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Okay, I swear that this is the last time the MMMR will be mutated into the TMMR for the foreseeable future. Circumstances outside the column and all that, you understand.
But we still ostensibly have Basketball to get to, and It doesn’t care what day of the week I hit ‘publish’ on. The players are secure in the bubble, a few have cracked some jokes at their Motel 6-like accommodations, and training has begun in full swing! This whole bubble may work after all!
Not everything is sunshine and Mickey-shaped waffles, though, with plenty of teams still lacking their full rosters for undisclosed reasons (whether they be personal preference, illness, or belonging to a high-risk category when it comes to Covid-19) and the Bucks right alongside as of the 13th. Games won’t actually begin for another three weeks so the delayed arrival of some players shouldn’t have too outsized an impact, but it is something to keep an eye on. Not to mention those who are inside the bubble who may make the mistake of, I don’t know, inadvertently leaving the bubble.
We’re still much further along in the return to play than seemed remotely feasible just a month or two ago. Complaints from participants aside it seems like a promising start. Then again, I’d wager MLS thought they were off and running too before Covid came in and started jumping from team to team...
Let’s roundup!
Citing past struggles, Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t complain about bubble conditions (ESPN)
It is somewhat ironic that it takes a pandemic to get Giannis Antetokounmpo into a room with his fellow players from teams outside of Milwaukee. Prior to *this* you’d rarely hear much about Giannis frolicking with other players who weren’t A) Bucks or B) Bam Adebayo, apparently.
So prepare yourselves because we might be in for a whole heap of “Giannis seen playing air hockey with Player XYZ on Random Team ABC; is a free agency coup in the works?” articles in the coming weeks/months.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Kyle Korver: Decision to use ‘Black Lives Matter’ on back of jersey an easy one (ESPN)
Players who are in the Orlando bubble will be given the opportunity to replace their names on jerseys with a variety of phrases in pursuit of the cause sparked by George Floyd’s death and the resurgence of activism against racial injustice. Kyle Korver has chosen to take part by swapping ‘Korver’ for ‘Black Lives Matter’ for the duration of the Bucks’ stay in the bubble.
Korver has been outspoken on the topic with his Players’ Tribune article “Priviledged”, activism in the wake of Floyd’s killing, and willingness to reach out and work with teammates/other players. Don’t be surprised to see plenty of other Bucks choose other phrases in place of their names as well.
Robin Lopez loving life as a Milwaukee Buck in Disney World (NBC Sports)
My only real outlandish take about the return of the NBA is that the Lopez twins should be averaging triple-doubles the duration of competitive play. They’re entrenched in a geographic location with which they associate the existence of magic, their actual homes are miles away from the resorts they’re staying in, and they have to have local connections which will allow them to sneak as much food from Epcot’s World Showcase as they could want.
So, yeah. I expect outlandish performances from Brook and Robin every time they hit the floor.
Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer lists $3.75 million Lake Michigan mansion (Realtor.com)
On this week’s edition of “Things That Make You Go, ‘Hmmm’” we’ve got Mike Budenholzer putting his mansion on the market.
It could mean anything from Budenholzer openly declaring that he will be joining Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Warriors/Raptors/Heat/Hornets/Whoever the hell else convinces themselves that they’re the FA destination to-be or it could be simply a desire to move to a different home in the area.
Either way, I hope Budenholzer and his realtor took some pointers from Pat Connaughton.
NBA Rumors: LA Lakers Could Explore Trading Danny Green, Alex Caruso & 2020 1st-Round Pick For Eric Bledsoe (Inquisitr)
Yes, this site will likely overwhelm your device with viruses that will hasten its degredation, but you can only find trade proposal evaluations like the above at sites that run rampant with online infections.
If you’re reticent about visting the site for the scoop (and I don’t blame you), here’s the proposal:
Bucks IN: Danny Green, Alex Caruso, 2020 first-round pick
Bucks OUT: Eric Bledsoe
The upside is that you don’t have to worry about paying Eric his guaranteed $18 million in 2021-2022, the downside is that you now have a sorrowful gap in your starting five. That is, unless, you believe Donte DiVincenzo is ready to become the team’s full-time PG.
Also, everything above is made up and likely has little grounding in reality.
Milwaukee Bucks and WTMJ Radio Renew Partnership (Bucks.com)
Who doesn’t love a little media esoterica? WTMJ has had the corner on pro sports radio broadcasting locked down in Wisconsin for as long as I can recall, and that will continue forward for the Bucks through 2022. Unlike years past you can tune in and generally get a genuinely bright vibe thanks to all the winning instead of the previously glossed-up positivity of a team duking it out with the Hornets for the eighth seed.
The Social Media Section
Robin is going to have to be our eyes and ears inside the bubble, I guess. Good start
The left skee ball machine isn't scoring correctly. I got 3 5k's and a 10k and my final score was 5000
— Robin Lopez (@rolopez42) July 11, 2020
Let the takeover begin
Coming soon (-u/bigballerbandli). pic.twitter.com/ZtyBA4ZMHi
— r/MkeBucks (@BucksOnReddit) July 10, 2020
This guy has some promise if he can put it all together
Thank you, Rick Ross
Yes
Angry Ersan is the most powerful Ersan of all
Doing a minor league team right
Hadn't seen this until late last night. Bogues is now the 3rd Herd player to sign a deal overseas from this season's squad. https://t.co/lLKqJyFhET
— Jordan Treske (@JordanTreske) July 11, 2020
This is for you, retiredjanitor. We’ll be back together soon, I hope
Philosophy, history and corona: Gotta love a public TV station like Swiss SRF that thinks that what we need now is a crash course on Hegel. (In German)https://t.co/LwaCB0pIya pic.twitter.com/qDucVFwyaW
— Adam Tooze (@adam_tooze) July 8, 2020
For all 12 of the consistent listeners to the Brew Hoop Podcast who may be wondering when Adam, Kyle, and myself will make our triumphant return I have but one word: Soon. I’ve got a few more interviews I’d like to put together which will be released sporadically in the lead up to the resumption of play. Meanwhile, our trio is planning on assembling again in the very near future with the intention of returning to a regular schedule.
Further, if you’re interested in hearing me blabber on without any real semblance of even a single coherent thought with a non-Brew Hoop show, I went on the “Teutonia World Presents” podcast over the weekend to ramble while my esteemed host Teutonia World AKA @DavidDunn21 AKA Elijah Price on Twitter did the hard work of carrying the conversation.
Enjoy!
Happy Tuesday!