UWL Graduate Natalie Sims Competing in Paralympic Games Again

By Adam Roberts – 8/24/2021

A recent UWL grad is getting a chance to represent her country at the highest level of competition this week.

Natalie Sims is a Spring 2021 graduate with a degree in communications and a minor in sociology and leadership development, and will be competing in the 2020(21) Tokyo Paralympic Games as a swimmer in the 100 and 400 freestyle swims. It will be Sims’s second Paralympic Games appearacnce after competing in the backstroke, freestyle, and butterfly at the Rio Games in 2016. In Brazil Sims finished eighth in the 400 free.

The Edina, Minnesota native has also competed overseas in Denmark in 2018 and was a part of the U.S. Emerging Team in 2014 at the Can-Am Paralympic Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The Paralympic Games begin today in Tokyo and run through September 5th. Best of luck to Natalie and the rest of Team USA!

 

 

Bangor Football Team Enters Quarantine

By Adam Roberts – 8/23/2021

While more specifics are not known at this time, it appears as though the Bangor football team will be out of commission for the foreseeable future.

News 8’s Alec Giannakoupoulos first reported the Cardinals were entering into quarantine due to an outbreak of COVID-19. The previously scheduled game this week against Pepin/Alma has been cancelled, and at the moment it’s unknown if they will be able to go next week Friday against Hillsboro.

Bangor is the first area team to deal with a virus outbreak this season, and likely won’t be the last with the highly transmissible Delta variant now the dominant strain of the virus.

Coulee Region Football this week is scheduled to be in Holmen as the Vikings welcome the Menomonie Mustangs; coverage begins with the High School Football Preview Show at 6pm!

Big Ten Once Again Will Rule COVID-19 Cancellations Either Forfeits or No Contests

By Adam Roberts – 8/23/2021

Last season, the Big Ten was a unique situation relating to its football games and the pandemic: either play the game with who you have available or have your game ruled a no-contest, no make ups. This year, the formula will be mostly the same.

The official statement from the conference says: “the conference has determined that if one of its member institutions is unable to play a conference contest due to COVID-19, that contest shall be declared a forfeit and will not be rescheduled.”

Under the policy, the contest would then be considered a loss for the team impacted by the virus, and a win for the opposition in conference standings. If both teams are unable to participate because of COVID-19, it would be declared a “no contest.”

The Badgers begin the season September 4th against #19 Penn State here on ESPN La Crosse 105.5!

Vikings Cut Two Following Second Preseason Loss; Everson Griffen Expected to Sign With Team

By Adam Roberts – 8/23/2021

Wide receiver Warren Jackson and cornerback Dylan Maybin are the latest roster casualties as the Vikings try to trim their roster to 80 players before tomorrow.

Jackson didn’t log a catch in either of the Vikings two preseason games, while Mabin struggled in coverage against both the Broncos and Colts. The Vikings currently have 83 players on their roster, meaning three more players will have to be waived before tomorrow’s cut-down deadline.

At the same time, ESPN Vikings reporter Courtney Cronin writes today that pass-rusher Everson Griffen is expected to re-sign with the team. The four-time Pro Bowler opted out in February of last year and played with both the Cowboys and Lions registering six sacks. Sources told Cronin the terms of Griffen’s contract are still being worked out

Minnesota’s final preseason game is Friday evening at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Report: Giannis Set To Become Brewers’ Minority Owner

By Adam Roberts – 8/20/2021

Could the Greek Freak soon be a big investor in Milwaukee Brewers baseball success? Rumblings today indicate this could be the case.

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman tweeted today that there were some rumors that Giannis Antetokounmpo was interested in becoming a minority owner of the Brewers. And then this tweet by Adam McCalvy followed:

 

Giannis would become the second MVP to be a minority owner in a Wisconsin pro sports team; Aaron Rodgers has the same type of ownership stake in the Bucks.

Big Ten, Pac 12, ACC Reportedly Contemplating Alliance

By Adam Roberts – 8/20/2021

For those of you not familiar with professional wrestling history, back in 2001 the WWF purchased WCW and soon after members of the latter company began to “invade” Monday Night Raw. This resulted in WWF wrestlers forming a kayfabe “Alliance” to fight against the WCW wrestlers. Without getting to into it, The Alliance was ultimately a very poorly executed television idea but it still has it’s importance in the history of the now WWE.

Let’s hope this reported college football alliance works out a bit better.

ESPN reports the Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 are expected to formally announce an alliance between the three leagues in the next 7-10 days, according to multiple sources involved in the conversations. However, the substance of that agreement remains uncertain. The move comes in response to the SEC announcing they will absorb both Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12 in a few years. The initial talks involved all sports, although it could be whittled down to just football and men’s and women’s basketball. There’s also the matter of future scheduling contracts the leagues may have with SEC schools that has to be figured out.

We’ll of course be keeping an eye on this story and will pass along more info as it becomes available.

 

MLB Ends Deal With Topps Trading Cards; Deal With Fanatics Could Follow

By Adam Roberts – 8/19/2021

Major League Baseball is ending its 70-year deal with trading card company Topps.

MLB renewed its deal with Topps in 2018 with the existing deal ending in 2025. This comes as sports apparel company Fanatics is expected to take over as the official trading card brand of MLB.

The league owns equity in Fanatics with giving its non-fungible token rights recently to Fanatic-owned Candy Digital. It appears as though Fanatics is also going to partner with the NBPA and NFLPA soon.

Brewers’ P Freddy Peralta Placed On 10-Day IL

By Adam Roberts – 8/19/2021

Last night, Brewers’ starter Freddy Peralta left the team’s eventual extra-innings win over St. Louis after noting his right shoulder didn’t quite feel right. Today the team is confirming that he will be leaving the rotation so he can heal up for the stretch run.

Milwaukee officially placed Peralta on the 10-day IL today with what is officially being called right shoulder inflammation. To fill the open roster spot, the team has called up lefty Hoby Milner. In other injury news, first baseman Daniel Vogelbach seems a step closer towards returning to the big leagues as he prepares for a rehab assignment in Nashville.

Milner was drafted by the Phillies in the 2012 amateur draft and has played in their system as well as with Tampa Bay and the Angels before arriving in Milwaukee this season.

Packers Unveil New Alternate Uniforms

By Adam Roberts – 8/19/2021

It’s been long said that if you look good, you feel good. And while football players will play football in whatever uniform they wear, it certainly helps morale when the threads pop.

This season, the Packers have updated their alternate retro uniforms, turning away from the blue and yellow “Acme Packers” jerseys and instead going with a look inspired by the team’s uniforms from the 1950s:

The uniforms feature the team’s helmet without the “G” decal; note that the NFL’s helmet rule prohibiting changing the makeup of the helmet is in effect for one more season.

Green Bay will wear these uniforms November 7th against Washington.

 

Former Packers QB Brett Favre Discourages Tackle Football Before Age 14

By Adam Roberts – 8/18/2021

Brett Favre is urging parents to not let their children under the age of 14 play tackle football.

In a new public service announcement, the former long-time Packer quarterback says the longer people play tackle football the more likely they are to develop a fatal brain disease that can only be diagnosed after death. Due to the hits Favre took during his 20 seasons in the NFL, he says he could have the disease and be unaware of it.

Favre says having kids play the sport before they even start high school is just not worth the risk.

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