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UW football: Bad call not sole blame for loss, Bielema says

Nate CareyCorrespondent for The Capital Times — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:36:00 CDT

The University of Wisconsin football team's 20-17 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday was full of drama and excitement. While there weren't any truly controversial plays during the game, the officials did make an error that could have changed the entire outlook of the contest. With 3:37 left in the second quarter, the Badgers took possession at their own 32-yard line. On the third play of the drive -- after a false start was ...

UW football: Evridge on shaky ground?

Jim Polzin — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:18:00 CDT

University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema made it clear that some of his players need to show improvement soon or risk losing their starting jobs. One of those players is fifth-year senior quarterback Allan Evridge, whose interception in the final minute helped Ohio State escape Camp Randall Stadium with a 20-17 victory last Saturday night, ending the Badgers' 16-game home winning streak. Evridge has turned the ball over six times (three fumbles, three interceptions) ...

Mike Lucas' Upon Further Review: UW's Oglesby answers the call

Mike Lucas — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:42:00 CDT

When redshirt freshman Josh Oglesby reported to the University of Wisconsin offensive huddle in the second quarter Saturday night, Andy Kemp, a senior guard, greeted the mammoth offensive lineman with some friendly words of encouragement and advice. The Badgers were trailing Ohio State, 7-0, and Gabe Carimi, the starting left tackle, had just been injured and helped to the sidelines. Oglesby was on the spot, ready or not, and Kemp wanted to make sure he ...

Brewers' season ends: Sveum defends decision to start Suppan

Adam Mertz — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:41:00 CDT

MLB_GAME-20081005-08-1 MILWAUKEE -- Dale Sveum said there was never a doubt in his mind that he was going to pitch Jeff Suppan in Game 4, and that the Milwaukee Brewers were going to pitch around Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard. Thanks to Pat Burrell, both decisions backfired. The slugging outfielder smacked two home runs Sunday, most notably a third-inning mistake from Suppan for a three-run home run that propelled Philadelphia to a series-clinching, 6-2 victory ...

BTN to air Wisconsin-Iowa game

By Jeff Richgels — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:07:00 CDT

The Big Ten Network announced that it will air the University of Wisconsin's football game at Iowa on Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. The good news is that the telecast won't leave thousands of local Badgers fans in the dark, as Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable reached deals to carry BTN just before the start of this season. BTN's contract gives it the right to air at least one conference game of each Big Ten university ...

Brewers vs. Phillies: Game 4 roundtable

The Capital Times — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:10:00 CDT

The Capital Times sports staff answers three big questions after the Brewers' season-ending 6-2 loss to the Phillies in Sunday's Game 4 of the National League Division Series: 1. After a dismal start Sunday and a dismal September, where does Jeff Suppan go from here? He's signed through 2010 with a club option for 2011. Dennis Punzel: He's probably their fifth starter next year, and at $12.5 million, an expensive one. Can't see anybody else taking him ...

Packers stumbling into mediocrity

Rob Schultz — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:42:00 CDT

GREEN BAY -- It's notable that Tony Mandarich is writing a book documenting his drug-plagued career in the National Football League that included time with the Green Bay Packers. Mandarich and the Packers teams he played for were anything but special. It was an era of dreadful Packer football quickly forgotten after Brett Favre arrived. The Green Bay team that lost to Atlanta 27-24 Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field conjured up memories of those miserable days when ...

Brewers: Weeks should be ready by spring

The Capital Times — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:32:00 CDT

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks underwent knee surgery Monday morning and is expected to be ready for spring training, the team announced in a release. Weeks injured the meniscus in his left knee while running out a ground ball in the fourth inning of Saturday's Game 3 of the National League Division Series against Philadelphia. Team doctor William Raasch trimmed away the damaged tissue during surgery at Froedtert Medical Center in Milwaukee. Weeks will begin therapy later ...

Sabathia: I wouldn't mind coming back

Dennis Punzel — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:58:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- Don't throw that going away party for CC Sabathia just yet. One of the presumptions ever since the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Sabathia in July has been that he was just a hired gun. His mission was to come in and help lead the Brewers to the playoffs and then move on to untold riches in the free agent market this winter. The only question was whether he'd end up in New York, where ...

Sveum awaits word on his fate

Dennis Semrau — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:51:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- Although the Milwaukee Brewers' season ended on a downer Sunday afternoon, Dale Sveum maintained the same even-keel approach that allowed him to survive the insanity of his club's rollercoaster 2008 season. He certainly didn't sound like an interim manager during his postgame press conference when he recommended several changes that needed to be made to make his club a serious contender for the 2009 World Series. "We've got to start learning how to manufacture ...

Power outage spells end for Brewers' season

Dennis Semrau — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:54:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE --The tally board for home runs hit by the Milwaukee Brewers -- located high above the right-center field wall at Miller Park -- reflected an offense gone awry at the wrong time of the season. It was stuck on zero until Prince Fielder launched a drive into the right-field bleachers to lead off the seventh inning on Sunday. But the solo blast was too little and 32 innings too late for a team whose ...

Homers quiet Miller Park crowd

Todd D. Milewski — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:50:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- The noise from Brewers fans at Miller Park in the first few innings on Sunday was so pronounced that Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell only knew he had hit a three-run home run by how quiet things quickly got. Burrell said he couldn't find either the ball or the umpire as he was running along the basepaths, but the silence was a dead giveaway that he had given the Phillies a 4-0 ...

East AD wears dual hat as Brewers security guard

Dennis Semrau — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:16:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- A lifelong Brewers fan, Dave Kapp paused to appreciate his good fortune of being in the right place at the right time. Saturday night, though, it was even better. The Brewers were hosting a National League playoff game for the first time in 26 years and he had a special view of the action. Kapp, who was recently named the athletic director at Madison East High School, has a unique part-time job that is ...

NLDS Game 4 Live Blog - Brewers vs. Phillies

The Capital Times — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:43:00 CDT

Join the sports staff of The Capital Times for details and commentary from Sunday's Game 4 of the National League Division Series between the Brewers and the Phillies.COVERITLIVE[33f641e57c]...

Polzin: Badgers have gone from magnificent to mediocre

Jim Polzin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 02:01:00 CDT

It was almost exactly a year ago that the University of Wisconsin football program was on quite a roll. The Badgers had won 17 of 18 games under coach Bret Bielema and were ranked No. 5 in the nation heading into an early October trip to Illinois. Bielema and UW appeared to be on the cusp of something great, perhaps even a spot in the upper echelon of college football.That was ...

Brewers stay alive with help from Bush, bullpen

Todd D. Milewski — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:44:00 CDT

MLB_GAME-20081004-08-1 MILWAUKEE — Some things don't change. The Milwaukee Brewers left the bases loaded in consecutive innings Saturday night. But some things do. They already had the runs that would cover a solid outing by Dave Bush, and they were able to get their first victory in the National League Division Series. Bush held the Philadelphia Phillies to one run over 5 1/3 innings and got some runs from an occasionally opportunistic offense to force Game 4 on ...

Brewers vs. Phillies: Game 3 roundtable

The Capital Times — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:21:00 CDT

The Capital Times sports staff answers three big questions after the Brewers' 4-1 victory over the Phillies in Saturday's Game 3 of the National League Division Series: 1. The Brewers pounded out 11 hits in Game 3. Are they out of their offensive funk? Dennis Punzel: It had to happen sometime. The amazing thing was that they only scored four runs out of all their opportunities. They are a better hitting team than they showed in September; ...

Ask Lucas: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State

The Capital Times — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:01:00 CDT

Another week, another heartbreaking loss for the UW football team against the two most accomplished programs in the Big Ten. A week after their stunning setback at Michigan, the Badgers were downed 20-17 by Ohio State on freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor's 11-yard touchdown scamper with 1 minute, 8 seconds left. After the game, Capital Times columnist and Wisconsin Radio Network color commentator Mike Lucas answered questions about the game from Cap Times sports editor Adam ...

Exhausted, Cameron gets on base four times for Brewers

Dennis Semrau — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:57:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- It has been an eventful 48 hours for Mike Cameron, who can relate to what many parents have to do when forced to juggle their personal and professional lives. The Milwaukee Brewers center fielder was exhausted following Saturday's Game 3 of the National League Division Series thanks to two near sleepless nights and an unexpected trip home to Atlanta, where his wife, JaBreka, underwent an emergency Caesarian section on Friday. Cameron, who reached base in ...

Ohio State's Pryor a freshman in title only

Rob Schultz — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:47:00 CDT

Terrelle Pryor didn't need to look at the Camp Randall Stadium scoreboard to understand the importance of the Ohio State football team's final drive against the University of Wisconsin Saturday night. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel pulled his much-heralded freshman quarterback aside before he took the field and told him it was a big drive. Running back Beanie Wells told Pryor the drive was going to test his manhood. Finally, Pryor admitted talking to himself about ...

