Category Archives for "Blog"

DAD, I MISS YOU

I MISS YOU DAD

My dad, Marty Skibosh, passed away 31 years ago when I was 38. I think of him everyday. So when another Father’s Day comes and goes, it will hit even closer to home.

My dad, who died at the young age of 72, of a respiratory disease, smoked up until the final 9 years of his life and he smoked the worst kind of cigarettes – Camel. His final few years he would go to the hospital and go on a breathing machine to clear out his lungs. He used to say “I need to go in for an oil change.”

Marty, one of my four children and one of the two who don’t smoke, went to the hospital one time. My dad pointed out the mess in the machine that came out of his lungs to my son and told him “That’s what happens when you smoke.” He never forgot it.

My dad, who worked at Allis Chambers, was an entrepreneur before I even knew what that word meant. He left his job and started a grocery story out in Brookfield on Bluemound Road in 1953. It was called ‘Martin’s Market Basket.’ He and my mother, Angie, ran it, like they did everything in their lifetime – together.

When the big grocery chains started to take over, they decided to turn their grocery story into a pizza restaurant and ‘Marty’s Pizza’ was officially born in 1957. Once again, my dad and mom, worked hand-in-hand to build a business that is still successful today under the new ownership, which purchased the place in 1980 and kept the name and most of the recipes.

I loved my dad, who was so different from my mom, and I took after the latter. My dad was a quiet man, with a dry sense of humor. He rarely raised his voice, but when he did, my mother and I knew we were wrong.

My mom and I always argued – but neither held a grudge. My dad used to tell me “Both of you have to have the last word, that’s why you argue so much. Let her have the last word.” My dad might have lost some battles but he won the war. But like my mom, I liked to win those battles.

My dad and I didn’t have a lot in common – he loved to fish and he hunted a little – and I didn’t have the patience for either.

We would get up at 4 a.m. and go out on Pewaukee Lake. I would usually sleep in the bottom of the boat or read my comic books. But one night, the fish were biting and I caught 18 White Bass. I pulled them in, but my dad had to unhook them and put the new minnow on the hook because I couldn’t stand touching the minnows or the fish I caught – they were so slimy.

But my dad smiled a lot that morning, because he saw me enjoy fishing – for probably the only time in my life.

On one of his few hunting trips where he was gone for a week, I really missed him. When he returned I ran out to the car to hug him and he scared the heck out of my because he had grown a scruffy beard.

But I owe it to my dad for getting me involved with baseball. We went to a Milwaukee Braves game once when I was about 8 years old and he asked for tickets between first and second. The gentleman selling tickets told my dad their was only one seat between first and second and that was for Chuck Cottier, the Braves second baseman.

So my dad asked for tickets on the first base side and we ended up all the way down in the right field extension.  From that day on, I learned how the sections were numbered and where all the box and grandstand seats were. It paid off over the years.

I went on the play baseball – I was a good fielding first baseman who could bunt – not a lot of need for that on most teams. I also played the line in football and had a heart that was bigger than my muscles, but I loved being part of a team.

I owe that all to my dad. He let me play the sports that I enjoyed and did not force his interests on me.

One thing he had trouble doing was playing catch. He broke his right wrist when he fell in a construction site he shouldn’t have been it. He had an indentation in his wrist that back in those days they couldn’t fix. But I loved him for trying to play catch with me.

A couple Christmases ago, my youngest daughter, Tina, found a photo of me and my dad, sitting in front of Marty’s. It hangs by my desk today and it still brings tears to my eyes when I look at it.

Dad, I still miss you. Very Much. 

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

RAMBLING ROAD

RAMBLING ROAD

I have so many little things on my mind I would like to share so I thought I would do a ‘…column’ covering various topics. So let’s get started.

