Sports – Page 9 – immigrationcourtside.com

MARCH MADNESS: WSJ: JASON GAY: Much Maligned Big10 Shines As ACC Tanks — Badgers, Wolverines, Boilermakers Storm Into “Sweet 16,” While Duke, UVA, FSU Stumble!🏀

https://www.wsj.com/articles/my-wisconsin-michigan-revenge-fantasy-1489962628

Fellow Badger grad Jason Gay writes:

“I just wanted to enjoy my Monday. Was it too much to ask? The Wisconsin Badgers are back in college basketball’s Sweet 16 for the fourth straight time, having stunned top-seeded Villanova on Saturday—although I wasn’t the least bit stunned, I told you last week it would happen. I predicted Wisconsin all along. Hey Warren Buffett, where’s my million bucks?

It was even better. Not only did my Badgers win, but now they’re coming here—to New York City, my home, for the remainder of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament East Regional.

I was psyched. Psyched for my alma mater Wisconsin, psyched for an NYC invasion of Badger fans (hide your beer and cheese), psyched to parade into work Monday and be an insufferable doofus to all my Journal colleagues with busted brackets and wounded school pride. I was going to march in there with my giant Starbucks and red Bucky Badger sweatshirt, humming “On Wisconsin” and ruining everyone’s day.

I was going to be unbearable. And love every minute of it.

And then…them. You-know-who.

Michigan.

They’ve made the Sweet 16, too. They stunned two-seeded Louisville on Sunday.

It’s a nightmare.”

************************************

Yeah, it was almost, but not quite, enough to make me want to be back at the Arlington Immigration Court wearing my Bucky Badger tie (incorrectly identified as a “grinning weasel” by my dear former colleague Judge Rodger Harris) and whistling “On Wisconsin” and “Varsity” all day in my chambers and in the corridors of justice. All I can say is:

GO BUCKY!

PWS

02/20/17

MARCH MADNESS: Badgers Head to Fourth Consecutive “Sweet 16” After Taking Out Top Seeded Defending Champ Villanova In 65-62 Thriller — Seniors N. Hayes, B. Koenig, & V. Brown Come Up Huge In Clutch As UW Overcomes Late 7 Point Deficit to Win!

BUFFALO, NY — A few weeks ago, some disgruntled Wisconsin fans actually were calling for second-year coach Greg Gard’s head after the Badgers turned in lackluster losing performances against the likes of Ohio State and Iowa. Their once-promising season seemed on the brink of total collapse down the stretch of the Big 10 regular season.

This afternoon, with 5:07 remaining in a “Round of 32” game, and the Badgers trailing by 7 points, it looked like their season was over notwithstanding a valiant effort against the defending NCAA Champs. After all, stars Bronson Koenig and Ethan Happ were both saddled with foul trouble, and Villanova, led by superstar senior guard Josh Hart (19 pts) and freshman sensation guard Donte DiVincenzo (15 pts), was pulling away for the kill.

But, the battle-tested Badgers weren’t yet ready to depart the dance. They rallied behind their senior leaders.

With ice water in his veins, Koenig (17 pts, 2-6 3-pt) drilled a 3-pointer to put the Badgers up 62-59 late. However, a bad exchange between Koenig and senior forward Nigel Hayes resulted in a turnover allowing the Wildcats to pull even at 62.

Then, the “play of the game!” Coming out of a time-out, Hayes (19 pts, 8 rebounds) drove the baseline and made a spectacular “Michael Jordan type” reverse layup to put the Badgers up 64-62 with 11.4 seconds to go. But, the champs were’t ready to go down. 11.4 seconds is an eternity in March Madness.

Villanova got the ball to Hart who, with Koenig and Happ having to play off with four fouls apiece, drove for a sure-fire tying layup. But, he didn’t count on Badger senior forward Vito Brown, who had broken out of a severe shooting slump by draining 3 of 6 three pointers. Brown stripped Hart, and then was fouled on the play with 3.4 seconds remaining.

