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!

Five-oh-nine, 38 degree Hefe and Sammie the Big Shot

Ward casually speaks into his phone and asks "Give me the Wisconsin-Arizona score."

A moment later, Ward asks again,"What is the score of the Wisconsin-Arizona game?"  When nothing happens, he looks at me and says, "I don't think I'm getting a good connection.  Let me try something else."

I tilt my head up toward the wooden beams running along the ceiling and take a deep breath.  Maybe I should just get out of my chair, walk downstairs and see what the score is on the television playing in the bar area.  Standing up might feel better anyway.

"Here we go," says Ward, teasing me with a smile on his lips.  "It says.... Oh, now I lost it again."

God Almighty, I think as our waitress arrives with our green fried tomatoes, covered in a cheesy sauce and bread crumbs.  Suddenly, I have no appetite and fear that I won't unless I get good news quickly.  I close my eyes and take another breath.  Somewhere the thump, thump, thump of the music heard during someone's elimination on "Dancing with The Stars"  is playing.  Finally, from my right I hear Ward say "85-78.  Wisconsin."

"Honestly?"  I ask, as a jolt of excitement hits my body.

Ward nods and slides his finger across his phone.  "That's what it says:  Wisconsin going back to the Final Four.  Defeats Arizona 85-78."

And just like that, my weekend has suddenly gone from good to great.



We are in Galena, Illinois for a quick weekend with Betsy and Ward Jones, enjoying some fine wine and hearty beers.  It just so happens that it's during March Madness, with Wisconsin fighting for a chance to return to the Final Four in college basketball.

When Liz and I talked about making this trip, I knew there was a good chance that the Wisconsin Badgers men's team could still be playing.  As a number 1 seed, they had what it took to go far in the tournament with a possible match-up with second-seeded Arizona in the Western regional finale.  Such are the risks of going somewhere at the end of March.  Last year we were in Chicago visiting Liz's family.  This year -- it is historic Galena with friends from La Crosse.

Adding to the excitement was the annual Wine Lovers Weekend going on in Galena, one of the largest wine tasting events in the state of Illinois.  The Grand Tasting featured more than 40 distributors from across the United States with over 300 varieties of wine and spirits.  Having never been to it before, we really didn't know what to expect.  But it sounded like a good excuse to indulge our passion for tasting wine wherever we can.

By the time our shuttle dropped us off, the hall was packed with vendors, representatives from wineries throughout the country and tables full of cheese, crackers and fruit. The festival's Grand Tasting was scheduled between 4:00 and 6:00 on Saturday which meant I would be sampling someone's Riesling or Gerwertenimer about the time the Badgers and Wildcats would tip off at 5:09 p.m.

It's typical for me to wear my Wisconsin shirt on days when the Badgers are playing, so all day Saturday people in town (and the Grand tasting) would look at my shirt and say 5:09 meaning the Badgers' game.  It became kind of a secret code (or verbal high-five) for us Badger fans, signaling that we were excited about kick-off.  I was surprised to see how many Wisconsin fans there were visiting Galena, but now that I think about it, everyone is a fan of March Madness.  So why not the Badgers?

When Liz and I walked into the wine tasting hall, the man who greeted us assured me that us would announce the Badger score if we needed a quick hoops fix to get through the afternoon.  I never did ask, as it seemed out of place at a wine tasting event (like eating with your fingers at a Five Star restaurant).   But I did see a few Wisconsin fans walking among the crowd with a confident look on their faces as we bravely acknowledged each other with our 5:09 declarations.



Another Wisconsin win!  I've been saying for two weeks that all I want is one more victory...

As a Badger fan, it is indescribable how I am feeling.  Try as I may, I will never be able to act like we belong here.  For most of my life, college basketball has belonged to teams like Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and Michigan State.  It defies all logical thought that we should be as good as them, and yet here are in the Final Four.   Again.

Maybe that's why I didn't mind missing the end of the game.  I still expect them to lose a lead in the final seconds, or embarrass themselves to blue bloods like Duke and North Carolina.  But not today.  I smile and shake my head in disbelief.  This is the most awesome feeling in the world.

Time to celebrate!  We are already celebrating at Green Fried Tomatoes, a great restaurant in Galena.  Years ago, Liz and I had enjoyed a meal at GFT when it was located outside the city limits.  We are surprised to see that they have relocated to downtown.  Osso Buco, steaks and lobster are listed on the menu, as is the obligatory green fried tomatoes.

I suggest a round of Jagermeister for the four of us, but nobody seems interested.  Or more accurately -- no one has room for a round of shots.  We are stuffed.

We have spent the afternoon and early evening at the wine tasting festival, and part of the day in Lena, IL where we drank beer at Lena Brewery.  Our friends are investors in a recently-opened micro brewery and it was our first chance to sample their collection of homemade brews, including one called Hefeweizen, or 38 degrees Hefe.

