Ah, OS, always good to hear from you. I probably missed too much of the season to get in on the action this year, but I wouldn't mind having an excuse to spend more company time studying the league...

Well, it looks like things are normal as always here on the ol' WIAC board.

It'll be a quasi-reunion of old WRST/Titan TV sports losers -- err, alumni -- at Kolf Saturday. Hope to see a bunch of Titans fans there...

Go Titans!!!

A postscript - Kohl has already suggested to state DNC officials that he will probably not seek another term and that the committee should start identifying potential candidates.

No imagination here, just going with what I get to work with. A couple quick points:

* 83% (and I verified this with the then-ticketing manager for the BC) of the tickets were sold to residents with zip codes in a three-county area: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Dane.

* Talks have already begun between officials in Milwaukee, Nashville, and KC.

* The Bucks have presented the Bradley Center with a list of "demands" they have deemed necessary for their ability to remain in the facility.

* Com. Stern has gotten personally involved in the Bucks' situation.

I don't try to use "insider information" as a status symbol, and honestly I do apologize if it seems that way. I'm just going with the information I get. I know how these things can turn bad in a hurry, but according to the available information now ... Milwaukee is very high on the list of potential NHL markets and very low on the list of NBA markets. Something is brewing (no pun intended) here.

Again, I am not trying to sound like a pompus jerk. I respect others' opinions and in all honesty, I enjoy a thoughtful, well educated debate. So please don't take my comments as "holier-than-though" declarations.

OS,

Bear this in mind; the Bucks' lease at the Bradley Center expires on September 30 and carries a one-year option that will be picked up, making the deal valid through September of 2008.  It's no secret that the franchise is unhappy with the revenue streams provided by the building and despite recent upgrades, have no interest in a retrofit of the 19-year-old facility in which they pay no rent and have displaced other tennants (turning the Admirals' offices into a resturant ... ). They want a new building. David Stern, meanwhile, has no interest in keeping Milwaukee in the league when he has other markets ready to pony up big bucks. During the 2001 EC Finals, he was asked - point blank - would he stop a move if new ownership wanted to relocate. He said - on the record - he would not. He won't bring the All Star Game to Milwaukee, saying there isn't enough space for the media (uh huh). He tried to single handedly negotiate the deal to sell to Jordan. He doesn't give a rip about Milwaukee; he wants Kohl to sell and sell quick.

While all this is going on, Kansas City is planning to open the 19,000-seat Sprint Center in October of 2008. (Eerie, huh?). KC tried to woo the Penguins by offering free rent, and 49% of ownership and total control of building revenues. They have their eye on the Bucks big time. The Clippers expressed an interest, but they could end up in St. Louis or Vegas. The Bucks are KC's No. 1 Priority and don't think for a second that Stern isn't looking for a buyer out there.

Further still, as great as the Predators are this year; Nashville owner - and Racine native/resident - Craig Leopold has recently put 40% of the franchise up for sale and has a provision in his lease with the city of Nashville (which owns the Gaylord Entertainment Center) that he can pursue relocation if attendance dips below a certain level, or corporate sales don't meet a minimum number. Further, the city has to subsidze the team for all of its operating losses each year. The NHL is sick of the crap they have to take from Dollar Bill Wirtz in Chicago and are quietly remving the 90-mile no-compete provision from the bylaws. They have noticed how big hockey can be in MKE (despite the Admirals attendence woes). They were on hand when the building sold out for the NCAA Tournament even before it looked like UW would be there. The NHL is a much more suitable match for Milwaukee - especially the BC, as it was BUILT for an NHL team - than is the NBA.

Your 2008 Kansas City Bucks, get your tickets now.

Stotts was another boneheaded hire by Kohl and had little to do with Larry Harris. It's funny how those few seasons where the Senator let Karl rule the roost have made people forget just how meddling an owner he is. Nellie may have been out of line when he started his feud with Kohl, but the truth is in the pudding.

1968-1987: Two Coaches
1987-2007: Don Nelson, Del Harris, Frank Hamblen, Mike Dunleavy, Chris Ford, George Karl, Terry Porter, Terry Stotts, Larry Kristowiak ....

Harris' hands are tied by what Kohl wants. He had expected to give Porter another year, but the Senator worked out the deal with Terry Stotts on his own, a la Steinbrenner.

Regardless, it doesn't matter. The Bucks will be calling Kansas City home by 2008-09; and Milwaukee will be prepping the Bradley Center for the arrivial of the National Hockey League.