Brown hit the first free throw (insuring the Badgers at least a tie). After missing the second, he hustled down to the baseline to help Hayes bottle up Villanova and prevent any chance of a last second shot as time ran out. Brown, a talented singer, also performed (pre-recorded) during the NCAA/CBS TV “lead in” to today’s game!

The #8 seed Badgers had triumphed! Amid the heroics of Hayes, Koenig, and Brown, the great effort by Happ, who added a huge 12 points and 8 rebounds despite playing most of the game in foul trouble and senior Zach Showalter who had several key defensive plays should not be forgotten.

The classy Wildcats and their even classier coach Jay Wright finish the season at 32-4. And, at least for the next week so, the voices in Madison calling for Greg Gard’s ouster have been silenced.

The Badgers thus head for their fourth consecutive “Sweet 16,” their sixth in seven seasons. The Badgers (27-9) will take on the #4 Florida Gators (26-8) from the SEC in Madison Square Garden, NY. “Badgers v. Gators” — a match of two of the most dangerous and ferocious animals known to man (forget that “smiling Teddy-bear version” of Bucky that I post below. That’s just to throw Bucky’s opponents off.) Game time is 10:00 PM Friday on TBS, with a trip to the “Elite Eight” at stake. Don’t miss it!

GO BUCKY!

PWS

03/18/17

MARCH MADNESS: Badgers Get Big Games From Koenig & Hayes To Move By Hokies 84 – 74 — Play #1 Villanova In “Round of 32” On Saturday 🏀

BUFFALO, NY. The #8 Wisconsin Badgers downed the #9 Virginia Tech Hokies 84-74 in NCAA East Regional First Round action in Buffalo, NY Thursday night. Senior sharpshooter Bronson Koenig led the way with 28 points, including a club-recored 8-17 on three-pointers. Senior forward Nigel Hayes added 16 with 10 rebounds and went 8 of 9 from the free throw line, a remarkable achievement for a 56% free throw shooter coming into the game. The Badgers won the game on the offensive boards where they grabbed 14 to the Hokies 4 on their way to a hefty 33-22 rebounding advantage.

As predicted, the Hokies played the Badgers tough and remained within three points for most of the second half. Senior Zach LeDay had 23 points before fouling out late in his last college game. Ty Outlaw added 16 for the Hokies, who finished the season at 22-11.

The Badgers are now 26-9 and will face the #1 seed Villanova Wildcats (32-3) in the Round of 32 on Saturday. Villanova beat surprisingly competitive #16 Mt. St. Mary’s 76-56, after trailing most of the first half. Game time is still TBD.

PWs

03/17/17

MARCH MADNESS: Badgers Limp Into NCAA Tourney With #8 Seed In East After 71-56 Thumping By Wolverines In B10 Title Game — Will Play Tough #9 Hokies Thursday Night In Buffalo!

The Michigan Wolverines soundly thrashed the Wisconsin Badgers 71-56 in the Big10 title game at the Verizon Center in DC on Sunday afternoon. The Badgers got off to a credible start, trailing only 33-32 at halftime. But, an eight minute stretch without a field goal at the start of the second half sealed the Badgers’ fate. Meanwhile, Michigan pulled away with great outside shooting, solid defense, and some fast break points.

The Badgers (25-9, 12-6) hence will go to their 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament as a #8 seed, far lower than many had projected. However, given the Badgers weak schedule and their lackluster performance in the second half of the season, winning just four of their last ten games, the seed seems about right.

The Badgers will have to play much better than they did Sunday against Michigan to get past the tough Virginia Tech Hokies (20-10, 10-8) from the ACC in the round one East Regional game at Buffalo, NY on Thursday night at 9:40 PM. The Hokies are a solid group who can make the three-ball, and they shoot a better percentage from the field and the line than the Badgers. They are led by third-year coach Buzz Williams, who formerly coached the Badgers’ in-state arch-rival Marquette Golden Eagles. The winner likely gets the unenviable task of going up against #1 seed and defending champ Villanova on Saturday.

