CHEESEMAKERS CHAPTER 1 - “PRESEASON” SETTING: A SOUTHERN WISCONSIN SMALL COMMUNITY BUNGALOW LIVING ROOM WITH A SPORTS LOVING GRANDPA AND HIS GRANDSON TALKING BASKETBALL NIGHTLY - ESPECIALLY ABOUT THEIR RED HOT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TEAM - THE MONROE CHEESEMAKERS.
NOVEMBER 2, 1964 GRAMPS HEY HERBY JUNIOR - DID YOU ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THE CHEESEMAKERS WERE RANKED IN THE PRE-SEASON STATE OF WISCONSIN BASKETBALL POLL ?
COACH LEE MITCHELL AND THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
HERBY JUNIOR YES I ACTUALLY DID - NUMBER 1 BY A LANDSLIDE - MONROE WILL BE THE NUMBER 1 TEAM - AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE SO CALLED EXPERTS IN BASKETBALL - COACHES AND SPORTS WRITERS. GRAMPS WELL I THINK THE SPORTSWRITERS HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER - WE WILL WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR - 1965 CHAMPS BOYS BASKETBALL. IT WILL REALLY SHAKE THIS TOWN. HERBY JUNIOR WELL WE DON’T HAVE SUCH A BAD TEAM EITHER IN BRODHEAD - I MEAN WITH STEVE JONES BACK, DENNY FREHNER, CONDON, GARTHWAITE, JUBIE, SPETH, KNIGHT, ST.JOHN, NEDERMEIRS...... GRAMPS WELL FOR THAT MATTER - ALL OF GREEN BAY IS FULL OF BASKETBALL TALENT - LOOK AT MARTI IN ARGYLE, DUNPHY IN ALBANY, THE GREAT COACH ZWEIFEL FROM MONTICELLO, AND JUDA ALWAYS HAS GOOD PLAYERS. HERBY JUNIOR YOU ACTUALLY LEFT OUT BELLEVILLE - THEY ARE A GOOD UNIT ALSO. SO WILL I ACTUALLY GET TO SOME OF THE CHEESEMAKER GAMES GRAMPS ?
The cheesemakers 1964-65
GRAMPS YOU BET - WHEN GRANDMA DOESN’T WANT TO GO - YOU’LL BE THERE - TRUST ME. WE’RE ONLY ALLOTTED TWO SEATS PER CUSTOMER ACCORDING TO COACH LEE MITCHELL AND WALTER BABULA - THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. HERBY JUNIOR OK GREAT - SCHOOL WON’T BE A PROBLEM - NOR WILL BASKETBALL PRACTICE AS WE PRACTICE AND HAVE GAMES RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL. I PROMISE TO GET GOOD GRADES !
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GRAMPS WELL I’LL TAKE THE 15 MILE JAUNT DOWN TO SEE YOUR GAMES WHEN THE BANK ISN’T BUSY - BUT I TOLD LEE MITCHELL, THE CHEESEMAKER COACH AND A VERY GOOD FRIEND, THAT WE WOULDN’T LOSE A GAME. HERBY JUNIOR ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE GRANDPA - ABSOLUTELY ? GRAMPS 100% AND I’M A CONSERVATIVE BANKER. WE’LL GET CHALLENGED A FEW TIMES - BUT I ACTUALLY KNOW OUR PLAYERS, COACHES, CHEERLEADERS, TRAINERS, AND ALL PARENTS INVOLVED - THIS IS OUR YEAR. HERBY JUNIOR WHY THE HECK DO YOU FEEL IT’S THIS YEAR RATHER THAN LAST ? YOU WERE REAL HIGH ON THE CHEESEMAKERS LAST YEAR - REMEMBER ? GRAMPS WELL FOR ONE - BURINGTON, MITCHELL, BUCHHOLTZ - THE SHORT GUY THEY CALL BUCKY - ARE ALL SENIORS - EXCELLENT SENIORS. TWO - FUNDAMENTAL BASKETBALL - LEE MITCHELL HAS COACHED BASKETBALL FOR > 20 YEARS SUCCESSFULLY WITH MANY VERY GOOD TEAMS - AND HE’S NEVER HAD THE TEAM HE HAS THIS YEAR WITH THE STRONG FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS THAT THESE CHEESEMAKERS POSSESS. HERBY JUNIOR MAN - WE GET THAT DRILLED INTO US EVERY DAY AT BASKETBALL PRACTICE -IN FACT OUR COACHES EVEN TALK ABOUT THE CHEESEMAKERS AND COACH MITCHELL. GRAMPS EVERY LITTLE DETAIL LEE MITCHELL ATTENDS TO - THERE IS NOT ONE FUNDAMENTAL THAT HIS TEAM LACKS - COACH MITCHELL WILL SHOW YOU THAT THROUGH HIS PLAYERS IN EVERY GAME -YOU WILL SEE A LIVE DRAMATIC REPRESENTATION OF FUNDAMENTAL BASKETBALL FROM THE FIRST PRACTICE UNTIL THE FINAL BUZZER AT THE UW FIELDHOUSE IN THE MID MARCH 1965 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. THE MOST AMAZING THING ABOUT THE CHEESEMAKERS IS THEIR ENERGY LEVEL, SECOND WIND, AND ABILITY TO PLAY TOUGH AT ALL TIMES. THE CHEESEMAKERS MESH. HERBY JUNIOR NO WAY GRAMPS - YOU ACTUALLY FEEL THE CHEESEMAKERS WILL BE UNDEFEATED AND WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP - I MEAN A TEAM FROM GREEN COUNTY GOING ALL THE WAY ? GRAMPS HECK YES - WE COULD’VE TAKEN IT LAST YEAR HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR DODGEVILLE - BUT TRUST ME - THIS CHEESEMAKER TEAM OF 1965 IS