Suppan gets chance to show Brewers his flair for postseason success

Todd D. Milewski — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:10:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- When the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Jeff Suppan on the free agent market two seasons ago, the right-hander was advertised as the kind of pitcher who came through in the postseason. It wasn't guaranteed until Saturday night, but Suppan will now get the chance to prove it for the Brewers. Suppan will get the ball in Sunday's Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, another elimination game for the Brewers. He had ...

BadgerBeat one-on-one: Jay Valai

The Capital Times — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 02:13:00 CDT

Jay Valai was all over the place for the University of Wisconsin defense on Saturday night, with seven tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles -- one of which nearly halted Ohio State's winning drive. After the Buckeyes' 20-17 victory, BadgerBeat caught up with the sophomore safety, who doesn't shy away from contact or a chance to express himself. Q: How tough a pill to swallow was this for the defense? Valai: We should have executed ...

Dennis Punzel: Brewers flawed but stubborn

Dennis Punzel — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:27:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- Lord knows the Milwaukee Brewers aren't perfect, but they sure are persistent. The Brewers, the team that won't go away, staved off elimination for the umpteenth time Saturday by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 at Miller Park. They survived despite a recurrence of their old problem of hitting with runners in scoring position, as they stranded 12 baserunners, leaving the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh innings. They survived despite failing to get an extra ...

CT game report: No. 14 Ohio State 20, No. 18 Wisconsin 17

Nate CareyCorrespondent for The Capital Times — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:09:00 CDT

A quick-hit recap of Ohio State's 20-17 victory over the University of Wisconsin football team Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium:Player of the gameOhio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor. For the second week in a row, Wisconsin had to deal with a spread-option quarterback. And for the second straight week, Wisconsin was able to contain said quarterback, but not when it mattered most. Terrelle Pryor was able to manage the game and lead his ...

'Sveum's Sluggers' finally make an appearance in NLDS

Dennis Semrau — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:19:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- The sign was a symbol of all that is right and wrong about the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers. The slogan 'Sveum's Sluggers' greeted the Milwaukee Brewers at the players' entrance to Miller Park Saturday afternoon, one fan's attempt to give interim manager Dale Sveum his due. But in reality it was at the heart of the club's offensive struggles during the past month. Milwaukee was 74-46 this season in games in which it hit a home run, ...

Selig: Seeing postseason in Miller Park 'very, very satisfying'

Dennis Punzel — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:10:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- Commissioner Bud Selig is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday before the Milwaukee Brewers' NLDS game with the Philadelphia Phillies. But just in case Game 4 hadn't been necessary, Selig had a contingency plan. "I guess it's not a secret I was supposed to throw out the first ball tomorrow, but if I don't, I'm going to do it in front of my house," Selig quipped. His first choice for a ...

Notebook: Overturned call saves Torres, Brewers a run

Todd D. Milewski — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:34:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- Dale Sveum wouldn't consider it his first victory in an argument with an umpire, but a reversal of a ninth-inning call Saturday saved Brewers closer Salomon Torres an earned run. Sveum came out of the dugout to challenge a ruling after the Brewers turned a bases-loaded double play with no outs in the ninth and a 4-1 lead. That play scored Ryan Howard from third, at least temporarily. When all six umpires conferred on the infield ...

NLDS Game 3 live blog: Brewers at Phillies

The Capital Times — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:22:00 CDT

Join the sports staff of The Capital Times for details and commentary from Saturday's Game 3 of the National League Division Series between the Brewers and the Phillies.COVERITLIVE[607536f60a]...

Brewers-Phillies Game 3 gallery

The Capital Times — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:50:00 CDT

Everything was on the line for the Brewers on Saturday at Miller Park, and they came through with a 4-1 victory to extend their National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Starter Dave Bush gave up just one run on five hits and the bullpen held up as the Brewers won their first postseason game in 26 years. ...

Fearless Buckeye fans not fazed by Badger atmosphere

Mike Ivey — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 08:25:00 CDT

Ohio State student Lauren Dempster wasn't sure where she and her friends would gather after Saturday night's game at Camp Randall Stadium. But there is one place you won't find them. "Everybody said State Street is a good place to avoid," said the sophomore from Atlanta, Ga., dressed in a scarlet and gray Buckeyes T-shirt. Indeed, Madison's reputation as a tough place for visiting fans is well-known around the Big Ten Conference. ...

