A Michigan State of Mind

We are driving back from dinner at Cafe Gulistan when I spot a deer standing on the edge of the road.

"Deer!" I tell Eric who is sitting in the Toyota's passenger seat.  Liz and the rest of the Ogdens, sitting behind us, look out the window as the car flashes past the deer which quickly jumps into the brush and disappears.  "Actually it was a doe," I say,  focusing on the road again.

From behind me Liz suddenly breaks out into song:

"Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long, long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow so
Tea, a drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to oh, oh, oh."

 

Before the end of the song, we are all singing the well-known verse, laughing at how silly it is that we are singing the song from The Sound of Music.  Maybe it's the meal's Kurdish spices flowing through our bloodstream or the sheer enjoyment of spending a relaxing week on the beach that has us all feeling like we can imitate Julie Andrews and the Von Trapp children.  Either way, it is a golden moment from a wonderful week spent on the southern shores of breezy Lake Michigan, near Union Pier, a vacation escape for many people from Chicago.

A mere 90 minutes from the windy city, it  is a destination for many weekend warriors who are tired of the daily congestion of the Kennedy Expressway, over-rated piano bars, $30 dollars-per-hour parking fees, and Dante's eighth circle of hell, better known as the loud and crowded confines of Wrigley Field.

But for Liz and I, living in Wisconsin, it's further evidence of our Michigan state of mind.



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After graduating from college -- between 1984 and 1991 -- Liz and I lived in Michigan,  We lived in Grand Rapids and Coloma, but spent many weekends exploring the western side of Michigan, discovering the beach town communities of Charlevoix, Petosky, Traverse City, Grand Haven, Saugatuck and St. Joseph.  Like the budding affection we felt for each other, we fell in love with the natural beauty of towering sand dunes, fire engine-red lighthouses, pristine white sand beaches and glorious red sunsets.

Having grown up on the shores of the muddy Mississippi River, it was like paradise found.  Instead of brown, stinky muck to sink my toes into, I buried my toes into soft sand that shared valuable real estate with boardwalks crowded with artists, fishermen and tourists.  Abandoned industrial sites and paper mills where replaced by quaint B & B's, sailboat-filled marinas and a Dutch windmill village surrounded by thousands of colorful tulips.  And fields of golden-tasseled corn became acres of pink and white blossoms sprouting from cherry, peach and apple trees.

It made the change to eastern standard time bearable.

Almost.

I had no pre-conceived ideas when I moved to Michigan.  My only interest was in spending as much time with an incredible woman who couldn't find a nursing job in Wisconsin.  After interviewing in Wisconsin and states as far away as Maine and Massachusetts, she landed her first, post-college gig in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Instead of traveling eight hours to visit her, I thought it would be much easier if I could spend more hours of the day (and night!) if I lived in the same town, much less the same state.  And in the same time zone.

My first images of Michigan came shortly after gassing up in Michigan City, which is in Indiana (go figure), traveling down I 94 as it passed the small towns of Bridgeman, Stevensville and Benton Harbor.  It was a congested stretch of concrete and asphalt that baked in the summer sun or vanished in lake effect snows which were dumped after picking up steam over Lake Michigan.

Michigan's southwestern area is one of the most agriculturally diverse regions of the United States, growing corn, grapes, apples and peaches.  The state ranks first in the nation for production of begonias, blueberries, tart cherries, petunias, and squash.  The region is heavily influenced by winds crossing over Lake Michigan as they have a cooling effect in the summer and a warming effect in the winter.  During our annual pilgrimages back to Michigan, we've noticed the western shores of Michigan are embracing change with a growing emphasis on wineries and micro breweries.

Liz and I bought our first home in Grand Rapids which remains the second largest city in Michigan following Detroit.  The house wasn't much, but it was an improvement over my small efficiency and an apartment that had carpet in the kitchen.  Like every homeowner knows, it was a commitment that said, "we're here to stay," and allowed us to put our first roots down and to feel like we belonged.  To identify ourselves as Michiganders.  To eat patsies and drink Faygo pop.  To anticipate  the "Michigan left", where you drive through an intersection before doing a U-turn and taking a right-hand turn.

Before Michigan State achieved some success at football, the Maze and Blue was the college flag of choice for many homes in our neighborhood.  We would talk about our jobs and our future while pushing our first child, Matt, in a stroller past affluent homes flying Michigan (and an occasional Irish) flags on Providence and Westwood avenues.  I didn't have the courage to fly my Wisconsin colors, but back in those days, there wasn't much to be proud of anyway.

Eventually my job would take us away from the Furniture City as it was known before furniture manufacturing moved east from the Midwest to the Carolinas.  But before we did, Liz and I became close friends with Oak and Ellie Sovereign and Jerry and Lorraine Wisniewski, who gave us a greater appreciation of the Wolverine State and its midwestern values.  They took us to places like Frank's Meat Market, Charlie's Crab, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Arnie's Restaurant and the Fish Ladder Park -- where salmon fight strong currents to swim upstream.

During our nearly eight years spent in Michigan, we visited ice-covered lighthouses during winter, smelled lilac-covered islands in spring and climbed 450 foot dunes during summer.  Many of the photographs filling books around our house are of our weekend travels up and down the beautiful western shores of Michigan.

Unlike those pictures however, our memories of friends and places have not faded.

Today, nearly twenty-five years later, Liz and I will return to many of our favorite locations to find familiar blueberry farms and road-side farm markets.  While driving down Red Arrow Highway, we will begin a sentence by saying, "Isn't there a old mill somewhere near here?"  And sure enough a few minutes later we will pass Petersen Mill, a historic mill turned into a rental cottage.  When we drive across the Mackinaw Bridge or step off the Badger Ferry in Ludington we feel at home.

How is it that a state we lived in for such a short time continues to seem so familiar?



*          *          *

The orange light of the setting sun flickers across the incoming waves before reflecting onto Liz's face.  Her eyes shift to mine and she reaches for my hand which is still wet from skipping stones in the lake.

"This has been so nice," she says interlacing her fingers with mine.  "I could stand here and watch forever."  As if in agreement, we stand together in silence, our thoughts directed toward one of God's greater creations.

In less than a minute the sun is nothing more than a flare that has dropped below the horizon taking the remnants of the day with it.  Now comes my favorite part, when the golden glow of the sun reaches toward darkening clouds, tracing them in purples, pinks and yellows.  A jet stream trails across the light blue sky like a chalk mark left by some invisible hand.

A wave crashes on shore bringing cool relief to a beach that has endured another full day of eighty degree weather.  A small sailboat has been dragged to the base of a small sand dune, its sails flapping wildly in the wind as if eagerly yearning to return to the water and new adventures.

