Sports - Nov. 17, 2009
From Begel, with love ...
Dave Begel has a few thoughts to share with Mark Murphy, so he decided to write the Green Bay Packers president and CEO a little letter.
Tagged with: green bay packers, ted thompson, mark murphy, bob harlan, mike mccarthy

Sports - Nov. 10, 2009
Yankees' success is proof Brewers are a lost cause
When the Yankees and their bloated payroll won the World Series last week, it was a signal to OnMilwaukee.com sports columnist Dave Begel that rooting for the Brewers is another in a long line of lost causes.
Tagged with: brewers, yankees, world series

Music - Nov. 3, 2009
Semi-Twang turns back the clock at Shank
When the talk turns to great Milwaukee bands, most people would agree that the Violent Femmes are the biggest thing ever to come out of this city. But close on their heels are the BoDeans, who are still together, and Semi-Twang, a band that had a big recording contract, incredible critical acclaim and a life that was far too short.
Tagged with: Semi-Twang, John Sieger, Mike Hoffmann, Bob Jennings, R&B Cadets, Jason Klagstad, Mike Sieger, Paul Cebar, Robin Pluer, E*I*E*I*O, Mitchell Froom

Sports - Nov. 2, 2009
Packers point: In victory, Favre proves he's the one
If there is anybody left who thinks that the 2009 Packers, or the 2008 Packers, or maybe even the 2010 Packers are better with Aaron Rodgers than Brett Favre, let them stand up and be counted, on the fingers of one hand. There is no longer a shadow of doubt. One is a classy, savvy expert with a full house, aces over jacks. The other is sitting at the table with a pair of sixes and not much bluff.
Tagged with: brett favre, vikings, packers, lambeau field, aaron rodgers

Sports - Oct. 31, 2009
Vikings showdown puts McCarthy in the spotlight
The focus will be on the quarterbacks Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field, and that's understandable. In addition to a referendum on Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, the Packers-Vikings game will provide information about Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy. A victory will silence his critics. A loss or lackluster effort may fuel the debate about his acumen.
Tagged with: packers, mike mccarthy, favre, rodgers, vikings

Sports - Oct. 27, 2009
10 more reasons to be excited about the Bucks/NBA
Based on the sparse turnout at the Bucks' exhibition finale Friday night at the Bradley Center (pictured), a lot of folks seemed to have forgotten what makes the NBA special. OnMilwaukee.com sports columnist Dave Begel hasn't forgotten. In fact, he lists the reasons why -- in his opinion -- pro basketball outpaces its competition to be the most exciting game in town.
Tagged with: bucks, nba

Sports - Oct. 20, 2009
A question of loyalty: What do fans owe franchises?
It's easy to be a fan during the good times. Bandwagons bustle when teams win. What about the lean years? Our teams ask us for support and in exchange they owe us expertise and effort and an honest striving for victory. Most fans can live with losing, as long as they feel that the effort is genuine. Is rooting for the home team part of our civic duty?
Tagged with: brewers, bucks, fans, loyalty, packers

Sports - Oct. 13, 2009
Don't throw in the towel on city's 26th sports ranking
Last week, The Sporting News released its rankings of 399 great sports cities. Milwaukee was a respectable 26th, but OnMilwaukee.com sports columnist Dave Begel thinks that the magazine's logic was flawed -- particularly because Milwaukee didn't get credit for the Packers or Badgers. With a little vetting (and a lot of venting), Begel found a way to move the city up in the rankings.
Tagged with: sporting news, sports rankings, pittsburgh, terrible towel

Sports - Oct. 6, 2009
Which quarterback is No. 1? Favre leaves little doubt
Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre is going to turn 40 next week, and there can be no doubt that he is still, at his advanced age, one of the top quarterbacks in the National Football League. Sure, his Vikings are better than Aaron Rodgers' Packers. But part of that, a big part, is that Favre is better than Rodgers. It's not even close.
Tagged with: packers, favre, green bay, rodgers, ted thompson

Sports - Oct. 3, 2009
Just how big is this little game on Monday night?
Like many Wisconsin sports fans, OnMilwaukee.com's Dave Begel is conflicted as he prepares to watch Brett Favre play against the Packers.
Tagged with: favre, vikings, packers, monday night football