Selig: Be careful with ticket prices

Associated Press — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:09:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- Given the state of the U.S. economy, baseball commissioner Bud Selig warned team owners Saturday not to "get too cocky" and overprice game tickets. "Because you do pay a price," Selig said. Speaking before Game 3 of the NL playoff series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers, Selig called 2008 a "phenomenal success" for baseball despite a decline in attendance that Selig attributed to bad weather and high gas prices. But ...

Brewers notes: Biggest test of all

Todd D. Milewski — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:56:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- Dale Sveum did all his talking Friday. Now it's up to the Milwaukee Brewers players to extend their season at least one more day. Down 2-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies in a best-of-five National League Division Series, the Brewers returned to what was expected to be a raucous Miller Park on Saturday to try to get back in the series. "They're professionals, they're grown men," said Sveum, the Brewers' interim manager. "They ...

Prep football: Waunakee runs through Norskies

Dennis Semrau — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:23:00 CDT

DEFOREST -- It was Homecoming and Waunakee was in town. Friday night under the lights doesn't get much better than that. But the DeForest Norskies had a lot more going for them while they eagerly awaited the opening kickoff of their Badger North Conference matchup with fifth-ranked Waunakee. For pregame entertainment, there was Channel 27 chief meteorologist Bob Lindmeier with his tailgate entourage adding a little sparkle to the evening. And Jared of Subway sandwich fame ...

Ohio State at UW: Five burning questions and answers

Jim Polzin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:02:00 CDT

Here are answers to the five burning questions we posed before the University of Wisconsin football team's 20-17 loss to Ohio State Saturday night at Camp Randall Stadium. Can UW get off to a good start? Pregame outlook: Not exactly groundbreaking stuff here, but the Badgers can't get out of the gates slowly against the Buckeyes and expect to ...

Brewers slump continues amid playoff pressures

Dennis Punzel — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:18:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- Dale Sveum isn't going to talk to his Milwaukee Brewers about how the Boston Red Sox team of 2004, with whom he was a coach, came back from a 3-0 to beat the New York Yankees and destroy the "Curse of the Bambino." Nor is he going to call on bench coach Robin Yount to wax eloquently about how the 1982 Brewers climbed out ...

Prep Football Central: Week 6 coverage

Capital Times, Wisconsin State Journal — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:51:00 CDT

Welcome to Week 6 of Prep Football Central, featuring the best southern Wisconsin prep football coverage from the reporters of Capital Newspapers.Here are the games we covered Friday evening: Waunakee at DeForest (with photos)Nick Zizzo, Wisconsin State Journal (game story)Dennis Semrau, Capital Times (column) Madison West at VeronaBryan Watson, Wisconsin State Journal Milton at StoughtonBenjamin Worgull, Wisconsin State Journal

Brewers: Hart keeps spot in lineup

Dennnis Punzel — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:58:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- Corey Hart thought about going to Robin Yount to talk about his recent struggles at the plate. But he wasn't so sure the Hall of Famer could relate. So instead, the Milwaukee Brewers slumping right fielder wandered down the hall to the office of interim manager Dale Sveum, where the two spent some time discussing Hart's problems at the plate. ...

Phillies' Jenkins gets to playoffs after 10 years with Brewers

Dennis Punzel — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 08:18:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- Geoff Jenkins spent 10 years trying to get to the playoffs in Milwaukee. He finally got there in his 11th season, but as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, rather than the Brewers. Jenkins, who signed a two-year free agent contract with the Phillies during the off-season, admits it's a weird feeling to be on the other side of the ...

Packers expect game-time decision on Rodgers

Associated Press — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:19:00 CDT

GREEN BAY -- Whether Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers plays Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at Lambeau Field will be a game-time decision. "Honestly," Rodgers said Friday, "I don't know." Rodgers, who dislocated his right (throwing) shoulder when he was tackled from behind while stretching for a first down during a third-quarter scramble against Tampa Bay last Sunday, threw for the first time all week on Friday.

CT staff predictions: No. 14 Ohio State at No. 18 Wisconsin

The Capital Times — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:46:00 CDT

Once again, the crew at Capital Times sports will offer its predictions heading into every University of Wisconsin football game this season. But this year, there's a twist: We're picking against the spread. And so far, it's been tough. This isn't an endorsement of gambling, but rather an attempt to up the ante for our crew, which has rolled through a series of double-digit victory totals over the past four seasons as the ...