Why the Badgers could go deep:

Experience: Four of the Badger starters were members of the 2013 and 2014 teams that went to back to back Final Fours.

Inside play: When they are “on” Senior Forward Nigel Hayes and redshirt Sophomore Ethan Happ might be the most formidable “in the paint duo” in the country.

Bronson Koenig: When he is “feeling it” Senior Guard Koenig is a dangerous, clutch three-point shooter and a reliable playmaker.

Why they probably won’t go far:

Inconsistent offense: The long dry spell against Michigan unfortunately wasn’t unusual this season. It will be a killer against tournament teams.

Horrible free throw shooting: In the past, the Badgers have been among the nation’s leaders from the line. This year, however, they shot only 64%, leaving far too many points on the line. Happ, their best all-around player, is the worst of the bunch, shooting only 50% from the stripe. This actually makes him a liability down the stretch in close games.

Too many turnovers: In the past, Wisconsin was known for a disciplined offense and taking care of the ball. This year, however, they have thrown it away with regularity, including in some key situations that cost them games. Just can’t do that against good tournament teams.

PWS

03/14/17

Badgers Snap Two-Game Skid With Convincing 71-60 Home Victory Over Terps!

MADISON, WI. Just when they needed him most, Senior Nigel Hayes came out of his funk and Bronson Koenig returned to the lineup to give the #11 Badgers (22-5, 11-3) a hard fought victory over the #23 Maryland Terps (22-5, 10-4) at the Kohl Center Sunday afternoon. The Badgers remained in a tie with the Purdue Boilermakers for the Big 10 lead going into the final stretch.

The Terps came out strong and jumped to a 33-27 halftime lead, the Badgers biggest deficit of the season. But, the Badgers finally looked like the “old Badgers” in the second half, shooting 51%, playing tough defense, turning the ball over only once, and knocking down some clutch free throws to put the game out of reach.

14 of Hayes’s 21 points came in the second half, as did all 9 of Keonig’s points. Playing his tough inside game, which had been missing recently, and hitting mid-range jumpers instead of throwing up 3-point bricks, Hayes also led Bucky with 10 rebounds as the Badgers crushed the Terps on the boards 44-27.

Sensational redshirt sophomore center Ethan Happ turned in another solid 20 point performance. He undoubtedly was happy to have some help from his friends this time. Recently, Happ has carried the team as various starters have been injured or slumped.

Redshirt freshman Brevin Pritzil (7 pts, 7 boards) had some good minutes off the bench, and looks to have moved into the “seventh man” position behind freshman guard D’Mitrik Trice. Weak bench play has plagued the Badgers this season.

The Badgers second half heroics overshadowed a tremendous performance by Terps’ all-everything guard Melo Trimble, who was nearly unstoppable, scoring 27 points, nearly half his team’s total.

On Thursday, the Badgers travel to Columbus, OH, where they hope to complete a sweep of the Buckeyes (15-13, 5-10). Meanwhile, the Terps will attempt to bounce back against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Wednesday at home.

PWS

02/20/17

Wildcats Maul Badgers For 66-59 Win In Mad-City!

Madison, WI. The rejuvenated Northwestern Wildcats came into the Badgers’ den at the Kohl Center needing a “W” to add to their resume as they seek to be in the “Big Dance” for the first time in school history. Winners of just one of the previous 14 games in Madison, the Cats left the stunned Badgers licking their wounds and questioning their soon-to-go-down #7 national ranking.

With Bryant McIntosh scoring a game-high 25 points, the Wildcats dominated all phases of the game save for Badger 10-0 runs to start each half. The rest of the game was a 66-39 Northwestern blowout.