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DESTINED. I WOULD RANK THEM NATIONALLY ON PAR WITH ANYONE WINNING HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS. HERBY JUNIOR EVEN TEAMS FROM LIKE CHICAGO ? GRAMPS WELL - WE’LL FIND OUT BECAUSE THE CHEESEMAKERS ACTUALLY PLAY PHILLIPS ACADEMY FROM SOUTH CHICAGO - ONE OF THE VERY BEST TEAMS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS PERENNIALLY. HERBY JUNIOR ISN’T THAT WHERE THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS BEGAN ? GRAMPS YOU BET - AND THEY STILL HAVE PHILLIPS ACADEMY AS THEIR BASKETBALL HOME - EVENTUALLY THEY WILL PROBABLY MOVE TO HARLEM IN NORTH MANHATTAN, NEW YORK. HERBY JUNIOR WOW - THAT’S THE GAME OVER CHRISTMAS BREAK - HOPEFULLY GRANDMA WON’T WANT TO GO. SO THAT MEANS I CAN ACTUALLY GO ? PLEASE ? GRAMPS YOU’RE GOING AS LONG AS THE GRADES ARE THE VERY BEST YOU CAN DO. HERBY JUNIOR PROMISE. GRAMPS YOU MUST UNDERSTAND HERBY THAT THESE TICKETS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND AND I FEEL FORTUNATE WE HAVE TWO - AND IN FACT THEY ARE RIGHT BEHIND THE TEAM BENCH - RIGHT WHERE ALL THE ACTION IS OCCURRING. AND THE CHEESEMAKERS DO HAVE A LIVELY BENCH ! IT’LL BE TOUGH TO TALK TOGETHER DURING THE GAMES. HERBY JUNIOR WOW - I CAN’T WAIT - IN FACT IF THE GAME IS EARLY I MAY HAVE A SUB DO MY PAPER ROUTE - WE ONLY HAVE 120 PAPER ROUTE CUSTOMERS - MOST ARE NICE - BUT MY BROTHER AND I HAVE SPOILED MOST OF THEM. HECK WE’VE EVEN WAITED FOR THE DOG TO COME OUT AND TAKE THE PAPER RIGHT TO THE CUSTOMER - USUALLY THE DAD - AS HE IS LAYING BACK INTO HIS EASY CHAIR WITHOUT MOVING AN INCH. GRAMPS WELL DON’T GET TOO TOO EXCITED - WE’VE GOT A FEW DAYS TO GO BEFORE WE’RE INTO THE MEAT OF THE SEASON...AND AS ALWAYS COACH MITCHELL IS NON - COMMITTAL REGARDING HOW GOOD HIS TEAM IS - BUT I KNOW HIM PERSONALLY AND HE ALWAYS IS TALKING SIMPLE FUNDAMENTALS - ALWAYS - AND HE IS A GOOD PERSON. 4
HERBY JUNIOR YOU MEAN LIKE THE BEHIND THE BACK DRIBBLE THAT HIS SON TOMMY DOES AS GUARD ? GRAMPS YES - THAT IS A PATENTED MOVE FOR GAME AND PRACTICE SITUATIONS IF A PLAYER HAS CONFIDENCE AND ITS TOTAL GOAL IS TO LEAVE A DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN HIS TRACKS, GET TO THE HOOP QUICKLY, AND PICK UP AN EASY TWO OR POSSIBLE THREE. HERBY JUNIOR BUT THE GUARD PULLING THIS BEHIND THE BACK DRIBBLE MUST ALWAYS KEEP HIS HEAD UP TO SEE THE COURT, DISH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCREENS, AVOID A DOUBLE OR TRIPLE TEAM OR TRAPPING DEFENSE - RIGHT ? GRAMPS EXACTLY - ALL INSTINCTIVE ON THE CHEESEMAKERS. WELL I’LL BE BACK TOMORROW TO HELP YOU SHOOT AND WE’LL KEEP ON TRACK - AND MAYBE SOMEDAY YOU’LL BE A CHEESEMAKER - IF I COULD GET YOUR MOM TO MOVE HERE FROM BRODHEAD. HERBY JUNIOR BOY - I HOPE SO ! GRAMPS BUT BEFORE I LET YOU GO - HOW MANY FOLKS WERE IN WEST BRANCH. IOWA AT HOOVER’S FUNERAL LAST WEEK ? HERBY JUNIOR MAN - I ACTUALLY DON’T HAVE A CLUE - I’LL GUESS 2,000 ? GRAMPS NOT EVEN CLOSE - BIGGEST RECORDED FUNERAL IN HISTORY WITH 80,000 ATTENDEES. NEITHER GOLDWATER OR JOHNSON WILL EVER COME CLOSE TO THE TRUE HUMANITARIAN IDEALS OF HOOVER. HERBY JUNIOR WHAT’S HUMANITARIAN - SOMETHING HUMAN ? GRAMPS NO - IN ESSENCE HOOVER WAS A WEALTHY MAN WHO GAVE UP HIS FORTUNE FOR OTHERS WORLD WIDE - HE FELT IT WAS MORE GOOD IN THIS FASHION THAN IN THE HANDS OF HIS HEIRS AND FAMILY. HERBY JUNIOR WASN’T HE BLAMED FOR THE GREAT DEPRESSION THOUGH ? GRAMPS YES, MANY HISTORIANS BLAMED HOOVER FOR THE ENTIRE DEPRESSION - WHEN IN ACTUAL FACT MANY THINGS OCCURRED 5