Brewers overcome by Phillies' Myers, Victorino in Game 2

Bradley SchlegelSpecial to The Capital Times — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:56:00 CDT

PHILADELPHIA -- Brett Myers, a self-described terrible hitter, fouled off a slider and two 97 mph fastballs to extend his second inning at-bat. Eventually, the Philadelphia Phillies pitcher worked a nine-pitch walk against Milwaukee Brewers ace CC Sabathia. Third baseman Craig Counsell called the two-out plate appearance the best he's seen against the left-hander this season. "I really can't explain how it happened," Myers said. "I can't hit a lick. ...

UW men's hockey: A new start for Bardis as practice begins

Todd D. Milewski — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:22:00 CDT

There are more than a handful of pressing questions for the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team as it opens practice Saturday, six days ahead of the season opener. Some are the typical early October queries involving who will score, whether the goaltending will hold up, whether the power play will improve and the like. But there's one individual question mark for many who follow the Badgers, and it involves someone ...

Brewers: Game 4 would go head-to-head with Packers

The Capital Times — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:22:00 CDT

It's a question many Wisconsinites have discussed this past week: Have the Brewers eclipsed the Packers in terms of fan interest during their playoff push? We could get a quantifiable answer on Sunday. Should Milwaukee defeat the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night to stay alive in their National League Division Series, the Brewers would host Game 4 at Miller Park on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 12:07 p.m. That game -- televised by TBS -- would go head-to-head with ...

UW football: Casillas embraces leadership role now more than ever

Jim Polzin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:56:00 CDT

Jonathan Casillas felt he failed as a captain for the University of Wisconsin football team at times last season as a junior and wanted to redeem himself in 2008. So you can imagine how disappointed the senior linebacker was when the team's captains were announced in August and Casillas wasn't one of the four players honored in a vote by the players. A few things helped soften the blow for the three-year starter. Casillas sought ...

Brewers vs. Phillies: Game 2 roundtable

The Capital Times — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:01:00 CDT

The Capital Times sports staff answers five big questions after the Brewers' 5-2 loss to the Phillies in Thursday's Game 2 of the National League Division Series: 1. What percentage chance do the Brewers have of rallying to win this best-of-five series? Todd D. Milewski: Zero. In fact, I think there's a 0 percent chance this series even gets back to Philly. Talk all you ...

Brewers vs. Phillies: Game 2 in photos

The Capital Times — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:29:00 CDT

MLB_GAME-20081002-22-1 ...

Packers try to fix running woes

Associated Press — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:20:00 CDT

GREEN BAY -- The Green Bay Packers' rushing numbers are up from the same point in the season last year. That's not saying much, however. Through four games, the Packers have struggled running the football and even holding onto it, so greater attention is being made in practice this week to try to rectify the situation. "We do more before and after practice now because that's what you have ...

UW football: Beckum expected to play; Graham misses practice again

Jim Polzin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:57:00 CDT

There was good news and bad news for the University of Wisconsin football team on the injury front Thursday night. Badgers coach Bret Bielema said senior tight end Travis Beckum, who has missed all but five quarters this season with a hamstring injury, is expected to play Saturday when No. 18 UW (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) hosts No. 14 Ohio State (4-1, 1-0) at Camp Randall Stadium. But it ...

Falcons' Ryan can grab road win vs. banged-up Pack

Chris JenkinsAssociated Press — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:17:00 CDT

GREEN BAY -- As a rookie quarterback playing right away for a team that ranked among the league's worst last season, Matt Ryan was expected to take his licks in 2008. But four games into the season, Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons (2-2) have taken big steps toward helping people forget Michael Vick and Bobby Petrino. Packers cornerback Will Blackmon, a former teammate at Boston College, ...

Analysis: Working Sabathia this hard should make Brewers uneasy

Thomas BoswellThe Washington Post — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:54:00 CDT

PHILADELPHIA — Milwaukee's CC Sabathia, who will start Game 2 of the division series against Philadelphia on Thursday, is either the most unselfish pitcher in baseball or the most foolhardy. And his Brewers, who have essentially rented him for half a season before he becomes a $140 million free agent, are either exploiting Sabathia or simply following his wishes. As is often annoyingly the case, all of the above is true. On Thursday, the Brew Crew, which lost ...

UW football: Clay in line for more playing time

Jim Polzin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:31:00 CDT

University of Wisconsin football fans aren't the only people questioning the coaching staff's decision to limit freshman tailback John Clay's playing time last Saturday at Michigan. Badgers running backs coach John Settle, whose decision it was to keep Clay on the sidelines for most of the second half, is doing some second-guessing of his own. Clay provided a spark to a struggling UW offense in the first half with back-to-back runs. The first went for ...

