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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.

Black River Falls Golf Advances To State

By Adam Roberts – 6/9/2021

As the temperatures warm up, I long to get out on the links and play my first full round of golf for the year. It’s also around this time that I get excited for the WIAA state golf tournament. While I have been a part of one state football championship, I much more closely relate to the feeling of getting ready to compete at and then playing on University Ridge.

And while the tournament is being held at Trappers Turn in the Dells instead this year, one area team will get a chance to experience those butterflies that only a state championship can bring.

Black River Falls finished second place in their Division Two sectional yesterday with a 328 team score, behind only Lakeland Union with a 323. Junior Mike Antonelli was the second best golfer on the day with a one-over 73.

In Division One, Tomah’s Hunter Neumann will represent the Coulee Region as an individual after shooting a 77 on Monday at Blackhawk Country Club.

NCAA President and Others Testify Before Senate on NIL Rights for Athletes

By Adam Roberts – 6/9/2021

On his way out the door, soon-to-be-retired Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez has noted the college athletics landscape is on pace to look noticeably different over the next few years. The biggest reason may be the push for NIL, or name, image, and likeness rights for the modern student athlete. Today, the United States Senate heard from the NCAA President and the nation’s top athletic leaders on compensation for student athletes.

Legislation has been proposed to allow athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness. A long-time proponent of student athletes remaining uncompensated, NCAA President Mark Emmert added that a federal solution needs to ensure that NIL payments are not a pay-for-play scenario. Gonzaga Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mark Few also said the future of college sports is in jeopardy because each state has different rules on NIL rights.

ESPN Analyst Rod Gilmore called this is a civil rights issue, adding that it’s disturbing that the 14-billion-dollar industry is made off the backs of Black players. Senator Cory Booker, a former Stanford Football player, called college athletics a for-profit industry that takes advantage of athletes by robbing them of earnings in their peak years.

The NIL legislation bill was introduced last February by Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, with it expected to be in place by August 1st with or without assistance from Washington.

Nets Instructed To Stop Using Free Throw Clock During Giannis Shots

By Adam Roberts – 6/9/2021

The question has been asked before: when does gamesmanship cross over into taunting?

Well, the N-B-A thinks the Brooklyn Nets found, and crossed, that line in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Bucks.

According to the New York Post, the Nets had opted to put a running clock on the overhead scoreboard when Giannis would prepare to shoot his free-throws in Game One’s 115-107 Bucks loss. In the NBA rule book there is a rule that dictates a player has ten seconds to shoot their free throw before being assessed a violate, and the notoriously-deliberate Antetokounmpo has been assessed several this season. The Greek Freak made just 68.5 percent of his league-leading 581 free throws this season.

As for what, if anything, the league could do in response? Probably not a lot.

The Bucks and Nets play Game Three tomorrow in Milwaukee. Coverage begins after The Sports Lead on ESPN La Crosse 105.5! You can also catch the game on the stream here or on TuneIn.

MLB Criticizes Lawsuit Over All-Star Game

By Adam Roberts – 6/8/2021

A group representing businesses in Georgia affected by the relocation of the MLB All Star game is taking legal action seeking compensation, and baseball isn’t thrilled with it.

Major League Baseball is criticizing a lawsuit filed over the relocation of Atlanta’s All-Star game. The summer classic was moved earlier this spring from Truist Park to Denver after the state’s new voting measures were signed into law. The league called a lawsuit filed by the Job Creators Network “political theatrics.” The lawsuit seeks 100-million-dollars to help Georgia small businesses who suffered potential losses in the move.

Meanwhile this evening the Brewers are looking for their fifth consecutive win tonight against the Reds in Cincinnati. Adrian Houser will take the mound for Milwaukee and will face Sonny Gray. The Brewers are a half-game ahead of the Cubs for first place in the NL Central standings while the Reds are four-games behind.