FINANCIALLY WITHIN OUR COUNTRY TO PRECIPITATE THE CRISIS - IN FACT IN MY FIELD - BANKING - WE’VE ESTABLISHED FEDERAL INSURANCE TO PREVENT BANK FORECLOSURES AND MONEY RUNS - AND WE’VE NOT HAD ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION. HOOVER WAS JUST IN OFFICE AND ACTUALLY DID CONSIDERABLE TO TRY TO AVOID THE DEPRESSION - BUT TOO MANY FACTORS CAME INTO PLAY IN 1929 THAT ACTUALLY BEGAN YEARS BEFORE PRESIDENT HOOVER TOOK OFFICE......... HERBY JUNIOR WELL OUR HISTORY BOOKS HAVE REALLY PRONOUNCED THE DEPRESSION BLAME ON HERBERT HOOVER. GRAMPS HERBY JUNIOR, BEFORE YOU GO BACK TO BRODHEAD WHY DON’T WE HEAD UP TO SWISS COLONY FOR A CHOCOLATE PINEAPPLE SUNDAE FOR A BIG 19 CENTS ? HERBY JUNIOR BOY I LOVE TO GET SPOILED BY MY GRAMPS - BUT MOM SAYS TO TAKE NOTHING FROM YOU - ZERO - WELL SAID I’D BETTER HEAD HOME. GRAMPS WELL YOUR MOTHER IS HOOEY - I MEAN SHE IS CRAZY - WHEN SHE WAS A KID I REALLY BOUGHT HER A TON OF SWISS COLONY ICE CREAM - THE VERY BEST WISCONSIN HAS TO OFFER. MY DAUGHTER HAS EXTREME MEMORY LOSS - I WILL DEFINITELY SPOIL YOU. WE’LL CALL IT EDUCATIONAL - WE’LL DISCUSS POLITICS BETWEEN GOLDWATER AND JOHNSON. HERBY JUNIOR BETTER YET - WHY DON’T WE DISCUSS NIKITA KRUSCHCHEV’S DIAGNOSIS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS ? GRAMPS YES I HEARD THAT ALSO. HERBY JUNIOR AND YOU KNOW WHO CAME TO OUR SCHOOL LAST WEEK ? GRAMPS WHO KRUSHCHEV? HERBY JUNIOR NO - SENATOR PROXMIRE. HE WAS DOOR TO DOOR CAMPAIGNING AT SCHOOL. GRAMPS YES I READ HE ONLY SPENDS 1 CENT ON HIS CAMPAIGNS FOR THE SENATE - NOT WANTING TO WASTE ANYONE’S MONEY EVER. SMART MAN.
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HERBY JUNIOR OK WE’RE FINALLY HERE - THIS IS LIKE HEAVEN WILL BE - THE TRUE OLD FASHIONED SWISS COLONY ICE CREAM SUNDAES. I CAN’T WAIT. GRAMPS AND YOUR MOTHER WILL NEVER KNOW - THIS WILL BE A TOTAL SECRET. HERBY JUNIOR WELL ALL I KNOW IS MY DAD WILL NOT CARE - HE ONLY CARES ABOUT THE PACKERS - AND HE’S EXTREMELY HAPPY SINCE THEY FINALLY CAUGHT FRAN TARKENTON AND BEAT HIM THIS PAST WEEKEND. GRAMPS YES - THE PACKERS ALWAYS STRUGGLE WITH THE WEAKER TEAMS. HERBY JUNIOR LIKE BRODIE AND THE 49ERS - THEY CANNOT BEAT THOSE GUYS - AND THE RAMS WITH BUCKY POPE AND ROMAN GABRIEL- THE ONLY TEAMS THEY BEAT ARE THE PACKERS. GRAMPS DID YOU FINISH ALL YOUR FOOTBALL GAMES THIS YEAR YET ? HERBY JUNIOR WE HAVE ONE MORE ON SATURDAY IF THE FIELD IS PLAYABLE - WE MAY HAVE SNOW. GRAMPS WELL IT’S PRETTY COOL HOW ALL YOU KIDS HAVE MADE THOSE 60 YARD FIELDS AND...... HERBY JUNIOR STRIPED THEM WITH OUR MOM’S FLOUR, MADE OUR OWN GOAL POSTS, HIRED OUR OWN REFS AND MADE A TON OF TRICK PLAYS. GRAMPS I HEARD THE DAD’S ALL WANTED TO COACH BUT YOU KIDS DIDN’T LET THEM ! HERBY JUNIOR ABSOLUTELY CORRECT - NO PARENTS - WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING OURSELF - SCHEDULE, UNIFORMS, FIELDS, PLAYBOOKS, SUBS, SCOREBOARD, CHEERLEADERS GRAMPS WHEN CAN I COME TO ONE OF YOUR FOOTBALL GAMES ? HERBY JUNIOR SORRY GRAMPS - YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED IN UNLESS YOU’RE JUST WALKING BY - WE DON’T WANT PARENTS THERE - THEY SPOIL THE FUN.
