You know that I love and very much have been a fan of women’s sports.

So, you also know how excited I have been for the infusion of energy that transferred from women’s college basketball to the WNBA when Caitlin Clark went from playing in the national championship game for Iowa to being drafted by the Indiana Fever and then playing for them in a span of about a month.

A lot of people were excited about the bright spotlight that was about to shine on women’s sports, particularly basketball, and how it felt like the American sports fan base was ready to at least give the concept of women’s basketball a chance.

But they are blowing it in a spectacular way.

The last two seasons of professional women’s basketball have been underwhelming.

The storylines that seemed to be aimed at interpersonal rivalries and the changing of the guard from the dominance of the Connecticut pipeline to a league more represented by players from across the land turned into discussions of racism and dirty tactics.

Then add to that the fact that when the WNBA Finals end this week, so will the current collective bargaining agreement. And let’s be perfectly clear: you will not find the word “peace” anywhere in the discussions about the near future of this league.

The angst really began when Clark declared for the “association”, and the tough talk from those in the league and around it began in full throat.

It started with former Connecticut players like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi boldly predicting that Clark wouldn’t find the competition as friendly and the success as free-flowing in the “W” as she had it in college.

There was already bitter hatred shown in college by LSU star Angel Reese.

And all of those messages were sent before the 2024 season ever started.

Then the play began.

With the whole world watching, the women’s game—known for its freedom of movement and flow of play—became like watching the NBA of the 70s and 80s. What made the highlight shows at night was not the passing and execution, but the fighting and rough play.

The game was plagued with ladies throwing other ladies to the floor, running each other into the backboard supports and unsportsmanlike conduct that was greeted by cheering and laughter from the offending teams’ benches.

Play became slower because players weren’t sure where the hard contact was going to come from, but they knew it was coming, and their heads were on swivels trying to figure it out before they got their teeth knocked out.

The officiating in the league seemed to “miss” much of it. They didn’t call it, they enforced only part of what actually happened, and favoritism was clear and undeniable.

Players brought the subject of officiating up in the media, the league fined them for it, and nothing changed.

So when Napheesa Collins, one of the league’s best players, used an end-of-season press conference to “put it all out there,” the challenge was extended.

Her biggest claims are these: the league needs a new commissioner, the officiating needs to rise to the level of the quality of players, and bettering the product in every way needs to be the primary goal of every person who is involved with the league.

But the WNBA has a commissioner, and her name is Cathy Engelbert.

I will confirm for you that she is a massive part of the problem.

Englebert’s response to the players' complaints can be summarized by this paraphrase: “The players should be grateful that I gave them a league to play in the first place, because without me they’d have nothing.”

She’s been the commissioner of the league since 2019, but the league is 29 years old. Do the math.

While you know my opinions on WNBA salaries — that the women’s players are going to ask for an unrealistic amount of money from a league that isn’t paying its bills without the help of its NBA brethren — tossing out harsh comments leading into negotiations is not only not helping the cause, but it’s malpractice on Engelbert’s part.

She’s done nothing to help clean any of this up, and her stance is not one of a good lead negotiator or a good leader … period.

With the league ready to blossom, its players and commissioner have sprayed a whole container of Roundup on it.

The good news is, they have until February to get into a room and get this figured out.

The bad news is, I don’t see how the people who are supposed to be in that room will ever be able to sit together, let alone talk to each other, or find common ground with each other, and get a deal done.

The worst news is this: when the dust settles and everyone is ready to get back to playing basketball again, they may find that the fans they had drawn have disappeared … and won’t be back.

The post The WNBA is at a crossroads appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

I like to cook on the grill, and I think I am getting better at it.

Now, I am not doing anything supreme like ribs or steaks, but give me a package of chicken breasts and I can make them nice and juicy on the inside.

And, of course, I do burgers, dogs and brats, too.

And the grilling season doesn’t start on Memorial Day Weekend. If it’s not too cold to sit out by the grill, it’s not too cold to cook something on it.

And occasionally I will just cook a lot of different things and eat it for meals all week.

Today, my thoughts are like that — I have a lot going on out up here inside my skull.

Let’s cook!

