I'm sure you've heard his name at least somewhere! And by watching American Idol, listening to the radio, watching the news, etc, you know that Milwaukee's own Danny Gokey has made it to the final 3 contestants! That means that the Idol crew will make it's way through MKE on Friday and film the whole deal for the upcoming show. So let's go out and show America how freakin cool our city is!  

Here's the info:

A Day for Danny

With Danny Gokey among the last three "American Idol" finalists standing, he'll be honored in his hometown with a day of Milwaukee activities that will be recorded for next week's show.

Here's the schedule, from Visit Milwaukee:

7 a.m.: Danny arrives at WITI-TV (Channel 6) studios, 9001 N. Green Bay Road, Brown Deer.

11:15 a.m.: Danny visits AT&T store, 9078 N. Green Bay Road, Brown Deer.

3-4:30 p.m.: Short stops at downtown landmarks, including the bronze Fonz, the Harley-Davidson Museum, the Milwaukee Art Museum and Discovery World.

4:15 p.m.: Main gates to Summerfest open.

4:30 p.m.: Short car parade from Michigan and Jackson streets to Chicago St., and east on Chicago entering the main gate at Summerfest. A parade and mini-concert will feature Green Bay Packers players Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Nick Barnett and Ruvell Martin.

5:15-6 p.m.: Mini-concert at the Harley-Davidson Roadhouse.

6 p.m.: Motorcade leaves for Miller Park, traveling along Wisconsin Ave., where fans are invited to gather.

6:40 p.m.: Danny throws out first pitch and sings the national anthem at the Brewers-Cubs game.

Ok, I know the game was actually on Friday night and now it is Monday, but I was busy helping our women's team kick some serious Minnesota Vixen booty in MN this weekend!

So, it's Friday night and you do not have tickets to the Brewers game... what do you do?? Go to a Milwaukee Iron game of course! Like the Admirals' games, they are very fan friendly and super fun to go to. If you have never been to an arena football game before, you need to check one out for the following reasons:

1) It is an inexpensive and fun way to spend your Friday night, either with a group of friends, or with your family. Tickets sell online for as low as $11, but you can usually buy them from a scalper for $5 right before the game starts. (Is that legal??)  If you buy food and beer your tab can get steep, or you can just play it cool and wink at someone until they buy it for you! Haha, j/k.

2) These guys are just as big and intense as guys in the NFL, AND you are so close to the action that the announcer frequently has to tell people to back up or they could die. That's right, if a receiver gets tackled up against the pads, they could actually hit you... Sweet!!!  Also, any over-thrown passes or bad kicks could end up in your lap, and just like in baseball, you catch it = you keep it.

3) After the game you always get to go meet the players and get their autographs, pictures, etc. This is particularly neat if you have kids. Obviously and autograph and a picture with a giant football player will have them smiling for weeks, and will be well worth the 10 bucks it cost you to take them to the game.

4) If you love football as much as I do, you know that when the NFL season is over, it can be down-right depressing! Just sitting in the stands with all of the fans, watching coaches yell, seeing cheerleaders running around, and hearing the crack of helmets during a good hit... it is therapeutic. No joke. You should be able to write the ticket price off on your health insurance.

So, even though the Iron lost 56-28 to the Green Bay Blizzard because their O-line couldn't hold a block if their lives depended on it (Ty Donovan ate sooooo much turf that game), it was still a fun game to be at.

Their next home game is May 15th against the Tulsa Talons, and the Brewers are out of town, so you should go check it out!

 (Iron in black)

On a side note: The WI Warriors had a great game against the Minnesota Vixen Saturday night, beating them 54-16. Warriors:  Passing (9/19 - 123yds)      Vixen: Passing (11/29 - 163yds)
               Rushing (28 - 170yds)                   Rushing (36 - 138yds)

For me, it was a fun and frustrating game, all at the same time. I was playing corner for most of the game instead of FS, and was 1 on 1 with a receiver who is almost 6'0" and clearly had at least 50 or 60 lbs of muscle on me. So when they isolated her on 1 side it was basically a shoving match between us, and when they came out in twins on our side, I was getting hit with some great blind-side blocking from her teammate.