Over the last few games, the Badgers had struggled to outlast clearly inferior opponents, over-relying on sophomore center Ethan Happ to bail them out. Tonight, against the talented and well-coached Wildcats, that caught up with them. Even absent leading scorer Scottie Lindsey, the Wildcats were able to hold Happ to 9 points (only 2 after halftime) by double and triple teaming him. While this should have left plenty of other Badgers open to pick up the slack, none was able to step up.

Senior forward Nigel Hayes led the Badgers with 13 points, while Vito Brown and D’Metrik Price each chipped in 11. The Badgers turned the ball over 12 times to the Wildcats 6.

The Wildcats moved to 8-4 in the conference, 19-6 overall. Meanwhile, the Badgers fell to 20-4, 10-2 Big Ten, but remained in first place.

Wisconsin will travel to Ann Arbor to play Michigan on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Cats will host #21 Maryland on Wednesday.

PWS

02/12/17

Badgers Struggle But Outlast Nebraska 70-69 In OT!

The #7 Wisconsin Badgers struggled, particularly on offense, but still managed to edge the not-very-good (10-14) Nebraska Cornhuskers 60-59 in overtime at Lincoln, NE. Senior forward Nigel Hayes had a huge second half and finished with 20 points, including a three-pointer that turned out to be the game winner. Sensational redshirt freshman center Ethan Happ had a tough night, managing only 8 points, but had a key blocked shot and takeaway to help seal the victory. Bucky shot a horrible 36.5% from the field, missing shot after shot in the first half to keep the Huskers in the game. They were also soundly out-rebounded by Nebraska 50-37. The Badgers improved to 21-3 overall, 10-1 Big Ten, remained in first place, and will next host the surprising Northwestern Wildcats at the Kohl Center in Madison at 6:30 EST (5:30 CST) on Sunday evening.

PWS

02/10/17

🏀😎

WashPost Politics: Chris Cillizza & Sally Quinn Put Trump Into NBA Context — It’s Chris Paul Guarding Steph Curry!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/what-chris-paul-and-steph-curry-can-teach-us-about-president-trump/2017/02/05/0c9c161a-ebb2-11e6-b7e8-df81bd6c4c30_story.html?utm_term=.b3a333c3e4fb

Chris Cillizza writes in “The Monday Fix:”

“The best unified theory of Trump I’ve come across is by Sally Jenkins, the legendary Washington Post sports reporter and columnist. Here’s Sally’s explanation of Trump from a tweet last week “An old sports strategy: foul so much in the 1st 5 min of the game that the refs can’t call them all. From then on, a more physical game.”

If you think about the first 14 (or so) days of the Trump presidency through that lens, it starts to make a lot of sense.”

. . . .

But if Jenkins is right — and I suspect she is — then that outrage, those protests, those skittish Republicans will all dissipate, or diminish, as Trump’s presidency goes on. What feels like line-pushing now will seem normal sometime soon. By pushing so hard so fast, Trump is redefining what he can do and how the political establishment, and the country at large, will react.”

************************************

Foul early, foul often, upset your opponent, challenge the refs, and stretch the rules to the max. We’ll see whether it works as well in politics as it does on the court.

PWS

02/06/17

Washington Post: A Syrian Refugee Family In “Trump Country” Finds Welcome, Kindness, Acceptance In The Heartland — Changing Views & Opinions One Human Being At A Time!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-nebraska-syrian-refugees-find-a-warm-and-welcoming-community/2017/02/05/5615c82a-eb9b-11e6-9973-c5efb7ccfb0d_story.html?utm_term=.5ee1be67db1f

Robert Samuels writes:

“Here in deeply conservative Nebraska, President Trump’s executive order banning refugees and people from seven majority-Muslim nations elicited complicated feelings about the state’s relationship with refugees. Many Nebraskans had supported attempts to keep the country safe but still wanted to show their heart for people fleeing terrorism and war. Their state has taken in more refugees per capita than any other.

