“Beer Nuts: the official disease of Milwaukee," quipped George Carlin, surmising the midsize city and its Happy Days-era reputation as stale, staid, and sudsy, with a hop-scented aura of Midwestern malaise, and that particular kind of cold that only comes from rustbelt lakefront terroir. Milwaukee today, well, it might smell the same. But, just for a measure of change, note the fresh NBA championship banner at Fiserv Forum.
And then consider two-time Milwaukee Bucks MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, and a typical dunk: first is the gallop, an infinite runway acceleration; then comes that palming of the ball, toward the sky, like an experienced server with a full tray, or like playing keep-away from a precocious younger sibling. For a simple breath of a moment at Fiserv Forum even the lines at beer vendors go quiet. And then that carnival sledgehammer goes down.
It would seem, in Giannis’ 12th year, a local Milwaukee basketball fan might become inured. And yet, still, so often you walk out of Fiserv Forum, breathe deep the cutting Lake Michigan air, and feel an elation, a renewed surprise that he is here, ours. That buzz a-brew about Deer District on gameday is really an inflection point of the new Milwaukee. Everywhere there is a 6’11 shadow of slam-dunking possibility. It all couldn’t feel further from Laverne & Shirley. But, yes, ok, there is still plenty of beer. And basketball, and a whole lot more sports, to go with it.
Here, we’ve got your ideal guide for a sports fans’ trip to Milwaukee.