"I hate to leave," I say, watching our feet slowly sink into the wet sand.  "This week has gone by so fast -- and yet I don't feel like we've done very much.  A few wineries, some shopping in Saugatuck and time on the beach.  I still feel like we just got off the ferry and arrived at our B&B in Grand Rapids."

"It was good to see the downtown area doing so well.  I can't believe how much it has changed."  Liz pauses to take another photo of the changing sky.  "The micro-breweries are everywhere and I love walking along the Grand River -- it brings back so many memories."

"It's been more than twenty-five years.  Can you believe it?"

Liz looks out toward the waves that continue to crash on shore, reaching their destination after countless hours of travel.  "Where have all the years gone?"

"They're in a box, with all the other memories we have."

We turn our backs to the sun -- which is now completely below the horizon -- and look toward the lake house tucked away from the beach, past marine grasses, paper birches and beech trees.  A weathered boardwalk snakes its way through it all before stairs rise into the bluff overlooking the beach.   A glow is coming from one of the house's rooms where Colin and Jacqueline anxiously await the continuation of The Sound of Music.  Our impromptu sing-along has stirred a desire to watch the musical. 

Somehow it seems appropriate for our last night here.  The Rogers and Hammerstein production earned five Academy awards and five Tony awards on its way to becoming one of the all time greatest musicals.

If mother nature gave out awards for most beautiful states, Michigan would certainly win an award.

Lost in Time

The raindrop began forming when water vapor condensed on small particles of dust, then fell as more millimeter-sized droplets attached themselves.  The raindrop soon became too heavy to remain in the cloud and fell to earth, where it somehow found the hair on the back of my head.  Instead of sticking, it moved down my neck, before sliding to the front of my shirt.

"It's about to rain again," I said to Liz, who promptly opened the umbrella.

"Just one picture -- next to the museum plaque," Liz smiled.  She quickly ran across the street and stood under the protective shelter of the umbrella.  "Hurry up, then we can go inside where it's dry."

"Too late for me!"  I snapped the picture then headed toward the side door of the red brick and limestone building, hoping to avoid more of those rapidly forming raindrops.

It had been a wet start to the weekend, with rain on Friday night, some more on Saturday morning, and now as we approached the lunch hour.

We had traveled to Lansing, Iowa -- hoping to take the pontoon boat to the small town located 34 miles south of La Crosse on the Mississippi River.  But as the rain had fallen throughout the week -- and then with a forecast of more rain throughout the weekend -- we opted to take the car instead. 

Our carefully made plans changed from leisurely boating on the river, to driving inland, into the rural heart of northeastern Iowa, where one-hundred and fifty years ago young families of German, Norwegian, Dutch and Czech heritage settled in the new world in small towns like Guttenberg, Lansing, Decorah and our current destination:  Spillville.




Spillville, a predominately Czech village founded in 1854, is a picturesque village with an Old World atmosphere that radiates hospitality from neatly kept yards, gardens, and a city square.  The town of 365 people is the home of the Inwood Ballroom, which hosted popular musicians like Louis Armstrong, Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo and The Byrds.  The town is surrounded by gently rolling hills and the Turkey River which meanders past the St. Wenceslas Church and cemetery, where many of it citizens lie in peaceful rest.  The great Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak, even spent a summer in Spillville when he wanted a break from the business of New York City.  He claimed the town and surrounding area reminded him of his home in Czechoslovakia.

It is also here that the Bily (pronounced bee-lee) Brothers, Frank and Joseph, became famous as hand carvers of unique wood clocks in the early 20th century.   Visitors called them clocks, but in reality they were some of the most beautiful, unique, intricate timepieces ever designed by untrained hands.

Their story begins on a simple farm, eight miles from Spillville.  As the children of John and Mary Bily, who moved to America from Prague, Czechoslovakia, they worked on the farm like most kids of the time, helping with the endless tasks that needed attention using human or animal power.  In their spare time and during the long winter months, the Bily brothers began carving as a hobby.  Their father thought it was a complete waste of time, but their mother -- who enjoyed art -- did all she could to encourage it.  They reached a compromise where the boys would only carve during the winter when there was less farm work for them to do.

Joe and Frank had an older brother who figures into the story of the famous clocks that the brothers would one day create.  Jonathan was mentally and physically handicapped, and confined to a wheelchair.  A neighbor came over with a clock which he had carved but which was not working properly.  The brothers were well known for their carpentry skills, so the neighbor asked for their help in installing the proper mechanism into the clock.  As the two brothers worked on the clock, they noticed Jonathan was completely captivated as they worked, and seemed happy when the clock made noises.  It was partly because of their older brother, and his reaction that they began carving clocks in the winter of 1913.

For almost forty-five years, the boys carved without nails or screws or training, and with homemade glue.  So remarkable was their talent, that in 1928, Henry Ford offered them one million dollars for a single clock.  The clock, known as the American Pioneer History Clock consists of fifty-seven panels of American history, including the four stages of man, the Constitution, Christopher Columbus, various native Americans and pioneers.  The clock took three years to complete, weighs more than 500 pounds and stands over nine feet tall.

How was it possible for two bachelors -- who never traveled more than 35 miles from home with nothing more than a fifth-grade education -- to create more than forty beautiful pieces of art and two church music boxes that have become museum pieces?

Well, the talent was obviously there to begin with.  They were tremendous readers, who learned of the world not through television or computers, but through books, pictures and records.  Their mother  subscribed to The New York Times, Des Moines Register and Chicago Sun-Times.  Their personal library contained more than 200 books containing information from around the United States, South America, Europe and Asia.  They always carved, even as school boys.  Frank's schoolroom desk, transformed by his knife into a plaque depicting the holy family framed by vines and olives, was presented to their mother on her 50th birthday.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Their first clock -- the Creation Clock -- featured Adam and Eve and was made from mahogany and white holly.  Early clocks used woods from South America, Europe and Asia.  Later, the brothers were able to use woods found nearby like black walnut, ash and butternut.

Their second clock -- called the Hall Clock -- is the only one to play jazz music.  The first three or four clocks were patterned after other clocks, but with personal touches.  From that point on, the clocks became their own creations featuring themes as complex as immigration, industrialization and hope for the American experiment.

With the interest shown by Henry Ford in the Pioneer clock, visitors  from around the state started arriving at the farm.  So many, in fact, that the Bily brothers complained that they were too busy to carve when the number of visitors to see their clocks reached 896 people in one day.  In an effort to curb the number of visitors and allow the boys to go back to carving clocks,  the family decided to charge 10 cents admission.  It failed to stop the crowds and the interest being generated by these one of a kind creations, and for the next 22 years, the family hosted up to 1,000 visitors per day at their farm.

