After being inside Miller Park Friday night and witnessing T-Plush drive in Carlos Gomez in the bottom of the 10^th I honestly don’t know how much better it can get.

The adrenaline rush was amazing. The entire stadium on edge for hours, every pitch its own little story, building to an ending that will be talked about for years. And even though the World Champion Packers are undefeated and the Badgers look like a real threat to make a BCS run with a QB that could win the Heisman, it’s hard to focus on football.

What a legendary year in Wisconsin sports. And we’re living it! What could possibly top this? Running with the bulls? How about Base Jumping or Skydiving? How about an extra innings victory in Game 7 of the World Series played at Miller Park? Nothing would be better. Unless we could get LaRussa to Skydive while strapped to a Bull? Nah, I’ll take the Series win.

What an incredible weekend! Brewers, Badgers, Packers; and every game played here in Wisconsin. After watching both games on Sunday, I immediately checked out Facebook to see what my friends had posted. And I saw fun stuff. Quite a few of my friends were at one or more of the games this weekend and I got to see some really cool pictures and even a video or 2. Not just posts from Lambeau Field and Miller Park but I loved some of the Camp Randall shots from Saturday night, too. Especially some from folks who took their own limo from Miller Park to Mad-town.

Then, as I scrolled through my News Feed, there they were; political posts. Yep, an incredible once-in-a-lifetime Wisconsin sports weekend, and yet some people just can’t help themselves. And before you start in on me, these were posts from both sides of the aisle and some were folks just standing there, blocking the aisle. Here’s a News Flash; I am not looking to Facebook to help me shape my politics. Your desperate search for articles that will validate your position, whatever that position may be, will not sway me. I’m a big boy. I’ll research this stuff on my own. What’s next? Posts and links telling me why your religious beliefs are more valid than mine? I don’t care what your politics are and I don’t care what religion you are, either. Sorry, just a fact.

I immediately did what I had to do. I ‘Unfriended’ (Facebook’s word, not mine) anyone/everyone who sent me a political post in the previous 48 hours. I will continue this practice as long as my account is active. In the meantime, I will continue to live by my own Facebook code of conduct. If it’s something I wouldn’t talk with you about at a party, I won’t post it on Facebook. So, keep the political propaganda to yourself, but keep those pictures of Camp Randall coming.

Twenty-Nine years is a long time.

After the mighty Green Bay Packers whipped the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II, January 14, 1968, it would be 29 years before the Packers would play in, and win, another Super Bowl. The Milwaukee Brewers, unfortunately, had to wait just as long to win a division crown. The Brewers won their division back in 1982 and have waited 29 years to win another one. And we know all too well that 1982, 29 years ago, the Brewers made their only World Series appearance. Here’s hoping that the 29 year curse turns into a good luck charm and the Crew makes it to, and wins, the 2011 Series.

The best part of that 29 year thing, though, is that after winning the Super Bowl in early 1997, the Packers have been one of the NFL’s most successful teams. In fact, their success started even before that with the arrival of the Wolf/Holmgren/Favre/Reggie crew. Since the early 90’s, the Pack have had an (almost) 20 year run of winning seasons. And it’s not a stretch to think that 20 year run could turn into a 30 year run…or maybe it’s a 29 year thing?

I also think, despite the Phillies incredible starting rotation, the Brewers have the best overall pitching staff (at least in the National League.) Top to bottom it’s hard to find another staff as deep and solid as Milwaukee’s. And great pitching is what October baseball is all about. Based on the way this Milwaukee Brewers team has been put together, and the fact that their front office is the best in baseball, it’s entirely possible that they are about to embark on an historic run of their own. Say, 29 years?

2011 is about to become a legendary year in the history of Wisconsin sports.

The obvious reasons include the Packers defending their World Championship while the Milwaukee Brewers clinch their first division title since 1982 (not to mention the Badgers Rose Bowl appearance).

But that’s not why I would call 2011 a legendary sports year. Nope, this is the year that 3 major Wisconsin sports figures stepped up and proved to the world that professional athletes can, indeed, be excellent role models. They know what it means to “give back,” they appreciate their fans, and they are as far away from the narcissistic stereotype (‘taking my talents to South Beach’) as can be.