Talk is cheap…Brian Gutekunst had a solid draft, but didn’t really impress me until he signed TE Marcedes Lewis and OT Byron Bell. Ted Thompson, who I ran out of patience with, wouldn’t consider this, and that’s why his team rarely advanced in the playoffs…Lewis can do more than block, especially in the red zone and Bell gives them an experienced blocker, unlike the past draftees that TT missed big on…Signing Mike Budenholzer was a no-brainer and I was happy to see Jon Horst’s first big move turn out…I pray he does a better job at drafting…the Bucks need a contributor not another damn project…John Hammond has hurt the Bucks salary cap with his stupid signings…but Hammond then had a habit of somehow trading his mistakes…hopefully Horst has a talent to dump some of these guys…I wouldn’t want to lose Jabari Parker now that Budenholzer is here, but I shake in my boots wondering what he is going to ask for… with all the backcourt injuries I would have liked to see Xavier Mumford get some time…I’m not the only one worried about the Brewers starting rotation…Jhoulys Chacin and Junior Guerra are the 1-2 starters … Chase Anderson should bounce back and I think Zack Davies is still injured…Brent Sutter is Brent Sutter and he does a solid job spot starting or in the bullpen…Trade a starter? As long as Keston Hiura isn’t in the deal … Chris Archer is not the stud people think he is and he hasn’t been for two years … People wondered how Jesus Aguilar would make the roster … Where would the Brewers be now without him … When Ryan Braun, Domingo Santana, Manny Pina and Orlando Arcia pick up the pace, this will be an interesting offense … What will they do with Eric Thames when he returns? The two keys to this team are GM David Stearns and Manager Craig Counsell … On an unrelated subject, LaBron James won me over this year, carrying a lousy Cleveland team to the finals … comparing him to Michael Jordan is a joke, though, and people are stupid to even do that … they are from different eras, first of all … People say Jordan had Scottie Pippen, but LaBron jumped around to different teams to get All-Star teammates … That was selfish, because all he wanted was the ring and he came and went when he had to … he’s not staying in Cleveland, so I hope he signs with a team in the West … He is a brilliant player … Happy to see Ethan Happ come back to Wisconsin … his presence gives them a chance to get back to the NCAA Tourney again.

There’s my ramblings for the day.

FREE AGENTS AREN’T FREE

Green Bay Packers new general manager Brian Gutekunst said all the right things at his first meeting with the media when he was hired and since then at other various events (Senior Bowl, NFL Combine).

Gutekunst said he was going to be aggressive in the free agent market. Being aggressive and ‘doing something’ are two different things. Personally, I think his statements while truthful are going to leave the Packer fans extremely disappointed.

The Packers need some big time talent signed for their defense and at tight end. DT Muhammad Wilkerson is an example of this. He is also meeting with New Orleans, a better team than Green Bay, and Kansas City, a team which will take a step back this year. Hopefully, Wilkerson’s relationship with DC Mike Pettine will be the key.

But if Wilkerson signs with the Packers, he won’t be cheap. And that’s the problem.

Gutekunst can say all he wants about “being aggressive” in free agency, but the Packers – unless they cut or work out pay cuts for people like Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb – don’t have a lot of money to spend once they sign their draft picks.

They desperately need a edge rusher and a cornerback and to find them on the free agent list is easy – signing them is not.

Believe it or not, they are even more desperate for a tight end – and there are good ones in the draft – but there are also some good ones on the free agent list – they won’t be free.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Wilkerson and then on March 14 when the signing period begins.

I just wouldn’t hold my breath.

BREWERS NOT LEGITIMATE CONTENDERS YET

If the Milwaukee Brewers were to start the season with the current pitching rotation they would not be legitimate contenders. Could they earn a wild card spot? Possibly, but unless something happens to the Chicago Cubs they’re chances of winning the division or advancing in the playoffs are slim and none.

I have mixed emotions on this.

REBUILDING OR CONTENDING?

I have been in General Manager Dave Stearns‘ corner. I have agreed with most of his moves because I was smart enough to be familiar with the players in the deal or I trusted his and his staff’s judgment when I wasn’t familiar with the players.

Then when the Brewers made their blockbuster deal for Christian Yelich, who I love, and followed up with the free agent signing of Lorenzo Cain, my attitude changed.

One of the things I like about both players is they get on base and hit for average. I was sick and tired of the home run or nothing mentality and leaving men on base – constantly. It was disgusting and showed how little this lineup knew about hitting.

But with these moves, Stearns is going for it now.