Lena Brewery opened in late January, with all the excitement of Dr. Frankenstein creating his monster and bringing it to life.

The owner, who used to brew his own beer at home, was finally able to make his passion his work.  Lena Brewery is located in an old mill building and is part of a complex featuring a furniture store, gift shop and restaurant.

The micro-brewery has a saying that "every beer has a story.  Some are even true."  We were eager to sample some of them, much to the delight of our friends the Jordans who lived nearby.  Our sample flight of beers included Scrap Iron Black IPA, Ravenscourt Park Chocolate Brown, Uncle Tyson's Dunkelweizen, Pog Mo Thoin Amber, Thrashed Oats, Bloodshed Extra Special Bitter and my favorite, 38 degree Hefe.

Ward, who thinks the world is a better place with IPAs, couldn't be happier with the dark, bitter flavor of the Scrap Iron and Bloodshed.  I on the other hand, need my beer to taste like something that wasn't scrapped off a burnt coffee pot.  The lighter taste of the 38 degree Hefeweizen (Hefe) reminded me of Spotted Cow, a favorite from New Glarus Brewery.  According to the story told by Lena Brewery, if the temperature of this golden-colored hefeweizen gets much above 38 degrees, it can spontaneously combust.  Fortunately for me, I didn't give it a chance.

The incredible rise in craft breweries continues to amaze me.  While not on the scale of a major brewery like Miller or Budweiser, we enjoyed our visit to the taproom and  brew house.  Unlike the wine tasting festival, we were able to take our time and talk to the men and women responsible for crafting these brews.  And to top it off (no pun intended) the men's and women's bathrooms--with their industrial look and ingenious use of beer barrels and tappers -- made going to the toilet an experience you won't forget.

Speaking of forgetting, someone in the taproom asked me if I knew when the Badgers were playing.  With pride, I said "5:09."



As we are leaving the restaurant, I spot a group of six people sitting at a long wooden table.  Two are wearing Badger tee shirts, and having a great time.  As I walk past, I proudly state "On Wisconsin!  How 'bout those Badgers?"

A couple of high fives later and we are on our way down the stairs to the main floor of the restaurant.  The excitement I feel is like some out-of-body experience that comes from thinking you're walking in someone else's shoes.  For me, it's like watching the NFC Championship game with a different ending.  In this version, Jordy Nelson recovers the on-side kick and the Packers run out the clock.  Super Bowl bound, baby!

I've asked some people what they think is harder to achieve the Final Four or the Super Bowl.  Given the number of games you have to play and the sequence of events that must occur for you to get there, I'd have to say the Final Four.  Of course I'm speaking as one of those teams that doesn't load up on one-and-done type players -- like Kentucky and Duke.  It is much harder to overcome the regional seatings and dominant players who create so many mismatches.  It's five on five -- the team with the best five with the deepest bench usually win.  There's no parity like there is in football.

So it is with disbelief that I am watching Wisconsin do it back-to-back.  Who are these players that are capable of beating the likes of Michigan State, Oregon, North Carolina and Arizona?  And how did they get to Wisconsin?

A big part of Wisconsin's winning season is Sam Decker.

The story going around local newspapers has Bo Ryan asking Sam Decker to come to Wisconsin to get to the Final Four and win a national championship.   How ridiculous, considering the UW program had endured a 46-year NCAA Tournament drought before Dick Bennett, a few years before.  After winning the title in 1941 - when the field was only eight teams - UW did not return to the tournament until 1994.  Eleven senior classes came and went without experiencing March Madness.

With Bo at the helm, UW has returned to the tournament every year.  And with the addition of Sam Dekker, the team has two Final Fours and more NCAA Tournament victories than any other Big Ten team.

So who is Sam Decker?  And has there been a better performance than the one he put on in Wisconsin's win over Arizona?  His big shots led UW to a blistering 78.9 percent from the field (15-19) and 83.3 percent from the 3-point line (10-12) in the second half.  For the tournament, WI leads  the field is scoring thanks to Frank Kaminski and Sam Decker.

Decker was the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the year and a 2012 Parade All American.  He amassed 2,629 career points, finishing as the fourth leading scoring in Wisconsin high school history.  While not as prolific in college, he has started every game for the Badger and is second on the team in scoring.  His ability to put the ball on the floor and slash to the basket has made him difficult to stop.  At 6-9 and 230 pounds, he has the length and strength to dunk the ball or shoot a three pointer almost at will.

Today's announcement that Frank (the tank) Kaminski is the National Player of the Year, is awesome news.  But to me, who is still watching repeats of the Elite Eight game -- it hasn't made me forget the final dagger from the Arizona game.  A high-arcing three pointer that Sam Decker put up with 19 seconds to go, just beat the buzzer and propelled WI to Indianapolis where they face Kentucky for the second year in a row.  It is a big shot that will go down in Wisconsin history, and one that will be replayed in my mind for a very long time.

