A Small Market Dream: The Golden Era For Wisconsin Sports
(Dan Plutchak)
Don’t blink because it might be over soon. Wisconsin sports fans are living in a golden age that every small market could only dream about. When you think of sports powerhouses you might think of New York, California, or maybe another large market state. You probably don’t think of Wisconsin. However, in the three major sports, the Packers, the Brewers, and the Bucks, have each had a player win league MVP within the last three years. Aaron Rodgers won the award in 2021, Giannis back to back in 19’ and 20’, and Christian Yelich in 2018. Two of those three MVP winners are signed to their teams long term, and while Rodgers’ future with the Packers is uncertain, he has the team sitting in first place in the NFC north at 5-1. If you are a fan of large market teams, you may not understand the magnitude of these accomplishments. Let me break it down. In recent history, it seems that the biggest stars in sports seem to make their way to LA, New York, or Miami. Free agency can be the most exciting time if you’re a large market fan. Small market fans dread this time of year. Free agency usually means you have to watch as your favorite young player packs his bags and leaves for a bigger market. Fans know that their only real chance of landing a big time player is through the draft. Even then, sometimes the most promising of picks turns out to have a rather disappointing career. To take it a step further, the state of California has four NBA teams, four MLB teams, and three NFL teams so there is typically always something to cheer about. In Wisconsin, there is one team in each of those three leagues. Fans watched patiently as the Brewers went nearly 20 years without a postseason appearance. Other than the brief Brandon Jennings era, the Bucks hadn’t had an electric player since a young Ray Allen. Now however, the Bucks are reigning NBA champs, the Packers are a serious contender to win it all, and despite a disappointing exit in the playoffs, the Brewers are poised to be contenders for years to come. An unbelievable feat considering that according to “sports media watch” Milwaukee is in the bottom third of the smallest markets in pro sports, and the small city of Green Bay, Wisconsin is dead last. Even though the lights may not be the brightest, and the nation's biggest stars may not be sitting courtside, the state of Wisconsin has a lot to cheer about. This era may not last forever, but it will certainly live forever in the hearts of Wisconsin sports fans.