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GRAMPS YOU KNOW WHAT - I THINK YOU’RE RIGHT. HERBY JUNIOR ARE YOU ALMOST DONE WITH YOUR SUNDAE GRAMPS ? GRAMPS I CANNOT EAT ANYMORE AND SO I’LL GET YOU BACK TO BRODHEAD QUICKLY BEFORE YOUR MOTHER GETS UPSET WITH ME. HERBY JUNIOR MOM SAYS IT’S THE VERY LAST NIGHT OF NATURAL WATER TOMORROW THEY DUMP FLUORIDE INTO IT SO ACCORDING TO CR. CAIN, OUR DENTIST, WE DON’T DEVELOP CAVITIES. GRAMPS SOUNDS GOOD. HERBY JUNIOR YES I DON’T WANT TO MISS THE ADAMS FAMILY AGAIN TONIGHT. LOVE YOU !
NOVEMBER 6, 1964 GRAMPS I COULDN’T BELIEVE THE ELECTION - A NEAR LANDSLIDE FOR LYNDON JOHNSON. I GUESS EVERYONE WAS WORRIED ABOUT GOLDWATER’S THREATENED NUCLEAR ATTACKS AGAINST RUSSIA. HERBY JUNIOR NO - IT WAS CLEARLY ACCORDING TO OUR TEACHERS THE PROMISE OF THE GREAT SOCIETY BY JOHNSON. GRAMPS WELL THE ELECTION WON’T AFFECT THE CHEESEMAKER BASKETBALL TEAM - I KNOW THAT. HERBY JUNIOR WELL IF GOLDWATER WOULD’VE WON EVERYONE THAT HASN’T BUILT A BOMB SHELTER WOULD PROBABLY GO OUT AND BUILD ONE - MAN YOU SHOULD SEE OUR BASEMENT - WE COULD LIVE THERE FOR A YEAR RIGHT NOW. GRAMPS JACK PAAR ON THE TONIGHT SHOW SAID IT BEST WHEN HE THOUGHT JOHNSON WOULD STAY IN OFFICE UNTIL HE RESOLVED VIET NAM. HERBY JUNIOR WHAT IS VIET NAM GRAMPS ? PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT ! 8
GRAMPS IT’S JUS AN EXTENSION OF THE COLD WAR BETWEEN THE COMMUNIST COUNTRIES AND THE US. JOHNSON WANTS A PEACEFUL SOLUTION AS THE FRENCH FOUGHT THERE FOR THE PAST 200 YEARS, AND HE WANTS US TO LIMIT THIS WAR OF NORTH VIETNAM AGGRESSION AGAINST THE FREE SOUTH - PREVENTING THE SOUTH FROM BECOMING ANOTHER DOMINOE IN THE SPREAD OF COMMUNISM. HERBY JUNIOR THIS IS GETTING REALLY SERIOUS - OUR WEEKLY READER SAYS THAT CHOU EN LAI IN CHINA AND BREZHNEV IN RUSSIA - THE LEADERS OF THEIR COUNTRIES - ARE ABSOLUTELY CRUEL. GRAMPS PROBABLY TRUE - BUT I JUST DON’T KNOW IF GOLDWATER BLOWING THESE PEOPLE UP WITH NUKES IS THE WAY TO GO. EVERYONE LOSES. THESE CRUEL LEADERS CAN RETURN THE NUKE ATTACK ON THE US. HERBY JUNIOR ROBERT KENNEDY WON THE SENATE IN NEW YORK AND HE’LL PROBABLY STOP THE AGGRESSION. GRAMPS BUT HE WON’T STOP THE BRAVES MOVE TO ATLANTA WILL HE ? THERE IS NOTHING SADDER THAN THIS MOVE. THERE IS SUCH A BASEBALL LEGACY IN MILWAUKEE. HERBY JUNIOR THE BRAVES ARE AWFUL - NOT SINCE 1957 WHEN I REMEMBER MY DAD GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES IN MILWAUKEE AGAINST THE YANKEES HAVE THEY BEEN GOOD. IN FACT THE ATTENDANCE AT SOME OF THE GAMES HAS BEEN 500 OR LESS. GRAMPS I THINK I MAY HEAD OVER TO KIMBERLY NOVEMBER 21ST FOR THE FIRST CHEESEMAKERS GAME - SHOULD BE A GOOD ONE - KIMBERLY IS USUALLY PRETTY GOOD - WE DON’T PLAY AT HOME UNTIL THE 28TH OF THE MONTH. HERBY JUNIOR YES -THAT COULD BE A GREAT GAME ALSO - KIMBERLY HAS BEEN A GREAT TEAM IN THE PAST AND COACH MITCHELL DOESN’T SCHEDULE POWDER PUFF NON CONFERENCE OPPONENTS. HE CONSTANTLY CHALLENGES HIS TEAM FROM WHAT I’VE READ IN THE PAPERS AND WHAT YOU’VE TOLD ME GRAMPS. GRAMPS I’M CERTAIN YOU NOTICED OUR ALL CONFERENCE PLAYERS IN FOOTBALL WERE BUCKY, KEITH, AND DEARTH. SOME OF THESE GUYS MAY PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL - THEY’RE THAT GOOD.