* * *

The NFL’s choice for halftime entertainment of the Super Bowl in February is quite puzzling.

The announcement made over the weekend was that Bad Bunny would be performing in between the second and third quarters.

What … you’ve never heard of Bad Bunny? (sarcasm warning)

He is a rapper from Puerto Rico who is outspoken in his political views and has previously said that doing concerts in the US is not a priority because he doesn’t need to — it’s “not necessary”.

He has also been quoted as saying that he scheduled no American cities on his current tour out of fear of ICE agents targeting those attending.

He has every right to feel that way, say those things and to not perform here.

But why, then, is this the person the league wants to put in arguably the most prime position in entertainment?

I didn’t realize that the Spanish-speaking rap audience was so large that America needed it for such a prestigious occasion.

At least I won’t have to worry about missing anything while I am going to the bathroom and getting something to eat.

* * *

The Colts' new leadership in place after the passing of Jim Irsay in May has me feeling good about the direction of the franchise.

Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson assumed control of the Colts following his death.

Irsay-Gordon now serves as the CEO and Principal Owner, with Foyt as Owner & Executive Vice President and Jackson as Owner and Chief Brand Officer.

Their grandfather, Robert Irsay, moved the team to Indianapolis in the middle of the night in Mayflower moving trucks packed full of everything from helmets and shoulder pads to pencils and paper weights.

While it is indisputable that Jim Irsay loved the Colts and poured his everything into the team, he often stepped over the line and became too involved. He spoke in the media too often and what he said frequently harmed the football people in his front office’s ability to improve the team.

In other words, he got in the way.

These three ladies are clearly not just figureheads. They are brand managers who you see involved with the team without being in the way.

I think they are off to a great start, and I am excited to see how their teamwork in managing the Colts works moving forward.

* * *

I wrote earlier this summer about how the WNBA has to clean up its game if America is going to embrace it the way they want.

The WNBA game of 2025 almost gives you a 1982 kind of vibe. For example, as I was watching the Indiana Fever play Las Vegas in the semifinal series over the weekend, a Fever player broke free and started a drive toward the basket. The foul that prevented the layup went way too far and should have been ruled as flagrant.

Not only did the officials not do that, but they didn’t even review the play to see if they got it right.

And that kind of play happened at least once in every game this season, including times where it was the Fever doing the roughhousing.

They can’t keep this up, or the beauty of the women’s game will never come to be appreciated. You have some of the best women to ever play the sport in the WNBA right now, but their skills are no match for getting grabbed by the back of the head and thrown to the hardwood.

The collective bargaining agreement is up at the end of the finals this year, and if the players are smart, they will demand that the game be played and officiated differently if they ever want to see the kind of salaries they think they deserve.

* * *

One last thing: we have to talk about the ABS System for baseball next season.

I am a traditionalist, but I am 100 percent in favor of this rule change.

I am so tired of watching managers get thrown out by an umpire who has gotten less than 90 percent of the pitches correct in a certain game, who is now offended that someone objects to how poorly he is doing his job.

Two challenges per game are not enough. It needs to be four, and the challenging team should get to keep every challenge they get right.

Chicken, anyone … fresh off the grill?

The post A tailgater of ideas appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

INDIANAPOLIS — The man from Texas accused of stalking and sending sexually charged messages and threats to Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark admitted he was "guilty as charged."

Michael Lewis, 55, appeared in court for his first hearing Tuesday morning after he was arrested at a hotel Sunday.

Court documents claim Lewis started messaging Clark in mid-December through January. Lewis told police that his relationship was imaginary and a joke.

While in court Tuesday morning, Lewis pleaded "guilty as charged" the moment he sat down, according to WISH-TV.

Lewis faces a presumptive three-year sentence, according to a Marion County judge. The court also filed a "not guilty" plea on Lewis' behalf as Tuesday's hearing was only his first appearance. The judge also recommended he only speak to his attorney.

Lewis is being held on a $50,000 bond. If posted, he'll be required to wear an ankle monitor and remain in Indiana.

His pre-trial hearing is scheduled for March 31st.

The post Man accused of stalking Caitlin Clark quickly admits guilt appeared first on News Now Warsaw.