Of course every team in baseball now knows they need to trade an outfielder for a pitcher, so that hurts their bargaining power. Stearns recently told baseball writer Tom Haudricourt that they might not make a move going into spring training and see what happens.

Based on the reports about what some of these starters are asking for – no one – including Clayton Kershaw – is worth $30 million a year – I understand Stearns being unwilling to sign someone even though owner Mark Attanasio is ready to write a check.

I’m also not interested in continuing to strip the farm system to get a pitcher like Chis Archer.

But the fact of the matter is, a rotation of Chase Anderson, Zach Davies, Jhowlys Chacin and take your pick of Brent Suter, Brandon Woodruff, Junior Guerra and Aaron Wilkerson, and you don’t have a real contending rotation. (I don’t even consider Yovani Gallardo a candidate because that would guarantee failure).

No matter when Jimmy Nelson returns, how soon will he be able to regain his awesome form of last season?

One stud pitcher at the top of the lineup and you have a legitimate contender.

TOUGH SITUATION

Stearns is caught between a rock and a hard place. The free agent pitchers are ridiculously priced and the cost of a good starter in a trade isn’t worth stripping your farm system.

Sure they made Yu Darish (who I don’t like) an offer, but they once made C.C. Sabathia an offer ($100 million) which wasn’t even close to what he signed for, so don’t get too excited over the Darvish offer.

One thing is for sure, this Brewers team will be fun to watch and they will score runs – they might have to some nights in order to win some games.

Just don’t get too excited if this is their rotation come Opening Day. You would be fooling yourself.

TRADING ‘PROSPECTS’ FOR PROVEN TALENT – REMEMBER DAVID GREEN

Milwaukee Brewers General Manager – ‘Dealing’ Dave Stearns as I call him – fired up the MLB Hot Stove League by making a trade with the Miami Marlins for All-Star Outfielder Christian Yelich and then an hour later signed former Brewer Lorenzo Cain as a free agent.
A couple things came to mind with these moves.
In order to get a talent like Yelich – and if you don’t know how good this kid is you don’t follow baseball too closely – they had to trade Lewis Brinson, their top prospect in the deal.
The Brewers have control of Yelich, 26, through the 2021 season with a club option for 2022. He is a career .290 hitter with 59 HR, 293 RBI and 72 stolen bases in 643 games with the Marlins (2013-17).
He batted .282 with 18 HR, 81 RBI and 16 stolen bases in a career-high 156 games last season. He ranked among the National League leaders in runs (T7th, 100), at-bats (8th, 602), hits (9th, 170), doubles (9th, 36) and walks (10th, 80).
Yelich led Major League center fielders last season in fielding percentage (.997) and ranked second in starts (155) and fourth in total chances (372) as he committed just a single error all year. It marked his first full season as a center fielder after winning a Gold Glove Award in left field in 2014 and being named a Gold Glove finalist in both 2015 and 2016.
Nobody wanted to trade Brinson because of all the hype that came with him. But the key is he is still a ‘prospect.’
When I worked for the Brewers I can go back to what will always be considered – ‘The Trade.’
On Dec. 12, 1980, the Brewers acquired catcher Ted Simmons, pitcher Pete Vuckovich and closer Rollie Fingers from St. Louis in exchange for outfielders Sixto Lezcano and David Green and pitchers Lary Sorensen and Dave LaPoint.
Whereas Lezcano, Sorensen and LaPoint were major leaguers, but Cards GM Whitey Herzog told Brewers GM Harry Dalton he wouldn’t make the trade without the great David Green, one of the top ‘prospects’ (there’s that word again) in baseball.
The head of the scouting department and the baseball operations personnel almost came to blows at the winter meetings over including Green in the deal before Dalton stepped in.
Lezcano went on to play 72 games with the Cardinals, San Diego, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Sorensen played with the Cardinals one year, two years with Cleveland, Oakland, Chicago Cubs, Montreal and San Francisco, having one season over .500 (12-11) with the Indians.
LaPoint played with the Cards, Giants, Detroit, Padres, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburg and New York Yankees and won 14 games twice.
Green played six years in the majors, five with Cards and one with the Giants, finishing with a .268 batting average 31 homers and 180 RBIs and had off-the-field problems that cut his career short.
The Brewers got two MVPs (Fingers, Vuke) and an excellent hitting catcher (Simmons) in the deal.
I have nothing but respect for the four prospects Stearns traded and I hope they have good careers.
But I’ll always remember David Green.