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HERBY JUNIOR OH YES - IN THE MONROE TIMES THAT WAS RIGHT NEXT TO BARBARA HUTTON’S SON, LANE, MARRYING IN WESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA - YOU DO KNOW GRAMPS THAT HE IS THE HEIR TO THE WOOLWORTH FORTUNE. GRAMPS I GUESS I DEAL WITH MONEY STUFF ALL DAY AS PRESIDENT OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MONROE. I’M NOT CONCERNED WITH THE HUTTONS BECAUSE AS OF YET, THEY’RE NOT MY CLIENTS. HERBY JUNIOR WELL THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE HAVE OUR BASKETBALL SEASON TICKET ALLOTMENT FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL. AND I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL THE VERY FIRST HOME GAME VERSUS FREEPORT NOVEMBER 28TH. FREEPORT IS EXCELLENT WITH PRESTON PEARSON. GRAMPS WELL PRACTICE STARTS NOVEMBER 12 AND I REALLY CANNOT WAIT SINCE COACH MITCHELL SAID BOTH YOU AND I COULD SNEAK IN AND WATCH PRACTICE AS LONG AS WE DIDN’T STEAL THE CHEESEMAKERS’ SCHEMES. HERBY JUNIOR WELL BY THE END OF THE YEAR WITH MY JUNIOR HIGH TEAM, YOU, AND COACH MITCHELL I SHOULD HAVE A PRETTY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF BASKETBALL - I HOPE. GRAMPS WELL WE’LL DISCUSS EVERY POSSIBLE SITUATION SINCE I ENJOY IT SO MUCH - OFFENSE, DEFENSE, AND SPECIAL SITUATIONS - ALL FROM A FUNDAMENTAL BASKETBALL VIEW. YOU’LL SEE THAT COACH MITCHELL RARELY HAS PLAYS OR TEACHES FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS BUT HE EXPECTS EXCELLENT SKILLS - THE CHEESEMAKERS JUST PLAY FUNDAMENTALLY WELL BY PLAYING A TON. HERBY JUNIOR ON OFFENSE - THAT’S EASY - JUST SCORE MORE POINTS THAN THE OTHER TEAM AND YOU WIN. GRAMPS NOT THAT EASY - IT’S HOW YOU SCORE THE POINTS, YOUR PLAN OF ATTACK, PREPAREDNESS, ABILITY TO HANDLE ALL TYPES OF DEFENSES - LOTS OF CRUCIAL INSTINCTIVE PLAYER DECISIONS. HERBY JUNIOR AND I’LL GET TO SEE ALL THIS AT PRACTICE AND BEHIND THE BENCH DURING GAMES. GRAMPS YOU WILL SEE THAT COACH MITCHELL’S CHEESEMAKERS UTILIZE MAN TO MAN DEFENSE TO MAKE THEIR OFFENSE WORK -
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HERBY JUNIOR CREATING HIGH PERCENTAGE FAST BREAK FIELD GOAL OPPORTUNITIES WHILE MINIMIZING THE OPPOSING TEAM’S OFFENSIVE EFFICIENCY. GRAMPS AND UTILIZING EVERY ADVANTAGE ON THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY BREAK - MEANING DISHING TO OPEN MEN WHEN THE DEFENSE IS RETREATING OR OFF BALANCE - GETTING THE BALL TO THE HOT SCORER, DRIVING TO THE BASKET WITH A MEANINGFUL SHOT, CREATING FOUL SHOT OPPORTUNITIES WHILE TRYING TO FOUL OUT THE OPPOSING PLAYERS IF POSSIBLE. HERBY JUNIOR AND MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO PLAY DEFENSE WITH 3 OR 4 FOULS. WE WANT MOMENTUM - NOW I’M SOUNDING LIKE A COACH. GRAMPS THE CHEESEMAKERS CONTROL THE PACE OF THE GAME - USUALLY FAST IN A MOTION OFFENSIVE SETTING - WITH AGGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE. THEY DON’T CALL IT MOTION - BUT IT IS - THE CHEESEMAKERS REALLY HAVE NO PLAYS OR A PLAYBOOK - ISN’T THAT AMAZING ! HERBY JUNIOR AREN’T PLAYER ROLES EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ? GRAMPS ABSOLUTELY - THE PLAYERS ALL MUST KNOW THEIR ROLES AS REBOUNDERS, SHOOTERS, CREATORS, DEFENSIVE SKILLS, SCREENING ALWAYS ATTACKING THE RIM. HERBY JUNIOR WELL THE CHEESEMAKER TEAMS IN THE PAST HAD GREAT BALL MOVEMENT GRAMPS THAT IS A MUST - WE MUST FATIGUE THE DEFENSE, CREATE MISMATCHES, GET THE BALL TO THE CUTTER, AND OPEN UP SHOTS FOR SHOOTERS. WE MUST KNOW THE DEFENSE RIGHT AWAY AND COMMUNICATE IT TO THE PLAYERS ON THE COURT AND RUN THE SCHEME THAT WORKS INSTINCTIVELY. WE MUST ALWAYS EXPLOIT THE OPPOSITIONS’ WEAKNESSES AND MAINTAIN OUR ADVANTAGES BELIEVING IT IS MUCH EASIER TO PLAY A COMPETITIVE GAME IN FRONT RATHER THAN BEHIND. HERBY JUNIOR WELL I’M READING YOUR SCOUTING REPORTS FROM COACH MITCHELL - COACH IS 122 - 44. WE HAVE 9 RETURNING LETTERMAN: BURINGTON 6 -2, MITCHELL 6 -1, BUCKY 5 - 9, AND DEARTH 6 -2 AS SENIORS. JUNIORS ARE SWIGGUM, FRANKLIN, BARNES, AND MULLER - WITH THE FAST GUY WINZENREID AS A SOPHOMORE EXPECTED TO MAKE THE TEAM.
