down a few places. Then they'd play teams like Texas, at Texas and rise once again on the shoulders of the Kardiac Kemba. Despite their phenomenal play outside of the Big East conference they faltered to a 9-9 conference record losing 4 out of their last 5 games.

Something happened the day after their regular season ending loss to Notre Dame. They had the best practice that day, that spark was back but they still had the daunting Big East tournament in front of them and with their poor record in order to win the tournament they'd have to play 5 games in 5 days. Nothing anyone thought was possible. Oh wait, it was. 5 in 5 with a staggering 130 point performance from Walker and Jeremy Lamb emerging with double figure points in every game. Magic happened in those 5 games at Madison Square Garden. Walker was playing the best minutes of his career, Calhoun was feeding off his energy calling plays and the rest of the team was using his passion and heart to drive themselves past exhaustion. Saturday night after defeating Louisville they could finally rest, but not for long. NCAA tournament play was set to begin on Thursday in Washington D.C. 5-0 in post season, 8-0 tournament play.

Would Connecticut be too tired after their Big East tournament performance? When asked about fatigue Kemba's reply "We're not going to let fatigue get us. When I'm on the court my heart takes over". They came out storming in the first round and manhandled Bucknell. Tired? Wouldn't have known it. After a rocky first round, they knocked out Big East opponents Cincinnati guaranteeing a Big East team to the Sweet 16. After the dismal performances of the upper seeded Big East teams in the first few rounds the 9th and 10th teams (UConn and Marquette) were the only ones left. Moving out to Anaheim, to play San Diego State in a near home game, the Huskies continued their road to Houston. Elite 8 vs. Arizona, a scary game in the least but with an 18-7 run in the 1st half while Derrick Williams was on the bench, UConn sealed their spot in the Final Four. 9-0 post season, 12-0 tournament play.

The UConn-Kentucky re-match wasn't going to be the same as Maui. Both teams were very different from November. It was visible that the Huskies were tired, Kemba had played all 40 minutes of the past 3 games. Would the 5 in 5 finally catch up with them? Physically maybe, but emotionally and mentally, hell no. Despite the late charge from Kentucky, Shabazz Napier getting fouled after his rebound of Andre Liggins' final 3-pt attempt took him to the line. Both free throws went in. Game Over. UConn is headed back to the Championship and well, we all know how that ended up; the championship title. 11-0 post season, 14-0 tournament play.

You push the Huskies back against a wall, they will find a way to win, no matter how ugly it may be. You don't see Coach Calhoun smile often, but when he does it's a beautiful thing. Monday night was about as good as it gets for him. He became the oldest coach at 68 to win a national championship and joined an elite club of 4 other coaches (Wooden, Rupp, Knight, Krzyzewski) to win 3 or more titles. Still want to say he's not one of the greatest? You can't argue it. No better team than this years Huskies to launch him into legend status.

UConn had everything this year: offense, defense, Kemba Walker, teamwork, trust, athleticism, heart, power and determination. They played well enough in the regular season to get themselves into the NCAA tournament, maybe not have been a top team during the year, but when it mattered most they did what other teams couldn't do: win. 11-0 in post season and 14-0 in tournament play. UConn played the best 420 minutes (540 in tournament play) than any other team in the NCAA giving them the 2011 National Title.

Until next year...

U! C! O! N! N! UCONN! UCONN! UCONN!

And then there were 2...

One of the most surprising, if not the most, Final Fours in the history of the NCAA tournament did not disappoint last night. Well at least for 2 teams and their fans it didn't, but for 2 others it left them silenced, heartbroken and sent home empty handed. Not without the usual NCAA Final Four drama. No matter the outcomes of the 2 games: Butler beating VCU, VCU continuing their Ultimate Cinderella run or Calipari and the Wildcats cruising past Calhoun and the Huskies, Kemba and his Husky Orchestra defeating the winningest program in NCAA history it was going to the an unexpected Championship game on Monday night. Butler v. UConn? VCU v. UConn? Butler v. Kentucky? VCU v. Kentucky?