During the presidential campaign, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) became a prime critic of Trump in large part because of his plan to ban Muslims from entering the United States. When Trump signed the executive order, Sasse criticized it as “too broad.” On Sunday, Sasse criticized Trump again, this time for tweeting about the “so-called judge” who halted the order late Friday.

Gov. Pete Ricketts, a Republican who has supported a ban on Syrians from the moment Trump first pitched it, has also talked about welcoming refugees already here as a source of statewide pride.

. . . .

“I worry this ban will change how I feel inside, that it will cause me to worry more for me and my kids. We did not come here to cause trouble. We just want to live.”

. . . .

The Syrian city of Aleppo had been so dangerous that she delivered her twins in her own home, too afraid to go to the hospital. Two months later, she wrapped them tight and carried them on her shoulders as she walked through the desert at night to reach a Jordanian refugee camp. There were no bombs there, but there were no teachers for her children, either. Now her kids learn the alphabet at school, and she had an English teacher herself.

For so long she had been running away. Now, she was stepping out.”

*********************************

This matches up with my own experience when I attended the Badger v. Nebraska game at Camp Randall Stadium last October. I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know some of the Nebraska fans.

They were great. Since both schools’ colors are red and white, it was pretty hard to tell them from Badger fans except that their group seemed a little older, somewhat less inebriated, and considerably less rowdy than the Wisconsin contingent.

I was struck by the fact that although the Huskers had just lost an overtime thriller to the Badgers 23-17 on a play that probably could have been called either way, nobody was griping about the call, blaming the referees, or taking anything away from the Badgers. And, for our part, the Badger fans acknowledged that Nebraska had played a great game that could easily have come out the other way. The overall message from “Husker Nation” was that they had fun in Madison, appreciated the hospitality, looked forward to returning, and wished the Badgers well for the rest of the season as I did the Huskers.

PWS

02/06/17

Adweek: Controversial Super Bowl Ad From 84 Lumber Highlights Migration Theme

http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/the-ending-of-84-lumbers-super-bowl-ad-is-a-beautiful-and-provocative-take-on-immigration/

“Maggie Hardy Magerko, owner and president of 84 Lumber, a little-known Pennsylvania-based building material supplier, has been called crazy for buying 90 seconds of airtime on the Super Bowl—a telecast that’s been commanding ad rates of over $5 million for 30 seconds.

Then she went and gave the ad a political theme. And not just any political theme. It’s about immigration, at a time when the issue couldn’t be more divisive.

Fox rejected its original script, so the company and its agency, Brunner in Pittsburgh, divided the piece into two parts. A 90-second section of the short film—a teaser, essentially—just aired on Super Bowl LI. The conclusion was posted to journey84.com.

And a remarkable conclusion it is. Watch it here:

The vision of the giant wall, which of course is not yet built; the American flag that the girl pieces together; the enormous doorway, which is what the workers were building; the onscreen line “The will to succeed will always be welcome here”—it all adds up to a very poetic pro-immigration statement of tolerance.

That message, of course, is one that will be embraced widely by many—and rejected angrily by others. And it will likely make Budweiser and Audi’s mild ad controversies over the past week pale in comparison.

In the run-up to the Super Bowl, Magerko said the ad shouldn’t be considered provocative at all. In fact, she says she voted for Donald Trump in the election, and the image of the door in the wall comes directly from Trump himself, who said he wanted a “big beautiful door” in his wall, for legal immigration. (See the video below.)”

****************************

Go over to Adweek at the link to read the full story and watch the entire commercial.

PWS

02/05/17

immigrationcourtside Sports: Wisconsin Badger Men’s Buckets Mid-Season Report

The Badger hoopsters outlasted the Indiana Hoosiers today notching a hard-fought 65-60 victory at the Kohl Center in Madison. Redshirt sophomore center Ethan Happ led Bucky with 20 points, adding a key steal and slam dunk down the stretch, while senior forward Nigel Hayes chipped in 15. Neither team was able to shoot the ball in the first half, although the offense picked up some in the second half.