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GRAMPS YOU FORGOT DAVE HOLLING - HIS DAD IS A MINISTER AND THAT WILL HELP THE CHEESEMAKERS - AND DAVE IS A GREAT PLAYER ESPECIALLY REBOUNDING. HERBY JUNIOR WELL MOM IS HERE TO PICK ME UP - AND SHE’LL WANT TO WATCH DONNA REED OR DICK VAN DYKE WHEN SHE GETS HOME AS SHE COOKS CHICKEN STEW. SO LONG GRAMPS. LOVE YOU.
NOVEMBER 16,1964 GRAMPS YESTERDAY COACH MITCHELL WAS IN THE BANK AND HAD A FEW EXTRA MOMENTS - NOT TO GIVE ANY SNEAKY SCHEMES AWAY BUT HE WENT INTO TALKING ABOUT HIS DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY - WHICH I FOUND RATHER INTRIGUING. HERBY JUNIOR OH - IT’S LIKE PREVENT THE OTHER TEAM FROM SCORING AND MAKE MORE POINTS THAN THE OTHER TEAM RIGHT ? GRAMPS NO - IT’S NOT THAT SIMPLE. HERBY JUNIOR OH - I GET IT - BACK TO FUNDAMENTALS ! GRAMPS EXACTLY ! HERBY JUNIOR OK - LAY IT ON ME WHAT COACH MITCHELL HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE CHEESEMAKERS DEFENSE GRAMPS I WILL - MAINLY MAN TO MAN - OR X DEFENSE - ONE CHEESEMAKER ON EVERY OPPONENT LIKE A GLOVE. WE MAY SWITCH PLAYERS ON DEFENSE WHEREBY WE PLAY A MATCH UP TYPE ZONE - GUARDING ANYONE IN OUR ZONE AS A MAN RATHER THAN A PARTICULAR AREA. BUT USUALLY WE DON’T SWITCH MEN AND FIGHT THROUGH SCREENS, PICKS, AND CHASE OUR PLAYERS - ALWAYS DENYING THE BALL. HERBY JUNIOR DOES COACH MITCHELL EVER PLAY STRAIGHT ZONE ? GRAMPS ALMOST NEVER !
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HERBY JUNIOR WHAT ABOUT PRESSING - WE DO THAT ON OUR JUNIOR HIGH TEAM A TON. GRAMPS YES - THE CHEESEMAKERS PRESS A TON AS YOU CALL IT - BUT ONLY PICKING UP MEN AT HALF COURT. SO IT IS NOT A FULL COURT PRESS IN THE USUAL SENSE. HERBY JUNIOR FROM FULL COURT TO 3/4 COURT TO HALF COURT TO TOTAL DENIAL 100% OF THE COURT. THAT’S MY TEAM’S SCHEME - I BET COACH MITCHELL MIMICS THIS? GRAMPS NO - NOT REALLY - JUST HALF COURT - BUT THE CHEESEMAKERS STILL ADD TOTAL DENIAL OF ALL PASSES TO ANYONE, TRAPPING AND DOUBLE TEAMING, SWITCH AND NON SWITCH OF SCREENS - WITH MOST OF OUR PLAYERS FIGHTING THROUGH THE SCREENS - MAKING CERTAIN THE OPPONENT DOESN’T GET AN EASY PICK AND ROLL TO THE HOOP. THE CHEESEMAKERS MUST BE IN SHAPE AS COACH MITCHELL DOESN’T SUB MUCH. HERBY JUNIOR NOT VERY EASY IN THE BADGER CONFERENCE AS THERE IS A TON OF CUTTERS, SCREENERS, AND CONFUSING TRICKY OFFENSES. GRAMPS COACH MITCHELL IS A DEFENSIVE GENIUS - HE FEELS ONE OR TWO POSSESSIONS DECIDES A GAME - AND THAT YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST POSSESSION. HERBY JUNIOR DOES HE EVER PLAY SOFT DEFENSE ? GRAMPS WELL HE MAY IF THE CHEESEMAKERS ARE AHEAD - INSTEAD OF FRONTING AND DENYING - JUST KEEPING HIS DEFENSE BETWEEN THE HOOP AND OFFENSIVE PLAYER. HERBY JUNIOR HOW ON EARTH CAN PLAYERS ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT ALL THIS STUFF IS THERE AN ELABORATE PLAYBOOK ? GRAMPS NO - MOST OF THE DEFENSIVE SCHEMES ARE INGRAINED IN PRACTICE AND IT IS MAINLY A TOUGH MAN TO MAN DEFENSE. HERBY JUNIOR DOES COACH MITCHELL ENGAGE IN MUCH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PLAYERS ? 13