Together, Kaminski and Decker make one of the better combos in men's NCAA basketball.  But will it be enough to get them to the national championship game that his coach mentioned three years ago?

If Sammie the Big Shot has anything to say about it, I like our odds.

Rum, Frank the Tank and Girl Scout Cookies

The game clock shows 2.3 seconds.

I've seen the video replayed for the tenth time and still the referees are huddled together looking closely at the monitors.  Either they are terribly inept or are looking for something that I can't see.  The rules state that it can't be overturned without indisputable evidence.  How can you look at something for five minutes and claim anything is indisputable?  Doesn't make sense.

Speaking of senses, mine are at their outer limits as we await the referee's decision.  Two days of watching exciting basketball -- many of them  determined by a single possession of the ball -- have tightened my neck and back muscles to the point of breaking.  My heart has been in my throat more often than food.  If someone doesn't make a decision soon, I think I'll fall over dead.

As time slows to an unbearable crawl, the referee turns to the camera and says, "Possession goes to Arizona!"

This past weekend is one that will remain lodged in my mind -- and stomach -- for many years. 

We have been having a blast in Chicago with Liz's brother, sister-in-law and family watching the Wisconsin Badgers and Arizona Wildcats knock each other silly for the last four quarters, plus. 

The room is an obstacle course as I pace back and forth in front of the television.  Without a thought, I step over a variety of toys, including Legos and Barbie accessories, a blanket that has managed to find its way around the house all day, and our favorite mascot for the day -- Daisy.

In my hand is my usual rum and ginger ale.  Only this time there is something special waiting in the wings.  Earlier in the day, Eric, Liz and I had stepped into Binny's Beverage Depot to buy some wine for the night.  Much to my surprise -- sitting on a shelf in the rum section -- was one of the most glorious sights one could ever see.  Like Charlie Brown in his Christmas special doing a double take at the little Christmas tree that had become beautiful, I bend over in disbelief at a brown bottle of 15-year old, imported Ron Matuseum Gran Reserva rum.

"What... is... this?"  I mumble to no one in particular, reaching for the bottle.  Sure enough, it's the real deal.  In my hands is a bottle of rum that has found a way to elude me for most of the last 25 years.  On a spring break trip to the Bahamas in the early 80's, three friends and I spent a sun-filled week disposing of 15 bottles of Gran Reserva.  Not once did I get sick or even wake up the following morning with a hangover.  And if I did, it was because of the Corona beer that had also found its way into my body.

Once, I was able to find a bottle in South Carolina; another time I discovered it in a Mexican airport, and recently a friend and I ordered a case from a distributor in Texas.  Otherwise, I have scoured every liquor store I walk into only to find nothing that comes close to tasting as good as my boy, Ron.

This is a good sign for tonight's basketball game, I think.  If the Badgers win, it'll be shots all around.  With two bottles in hand, I head for the checkout fearful that somehow they will vanish from my grasp like a fragile sand dollar sinking into the salty Atlantic Ocean.



With under five minutes remaining in the game, Frank -- the Tank -- Kaminsky steps back for a three point basket that would give the Badgers a lead they would not lose.  And though Arizona would tie the game three more times in regulation and overtime, the Wildcats would not lead again.  

While other Badgers were timid with their shots, or passed the ball to other players, Frank was aggressive from the start.  At one point, "the Tank" was scoring under the basket with an awkward-looking hook, the next minute he was boxing out and putting back the rebound.  There were stretches in the Oregon, Baylor and Arizona games where he was the only Badger to put the ball in the basket, an indication of the match-up nightmare he was being for those unfortunate enough to guard him.

After the game, Frank Kaminsky was named the West Regional most valuable player, an honor that many, including himself, couldn't have imagined only a few months earlier.  How was it possible for the Badger's seven foot center who had scored a total of 133 points the previous year, to score a total of 66 points in just his last three games? 

A product of Lisle, IL, Kaminsky came to the Badgers as a typical Wisconsin recruit.  That meant that he was probably white, had a high basketball IQ, could shoot from outside the arc, and would put the team before himself.  Coach Ryan's system is often viewed as "old school" where you play solid basketball with ball fakes, solid passing and shut down defense.

Badger ball is a far cry from the likes of our next opponent, Kentucky.  While Bo recruits good players who develop through their senior season, Kentucky's coach sells the program on being a pathway to the NBA.  Instead of players that stick around for 3 or 4 years, Kentucky focuses on one-and-done, McDonald's All-Americans that attend school to play basketball and leave as quickly as March Madness has ended.

It's a debate that many are having this year -- the matchup between Bo's student athletes and Kentucky's one year NBA development players -- and this weekend's Final Four game will probably not provide an answer.  This much is known -- Kentucky's been to the Final Four three times in the last four years.  This is Wisconsin's first visit to the Big Dance since 2000 with coach Dick Bennett.