The #10 Badgers remained in first place in the Big Ten with a 9-1 conference record (20-3 overall). They should move up several slots in the rankings this week due to losses by several other top-ten teams over the weekend. Happ is having a stellar season on offense and defense, proving himself to be one of the premier “in the paint” players in the country. He leads the team in just about everything except selling hot dogs during halftime. If he could only make a basket from beyond four feet (he has canned exactly one jump shot this year) he would be virtually unstoppable.

The Badgers appear to be in a strong position for the Big Ten Tournament and will undoubtedly make their 19th consecutive appearance in March Madness, hoping to improve on their Sweet Sixteen ending last year. With an experienced team and continued great coaching by second year (first full) Coach Greg Gard, the Badgers should be a threat to make an even deeper run toward the Final Four this year.

But, there are a few cautionary notes. Over the last three games, against horrible Rutgers and Illinois and an Indiana team missing key starters, the Badgers were unable to throw a knockout punch despite having a substantial talent advantage. And the Badgers have had problems shooting free throws and turning the ball over, two things that usually are the strength of Badger teams. Recently, the three-point shooting has also been sketchy. For example, the Badgers were only 4-17 from beyond the arc this afternoon. While those things might not kill you against the Illinois, Rutgers, and Penn States of the world, those teams won’t be around at tournament time.

The Badgers next will play at the Nebraska Conhuskers Thursday night.

Meanwhile, over on the gridiron, former Badger star running back James White played a key role in the Patriots exciting 34-28 comeback Super Bowl comeback victory, scoring the winning TD in overtime on a pitch from the amazing Tom Brady and some tough running.

PWS

02/05/17

WSJ Sports: With AR v. Matt Ryan On Sunday, The Points Will Mount Up — Kicking a FG Might Cost You The Game!

http://www.wsj.com/articles/nfc-championship-the-losing-team-will-be-the-one-kicking-field-goals-1484868545

“The forecast for offense in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game is nothing short of unprecedented. The expected total of more than 60 points is the highest in NFL postseason history, and for good reasons. The Falcons have one of the highest-scoring offenses ever, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers is on an all-time roll, and both defenses tend to underwhelm.

This game is such a unicorn that the coaches may have to employ an unthinkable strategy: forget about the kicking game. Punting the ball near midfield may be nonsensical when the other team is likely to score no matter where they start the drive. And the team that converts a field goal may find itself three points closer to losing.”

**********************************

Should be an exciting contest!

Go AR! Go Pack Go!

PWS

01/20/17

Sluggish Badgers Hold Off Western Michigan to Win the Cotton Bowl!

The favored Wisconsin Badgers did just enough to hand the outmanned but game Western Michigan Broncos their first defeat of the season, 24-16 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The lackluster performance gave the Badgers an 11-3 mark for the season, while the Mid America Conference Champion Broncos, who entered the game as the only undefeated “BCS” team besides Alabama, dropped to 13-1.

The Badgers came out in the first quarter looking like they were going to do what a bigger, stronger, more athletic team should do when faced with a highly motivated yet less-talented opponent — ram the ball right down their collective throats and end the game early. Behind senior quarterback Bart Houston and an initially punishing running game led by senior running back Corey Clement and the outsized offensive line, the Badgers put together touchdown marches of 75 and 88 yards to lead 14-0. It looked like a laugher.

But, thereafter, the Badgers allowed the smaller, less-talented Broncos to push them all over the field, on offense and defense, outscoring Bucky 16-10, to make a game out of it. After Houston ably led the first two drives, completing all of his passes, Badger Coach Paul Chryst did what he often has done this season – switched to freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook. The results were immediate – on a third and long Hornibrook lobbed a long, but not crisp, pass that forced receiver George Rushing to come back on the ball, failing to pick up a first down needed to keep the drive going. Wisconsin punted.