The clocks were eventually moved to town in 1947 after Frank and Joe bought the old home where the composer Dvorak had spent his summer in 1893.  Despite repeated attempts from the Smithsonian Institute and officials at the World Fair, the brothers continued creating, carving and hosting visitors in their hometown museum.  Joe Bily died in 1964, Frank died one year later.  The brothers willed their entire collection to the City of Spillville with only one stipulation:  the collection would never be sold and never split up. 

To this day, the collection endures.

This unique and complimentary union of music and art eventually led to the Bily Museum which recently underwent an $8 million renovation.  Today, it stands as a testimony of their immense talent and a relentless quest to understand the world and its history.  For the 20,000 visitor each year, it provides an opportunity to get lost in time and see their creations still functioning as when they were made.




Among the 45 clocks crafted by the Bily brothers (and on display) are the Creation Clock, Hall Clock, Chimes of Normandy and Westminster Abbey Clock, Roman Renaissance Clock, Apostles' Clock, Lindbergh Clock, Struggle for Time Clock, Parade of Nations Clock, History of Travel Clock and the Village Blacksmith Clock.

The car wipers do their best to clear the windshield, but as quickly as it is cleared, the glass becomes dotted with more rain.  Fortunately, the rain had stopped long enough for us to run into a bakery to pick up some cherry-filled kolaches --Norwegian rolls -- that would be delicious once they were warmed up in the microwave oven.

Driving back to Lansing, through Decorah and New Albin, it strikes me that these visits to small towns and cities along the Mississippi River are validation of my life growing up in the Midwest.  Despite being referred to as "fly over country" by many on the East and West coasts, I find the history of the people and small towns in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa fascinating.

For too many people, finding the shortest route between two locations involves the interstate highway and their requisite Kwik Trip gas stations and McDonald fast food restaurants.  Our journeys to Europe and Ireland have taught me a great deal about world history, and I am finally, now in my late fifties, starting to appreciate my own country's history by learning about the small towns that are nestled in many parts of the Mississippi River basin.

My friends will always say that I am old school, reluctant to embrace new technologies.  (I must admit that I take great pleasure in not following Twitter or Facebook Live, or not knowing what the Kardashian sisters are doing).  And much to the dismay of my wife and friends, I spend many a day wondering where my cell phone is.

Whether that attitude is good or not, it doesn't diminish my love for a simpler time.  Not necessarily better, but one that seems happier.  The clocks created by the Bily brothers are examples of those times and their lifetime dedication to something they loved.  I am learning through the lives of others and the communities they lived in what it means to be from the Midwest. 

Unplanned weekends spent in northeastern Iowa are testimony to that discovery.

Damaged Goods

My wife and I have been watching Netflix's excellent "Thirteen Reasons Why," a painful look at teen suicide.  I highly recommend it despite its subject matter.

If you're wondering why we would spend thirteen hours watching a television show about teen bullying and suicide you'd  have to at least watch the first episode to find the answer. 

As a synopsis, the series centers on  Clay Jensen and Hannah Baker, two high school junior classmates who are brought together by her suicide two weeks earlier.  Clay discovers the reason through a series of cassette tapes recorded by Hannah which explain in painful detail  the thirteen people responsible for her death.  One of which is Clay.

My biggest fear was thinking I wouldn't want to invest myself in a story that gives away the ending within the first ten minutes.  But knowing the ending doesn't tell you why she committed suicide and why someone like Clay, who was her best friend and one the nicest people she met at school, would be one of the thirteen reasons why.

And wanting to know the reason why kept us coming back until the bitter end.

So obviously there must be another reason why I feel the need to mention this Netflix series.  I'm not considering another career as a movie critic, although it has been a passing fancy of mine from time to time.  But with all the crap that has made its way out of Hollywood lately, I don't think I'd be very good at it.  I'd be like a food critic that every restaurant hates, or theatre critic that dies at the hands of a disgruntled actor (I can hear the mournful refrains of Murder She Wrote somewhere in my head.)

I mention it because of a couple of reasons --

First, suicide seems to touch us all.  There are over 30,000 suicides every year in the United States.  I've known two people in my life who have committed suicide, a business associate who locked himself in his garage with the car running, and just last weekend, a high school classmate who shot himself.  He was fifty-eight years old.  To those on the outside, their suicides are a shock and surprise.  Both people seemed to be successful, not that guarantees happiness.  But it showed me -- and I can only speak for myself -- that there is unfortunately a very dark side to people that they keep hidden to themselves.

It's also very difficult to understand how someone can be so depressed and distraught that they can see no other way through the pain and blackness of depression, and instead chose to end their lives.  Some of it is the result of pain, other times, to hurt those left behind.

Another reason I mention 13 Reasons Why is to comment on high school, and by extension, college culture.  The characters that Hannah credits with her death are fictional, but typical of every high school and college in existence.  Groups of jocks, cheerleaders and smart kids promote unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real power imbalance.  This imbalance allows students to make threats, spread rumors, attack someone physically or verbally, and exclude someone from a group on purpose.  I'm sure today's bullying is worse than ever, with the prevalence of social media and cell phones.

During a 30 minute epilogue following 13 Reasons Why,  its producer, director and actors talked about how challenging, but necessary it was to tell Hannah's story.  The discussion centered on how to stop bullying and how to recognize someone in trouble.  The real life characters are heard saying that the series had opened their eyes to the many ways students are bullied, and that all of us -- students, teachers and parents -- need to be more sensitive to those who are traumatized by speech and actions they find "hurtful" and "threatening."

This is an area where I see a lot of gray, whereas the producers (and school administrators and lawyers in real life) see black and white.  Yes, bullying is bad and can lead to tragic ends either through suicide or mass shootings.  Every effort should be made to stand up to bullying by supporting those being attacked, and by challenging bullies to stop.  Everyone can agree with that.  But by removing all hurtful and threatening actions you are not only asking for the impossible, but aren't you also contributing to the "snowflake mentality" that is becoming a problem in high school and college.  Despite the desire by many to make school a safe place, it will never be possible.  You can't make an environment populated by different sexes, cultures and ages into another "home"where you can shut your bedroom door and feel safe.

Wouldn't it be better to help students cope with bullying by strengthening their self esteem -- not by removing anything that is hurtful, but by teaching them how to respect other people and their opinions.  I don't want to make suicide political, but how is removing reality from school going to help anyone cope later in life?  Bullying is not going to go away -- despite excellent movies like 13 Reasons Why.  Let's give those in trouble tools that will not only save their lives, but maybe those who later feel guilty about their actions.

My final reason to mention 13 Reasons Why has to do with religion.  Not once during the thirteen hours is anyone shown talking to a priest or pastor about depression or suicide.  Since there is nothing shown of her funeral, we don't know if she was religious or not.  The same for her parents.  I suspect not.  Which is too bad, because faith would certainly have helped.  Either as a deterrent to suicide or as a coping mechanism for those left behind wondering "why did she do it?"