So it feels to me like this is a much bigger deal to Wisconsin than it is to Kentucky.  How have we been able to do it?

With Kaminsky leading the way in the second half , Wisconsin's starting five have found a way to play more up tempo including lots of three point attempts.  Our defense has become more defined, and every night it seems like someone else contributes a key basket to win the game.  There are very few big men, like "the Tank," who can take you off the dribble and pound it home or pull back for a long three to win the game.  The combination of Kaminsky and guards that can shoot has allowed Wisconsin to take down Michigan State, Florida, Virginia, Michigan Baylor and Arizona.  That's a collection of some of the best basketball programs in the country today.

And when it comes to basketball, it doesn't get any better than that.



The final buzzer sounds as Johnson's shot bounces harmlessly off the backboard.  Badger players run across the court leaping into the air and giving high fives.

Sharon and Liz and I are doing our own hugging and jumping for joy, oblivious to the terrified dog who thinks her world has just ended.  Colin heads off toward the dining room looking for his dad, who has decided it's best if he's not around to see the final minutes of the game.  Put a difficult real estate deal in front of Eric and he's cool with it.  But don't expect there to be any room for error if it's the Badgers or Packers.  Pity the poor child that has to hear the expletives coming from his mouth if things aren't going well.

But tonight, there is no reason to feel bad about the Badgers' effort.  

Having dispatched Arizona in an overtime thriller, Wisconsin is headed to Dallas for the Final Four.  Let me say that again:  THE FINAL FOUR.  Like the fine taste of the Gran Reserva rum flooding my system, those three words are intoxicating.  Like going to the Super Bowl -- no WINNING the Super Bowl -- there is nothing quit like surviving a last second shot in overtime to get to the pinnacle of college basketball.

As I head out into the kitchen to pour a few glasses of rum on ice, I spot a box of girl scout cookies lying on the countertop.

It was a typical night when Liz's niece called asking us to buy some girl scout cookies.  Jacqueline has the distinction of being the top seller of cookies in her troop (selling more than 250 boxes this year alone), and she's accomplished that feat by calling in favors from family members near and far.

Over the years we have bought the insanely delicious cookies from co-workers, neighbors and stopped at grocery stores selling them as you walk in.  I always look forward to buying them from Jacqueline because I know it helps her troop and it's fun giving her a hard time.  But I must admit, as a 9 (now 10-year old) she does a pretty good job of deflecting our jabs and getting us to order more cookies each year she calls.

The only downside to buying cookies from her is that she lives in Chicago.  Which means sometimes we don't get to eat them for months.  Sometimes half a year.  Thank the cookie gods that they can be put in the freezer for safe keeping.  Depending on where you put them in the freezer, it is possible to forget about them for weeks.  Or even months.  And doesn't it feel like Christmas again when you discover a frosty box of Thin Mints tucked in the back while looking for the frozen Tilapia?

When we are able to pick up our haul of cookies depends on when we can get down to see her family (usually around the time "March Madness" begins because that is when we go down to celebrate Jacqueline's birthday).  I've got some of the best memories of post-season Badger basketball when we are together, including a school record 13-point rally when they defeated Tulsa (watched from a bar during a 2004 early round victory).

But nothing will top the fun we had this year watching the Badgers take home the West regional trophy.  That game will be remembered for a long, long time.  Long after Jacqueline stops calling us about girl scout cookies.



Eric and I are sitting in our chairs, enjoying the taste of our rum, when the calm that fills the near-empty room is broken by Charles Barkley saying, "... just terrible!  These Badgers are good enough that they could beat the Milwaukee Bucks by ten points!"  

I'm not sure if that's a compliment to the Badgers or a slam against the Bucks.  Maybe both.

Either way, we are listening to the various pundits on CBS and the Big Ten channel talk about the game's exciting finish, the controversial foul and the overturned out-of-bounds play.  The television casts a surreal light about the darkened room highlighting empty glasses and a plastic sleeve that contained girl scout cookies just a few minutes before.

The television is showing a video of Bo Ryan cutting down the net -- something I never thought I'd see again.  I wonder if my smile is as big as Bo's, who has never taken the Badgers to the Final Four.  I can't imagine the years he has put into his profession, the miles he has traveled by bus and plane, or the number of players he has coached to reach this point.  

Ever year it is the goal of 351 schools in 33 Division I basketball conferences to see their names listed as one of the Final Four.  And every year it has ended for 347 of them.  This year the Wisconsin Badgers are not one of them.  

Regardless of what happens against Kentucky this weekend, this team has found its way into the hearts of millions of fans -- especially the heart of someone who loves rum and girl scout cookies while visiting family in Chicago on a cold March night.