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DL Sheldon Richardson Returns To Vikings

By Adam Roberts – 6/16/2021

A familiar face is back with the Vikings.

The team has brought back defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson. The defensive tackle is expected to receive up to 4.35-million dollars with incentives over one year. It’s the second go-around for Richardson in Minnesota. He played for the Vikings in 2018.

Minnesota will resume mandatory minicamp today, while Green Bay wrapped up their latest voluntary workouts yesterday. The Packers have one final OTA date scheduled for tomorrow before the offseason takes a breather before training camp next month.

New MLB Foreign Substance Guidance Announced

By Adam Roberts – 6/15/2021

Another day, another ruling on some sort handed down by Major League Baseball.

MLB is announcing new guidance on enforcement of foreign substances being applied to baseballs. Any pitcher who possesses or puts a foreign substance on a game ball will be ejected and automatically suspended.

Starting pitchers will now have more than one mandatory check per game and each relief pitcher is subject to be checked at the end of the inning they pitch in. Catchers will also be subjected to “routine inspections.”

This comes after a number of pitchers have been seen putting substances on baseballs.

Tonight, the Brewers are back at American Family Field hosting the Reds in game two of their series.

Results from Day One of WIAA State Golf

By Adam Roberts – 6/14/2021

This year’s state golf tournament looks slightly different than those from two years ago at University Ridge. BUT we can take solace that there is at least a tournament to be played at all this June.

Instead of Madison, players this spring are in the Wisconsin Dells, with Division One at a different course than Divisions Two and Three.

Looking at local athletes competing for a title this week, Tomah’s Hunter Neumann finished with an 81 overall, performing very well on the front nine of Wild Rock Golf Club with a one-over 37 before shooting eight-over on the back nine. At the time of this writing there were still some athletes on the course and Neumann wasin a 12-way tie for 42nd overall.

Black River Falls qualified for Division Two as a team, but is currently bringing up the rear with a two players still on the course. Evan Anderson has the best overall score for the Tigers so far with a 90, though Caden Skelding and Mike Antonelli are still on the course.

And in Division Three, Sam Dobbins of Aquinas is competing as an individual and has performed the best out of our area’s athletes. Dobbins eagled the par 4 14th and finished the day tied for 15th at ten-over.

Action resumes in the Dells tomorrow.

Packers’ President/CEO Mark Murphy Calls Aaron Rodgers “A Complicated Fella”

By Adam Roberts – 6/14/2021

If there’s one constant that has been with the Packers and Aaron Rodgers since the start of their current disagreements, it’s that the situation certainly has been complicated. So perhaps it’s not surprising that Packers’ CEO/President Mark Murphy repeated what former general manager Ted Thompson said to describe the quarterback a while ago and called Rodgers “a complicated fella”.

Listening to some people talk about this comment, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes a bit at some people reaching further than Stretch Armstrong to make something grand of this. Sure, Murphy probably shouldn’t have maid the comments, but some of the commentators or talking heads were treating this comment like it was something completely new instead of what it was: a reiteration of what Thompson had already said about the Packers quarterback. It’s a lot like Murphy’s earlier statement about how the Rodgers situation has divided the fanbase, which was then spun into Rodgers himself dividing fans rather than the situation.

In case I haven’t made it abundantly clear, this whole situation is so frustrating to sit through as an observer, for no reason other than there’s not much to say about it until something actually happens and some people just want to stretch any little bit of content way too thin.

The next chance we probably will have to hear more “juicy” Murphy sound bites will come at next month’s shareholders’ meeting on July 26th, right before training camp opens up in Green Bay.

Brewers Transfer Shaw to 60-Day IL; Acquire P Strickland

By Adam Roberts – 6/14/2021

The Brewers took care of business yesterday, defeating the Pirates and completing a weekend sweep against the team that just a few years ago embarrassed Milwaukee with a five-game sweep of their own.

But the series was not all sunshine and rainbows for Milwaukee, who will now be without their primary third baseman for sometime.

Already minus Lorenzo Cain until further notice, Brewers’ third baseman Travis Shaw was moved to the 60-day injured list after dislocating his shoulder on a dive. Luis Urias will most likely take the majority of the time at third base meanwhile.

