🏀 FIGHT CLUB: JUWAN HOWARD GOES DOWN FOR FIVE AFTER HIT ON BADGER ASST. COACH! — Apparently, Adult Behavior Not A Job Requirement For U. Mich. Athletics!

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Courtside Sports

Feb. 22, 2022

Michigan Head Basketball Coach Juwan Howard was suspended Monday for the balance of the regular season (five games) and fined $40,000 for delivering a bizarre “head slap” to Wisconsin Assistant Coach Joe Krabbenhoft following the conclusion of the Badgers dominating 77-63 victory over the Wolverines Sunday afternoon in Madison. The penalty was imposed by the Big-10 Conference.

Wisconsin Coach Greg Gard was fined $10,000 by the Big-10 for an apparent “illegal touching” of Howard, while two Michigan players and Wisconsin reserve guard Jahcobi Neath were suspended for one game for throwing punches in the televised melee that followed Howard’s assault on Krabbenhoft.

Howard, a former star at Michigan and in the NBA, delivered a “rote apology” for his actions following the suspension. This was after lamely appearing to defend his conduct at the postgame press conference.

Howard’s claim that he was outraged by a timeout call by Gard with 15 seconds left and that he felt “threatened” in the “handshake line” (which he initially tried to avoid) after being touched on the arm by the 52-year-old, full-head-shorter Gard, who has never “gone after” anyone, failed to pass the “straight face test,” although many members of the media and commentators appeared to accept it at face value. This is the second major “out of control” incident for Howard, who was ejected from a game last season after threatening then Maryland Head Coach Mark Turgeon.

Howard’s childish conduct gained instant national media coverage, overshadowing what should have been the real story: a near perfect second half coached by Gard and executed by his Badger squad. Led by breakout sophomore sensation guard Johnny Davis, who scored 11 straight at one point, the home team broke open a game that had been tied at the half.

Davis finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds, an assist, and 3 blocked shots on defense. Perhaps, Howard’s frustration with being out-coached by Gard and his team seriously outplayed by Davis and his Badger mates was what really was behind the unusual and uncalled-for outburst.

Coach Gard’s Badgers have been one of the better stories in NCAA Men’s hoops. Unranked preseason and picked to finish in the “lower bracket” of the 14-team Big-10, Bucky is now 21-5, ranked 13th nationally, 12-4 conference, and tied with Illinois for second place, just one-half game behind Purdue for the league lead! The Badgers beat the Boilermakers earlier on the road on a night featuring another dominating 37-point performance from Davis.

Davis has been the pleasantly unexpected difference. As a freshman “off the bench” last season, he averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds per game. His “high game” was 17 points. He was a solid, but hardly awe-inspiring, presence.

This season he averages more than 20 and leads the team in scoring, rebounds, and assists while playing tough defense. He is a serious contender for national player of the year. Davis gets lots of help from his friends: scrappy senior forward Brad Davison, highly skilled junior post forward Tyler Wahl, 7-foot inside-outside threat sophomore center Steven Crowl, and calm, cool, and collected freshman floor leader and point guard Chucky Hepburn.

While many expect Davis to be off to the NBA after his breakout season, the Badger faithful are savoring every moment of his extraordinary play. He has developed a “step back, off balance, fade away” jump shot that is basically un-defendable, as the Wolverines learned on Sunday.

As for Howard, with the loss, his Wolverines find themselves in jeopardy of missing the “Big Dance,” with a lackluster 14-11 record (8-7, B10). Perhaps, that will give Howard a little more “time off” to work on his anger management and “role model” skills. They certainly need to improve, and fast, if he is to have a future in college coaching. Assistant Coach Phil Martelli, previously the long-time Head Coach at St. Joseph’s, will take the Wolverines’ helm during Howard’s suspension.

☹️🏈 THUD! — Cold, Snowy 13-10 Loss To 49ers Ends Pack’s Super Bowl Quest, Possibly Closing “Rodgers’ Era” In GB!

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Courtside Exclusive

Jan. 23, 2022

The #1 seed Green Bay Packers (13-5) laid another playoff egg before stunned fans at frigid, snowy (0 degree wind chill) Lambeau Field Saturday night. The Pack lost to the underdog San Francisco 49ers (11-7) and their much maligned quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, 13-10 on a “walk off” 45 yard field goal by Robbie Gould, who remained perfect in playoffs.

This deflating loss comes in a post-season where the Pack was one of the odds-on favorites to win the Super Bowl. It could be the “swan song” in green and gold for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his sidekick, superstar wide receiver Devonte Adams.

The Packers got the opening kickoff and went on an impressive 69 yard drive, ending with running back A.J. Dillon plowing six yards into the end zone taking more than five minutes off the clock. Sadly, however, for Packer fans, their team was unable to repeat that success.

Basically, Rodgers and the offense took the rest of the night off, mustering only three more points on a field goal. Another field goal try was blocked at the end of the first half.

That left the Pack’s fate in the hands of a defense that was somewhat inconsistent over the regular season. This time, they showed up and almost pulled it off, holding Garopollo and his offense out of the end zone.

Unfortunately, however, the Green Bay “D” fell victim to the offense’s anemia, compounded by more chronically lousy special teams play, an Achilles heel for the team during the season. After the offense failed to move, deep in Packer territory, a blocked punt was scooped up by SF and run into the end zone for a then-tying touchdown.

On the ensuing possession, needing a sustained drive resulting in points to clinch a trip to the Conference finals for the second straight season, Rodgers and the “O” fired a blank — big time! Following a quick and inept three and out, consisting of poorly conceived plays without realistic probability of success, they punted the ball back to the 9ers, thus giving them a shot at winning a game in which they had never led.

Everybody in the stadium knew that SF was likely to lean primarily on its running game, rather than put the game solely in Garopollo’s hands, particularly since he had already thrown one ridiculously bad interception to kill a drive in the red zone.

