These are heady times for fans of state sports teams – 2011 might be the greatest calendar year in Wisconsin sports history – but the Brewers' National League Central Division title, clinched Friday night ,is the first title Milwaukee can call its own in a very, very long time.
Yes, the Admirals won the 2004 Calder Cup. Yes, the Wave has won whatever league they're in this year however many times. But as far as major league sports go ... the Bucks have been to the playoffs and the Packers won the Super Bowl, but are still IN Green Bay.
This one, though, was truly Milwaukee's. The Brewers have been in the playoffs just once, as the 2008 National League Wild Card, since winning their last division title in 1982. There have been some pretty lean and downright pitiful seasons in between.
The significance of their accomplishment wasn't lost on the players.
"Those of us that didn't know quite how much it meant to the city, I think (Friday) night kind of put that into perspective," infielder Casey McGehee said.
But for now, and at least for the next few weeks, all those nightmares, full of forgettable names like David Hulse, John Vander Wal, Mark Smith, Curtis Leskanic (really, this list could go on for a long, long time), are out of mind.
That the fans stuck with the franchise through all the bad years means a lot to the current Brewers, who know plenty about the history and are happy to give them something to finally cheer about.
"We've heard stories about people coming here, even when the park was new, on a Tuesday night or something and there were only about 12,000 people here," McGehee said. "There are a lot of die-hard fans that we know sat through a lot of lean years here.
"Everybody thinks of Milwaukee and Green Bay kind of the same thing, being just a big football town. But they let us know last night that they love some baseball, too."
No vote from the skipper: Brewers manager Ron Roenicke was asked if he thought Ryan Braun would get his vote for the National League Most Valuable Player award.
With two viable candidates on his roster – Braun and Prince Fielder – Roenicke chose the diplomatic route.
"I don't want to go there," Roenicke said. "We have two guys who are legitimate candidates. Anytime you start making comments on one, the other feels slighted. I'm not in a position where I can do that. They're both definitely MVP candidates. No question."
Most consider Braun, hitting .331 with 32 home runs and 109 RBIs entering play Sunday, to be the front-runner for the award along with Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp, who brought a .326 average, 37 home runs and 120 RBIs into his team's game Sunday at San Diego.
Balloting for the award, voted upon by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, is completed at the end of the World Series.
Rodgers No. 1: According to Sporting News, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the best player in the National Football League. A panel of the publication's writers and editors put Rodgers atop their "Top 100 NFL Players" list last week.
"Rodgers is only 27," the article says. "He is still seasons away from his prime. We can see him being a dominant quarterback for the next eight or 10 years."
That's what Packers fans think, too.
More on the NCAA: A lot has been written about the NCAA and the mess that is big time college athletics. Scorecard called out the organization just a few weeks back and now, in the wake of the latest realignment fiascos, others are starting to place the blame squarely at the NCAA's feet.
There's no need to rehash what's going on. We all read and watch the news. But if there is one piece to read that really sheds light on the situation, its "The Shame of College Sports," in the latest edition of The Atlantic Magazine.
Check it out. It is truly eye-opening, even if none of it comes as anything even close to a surprise.
A word of caution, though ... it's a lengthy piece but well worth your time.
Return of Favre: Brett Favre is back ... but this time, in the broadcast booth.
Favre will work as an analyst for CBS' coverage of the Southern Miss-Rice football game, Saturday at Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss. Favre played for Southern Miss from 1987-1990.
In typical Favre fashion, he said he was "not committing" to a new career in broadcasting.
"I'm excited to be back at Southern Miss with the Golden Eagles. I'm not committing to a new career in broadcasting, but just wanted to support Southern Miss and check out the view from the press box. It should be fun and I hope the fans enjoy it."
The game will be broadcast by CBS' cable sports channel, CSS.