Aaron Rodgers is not just the leader of the Pack, he has become the very public face of the incredible MACC Fund. Aaron’s genuine care and commitment to the cause and to these kids is inspiring. The most coveted thing for someone in his position is time and yet he gives it freely and without reservation. The amount of time he spends, the events he hosts, the sincerity he demonstrates when he meets the children and their families is truly amazing. To find any athlete, let alone a Super Bowl MVP, who understands what it means to be a role model is unique. Simply, Aaron gets it. And he’s a Packer.

“I am proud to be a Milwaukee Brewer,” the words of Ryan Braun after agreeing to a contract extension through the year 2020. A guy who’s having a Hall of Fame type career who wants to stay in Wisconsin. The man nicknamed, “The Hebrew Hammer,” is having an MVP season, agreed to defer a portion of his salary so the Brewers have more working capital which will help them remain competitive for years to come. Until his extension kicks in, Braun is playing out his original contract in which (relative to other MLB players) he’s underpaid. Last year, Ryan told USA Today that he is “extremely proud to be a role model for young Jewish kids.” Personally, I’d say all kids.

And then there’s Donald Driver. He’s the Packers all-time leading receiver but it’s his work off the field that is most impressive. Not only has he made over 300 charitable appearances since his rookie season in 1999, ten years ago Donald and his wife Betina created the “Donald Driver Foundation.” Their foundation offers assistance to ill children with unmanageable hospital bills, provides housing for the homeless, and donates to a variety of local charities. As is typical of Driver, when he broke the Packer all-time record, he took to his Facebook page to Thank Us…

“THANK YOU for the opportunity to play for the greatest franchise, and best fans, in all of sports,” he wrote. “The Green Bay Packers team goals are absolutely the most important focus for all of us moving forward. With the incredible blessing of the birth of my third child (Charity) last week and becoming the All Time Packers Leading Receiver in Yardage today by surpassing Pro Football Hall of Fame’s James Lofton, I also wanted to briefly reflect for a day on the wonderful experiences that I have shared with all of you.”

A legendary year, indeed.

*I hate feeling like I HAVE to update my Facebook page…wondering how much I’d miss it if I disabled my account. Anyone else ever do that? Disable your Facebook account? Have you ever regretted it?

*Tony Plush is fun and funny. Why do I think he’s only funny to players and fans when he’s playing for a first place team?

*Why do celebs always have nude photos on their phone? If my cell got hacked all you’d get is a fuzzy picture of my dogs, me at a Brewers game and the guys in Def Leppard.

*The power of TV was never more evident than last weekend during the 9/11 tributes. Incredible.

*Is it any surprise that SAT reading & math scores are at an all-time low? Maybe all school age children should have to answer a math problem before they can watch the Kardashians?

*Tareq Salahi is telling friends he feels “betrayed” by Journey guitarist Neal Schon, a trusted friend, who has hooked up with his wife, Michaele. TMZ says Tareq has been crying hysterically, saying he feels as if his life is over because Michaele is all he lived for. I’m no expert, but if your middle aged wife (and that’s being kind) chooses to become a groupie, maybe it’s for the best? At least it wasn’t the guitarist for Night Ranger.

*A new report says MTV’s Jersey Shore costs taxpayers 475k a year to film. In their defense, at least it’s not 500 million taxpayer dollars loaned to a company that went bankrupt. True story.

*Prince Fielder isn’t coming back and that’s no surprise. Who’s to say the Brewers don’t finish with an even better record in 2012? Don’t bet against their front office.

Since Carole told us the dramatic story of her puppy, Sydney, being hit by an SUV, many of you have asked how she’s doing.

She’s doing really well and her rehab is getting her back to 100 percent. It does wear her out, though…

LeRoy Butler is not just a member of the Packer Hall of Fame and a regular on the Morning ‘KLH, he’s a multi-talented media star.

Our friend Steve Gulke sent us this picture of  LeRoy hosting Packers Chalk Talk the day after Saints game in the Stadium View bar parking lot.