Reminiscent of the Penn State debacle, which cost the Badgers a shot at the Rose Bowl, the offense then largely went dormant. Indeed, the only other Badger touchdown was set up by a defensive interception by sophomore inside linebacker T.J. Edwards, who ironically had initially committed to play for the Broncos.

The Badgers also benefitted from several questionable decisions by Broncos Head Coach P.J. Fleck. First, Fleck apparently decided not to have his coaching staff study Wisconsin game film. The Wisconsin field goal was set up by a 51- yard wide receiver sweep by Jazz Peavy – a carbon copy of one that Wisconsin had run successfully in many games this season, until opposing coaches finally caught on. The Broncos also helped the Badgers by continuing to “grind out” yards and occupy clock, even well into the fourth quarter when down by two scores, rather than speeding up the offense and forcing the ball downfield.

The undisputed star for the Badgers was junior tight end Troy Fumagalli, who caught six balls, at least two of them spectacular, for 83 yards and a touchdown. On the other hand, the supposedly “shut down” Wisconsin defense, failed to mount a consistent pass rush against the Broncos smaller offensive line, managed not to corral several Bronco fumbles that were right in front of them, and the Badger defensive backs more or less stood and watched while Bronco quarterback Zach Terrell lobbed a desperation “ripe banana” pass to Corey Davis in the end zone with 3:27 left in the fourth quarter to bring the Broncos within eight. Thereafter the Badgers were able to recover the onside kick and run out the clock to avoid embarrassment and preserve the less than inspiring victory.

The Badger football season is over. On to basketball, where the #14 UW Men (12-2, 1-0, BT) take on the #16 Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington tomorrow night.

Modest suggestion for Coach Chryst: Next season, if you want to give your “future stars” some real-time game experience, why not use your superior size and talent to put games like this “out of reach” early before bringing in the next set of “Hornibrooks?” Houston wasn’t going to compete for the Heisman Trophy, but he was a competent senior quarterback who provided some offensive consistency and was more mobile with a better arm than Hornibrook. The bizarre move to Hornibrook early in the Cotton Bowl let a reeling, discombobulated, and totally outmatched WMU team back into the game. Bad move! It also made the game tedious for the fans, as WMU lacked the talent to win while Wisconsin lacked the “oomph” to put the game away.

PWS

01/02/17

Pack Drops Season Finale to Fairies! Controversial Call Ends Bid For Perfect Season!

The Beloit Fairies handed the Green Bay Packers, led by their legendary player-coach Curly Lambeau, their first — and only — defeat of the professional football season in a gritty, hard fought 6-0 game that ended with controversial call denying the Pack a potential game-winning touchdown, resulting in a near riot! The year was 1919, and while the teams, faces, and style of the game differed from today, some things were the same — excitement, controversy, rivalry, and hard hitting. Gotta wonder how many arrests and ejections took place among the fans!

Anna Patchin Schmidt, our daughter, who lives with her family in Beloit, WI, forwarded this item from Treasured Lives:

“Before the Green Bay Packers could conquer the world, first they had to best the state of Wisconsin and parts of Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. In their first two seasons, before joining what later became the National Football League, the Packers battled the Laphams from Milwaukee, the Oshkosh Professionals and the Stambaugh Miners from Michigan.
The 1919 Green Bay Packers, sponsored by the Indian Packing Co. of Green Bay. (Wikipedia)
In their first two seasons, the only team to beat them was a scrappy factory-backed team from Beloit called the Fairies. Make no mistake, the Beloit gridiron 11 was no group of winged waifs with pixie dust and a magic wand. Named for the Fairbanks Morse & Company, the Fairies handed the storied Packers franchise its first-ever loss in the fall of 1919. The game was decided on the last play and nearly caused a riot at Beloit’s Fairbanks-Morse Field.

