Sky's the Limit

The high school football season officially kicks off Thursday night and in the Brookfield-Wauwatosa area that means Wauwatosa East does the honors, hosting Milwaukee Riverside.

As usual, the Red Raiders have to stay healthy to be effective as coach Tom Swittel has some outstanding skill players to rely on. Quarterback Ethan Harris and wide receiver Barret Powell, one of the best athletes in the area, should make an exciting combination this year. And Tyler Love and Mike Cupertino give Harris someone to hand off to.

The other three local high schools get into action Friday night, with Wauwatosa West hosting Cudahy as new head coach Matt Good makes his debut, playing a Woodland Conference game in the redone Woodland football conference. With Shorewood/Messmer dropping out, there is no longer a North and South Division, just once combined conference.

Which means teams won't play a balanced schedule. For example for the next two seasons, the Trojans won't play Brown Deer or Whitnall.  Sounds like the Big 10, doesn't it.  West's Good summed up the situation the best when he said "It is what it is."

The other new coach in town is Sal Logue, who moves from Brookfield Central to crosstown rival East. Logue, who is a teacher at both schools, will try and rebuilt the Spartans, who were 9-2 four years ago. Logue makes his debut at Waukesha South on Friday. Skylar Holden will start at QB for East (can't go wrong with a name like Sky) and Joey Woppert, the master of intensity, will get a whole lot of touches at running back this season.

Brookfield Central, one of the top contenders in the Greater Metro Conference, opens with Waterford at Central Friday night. Hall of Fame coach Doug Lange has lost all 11 starters on offense last year, but only one on defense. So Central will look for the defense to take control as the offense, behind quarterback Jack Korslin and a solid running back committee, gets its feet wet.

Are you ready for some football?  I am.

Be a hit and have a ball.

This is a down time for high school sports in Brookfield and Wauwatosa, as we take a deep breath before getting ready to cover 45 fall teams. Each of the schools I cover in Brookfield, Tosa and Shorewood have nine sports for the five schools. It is the most difficult time of the year for our staff and we couldn't get through it without the cooperation of the coaches and their staffs, since one reporter couldn't possibly cover 45 teams without help.

So with the high school off, let's look at some area professional sports topics...

Like a lot of people I am so sick and tired of the Brett Favre situation. I am sick of people thinking Brett Favre can decide whenever he wants to play or not play and the Packers should just put everything on hold and welcome him back. Some people have actually said all he has to do is show up on the first day of practice and that should be enough for the Packers. He shouldn't have to go to minicamps or OTA's. People, wise up!The NFL is a business and people need to make decisions and move from there.

I am also fed up with the "fans" (I can't use the word I want to describe these people in a family blog) who say "I will buy a Vikings No. 4 jersey and cheer for Brett to beat the Packers" if the scenario works out that way. Folks, you can do that, but please don't claim you are a Packer fan or even care about the home team. You are a Favre fan, and that's fine, but you no long qualify as a Packer fan. It is not brain surgery.

Here's my favorite one. "I will turn in my Packer tickets if they don't take Favre back."  There's an intelligent comment. There are 50,000 people on a waiting list hoping you do such a thing. Way to threaten the Packers organization. I will tell you what you can do. Come on over to the office and I will buy your tickets. I will be happy to take them off your hands. Believe me, I'm not holding my breath.

It has been a while since a player has been in such a pressure-packed situation like Aaron Rodgers is now. And he can thank No. 4 for that. Here is hoping the real Packer fans have some patience and support the first-year starter.

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I made a prediction BEFORE the Brewers-Cubs series that the Cubbies would take three of four games from the locals. I was wrong, of course, because they swept the series. As a baseball person (not as a fan) I watched the Cubs hitters work the count, hit to the opposite field, and then watched the Brewers' all or nothing offense.  Manager Ned Yost said the other day, "We are what we are," and they proved it in that series.

Outside of Ryan Braun (.302), JJ Hardy (.288), Corey Hart (.288) and Prince Fielder (.278), no other Brewer starter is hitting above .250. That's pretty sad.

Right now Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden, Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly look better than CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets and Manny Parra (the rest of the starters aren't worth mentioning). I told someone two weeks before the trading deadline that the Brewers wouldn't make the playoffs if they didn't improve their bullpen - and I was laughed at.

There is a long way to go in this race. All I can say is -  I will be happy to eat crow instead of saying "I told you so."

Remember, always be a hit and have a ball.