This time, the worn-down Packer defense could not get the 49ers off the field. The killer came on third and seven on the Green Bay 38, about a minute left in the game, and the Pack out of time outs. SF faced a possible dilemma. If the Pack could hold them to no gain, Gould would have had to attempt a 55 yard field goal in the freezing cold and swirling snow. A miss would have given Rodgers the ball near midfield with about half a minute on the clock. Even a make would have given Rodgers two or three plays after the kickoff to get into field goal position.

But, that moment of truth never came. The Packers let SF all-purpose star Deebo Samuel run for nine yards and a first down at the GB 29. The 49ers then ran the clock down and called on the reliable Gould for the 45 yard game-winner as time expired and the Lambeau faithful looked on in shock.

So, despite a league-best 39 wins over Coach Matt LaFleur’s first three seasons, most in Packer history, the Pack again find themselves as Super Bowl spectators for the 11th consecutive year since winning it all in 2011.

It’s also quite likely the end of the road for the Pack and Rodgers, who almost refused to play this season. And, if Rodgers goes, his friend and All-Pro wide receiver Davonte Adams, who will be a free agent, is likely going with him.

If AR does reach his second Super Bowl, it will probably be in a different uniform. Tennessee, Indianapolis, and Cleveland seem like logical possibilities. All have strong running games and basically are “a quarterback away” from championship contention.

Another intriguing possibility is the Washington Football Team. Rodgers, Adams, paired with existing receiver Terry McLaurin, healthy tight end Logan Thomas, and a revived defense with Chase Young back would be a formidable combination.

The Pack is likely to go into “modified rebuild mode” behind quarterback Jordan Love who will be entering his third season. Love seems like a nice young man with some arm strength. But, frankly, I don’t see him making fans forget Rodgers or getting very deep into the playoffs.

Case in point, Rodgers threw 531 passes this year with 4 interceptions and 0 lost fumbles. Love threw 62 passes with 3 interceptions and 1 fumble lost.

Indeed, Packer fans might well find themselves spared the suspense and disappointment of season-ending playoff losses for some years to come in the “Post-Rodgers Era.” I’m among those “die-hards” to remember the very gloomy quarter-century hiatus between the “glory days” of Lombardi and Starr and the arrival of Holmgren and Farve and a long-awaited return to relevance for the NFL’s oldest franchise.

Perhaps, the strongest factor favoring the Packers’ future playoff chances is that they play in the NFC North. Their divisional competition, Chicago, Minnesota, and Detroit are among the most inept franchises in football these days, with all of one Super Bowl victory among them (Chicago — 1986 ) in the “modern age” of the NFL.

With the Packers off the field until next fall, the “action” is likely to shift to the “off-season drama” between Rodgers and the Green Bay front office.

“Who is Aaron Rodgers?” Maybe, the “answer” will be: “Former Packer quarterback who was both a contestant and a guest host of Jeopardy.”

🏈COURTSIDE SPORTS: PACK REBOUNDS FROM HORRENDOUS SEASON START TO WIN NFC NORTH, ADVANCE TO PLAYOFFS!

Behind Aaron Rodgers and a defense that bent but came up big in the end, the Green Bay Packers (11-3) won a 31-30 “nail-biter” on the road against the undermanned Baltimore Ravens. In control and up by 14 in the fourth quarter, the Pack almost let this one get away with sloppy defense, chronically bad special teams play, and an inopportune offensive stall!

The determined Ravens (8-6) played without superstar QB Lamar Jackson. But, his “stand in” QB Tyler Huntley almost pulled off the upset. Following a TD with 45 seconds left to pull the home team to 31-30, Ravens’ coach John Harbaugh chose to go for the two-point conversion that might have won the game. But, the play was poorly designed and Huntley’s pass was broken up by the Pack’s Darnell Savage to largely seal the win. The following onside kick failed, probably the highlight of the Pack’s beleaguered special team’s play over the past few weeks.

The good news: the Pack’s win kept them in the #1 position in the NFC for a first round bye and home field advantage during the playoffs. That’s no small achievement following the opening game debacle against New Orleans and all the Rodgers-generated distractions (including his disgraceful failure to get the COVID vaccine). The Pack also played turnover-free football, as did the Ravens,

The cautionary note: This game was closer than it should have been. The Pack let an obviously short-handed and therefore significantly less talented Ravens team “hang around” and almost steal a “W.” On paper, this game should have been a blowout, but wasn’t.

Surprisingly well as Huntley played in relief of Jackson, the Pack will face much, much better QBs in the playoffs. And, given a “gift possession” inside the Ravens’ 40 in the 4th quarter, the Pack failed to score the TD that would have put the game away, instead settling for a field goal after AR missed a pass that should have sealed the game. That nearly proved fatal.

A team hoping for a Super Bowl birth will have to do better!

PWS

12-19-21

🏈SPORTS: EXPOSED! — Badgers End B-10 Season With Inept Effort @ MN! — No Offense, Little D, Lead To Embarrassing Loss — Wisconsin Avoids Michigan Re-Match!

🏈SPORTS: EXPOSED!— Badgers End B-10 Season With Inept Effort @ MN! — No Offense, Little D, Lead To Embarrassing Loss, Avoids Facing Michigan In Big-10 Title Game!

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Courtside Exclusive

November 28, 2021

When the Wisconsin Badgers took the field in Minneapolis on Saturday, afternoon they knew they were one win over the then 7-4 Gophers away from a rematch with the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten Title Game next Saturday. For the next 60 minutes, the Badgers looked every bit like a team that wanted to avoid that potential matchup. (Michigan beat the Badgers 38-21 at Camp Randall in October). In the process, the Badgers also lost “Paul Bunyun’s Axe” for the second time in the past four years while being subjected to the Gopher fans’ imitation of Wisconsin’s “patented jump around.”