With time slipping away, the Fairies led the Packers by a 6-0 score. The Packers punched through the Beloit line repeatedly and reached the opponents 5-yard line. “Beloit then stiffened, threw up a stone wall and fought back,” wrote the Janesville Daily Gazette in its game recap, “but though they were heavier than the Bay boys, Beloit couldn’t hold.”

The Packers scored a touchdown as time expired, but the linesman flagged the Packers for being offsides. “Cries of derision were heard all over the sidelines from the spectators when the penalty was called,” the Gazette wrote. “For a time, with the 2,000 spectators surging over the field towards the two teams and the referee, it appeared that a riot would be in progress, but the players of both teams forced the crowd back.”

It was not the first controversial call of the game. Earlier, the referee whistled the Packers for being out of bounds. “A beefing match then followed, with the referee and the captain of the Green Bay team chewing the fat over the rule book, and the discovery that the referee was using a 1918 set of rules.” The Green Bay captain was none other than the legendary Curly Lambeau, who served as player and coach in those early years.

Adding to the lore of that Packers-Fairies match was an after-game rumor that the Packers offered $5,000 to play the game again on a neutral field with football authority Walter Eckersall as referee. That never happened, and the Pack finished its first season with a 10-1 record. Even in the 1920 season, the Fairies again proved a nemesis, handing the Packers their only loss, a 14-3 decision at Fairbanks-Morse Field.

In those early years of Packers football, they played teams including the Menominee Professionals, the Racine Iroquois Athletic Club, the Marinette North End Badgers, the Chicago Boosters, the Milwaukee Maple Leaf Athletic Club and the Milwaukee Lapham Athletic Club. The first seasons, the Packers were under the sponsorship of the Indian Packing Company of Green Bay, where Curly Lambeau worked.

Those first two seasons, the Packers compiled a 19-2-1 record. They registered eight shutouts in the 1920 campaign. They played their first Thanksgiving Day game versus the Stambaugh Miners in 1920, winning by a 14-0 score. In August 1921, the fledgling American Professional Football Association (later called the NFL) awarded a franchise to Green Bay under the sponsorship of the Acme Packing Co.”

https://treasuredlives.us/2015/12/27/beloit-fairies-handed-green-bay-packers-first-loss/

Of course, I hope that the 2016 version of the Pack does better in their regular season finale — a date with the Detroit Lions in Detroit on New Year’s night for the NFC North Championship and a trip to the playoffs. Go Pack Go!🏈

PWS

12/30/16

Razorback FB Player Charged With Ripping Off Belk Store Shortly Before Team’s Appearance in Belk Bowl! — Thought He Was At Walmart?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/12/29/arkansas-senior-tight-end-suspended-from-the-belk-bowl-for-alleged-shoplifting-from-belk/?hpid=hp_local-news_hokies1020p%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.3fcefb9172b9

“Part of the player gift for Thursday’s Belk Bowl between Virginia Tech and Arkansas was a $450 gift card to the Belk department store in Charlotte’s SouthPark Mall and 90 minutes to spend it on anything the players would like.

For Arkansas senior tight end Jeremy Sprinkle, that apparently wasn’t enough.

Arkansas announced two hours before kickoff that Sprinkle had been suspended. He was the Razorbacks’ No. 3 receiver this season with 33 catches, 380 receiving yards and four touchdowns this season, and although the team did not reveal what the suspension was for, SEC Country’s Jason Kersey reported Sprinkle was caught shoplifting during the team’s shopping spree earlier this week.”

Meanwhile, on the field, former Badger Coach Brett Bielma’s Arkansas Razorbacks squandered a 24-0 halftime lead en route to a 35-24 thrashing at the hands of the Virginia Tech Hokies. Led by Bud Foster’s resuscitated second half defense and quarterback Jerod Evans, the Hokies scored five unanswered touchdowns. Bielma won lots of games at Wisconsin, but not many of the big ones. Guess things haven’t changed much for Ol’ Brett down in Fayetteville.

PWS

12/26/16

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts:

Related posts: