If you love Wisconsin and Wisconsin sports, here’s an amazing 2 hours from the archives. Just days after Donald Driver and Bo Ryan were inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, thanks to my former boss and former president of the Wisconsin Sports Authority, Joe Sweeney, I’m able to share the 1995 induction ceremony featuring master of ceremonies Bob Costas and an amazing list of inductees:
- Bonnie Blair
- Dan Jansen
- Al McGuire
- Oscar Robertson
- Robin Yount
The event was held Nov. 7, 1995 at the now UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena at a time when the Brewers were still in County Stadium, Miller Park was just approved and the team was rumored to be considering resigning Paul Molitor.
I was a young, eager recent graduate and working for Sweeney at the Sports Authority. So, yes, I helped put on this event and have been involved with the Hall of Fame for years. Now, as a board member at the Wisconsin Center District, I’m truly honored to continue to play a role in the hall’s success.
The video is a bit blurry, but it’s highly entertaining. Carve out a few hours to relish in Milwaukee and Wisconsin sports history. You’ll enjoy a lot of memories and laughs including:
- A story about Ma Paetsch and his bratwurst consumption contest
- Bob Uecker and Bob Costas (and, Costas uncontrollably laughing at Uecker's jokes)
- Classic Al McGuire
- Robin Yount and Bob Uecker
- Jack Buck stories from Costas including Costas’ classic National Dairy Day story featuring Ms. Cheese Cake
- Oscar Robertson’s acceptance speech
- Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson
- Olympic champions Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen
- A cheesy, but innovative at the time, laser light show that ends the ceremony.
And, much, much more.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