STEINBACH STEPS DOWN AS LANCERS BOYS TENNIS COACH

For a guy who wanted to be a high school basketball coach, Dave Steinbach put together quite the tennis coaching career.

Steinbach, who has coached boys and girls tennis at Central since 1982, recently informed Don Kurth, the Lancers athletic director, he is stepping down as boys coach.

“The impact Dave Steinbach has had on Brookfield Central is hard to quantify,” Kurth said. “As a  teacher, coach and mentor, Dave has taught and coached thousands of kids spanning five decades, and in 2018, he is as relevant as ever.

“His no cut tennis program has set the standard for all others. We are lucky to have had Dave lead our kids over the course of his career. He is a class act, and his presence in our boys tennis program will be missed.”

Taking a look at the depth of Steinbach’s boys teams’ accomplishments is amazing. He is the only tennis coach in Wisconsin to win 500 matches for boys and 500 matches for girls.

His boys teams compiled a 513-147 (.777) won-lost record, winning 10 Greater Metro Conference championships and four state championships. They were runner-ups six times. They also won 19 sectional titles while finishing second eight times.

On the individual front, he had 61 singles players qualify for state and 60 doubles teams.

Steinbach, who will turn 82 years old this month, explained his decision to step down from coaching the boys program at this time.

“I have to give credit to the parents and the athletes, my assistant coaches (44 over the years) and the administration over the years,” he said. “My coaching successes have been dependent on them.”

“I have many facets in my life. Coaching is the one I controlled the least. If you don’t have good players you don’t win. for example, in one of my other facets, I umpired. Nobody had more control than me. I’ve broken my life down to 10-12 tennis facets and two coaching ones – girls coaching and boys coaching.”

But obviously, Steinbach had something to do with this team’s success.

“Now the fact that we have a big program – that’s me,” he said. “I decided not to cut. So many of these kids have more talent than I had when they were 14 or 15. If someone had told me I couldn’t play tennis, I wouldn’t be where I am today. So I wouldn’t want to do that to anyone else.”

When then athletic director Jack Charlesworth offered Steinbach the tennis coaching position in 1982, Steinbach said he had to have a non-cut program.

“I coached basketball for 17 years and I was forced to cut,” Steinbach recalled. “When Jack Charlesworth asked me to coach the boys tennis team I told me I would do it if I wasn’t forced to cut players.

“I told him it’s a lifetime sport and if I cut a player he would never play tennis again. So he agreed. The first year we had 32 kids on the team. Kids heard we weren’t going to cut and pretty soon we had 34, then 36. Then the next year I had 45. It just kept getting bigger and bigger. Once year we had 132 kids come out, but we ended with 120 – 12 didn’t finish that year.”

Steinbach points out he is the longest employed Elmbrook employee, having begun teaching at Dixon in 1960. He began coaching at Burleigh Junior High, Brookfield East’s feeder program, in 1965. Since the high schools were three-grades at the time, he coached freshman football, track and basketball.

“My real goal was to coach varsity basketball but (Laverne) Luebsdorf was at Brookfield East and he was going to be there forever and Bill Graf was at Central and he’d be there forever,” Steinbach said. “I was a good freshman (basketball) coach.

“Tennis would be my best option to be a varsity coach. I wanted to see if I could be a good varsity coach. Those two guys (Luebstorf, Graf) were entrenched and there was nothing I could do.”

Steinbach did plenty to keep busy as he also refereed football and basketball too. He also was a referee in a state championship football game.

“I was also game manager in 1982, which is like an assistant athletic director,” he said. “I did it for all the sports.”

Another reason he stepped down from coaching boys in the spring first was the weather.

“We’re leaving for Arizona and California this month,” Steinbach said. “I’ve been cutting certain facets out of my professional life. I stopped teaching tennis at UWM. I stopped officiating the Big Ten 10 years ago. I’m trying to eliminate some of the facets. Playing facets I eliminated a long time ago (he was a state-ranked player tennis in the 35 and 45 age category, but an injury stopped him from competing at 55).

