Expect the Miraculous with the Brew Crew

Yesterday, I attended the Brewers On Deck event in Milwaukee held at the Midwest Express Center. I went there wanting to get a photo I have signed by J.J. Hardy, but with only 250 vouchers available per player/coach it was not assured that I'd get the autograph.
My cousin and I got there about an hour and a half before they opened the doors to the center but fortunately we were able to wait in line inside. The line quickly started heading way way way back behind us then proceeded to snake around next to us.
We had heard that there were other such lines and that everyone would be allowed in at the same time. That was a bit of hope because we were maybe only like 150 people away from the beginning of the line.
When the event finally began we ascended the escalator and quickly made our way inside the convention center and b-lined right over to stage two where Hardy would be signing autographs.
My cousin and I were about 75 people or so back from the beginning of the line so at that point I began to realize, Hey, yeah, this is really going to work! The staging area was set up similar to an airport ticket counter with lines guided around and around by barriers. We were on the first row and about 6 feet away from the wall.
It was about 10:30 in the morning and we still had another hour before Hardy would begin signing autographs. On the other side of the stage area that we were on was another stage where all-star slugger Ryan Braun would be signing autographs at 11 am.
Around 10:55 I knelt down to find something in my jacket on the floor. Not expecting what I was about to see, I looked and made eye contact with a passing-by Ryan Braun. In dumb-founded amazement I said,
"Holy shit it's Ryan Braun"
"Hey whats up man?," he acknowledged
"Not too much man," I said
Half an hour after that Hardy passed by, this time it was expected. About ten minutes after that we were getting ready to climb the small stage to get our autographs. Now the autograph vouchers each cost $10 and only one was available per fan who made it into that blessed 250.
My cousin, Jon, was impartial to the autograph and even suggested that he get out of line and give it to someone else. Instead I figured I could use the opportunity to get two things autographed. I told Jon to get my photo signed and I'll have the shortstop sign my jersey which I was taking off my back.
So there we stood, Jon handed Hardy my photo which he signed then I was up. I went up to him and said,
"Hey buddy, can I get you to sign it right here?" Pointing at the spine of the number seven on the back of the jersey.
"Sure" he said.
As he's signing it I said to him, "So man, is it going to be the Cardinal's offense or Pittsburg's 'D' that'll take the Super Bowl next week?"
With a grin he replied, "Oh man Cardinal's all the way. I'm from Arizona so you know how it goes."
"Yeah man," I said. "I know, that's great, I want them to win too. Thanks." I descended the stage in blissful manifestation into a sea of faces and flashing cameras.
This is ancient wisdom applied to modern circumstances. In a totally non-religious way, look at what is written in the gospel of Mark, verse 11:23. In it Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart."
About a week before the event, I became confident in the knowing that I'd be able to get Hardy's autograph despite there being only 250 vouchers available and in upwards of at least over 5000 people due to attend.
What I wasn't expecting that day were the two bonuses that I got. Speaking to Braun was a bonus and then to get not just one but two things signed was also a bonus.
I am at a point where I just can't doubt anything that I put my mind to. Seeing this amazing power at work in my life, manifesting these amazing experiences has left me in the full knowing that absolutely nothing is impossible.
"He that loveth pureness of heart, For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend."
-Proverbs 22:11

The Brewers are wrapping up talks with first baseman Prince Fielder on a two year, $18 million deal. A detailed account of the Brewers' deal with Fielder will be released within the next 24 hours. It could be released at "Bob Uecker's Winter Warm-Up," which will be held Friday evening in downtown Milwaukee.

Fielder's contract will cover the first two of three arbitration seasons he is eligible for. The vegetarian slugger must pass a physical before the contract will be enacted.

Last season, Fielder hit .276 with 34 home runs and 102 RBI, which followed his career 2007 season. He had 50 home runs and 119 RBI in 2007. Barring any injuries, Fielder's 2008 statistical season can be expected from the third-year Brewer.

Recent players offered arbitration-avoiding deals include shortstop JJ Hardy and pitcher Dave Bush. Hardy was offered a one year, $4.65 million deal. He hit .283 with 24 home runs during the historic 2008 season. Bush had a 4.18 ERA in 31 games last season, of which he earned 16 quality starts.

Arbitration-eligible players remaining include pitcher Seth McClung, right fielder Corey Hart, and second baseman Rickie Weeks.

Bucks Defeat Team Struggling With Mediocrity

The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Charlotte Bobcat’s tonight in a 101-96 win moving their standings to 9-12 as the Bobcats sink to 7-12. For a team that has been plagued by injuries since the beginning of the season this is a much needed victory.

“You can see that the lineup has changed throughout the course of the year based on the injuries and as we get these guys back we’re getting a little momentum,” Assistant Coach Joe Wolf said.