You might recognize those other guys as Brian Bulaga, Clay Matthews, Chad Clifton and James Starks…

Finally, David and Kimberly W. sent us this photo of their new additions. All boys and all future D & C listeners (if we last that long ;-)

It was 1969, I was almost 11 years old and our Little League team was called the ‘Panthers.’ We had a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the 6^th, and last, inning of the championship game. I was playing first base and Robby Hilpert was playing second. Two on, two out and the ground ball went to Robby. He threw it to me, I caught it, and we won it all.

When I say ‘all’ I mean the championship of the Baldwin-Whitehall Little League. And in my little 10 year old world, back in my hometown of Pittsburgh, there was nothing better. I got a trophy, a trip to this new hamburger place called McDonald’s, and bragging rights for a whole year. I remember all of that as if it were yesterday. What I don’t remember is how good, or bad, we really were.

One thing I do know is that the game we played at Prospect Park in Pittsburgh does not resemble what I’ve been watching on TV at the 2011 Little League World Series. These kids can flat out play. Off the field they still act like kids but between the lines they are awesome. Not to mention that these games have had as many as 40,000 + in attendance. Yet these little guys seem to play even better on this incredibly big stage. The teams I played on in high school were nowhere near as disciplined and hard working as these 11-13 year old’s.

If any baseball fan tells you that the ‘kids these days just don’t know the fundamentals’, tell them to watch the LLWS from South Williamsport, Pa. And if they don’t agree that these kids are amazing, fundamentally sound baseball players…just ask them where they keep their Little League trophy. See, I’m willing to bet that just like Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite, they just refuse to acknowledge how good they weren’t. Uncle Rico summed it up, “Ohhhh, man I wish I could go back in time. I’d take state.”

The older you get, the better you were.

I thought it would NEVER happen but it has.

The Packers, the defending Super Bowl Champs, are playing football and I am having trouble paying attention. I know these games don’t count, but when did that ever matter? Used to be that the Brewers just needed to stay somewhat entertaining until the Green & Gold started camp and that’s all we needed. Then, Packer fever would take over and all would be right with the world.

The Amazing Milwaukee Brewers have changed all that. Not only are they the hottest team in baseball, they have all the pieces in place to make it deep into the playoffs.
Sunday, October 23rd the Packers play the Vikings and later that night it’s World Series Game #4. Question; In Milwaukee, which telecast gets more viewers?

Instead of speculating, I hope we can actually find the correct answer.

If the MLB playoffs started today the Brewers would square off against a team that used to call Milwaukee home; the Braves.

But it’s far too early to claim victory over St. Louis in the NL Central. And as if Tony LaRussa isn’t enough of a reason, Milwaukeeans have a whole other reason to take St Louis down in the NL Central. They stole our baseball team!

Yep, back in 1901, after only playing one season in the American League, the Milwaukee ‘Brewers’ moved to St. Louis and became the St. Louis Browns.

They stayed in St. Louis until 1953 when they moved to Baltimore and since the 1954 season they have been known as the Baltimore Orioles.

So how sweet would it be to win the division over St. Louis (team theft #1) then proceed to defeat the Atlanta Braves (team theft #2)?

My dream scenario has the Brewers beating the Braves, then it’s on to Philly, who defeated the Crew 3 games to 1 in the NL playoffs in ’08.

Then it’s on to face the dreaded Yankees (who beat the Brewers in the ’81 playoffs) in the World Series.

And in Game 7 of the Series, the Crew defeats former Brewer, and savior of the ’08 season, C.C. Sabathia to win it all.

The only thing that would make it better is if George Steinbrenner were still alive. Imagine the look on his face watching the small market Brewers, drawing 3 million fans a season, holding up the trophy.

And let’s not forget that Steinbrenner came to old County Stadium back in the 90’s, took a look around and said, “Right close to where I live in Tampa, Fla., is a great big, beautiful dome that’s looking for a team. I’m not one to come in and dictate to Milwaukee, but I’m just pleading with them to understand the importance of major league baseball in a city.” I’d say we got the message.

It’s just not the same around here since the Bowling Congress moved out of Wisconsin.

But Milwaukee Keglers have a reason to be proud once again. If you thought rolling a 250 after downing 2 1/2 pitchers of Miller Lite is amazing (and it is)…

well, wait until you see THIS!