Wisconsin was soundly beaten on both sides of the ball by a modestly talented, yet better coached and clearly more motivated, Gopher team. The Badgers failed to score an offensive touchdown. Their sole trip to the end zone came in the first half on a lucky tipped “pick six” by Scott Nelson.

For the second straight week, Coach Jim Leonhard’s “shut down” Badger defense couldn’t get a “less than awesome” offense off the field, particularly yesterday when it counted. The Gophers controlled the tempo of the game from opening kickoff to final whistle.

Perhaps the “best” illustrations of Badger futility came early in the second half. Ahead 10-6 despite a lackluster first half, the Badgers received the second half kickoff with a chance to “make a statement.” They did! But, not the kind they wanted.

Deep in his own territory, Badger QB Graham Mertz lofted a weak pass to 6th year receiver Kendrick Pryor, who made only a half-hearted effort to catch it. Instead the Gopher defender took the ball away, setting up a short field. Three plays later, the Gophers trotted into the end zone to take a 13-10 lead as a bewildered Badger “D” passively looked on.

On the following possession the Badgers drove methodically inside the Minnesota 10. With second and two from the Gopher five, three downs to make 2 yards, and a then a potential four downs to score, the Badgers appeared destined to retake the lead. Instead, they were forced to settle for a tying field goal that proved to be their last score.

The Golden Gophers then scored the final 10 points and held the Badgers at bay to notch the 23-13 victory. Badger freshman “sensation” running back Braelon Allen was a non-factor. The Badger “O Line’s” inability to open holes was matched by Allen’s failure to break tackles. The few attempts to hit Allen ‘in space” ended with him being stoned by Gopher defenders.

Badger senior tight end Jake Ferguson was another non-factor. Big Ten defensive coordinators have finally figured out how to defend him, particularly in the “red zone.” By contrast, Badger Coach Paul Chryst doesn’t seem to have developed an alternative.

Mertz is a good athlete, but at best an average “pocket passer.” Why not roll him out to create a run option when the receivers are covered? At least force the opposing D to make some difficult choices!

So, instead of a trip to the Big Ten Title Game in Indianapolis next week, the Badgers (8-4, 5-3) “earned” another trip to a “Podunk City Piddly Bowl” against a failed team from a different conference. The “B-Team” announcers sentenced to that (non) “classic,” will be required to shill about the wonders of the Badger defense, the prowess of Allen, and the brilliance of Head Coach Paul Chryst and Defensive Coordinator Jim Leonhard.

But, that won’t hide the truth about a mediocre team that once again underperformed preseason expectations.

GAME DAY IN GREEN BAY — NOV. 14, 2021

Packers 17, Seattle Seahawks 0

PWS

11-15-21

🏈 COURTSIDE SPORTS: AFTER UGLY START, AR & PACK ROLL TO 7-1 MIDSEASON MARK WITH 24-21 ROAD WIN OVER PREVIOUSLY UNDEFEATED ARIZONA CARDINALS!

Courtside Exclusive

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Oct. 28, 2021

Missing three top receivers and their Defensive Coordinator, the Pack and Aaron Rodgers gutted out a 24-21 nail-biter over Kyler Murray and the previously undefeated Cardinals in the Arizona desert Thursday night. The much improved Packer defense did a decent job against the talented and elusive Murray. Meanwhile, in the absence of a dynamic passing game, Pack backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon ground out 137 yards and “ate lots of clock” behind a rugged offensive line.

The Pack looked to be on the verge of putting the game away late in the fourth quarter when Aaron Jones apparently scored from one yard out to give the Pack a 30-21 lead. But, the TD was reversed on video replay and the ball placed one inch from the goal line. The Pack then totally flubbed three straight plays, including a delay of game, and came away empty when a weak fourth down Rodgers’ pass was batted down.

Murray then proceeded to lead his team on a 94 yard drive and seemed poised to cap it with a game winning touchdown, or at least a field goal to send the game into overtime. However, with only a few seconds left, Murray’s errant pass was picked off in the end zone by former Cardinal Rasul Douglas to save the Packer win. It was the third turnover for Arizona, each having a major impact on the game.

Next, the Pack will visit the 3-4 Kansas City Chiefs in what some have dubbed the “State Farm Bowl,” for the first time pitting insurance pitchmen, buddies, former Super Bowl winners, and previous league MVPs Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes against each other!

PWS

10-28-21

🏈😎 JOY RETURNS TO GREEN BAY — AR Throws Four TDS & Aaron Jones Scores Four Times As Pack Romps Over Lions 35-17 On Monday Night Football @ Lambeau!

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Courtside Sports Exclusive

September 21, 2021

Green Bay, WI. Aaron Rodgers and the Pack chased the memories of last week’s 38-3 prime time debacle against the Saints with a convincing 35-17 win over the Detroit Lions in their home opener at rainy Lambeau Field Monday night. Rodgers threw four TD passes, three of them to running back Aaron Jones and another on a dart to tight end Robert “Bobby” Tonyan. Jones, playing in memory of his father who died of COVID, added a rushing TD to his three scoring receptions.

Some of the Packer faithful among the 77,240 who packed Lambeau for the home opener had been engaged in “pregame warm-ups” on their tailgates since the morning. For the first half, they feared at least a partial repeat of last Sunday’s disaster in Jacksonville.

While the Packer offense finally woke up with their first TD drives of the season, the defense did little to stop the Lions offense behind “LA Rams refugee/transplant” Jared Goff. The visitors scored on their initial drive, and took a 17-14 lead into halftime, much to the shock of the announcers and most of the crowd.

The Lions’ attack featured former Packer all purpose running back and Green Bay fan favorite Jamaal Williams, although he was held to 37 total yards. Former Wisconsin Badger standout receiver Quentez Cepheus had 63 yards receiving for Detroit, including a TD and a 46 yard reception.