UW football: 2003 win over Ohio State one for the books (with photos)

Jim Polzin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:55:00 CDT

The hype had been building for nearly two months, from the time the 2003 University of Wisconsin football team gathered privately in preseason training camp and declared as one of its team goals that it wanted to make sure there was a lot on the line for its Oct. 11 game against Ohio State. "Even before the first game," UW radio play-by-play announcer Matt Lepay said, "it was obvious that there was part of that team ...

All-terrain cycling: Cyclocross has a large following in Madison

Scott ShaferCorrespondent for The Capital Times — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:55:00 CDT

For one full hour, a cyclocross racer is challenged on many fronts: tight serpentine curves, straightaways and run-ups, where riders carry their bikes over obstacles, often covered with mud. In other words: racers get their butts kicked. Over 400 cyclocross riders did just that last weekend at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie for the inaugural Jonathan Page's Planet Bike Cup. The weekend ended with pro racer Jonathan Page winning the Elite Men's division each day of ...

Mike Lucas' Big Ten Rhap: A long and winding road (trip)

Mike Lucas — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:51:00 CDT

The oldest road warrior himself, Joe Paterno, was pontificating or obfuscating on what it takes to win away from home. "We've obviously had some problems on the road," admitted JoePa, the Penn State octogenarian, "but we've been beaten by teams that just either were better than we were, were better coached or just played better. "A road trip is a road trip. Whether it's in the Big Ten or (not) ... if you're good enough, ...

Behind the Mike: The Buckeyes' 'Voice of Reason'

Mike Lucas — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:46:00 CDT

Take it from an outsider who has covered Big Ten football for more than two decades in Ohio as a Cleveland sportswriter-turned-Columbus broadcaster: Camp Randall Stadium rocks. "The best road atmosphere in the Big Ten, bar none," Bruce Hooley said. "Wisconsin is a team that plays 25 percent better at home than on the road. I don't think Ohio State does that." That will be put to the test Saturday night in what amounts to ...

Brewers fall to Phillies after third inning stumble

Bradley SchlegelSpecial to The Capital Times — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:27:00 CDT

MLB_GAME-20081001-22-1 PHILADELPHIA -- Bill Hall juggled the exchange, then threw to first instead of forcing the lead runner at second. However, the throw deflected off the heel of Ricky Weeks' glove. Three hitters later, center fielder Mike Cameron misplayed a line drive into a two-run double. "Just one little hiccup," Milwaukee Brewers interim manager Dale Sveum said after his team's 3-1 loss Wednesday to the Philadelphia Phillies in its National League Division Series opener. ...

Light duty for Packers' Rodgers in practice

Chris Jenkins — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:50:00 CDT

GREEN BAY -- He'll take an injection. He'll try wearing a shoulder harness. He'll push himself through painful rehabilitation exercises. Anything to be back on the field for the Green Bay Packers. Despite a sprained right shoulder that limited him to a light workload in practice Wednesday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he'll do whatever it takes to start Sunday's game against Atlanta at Lambeau Field. And Rodgers says he ...

Brewers postgame roundtable: 3 big questions

The Capital Times — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:03:00 CDT

The Capital Times sports staff answers three big questions after the Brewers' 3-1 loss to the Phillies in Wednesday's Game 1 of the National League Division Series: 1. Which deserves more of the blame? The Brewers' defense or their offense? Dennis Punzel: Defense. If it hadn't been for the bobble by Hall, the drop by Weeks and the misplay by Cameron, the Brewers win 1-0. ...

Brewers vs. Phillies: Game 1 in photos

The Capital Times — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:01:00 CDT

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Brewers vs. Phillies: Game 1 preview

The Capital Times — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:07:00 CDT

The Milwaukee Brewers are back in the playoffs for the first time in 26 years -- and the staff of The Capital Times and Wisconsin State Journal have all the bases covered as the National League Division Series opens today in Philadelphia against the Phillies. Vic Feuerherd of the State Journal will file reports from Citizens Bank Stadium, as will freelancer Bradley Schlegel for The Capital Times, complemented by photos of all the action. Also, the Cap ...

Big time arrives for 'ace in waiting' Gallardo

Dennis Semrau — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:21:00 CDT

Someday Yovani Gallardo will serve as the ace of the Milwaukee Brewers pitching staff. The 22-year-old right-hander has done nothing to dissuade the organization of that fact, not to mention his teammates, coaches and fans, since he jump-started his career in the major leagues with a bang in 2007. But after Gallardo, who was selected in the second round of the 2004 first-year player draft, missed most of the 2008 season with a major knee ...

