Milwaukee, WI

Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t the only member of the Milwaukee Bucks family who’ll be a part of the 2024 Paris Olympics

Published

5 months ago

July 27, 2024

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Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t the only member of the Milwaukee Bucks family who’ll be a part of the 2024 Paris Olympics

Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t the only member of the Milwaukee Bucks family who’ll play a big part in the Paris Olympics.

Johnny Watson, the Bucks’ executive producer of broadcast and live events, will, too.

Watson and Antetokounmpo will both help lead teams — just in their own ways. Antetokounmpo will be representing his home country of Greece from the court, and Watson will be courtside as a venue producer for all men’s and women’s basketball games.

“It’s one of the most prominent sporting entertainment in the world,” Watson said. “It’s a huge deal. I’m honored.”

Watson will be show-calling, aka producing, the basketball games’ in-arena presentations with videos, graphics, music, special effects, lighting, on-court entertainment and national anthems. To pull this off, he’ll be working with a crew of at least 25 people per game who’ve come from around the world, including France, Finland, Australia, Canada and the U.S.

While this may sound like a lot, Watson’s done it before. He worked the men’s basketball games and the women’s basketball medal rounds for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Plus, the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China in 2019 and in Indonesia in 2023.

Watson said it’s nearly the same as what he does for Bucks games at Fiserv Forum. And, internationally with his team on occasion, like when the Bucks played in London in 2015 and Abu Dhabi in 2022.

Here’s a glimpse into Watson’s Olympic journey, from planning meetings that began months ago to what a day in his life will look like during the Games.

“It’s obviously an honor to be here, represent Milwaukee, the Bucks, my family,” Watson said. “It’s pretty special to be a part of it.”

From months of meetings to what game days will look like

About six months ago, Watson started having meetings for the Olympics, which ramped up as the Games got closer. Those meetings focused on processes, staffing, logistics and more, he said. Once that was solidified, planning the programs, what the shows will look like, commenced.

Watson arrived in Paris in mid-July and took an hour train ride to Lille, where the group phases will take place. He’ll head to Paris proper for the medal rounds and stay there through Aug. 13.

There will be four basketball games a day. Watson will arrive about two hours before the first for meetings and to rehearse, step-by-step, what he and his team — including talent, music DJs and graphic operators — will be doing during the game.

“Then, the doors open and you go and you start,” he said.

When the game ends, Watson and his crew will meet and rehearse for the next one.

“It makes for a really long day, but it’s the Olympics,” Watson said. “It’s the pinnacle of sport.”

Watson will be reunited with fellow Bucks representative Giannis Antetokounmpo when Greece takes on Canada Saturday. Antetokounmpo helped lead his home country into its first Games in men’s basketball since 2008 and was a flag bearer for the opening ceremonies.

Heading into his 13th season with the Bucks, Watson’s been with the organization since B.A., before Antetokounmpo.

“To see his growth and know his story now of where he came from and how much it means to him to be a part of the Olympics is pretty, pretty special,” Watson said. “I’m really excited to obviously see him and see some of the other Bucks staff here, too.”

With this being Watson’s first time in Paris, he’s carved out time to explore before heading back home. He’s planning to check out the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Champs-Élysées.

The Bucks’ Johnny Watson will be headed to the US Open in New York next

As if the Olympics weren’t enough for one summer, Watson will be off to the US Open in New York next month to be a stadium director.

As a former All-American tennis player at Coe College with numerous accolades in the sport, this is a “bucket list lifelong dream” for him.

Watson has attended the U.S. Open as a fan with his dad — who got Watson into tennis when he was 7 — around six times.

Watson helped out with the event for the first time in 2022. He mainly co-managed content for the screens at the Flushing Meadows grounds. His role this time around will be more what he does with the Bucks, he said — programming shows and making them happen.

“My main priority is the (Bucks), but the fact that they look at this as professional development, something I’m very passionate about …” Watson said. “The fact that they give me the opportunity to do this or they tell me it’s OK to do these things in the summer and other times, it means a lot to me.”

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Milwaukee, WI

34 from Portis leads Milwaukee to 112-101 Victory Over Washington

Published

3 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

34 from Portis leads Milwaukee to 112-101 Victory Over Washington

Matt Yeazel brings you Bucks in 6, a 6-minute recap of Milwaukee’s 112-101 over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night despite Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard being out with injuries.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Bobby Portis replaced Giannis Antetokounmpo in the starting lineup and scored a season-high 34 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 112-101 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

Khris Middleton had 18 points, six rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks, while Portis finished with 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Antetokounmpo (back spasms) missed his third game of the season and the Bucks also played again without Damian Lillard (right calf strain) after winning the NBA Cup earlier this week.