Most thoughts of suicide are associated with depression.  If you look at symptoms of depression, they include feeling empty, hopeless, guilty and worthless.

In contrast, I've always thought my belief in God gave me hope, filled an emptiness inside and made me feel blessed to have his love and protection.  Wouldn't you think that someone who had a strong belief in God would be less likely to feel vulnerable to bullying?  Less likely to commit suicide?  There is a tremendous amount of confidence you get from knowing you have God on your side.

Which brings to light another problem we have today:  why have we removed all mention of God from schools and holidays?  Instead of Christmas, students have winter break.  Schools have removed prayer from sporting events and from graduation for fear of upsetting some atheist or other non-religious group.   It's alright to have a day dedicated to diversity, to understand sexual identity, race and multicultural differences, but heaven forbid that they show any acceptance of a religious belief.  What a shame schools have removed one of the best ways to develop character and confidence, important traits useful in combating suicide.good

It's also a shame the author of 13 Reasons Why and its Netflix producers couldn't find any reason to give hope to many students who may be considering suicide through a relationship with God.

In that regard, despite being a highly recommended study in teenage behavior, I have to give it a failing grade.

The Wisconsin Experience

Sports are one of my escapes during the long and cold winter months.  I need something to justify the high cost of cable television, and during the months between September and April, sports is the ticket.  The hours of enjoyment will never be understood by my wife, who finds her own winter solace in watching cooking shows.  To each their own.

Unfortunately, the end of football and basketball seasons are also two of the toughest times of the year.  It means the end of irrational hope, misplaced optimism, and heart-stopping plays that prolong the season for another game.  Or not.

For the Green Bay Packers and their fans, there was the heroics of Aaron Rogers against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC playoffs.  For the Badgers and the few basketball junkies still awake after eleven o'clock on a Friday night in March, there was the epic March madness between Florida and Wisconsin.

Associated Press photo

The state of Wisconsin was celebrating wildly after the Packers beat Dallas, not so much after the Badgers lost to the upstart Gators.

For those who have been captivated by the continuous meltdown of CNN -- or who were sleeping in your beds that night --  Zach Showalter tied the game with an improbable, off-balance three pointer at the end of regulation.  In a moment of jubilant celebration, he mimicked the championship belt move made famous by Aaron Rogers who was sitting in the audience.  But the celebration would not last. Four minutes, fifty-six seconds later, Chris Chiozza raced full court and launched a game-winning three as the buzzer sounded, giving the Florida Gators an 84-83 overtime victory over the Wisconsin Badgers in a hard-fought Sweet Sixteen match-up.

Higher than a teenager getting his first kiss from a girl one minute -- lower than Hillary Clinton losing to Trump the next.

There is no greater way to etch a moment like this in time than during "March Madness" -- often called the greatest sporting event of all -- when college basketball awakens from it's three-month, conference slumber to become something bigger than life.  A buzzer-beater, like the one launched by Chris Chiozza, will be played again and again during future basketball promos and painfully -- at least for this Badger fan -- during this year's penultimate One Shining Moment. 

"But time is short
And the road is long
In the blinking of an eye
Ah, that moment's gone
Win or lose
You always did your best
Cuz inside you knew...
(that) one shining moment you reached deep inside
One shining moment, you knew you were alive."

Such is the way of sports in Wisconsin when the dark and cold months of winter call, only to be replaced by the eventual hope and rebirth of spring and melting snow.


*          *          *          *


Speaking of rebirth, much has been written about this year's basketball team -- a roster of 4 seniors -- who have combined for 115 wins over the last four seasons, including 13 NCAA tournament wins, four Sweet 16 appearances and two Final Four appearances.  The group's success was unprecedented -- on par with a few blue-blood programs like Duke, North Carolina and Kentucky.  To put Wisconsin consistently in the same category is foolishness, and yet -- here we are.

In recent years, the Badgers have been able to match up -- and in all cases -- actually defeat the North Carolina's, Kentucky's, Villanova's and Duke's of the college basketball world.  These are programs loaded with All-Americans and future NBA lottery picks.  Everyone of them a match-up of  biblical proportions -- David versus Goliath.  And yet --  it's happened so many times that even this unbeliever is beginning to believe.

It's attributed to the work of this senior class and the players that have come before them.  Sam Dekker, Frank Kaminsky, Michael Finley, Jon Leuer and Alando Tucker.  It's also the result of two of the best coaches Wisconsin basketball has ever had -- Dick Bennett and Bo Ryan -- and I would add Greg Gard, their current coach. 

This renaissance to a Badger program, mired for so long in mediocrity, began in 1995.   College sports, being what they are, provides no guarantee that your team will be any good after graduations and transfers.  And yet Wisconsin remains a basketball program built on a successful foundation started by Dick Bennett who was coach when the Badgers moved into their new basketball arena, the Kohl Center.

Back in 1995, before the floor was put down in the new center, Dick Bennett gathered his team together for a special meeting that has to put his team, and those who have followed, on it's current track.

"Before the flooring went in," says Bennett during a rare interview with ESPN, "I asked if I could put a laminated card in the foundation.  Particularly in the practice area because that's where it would be taught."

The laminated card held five words:  Humility.  Passion.  Unity.  Servanthood.  Thankfulness.

Those five words were put deep down in the sand and dirt.  Before the cement was laid, and before the flooring was put down.  It became the foundation of not just the building, but of the Wisconsin basketball program.

Coach Bennett adds, "I had our players around.  I said this is what this program -- at least while I am around -- will be built on.  I know I've tried to do that.  Bo Ryan did it in his own way and Greg Gard is learning to do it his way.  Not because I said so, but because there is a spirit that I think is present in the teaching and play of Wisconsin Badger's basketball and I'm so happy to be a part of that."

It's hard to believe that five simple words could have such an impact on a program.  They are certainly not words that bring attention to an athlete's ability or skill.  Strength, drive, aggressiveness, focus and emotion, maybe.  But humility?  Servanthood? And thankfulness?  What kind of a sports program focuses on those?

Every year, players come from different parts of the country.  Each one comes from a different background and family structure.  Even our coaches come from different schools, and bring different formulas for winning.  It's a roster of people that's always changing.

And yet, here we are.  Another Sweet 16.

Is Wisconsin basketball really that different?  I'm way too biased to be able to answer that question fairly.  Of course they're different.  I do know this however:  it's not easy getting into Wisconsin.  Grades come first, athletics second.  I've read many recruits say that the education available at Wisconsin played a big part in their decision.

