Sportastic Weekend!

What a weekend! Check out this itinerary: Friday - 7:00 pm High school football - Tremper vs. Oak Creek. Saturday – 1:07 pm MLB game 1 of National League Division Series - Milwaukee vs. Arizona. 8:00 pm College football – Wisconsin vs. Nebraska. Sunday – 10:00 am English Premier League soccer – Arsenal vs. Tottenham. 3:15 pm NFL – Green Bay vs. Denver. 4:07 pm MLB game 2 of National League Division Series - Milwaukee vs. Arizona.

All of this action in a 48-hour period. This was a fantastic sports weekend. In fact, it was Sportastic!

Here are brief recaps of this remarkable sextuplet of events:

Tremper Trojans 49 Oak Creek Knights 35

Toneo Gulley returned after missing two weeks with a knee injury and played a huge role in Tremper’s triumph. He rushed for 221 yards on just 13 carries and scored three touchdowns. Gulley was equally stellar on defense, coming up with an interception and a fumble recovery. The victory was the 100^th varsity win for Tremper coach Frank Matrise.

Milwaukee Brewers 4 Arizona Diamondbacks 1

Right-hander Yovani Gallardo tossed eight strong innings, recording nine strikeouts as the Crew captured game one in of their NLDS with Arizona. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun sparked the offense as Fielder doubled and homered and Braun was 3 for 4 and scored two runs. John Axford recorded the save with a perfect ninth.

Wisconsin Badgers 48 Nebraska Cornhuskers 17

The Badgers spoiled Nebraska’s Big Ten debut before a crowd of 81,384 at Camp Randall. Quarterback Russell Wilson’s outstanding performance has to give him serious consideration for the Heisman Trophy Award. The Badgers are 1-0 in the Big Ten and 5-0 overall.

Arsenal Gunners 1 Tottenham Spurs 2

The Gunners got down early but a goal by Aaron Ramsey on an assist from Alexandre Song tied things up at the 51^st minute. Unfortunately, a late second half score by Tottenham’s Kyle Walker proved to be the difference. Arsenal is struggling early this season.

Green Bay Packers 49 Denver Broncos 23

The Pack improves to 4-0 as Aaron Rodgers puts on an unbelievable offensive display. Not only did he pass for 408 yards and four touchdowns, he also rushed for 36 yards and two additional scores. The defense intercepted Kyle “throat beard” Orton three times. The Green and Gold is looking good.

Milwaukee Brewers 9 Arizona Diamondbacks 4

The Brew Crew wins game two of the NLDS, courtesy of a 5-run sixth inning. The star of the game was Ryan “MVP” Braun. The leftfielder went 3 for 4 with a double, home run and 3 RBI. The series shifts to Arizona on Tuesday with the Brewers threatening to sweep.

One other noteworthy bit of sports news on this amazing sports weekend. In Norfolk, England, 9-year-old Jake Lammas earned his green belt in Judo, competing against boys six years his senior. The young Lammas does not limit his athletic endeavors to Judo. He also competes in swimming, rugby and soccer, showing considerable aptitude in all three sports.

The young Brit’s prowess in soccer was on display two weeks ago in an Under 10 match. Lammas scored a goal for Dersingham in a heartbreaking, 3-2 loss to Downham. What made Lammas’ goal so impressive was that he was the goalkeeper!

After making a stop in his own goal, Lammas kicked the ball the length of the field. It bounced only once before bounding into his opponent’s goal. This memorable feat has since earned him the nickname, “Thunderfoot”. Jake Lammas will be a force to be reckoned with in sports for years to come.

Jake "Thunderfoot" Lammas - back row, center

There you have it - three football games, two playoff baseball games, a soccer match and an emerging superstar from England. What a spectacular sports weekend. It truly was Sportastic!

Until next time…from the booth.

Beast Mode Brewer Style

As I write this, the Milwaukee Brewers are on top of the National League Central division, leading the St. Louis Cardinals by ten games. The Brew Crew’s record for the season is currently 78 wins and 54 losses, a whopping 24 games over .500. They have won 24 of their last 29 games and their magic number is at 22. That means any combination of Brewer wins and Cardinal losses equaling 22, the Crew will clinch the division title. 

The Brewers are in Beast Mode!

With their success, the team is receiving some much-deserved recognition. Ryan Braun, Nyjer Morgan and Prince Fielder are on the cover of the August 29 edition of Sports Illustrated that hit the news stands this past Tuesday. They are pictured celebrating Mark Kotsay’s walk-off hit against the Dodgers on August 16.

Speaking of celebrations, you might have noticed Prince, Morgan, Corey Hart and other Brewers motioning wildly after they reach base. This the Crew’s new celebration. After a big hit, players turn to the dugout with their arms spread out like they’re scaring someone.

Morgan refers to it as “Beast Mode”. Prince offers a little more insight, explaining, “That’s my kids’ favorite movie. The whole team does it now. It’s something that I saw my kids do, and I thought it was funny, so I thought I might as well do it, too.”

Prince Fielder in “Beast Mode”

The players say that “Beast Mode” is not meant to show up the opposition and insist they are just having fun. If you remember, the Texas Rangers celebrated last year with the “Claw” and “Antlers” gestures all the way to the World Series.

Not everyone is a fan of “Beast Mode”. Some old school baseball types see this as “disrespecting the game”. Curmudgeons like Cardinal manager, Tony La Russa for instance. But then again, La Russa and the rest of his St. Louis slimeballs act as if they invented baseball.

Morgan, aka Tony Plush, indicates that this just isn’t true. He was quoted as saying, ““We don’t want to show up anybody and we don’t to seem like we’re out there being cocky and don’t respect someone else’s game, or the game in general. If it comes down to that, guys are going to have to turn things down. I think it’s cool.”

Right fielder and fellow “Beast”, Hart, noted that the Brewers personality is different than everybody else’s and that it’s good if other teams (see Cardinals) don’t like it.

I read that Brewer manager Ron Roenicke said, “Today’s game is different. If you want to be ‘old school’, you’re not going to do real well in this game today unless you’ve been around as long as Tony La Russa or Bobby Cox.”

Well, Mr. Cox retired after last season. Maybe it’s time for La Russa to either change or do the same. I much prefer the Brewers’ “Beast Mode” to the Cardinals’ constant “Prick Mode”.

Hey La Russa, wake up, the light has changed. Again.

Go Crew, keep it in “Beast Mode”.

Until next time…from the booth.