Author: Jon Stillman

It has been said many times over that a football season is a marathon, not a sprint. The long four-month grind has many ups and downs; those teams that remain standing after 17 games basically win a battle of attrition, persevering through injuries, slumps, and any other form of bad luck that surfaces. For the Packers to be in a position to make the playoffs in a “win and you’re in” game 17 against the Detroit Lions after a 4-8 start, one that included a five-game losing streak, is nothing short of remarkable. However, the situation Green Bay finds itself…

The Green Bay Packers are no strangers to playing on a holiday. They have played 36 times on Thanksgiving Day, winning only 15 of them; seven times on Christmas Eve (6-1); and are undefeated in three New Year’s Day games. However, Sunday’s battle in Miami marks just the fourth time the Packers will take the field on December 25th. Here is how Green Bay’s Christmas Day games have historically fared. 2005: CHICAGO 24, GREEN BAY 17 The first Christmas Day game featuring the Packers went about the way their season went as a whole. Entering the game at Lambeau Field…

Yes, A.J. Dillon bulldozed his way for two punishing touchdown runs. Of course, Aaron Jones rushed for 90 big yards. And yes, Aaron Rodgers completed almost 75% of his passes. However, the player of the night for the Green Bay Packers against the Los Angeles Rams was returner Keisean Nixon. He put the Packers’ offense in very advantageous positions all game long. Nixon created shorter fields in which to travel than the Packers have enjoyed this year. Amari Rodgers Who? In the three games Nixon has handled the return duties for Green Bay, it is no coincidence that the Packers’…

According to Michael Clair from mlb.com, at least one Milwaukee Brewers player will participate for the United States squad in the upcoming 2023 World Baseball Classic this March. According to Clair, “starting pitcher Merrill Kelly and relievers Devin Williams, David Bednar, and Dillon Tate all confirmed their intent to play for the United States.” Because of pitch count limits that govern how much a pitcher can throw, relievers are a very important commodity in this tournament. “Bullpens, already heavily leaned on by Major League clubs, become even more important in the World Baseball Classic when teams have pitch count limits.…

In arguably one of the most competitive NCAA Division III football conferences in the country, the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), a perennial national-championship contender resides and is one of the remaining two teams left dancing in the playoffs. North Central College from Naperville, Illinois, has been the top-ranked squad in all of Division III since week 2. They bring an unblemished 14-0 into this weekend’s national final with Mount Union. FAMILIAR OPPONENTS GIVE INSIGHT INTO NCC’S CHANCES The head coach of one of NCC’s conference foes, Carthage College, feels the Cardinals are well-suited to regain the national…

Have you ever seen the holiday TV special “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”? Charlie and his friends go trick-or-treating, and after visiting a particular house, the kids stop to compare their hauls. One brags about getting multiple pieces of candy, and another shows off a chocolate bar. Poor Charlie Brown laments that he received a rock in his goodie bag. Unfortunately, the Milwaukee Brewers’ and owner Mark Attanasio’s participation in the recent hot stove activity, or lack thereof, is starting to resemble Charlie Brown’s luck collecting candy. THE NL CENTRAL IS GETTING STRONGER… The Brewers’ two strongest and most…

By all accounts, Graham Mertz was a model citizen during his run in Madison. There were no behavioral scandals or rumors about him being a poor teammate; he conducted his business over the past three years with class and maturity. However, the news that he has entered the transfer portal is a positive step for both Mertz and the Badgers. Related: Insider Claims Jim Leonhard Faced a Reduced Role and Less Freedom Under Fickell There Were High Expectations for Graham Mertz Arriving in Madison as the 21st-ranked player in the 2019 recruiting class, Mertz had a lot to live up to.…

Thomas Jefferson once said, “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” University of Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh thoroughly understood this quote when choosing his next football coach. The shock of McIntosh’s announcement naming Luke Fickell the 35th head football coach in program history has worn off by now. Therefore, those who feverishly follow University of Wisconsin football have now had a chance to let that news marinate Hopefully, those Jim Leonhard supporters who disapproved of the move, the ones who wear the Bucky-colored glasses a little too tightly, are seeing…

For opposing coaches in the Classic 8 Conference, the word is out: If you want to have a chance at beating Waukesha South in boys’ basketball this year, containing the one-two combination of Tyran Cook and Daniel Robinson is a must. Cook, a 6’2″ senior, is the reigning conference POY and averaged 22.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game as a junior, leading his team in both categories. He is off to a torrid start and well on his way to repeating the league’s top honor this year after tallying a school-record 45 points in the Blackshirts’ conference opener on…