Frank returned at last from his New York visit, and with the fragile psyche of Packer Land restored—at least for a week—by the exhibition victory in Denver, the Observers could focus on the final days of round-the clock Olympic TV coverage.

The Observers' two-time-zone strategy worked so well last week that they stayed with it. Frank continued to observe the baseball and foot ball scene in New York and then phoned Artie, monitoring the pulse of a Brett-less Wisconsin. Frank: My friend, I'm hearing a lot about a National League team that can . . .

It's been estimated 30 foul balls are popped into the stands on an average each Major League game. Behind the screen jobs, hooking blasts to left, slicing balls into the upper deck in right field, lasers above the dugout. Doesn't matter how they get there, it's a souvenir for the crowd. Once a ball is launched into foul territory, it's a balls-out war. Elbows start flying, big belly's move into strategic vantage points, beers are spilled, children are left to fend for themselves. Grown men . . .

Can you name that tune? When your favorite Brewer comes to the plate at Miller Park, he's accompanied by a song for a few seconds before he steps into the batters box. Chances are you didn't realize a particular song was playing at the time. I imagine it helps get the player psyched-up for the at bat, a surge of musical adrenaline to help them approach the pitcher.

If you heard a loud crinkling noise during the Packers intra-squad scrimmage recently, that was probably me crawling out of my skin. I first read about the tracking of Brett Favre's flight from Mississippi to Green Bay on the Journal Sentinel's Web site. Clicking the icon I viewed a radar image with a mini-plane somewhere over Illinois on its way to Wisconsin, a dotted trail following the plane to make sure even . . .

There are deadlines, and then there are Shepherd Express deadlines. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell honored this precept when he told the Packers and Brett Favre to resolve their feud by Monday. The team's "welcome back" declaration and Favre's return to Green Bay took place in time for the Observers to join the punditry.

A few days ago I suggested the halcyon days of the Brewers season had come to a close after a four-game sweep by the Cubs. Some readers groused at the notion the salad days had ended, suggesting . . .

I don’t bleed for any team, but I do admit to a little bruising on occasion. I like sports as much as the next guy and while I appreciate Wisconsin’s sports offerings and am pleased when they do well, I’m primarily an observer, and certainly not a band-wagon jumper. If the Packers are doing well, that’s great, I’ll enjoy the ride. If the Badgers are stinking up the joint, I don’t take it home with me.

While the Brewers were rolling past the Cardinals and taking aim at the Cubs, the Observers convened at the Ball Park—a South Side sports bar, not the place with the sliding roof. Frank: Breaking news, Artie! I’ve discovered that the stars are aligned for the Brewers...

thinking is, “What if we bring Brett back, Rodgers holds the clipboard another year, and then Brett says next year, ‘OK, now I’m really done,’ and Rodgers becomes a free agent and says, ‘I’m gone, too’?”.