It’s officially open for business. The new $550,000.000 plus something Fiserv.Forum is now available. It’s now available for every Bucks game, Golden Eagles game, Concert, Monster Truck rally, WWE Live Event, and potentially a 2020 Democratic National Convention. This was in the making little over two years ago in a process of keeping “the Milwaukee Bucks as the Milwaukee Bucks”. There was a speculation about the city losing the team to other cities like Seattle and others needing a NBA team. Just to recap a little, that Milwaukee has been in this position before; in terms with the Brewers with the building of Miller Park. What was that slogan? “BUILD IT NOW!” Remember that? Hope so. So with this thing with the new Bucks playhouse, not everyone wasn’t happy about “oh this is going to cost us taxpayers yet again.” And yes it wasn’t a glorious decision to create, design and build it from the ground up, but it’s here. The new arena sits near 6th Street and Juneau in the Area of MATC (my old tech college), the Brewery Housing Complex that used to brew Pabst Beer back in the day, a Hyatt Hotel, additional housing near the Hillside Area, and next area of land that used to be the Park East Freeway.
And yet while it’s still standing, the 30-year-old Bradley Center will be dust in general. Let me recap this: The first time I saw it under construction was 1988 at age 11. I was getting out of Grade School then and my older sibling was getting out of High School. I remember going to a Ninja Turtle Concert, a couple of Bucks Games, Job Fairs, and even WWE Wrestling Matches. The first one I went to was in 1992 along with my late uncle and living cousins. We had a ball! And most importantly, attending the first MPS Alumni Reunion in 2016. Oh yes, I remember the Bradley. And plus the Bradley Center was a gift by Jane and Lloyd Pettit to the city for extra entertainment and sports. And extra room for those attending. The Bradley Center’s seating capacity can hold up to at least 18,000 plus.
But let’s go forward with the new thing. This new arena took about two years to build. And when it was under construction, the architecture along with the jobs was on point. And when I looked and visited the arena this past Sunday, along with those of us coming out of the church, I knew it was going to be jammed packed. Long lines of cars, parking lots almost full, etc. When I got to the arena, at least to the outside portion many of us had to be checked through Security, which is a common thing in Arenas now. After that, I like many proceeded to the main entrance of the Vel R. Phillips Avenue side to gain entry into the building. Oh when I walked into the structure: I was amazed. I was amazed at the texture of the building’s walls, designs, entryway and access to the side restaurants to the building. The Bucks Pro Shop is in the Arena. So like many others with cameras, I had to bust out my Nikon and started snapping. But with my Cell Phone Camera, at first: I had to restart the blasted thing because when I tried to use it, there were security features in the arena that popped up like this:
I’m like, come on now. NOT TODAY!
But when I restarted the Cell Phone, it was normal as usual.
Anyway, after all that, the main portion of the arena I wanted to see was the basketball court itself. The inside portion was at more spaced out than I thought. The scoreboard was legit with state of the art technology. And according to one of the workers, there are cameras underneath the scoreboard if you are sitting near center court. How awesome! As I got near to the upper mezzanine area, the view began to be more interesting as I went further. And I got to the point of the arena that it was almost like this:
And I thought this was the spot. It was good for the Mezzanine view. But I heard also that the Arena has a “Panoramic Level” in which you get to see everything! All around! I know that many that seen it, probably have been in the area, but the fact of the matter is, it’s the real spot of the area that many photo hogs need not miss. I didn’t get the chance to see that part, but I’ve heard from others, it’s a good spot in the Arena! I’m just saying. Put that on your Facebook Photos or Instagram Pics or whatever. Put that on your blog postings. Not mine, YOURS! Don’t copy anyone’s pics from Facebook or Google photos. Get your camera, or your smartphone, go to the arena and get to an event and put up your Panoramic Views on and credit YOUR WORK! I’m just saying.
Towards the ending of the tour, I like everyone else, saw some of the entertainment that was part of the City’s first ever Hip Hop Week Events, and also some of the local vendors like Sconnie, Palmetto’s My World Images: the company that make the Milwaukee State of Mind Shirts, Harley-Davidson, and many others that most are locally based in the city to check out. So yes, it’s a good start of the “christening” of the Fiserv Forum for this year. Now many are asking, why the name Fiserv? Actually, Fiserv is a local company that is in Wisconsin; Mainly in Brookfield. Its main connection is with IT Financial Services that is generally known in different parts of the world. So when the naming of the arena was floating around, we thought about Miller, Harley-Davidson, Northwestern Mutual and others that we know that are well known around Milwaukee. But Fiserv? That was not thought about, but it is what it is. So if anyone is still curious what Fiserv does, the company has websites and social media pages.