The second half, played largely in the rain and drizzle, was a completely different story. Rodgers and the Pack scored after taking the kickoff to assume the lead and were in charge thereafter. Green Bay shut out the Lions in the second half while scoring three touchdowns en route to their first win of the season, 35-17.

The Lions dropped to 0-2. The Pack evened their record at 1-1, moving into a tie with the Chicago Bears for first place in the NFC North. Next, the Pack travels to San Francisco for a Sunday Night Football date with the 2-0 49ers.

At least for now, things are back to a more even keel here in Green Bay!

PWS

09-21-21

🦨🤮STINKER IN THE SUN — SANS ATTACK & DEFENSELESS, PACK IS NOT BACK, AS A.R. & FRIENDS FTA FOR OPENER👎🏽 — Winston, Saints Romp 38-3!

Aaron Rodgers 2021 — “New look” Aaron Rodgers appears to have head somewhere other than football field! Is he looking to become Willie Nelson?
PHOTO: USA Today

🦨🤮STINKER IN THE SUN — SANS ATTACK & DEFENSELESS, PACK IS NOT BACK, AS A.R. & FRIENDS FTA FOR OPENER👎🏽 — Winston, Saints Romp 38-3!

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Courtside Sports Exclusive

September 13, 2010

Reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers vs the Brees-less New Orleans Saints was supposed to be one of the prime-time “marquee matchups” of a generally exciting NFL opening slate. Someone forgot to tell A.R., sporting a new look — “retro-70’s” beard, scraggly hairdo, and head scarf — and his buddies in green and gold that there was a game on.

After a tumultuous off-season, featuring threats to sit out the 2021 campaign, Rodgers looked every bit like a guy who would rather be: 1) chatting with Erin Andrews, 2) strumming a six string for State Farm, 3) hosting Jeopardy, 4) chilling on the beach with latest gal pal Shailene Woodley, or 5) doing almost anything else not involving a football. After throwing only five interceptions last season, he threw two key interceptions, one in the red zone the other setting up a Saints’ score. His miserable 36.3 QB rating probably was generous.

The rest of his buddies from the NFC North followed AR’s lead, acting as though they were on vacation in Jacksonville, where the Saints’ “home game” was played because of hurricane damage in New Orleans. The receivers got no separation. The line didn’t block. The runners couldn’t run. The defense let the Saints have their way, en route to 322 total yards total offense.

The only reason the Saints didn’t pile up even more yards was because they were efficient on offense and defense and didn’t have to. But, on Sunday, this looked like a Packer “D” that could have 600 yards laid on them. Easily!

The Pack coaching staff, including new defensive “wizard” Joe Barry, looked like shell-shocked zombies. And, the “strategy” of resting all all the starters for the entire preseason played out every bit as dumb and ill-advised as it appeared to many pundits.

Lest anyone think that “relief is on the horizon,” the Pack’s “QB of the future,” Jordan Love looked like a “permanent work in progress” as he completed five of seven passes, but fumbled in the red zone in his unimpressive NFL debut against the Saint’s “mop-up defense.” The only “bright spot” for the “visitors” was the tens of thousands of loyal “Packer-backers” in the stands who waited in vain for their guys to show up.

By contrast, Drew Brees’s replacement, Jameis Winston, a “refugee from Tampa Bay” who hadn’t started a game in more than a year looked worthy of being “the successor” in New Orleans. He was 14-20-148-0 with an astounding five TD passes against the hapless Pack secondary (thought be one of their “strengths” going into the season) and earning a Brees-like QB rating of 136. In a flip with the usually reliable Rodgers, Winston threw “smart passes” and avoided interceptions — the “Achilles heel” that ended his tenure with the Bucs.

The final score of 38-3 wasn’t indicative of how one-sided this game really was. Sure, it’s only one game. But, beyond “they couldn’t play any worse,” I didn’t see a lot to build on here! This team bore no resemblance to the group that was basically one play away from a possible Super Bowl last year.

Perhaps, as many assume, AR is merely “playing out the string” in Green Bay, with visions of signing elsewhere next year. But, despite clear Hall of Fame stats, the lack of leadership, enthusiasm, and effort by AR in this one might well give other teams pause as to whether he can do a “Tom Brady” in a different uniform.

So, since he decided to come back to the Pack for this season, I think AR would do well to play like he cares, even if it’s only to set up a deal for next year. And, the Pack might want to take a closer look at Love, who has yet to show that he can translate a sterling college career into “upper echelon” NFL QB performance.

Next week it’s the Detroit Lions in Green Bay. Normally, that’s good news for the Pack who have beaten the Lions the last four times at Lambeau. This is a “new-look” Lions team with Jarod Goff replacing Matthew Stafford at QB. While losing their opener at San Francisco, Detroit showed some energy and enthusiasm in closing a 28-point third quarter deficit to a 41-33 final. Although throwing a key interception, Goff looked much better than AR in the opener.

AR and the Pack need to shake off the sleep walk. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long, stormy season in Green Bay. The kind that will make you lose hair, rather than grow it!

PWS

09-13-21

🗽IMMIGRANTS GET THE JOB DONE, BIG TIME! — Giannis Antetokounmpo, “The Greek Freak” Leads Milwaukee Bucks to First NBA 🏀 Championship 🏆 Since 1971 With 50 Point Effort In 105-98 Victory Over Phoenix Suns — Named Finals MVP!

https://www.niskanencenter.org/giannis-antetokounmpos-immigrant-story-and-the-internationalization-of-the-nba/

BY MATTHEW LA CORTE, JACOB CZARNECKI for the Niskanen Center

JULY 20, 2021

On July 3, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Atlanta Hawks to advance to the NBA Finals, an accomplishment not seen in the city in almost 50 years. Leading the charge for Milwaukee is the six-foot, eleven-inch Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek-born star is one of the best basketball players in the world today and a global ambassador for the NBA.

