Good Morning, Daily Drink readers. After a one week hiatus, and week-long hangover at that, the Monday Morning Hangover returns.
Summer is finally turning the corner and heading for home, as the Wisconsin State Fair is now in full swing. With the State Fair going on, and the PGA Championship on the horizon, it got me thinking...how would you rank all the festivals in Milwaukee, as if they were Golf Majors?
The Masters: Wisconsin State Fair
Ah, the tradition that is the Masters, er, Wisconsin State Fair. You know how almost every golf fan gets the warm and fuzzies about the Masters? Well, most any Wisconsin resident, especially those over 30, get the same way about the State Fair.
When you think of the Masters, you think of Augusta National. When you think of State Fair, you think of cream puffs. The Masters has the "Green Jacket", State Fair has food on a stick. I don't think anyone necessarily dislikes the State Fair. I'm not a huge fan, mostly because outside of eating fried foods or cream puffs, and walking through exhibition halls, there isn't much else to do, but then again, thats what we do in Wisconsin. The State Fair holds a tradition to Wisconsinites, much like the Masters does to golf lovers.
There's something special about it's "no frills" approach. The entertainment sucks, being mostly country artists, or mid-90's one hit wonders, but you're not going there for music anyway. Much like the Masters, you're going there for golf, plain and simple. Thats what you get with both events.
The US Open: Summerfest
To me, Summerfest is very, very hit or miss. I've had years, as we all have, where I've gone 7, 8. 9, and a few years even all 11 days. But then there are some years (caughthisyearcaugh) where I don't attend at all. Now, some of that is work related (If you want a social life, don't work in radio), but a lot of that is lineup related.
Some years, Summerfest is packed with a great lineup. Some years, it leaves a little to be desired. Don't get me wrong, there's always at least two or three acts for everyone, every year, but for me, that doesn't do enough to draw me in, especially when I've seen those acts before.
The US Open is very similar, sort of...bear with me on this, the US Open is known for it's difficult setup and pin-placement and tight scoring. Difficulty, so much, that at times it's uninteresting. I don't particularly care for watching professionals struggle on the links. If I wanted to see someone hack his way through a round, I'd just record myself. It's very hit or miss for me...much like the Summerfest lineup.
Another similarity, again, work with me, lies in the scheduling/draw. The US Open on the both the PGA Tour schedule and European Tour, meaning you'll see a lot of golfers you don't see every week. Summerfest, draws music fans from Milwaukee, as well as all over the US...World, really.
The Open Championship: Festa Italiana
You could go with something very bland here, like the Open Championship is commonly referred to as the "British Open", while Festa Italiana is commonly referred to as "Festa", or that both take place in/recognize European countries, but those two are too easy.
Did you know Festa Italiana is the largest Italian-American festival in America? For that reason alone, I'd definitely rank Festa as one of the Milwaukee Majors, but then you factor in the Bartolotta fireworks and pyrotechnics show put on every year? Forget about it.
The PGA Championship: German Fest
Much like the PGA Championship is to golf season, German Fest is your last chance for a major on the Henry Maier Festival grounds (yes, Irish Fest comes later, but it slots just below German Fest...at least in my book).
German Fest holds a very special place in my heart, as it was the site of one of my favorite memories as a WTMJ Sports Intern in 2004. I won't give away the details here, but lets just say I had a really good time...for free, and it was capped off by tricking a fellow intern into doing us a major favor. Dlabay knows what I'm talking about...
Anywho, German Fest is defintely one of the more popular festivals in Milwaukee, and for good reason, there's still a fairly large German population in the city, thanks in part to the great number of German immigrants that flocked to the city in the 1840's. The PGA Championship is similar in that, a lot of Wisconsin golf fans have a vested interest in the event yet because of Whistling Straits hosting the 2004 and 2010 Championships...at least I know thats the case with me.
Oh, and did I mention the Bill Michaels 5K Run/Walk associated with the festival?
So, there you have it. Is there a festival that I should be ashamed of omitting from list, or do you think Summerfest is actually the Masters of Milwaukee Festivals?
Rounding Third
Hey, David "Stormy" Weathers is on his way back to Milwaukee! What, no one else is excited over that?
The Packers annual family night intrasquad scrimmage was cancelled on Saturday night, due to inclement weather. A few things on this, number one, I sincerely hope all or at least most of those who bought tickets for this SCRIMMAGE, are fans who have never been to Lambeau Field before...but I know better than that. Seriously, we're buying tickets to glorified practices, Packers fans. Another thing, and how do I put this gently, but a majority of the fans that show up to this scrimmage are the exact type of people who give Wisconsinites the stereotype most people have for them. The abosolute best part of my evening, was watchign some overzealous mother order her sign-toting children around, so that they were in proper order for the camera to read their signs. When the mom was done instructing her children where to stand, the signs read: "RULE" - "PACKERS" - "BAY" - "GREEN"...Nice work mom.
The Brewers dropped 2-of-3 to the Astros over the weekend. Who didn't see that coming? Yovani Gallardo turned in a good performance on Sunday, but suffered from Ben Sheets Syndrome, no run support. The more you watch this team, the more they look like a 79 win team. It will be interesting to see if Doug will request waivers on players like Cameron, just to see if he can get a mid-level prospect in return, if the team continues to slide.
You know how you can tell summer is coming to a close? The return of TV shows. Mad Men returns next Sunday, can't wait.
Is anyone paying attention to the Badgers yet? God I hope Dustin Scherer isn't named the starting QB, but sadly, I've already resigned myslef to the fact that he will...
The Football Outsiders 2009 Almanac is a definite must read for football fans.
I recall saying this weeks ago, but I really mean it now, I think I'm ready to retire from watching The Real World. Note that I said The Real World, NOT Real World/Road Rules Challenges.
I'd have no problem with the Packers signing Michael Vick as a backup quarterback, but I'm pretty sure those Favre zealots who thought Ted Thompson ran Brett out of town would probably take issue with it.
Speaking of Ted Thompson, I realize Eli Manning has won a Super Bowl, but after looking at the deal he just got, how good does the deal Thompson inked Aaron Rodgers to look now?
Oh and on the topic of contracts, Roddy White's deal is not good for the Packers when negotiating with Greg Jennings. Good lord.
Madden 10 comes out Friday. Can't wait. You know what else I can't wait for? Packers preseason games, more importantly, working until 3am on a Thursday when the Packers play the Cardinals in Arizona...in the preseason. Can't wait!
Best of luck to Cliff Saunders in St. Louis. I'll second something already said by many in hearing the current afternoon show on Cliff's former station really makes you scratch your head on why Cliff was let go in the first place.
Until Next Time...