And D3Hoops.com's favorite self-absorbed blowhard will be standing on his balcony, overlooking the BC, leading the farewell celebration.

Foul.... what's the problem?

Respectfully understood, Prof. Sager =)

Still, an endowment of 10-50 million is probably considerably more than those of state institutions. I have no scientific basis to prove this; but knowing what I know about the pitiful economic state of the UW system, I don't think it's quite that easy. There are plenty of other state schools in DIII (not many, I know, but the point is there) as well as plenty of private schools that can hang.

My advice to those private schoolers .... practice and get better ;-)

First of all, that piece was a pot job. I don't like to rip fellow hacks, but ... don't give me a play-by-play; give me a story. As far as I know, and I admit I'm biased, the WIAC plays by the rules. I wouldn't expect anything less from Dr. Karner - a very classy individual. Secondly, do these private schools understand that the WIAC schools do not possess insane endowments from wealthy almuni? Last I checked, Curt Culver was donating a gazillion bucks to UWO and they had to work hard to upgrade the football stadiums. I have argued with many people about this topic. Fine, we gave up "redshirts", whatever? Are these private schools offended to having state schools in DIII or are they just sick of getting their asses handed to them. It's annoying.

And DTown ... I took some RTF courses, but I will ALWAYS be a point of pride for the Journalism department at UWO (And of course, Kennan who loves me like Dr. Cox loves J.D. on Scrubs....) 

And hey, I need you to E-mail me. Your listed addy don't work.

Don't recall Wash U bitching too much when they're ladies were getting every possible call against the Titans back in the late 1990s ... whatever. I think it's pretty humorous, and I'm sure the cub hack is feeling pretty good about himself landing such a quote.

Just got done spending 25 hours with the ESPN GameDay crew for a story (www.onmilwaukee.com ... shameless plug!!!) and had the pleasure of running into Pat Miller, who was safeguarding the Siemens National Championship Trophy. It's conversations like the one I had with him today that make me miss covering the WIAC. Down to earth, honest, cordial ... and one hell of a nice guy. Whitewater is damn lucky to have a guy like that in the ranks.

BTW ... also had a conversation with Crean today, who said Point was one of the best exhibition games he's ever been involved in.

I still don't like Marquette.

I have to do a running diary of ESPN's GameDay visit to Milwaukee. Perhaps we can use the powers of suggestion to get Digger and the boys relocate to Point for the weekend?

God knows it would be better that mFU-Pittsburgh.

I'm 28 and a freshman, 6-6 with no jump shot (ask voft.... it's hideous, akin to a penguin jumping). Maybe I need to try your methods!

You two obviously don't pay a lot of attention to TVD, or haven't watched him enough. As with any coach, you can only do so much. Ted preaches a fundamentally sound - perhaps conservative - offense which varies from year-to-year based on personnel. The game plan is pretty standard, dribble-penetrate, draw the foul and win the close games at the line. Doesn't sound worthy of firing to me. Matchup defenses, well-timed presses ... all seems pretty decent. Now, if the players don't buy into the system, is that a coach's fault? If the players don't heed coaching down the stretch and choose to take the game into their own hands (bad passes, poor shots, costly decisions ... ) is that a coach's fault? Hell no. And I'd say the same thing about Emperor Tom I ... a coach can only do so much. He lost to LAX three times this year? Well, maybe the Eagles just had the Titans' number those days. It happens. It's part of sports. I want the Titans to win the WIAC every year, too, but I'm not blaming Ted if they don't get there.

(And no, this post wasn't aimed at getting a couple of free drinks when I'm at Players' next week ... )

Of course, money would be the key. Which means a presenting title sponsor would be the first place to start. My proposal?

The USCellular CCIW/WIAC Shootout

Why US Cellular? Well, judging from my monthly bill alone, they are rolling hand-over-fist in money. They are pretty much fully covered in Wisconsin and Illinois, have major presence in both MKE and CHI, and have a pretty good tradition of supporting major events (WiState Fair, MECCA, Sox Park, etc ... )

If they - and several other corporations - can shell out just enough money to cover buses, that's step one. And as somebody mentioned to me as I work on starting my own business, there is nothing wrong with in-kind sponsorships.... for example:

Coach USA, Official Transportation Sponsor
Hyatt/Hilton/Best Western ... Official Lodging Sponsor
Levy Catering ... Official Dining Sponsor (and provider of the tasty and all-important media meals)

As Deep Throat once said ... Follow the Money

If the cash is there, ADs will do just about anything. But I'm not getting my hopes up.