The team did, however, make a notable acquisition over the weekend. They’ll be bringing in reliever Hunter Strickland from the Angels in exchange for cash. Strickland was designated for assignment by the Angels last week. He posted a 9.95 ERA in nine games with the Halos, and many remember his brawl with Bryce Harper a few years ago.

Milwaukee is back home tonight to host Cincinnati.

Report: Next NBA Season To Start On Time

By Adam Roberts – 6/11/2021

The next NBA season will be reportedly starting on time after the current one was delayed due to the pandemic.

According to The Athletic, the next season is reportedly slated to begin October 19th. That would put the NBA back on its regularly scheduled format to allow for 82 games. The playoffs are expected to begin next April. Teams will reportedly be at training camp at the end of September.

In the current postseason, the Bucks have at least made it a series following their Game Three win at home over Brooklyn. Game Four is this Sunday at Fiserv Forum. Our coverage begins at 2pm on ESPN La Crosse 105.5 and streaming both here and on TuneIn!

Packers TE Jace Sternberger Suspended First Two Games

By Adam Roberts – 6/11/2021

As Green Bay Packer minicamp wrapped up yesterday, the story of the day came not on anything related to Aaron Rodgers’s holdout or a Jordan Love touchdown throw. It was about an incident from last year that has resulted in punishment now for tight end Jace Sternberger.

The third-year Packer will be suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Sternberger revealed on Twitter that in February 2020, while on anti-depressants, he put himself behind the wheel and fell asleep.

The full tweet can be viewed here.

He will miss regular-season games at New Orleans and against Detroit.

Reports: College Football Playoff May Expand To 12 Teams

By Adam Roberts – 6/10/2021

It won’t happen right away but the College Football Playoff may be expanding to a 12 team format.

Reports throughout the day say the CFP committee will propose the expansion when it meets next week. The committee will reportedly recommend the playoff include the six highest-ranked conference champions and the six remaining highest-ranked teams determined by the CFP selection committee.

The current playoff system only includes four teams, with many saying the format waters down any large bowl game outside of the playoff. The expansion will not take place this year if it’s approved.

Packers Officially Announce Full Capacity Plans

By Adam Roberts – 6/10/2021

Aerial shots above Lambeau Field this upcoming season will have decidedly more human beings in them.

The team today confirmed it plans to host fans at full capacity at games and other events this summer and fall. Those extra events include the annual shareholders meeting on July 26th and Packers Family Night August 7th. Training camp this July is expected to have fans in attendance, however some adjustments will likely need to be made.

“The Packers are planning for the season and the various activities that annually help all of us get excited for the return of football,” Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy said. “We continue to encourage individuals to follow CDC recommendations, including getting vaccinated, as it greatly reduces risk of viral infection and transmission in fully vaccinated individuals. We look forward to once again experiencing the incredible atmosphere our fans provide at training camp, games and events.”

The team says that while they will ask unvaccinated guests to wear masks, there will be no proof of vaccination required.

Packers minicamp wraps up today in Green Bay.

Cain, Shaw Injury Updates As Milwaukee Looks For Series Win vs Cincinnati

By Adam Roberts – 6/10/2021

While the Brewers have overall been on a hot streak of late, their winning ways were paused yesterday evening in Cincinnati.

Searching for their sixth straight victory, Milwaukee ran into rookie pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez. The Havana product went seven innings giving up just two runs with seven strikeouts in the 7-3 Reds win. The night actually started with Gutierrez balking in the first run of the night, but he would gather himself afterwards. Conversely, Brett Anderson lost his fourth game of the season for Milwaukee and struggled through just three innings of work.

The biggest trial of the night for the Crew was a loss of Travis Shaw in the second inning. Shaw was assisted leaving the field after diving for a ground ball at third base. He is scheduled for imaging today to determine the extent of the damage, but manager Craig Counsell said it would not be available for a couple of days. As for outfielder Lorenzo Cain, Counsell said he will be out for the rest of June. Although he has taken light practices, Counsell said the injury is very serious and he doesn’t plan on starting him before July 1st.

Milwaukee and Cincinnati wrap up their series this morning at Great American Ballpark. The Brewers will go with the hot-handed Freddy Peralta against Luis Castillo.