Sports - Sept. 29, 2009
Things in sports that we can (happily) live without
It's hard to fathom life without sports, especially during a week leading up to the Packers playing at Favre-a-palooza. The games are just too important to the fabric of our culture. There are, however, a few things in sports that we can live without. OnMilwaukee.com sports columnist Dave Begel, who is old and crotchety enough to get irritated by things, offers his list this week.
Tagged with: tiger woods, mike mccarthy

Sports - Sept. 22, 2009
Cause celebre: Regulating joyful moments in sport
There has been a lot of talk about celebrations etiquette in sports these days.The Brewers have been in the conversation because of untucking, duck-and-punching and the Prince Fielder home run flop (pictured). Dave Begel wonders what's wrong with having a little fun on the field. But, he also lays out a few parameters to keep things from running amok.
Tagged with: celebrations, brewers, prince fielder

Sports - Sept. 15, 2009
So, what famous movie game would YOU attend?
The debate about the best and worst sports movies of all time is a perpetual argument without any satisfactory resolution. But, here is another idea. If you could attend one sporting event from the movies, what would it be? Would it be a fight from "Rocky" or a game from "Bull Durham"? Would it be the classic scene from "Pride of the Yankees" or the title game from "Hoosiers" or something else?
Tagged with: sports movies, the best of times, robin williams, pride of the yankees, major league, caddyshack, hoosiers, seabiscuit, gladiators, rocky, the wrestler

Sports - Sept. 8, 2009
Fearless forecast: Packers to visit Miami in February
OnMilwaukee.com sports columnist Dave Begel thinks the Lombardi Trophy will return to its rightful home in Titletown next year. After an impressive (but still meaningless) preseason, Begel thinks the Packers' speed, skill are key.
Tagged with: packers, super bowl, rodgers, al harris

Sports - Sept. 1, 2009
Tiger needs to stop stressing and obsessing
He wins a ton of tournaments and it can't be easy wearing the mantle of global sports icon, but Tiger Woods just might make things easier on himself if he smiled once in a while, rather than scowling and glowering his way through tournaments.
Tagged with: tiger woods, michelle wie, solheim cup

Sports - Aug. 25, 2009
Putting a Shakespearean twist on Favre's saga
Why is it so hard for Brett Favre to give up playing football? If you've never played the sport, it's hard to explain and even more difficult to understand. Then again, you can relate to being in a play or being in a band or -- as people in the armed forces say -- being in combat. There is something about the shared struggle that causes deep emotional bonds and can make it hard to give up any endeavor.
Tagged with: brett favre, vikings, packers, shakespeare, merchant of venice

Sports - Aug. 18, 2009
For sports fans, reading fine print is enlightening
The details are in the fine print. That's where the real important stuff is; all the information you really need to know. There's fine print in contracts, leases, purchase agreements, warranties and lots of other documents. The world of sports also has its fine print. It's called agate. Every sports page in the country has it. A page somewhere with stats and information about things you may never find elsewhere.
Tagged with: sports, agate page

Sports - Aug. 11, 2009
Too early to get up in arms about Brewers' chances
The Brewers have been sagging for weeks, but it's too early to write off the season just yet. Sure, the Brewers have weaknesses that have to be handled. The bottom of the batting order is awful. The starting pitching is schizophrenic and you seemingly can't depend on anyone, including Yovani Gallardo. The Brewers still have some strengths, chief among them an easy schedule in August.
Tagged with: brewers, prince fielder, ryan braun, pennant race

Sports - Aug. 4, 2009
Diving into a number of problem issues in sports
OnMilwaukee.com sports columnist Dave Begel isn't one of those guys who looks at the landscape and sees nothing but problems. Well, actually he is one of those guys... but unlike others, Begel isn't afraid to offer solutions. That's what he does this week, when he talks about controversial swimsuits, problems with the Department of Natural Resources, the Packers' defense and other dilemmas.
Tagged with: swimsuits, pete rose, department of natural resources, tommy thompson, bud selig, brett favre

Sports - July 28, 2009
Back in the ring for another swing at MMA argument
The last thing OnMilwaukee.com sports columnist Dave Begel wanted was to do was write another piece about mixed martial arts. After hours of deliberation and a viewing of the Brock Lesnar-Randy Couture title bout from last year, he couldn't help himself. Though his overall thoughts about the sports have not changed significantly, Begel's passion for his position has intensified.
Tagged with: MMA, mixed martial arts, brock lesnar, randy couture, ali, sonny liston