The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Packers by Position Same Cast, Different Script; Packers Make No Big Changes to Linebacker Corps

Green Bay The Green Bay Packers' new defense is derived from Jimmy Johnson's old scheme in Dallas, where in the 1990s the Cowboys shuffled linebackers like so many easily replaceable parts. Maybe that's where the Packers are coming from as they enter a new season with essentially the same linebackers who performed worse instead of better a year ago.

Racing Mile Sells Itself Short; Track Fails to Energize Fans Despite Patrick's Appearance

This is supposed to be a good racing town. And there's no question that Danica Patrick is the big story in motorsports this season, attracting all sorts of new fans to the Indy Racing League.

Boys Preps

SUMMER BASEBALL ALL-STATE First Team

Mason Not Worried; Forward Sees Simmons As Help, Not Competition

Mequon Desmond Mason isn't fretting that the Milwaukee Bucks are spending a significant amount of money on free-agent small forward Bobby Simmons. Mason, the Bucks' incumbent small forward, sees it less as a threat to his position and more as a move to help the team climb back into the National Basketball Association playoffs.

Beijing Basketball Team to Visit

Members of the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association are expected to arrive in Milwaukee next Tuesday as part of an international basketball exchange program. A total of 17 visitors including 11 players, three coaches, and a team liaison, a representative of the company that owns the team and the head of the delegation will be in Milwaukee. The Beijing Ducks are owned by Shougang Corp., China's fourth-largest steelmaker.

Basketball

NBA Coaching Changes 2004-05 Season

Panel to Review Kohl Deal; Bradley Center Board to Study $55 Million Loan

The head of the Bradley Center board said Friday that his board would review details of a financial deal in which Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl borrowed at least $55 million from a National Basketball Association credit facility, but put at least $50 million of that money in two personal trusts. Ulice Payne Jr. said he was unaware of the 2003 transaction and added that his board's executive committee would review the borrowing in the context of the Bucks' desire for a long-term lease.

Jackson Wants Out; Nose Tackle Asks to Be Cut or Traded

Green Bay The Green Bay Packers will have every one of their signed players on board when the first full-squad training camp practice commences today, but it doesn't necessarily mean all of them will have grins on their faces. The first to express his public displeasure with management was nose tackle Grady Jackson, who reported for a mandatory meeting Wednesday night but in a Thursday meeting with general manager Ted Thompson and vice president of player finance Andrew Brandt said he didn't...

Packers Notes; Rodgers Only Rookie Unsigned; Second-Round Pick Murphy Agrees to Deal

Green Bay The Green Bay Packers reached a contract agreement with second-round pick Terrence Murphy on Thursday morning, leaving first-round selection Aaron Rodgers as the team's only unsigned draft pick. Murphy, a 6-foot-1, 196-pound receiver from Texas A&M, was the second of the Packers' two second-round picks, chosen 58th overall. The Packers reached an agreement with their other second- round selection, safety Nick Collins, on Wednesday.

Last Call for Alvarez Uw Coach Will Step Down After '05 Season

Madison Barry Alvarez knew that the rigors of continuing to serve as both head football coach and athletic director at the University of Wisconsin would eventually become too burdensome. So, confident that he had the ideal successor already on his coaching staff, Alvarez announced Thursday that he had decided to coach one more season, then turn over the program to defensive coordinator Bret Bielema.

Bielema Earned Uw's Trust; Hard Work Pays Off for Former Farm Boy

Madison Bret Bielema's journey to the college football coaching ranks, a journey that last year brought him to the University of Wisconsin as the team's defensive coordinator, began humbly on his family farm about six miles outside Prophetstown, Ill. "I came from a town of 1,800 people," Bielema, 35, said, referring to the town in northwestern Illinois, just a short ride from the Iowa state line. "But I had 2,500 pigs on my farm."

Sportswaves Costas has Funny Side, but Won't Be Comedian

Bob Costas, a man not without a sense of humor, thinks forcing humor into sports broadcasting is a mistake. Without naming specific studio shows, anchors or networks, Costas suggested that forced humor was too often a feature of sports broadcasting.

Wiaa State Summer Baseball Tournament; Oak Creek Takes the Plunge; Knights Rally for Third Straight Title

Stevens Point The last thing the Oak Creek baseball team wanted was for Scott Holler to be sad on the happiest day of his life. The first-year Oak Creek baseball coach, who is getting married Saturday, found his team trailing Ashland by three runs with three innings left Thursday afternoon in the state championship game at Bukolt Park.

Duffel Bag Area and State High Schools

American Legion stars: Fifty-four players have been selected for the annual Wisconsin American Legion Baseball all-star game on Sunday, Aug. 14, at Miller Park. The game will follow the 1 p.m. Milwaukee Brewers game. The all-stars will be introduced before the Brewers game. The rosters: North: Brett Birkholz, Neenah; Cody Carroll, Shawano; David Chereny, Tomahawk; Brian Dietzler, Wisconsin Rapids; Jeremy Dunihoo, Manawa; Craig Ebert, New London; D.J. Eggers, Prescott; Michael Fadness, Eau Cla...

Preps Promoting Cleanliness; Magazine Focuses On Nutrition, Conditioning for Prep Athletes

Communicating with teenagers, especially about sports and their health, can be a challenge. Since they are often presented with the temptation to overextend themselves athletically or to take supplements that will supposedly give them the upper hand, teenagers might view sit-ups and calf- raises as old-fashioned.

Giants 3 Brewers 0; a Chink Appears; in Santos' Armor; Brewers Pitcher Loses Cool After Fatal Mistake

It doesn't matter whether Victor Santos is strolling to the bullpen for his pregame warm-up, pitching in 93-degree heat or performing a mundane task like collecting batting practice balls in the outfield bucket the day after his start. The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander goes about his business in such a loose, fluid manner that scouts from opposing teams wonder if he is aloof, indifferent or unassailably cool.

Brewers Notes; Weeks Finally Sits; Infielder Out of Starting Lineup for First Time Since June 11

In the seven weeks since he was promoted to the major-league roster from Class AAA Nashville, Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks has recorded his first big-league home run, his first RBI, his first triple and his first stolen base. Thursday night marked another new experience: a night off.

Game Report Giants 3 Brewers 0

INSIDE PITCH PLAYER OF THE GAME

Wave United 4 Bavarian U-23 1; Pros' Class Shows; Rivillo Scores Twice for Wave United

Whitefish Bay The Wave United did what any professional soccer team would do when facing an amateur squad on the road: It sparred conservatively with the younger Milwaukee Bavarians for a half, then ran away with the match in the second. In the first game of the Milwaukee Derby, a two-game set between United and the Bavarian Under-23 team, United won, 4-1.

Storm Team 4 More Pleasant Weather Ahead for Weekend

July is turning out to be very similar to June. Although the Milwaukee area has experienced many warm days, most of the time it's been quite pleasant, with lots of sunshine and relatively comfortable dew points. During July, we've had only one day in the 90s: Sunday, when we had our hottest day of the year at 97 degrees. It was only the third day in the 90s this summer, with the average being nine days. This month, we've had 14 days in the 80s and 12 days with highs in the 70s.