We are also one of a few programs that consistently have juniors and seniors on their team.  So they are loyal to each other.  But it also means that a player will redshirt his first year and then sit on the bench until it's his turn to play.  How many successful players are willing to wait their turn and support the players ahead of them?  Certainly not the ones that go to Duke or North Carolina.  They want to play now.

Occasionally, a Sam Decker comes a long who has a breakout season and heads to the NBA.  Despite an occasional defection to the NBA, one of the reasons Wisconsin does well is because of experience.  It shows in close games and it showed in the upset of Villanova two weekends ago.

We are also one of the few teams to have two or three or more white players starting.  It's not a racist thing, and I'm not trying to say the black athletes aren't smart enough to come to Wisconsin.  I can say however, that the game is played differently by white players.  Look at the European style of basketball.  There is more emphasis on teaching, on sharing and passing of the ball.  The tempo is slower and turnovers are fewer.  Not the drive and penetrate style you find on the streets of America.  There is less ME and more US with Wisconsin players.

In contrast, a team like Duke has a player named Grayson Allen who was suspended for a few games this year for tripping players when he gets frustrated or angry.  And a team like Kentucky -- which fields five new starters every year -- doesn't have the unity that comes from playing for four or five years.  No, every year, Kentucky's starting five will drop the textbooks and head to the NBA.

Humility.  Passion.  Unity.  Servanthood.  Thankfulness

Whatever the reason, Wisconsin basketball is in a class by itself.  Their winning ways -- combined with the football team -- has launched a period of time that is truly unrivaled in college sports.  The Duke's, Kentucky's, Michigan's and Ohio State's are great teams in their own way, but fall short when compared to Wisconsin.   They excel at football or basketball, but rarely both.

As a USA Today's sportswriter recently wrote -- "The Badgers own one of the most impressive active streaks in sports:  Wisconsin has reached a bowl game and the NCAA tournament in each of the past 15 years, absolutely dwarfing the next-longest active stretch in college sports.  This year was no different, as the football team won a New Year's Six Bowl and the basketball squad reached the Sweet 16 before being knocked off by Florida."


*          *            *            *


As this year's presidential election proved in more ways than one, ignoring the middle of the country comes with risk.   I don't think Virginia Tech and Villanova ignored Wisconsin, but I do believe they thought the Badgers were vulnerable after a late season swoon and a new head coach.  Perhaps they Badgers greatest strength comes from being under-estimated.  My own experience has taught me not to take a lesser opponent lightly.  It's a life lesson I take with me everyday at work and at play.

The broadcast people behind "The Road to the Final Four" know this better than anyone.  March Madness wouldn't be nearly as popular if the better seeds won every time.  It's the unexpected upset that gives the underdog hope against a better opponent, in search of the holy grail of basketball, their very own "One Shining Moment."

The Basketball Ides of March

The gym lights gleam like a beacon beam
And a million motors hum
In a good will flight on a Friday night;
For basketball beckons, "Come!"
A sharp-shooting mite is king tonight.
The Madness of March is running.
The winged feet fly, the ball sails high
And field goal hunters are gunning.

The colors clash as silk suits flash
And race on a shimmering floor.
Repressions die, and partisans vie
In a goal acclaiming roar.
On a Championship Trail toward a holy grail,
All fans are birds of a feather.
It's fiesta night and cares lie light
When the air is full of leather.

Since time began, the instincts of man
Prove cave and current men kin.
On tournament night the sage and the wight
Are relatives under the skin.
It's festival time, sans reason or rhyme
But with nation-wide appeal.
In a cyclone of hate, our ship of state
Rides high on an even keel.

With war nerves tense, the final defense
Is the courage, strength and will
In a million lives where freedom thrives
And liberty lingers still.
Now eagles fly and heroes die
Beneath some foreign arch
Let their sons tread where hate is

Yakety Yak, Don't Talk Back

"Like a dull knife that just can't cut
Just talking a lot and saying nothing
And sayin' nothing, and sayin' nothing."

- James Brown



Last week's inauguration of Donald Trump as America's 45th President brought out the frustrations of the left who continue to struggle with a failed election.  You could see it in the faces of Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton who just wanted to be anywhere but the inauguration.  Or the face of Cathy Mc Morris Rogers, who shrouded in a black cowl, looked like the re-incarnation of a Sith Lord.

How was it possible for the greatest woman of our time to lose to Donald Trump, a loud-mouthed New York businessman with no political experience?

Since that eventful night, the left has tried to answer that question by calling for recounts in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.  When that failed, they challenged the legitimacy of Trump's victory, saying the Russians hacked into our election process.  When that failed they took to the streets to vent their frustrations and in some cases damage property and physically attack Trump supporters.  They are already delaying confirmation of Trump's cabinet -- a dangerous proposition given the state of world affairs.  Their ultimate nuclear option will be Trump's impeachment.

It's clear to me that those who lost last November's election are incapable of accepting Trump as their president.

I know, like -- you think?

Last year's election was supposed to be Act II of the left's Master Plan to fundamentally change America.  For the past sixty plus years, the left has been patiently changing our education system, our courts, our churches, the media and finally our political system.  Having successfully installed the nation's first socialist President (carefully chosen for the color of his skin), the left was celebrating over the possibility of tearing down the rest of America's foundation with the election of Hillary Clinton (chosen for her anatomy).  Just the prospect of Hillary picking Supreme Court justices for the next generation was giving many of them spontaneous orgasms.

Despite an unusual preference for pantsuits, Hillary was still expected to win the presidency in a landslide.  So confident was the left of their success in November that they failed to hide their true ambitions, leading to a campaign that favored opinions on both coasts, but not the heartland of America.

Miraculously, Donald Trump survived the primaries where he dispatched the RINOs and Republican establishment.  None gave him much of a chance against the HildaBeast, including me, who was so convinced of his failure that I didn't even watch the election results.

On the same day that I watched -- in stunned exuberance -- his acceptance speech from Trump Towers, supporters of Hillary rubbed their eyes in disbelief and decided they were having a very bad dream.  To this day, I'm sure many are still convinced last November's election never happened.

As reality sinks in, they cannot change course.  Parades, organized to celebrate Hillary's ascendancy, quickly became marches celebrating the liberation of nasty women.   Hollywood scripts that were green lighted six months ago are currently collecting dust on  producers' desks.  And the Washington establishment -- both Democrat and Republican -- is meeting in dark closets and dusky bars trying to re-allocate their political capital in the new Age of Trump.


-- SF --


I experienced this denial first hand when a friend tried to get people on Facebook to "talk" about the election and discuss the inauguration of Trump."  God bless her big liberal heart, but nothing I say or anyone else says will change the outcome of the election.  People are not going to re-think their vote based on a post from BBC News, POLITICO or The Truth Examiner.  I'm certainly not going to rethink my position on illegal immigration after being told I'm a white supremacist by some guilt-ridden professor at UW-L.