GRAMPS CONSTANTLY - EMPHASIZING DENIALS OF BALL, PLUGGING LANES, ENCOURAGING PLAYERS TO BACK OFF THEIR MAN WHEN THEY ARE FAR FROM THE BALL AND AWAY FROM THE HOOP - EXCEPT WHEN WE’RE IN A TOTAL DENIAL OF THE BALL SCHEME DEFENSIVELY. THE CHEESEMAKERS WILL RISK TRAPS WITH TWO MEN ON THE BALL AND GET TONS OF STEALS THIS YEAR. HERBY JUNIOR WOW - WE’RE REALLY GETTING INTO BASKETBALL - I DIDN’T REALIZE THERE WAS THIS MUCH TO HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS. GRAMPS THE REAL BIGGIE IS BALL PRESSURE WITH YOUR HANDS CUPPED UPWARD -ALLOWING PLAYERS TO MAKE AN OFFENSE DIFFICULT TO EXECUTE - SPECIFICALLY ENCOURAGING STEALS WITHOUT FOULING SINCE YOU ONLY GET 5 FOULS IN HIGH SCHOOL BALL. HERBY JUNIOR CREATING HAVOC ON THE DEFENSE IS REALLY WHAT DEFENSE IS ALL ABOUT - DENIAL OF THE MIDDLE IS A BIG KEY PER OUR COACHES - I’M ASSUMING MONROE DOES THE SAME. GRAMPS AND MORE - DENIAL OF BALL, OFFENSIVE PLAYER POSITION, AND HELPING WHEN THERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE DEFENSE -CONTESTING EVERY SHOT WITH A HAND IN THE FACE IS HUGE. HERBY JUNIOR BLOCKING OUT HAS BEEN BIG FOR THE CHEESEMEN ALSO - RIGHT ? GRAMPS WE JUST AREN’T THAT BIG INSIDE - BUT WE PLAY BIG ALWAYS WITH A RUMP IN EVERY OFFENSIVE PLAYER WHENEVER A SHOT IS LAUNCHED. HERBY JUNIOR I’M REALLY GETTING INTO THIS - DID COACH MITCHELL SAY ANYTHING ABOUT DEFENSIVE SPACING ? GRAMPS YES - THIS WAS QUITE A LECTURE TO THE BANK FOLKS - PROPER DEFENSIVE SPACING ALLOWS YOUR TEAM TO ACTUALLY REST, AND EXPEND LESS ENERGY AND AVOID FATIGUE - PLUGGING A LANE WHEN YOUR MAN IS OUT OF THE PLAY IS ESSENTIAL AND AGAIN WREAKS OFFENSIVE HAVOC. HERBY JUNIOR WHERE DOES COACH MITCHELL HAVE THE PICK UP POINT ON DEFENSE ?
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GRAMPS IF WE’RE PRESSING IT’S HALF COURT - OTHERWISE AS SOON AS THEY COME INTO THEIR OFFENSIVE RANGE WHERE THEY ARE A THREAT TO SCORE, ASSIST, CUT, OR SCREEN. HERBY JUNIOR DO THE CHEESEMAKERS ROTATE ON DEFENSE ? GRAMPS CONSTANTLY - WE NEED TO EFFECTIVELY ROTATE TO PREVENT PASSING, SHOOTING, CUTTING, MEN GETTING INTO THE LANE, AND PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE SCORING OPPORTUNITY. HERBY JUNIOR GET THERE AND SEAL IS OUR COACHES TERMS. GRAMPS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. CONTAINMENT, ANTICIPATION, BUST TO DEFENSIVE POSITION, AND NEVER ALLOW UNCONTESTED SHOTS AS THE SCORING PERCENT ELEVATES DRAMATICALLY WITH UNCONTESTED SHOTS - REMEMBER ALWAYS A HAND IN THE FACE. HERBY JUNIOR KEEPING THE BALL AWAY FROM THE MIDDLE AND NOT ALLOWING BASELINE DRIVES TO THE HOOP IS ESSENTIAL. GRAMPS WELL I’M GLAD WE HAVE THE CHEESEMAKERS TO ENJOY THIS YEAR, AS THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON IN THIS WORLD THAT NEEDS FIXING. HERBY JUNIOR LIKE THE BUILDING OF THE NEW ATLANTA BASEBALL STADIUM . GRAMPS DON’T GET ME GOING ON THE EVENTUAL LOSS OF THE BRAVES FROM OUR STATE. I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND ECONOMICS - BUT LOSING THE BRAVES IS LIKE LOSING OUR LIFE IF YOU’RE A FAN. I CANNOT TALK ABOUT THE MILWAUKEE BRAVES LEAVING - MAKES ME SICK. HERBY JUNIOR WE’VE GONE FROM WORLD SERIES TO NO BASEBALL RAPIDLY. WHY GRAMPS ? GRAMPS AGAIN I AM SUCH A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FAN - AND I DON’T SEE BASEBALL EVER COMING BACK HERE. THE BRAVES ARE OFF TO MILWAUKEE FOR GOOD. I CAN’T TALK ABOUT IT. JUST CANNOT ! HERBY JUNIOR OK - THEN WE’LL TALK ABOUT.....WHAT MY HISTORY TEACHER TALKS ABOUT. THE WARREN REPORT !