The best foreign-born player competing on the league’s biggest stage is the latest apex in the decades-long internationalization of the NBA. The stellar results of that process carry broader conclusions for immigration policy. But first, it’s worth understanding the particular lessons drawn from Antetokounmpo’s compelling journey, which took him from statelessness to global stardom.

Stateless and vulnerable

In December 1994, Giannis Antetokounmpo was born in Athens, Greece, to Nigerian immigrants. His parents arrived in the country without legal status in search of better employment opportunities. While in Greece, Giannis’ family faced the dual threats of potential deportation back to Nigeria and anti-immigrant attitudes within Greek society.

As a teenager, Giannis avoided going out at night for fear of being attacked by members of Golden Dawn, a neo-Nazi party responsible for numerous assaults on immigrants.

Giannis’ parents also struggled to maintain long-term employment due to their legal status, meaning he and his brothers informally sold consumer goods such as watches and hats to keep their family afloat. However, at the age of 13, Giannis would begin to see his family’s fortunes shift dramatically, as Spiros Velliniatis, a coach in the Greek amateur basketball leagues, began scouting him and his brothers (three Antetokounmpo brothers now play in the NBA).

The coach offered to find Giannis’ parents better-paying jobs in exchange for the right to train the brothers full-time — a lifeline provided even though Giannis struggled to dribble a basketball when he began training.

Despite a late start, Giannis’ work ethic and natural gifts would quickly make him one of the most sought-after basketball talents in all of Greece. NBA scouts and executives flocked to the country to see the future star in action. Eventually, Antetokounmpo was drafted 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks at the age of 18.

This accomplishment was nearly undone by the realities of his immigration status, however. Greece does not offer birthright citizenship as it exists in the United States. Instead, Greece requires at least one parent to hold Greek citizenship for the child to receive it. Thus, without papers from Greece or Nigeria, Antetokounmpo was considered stateless — despite having lived in Greece his entire life.

His stateless status threatened to prevent Giannis from traveling to New York for the NBA draft, leaving him with limited options to proceed other than attempting to secure a Nigerian passport. Luckily, the Greek government stepped in to provide citizenship to their budding star before the draft, ensuring that Antetokounmpo would be identified as Greek on the world stage — not Nigerian.

The struggle of Antetokounmpo’s parents to provide for their family reveals the challenges of being undocumented, and even after many barriers had been overcome, this statelessness could have prevented him from ever realizing his immense potential. It is easy, then, to see how a lack of legal status impacts individuals and families without the benefit of a star athlete in their ranks — conditions that apply to millions in the United States.

But the story also highlights an upside of American immigration law. Many of the issues Antetokounmpo faced during his youth derived from Greece’s lack of birthright citizenship — a policy central to the U.S. immigration system since the passage of the 14th Amendment. His tribulations display the value of this policy in the American context, enabling children to live their lives unburdened by immigration decisions their parents made before they were even born.

. . . .

Update: On July 20, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns to win the 2021 NBA Championship. Giannis Antetokounmpo became the sixth player in NBA Finals history to score 50 points and unanimously won the 2021 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

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

Read the full story at the link.

The last time the Bucks won the NBA crown, I was an L-1 at UW Law. That great team was led by Kareem (then known as Lew Alcindor), Oscar Robertson (“The Big O”), and Bobby Dandridge (“Bobby D,” who later went on to help the Washington Bullets — now the Wizards — win their sole NBA title). All three are Hall of Farmers, as no doubt Giannis will be some day.

And, yes, the birthright citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment is one of the wisest provisions in American law! Not only does it prevent statelessness, but it also guarantees that even when Congress drops the ball and fails to legalize long-term American residents without documentation, there will not be generations of “underground Americans.” For the most part, the “next generation” become U.S. citizens through birth in the U.S. and our country goes on to grow and prosper. They also receive full political rights, rather than being disenfranchised and forced into an extralegal, exploitable fringe society.

🏀🇺🇸Congrats to Giannis and all the the Bucks, and Due Process Forever!

PWS

07-21-21

SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT: A.R.’s Jeopardy Debut A Winner! — “Who Wanted To Kick That Field Goal?” NOT The Correct Answer In Double Jeopardy!

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/aaron-rodgers-jeopardy-host-joke_n_606c339fc5b6832c793b6572

**************
Actually, the right answer was “Mr. Rogers” (as in Fred Rogers).

The internet is already ablaze in rumors that A.R. might combine a long term run on one of America’s favorite game shows with another run at the elusive second Super Bowl as the “Leader of the Pack” (an actual category when A.R. won “Celebrity Jeopardy” several years back!)

Since he is now engaged to actress Shailene Woodley, I suppose a “dual life” in Green Bay and Hollywood wouldn’t be out of the question.

Go Pack, Go!

PWS

04-07-21

🏀MARCH MADNESS: Bucky Game, But Bears Got Game — Baylor Knocks Badgers Off Dance Floor! ☹️

Badger Caged — Caged Badger
PHOTO: Miss Shari
Creative Commons License

🏀MARCH MADNESS: Bucky Game, But Bears Got Game — Baylor Knocks Badgers Off Dance Floor! ☹️

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Courtside Exclusive

March 21, 2021

The Wisconsin Badgers (18-13) made it respectable. But, the #1-seed Baylor Bears seized control early in the first half of the South Second Round Game from West Lafayette, IN on their way to a convincing 76-63 victory. The Bears thus move on to the Sweet 16, while the Badgers’ season ends.

The three-point shot, which was the Badgers “best friend” in their round one victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels on Friday night, abandoned the Badgers and went over to the Bears. Baylor drained 8 of 17 threes for 47.1%, while Wisconsin shot only 37% from behind the arc, missing 13 of 21 attempts. Turnovers, often a Badgers strength, were their achilles heel this afternoon, with the Badgers committing 13 to the Bears’ four.

