Bret Bielema certainly didnt expect something like this. With a potential Heisman Trophy winner returning and a solid team heading into the football season, it appeared the Badgers were poised to make a run at the Big Ten Championship in a severly weakend division. The beating of Montee Ball and subsequent news that a number of players were involved in a fight that led to Ball's beating has filled the start of training camp with uncertainty. A couple of reserve players were not with the team yesterday although the coach wouldnt comment on whether that was related to the investigation. Ball is out until at least the last week before the Sept 1 opener and Bielema made it clear yesterday that if discipline is warranted for Ball or anyone else...he would do it. Ball continues to deny that he participated in any fight that led to his beating. We'll see.

The Packers are a banged up football team and Mike McCarthy ended practice early last night. 8 players have already been declared out for this Thursday night's game including Greg Jennings who is battling back from a concussion. Brandon Saine and Sam Shields were the latest casualties at practice Monday night.

Also word came down that a woman would be one of the officials for Thursday game. hat's a first in the NFL. The league is using replacement officials from the college ranks as the owners have locked out the regualr refs in a dispute over salary and benefits. The talk is already starting, including one knuckle dragging, mouth breathing Neandrathal on a message board on this web site that said "football is a man's game and women have no place on the field". Hey, if she can do the job why shouldnt she be out there? We certainly have seen enough incompetent officiating from men over the years. If a women can do a better job, go for it.

The Woodchucks are headed to the Playoffs for the first time in quite awhile. They hold the tiebreaker over Madison and can still get home field advantage if they can do well on their road trip this week. A big three game series begins in La Crosse tonight and you can hear the games on Foxsports1390.

The Brewers beat the Reds last night. Yovanni Gallardo won his 10th and the team hit three homers in the 6th inning. Nori Aoki made a game saving catch with the bases loaded in the 8th. Jean Segura was called up to make his major league debut. He is the centerpiece in the trade that sent Zach Grienke to the Angels. The team made the move after Ceasr Izturis was claimed on waivers by Washington. Segura was 0-4 but hit two line drive outs to right field.

I'm not a big soccer fan but I did enjoy the win by Team USA over Canada at the Olympics yesterday...it set up a gold medal match with their old rival from Japan.

After spending most of last season undersized the Bucks won't make that mistake again. A few weeks after aquiring 7 footer Samuel Dalembert from Houston, the team signed 7'1" Joel Pryzbilla to a free agent contract. Przybilla began his career as a Buck way back in 2000 and should be a capable backup.

Songs of The day  (from my I-pod)

Just A Season-The Byrds (1970) a nice little McGuinn tune from a double album (Untitled) that featured one live record and one studio recording. The personnell on the album included new Byrd Skip Battin and the outstanding guitar player Clarence White.

Just Because-Anita Baker (1988) as soulful as it got in the late 80s.