Talking isn't going to change the new direction in which this country is headed either.   No more BS on global warming,  white privilege, illegal immigration or abortion (I think I just heard someone's uterus explode).

People on the left desperately want President Trump to be the president for all of America and not just a select group.  They also want Congress to not be smug and ignore the opposition.  Citing the last eight years of Republican obstructionism, the left says, "Work for the common good of this country and not special interest groups."

They continue, "Open up the lines of communication and listen..."  Is that why they march to Washington demanding that President Trump be impeached?  Or that he is not their president?  When you ask them to condemn the vulgar language or hateful messages the left is quiet.  Crickets can be heard. 

Respectfully, I can only contain my laughter so long.  Not once did I hear someone from the left admonish President Obama for saying we won.  Get used to it.

For years, I've been hearing them say if only we could sit down and talk to the terrorists, they would understand we aren't bad people.  I'm not sure if it's the psychedelic drugs they took in the 60's or the anti-depressant drugs they take now, but the left is delusional if they think ISIS has any interest in understanding American culture.  The only reason they would agree to meet with you is to add ten more heads to telephone poles on their way to Mosul.  I must admit I would pay a lot of money to see Madonna, Ashley Judd, Barbara Streisand, Scarlett Johansson, America Ferrera and Miley Cyrus sit down with someone like Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to discuss the cultural benefits of American music and film. 

I suspect the tragic result would give new meaning to Alicia Keys' song, "Girls on Fire."

I don't want to give anyone the idea that I don't like to discuss the issues.  My journalistic tendencies still have me researching topics as best as I can.  My sons will attest to the fact that I can talk about something for hours.  My wife can attest to the fact that it drives her crazy.  If there is value in talking, it's this -- you finally hear your kids say something besides "fine," "ok," and "good."  And it does help to understand where the other person is coming from.  But it still doesn't change my opinion that the Bears still suck and Hillary should never pose for Playboy.

I'm a big believer in action.  Actions speak louder than words.  In my business, if I say I'm going to do something I better damn well do it, or the next time I see my customer, I've lost my creditability and maybe their business.  Trust is the result of following through on a promise, and I need my customers to trust me when I say they need additional protection or try to persuade them to move their business.

I know trust and politics don't go hand in hand, but those of us not in the political arena -- we must be honest.  I'm not changing my position on an issue just because someone says, "but the scientific consensus is man is responsible for global warming."  I don't trust scientists, journalists or doctors who have skin in the game.

Fake news has led to the breakdown of trust-worthy information on-line.  It's led to the reporting of facts that suit a certain point of view.  The stories either edit out important information or are deliberately misleading.  It's become too easy for someone to report one thing, knowing it's false and then submit a retraction hours later.  The original story is what people remember, not the retraction. The mysterious MLK bust that went missing from the Oval Office is a prime example.  If this is what's happening over something so simple to verify, imagine what's going on elsewhere.

So talking about issues -- armed with facts that may or may not be true -- gets us nowhere.



-- SF --

My final point concerns the Women's March on Washington this past weekend.  As advertisers have known for many years,  a picture is worth a thousand words.  And the organizers of the march knew this, which is why so many protesters were holding signs and wearing vaginas on their head (I still can't believe I just wrote that).

By now, we've all seen the horrible display of vulgarity and filth scattered throughout marches in Washington and other parts of the country.   Women parading around topless and talking about their monthly periods.  From speeches filled with profanity and vomit-inducing poetry, displays of the march in Washington left most men -- and quite a few women -- wanting NOTHING to do with these protesters. These women disgraced themselves much more than President Trump ever could.

Is this the image women want people to see?

Does showing me your private parts show strength?  Does building a wall around your sex make you more attractive?   Does hatred for all things male really provide empowerment?  Is that what it means to be a woman, hear me roar?

If you really want to roar, how about holding the next march in the Middle East?

I've never been to a protest, but I would think you'd be interested in persuading other people to your point of view.  Which begs the question -- what are they protesting?  Trump?  He just became president, so if they're protesting his policies, he has none.  So they must have been basing their protest on his presidential campaign which didn't involve attacks on women. Unless you're calling Hillary a woman -- I know there's a joke here --  but I still think it would be better to call her his opponent.  So that means they were protesting his locker room talk caught on tape -- but that was over 20 years ago.

So that only leaves his position on abortion.  But was that even a factor in the election at all?  Did he state a position on abortion?

There's no doubt his potential nominees for the Supreme Court have women fearful of losing their reproductive rights.  Which I don't understand because we're talking about aborting life, not reproducing it.   But honestly, we see this reaction every time a Republican president names someone for the Supreme Court  The left is always concerned that the court is going to slant conservative, which means overturning Roe vs. Wade.

So that means this Women's March was mostly about abortion.

I'm sure there were positive messages to be made, and honest displays involving fully-clothed bodies, but I doubt they had any chance of being heard above the loud, nasty feminists featured on ABC, CNN and CBS.  A purple haired lesbian was interviewed on Waters World and said she was there looking for a soul mate (I doubt she found one).  Others stated they were there to push for equal pay and affordable health care.  Nothing wrong with that, but I don't see how that's exclusive to being a woman.  

I'm all for holding President Trump accountable for what he says and does.  I'm also all in on treating women with respect and love -- my best friend and mother of our two sons is a woman.  So the better she is, the better I am.

As for the women at the march on Washington, if you want to have a conversation about this election, you need to show some class, not your vaginas. 

That's a message that speaks volumes and something I can listen to. 

Miracle Man

Before Aaron Rogers and Brett Favre, the Packers had a quarterback by the name of Don Majkowski, who was with the Packers from 1987 to 1992.  For a short time, he was viewed as a miracle worker for the Green and Gold.

Nicknamed the "Majik Man," Majkowski broke out during the 1989 season and had one of the best seasons in Packer's history with 27 touchdowns and over 4,300 passing yards.  He is probably best known for a game against the hated Chicago Bears, when he beat the Bears with a touchdown pass that was initially nullified by an illegal forward pass (Chicago Bear coach  Mike Ditka thought he had crossed the line of scrimmage).  The play was later overturned, allowing the Packers to beat the Bears for the first time since 1984.  Majkowski capped the season with a visit to the Pro Bowl.

But the Majik Man's fourth quarter heroics had nothing on Aaron Rogers who orchestrated a stunning 11th hour victory in Dallas this past weekend.

Consider this:

The Packers were without their two best running backs,  Eddie Lacey and James Starks.

They had a converted wide receiver, Ty Montgomery, as their running back.