The Bucks should be glad that 7-footer center Andrew Bogut’s migraine was the only injury going into tonight’s game. With a total of 33:59 of playing time and 10 points, the Australian’s migraine seemed not to have affected his game. Bogut was drafted in 2005 and is the first Australian to be drafted first overall.

On the flip side of ailments is the mediocrity which has shrouded the Charlotte Bobcat’s for the past five years of the franchise’s existence. The ingredients for this recipe of mediocrity are unconventional.

Ask many people if Michael Jordan and basketball equals failure and they will no doubt tell you no. Yet this is exactly what is happening to the former superstar’s team. Jordan, whose Bobcat position is “managing member of basketball operations,” joined the team in June 2006 with a minority ownership stake and the role of über-general manager according to a Sports Illustrated reporter.

Jordan, who primarily manages the team from his home in Chicago, excels in absentee-style managing.

“Michael doesn’t come to many practices,” Bobcat’s head coach Larry Brown told a media source. “And I think it means something to the guys when he does.”

It may not only be Jordan’s absence that is affecting the Bobcats. Brown may need to be reminded that from the book of Proverbs one can read that a kind answer turns away anger. Perhaps too it encourages winning, as evidenced by the phenomenal turnaround of the 2005 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (67-95) after that year’s departure of head coach Lou Piniella. Current head coach Joe Maddon led his renamed Tampa Bay Rays to the World Series this year with positive upbeat sayings and his now famous equation, 9=8.

“Coach doesn’t like telling you something twice,” 6-foot guard D.J. Augustin told a media source. “And he likes it less and less the more he has to tell you.”

Bucks rookie Joe Alexander had 6:47 of playing time and brought in two points and had one blocked shot. Alexander, who was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was the eighth overall draft pick for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2008.

“He’s working hard every day and I think he’s learning the NBA game,” Wolf said of Alexander. “But that’s going to take time and patience is going to be a big key.”

Forward Charlie Villanueva connected on 25 consecutive free throws dating back to the Nov. 21 game against the New York Knicks which the Bucks won 104-87. Villanueva’s streak unfortunately came to an end tonight after going 1-2 on free throw attempts. The free throw was not Villanueva’s only contribution to the Buck’s win as he brought in a total of 8 points over 19:00 of playing time.

“Our first half was a little bit sloppy but we picked up and had a big win today and that’s what matters,” Villanueva said.

With cellar-dwelling standings, much work has yet to be done before either of these teams can be seen as real playoff contenders.

Whitewater's Win-Streak Ends in Sobering Defeat

Homecoming fans left solemnly from Perkin’s Stadium Saturday following a 17-16 loss to University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Point’s offense brought in the win with a touchdown followed by a two-point conversion.
Whitewater scored a touchdown on a 33-yard pass from Jeff Donovan to wide receiver Aaron Rusch with 13:02 left in the first quarter. Rusch made UW-Whitewater player of the week. Stevens Point answered several minutes later with a 20-yard field goal by kicker Ryan Graboski bringing the score to 3-6 Whitewater. With 4:02 left in the first quarter Graboski evened the score with a 43-yard field goal.
Paul Wick, also UW-W player of the week, picked off a pass by Jared Beckwith and returned it to Stevens Point’s 49-yard line. Freshman running back Levell Coppage scored on a 35-yard run and was followed by a one-point conversion by UW-W kicker Jeff Schebler with 7:10 left in the second quarter taking Whitewater to 6-13. This would be the last score of the half.
Graboski once again shined at 12:58 in the fourth quarter with a 22-yard field goal on five plays and 38-yards to bring Stevens Point within four points of Whitewater. With less than five minutes remaining on the clock, Schebler scored on a 19-yard field goal attempt taking Point’s tantalizingly close hope further from them.
Fate would prove to be on Point’s side when, with less than fifteen seconds on the clock, quarterback Jared Beckwith passed to receiver Jared Jenkins for a touchdown. UW-SP brought in another two points with a diving catch by Jenkins on a conversion wining the game at 17-16.
The loss to Stevens Point ended UW-W’s Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 25 game win-streak and their WIAC home field win-streak of 27 games.
Whitewater’s last two homecoming losses have come at the hands of Stevens Point; the last loss being in 2004 with a 15-12 score.
Whitewater will host UW-Eau Claire Saturday, Nov. 1 at 12 p.m. in Perkins Stadium. UW-W is 6-1 and 4-1 in the WIAC and will end their home field schedule against UW-Stout the following week.