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said Lillard could play Monday against Chicago.

Rookie Ryan Rollins started at point guard in Lillard’s absence and contributed 14 points in 31 minutes. Center Brook Lopez also had 14 and Gary Trent Jr. had 15 points and seven rebounds.

Middleton played for the second straight night after scoring 14 points in 19 minutes at Cleveland on Friday. He continues to get into shape after missing the first 21 games following offseason surgery on both ankles.

Jordan Poole scored 26 points and Bilal Coulibaly had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Washington.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee kids pick gifts for family members at 'We Got This Garden'

Published

10 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Milwaukee kids pick gifts for family members at 'We Got This Garden'

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“We Got This Garden” hosts event for area kids to pick gifts for family members

MILWAUKEE – The holidays came early on Milwaukee’s north side on Saturday, Dec. 21

At “We Got This Garden” near 9th and Ring, kids were able to pick out gifts to give to a parent, guardian, or other family members.

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“Around this time of the year, parents, guardians loved ones – they want to make their kids feel as special as they can,” said Meg Bruzan, team leader with We Got This Milwaukee. “We thought it would just be really great for kids to be able to give back a little bit to those families that do so much every single day of the year.”

The event was new this year. It was made possible due to donations, which the organization accepts online.

In the summer, “We Got This Garden” welcomes neighborhood kids to learn the basics of gardening – and earn some money in the process.

Data shows that the 53206 area is one of the most incarcerated ZIP codes in the nation. There are also health and poverty concerns.

Heartwarming NewsMilwaukeeNews

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Families Gather to Celebrate the Holidays and Promote Infant Health – Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper

Published

18 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Milwaukee Families Gather to Celebrate the Holidays and Promote Infant Health – Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper

Children, parents and grandparents enjoyed spending the evening together at the Ascension Ebenezer Resource Center.

By Ascension Wisconsin

Amid laughter and holiday cheer, 26 families from across Milwaukee gathered for the 5th Annual Blanket of Love Christmas Dinner, hosted at Ascension Ebenezer Resource Center, located at Ebenezer Church of God in Christ.

The Blanket of Love program, a year-round initiative by Ascension Wisconsin, provides expectant mothers and families with essential support, education, and resources aimed at reducing infant mortality and promoting family wellness. The Christmas dinner brought families together to celebrate the season with games, ornament-making, a shared meal, gift-giving, and a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

Families from across Milwaukee shared dinner and learned more about Ascension’s Blanket of Love program.

“I have been coming to Blanket of Love for years. Ascension has helped support me with all three of my pregnancies,” said Alexsis Bailey-Grier. “This program is a true blessing for the community.”

The program fosters a sense of community through health and wellness education, shared meals, and connections with Ascension nurses, social workers, and patient navigators.

Children had fun playing games, making ornaments and creating art.

This year alone, more than 5,000 families have benefited from the educational, social, and healthcare resources provided through Ascension Wisconsin’s Blanket of Love program. These services are delivered through Ascension hospitals, 36 Milwaukee churches, neighborhood centers, and community partners.

“One of the most important things we do in Blanket of Love is recognize the importance of family all year long but especially during the holiday season,” said Brenda Hoskins, MSW, an Ascension Wisconsin social worker. “Some parents tell me this is a particularly hard time of year for them. When we come together in celebration, it brings a feeling of connectedness through community.”

Families celebrated being together and making Christmas memories.

The program’s overarching goal is to ensure more children in Milwaukee are born healthy and strong, giving them the chance to celebrate their first birthday.

“Education builds the foundation of behaviors and habits that have a positive impact on an individual’s health,” said Julia Means, Ascension RN and Blanket of Love founder.

“When we say ‘blanket of love’ we mean we wrap you in a blanket of love,” Means said. “We want our families to know they are loved and valued and that love spreads throughout our community. Christmas is a time to spread and share love.”

For more information please visit https://www.behealthybeyou.org/programs-bol or call 414-465-4587. Donations for Ascension Wisconsin Blanket of Love can be made to the Ascension Wisconsin Foundation at: giveAWF.org/community-giving.

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