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GRAMPS ALL I KNOW IS THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE THAT WARREN REPORT FROM WASHINGTON FOR $1.50 - IT’S LENGTHY AND SAYS THAT OSWALD DID THE WHOLE THING. I DON’T BUY IT ! AND WHAT LITTLE I KNOW OF LAW, I DO KNOW THAT EARL WARREN OF THE SUPREME COURT WASN’T A CONSTITUTIONALLY CORRECT OFFICER FOR THIS REPORT AS HE WAS ALREADY A PART OF THE JUDICIARY - AND THUS THIS WASN’T NEUTRAL, WARREN CONFLICTED WITH THE SEPARATION OF POWERS AS ADMINISTRATIVE EXECUTIVE OR CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES REQUIRE INDEPENDENCE WITH OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT EXCLUDED. IT’S LIKE SAYING THAT PRESIDENT JOHNSON CAN VOTE IN THE SENATE WHILE HE’S A PRESIDENT - I DON’T GET IT - I DON’T AGREE WITH HOW THIS ASPECT OF OUR GOVERNMENT IS BEING RUN. HERBY JUNIOR ARE YOU SAYING OUR GOVERNMENT IS CORRUPT GRAMPS ? GRAMPS NO - NOT AT ALL - WE JUST MUST MAKE CERTAIN THAT IT IS RUN PROPERLY - THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE REALLY ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THEY WANTED DIVISION OF GOVERNMENT SO ONE BRANCH DIDN’T BECOME TOO POWERFUL. HERBY JUNIOR I TOTALLY GET IT GRAMPS - IF EARL WARREN AS CHIEF OF THE SUPREME COURT SANCTIONED THIS COMMISSION AND THEN HAD TO PROSECUTE OR DECIDE A CONTROVERSY BASED ON HIS OWN COMMISSION IT WOULDN’T BE FAIR - OR RATHER IT WOULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS YOU SAY GRAMPS. WELL - WHO DECIDED TO DO THIS MAJOR BLUNDER APPOINTING EARL TO RUN THE COMMISSION ? GRAMPS WHAT I’VE READ IS THAT CONGRESS WITH THE PRESIDENT’S APPROVAL WERE UNDER SO MUCH PRESSURE TO INVESTIGATE KENNEDY’S ASSASSINATION THAT THEY FELT EARL WOULD BE THE ONE TO BE THE FAIR JUDGE OF ALL THE MASSIVE INVESTIGATION - NOT EVEN REALIZING WHAT THEY WERE DOING WASN’T CORRECT CONSTITUTIONALLY ? HERBY JUNIOR WHY ARE YOU SO HUNG UP ON THIS GRAMPS ? GRAMPS I DON’T KNOW - I JSUT FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON THAT WE’RE NOT BEING TOLD HERE IN MONROE, WISCONSIN - WE’RE WELL AWAY FROM ALL THIS ACTION. HERBY JUNIOR DO YOU THINK IT WAS CASTRO OR SOME COMMUNIST PLOT ? GRAMPS I JUST DON’T KNOW - WE MAY NEVER FIND OUT !
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HERBY JUNIOR WELL I’M READING IN THE TIMES TODAY THAT WALTER BABULA THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL WANTS TO RESTRICT TICKETS SO THE WHOLE TOWN WILL HAVE SOME ACCESS TO THE CHEESEMAKERS. GRAMPS YES - THOUGH WE ALL WANT MORE TICKETS I FEEL IT’S FAIR TO APPORTION THE TICKETS SO MORE PEOPLE CAN SEE PART OF THE SEASON THAN ONLY A SELECT FEW BEING AT ALL THE GAMES. HERBY JUNIOR I’M ALSO READING WHERE BYE BYE BIRDIE IS NOW PLAYING AT MONROE HIGH SCHOOL - MOM WANTS TO GO SOON. GRAMPS I’M CERTAIN IT WILL BE EXCELLENT - BUT YOUR GRANDMA WANTS TO SEE THE CARPETBAGGERS NOW PLAYING AT THE INSIDE GOETZ THEATER - NOT THE SKY VIEW OR OUTDOOR THEATER. HERBY JUNIOR WELL SINCE WE’RE COMPARING NOTES ON THE TIMES GRAMPS - DID YOU READ ABOUT THIS GUY AL MCGUIRE NOW THE HEAD COACH OF MARQUETTE - MOM’S ALMA MATER ? SHE’S PRETTY EXCITED AND FEELS THAT THE WARRIORS MAY GET BACK TO NATIONAL PROMINENCE WITH MCGUIRE AS HEAD COACH. GRAMPS THAT WOULD BE GREAT AS ALL MY KIDS HAVE GONE TO MARQUETTE - THE LARGEST CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD - LITTLE KNOWN FACT. HERBY JUNIOR RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD IN MILWAUKEE ? GRAMPS WE’LL SEE ABOUT THEM BEING NATIONALLY PROMINENT - IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME AS THE WARRIORS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. HERBY JUNIOR MOM’S HERE - GOTTA GO ! LOVE YOU !
END - CHAPTER 1, CHEESEMAKERS
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