The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Game Preview Bucks Vs. 76ers

UP NEXT TEAMS: Milwaukee Bucks (17-19) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (14-20).

Waiting for Closure Brewers, Dodgers Contend for Hoffman

The Milwaukee Brewers can't fight geography, especially the kind of West Coast geography that players often prefer. The Brewers should learn today what chance they have of signing closer Trevor Hoffman to a free-agent deal. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who could allow Hoffman to stay close to home, apparently represent the chief competition for baseball's all-time saves leader.

Sportsday Norvell Improves Sooners

Madison native Jay Norvell, the assistant offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Oklahoma, is the subject of a flattering profile in the Tuesday edition of The New York Times. Norvell, a graduate of Madison Memorial, is given much credit for helping Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford run Oklahoma's no-huddle offense.

Weekly Uw Report by Mark Stewart

WHO'S HOT Marcus Landry wasn't named player of the week by the Big Ten but he was the top dog in our book last week. The senior forward averaged 19.5 points and three rebounds per game in victories over then-No. 23 Michigan and Penn State and made 63% (17 of 27) of his shots. He tied his collegiate high with 23 points Saturday against Penn State, making 10 of 15 shots and dishing out two assists.

Presidential Endorsement Murphy Backs Firing of Assistants

Green Bay -- Heads rolled in the ranks of the assistant coaches Sunday and Monday at 1265 Lombardi Ave., a series of career- altering moves that the president of the Green Bay Packers deemed appropriate for what transpired on the field in 2008. "I think part of it is we can't accept losing seasons," Mark Murphy said Tuesday. "We fully supported both Mike and Ted that this was a decision we needed to make for football reasons."

Packers Notes Surviving Aide Could Get Secondary Spot

One of the survivors of coach Mike McCarthy's defensive purge, Joe Whitt Jr., will have a much greater role with the Green Bay Packers next season. Whitt, who joined the team last season after being part of Bobby Petrino's coaching staff that was replaced in Atlanta, served as a defensive quality control assistant, splitting his time analyzing game tape of upcoming opponents and assisting defensive backs and special teams coaches during practice.

Wisconsin Basketball Downsizing has Had Few Effects

Madison -- University of Wisconsin fans might not have known how good they had it. For years, coach Bo Ryan was able to shuffle guys like Brian Butch, Greg Stiemsma and Jason Chappell in and out of the lineup. At 6 feet 10 inches or taller, they gave the Badgers a size dimension few teams could match.

Michael Hunt in My Opinion Mccarthy Must Prove He Can Lead

In ancient Rome, so the story goes, a victorious general would return home to a raucous parade. Just so he wouldn't get too cocky, standing behind him in his chariot would be a minion whispering in the conqueror's ear the warning that all glory is fleeting. Update this cautionary tale to the NFL and it would be Mike McCarthy riding shotgun in the Escalade belonging to the hot coach du jour -- today, Atlanta's Mike Smith, tomorrow, who knows? -- and leaning over to murmur the same humbling adv...

Milwaukee Hamilton 57, Milwaukee Vincent 46 Doing It New School Diener Gets Better of His Former Squad

Tom Diener said it wasn't a big game. Just an interesting game. Of course, Diener said that after spending most of Tuesday night in a coaching frenzy, commanding his new (in many ways) Milwaukee Hamilton boys basketball team to a 57-46 victory over his old team, Milwaukee Vincent.

Bucks Exploring Options After Waiving Croshere Team Needs Help with Bogut, Allen Hurt

Austin Croshere has received an early reminder why this week is a time of dread for fringe players in the National Basketball Association. Croshere was released Tuesday by the Milwaukee Bucks, four days ahead of the time Saturday when marginal players' non-guaranteed contracts become guaranteed.

Today's Tmj4 Storm Team Tornadoes, Heat Made Last Jan. 7 Memorable

Clouds and light snow will still be around the area today, but any accumulation will be very light. The next opportunity for snow arrives on Friday and Friday night. It will not be a major snowstorm, but it will bring some freezing rain and rain mixed with snow during the afternoon. Very chilly air rolls in after the snow for the weekend. In my 29 years of doing the weather in the Milwaukee area, I have covered many weather extremes, but nothing as bizarre as what occurred on this date last y...

2-Minute Drill > Rank & File a Lineup of Sports Tidbits

FROZEN IN PLACE Outside of Detroit, the past decade hasn't been kind to hockey's six oldest teams:

Take Two

UP Auto racing fans:

Marquette Basketball Seniors Hoping to Avoid Letdown Against Rutgers

Piscataway, N.J. -- The Marquette Golden Eagles are rolling. They've won five straight games, are 2-0 in the Big East for the first time and are back in the Associated Press poll at No. 18.