“I’m eventually going to have to get out of coaching, but I didn’t want to do it all in one shot. I don’t want the program to lessen. In March I’m involved in the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament in Palm Springs. We’re always in California from end of February through March then coming back to Wisconsin in April. Well I eliminated that first.”

Other than the Grand Slams, Indian Wells is the biggest tournament in the world.

“I supervise the fitness area for the pros,” Steinbach said. “I get to see all the coaches and their pros to see what they do for their pre and post match fitness. I can bring it back to my team. They think being a good tennis player just happens in the court and not in the weight room.”

Steinbach has won 72 different awards on some level, topped off by winning the United States Professional Tennis Association Award twice (boys and girls). He also won the prestigious ‘Starfish’ Award (boys and girls) presented by the United States Tennis Association.

He was also named to the Brookfield Central Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Tennis Association Hall of Fame.

Steinbach smiled when asked the difference between coaching boys and girls.

“The first 15 minutes of the practice,” he said. “For the girls it’s social time. You let them talk about what happened in school. Then when it’s tennis time that’s all done with. Otherwise you are going to have them talking when they should be concentrating on tennis. Most schools don’t have girls as good as we have. Brookfield Central girls are very competitive. When boys come out you’ve got to work them right away, they’re so hyped.”

Steinbach also pointed out another difference.

“Girls don’t like challenge matches,” he said. “Boys can play challenge matches and the next day they’re buddies. Girls – if they get beat – hold it. Girls would rather me tell them who they’re playing or what position they’re playing. Boys would rather say ‘let me play him and see if I can beat him or not.'”

PACKERS’ ARROGANCE GROWING OLD

I am fed up by the arrogance which is Mark Murphy, Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy.
How many times have I heard McCarthy talk about “We think about Super Bowls in Green Bay.”
But then Murphy talks about making the playoffs 8 years in a row. Who cares, Murph. Green Bay cares about Super Bowls.
People are asking for the heads of Thompson, who feels his job description doesn’t include answering questions from the media, and/or McCarthy.
But that’s not going to happen.
Aaron Rodgers got hurt and everyone is off the hook. Maybe Dom Capers will be sacrificed to quiet the crowd, but don’t expect much more.
It’s time to stop using Rodgers as a crutch. If you lose one player – yes, he is a Hall of Fame player – your season shouldn’t turn into crap.
Brett Hundley is McCarthy’s project – and I thought Mac did the right thing by playing him to see what he has learned. But you won’t see people standing in line to give up a high draft choice for him.
It does look like Thompson made good draft picks in running backs Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones. But if you aren’t going to use them because McCarthy wants to throw, throw, throw with Rodgers, obviously people aren’t on the same page.
People say get Rodgers more weapons – yet the ones he has, he doesn’t use.
As for Murphy, he sits on the top of the heap, handles building the neighborhood around Packer Stadium and makes money for the team which they don’t spend on personnel. It would be nice if he made some decisions in the football area. Saying Thompson can be the general manager as long as he wants shows how ignorant/arrogant Murphy is.
Personally I don’t think Murphy-Thompson-McCarthy are in the same book, let alone on the same page. And who suffers? The fans.
I tweeted when Rodgers got hurt that the Packers would win maybe two games the rest of the year. With two games left – vs. Minnesota and at Detroit with Hundley at the helm – they beat my prediction of two wins by one – beating Chicago, Cleveland and Tampa Bay, the latter two in overtime.
People say I’m negative. I think I’m a realist and I don’t see things changing.
And why should the Packers care. People are lined up to get season tickets and will be for years.
Not much to worry about if your names are Murphy, Thompson and McCarthy.

SOME PREP BASKETBALL OBSERVATIONS

Progress

With the girls and boys basketball seasons underway, here are a few observations, some based on games I saw, others I what I have talked with coaches about or read about.

AMAZING MORTAG

Sophomore Anna Mortag, who stepped up her game last year when Brookfield Central lost Claire Haynes to a back injury, has continued her performance and has taken over the top spot in the Lancers program.