Baylor led 42-29 at the half. To their credit, the Badgers hung in and cut the lead to seven points several times in the second half. But, they couldn’t get any closer. After playing consistently against North Carolina, the Badgers reverted to their regular season form with several long “dry spells” that helped seal their fate. Overall, however, Baylor was just too good.

The Badgers were led by seniors D’Mitrik Trice (12 pts.), Nate Reuters (11 pts.), and freshman guard Jonathan Davis (10 pts.). The victorious Bears were paced by junior guard Matthew Mayer, who came off the bench to score 17, eight above his season average.

Although the Badgers were not expected to make the “Sweet 16,” they joined a growing list of Big-10 failures in this year’s NCAA Men’s tournament. Just before the start of the Wisconsin-Baylor game, the #8 Loyola Ramblers (led in spirit by their #1 fan, the famous “Sister Jean”) dominated #1-seed Illinois 71-58, in another “nobody saw this coming” upset. Of the nine Big-10 teams invited to the dance, only Rutgers, Michigan, Iowa, and Maryland remain alive, all with second round games coming up.

Congratulations to Coach Greg Gard and his team on another winning season and NCAA Tournament birth.

Not all news was bad for Wisconsin sports over the weekend. The Badger Women’s hockey team beat Northeastern on Saturday to win the “Frozen Four” and the NCAA Championship!

On Wisconsin!

🏀MARCH MADNESS: BADGERS COME OUT SNARLING, DEVOUR TAR HEELS IN DANCE OPENER, 85-62!

Ferocious Bucky Badger — Bucky Came Out Hungry & Ferocious With A Tar Heel Meal On The Menu, Creative Commons Licenses

🏀MARCH MADNESS: BADGERS COME OUT SNARLING, DEVOUR TAR HEELS IN DANCE OPENER, 85-62!

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Courtside Exclusive

March 20,2021

After staggering into the NCAA Tournament, losers of five of their last six, the senior-laden Wisconsin Badgers (18-12) looked for at least one night like they belong in the Big Dance.

The 9-seed Badgers finally put together a full 40-minute game, eviscerating the 8-seed North Carolina Tar Heels (18-11) in every facet on their way to a very convincing 85-62 win in the first round of the of the NCAA South Regional before a COVID-protocol-limited crowd on Purdue’s home court in West Lafayette, Indiana. The were some Badger fans in the stands, and they experienced a rare Badger blowout inflicted on a credible opponent.

Senior guards Brad Davison (29 points) and D’Mitrik Trice (21 points) led the #25 Badgers, who drilled 13 of 27 three-pointers. No other Badger was in double figures, although seniors Micah Potter and Aleem Ford chipped in nine apiece.

The Tar Heels’ front line was supposed to dominate. But, the Badgers controlled the boards 37-34, including 28 defensive rebounds to keep the Tar Heels reeling all night. For North Carolina’s Hall of Fame coach, the legendary Roy Williams, this was his initial first round failure after 29 consecutive W’s.

Of course, this year’s mediocre Tar Heel squad, from the middle of an underwhelming ACC pack, yet not without some young talent, bore little resemblance to Williams’s championship-caliber teams of yesterday year. Bucky came into the season with great promise, ranked in the top ten, primarily on the strength of the senior core coming off a Big-10 co-championship in the COVID-halted 2020 season.

But, the Badgers struggled through the Big-10 season, finishing with a lackluster 10-10 record (17-12 overall), good for only a 6th place finish in conference. Mostly significantly, they were 0-8 against the conference’s premier teams: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State, and Iowa. They clawed their way into the Big Dance largely by beating up on non-conference foes and Big-10 bottom feeders.

The Badgers led wire-to-wire on Friday night, coming out strong and energetic and keeping up the pressure, leading 40-24 at the half. Nevertheless, Badger fans couldn’t relax because, unlike past Wisconsin squads, this team throughout the season blew some sizable leads with long dry spells that let their opponents seize control.

Last night was, however, totally different. Although the Tar Heels came out with a much improved offensive showing in the second half, particularly from their “bigs,” the Badgers basically matched or exceeded them basket for basket to maintain, and even expand their halftime lead. The Tar Heels never got closer than 12 points, and the Badgers settled at a comfortable 14-18 lead for most of the stanza.

Most pundits had given Coach Greg Gard’s Badgers a chance against Williams’s slightly favored, yet highly inconsistent, Carolina squad. But, few, if any, saw this complete and convincing blowout coming.

So, at least for one night, the Badgers looked like a team that belongs in March Madness, rather than an imposter whose invitation suggested a past reputation for consistent excellence rather than the current less-than-inspiring group who limped into the NCAAs, after losing to Iowa for the third straight time in the conference tournament.

It’s probably a good thing for the Big-10. Although generally considered the “premier conference” in America during this COVID-infected season, two of the conference’s highly seeded teams, Ohio State (#2) and Purdue (#5), suffered shocking upsets on the first day. Another perennial power, Michigan State, blew a big lead and lost to a lightly regarded UCLA squad in the tournament “play-in” game.

The Badgers should savor this moment of redemption. Because, their dance is going to get much more challenging tomorrow afternoon when they face the #1 seed Baylor Bears (23-2) at 2:40 PM from West Lafayette. The game will be on CBS and the Bears are an early six point favorite.

Go Bucky!

🏈G.O.A.T.-BUTTED AGAIN — Pack Season Dissolves In NFC Championship Again As Tom Brady Takes Them Apart For The Second Time!

😢

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Courtside Sports Exclusive

Jan. 24, 2021. Last year it was the SF 49ers. This year it was Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Bucs. Either way it was a big disappointment. Both times, the Pack relaid their “regular season egg” at the worst possible time — in the NFC Championship game.

After an MVP-worthy season, Aaron Rodgers and the Pack lost again to Tom Brady and the Bucs 31-26. To make it worse, it was at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The Pack never led in the game.

