SPORTS LINE
Milaukee Bucks.
Giannis is staying true to his roots. He has made it very clear that he staying loyal to the Milwaukee Bucks and their fans. The Bucks were the only team to believe in Giannis and gave him a chance to have a career in the field he is most passionate about, basketball. Giannis Antetokounmpo has routinely signed contract extensions with the Milwaukee Bucks since he’s been eligible to do so, 2016, 2020, and 2023. After he put pen to paper on Oct. 24, 2023, he said flatly, “I’m committed. I’m here. And I want my teammates to be successful, and I want to win another championship.” Yet, from the beginning, the news and media continue to question his loyalty. He said he would never ask for a trade and if they want him to leave the Bucks they will have to kick him out. Milwaukee and the Bucks are home to Giannis and his family. Giannis Antetokounmpo is excited about playing with his new Milwaukee Bucks teammates but isn’t quite sure how soon that time will come. Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 campaign ended when he got knocked out of a 104-91 victory over the Boston Celtics in the 79th game of the regular season. Antetokounmpo now says the calf had started bothering him before that game, and he wanted to make sure he took a wiser approach to the issue this time.
Antetokounmpo last appeared in a game on Feb. 2 and still hasn’t played alongside trade-deadline acquisitions Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr., and Jericho Sims. The Bucks want to remain cautious with Antetokounmpo after an issue with the same calf prevented him from playing at all in their first-round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers last season. Antetokounmpo acknowledged it feels different not to have Middleton as a teammate for the first time in his 12-year career. Antetokounmpo ranks first and Middleton second in team history in games and minutes played. The two of them helped the 2020-21 Bucks win the franchise’s first NBA title in 50 years. Antetokounmpo will get to see his good friend and former teammate again soon. The Bucks play the Wizards in Washington on Friday.
The Brewers.
Legendary baseball broadcaster Joe Buck is returning to the baseball airwaves for at least one game this season, as he’ll call the Opening Day matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees on March 27. Buck will be in the baseball booth for the first time in four years, calling the game on opening day for ESPN, with a 2:05 p.m. CT first pitch. Buck, 55, called the World Series in 2021 but then stepped away from baseball and left Fox Sports to become the voice of ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.” He’s the former lead baseball broadcaster for FOX Sports, having called 24 World Series matchups. Buck, the son of legendary baseball broadcaster Jack Buck, provides one of his generation’s most familiar broadcast voices for both football and baseball. For Brewers fans worried about missing out on the local broadcast flavor for opening day, fret not; Buck won’t be alone in the booth. The Brewers won the National League Central a season ago but will have to figure out a way to score runs without shortstop Willy Adames, who left for the San Francisco Giants in free agency. Furthermore, will longtime ace Brandon Woodruff be back from injury by then? How about former MVP Christian Yelich? Furthermore, the Brewers and Yankees pulled off quite a trade this offseason, with All-Star closer Devin Williams heading to New York.
