While I was away for a long weekend, The Riverside Theater announced a Nov. 19 concert from Creedence Clearwater Revivalist turned halftime-show standby John Fogerty, which is pretty much all the excuse I need to post this classic Norm MacDonald story: ...

Nik Kovac was sworn in as Milwaukee alderman for the diverse Third District more than a year ago. This area on the East Side ranges from condos on the lake to the UW-Milwaukee campus to the bohemian streets of Riverwest. Kovac spoke about his first year in office over a drink at the...

Thursday, Jan. 22, Trampled by Turtles @ Shank Hall, 8 p.m. Bluegrass thrives on dynamism—part of its thrill is seeing musicians gleefully blitz through complex chord changes and solos with whirlwind speed. Trampled By Turtles, despite what their animal namesake suggests, play as fast as any other bluegrass outfit...

The Milwaukee Brewers’ ended their volatile 2008 season by making the playoffs for the first time in a quarter century, though their postseason was cut short by a crushing 6-2 loss to the eventual World Series champs. Though some of the talent that made last year’s post-season possible has been snatched by teams with far deeper pockets, there’s still palpable buzz around Brew City’s perennial underdogs, which Mr. Baseball himself will capitalize...

With this column, I am in an enviable situation where I can talk about Wisconsin sports with immunity. I do thank the folks at the Shepex for this window. I’ve covered the teams—pro, college and otherwise—for 15 years so it can’t be said I haven’t seen my share of the landscape. I’ve seen team managers, general managers, public relations and media managers come and go. I’ve been lucky to have off-the-record talks with coaches, stars, bench-warmers, Hall of Fame players. I’ve listened to jokes next to the batting cage told by Ken Griffey Jr., and have laughed at some risquokes offered by Gorman Thomas.