Brewers vs. Phillies: A position-by-position breakdown

Dennis Punzel — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:38:00 CDT

A position-by-position comparison of the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies heading into their National League Division Series, which begins Wednesday in Philadelphia. Obviously, in baseball it's hard to make direct comparisons because these players don't compete against each other per se. But this does give an idea of the overall talent level of each team. A team's edge at a position can be qualified as either a slight edge or a big edge. The Phillies win the head-to-head ...

Brewers vs. Phillies: The series by the numbers

Dennis Punzel — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:53:00 CDT

Some numbers to ponder as you prepare for the Milwaukee Brewers' first postseason appearance in 26 years on Wednesday when they open their National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies: CC Sabathia will soon become one of the wealthiest players in baseball when he signs a free agent contract this winter. But in this series he ranks only third in pay at $11 million, trailing Phillies left fielder ...

Back-to-back night Badger games have visiting fans, neighbors, police on edge

Jessica VanEgeren — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:10:00 CDT

Mark Dyer remembers the last time his favorite team traveled to Camp Randall Stadium for a night game. It was Oct. 11, 2003, and he and a group of friends -- all students at Ohio State University -- decided a road trip to Madison was in order. The University of Wisconsin, ranked No. 23 in the nation, hadn't beaten the Buckeyes at home in more than 10 years. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes were the third-ranked team ...

Mandarich admits steroid use in TV interview

Associated Press — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:23:00 CDT

NEW YORK -- Former NFL draft bust Tony Mandarich says he used steroids at Michigan State and faked a drug test before the 1988 Rose Bowl. He also said during an interview on "Inside the NFL" that will air Wednesday on Showtime that he did not use steroids in the NFL but was addicted to alcohol and painkillers. Mandarich, whose autobiography will be released in March, said he provided a fake ...

Mike Lucas: Hudson teammates anchor right side of the UW offensive line

Mike Lucas — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:53:00 CDT

University of Wisconsin offensive linemen Kraig Urbik and Eric Vanden Heuvel, the Hudson connection, were discussing the potential ramifications of what happens when push comes to shove. "Eric, did you push me?" Urbik inquired innocently. "Or did I push you?" "We were kind of shoving each other," replied Vanden Heuvel, jogging his memory, "and you gave me the big one." Urbik, a senior, and Vanden Heuvel, a junior, were horsing around in the hallways of Hudson High School. "You ...

Brewers' bumpy ride exposes their flaws but ends in ecstasy

Todd D. Milewski — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:42:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- They seemingly can't bring home a runner from scoring position to save their lives. With one very prominent exception, the pitching staff has been suspect in the last month. All too often, if it's not a home run, it's not a run. Things were so bad a little more than two weeks ago that the manager was told to pack up his office. There is Band-Aid layered on top of Band-Aid, keeping things together on a bumpy ...

Wisconsin picked for fourth in Capital Times' WCHA media poll

Todd D. Milewski — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:54:00 CDT

A review of teams in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association shows that defending regular-season champion Colorado College's crop of returning players scored more goals than their counterparts from any other team, and that the Tigers have the conference's reigning Player of the Year and another skater who is sure to play a big role this season. Little wonder, then, that CC is the overwhelming favorite to repeat as MacNaughton Cup champion in a poll of media ...

Prep Profile: Andrew Weber, Waunakee

Dennis Semrau — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:42:00 CDT

Andrew Weber School: Waunakee Year: senior Sports: football, track and field Football highlights: Weber is a returning letterwinner in his second season as a starting placekicker for the Warriors. He is in his first year as a starting safety for Waunakee, which is 5-0 and the five-time defending Badger North Conference champion. He returned an interception 46 yards for his first career touchdown in a 41-0 win over Milton, and is 16 of 17 on PATs and 4 ...

Prep Profile: Kiah Ehrke, Stoughton

Dennis Semrau — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:42:00 CDT

Kiah Ehrke School: Stoughton Year: senior Sport: cross country, track and field Cross country highlights: Ehrke is a three-time letterwinner and three-time state qualifier. A co-captain as a senior, she has won individual titles at the Watertown, Verona, Madison West and Badger Challenge races this season. A three-time All-Badger South Conference first-team selection, she was named the Vikings' Rookie of the Year as a freshman and Most Valuable Runner as a sophomore and junior. Her freshman year, ...

Exorcising 25 years of misery: A year-by-year Brewers flashback (with photos)

Jeremy ReevesCorrespondent for The Capital Times — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:06:00 CDT

Sunday's dramatic 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Miller Park that put the Milwaukee Brewers in the playoffs for the first time since 1982 helped alleviate countless frustrating memories. But it was that tumultuous path the franchise took to return to the postseason that made CC Sabathia's and Ryan Braun's heroics all the more sweeter for the Brewers' long-suffering fans. Here is a year-by-year look back at some of the moments from the past quarter-century ...

Spectator: A sad ending for Sheets loyalists

Dennis Punzel — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:05:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- The jersey referendum doesn't bode well for Ben Sheets. Once the runaway Milwaukee Brewers jersey of choice, Sheets shirts were in short supply last Saturday among the sellout crowd at Miller Park for what presumably was his final performance in a Brewers uniform. On this day, his No. 15 was not only outnumbered by Braun, Fielder and Sabathia shirts, but probably by Zambrano and Fukudome jerseys worn by invading Cubs fans, as well. But while ...

Blue-collar Brewers revel in spotlight

Colin FlyAssociated Press — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:01:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- The words are tattooed on Dale Sveum's arm. It's the same message his father used to deliver before games. It's the same thing the Milwaukee Brewers' interim manager scrawled on a clubhouse board Sunday. "Give 'em Hell." CC Sabathia sure did. So did everyone else. Now Prince Fielder and these blue-collar Brewers, the guys who untuck their shirts after each victory to acknowledge a job ...

Gallardo will open playoffs for Brewers

Colin FlyAssociated Press — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:43:00 CDT

MILWAUKEE -- Yovani Gallardo will start Game 1 for the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL playoffs against Philadelphia, followed by ace CC Sabathia for Game 2. "I don't know how to explain it. I'm very excited, just ready to go," Gallardo said Monday. "I'm just going to give my team the opportunity to win." Gallardo returned from a torn knee ligament and pitched four innings last Thursday against Pittsburgh in ...

Update: Charter launches TBS in HD in time for baseball playoffs

Jeff Richgels — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:28:00 CDT

Charter Communications on Tuesday launched TBS in high definition in its Wisconsin markets, one day ahead of the network's broadcast of the Milwaukee Brewers' first playoff game in 26 years. In a news release shortly before mid-day Tuesday, Charter said it had launched TBS in HD on Channel 626. The cable company originally had been scheduled to launch TBS and three other channels in HD on Oct. 14, but company officials said Monday they were ...

UW football: Michigan loss looms over Badgers

Nate CareyCorrespondent for The Capital Times — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:37:00 CDT

Despite the University of Wisconsin football team's upcoming matchup against the No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes, many questions still remained Monday from No. 18 University of Wisconsin football team's loss at Michigan -- and rightfully so. After taking a 19-0 lead at Michigan Stadium Saturday, the Badgers gave up 27-unanswered points in the second half and lost to the Michigan Wolverines 27-25. "Sunday after a loss is probably one of the worst days in the coaching profession," said UW ...

Packers' Rodgers might play despite shoulder sprain

Chris JenkinsAssociated Press — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:00:00 CDT

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers intends to play Sunday against Atlanta despite a sprained shoulder that his coaches will be watching closely in practice. Packers coach Mike McCarthy and his assistants will spend this week monitoring Rodgers' progress and preparing rookie backup Matt Flynn to start, just in case. "Speaking with Aaron this morning, he has every intention on playing," McCarthy said Monday in Green Bay. "But I think Wednesday's ...

Video: Tressel, Ohio State eager for prime-time challenge

The Capital Times — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:21:00 CDT

Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel knows what sort of challenge a night game atmosphere presents at the University of Wisconsin. "That already rabid fan base gets even more rabid," he said. "But to me, that's exciting." With the Buckeyes (4-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) set to return to Madison for the first time in five years, for a 7 p.m. kickoff Saturday against the Badgers (3-1, 0-1), BadgerBeat.com rolls ...

Mike Lucas' Upon Further Review: Loss makes Badgers sick

Mike Lucas — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:53:00 CDT

The charter flight from Detroit to Madison was less than an hour in length Saturday night. "But it was a lot longer than the flight over, that's for sure," Mike Newkirk said with a sigh. The flight was carrying the University of Wisconsin football team, a 27-25 loser in its Big Ten opener at Michigan. In some respects, the loss was more exasperating than the mind-numbing 2001 loss to the Wolverines. That game was staged ...