They were without their starting two cornerbacks, Sam Shields and Quentin Rollins.

They were without their best wide receiver, Jordy Nelson.

During the first quarter, they lost their starting strong safety, Morgan Burnett.

And they were playing in Dallas against the conference's number one seed, confident and rested after a first round bye.

And yet, this patch work team of third stringers and undrafted free agents were tied 31 to 31 with 34 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.  The team's feel-good mojo had taken a hit from being ahead 21 - 3 to being even at 31 - 31, but the Packers were still in a good position to win.  Why?  Aaron Rogers and the red-hot offense were waiting to take the field with less than a minute remaining ...


*         *          *            *

It was October 17th, and the crowd sitting in Lambeau Field was booing the Packers without prejudice -- both offense and defense.  They had lost to the Cowboys 30-16, with 4 turnovers and sloppy play, including poor play by Aaron Rogers. 

The Cowboy's game extended his career-worse slump.  He missed a touchdown when his throw sailed over a wide-open Randall Cobb in the end zone.  He fumbled with the Packers poised to score inside the Cowboy's 5-yard line.

Worse, the eventual loss to the Cowboys wasn't a one-game blip.  If you took away the Packer's romp over the Detroit Lions earlier in the year, an ugly pattern had emerged.  Rogers, known for taking care of the football, had eight touchdowns and six turnovers in four other games.  

For nearly a year and a half, the two-time MVP had struggled to be the quarterback that had led the NFL in touchdowns and quarterback ratings. 

People were wondering what had happened to Rogers.

The Green Bay Press wrote, "Dallas led by 14 at the time of Roger's second give away, and Dallas won by 14.  These are the kinds of games Green Bay has won for years during the Roger's era, the slugfests with NFC peers."

Neil Greenberg of the Washington Post wrote, "Rogers can't hit the broad side of a barn with some of his passes."  He also highlighted Rogers had only completed 60.2 percent of his passes this season, placing him 25th among 31 qualifying quarterbacks.  Last season, his completion percentage dipped below 61 percent for the first time since he became a starter in 2008.

Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote, "Rogers should be categorized as a good veteran quarterback scuffling to regain his elite form."  The story's ugly headline read:  "Rogers Falls From Ranks of Greats."

It appeared the Cowboys, led by Dak Precott and Ezekiel Elliot, were the NFC's new football darlings.  Green Bay, led by Aaron Rogers, looked out-of-sorts and tired.  A changing of the NFC guard was firmly underway.


*           *            *           *


It was a schoolyard play.

That's what Rogers called it -- buying time to keep a play alive before delivering a strike.  Coach McCarthy called it "Dash Pass Left."

After two plays -- including one that saw Cowboy's safety Jeff Heath drill Rogers from behind for a 10 yard sack -- the Packers faced a third and 20 from their own 32 with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter.  According to Randall Cobb, Rogers designed the third down play in the huddle, telling the Packers' receivers what routes to run.  He also set offensive line protections and crossing routes for the receivers.   Surprisingly, Jared Cook and Rogers had practiced the play with Cook catching the pass just inches out-of-bounds.  So they practiced it again until they got it right.

But that was during warm ups, not with 12 seconds left in the game.

Rogers took the shotgun snap and started rolling out to his left.  He planted his feet with guard Lane Taylor in front of him, then moved to the left again.  As he's closing on the sideline, he rifled a throw across his body to his tight end, who got behind Byron Jones and was running toward the sideline.

As the clock ticked down and the ball headed his way, Cook's eyes grew wide with a mix of disbelief, anticipation and focus.

It's been said that the NFL is very complex, with a lot of people working to find the best and most successful way to pick apart a defense.  Defenses are equally complex, with disguises and blitzes coming from all sides.  It's amazing -- despite the efforts of all those people -- Rogers was able to draw up the play in the huddle, scramble to let his receivers get open and then make the throw on a rope and on target.

I don't know if another quarterback could have done it.



*           *           *           *


After week 11, the Packers were in 14th place for making the playoffs, just ahead of the Chicago Bears.  Losses to the Falcons, Colts, Titans and Redskins had put the Packers at 4-6 and in serious danger of not making the playoffs for the first time in years.  

And yet, there stood Rogers at his Lambeau Field locker, talking to an ESPN reporter, telling him that all the Packers needed was one win to turn things around.


"You just feel like it just takes one," Rogers said.  "We get one under our belts, things might start rolling for us and we can run the table."  The audaciousness of his comment made the headlines in most newspapers, and brought inevitable comparisons to the previous year when he told a radio show host to just R-E-L-A-X.

It sounds easy today, but at the time, the Packers were not a good team.  The defense had given up 33, 31, 47 and 42 points to average teams.  The offense was playing a little better, but they were still without a running back and Rogers looked like a quarterback for the Chicago Bears, not the MVP quarterback of years past.

The Packers were heading to Philadelphia that weekend for a tough game against the resurgent Eagles.  Following that game, the Packers would have to beat the NFC West leading Seahawks, the Vikings, the AFC South leading Texans and the NFC North leading Lions in Detroit.

What was Rogers thinking?

Clairvoyant or not, Rogers and the Packers did run the table and won the North Division by beating the Lions in the last game of the regular season 31-24.  It was the fifth time in the last six seasons the Packers were division champs, but this one was possibly one of the most rewarding for Rogers and the Packers whom many had given up on, myself included.

Heading into the Cowboys game, the Packers had won seven straight.



 *          *           *           *


The situation was first and ten at the Dallas 32 with three seconds remaining in a 31-31 tie.

As the Packers lined up and prepared for the kick, Jason Garrett tried to ice Mason Crosby, who had hit a 56-yarder a minute earlier, by calling a timeout.  Despite the timeout, Crosby continued with his kick and the ball sailed through the uprights.

By this time, I was lying on the floor in front of the television.  Behind and above me, everyone jumped for joy until they realize the kick didn't count.  The stress was so great that I did three push ups before falling to the ground.  I turned on my side to watch Paul since I could no longer watch the game.  Hit or miss, I would judge the outcome based on Paul's reaction to the kick.

The time had come for the reboot.  With ice in his veins, Crosby kicked the ball, which headed slightly left, before sliding right.  As time ran out, the ball sailed through the goal posts and the refs raised their arms to signal a good kick.   Paul leapt from his chair, arms raised to the ceiling, as if mimicking the refs.  He kept yelling "We won!  We won!"   I got off the floor and started slapping high fives.

The final score was 34-31, with Rogers throwing for 356 yards and two touchdowns.  Crosby --  with his winning kick -- became the first kicker to make a pair of 50 plus yards or longer in the final two minutes of a postseason game.

And the Packers, with Rogers and another miracle finish, continued to run the table with their eighth win in a row. 