The “duel” between AR and Brady was really all about the latter. Brady was better! He simply “fried” the Green Bay defense in the first half. The “back breaker” actually came near the end of the first half when Brady threw a TD pass to Scotty Miller on an inexcusable (almost absurd) defensive breakdown by the Pack with one second left on the clock.

The Pack made a game of it in the second half. But, Brady was just better. Although he threw three interceptions, he outplayed Rodgers when it counted.

Indeed, Rodgers and the Pack “O” managed only a paltry 6 points off the three Brady turnovers. By contrast, the Bucs turned two Pack turnovers (one on a rare Rodgers interception) into 14 points. That essentially was the ballgame.

The previously stout Packer offensive line wilted under relentless pressure from the Bucs pass rush, just as they had in the regular season meeting. That left Rodgers clearly uncomfortable and running for his life for most off the game. However, he failed to show his usual “escapability.”

Meanwhile, for the most part, the Pack pass rush failed to put much pressure on Brady, allowing him to operate in his “comfort zone.” That was true particularly in the first half when he simply made the Pack defense look foolish on the way to a 21-10 halftime lead that proved insurmountable.

It didn’t help that on the first Pack possession of the second half, an Aaron Jones fumble (forcing him to leave the game with an injury) turned into a virtually uncontested TD. A Brady TD pass to a wide-open receiver put the Pack in a three-score hole from which there was no recovery.

Rodgers probably left at least one TD on the table when he threw an ill-advised incomplete pass inside the ten rather than running for yardage and a possible TD. Matt LaFleur was out-coached by Bruce Arians, going to his first Super Bowl. LaFleur made a bizarre choice to kick a FG rather than going for a tying TD on what proved to be the Pack’s last possession.

But, in the end it was all about Tom Brady, the greatest of all time! He showed that those who said that it was the Patriots’ “system” had it all wrong. He took a team noted for its hapless failures to the Super Bowl in his first season!

AR Is one of the best ever QBs, the likely MVP for the third time, and a “first ballot” Hall of Famer. But, nobody can deny that Brady is the GOAT!

For the Pack, another great season! Didn’t quite get it done. But, next year is a new beginning, and another chance to reach the Super Bowl with a great coach, spectacular QB, and a great supporting cast. Thanks for a great and entertaining season!

Go Pack Go!

Wait till next year!

And, of course, congrats to Tom Brady 🌟 and the Bucs🏴‍☠️!

PWS

01-24-21

⚾️IDOL OF MY CHILDHOOD, “HAMMERIN’ HANK” AARON, #44, PROLIFIC HOME RUN HITTER, HALL OF FAMER, PIONEER OF FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE DIES @ 86!

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30759337/hank-aaron-lasting-impact-measured-more-home-runs

BY HOWARD BRYANT

Senior Writer

ESPN

Henry Aaron, who rose up from the depths of Southern poverty to become one of the towering figures in baseball history as well as a bittersweet symbol of both American racial intolerance and triumph, has died. He was 86.

When he retired in 1976 after a 23-year major league career with the National League Braves (spending 1954 to 1965 in Milwaukee, 1966-74 in Atlanta) before playing his final two seasons with the American League Milwaukee Brewers, Aaron had amassed staggering offensive numbers, holding the career records for most home runs (755), RBIs (2,297), total bases (6,856), games played (3,298), at-bats (12,364) and plate appearances (13,941). He was second behind Ty Cobb in hits (3,771), though he held the NL record.

He is still the career leader in total bases and RBIs and is third in hits behind Pete Rose and Cobb. He was the first player in baseball history to amass 500 career home runs and 3,000 hits and the last player in history to be promoted from the Negro Leagues to the major leagues. Aaron appeared in a record 24 All-Star Games, won batting titles in 1956 and 1959, led the league in home runs four times, was named National League MVP in 1957, and twice appeared in the World Series, winning the title in 1957 when the Braves beat the New York Yankees in seven games.

Aaron was a magnificent player whose career paralleled more charismatic, spectacular players such as Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, whose brilliance often overshadowed his prolific but workmanlike style, but it was his three-year pursuit of Babe Ruth’s career record of 714 home runs that elevated him into an enduring national figure. The record-breaking home run, which came in the fourth inning off Los Angeles Dodgersleft-hander Al Downing on April 8, 1974, at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, provided one of the most lasting images in the sport and also one of its most poignant moments.

For years, Aaron had received thousands of letters, many of them racist, and many of which contained death threats against him and his family. The image of him rounding second base escorted by two jubilant white fans who had leaped onto the field became one of the most iconic in sports. Less known was that, as Aaron rounded the bases, his bodyguard, Calvin Wardlaw, sat in the stands, his hand secretly on his revolver, deciding in an instant whether the two young fans were hostile in their intent and whether he would shoot them.

Over the years, Aaron would be praised for his quiet resolve and dignity in the face of the threats. He would dine with international heads of state and every sitting president from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama, but the negative response from so many of his countrymen was a scar he would carry for the rest of his life.

“It was supposed to be the greatest triumph of my life, but I was never allowed to enjoy it. I couldn’t wait for it to be over,” he once said. “The only reason that some people didn’t want me to succeed was because I was a Black man.”

Aaron held the record for 33 years until Barry Bonds passed him on Aug. 7, 2007, and although he is currently second on the career home runs list, behind Bonds’ 762, the taint of the steroid era leaves Aaron in many people’s minds as baseball’s last legitimate home run champion

. . . .

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

Read the rest of Howard’s tribute at the link.

I can remember listening at night to the Milwaukee Braves broadcasts on my very own AM radio, tubes glowing brightly through the plastic cover, to Blaine Walsh and Earl Gillespie with the play-by-play on WTMJ (“Miller, Kent, and Clark take you out to the park”). Every time “Hammerin’ Hank” came to bat, particularly with runners on base, I held my breath for something great to happen. And, often, it did! I even saw Hank play in person with the Braves a number of times at the old Milwaukee County Stadium!