My Take: FEAR THE DEER! And why you’re at it, RESPECT THE HERD MENTALITY!
Posted: June 10, 2019 in African American Stories and Viewpoints, Commentary by all means, Decision Factors, Local, Local Sports, Milwaukee African American Commentary, My Take, Sports, Unapologetically Speaking, Wisconsin African American CommentaryTags: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Deer District, Fiserv Forum, Giannis, Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, NBA Playoffs, Wisconsin Sports
Last year, the Milwaukee Bucks has one of the worst seasons of their franchise history. And yet with at record of 15-67 was not a good sign for the team’s design of the future, it was not promising that the record would equate them to the next opportunity of the level as given.
But keep in mind, this was last year. After the season had past, the Bucks were given a new HC by the name of Mike Budenholzer who previously coached the Atlanta Hawks and also was on staff with Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs. And yet also, part of the Spurs’ Success was with Championship Experience. Coach Bud brought a new fresh of perspective to get the Bucks moving to a new direction of offense, and yes DEFENSE! I think who before the Bucks were given a chance to explore Coach Bud’s idea of gameplay, many were reminded of the Spurs’ days as ball handling and many others. Now he’s bringing it to the Deer in which so far this season, has been proven otherwise.
The new “Fear The Deer” moniker had caught on as part when the Brewers were championship bound. And yes, Milwaukee Sports (we know the Packers) but MILWAUKEE SPORTS in general is already rising up out of the ground to be able to compete as a medium market city. Never forget, Milwaukee is a Medium Market town with experience of Breweries, Industrial, City of Festivals Celebrations, and of course if you’re a snowflake: Socialist historical figures like Juneau, Kilbourn and Walker that owned their own portions of the city. Despite of those who think the city is still like 1975 in which I was born afterwards, Milwaukee is on rise to be known!
But getting back to the Bucks: The 2018-19 Deer Squad held down the record of 60-22 as in the first in the League. And in the inaguural season of the Fiserv Forum and conversely, the Deer District when it’s becoming a new mainstay of entertainment and sports. If many HAVE NOT seen or visited the Deer District while the old Bradley Center is almost gone with demolition, you are sleeping! No matter if its the Good City Brewing, or the Mecca Sports Grill, or the Punch Bowl Social, this district is coming up along along with the Milwaukee Streetcar like or not, and more attractions like the 2020 Democratic National Convention next summer in July.
But AGAIN: Back to the Bucks! The Bucks have everyone’s attetion. They got my attention back on my Birthday of December 5th when the team beaten the Detroit Pistons. Yes, I was at the game (a first for me on my birthday) when Giannis and company did the job. And yes, Giannis did his signature dunks to capture the excitement in the arena. Oh yes, later on there were a couple of trades getting Mirotic, Ersan, Pau Gasol, Brook Lopez and George Hill as an example to get the team more competitive. What’s even more shocking in this thing that the 7 footers are three point shooters! And they’re good! It’s been a turnaround in under a year that the Bucks did and here they are currently as of press time in the Eastern Conference Finals. Note: this is the first time in 18 years the team has reached this far. The last time the city was so Buck wild you ask? When the team had the Big Three of Glenn Robinson, Sam Cassell and Ray Allen. They were the pre-Fear The Deer before Fear The Deer. Wait a second: the first championship team from 1971 were FEAR THE DEER!
What’s more cool this year that several players and coaches from the Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers came out to support the Bucks. Wisconsin Badgers Legend like Ron Dayne (whom was so good 20 years ago) came out to give the deer support. Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Oscar Roberton and other NBA Legends all came out for the Bucks. Marquis Johnson became the latest NBA Legend to have his number 8 retired in the Fiserv Forum. And yet more and more folks are just now yet again getting a chance to get a glimpse of Bucks Fever 2019!