Packers and Badgers and Football! Oh, my!

It's the first weekend in January.  So you know what that means.  Less than two weeks before Trump's inauguration!

No seriously -

It's the ultimate weekend in Wisconsin sports for two of my favorite teams -- the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers.  As always, they were both playing in games that would provide an answer to how their respective seasons would be viewed.

For the Packers, it would mean another opportunity to exorcise the NY Giants demon as a team that prevents them from moving on in the NFC playoffs.  For the Badgers it would provide a final statement in a bowl game against an undefeated team.

Since the early nineties, I have been lucky enough to watch the Packers win 254 regular season games including two Super Bowls(with Favre and Rogers as quarterbacks).  That's a lot of Sundays where I went to sleep feeling pretty good.  During that same span, they have only had two losing seasons -- in 2005 and 2008.

The Badgers , who were perennial doormats for most of their early days in the Big Ten, have risen from red ink to red roses since Barry Alvarez turned the program around in the early 1990's.  Since that time, they have won 6 conference titles and 227 wins -- many against teams with much higher rated players like Ohio State and Michigan.

So it's safe to say my life is good (for more reasons that just football, but that's for another post).  And yet, every year my friends and I go through enough anxiety and antacid to be majority owners in Procter and Gamble.  Despite the success my beloved Badgers and Packers enjoyed, every year brings new worries and new challenges:  will the Badgers EVER get a good quarterback?  And will the PACKERS ever have a good defense?

The Packers' win against the NY Giants, by a score of 38-13, continues a remarkable turn around for a team that was losing to the likes of the Titans and the Redskins.  For the first time in many years, I jumped out of my chair and did something else on a Sunday afternoon.  I'm as loyal a fan as there is, but I found it a waste of time watching the opposing team score against the Packers as though the Packers had decided to not only use the cheerleaders from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, but also their players (for the record, the Phoenix don't have a football team).

It's a credit to Coach McCarthy and the players that the Packers have put themselves into the Division playoffs.  I'd also credit Aaron Rogers who has been on a MVP tear lately by throwing 23 touchdown passes without an interception.  He lead the regular season with 40 touchdowns, threw for more than 4,400 yards and finished with a quarterback rating of 104.2.  Roger's sterling play negated a really bad defense that isn't getting any better under Dom Capers now in his eight year with the Packers.

My brother-in-law has been calling for Capers' head for years now and for the first time, I'm with him.  Watching the Packers play defense is a lot like watching Obama give a State of the Union speech -- who am I kidding, any speech he makes -- I'm pulling my hair out and praying time runs out before I lose my mind.

Here's what I think the Packers need to do this off-season to remain competitive in the North Division and NFC:

. Fire Dom Capers
. Model their defense to those found in Minnesota (gasp) and Seattle
. Spend the money on a free-agent corner to replace Sam Shields
. Find replacements NOW for Matthews and Peppers (they will be gone before you know it)
. Draft a solid running back to replace Eddie Lacy and James Starks who have had a horrible year

I would also replace Ted Thompson who seems content to win the North Division.  His model of consistency by drafting young players and developing them works at the divisional level, but I really think we need to add some free agents to get to the Super Bowl.  Rogers is arguably the best quarterback in the league (and has been for some time) and all we have to show for it is one Super Bowl.

I don't know what pieces are missing, but the new general manager needs to find the pieces that make us great.  Even if it means some bad years down the road.  I'm happy to win a Super Bowl ever 4 years instead of 1 every 10.

I know that sounds spoiled, but really -- 227 wins and only two Super Bowl wins?

Perhaps even better than the Packer's turn around, is the season the Wisconsin Badgers just completed. 

Despite losing senior leadership at the quarterback position, losing their defensive coordinator to LSU of the hated SEC, and losing much of our secondary to graduation, the Badgers finished the year ranked # 9.  Anytime you can finish with more wins than losses, it's a reason to do the "jump around."  This year, it's been more like "a run for the roses," until a disastrous second half in the BIG Ten championship game in Indianapolis.

But a lot happened along the way, including a win against LSU at Lambeau Field to start the season. Going up against Dave Aranda, our former defensive coordinator, made the challenge even more difficult, but the Badgers were up for it by flexing their own defensive muscle in the 16-14 win. 

With T.J. Watt and Vince Biegel leading the way on defense, Bucky started to find its identity on offense through senior contributions from Bart Simpson and Corey Clement.  While the offense wasn't up to our usual standards (they finished at 203 rushing yards and 179 passing yards per game), they were always in the game in the forth quarter.  The combination of tough defense and ball control led the way to an 11-3 record, including the Western Division champion. 

2016 saw the Badgers beat Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota (bragging rights for another year Matt!) with tough loses to Ohio State and Michigan and Penn State in the championship game.  In each loss, the difference was a single touchdown, which means if they had a little more offense we'd have been undefeated in the Big Ten.  Ohio State and Michigan -- as always -- were loaded with stud football players and high profile coaches.  Their athletic programs probably spend more money in one year than Wisconsin does in three.  And Penn State came out of nowhere to win against Ohio State before losing to USC in the Rose Bowl.

The season ended on a high note when the Badgers took it to Central Michigan (undefeated and ranked 15th)  in the Cotton Bowl, where they won 24-16.  A trip to Howie's on New Year's Day was the perfect way to start post season football and see how many of my friends had new fitness watches  on their wrists.

All in all it, was a great season with more wins than anyone expected, a trip to the championship game and a bowl win -- and it sets them up for a much better year in 2017.  With a little help on offense, they could be one of the final four teams to play for the National Championship game next January.

Just think -- the Wisconsin Badgers could be going to the White House to meet President Trump.  I might just have to travel to Washington to see that!

Here's what I think the Badgers need to do to have another successful year in the Big Ten:

. Develop their offensive line. 

They must get stronger and better on the rushing side, and protect sophomore quarterback Alex Hornibrook.  And replace the defection of  offensive tackle Ryan Ramczch, who is going to the NFL.

. Give the ball to Bradrick Shaw.

Shaw, who at 6' 1" and 211 pounds has the potential to be another Melvin Gordon if he gets a little help from the offensive line.

. Develop the quarterback and wide receive positions.

Let's hope the experience quarterback Hornibrook and wide receivers Taylor, Pryor and Rushing got this year translates into more yardage through the air.  If it does, great things will happen next year for the Badgers.

. Replace T. J. Watt and Vince Biegel on the defensive side of the ball. 

As great as both players were, the Badgers are loaded at the linebacker position and should do just as well in 2017 when we get Dooley, Cichy and Orr back from injury. 



All in all, 2017 was a great year to be a football fan in Wisconsin fan.  GO PACKERS!  GO BUCKY!