This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
PACKERS-COWBOYS: Biggest game in Dallas since 1995
Just how big is this game?
Ask the man who runs the show in Big D:
Jones: Game with Packers is big
Owner says this is biggest regular-season home game in 12 yearsIRVING – Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is making no effort to downplay Thursday night's showdown with the Packers. Nor is he sparing anyone the hyperbole.
"It's certainly the most significant game at this stadium since the last time we played Brett Favre and Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game," Jones said, referencing the 1995 win that propelled the Cowboys to Super Bowl XXX.
"[But] anybody who would tell you it's a season-ender if you lose it doesn't understand what 10-2 is in the NFL."
Jones said this is the biggest regular-season game at Texas Stadium since a 1995 loss to the Elvis Grbac-led San Francisco 49ers.
Jones added that if the new stadium was open, this type of game would warrant adding the removable seats that could bump capacity from the 80,000 to 85,000 range to more than 95,000 seats.
Jones said a loss wouldn't dash the Cowboys' dreams, but he also knows those hopes become more realistic with a win, which could lead to home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
"Green Bay is intimidating to me," Jones said of the city. "It's stark, it's usually not one of the sunny days [when the Cowboys are there], compared to the friendly confines of home."
Packers find running game: After beating Minnesota on Nov. 11, the Packers ended a five-week run at the bottom of the NFL in run offense. Tailback Ryan Grant, in particular, has made a big difference. Acquired in a trade from the Giants just before the season opener, Grant has rushed for 467 yards on 101 carries (4.6-yard average) in the five games since taking on a more prominent role after the Packers' bye week.
By comparison, the rest of the Packers have 406 yards on 144 carries (2.8-yard average).
"The style of back they have now, he's able to find the hole and make that one cut," Cowboys linebacker Akin Ayodele said. "I think the offensive line has gotten more aggressive in staying with their blockers. And the passing game has helped them out a lot in the running game."
No change for Henry: Coach Wade Phillips said he expects cornerback Anthony Henry to remain in the limited role he's played the last few weeks – playing in the team's nickel and dime defenses – as his high left ankle sprain continues to heal. But with the three-, four- and five-receiver sets Green Bay brings, Henry could be on the field more this week. And he's fine with that. "I've been making some progress, and I've been improving at practice," Henry said. "The pace we're going at right now is good for me."
Briefly: USA Football officials were in Irving to present Texas with the Governor's Cup, given to the "Best Football State" in the country. Keith Davis, Leonard Davis and Justin Rogers – all of whom played high school and college football in Texas – accepted the award with fellow Texan Wade Phillips. "I think those of us from Texas and in Texas figured this award might be coming this way," Phillips said. ... WR Terry Glenn was the only absentee at Tuesday's practice. Henry and WR Patrick Crayton – who says he'll play – were listed as having "full participation." ... Packers CB Will Blackmon (foot), S Nick Collins (knee) and Grant (ankle) fully participated in Tuesday practice. DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (ankle), WR Ruvell Martin (ankle), S Aaron Rouse (knee), T Mark Tauscher (ankle), LB Tracy White (ankle) and CB Charles Woodson (toe) were limited. TE Bubba Franks (knee) sat out.
PACKERS-COWBOYS: The match-ups
*THIS IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF BLOGS PREVIEWING THE BIG GREEN BAY-DALLAS GAME THURSDAY NIGHT*How do the teams stack up against each other?
From the Green Bay Press Gazette:
Pete Dougherty column:
How Packers match up with Dallas
When the 2007 NFL regular season started, the Green Bay Packers were 25-to-1 odds to win the NFC championship, and only three teams in the conference were given worse chances.
Now, about two-thirds of the way through the season, the Packers are 8-to-5 odds to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, second best behind only their opponent Thursday, the Dallas Cowboys, who have 2-to-3 odds.
A Super Bowl berth isn't at stake when these two 10-1 teams meet at Texas Stadium, and the loser still could go on to win the conference title. Unless either team collapses over the final four weeks, they will be the top-two seeded teams in the conference, get first-round byes in the playoffs and be strong bets to meet again in the NFC championship.
Although the winner will have the inside track for home-field advantage, recent history says the home field really isn't much of an edge in conference championships. In the last 10 years, home teams are 11-9 in conference finals. However, after Dallas beat the New York Jets on Thursday, Dallas owner Jerry Jones summed up what any warm-weather team would be thinking deep down.
"What this game is about is to get back here in January," Jones told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "There is a difference between playing in Dallas and playing in Green Bay in January."
The CNN Heroes: Finalists
Thank you to everyone who voted for Scott Southworth of Wisconsin as a CNN Hero.
Scott did not make the group of finalists.
He's still an amazing guy and a hero in every sense of the word.
Make way for yet another Sendik's
This time at 79th and Layton.
Details from the Business Journal:
Rapidly growing grocery chain Sendik's Food Market will open a new location in a former Jewel location in Greenfield, developer Devo Properties and the city of Greenfield said Wednesday.
Sendik's will remodel and occupy a 60,000-square-feet store at the Greenfield location at 7901 W. Layton Ave. The store is part of a shopping center that will be renamed Sendik's Commons.
The Greenfield Sendik's will be the latest of new stores operated by the Balistreri family, which recently opened Sendik's locations in Elm Grove and Franklin and announced plans to open a location in Germantown.
Devo Properties is led by developer Greg Devorkin, who developed the Fountains of Franklin retail center where the most recent Sendik's opened. Last week, Devo Properties purchased the Greenfield shopping center where Sendik's will open.
The Greenfield Sendik's is expected to hire 170 employees, said Ted Balistreri, who owns Sendik's along with his two brothers, Nick and Patrick, and sister, Margaret Harris.
The Balistreri family's other stores are in Whitefish Bay, Wauwatosa, Mequon, Grafton, Elm Grove and Franklin. The new store opening in 2008 in Germantown will be at N112 15800 Mequon Road.
"It is the greatest scam in history"
That’s what John Coleman says about global warming.Who’s John Coleman?
Coleman is the founder of……..the Weather Channel.
Here's his recent column from the website of ***, the TV station he does the weather at..... It's really good stuff:
