Tim Kent of Elm Grove completed the first leg of the Around Alone sailing competition last week in third place.
Kent now will rest a while in England, do some repairs to his boat, called the Everest Horizontal, and get ready for the second leg, to Cape Horn, South Africa. He eventually hopes to circum-navigate the world by next spring.
He's been sending e-mail reports to The Milwaukee Sports Buzz. Here is an excerpt from a windy day at sea:
Sept. 25 - Since early yesterday afternoon, I've been living life on the tilt. The wind has been 20 -25 knots all yesterday and last night. I have the two forward ballast tanks full, close-reaching on port tack at 10 -12 knots, pounding along, soaking the boat on every third wave, keeping the boat heeled over hard - life on the tilt. It's very loud, very jerky and very wet.
Down below, I'm hunkered down. Things are damp - still a lot of leaky windows - and battened down. I'm living at the nav station and in the starboard bunk. We are heeled over too hard for me to sleep at the nav station. It was very overcast yesterday, but today it looks like the sun is going to peek through. I can only hope the wind holds - speed is good!
Doesn't sound like something a land lover would want to go through. Here is another excerpt from the day Kent reached England:
Oct. 4. Brixham, UK - EVEREST HORIZONTAL crossed the finish line at 5:55:04 am local time, some 17 days after leaving New York City. Sailing my own boat into a
port in England was a moving moment for me. So much has gone into this project from so many people - time, effort, funding. The level of support from my friends and family - and from people I have never met but are inspired by the journey - has been truly overpowering. I can not properly thank all of the people that have contributed to this effort, so I will do what I am doing; work hard and hit the next hurdles at speed and on pace.
Kent, who is one of two American sailors in the competition, also is sharing his experiences via email with students in Brookfield and elsewhere. See updates periodically in this column.
Kukoc could help
Toni Kukoc might not give the Bucks huge minutes or score 20-plus per game, but he learned how to play team basketball as a star in Europe and helped make it work with the champion Chicago Bulls.
"I was taught to play team basketball," Kukoc said recently. "I will take my shots, but if I see a guy who is more open I will get the ball to him. I like passing as much as shooting. My goals are team goals. I want to win."
That approach to the game is one of the reasons European teams are knocking off American teams in international competition with more frequency. Too many American players want to go 1-on-1 and emphasize playing above the rim. They don't pass well, play solid defense or work to get open shots for their teammates.
Midnight Tipoff
The UWM men's and women's basketball teams will kick off the 2002-2003 season with "Panther Madness" at the Klotsche Center Friday and Saturday. The activities on Friday evening will lead up to a midnight practice for the two teams on Saturday, the first day Division I college basketball teams can begin practicing.
Events, which are free and open to the public, will kick off at 10:30 Friday evening at the Klotsche Center on the UWM campus with a performance by Comedy Sportz. The evening will continue with performances by the UWM cheerleaders and dance squad and other activities led by head coaches Bruce Pearl and Sandy Botham.
Then, at 12:01 a.m., the Panther men and women will take the floor for a 60-minute joint workout, which will include a three-point shooting contest and dunk contest. The first 500 fans through the doors will receive a free Panther basketball t-shirt and free pizza. A variety of contests and raffles, including a chance to win tuition for the semester, will also take place throughout the evening.
Wave 2-0
The Wave will bring a 2-0 record to Kansas City for its third MISL game of the season. Gregory Howe has led Milwaukee with 9 points in the first two games. Veteran Joe Reiniger is close behind with 8 points. The Wave beat the Comets last weekend at the Bradley Center, but will have a tougher time at KC.
Manager interviews
Diamondbacks coach Bob Melvin and Yankees coach Willie Randolph interviewed with GM Doug Melvin for the Brewers' managerial opening and met briefly with the media this week.
{INSERT_RELATED}Bob Melvin was the only outsider interviewed for the job when Davey Lopes was fired earlier this season. Randolph was interviewed when Phil Garner was canned, but is thought to have turned the Brewers down. When a manager is picked, look for a special edition of The Brew Crew Review for reactions.
Hot Tix
That first Bucks' exhibition game at the Bradley Center tips off at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Hoops fans could watch that game and still make it to the UWM tipoff event in time to get some pizza.
The Milwaukee Bombers Aussie Rules Football Team will hold an intra-team game Saturday at 2 p.m. at Greene Park in St. Francis in preparation for the national tournament in Kansas City. Admission is free. Players and supporters will be on hand to walk you through what's going on.
Remember all seats are $12 when the Admirals host San Antonio in their first regular season hockey home game at the Bradley Center Saturday night.
If you're ready for some football -- American style not Aussie -- you'll have to content yourself with watching on the tube or listening on the radio this weekend, because the Badgers play at Indiana on Saturday and the Packers at New England on Sunday. You can read about the Packers' game next Monday in On The Pack on OMC.
Gregg Hoffmann writes The Milwaukee Sports Buzz on Fridays and On The Pack on days after Packers' games for OMC.
