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↵Some Saturdays are tougher to get up for. This was one of them. We were lucky enough to swing through our hometown this week (it was only like 300 miles out of the way). Even though Minnesota got its first real blast of cold weather, which made golfing a little bit tougher, it was good to sleep in a familiar place, even if I was relegated to a couch, while Phil got the bedroom he took over after I left for college.↵↵But the rest was good. At the beginning of the week, it was tough to get excited about the slate of games this weekend. Any time ESPN goes to Vandy, you know the schedule didn’t play out quite how everyone hoped. Add in the crushing defeat of our hometown Twins to the hated White Sox, and I had to take a 24-hour moratorium on all things sports related. But like all bad hangovers, this one passed as well. And little things, like the highlights of a Middle Tennessee State Hail Mary to win on Tuesday night helped like a couple Advil and a jug of water. So what if Phil’s beloved Badgers blew a 19 point lead in the Big House and threw a gigantic wet blanket on this game before the week even started? We were sticking with our guns, and we’ve headed to the land of cheese, brats, Brett Favre, widespread obesity and Miller High Life. ↵
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↵It’s hard to say that Madison, and the University of Wisconsin, really fit in with the rest of the state. While there are themes that fit perfectly -- excessive drinking, blind allegiances to a team and school (see: Green Bay), the actual city of Madison stands out like a hot girl at a Packers game. It’s been called the “left coast of Wisconsin” and “70 miles surrounded by reality,” which, if I’m reading Wikipedia correctly means that it’s a bit progressive. And that is never more evident than taking a walk down State Street. ↵
↵↵Street musicians strum guitars on the corner, sharing valuable real estate with hundreds of panhandlers and vagabonds (we felt right at home). Even on a chilly Thursday night, outdoor patios at bars were packed, as Brewers fans tried to drown their sorrows with Miller products. With all the bars in Madison, it’s tough to pick a favorite, but I’d have to say that the crown jewel is State Street Brats. ↵
↵↵You’ve got to love a bar/restaurant that’s main appeal is bratwurst. I’m not sure this business plan would fly in California, but in Wisconsin you’ve got to fight for a table pretty much every weekend. And this bar has taken drink specials to a new level. The only negative of staying at home during the week was that it meant we had to miss the “Stock Exchange,” which is the greatest drink special I’ve ever seen. On two LCD screens above the bar, the price of beers and mixed drinks tick by on separate boards, as if they were listings on the NYSE. Buy three Miller Lights, watch the price rise and Bud Lights drop. Wait until the price is right, and pounce on as many Red Bull Vodkas as you and your buddies can handle. Come to think of it, we were already at “The Blackout” last weekend, there was no reason to return this week.↵
↵↵We’ve got friends from all over the Midwest coming to the game this weekend, and we’re really looking forward to a stellar Saturday, and plenty of brats, beers, and cheese curds. Even if both teams don’t quite have the luster they had a few weeks ago, if there’s one thing that’s certain, Badger fans don’t need a big game to have a big party. ↵
↵↵Here’s hoping we survive. Pass the Lipitor. ↵
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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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