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Thanks, Coach Bud 

BY CHRIS DROSNER

When a coach is fired (and precious few aren’t, eventually) we fans tend to focus on the negatives – the decisions that led to the termination. There was plenty of frustration over the five seasons that Mike Budenholzer coached the Bucks; I’m not here to deny that. And I do hope 2018-23 are not looked on the way Packers fans regard 2009-14, a run that wasted an all-time talent with just one championship. But that 2021 ring came at a special time for this city and this fan base, and say what you will about Coach Bud, that season he did something 31 other NBA coaches could not. And, career .693 winning percentage aside, the dude just felt like a good fit for Milwaukee, soft-spoken and preternaturally down to earth. He earnestly seemed to love Giannis as much as we did. After his firing this spring, he posted a three-page letter that began “Milwaukee – Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!” Nine exclamation points right back at you, Coach Bud.  

Jordan Stolz  

This 19-year-old speedskater from Kewaskum might be the United States’ most dominant international athlete you’ve never heard of. Stolz is piling up hardware at a record-breaking rate. Last November, he became the youngest speedskater to win a World Cup race, besting the runner-up in the 500 meters by an astonishing 1.76 seconds. This spring he became the first man to win three individual gold medals at a single World Speed Skating Championship. The 2026 Olympics can’t come soon enough.   

The Brewers’ Homer Cheesehead  

In a season when baseball is fun again, the Brewers have the best home run celebration in the game. Anyone who doesn’t like it can have some whine with their cheese.   

Shaka Smart  

Marquette’s season didn’t end in a Final Four like some were predicting last March, but it feels like only a matter of time with this Madison native at the helm of the Golden Eagles. A few months after sweeping the Big East Conference regular season and tournament titles, Marquette extended Smart’s contract through the 2029-30 season.   

Name Our Soccer Team  

Team names in soccer are cool in the way that those in other sports are not. “Place, Nickname” pales in comparison to … 1846 Milwaukee? Yes, that was one of 10 finalists in the fan contest to name the USL Championship team beginning play in the new stadium in the new Iron District in 2025. We’re more partial to Lake Effect, Goodland and, of course, Cream City.    

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