So naturally, the frustration turned into intensity, which sometimes ended up in penalties. I NEVER get penalties... but this game I had two (pass interference and block in the back). Both were questionable, but at least I laid the girls out in the process.

For more info on women's tackle football, visit IWFLsports.com

So, I heard the MLB Network's Mitch Williams  talking about this on the Dan Patrick show this morning and I thought it was such a cool thing... so start writing! 

For the 5th year, Major League Baseball® and Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and Louisville Slugger® are "Going To Bat Against *** Cancer". Join the team! This year, submit your story and you could win an opportunity to be an Honorary Bat Girl or Boy this Mother's Day. (Must be 18 or older to enter).

One winner per Major League Baseball team will be selected as Honorary Bat Girl or Boy and will represent his or her favorite Major League Baseball team as an "honorary" bat girl or boy during the Mother's Day game. If your favorite team isn't at home on Mother's Day on May 10, 2009, an alternate game will be chosen by Major League Baseball.

So basically they're looking for an inspiring story of how you, your family, or friends have had to deal with *** cancer and the effects it can have on your life. These stories will be personally read by Williams as well as other baseball personalities to help determine the winners.

To get more info, submit your story, and to read about others' journeys  click here!

I can't wait to see who gets to be the Brewers' bat girl or boy when they play the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, May 10th! So good luck!

-your gridiron girl

So you think the Packers have it bad playing in the snow?!? Try being out in a thunderstorm for 5 hours because the lightening keeps sending you under the bleachers in the middle of a drive! As a receiver, I'd prefer snow to rain any day!

Here's the press release from after the game:

Warriors win home opener
by Pam Sam
April 27, 2009

In a game that had the weather radar lying to everyone throughout the night, the Wisconsin Warriors and the visiting Iowa Crush met up and played in a lightening and rain plagued game that produced a running clock the Warriors came away with an impressive 30-0 win.

After losing to two tough teams on the road, the Detroit Demolition and the Chicago Force, they returned home to Ameche Field in Kenosha to not so great weather. But to the fans that braved the elements the Warriors gave them something to cheer about.

When the Warriors came out for their warm-ups, they started in a wind soaked rain that saw a punted ball return to the kicker and it remained that way for most of the game.

The Warriors started out their first drive with a Brenda VanCuick 29 yard first down then came back for an eight yard touchdown run setting the tone for the rest of the game. VanCuick also ran for a two point conversion sending the Warriors ahead 8-0. The offensive line held strong throughout the game and opened huge holes for the backs and quarterbacks. 

After a long and bellowing kickoff by Leslie Gittings, the Warriors held the Crush to a three and out and VanCuick again took control and rushed for 60 yards and another TD. Then passed for a 2 point conversion to Sheri Dieck and after the first quarter the Warriors were up 16-0.

In the second quarter again the Warriors and VanCuick got it together as she rambled in from four yards out for another TD and another 2 point conversion to Abigail Coons after a nice set of downs.

Taking a 24-0 lead into halftime, the Warriors came out in the third looking to keep the momentum going. It started out with Leslie Gittings rushing for 43 tough yards in a rain soaked drive as she dodged Crush players right and left and scampered into the end zone sending the Warriors up 30-0.

Again the defense held the big Crush offensive line in check, got to the quarterback and stopped any offensive threat. The Warriors recorded two interceptions, one by Gittings in the third quarter and one by Abigail Coons in the fourth as she returned the play for 10 yards.

The defense stepped up with Susan Aasterud making 6 tackles, Brigid Mullen, Chris Walker and Jenn Moore each recording five tackles, Jodi vonSpreckelsen with three and Sarah McCoy making 2.

Check out WIWarriors.com for more info on your favorite women's football team. Plus, I'll bring you an inside look after a few more weeks into the season.

love, your gridiron girl...