Hot Corner: Summer is fast approaching

By Rich Palzewic

Sports Editor

BROWN COUNTY – As I sit typing this, the summer and warmer weather is fast approaching.

Unlike any other summer I’ve experienced, it will be anything but normal.

I’m used to covering Green Bay Booyah baseball, Green Bay Glory women’s soccer and Legion baseball, but it’s all been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rich Palzewic

This comes on the heels of the WIAA canceling the spring sports season after it did the same to the winter sports tournament series.

With the recent announcements by the Northwoods League delaying the start of the season indefinitely and Legion baseball getting canceled for the summer, it marked the last realistic opportunity to cover a game for a while.

This could change if the Booyah plays in June at Capital Credit Union Park, but the next available time to witness a game might be in July when the WIAA grants up to 30 days of summer contact to state high schools.

Lots can change before then.

On May 15, the Booyah posted a picture of two beer bottles on a table overlooking Capital Credit Union Park with the caption, “Sooner than you think ... stay tuned.”

This makes it sound like something is in the works for the league, but Booyah Vice President John Fanta told me there was nothing cryptic about the message.

I last covered a game – the Crandon girls’ basketball team – March 12 at the WIAA state tournament at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

To say I miss live sports is an understatement.

I’ve been asked numerous times over the last nine weeks, “How can you be a sports editor with no sports?”

I’ll tell you, it hasn’t been easy.

Two years ago when we received two feet of snow in mid-April and spring sports took a severe hit, I remember thinking, “If I can get through these next few weeks, I’ll never experience anything like this again.”

I had no idea that was minor compared to what we’re going through now.

In the meantime, I’m covering city and county government meetings, learning lots and meeting new people, but I miss watching sports and reporting.

Here’s to hoping we can get back to viewing games soon.