SPORTS LINE 

Purdue.
This team steps into the Final Four basketball championships but does so almost solely because it has one player who’s seven feet four inches in height, and no other teams have been successful in defending against a player who can stand under the basket, receive a pass, and then dunk the ball without jumping or throwing it.  Purdue is happy but the other three teams in that four, UConn, Alabama, and North Carolina, probably are spending some sleepless nights wondering what they’re going to do against this sports oddity, although giant athletes playing on professional teams in American sports are not viewed as oddities at all, amazingly enough.  UConn is the favorite, North Carolina’s been there many times before, so the underdogs are Alabama and Perdue, both truly motivated.  

The Milwaukee Bucks.
Cruising toward the playoffs, sitting comfortably in second place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 47-27 as of Monday. Their on-court performances of late have not looked as polished as their impressive record would suggest. Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to be a force of nature, averaging insane numbers and is on track to what should be a strong case for league MVP. A mid-season slump in January saw them lose seven out of ten games and exposed the Bucks’ vulnerabilities for a time. This came as their head coach was fired and Doc Rivers was hired. There was turbulence along the way, but they are finding their way back as a team. Their once-dominant defense halted, and outside of Giannis, scoring became inconsistent. The rise of Dame Lillard’s efficient offense post-All-Star break addressed some of those concerns; his scoring improved and immediately surprised the offense once his shots started falling, taking pressure off Giannis, and creating a much-needed secondary scoring option. With the playoffs looming, the Bucks are in a race against time to find their identity and peak at the right moment. The reality as it currently stands is the Bucks find themselves at a crossroads. How they address these issues will determine their fate in the upcoming postseason.  With the playoffs often magnifying the strengths and weaknesses of each team, the Bucks’ ability to leverage their matchups will be key to their success. The anticipation builds as the regular season winds down and the stakes get higher with each game. The Bucks, with their eyes set on the prize, are gearing up for the challenges ahead in the NBA playoffs. Milwaukee is not afraid of any teams and is very capable of bringing home the championship and trophy. It’s all about teamwork.

Opening day at American Family field this past Tuesday April 2nd.
The Brewers have a strong start to the season with a 3-0 record sweeping the Mets. Tuesday’s opener against the Minnesota Twins did not disappoint with another win under their belt the Brewers are now 4-0. Pat Murphy’s first season as head coach is going well and he couldn’t be happier with the way the crew is playing. American Family Field was full of excitement and energy. There are some changes to the stadium to enhance the experience of all who come, some went well, and some did not. The new much larger Centerfield Scoreboard had a lot of fans cheering and a new Right Field Scoreboard is a great addition. The parking process was changed with hopes of improving and streamlining entry to the parking lot. The idea was to skip the attendant, scanning, and payment step. The new procedure is to prepay and or pay on the ballpark app when entering and parking. Most fans attempted this on opening day without success. The system could not complete the transactions. Before the night ended the decision was made to go back to the old parking process. The food additions were a hit, and fans were thrilled to try new items at the ballpark. The new 3rd Street Market Annex located on the loge level is the star of the show when it comes to new food at the stadium featuring items from the downtown location. The Barrel Yard restaurant also has new food items this season. Opening day was a celebration as always. Fans come to American Family Stadium for the crew, the game, the community, the at-home atmosphere, and of course the food. In fact, USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards named American Family Field the second-best MLB stadium for food.