But of course: not many are all out for the Bucks. Of course many were all about their teams and yet they rooted for their squads in sorts. But I have to talk about the teams that the Bucks went against and it had a strange stop up north. First was a sweep on the Detroit Pistons, then it was 4-1 against the Boston Celtics and this was strange: The Toronto Raptors. Where the Bucks won 2 out of the six games against the team that routed them. Yes, we know Toronto. Kahwi Leonard and Danny Smith of the Raptors are no strangers to NBA Confrence finals and they have been there before. I think after the second game, there was no telling that the Bucks would have a tough edge in Jurassic Park/Scotiabank Arena in beating the Raptors. They had a tough edge alright. Dropping 3 games in T.O. and surprising stealing one in Milwaukee. Oh, let’s talk about this rapper named Aubrey. Or as many calls him; Drake. This whole thing with Drake is nothing more than a dude that is reaching. When the series began, there was this #BreakFromDrake in which one of the Milwaukee Radio stations took it to Facebook and stated that they were not to play any of Drake’s songs during the Milwaukee/Toronto Game Series. The station was Kiss-FM 103.7 They made it clear and stuck to their promise. Oh, and this so-called “Drake Curse” was a distraction. Obviously the series was just about Drake making a fool of Milwaukee and other teams that he wanted to lose. Oh, good job Aubrey! But I wouldn’t count his chicken before they hatch. Nope not one bit. According to the NBA, they already warned Drake not to get so, distractive during the NBA Playoffs. Last time this happened, Drake apparently had a run in with one of the Cleveland Cavaliers players and that ended almost in a fist fight. Talk about family values and role models. Really? And he’s from Canada.
Even this so-called distractive Drake Curse had reached the Wendy Williams Show. I read that summary on social media and apparently, Wendy doesn’t know shiznit from a wristwatch in regarding Milwaukee. She even got Aaron Rodgers mixed up in this. For the record to all the clueless Wendy gossipers and her personally: Aaron Rodgers PLAYS FOR THE GREEN BAY PACKERS! THAT IS IN GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN! Learn the game idiots! Especially those up north cross the border.
CALLOUT: Let me tell Toronto this: If you don’t know nothing about Milwaukee, (and this blog does go international) may I say as a lifelong resident of the city, pack your bags and take a visit! Get a passport and you either fly or drive to Milwaukee and again take a visit. Learn, engage and simply get out and explore the city that you know nothing about. It ain’t about sports. Oh, don’t feel bad about it because many have said the same thing, But they also VISITED the city. For you Americans that already know about Milwaukee and have not visited, you realized that the DNC is coming here in 2020? Oh, the location is the Fiserv Forum. I’m sure many know about it by now. I mean didn’t Houston and Miami were in the running? And this caught my eye that some of you Raptor folks respected the Bucks? Really!? After all the Drake Distraction crap?
But anyway back to the Bucks. With all the NBA Playoff fever here, it seemed that Milwaukee dollars were actually winning. And it had won. Plus it brought folks together in the new area of the Deer District that is now a new spot to hang out with Good City Brewing, The Mecca Sports Grill and the Punch Bowl Social. And yes we should include the NBA on TNT Crew with Wisconsin Born Ernie Johnson visiting his old neighborhood that grew up in this area by the way. Yeah, never forget where you started. Keep in mind also, this is the same mentality that the Brewers captured last year in the attempt for the World Series. So yes, overall the City of Milwaukee full of denial, marred with segregation issues and racism, plus lead water issues can seem to fall into place with a sports team or teams that can generate a buzz. And yet Milwaukee is stepping up with a 21st Century mentality that is has to learn to compete with other cities that had that same train of thought going forward.
As for the players, yes the team has to make decisions to either keep or let go some that has fought for the Deer. We know Giannis will be back and I expect some of the core players that started the generated fire that made the moniker “FEAR THE DEER” actually work to be a thing! So yes, I say this the Bucks at a time were a champion, a contender, a basement low record nobody cared always losing team that had some several times to get a championship, once in a blue moon moment to get a Central Division Championship noticed. But yes, don’t assume that the Bucks will get another run at a championship and also getting a shot at that brass ring and a ticket taped parade down Wisconsin Avenue they definitely deserve. It’s been 48 years since the Bucks won a NBA Title. But that drought will not last very long for another shot of the gold. And yes, Mike Budenholzer one year ago took this low record team and made into a contending powerhouse. And yes, he was again on Gregg Popovich’s staff with the San Antonio Spurs to get some of the Championships.
So yes, FEAR THE DEER!
And later on: RESPECT THE DEER!
It’s only the beginning. Again. This time, it’s a restart.