The match-up between Butler and VCU was going to the battle of the Cinderellas. Both teams have proved their worthy of being in the Final Four, especially the Rams, after barely making the tournament and then hearing about it for 2 days before their play in game in Dayton that they shouldn't have been picked. Hey Critics, you still think they should have been left out of the tournament field? These two Mid Major programs have proved they can hang and play better than the big dogs, but now they have to go up against one another. Both teams shoot well from the 3 point arc but also have phenomenal defenses to stop what seems to be anyone in their tracks. From the start it was a close game, either team going up a few points but then the other answering right back with a few more. Up by 6 at the half, butler seemed to be putting on the touches of what took them to title game last year, however no one was counting out VCU yet. Roaring back into the 2nd half VCU was still very much in the game, but then time started to wear on them and Butler played the final stretch of the game like champions where VCU struggled and fell short. Before we knew, Butler was up by 10 in the last minutes of the game. 70-62. Butler advances for the 2nd time in 2 years. VCU the first of 2 teams sent home, but their run in this tournament said something about NCAA basketball. No one will ever forget their run and I'm sorry George Mason but from here on out it's going to be "Who is going to be this year's VCU?" The Bulldogs rejoiced in the locker room, back in familiar territory now all they had to do was wait to find out who they're going to play Monday night.

Kentucky vs. UConn. Calipari vs. Calhoun. Knight vs. Walker. Wildcats vs. Huskies. Both programs have extraordinary fanbases who camped out long before the doors opened to Reliant Stadium to ensure their front row seats in the student section. Were the Huskies going to continue their extraordinary run in the post-season or would the Wildcats finally find a way to beat the team that a month ago, on long month, seemed to be far from even getting passed the 1st round of the tournament. Both teams with phenomenal star players in Kemba Walker and Brandon Knight, both teams with tough defenses, and both teams with a lot to prove. Each team made a run in the 1st half in a very physical game but with a cold shooting Kentucky the game seemed to be in Connecticut's hands. Kentucky came out in the 2nd have swinging cutting that lead down to 1 with Liggins and Knight draining 3's. Husky Nation started to get worried, but it was far from over. UConn tightened up their defense, shut down Josh Harrelson, and started to make plays. With 2:30 left Shabazz Napier drove to the basket with a sweet hook shot to take the lead to 6 but Liggins fought right back and cut the lead to 3. Down by 2, Napier loses the ball and Kentucky calls the TO. Kentucky could either tie the game or win, Liggins took the final 3 with 4 seconds left, a great shot, but fell short. Amongst the sea of giant players Shabazz extended his arms and came up with the rebound, getting fouled with only 1.7 seconds left. Make both of his free throws, game over. Talk about pressure. He made the first and now refocus, take a breath, look at the hoop. Swish. Game Over. Hands down the biggest buckets of this kids season, if not possibly his career. Despite Knight's final 3 pointer at the buzzer, it wasn't enough. UConn is going to the Championship game.


So it's set Monday night: Butler vs. UConn. Bulldogs vs. Huskies. Stevens (rookie) vs. Calhoun (veteran). 6 months ago neither of the teams thought they'd be in this position. Even a month ago, both teams struggling in regular season play weren't even close to being picked for the Final Four let alone the championship game, yet here we are, they're the final two teams left. The only real different right now between these two teams is 1 win. UConn is on a 10 game winning streak starting from their improbable 5 games in 5 days Big East Championship run (Butler played 4 games in the Horizon League Championship). This is a game that will be talked about for years. If Butler wins, they will cap 2 of the greatest tournament runs in history, a runner-up and then coming back the year after with a National Title. If UConn wins, they bring the trophy back to Storrs for the first time since 2004 also giving Calhoun his 3rd title joining the elite club of 5 coaches who have each won 3 championships and pushing UConn into "NCAA Blue Blood" status.

We all know who I'm cheering for obviously, but no matter the end result of tomorrow's game, I'm so proud of this team and what they've done. Myself (as well as the rest of Husky Nation) will never forget what they've done. They are reminiscent of the 2004 team and we all know how that ended up. The Huskies have found improbable ways to win and they have one more test in Butler. Their 13-0 tournament play this season has gone like this from the beginning: Witchita St, Michigan St, Kentucky (Maui Invitational), DePaul, Georgetown, PITT, Syracuse, Louisville (Big East Championship), Bucknell, Cincinnati, San Diego State, Arizona, and Kentucky again. Will Butler be their latest victim? All signs right now are pointing to yes, but the Bulldogs aren't going to go away easily. All eyes on the game tomorrow night will either be rooting for Butler or UConn, seemingly more people rooting for Butler, but Husky Nation is loud and will be heard in Houston from across the country. Maui-Manhattan-D.C.-Anaheim-Houston. We're bringing it all back to Storrs.

1 more game left, THE game. 40 minutes until we have a new National Champion.