The Lancers will be a work in progress this season, as Mortag has an inexperienced supporting class for the most part. She is averaging 19 points and 7 rebounds in Central’s 0-3 start (Franklin comes to town on Dec. 3). They meet Brookfield East on Friday.

Junior guard Emma Ticcioni averages 8 points and 7 rebounds a game and senior guard Jenny Cape averages 5 rebounds and does a good job team running the show.

Freshman guard C.J. Romero stands only 5-1, but she averages 3 points, 3 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.  Against Germantown, she lead the team with 9 rebounds.

If the Lancers are going to get better, they need to shoot better, rebound better and play better defense or coach Mallory Liebl will have gray hair before the season is over.

For the first time since covering Liebl, I saw the mild-mannered coach yell at her team during a timeout and then slam her clipboard to the ground afterward.

It will be interesting to see what they do against Brookfield East on Friday.

GAGE, ANDRES SPARKS LANCERS

Junior Gage Malensek (16.5 points) and senior Andres Peralta-Werns (15.5 points, 5 rebounds) led the Lancers in their 1-1 start. Junior Cole Nau (10.0 points, 3 assists) and freshman David Joplin (5.5 points, 5.0 rebounds) have also chipped in.

The Lancers host Brookfield East on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Look for my feature on Peralta-Werns on Dec. 14 on Preps2Pros.net.

VIKINGS LOSE OVERTIME THRILLER

Port Washington nipped New Berlin West, 59-58, in overtime on Saturday afternoon at West, as senior guard Joe Robey stood out with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 3 steals.

Sophomore Desmond Polk had 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists and senior Tyler Torosian had 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

Coach Brandon Mattox should have a fun team to watch this year.

ON NOW THE FUN BEGINS

Here are some random thoughts on the prep season as some teams have already started the post-season.

I saw my first prep football game of the fall Friday – I have been rehabbing my left leg and can’t get around too well – and it was a doozie, as two-time defending champion Brookfield Central beat Brookfield East at East, 22-14.

The win left Central unbeaten (6-0) and dropped East (5-1) into second place with two games left.

Both Central and East fans packed the place and you had to walk blocks to find a parking spot. The place was rockin’.

Central has won the last two conference titles while East has won the last two post-season meetings.

In the next two weeks, the Lancers host Sussex Hamilton and travel to Menomonee Falls while the Spartans are at Germantown and host West Allis Hale.

Good luck to BC Coach Jed Kennedy & BE coach Ben Farley the rest of the way.

___________________________________________________

OTHER POST-SEASON SCHEDULES

GIRLS GOLF – Has already started with the regional this week (Sept. 27-28) and the sectional Oct. 3. The state tournament is at University Ridge in Madison on Oct. 9-10.

GIRLS TENNIS – The Subsectional is Monday, Oct. 2 or Tuesday, Oct. 3 and the Sectionals are Wednesday, Oct. 4 or Thursday, Oct. 5. The State Individual Tournament – is Thursday, Oct. 12, Friday, Oct. 13, and Saturday, Oct. 14 at Nielsen Stadium in Madison. The Girls State Tennis Team Championships are Friday, Oct. 20, and Saturday, Oct. 21 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison.

BOYS/GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY – The Sectional is Friday, Oct. 20 and Saturday, Oct. 21, while State is Saturday, Oct. 28, at Ridges Golf Course at Wisconsin Rapids.

BOYS SOCCER – Regional begins Tuesday, Oct. 17, Thursday, Oct. 19 and Saturday, October 21. Sectional follows on Thursday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 28.

The State Tournament is Thursday, Nov. 2, Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4 at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL – Regional is Thursday, Oct. 19 and Saturday, Oct. 21 and Sectional is Thursday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Oct. 28. The State Tournament is Thursday, Nov. 2, Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4 at Resch Center in Green Bay.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL – Regional begins – Friday, Oct. 27 and Sectional is Tuesday, Oct. 31 and Thursday, Nov. 2. The State Tournament is Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11 at Wisconsin Lutheran College.

GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING – Sectionals are Friday, Nov. 3 (Diving) and Saturday, Nov. 4 (Swimming). The State Meet is Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11 at the  Natatorium at UW-Madison.