Local College Students Impart Love of Baseball to Youth

I wanted to let you know something pretty cool that happened after class on Thursday. My Public Opinion professor mentioned that he felt baseball represented everything that is good and pure in America (I agree wholeheartedly). Now, I am always in the mood to play catch so leaving class with that discussion in mind made me really want to play catch when I got home. None of my roomates were home but our friend Joe had arrived at our place about 30 seconds before I did so he and I decided to go play catch.
When we were outside playing, one of the neighbor kids named Roman ( a 7-8-9 year old boy) came by and was watching us. After a little while he decided he wanted to play with us. So there we were playing catch with one of the little neighbor children. After a short while, four of the neighbor girls (aged between 4-7) came by to watch. They too wanted to play. Joe and I stood in the street gently tossing balls to the kids as they threw them to us. Boy did those kids get a kick out of that! Honestly my readers, it's amazing that my professor would talk to us about the importance of baseball for children in class only to be immediately followed by my buddy and I imparting the love of baseball to those kids. In some small way, both of us felt that we made a difference.
I love baseball very much. It means so much to me on many different levels.
May the gods of baseball bless you,
R. Church Donahue

Adoring Brewers Faithful Send Off Team in Style

In ecstatic roars emanating from the crowd, the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers were sent off as heroes to the team’s first playoff series in 26 years at the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee yesterday September 29.

"Twenty-six years," closing pitcher Salomon Torres boldly proclaimed to Brewers faithful. "You've waited 26 years, and you can wait no more!"

Torres pitches 3.49 and has gone 7-5 in his last 12 games.

The Brewers have named Yovanni Gallardo as the starting pitcher for Wednesday’s game against the Phillies. This will be game one in the best of five National League Division Series. Gallardo returned from the DL on the September 25 game against the Pirates in which Ryan Braun hit his first game-winning grand slam of his career. The game was tied 1-1 from the fourth when in the 10th inning and bases loaded with two outs Braun hammered the ball high over left field into the jubilant crowd.

Gallardo, who has been kept from pitching with a torn ACL in his right knee will be squaring against Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels who has a 3.09 ERA and 196 SO this season.

"He might be a rookie on paper, but he's not a rookie in his heart," Dale Sveum said of Gallardo. "He's an 'ahead of his time' young man."

The beast himself, Mr. CC Sabathia will take the mound in Thursday’s game. The left-handed pitcher has gone 11-2 with an ERA of 2.7.

"It's the fans here that gave me the motivation for going 'all in,'" general manager Doug Melvin said. "I want to thank CC for that trade. It made up for all of the bad ones I've made."

“It’s unbelievable…the fans have been so supportive of us all year. It just makes you feel that all the hard work you put into this game pays off,” all star Ryan Braun said. “It’s really cool to have the opportunity to sit back and reflect on what we just accomplished and to see how much it really means to this city.”

“It’s a fantastic day for Brewers fans – it’s a fantastic day for Milwaukee. It’s something we’ve waited for for a long time,” mayor of Milwaukee Tom Barrett said.

Sports: A Microchasm of Life

Of all the sections of the newspaper there is only one of any true significance. Sports. Why the sports section trumps all others can be answer in one simple concept-healthy living. To be athletic one must maintain a healthy lifestyle and, arguably, if one is interested in sports, at the very least, a closer attention is paid to what is eaten and done than say, a fat ass slob who's only interested in what time American Idol and the Biggest Looser is on. Make sure you got your cheesy puffs and diet coke.

Sure there are some who will say that the News section is the most important. Maybe it provides the information that most affects our lives like terrorist attacks, wars and natural disasters but in a day and age like today is it really wise to focus our minds on negative thoughts? Has it ever been wise to focus on negative thoughts? The news section can be summed up by saying, America the world outside is mean and angry.

Especially for the avid news reader who might get a bit fired up over the running presidential race, what better way to vent frustration than sitting back and watching a veritable war unfold in the baseball diamond, basketball court or football field? At least in these wars the soldiers don't die and shake hands like gentleman and ladies upon closing the conflict.

Watching a baseball, football, basketball or any other game for that matter instills in people, at least it does in this journalist, a desire to improve one's own physical abilities. Watching athletes play at the top of their game inspires average Joes and Janes to advance their performance. That can be a strive for more healthful eating or perhaps better accuracy when shooting hoops. Complacency is the anti-sport.

Where does complacency come from? Complacency comes from lack of ambition and lack of positive influence. Complacency comes from idiot reality television which gives Americans a deceiving sense of ineptitude in their lives when they are compared to the lives of those on TV. There is only one true form of reality TV - that is sports and the 10 O'Clock news, yet I reiterate my point about the news. Get off your couch America unless of course you need to catch the last inning of the game.

The sports section has another vital lifeline of healthy living in it's relaying of the weather. How can someone, inspired by their team's victory last night, organize a game to play if the fan doesn't know what the weather is going to be the following day? Sure one can play indoors but they are truly robbing themselves of the greatest gifts nature gives us - freshair and sunshine. Indoor games should be reserved exclusively for rainy days. (We don't say snow anymore ... it's just too evil) Indoor air is infinitely worse for our bodies than outdoor air is. Think about the sunshine; it gives us Vitamin D. Whether one admits to it or not, sun exposure positively affects our moods. When was the last time your light bulb and air conditioner improved your health and mood?

Stop focusing on the negative and start running on those positive vibrations that sports are designed to give us.