Went out into the back yard, donned my prized Braves’ jacket, and red and blue “M” hat, and slammed a few whiffle balls into the neighbor’s yard, imagining I was #44 hitting a game winner and rounding the basis in triumph. A far cry from my lack of real-life skills at the game! Never could hit a fastball, or any other kind of pitch for that matter. And, I was very slow.

During the 1957 World Series vs. the mighty Yankees (Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, et al) we were even allowed to listen over the school loud speaker system. I never forgave the Braves for pulling up stakes and leaving for Atlanta in 1966 (after a prolonged court battle). Didn’t follow baseball much for many years after that!

Of course, at that time the “whitewashed, sanitized history and reporting” in Milwaukee didn’t give a hint about the vile racism going on behind the scenes, even disgracefully on the club that Hank was propelling toward its sole World Series Championship. Joe Adcock — what a total racist jerk — I take back every time I cheered for you!

Thanks for all the great moments, Hank! Sorry for what you had to endure.

R.I.P.

PWS

01-22-20

🏈ON TO THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: PACK OVERPOWERS RAMS 32-18 @ LAMBEAU! — “O Line” Shines In Mauling “#1 Defense”

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Courtside Exclusive

Jan. 17, 2021. The Green Bay Packers left no doubt in the perhaps overhyped “battle” between the #1 offense and the #1 defense. Likely NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, laying an impressive “juke” in a hapless L.A. Rams’ defender in the process, as the Pack rolled.

Led by running backs Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, and AJ Dillon, the Pack gashed the Rams’ D for 188 yards on the ground, on the way to 488 yards of total offense. The defense sacked Rams’ QB Jared Goff four times and generally held the Rams’ offense in check when it counted.

The Rams basically were playing without their defensive leader and superstar Aaron Donald, ineffective in limited action (obviously should not have played at all) because of a previous injury. His only notable play was a really dumb 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that helped keep a Packer drive going in the first half. But, even a healthy Donald couldn’t have turned the tide on Saturday evening.

An under-touted aspect of the Pack’s dominating performance was the offensive line. They actually were without their best player, All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtairi. No matter! His replacement Billy Turner, Elgton Jenkins, one of the most versatile and underrated players in the league, and his buddies Corey Lindsey, Lucas Patrick, Rick Wagner, Mercedes Lewis, and Robert Tonyan dominated the Rams’ supposedly fearsome defense. Not only did they open big holes at the line of scrimmage for the running game, but also gave Rodgers spectacular protection.

AR has one of the “quickest releases” in football history. But, on Saturday he didn’t really need it. He had all day on most drop-backs. Indeed, except for a failed and flailing “jersey grab,” he was barely touched all night. And, when Rodgers has time, he almost never loses.

The Pack now needs to put this one behind them and concentrate on next week: The NFC Championship Game, one step from Rodgers’s second Super Bowl. Although the Pack also reached the championship game last season, they laid a big egg in getting literally run out of the stadium by San Francisco.

Interestingly, many, including me, thought at that point the Pack would have to do a major offseason “rebuild” to remain competitive with the 49ers and the other NFC “up and comers.” But, much to everyone’s surprise and consternation, the was no such “rebuild” during the offseason. Instead, in a highly controversial and much criticized move, the Pack drafted QB Jordan Love, in what was (wrongly) thought to be the “beginning of the end” for Rodgers in Green Bay.

What did happen, however, was that two of the “best minds in football” — Coach Matt LeFleur (28-7) and AR — sat down with the coaching staff over the winter and designed what is now the best and most feared offense in football — nearly unstoppable! (And we can’t forget wide receiver Devante Adams, whose amazing talent and unfailingly great instincts have made him and and Rodgers the most effective combination in football.)

Seems like the “pieces were there” all the time — it was the “melding of minds” between Rodgers and the coaching staff that was the “missing link.” Even the Pack defense, with most of the same players who too often came up short last year, is holding teams to under 20 points average over the last seven games — no mean feat an an offensive-minded league.

No matter who wins between the Saints and the Bucs this evening, the Pack will be facing a formidable challenge and a future Hall of Fame QB next week in Drew Brees (Saints) or Tom Brady (Bucs).

For the record, the Brady and the Bucs dominated the Pack earlier in the season in what was undoubtedly Green Bay’s worst outing. On the other hand, Rogers and the Pack narrowly out-dueled Brees and the Saints in a classic late-September showdown where both threw for three TDS.

But, this is January, where previous results don’t necessarily predict the future. It should be a great one at Lambeau next Sunday afternoon (projected 17-26 degrees with snow flurries).

Go Pack!

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Courtside Sports

Feb. 22, 2022

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🏈SPORTS: EXPOSED!— Badgers End B-10 Season With Inept Effort @ MN! — No Offense, Little D, Lead To Embarrassing Loss, Avoids Facing Michigan In Big-10 Title Game!

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🏈 COURTSIDE SPORTS: AFTER UGLY START, AR & PACK ROLL TO 7-1 MIDSEASON MARK WITH 24-21 ROAD WIN OVER PREVIOUSLY UNDEFEATED ARIZONA CARDINALS!

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🏈😎 JOY RETURNS TO GREEN BAY — AR Throws Four TDS & Aaron Jones Scores Four Times As Pack Romps Over Lions 35-17 On Monday Night Football @ Lambeau!

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🏀MARCH MADNESS: Bucky Game, But Bears Got Game — Baylor Knocks Badgers Off Dance Floor! ☹️

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🏀MARCH MADNESS: BADGERS COME OUT SNARLING, DEVOUR TAR HEELS IN DANCE OPENER, 85-62!

By Paul Wickham Schmidt

Courtside Exclusive

March 20,2021

Go Bucky!

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😢

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Courtside Sports Exclusive

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🏈ON TO THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: PACK OVERPOWERS RAMS 32-18 @ LAMBEAU! — “O Line” Shines In Mauling “#1 Defense”

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