Milwaukee, WI
Lori Nickel: On four-game skid, the Bucks are hurting and the red flags are up and waving
Kevin Porter Jr., Kyle Kuzma talk trust, accountability with Bucks
Kevin Porter Jr. and Kyle Kuzma talk about trust, accountability during the Milwaukee Bucks’ four-game losing streak.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has put the Milwaukee Bucks on his back before, to save the day.
But trailing the Atlanta Hawks 104-85 midway through the third quarter Sunday night, Antetokounmpo drove to the basket, was blocked on a close-range shot and was not rewarded with a foul. Looking around in disbelief, he took an uncharacteristic one-second break before getting back on defense.
Nine seconds later, the Bucks called time out and Antetokounmpo took a few seconds more to put his hands on his knees and stare down at the court, alone with his thoughts, before joining his mates at the bench.
Totally understandable. How can this be anything other than frustrating?
The Bucks have fallen two places in the Eastern Conference standings since March 15, lost two straight at home, four straight overall and 6 of their last 10 − but pointing out their many shortcomings feels like kicking a wounded animal. Maybe it is just this simple: Damian Lillard is out indefinitely with a terrifying blood clot, Bobby Portis is serving a suspension for his poor judgment until April 8, his backup Jericho Sims is hurt and AJ Green is hurt. The Bucks are severely undermanned.
But when the Bucks found a unique and mysterious way to lose as they did Sunday to Atlanta − shooting 69% at the half and still trailing, and then losing, to the fast-breaking Hawks − Milwaukee’s red flags are now raised and waving, with coach Doc Rivers trying everything to rally his guys.
“You try to build guys up and you try to teach them,” Rivers said Sunday. “We watched a long film today. It wasn’t necessarily the most positive film, because it showed all our mistakes, but it is positive if you take it as a teacher and as, we have to get better at these things. That’s how I made it. It wasn’t a screaming thing; it was just matter of fact. Things we have to do.
“And I stopped and asked, am I right? Do you see this? And guys were very engaging, and they talk, but then we came out and (lost to Atlanta).”
How did they get here?
Absent Bobby Portis leaves a big hole
A year ago, he was a heavy contender for the NBA sixth man of the year. In 2021 and 2022, he saved the Bucks while Brook Lopez underwent back surgery and missed significant time.
Now Portis is grounded for taking an unapproved medication, and is sitting out 25 games on unpaid leave because of it. His energy is missed.
Antetokounmpo said recently the Bucks have to play scrappy, gritty, defensive basketball, because regardless of talent level and interchanging parts, it is the one thing any competitor can fall back on.
Portis would have helped in this area as the scrappiest of all. Instead, he’s not available for his teammates. Portis was also the kind of leader to call BS when he saw it. He would fire up the home crowd. The NBA is not at fault for his suspension. This is on Portis.
Some of Jon Horst’s moves have been questionable
The Bucks general manager began blowing up this team a little less than two years ago. When Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat destroyed Milwaukee in the first round of the NBA playoffs, Horst fired coach Mike Budenholzer – who had won the NBA title just two years earlier.
Then Horst was responsible for the debacle of hiring Adrian Griffin with great pep rally-like fanfare, before dumping him months later and making the midseason hire of Rivers in 2024. The Bucks lost in the first round of the playoffs again.
It would be shortsighted to lay all of the Bucks woes the past two years on Horst. But he does share responsibility.
He drafted 19-year-old AJ Johnson, who was too inexperienced to help the Bucks in any way this season, so Horst subsequently dealt Johnson in a trade in February.
And then there’s this about Horst’s decisions with the coaching changes:
- Budenholzer had two years and $16 million left on his contract when he was fired.
- Griffin had a multi-year contract worth approximately $4 million per season.
- Rivers is scheduled to make $40 million through 2026-27.
The owners will have to determine if the Bucks look any better for it?
The Bucks haven’t caught any breaks
There are other issues that stand out, too. Lots of roster turnover and little time to gel. Half a dozen close losses by two or three points; too many games where the Bucks have trailed early and had to fight to come from behind. That might just indicate the team doesn’t have what it takes to meet outside expectations.
Another kick in the teeth is that Sunday was the first of five games for the Bucks in seven days this week, and that includes travel to Philadelphia, Miami and New Orleans to make up for a snow out. What a dismal way to follow up a recent West Coast trip at the end of the season when everyone already is exhausted.
To withstand an NBA schedule that is more grueling than the NFL’s and more demanding than MLB’s, a team simply needs a disaster plan B, C and D. Milwaukee looks like it bet everything on Giannis and Dame.
Disinterested parties make for a bad look
Sunday night’s crowd, which had many celebrations for Pride Night, had little else to cheer about. The Bucks gave up 118 points to Atlanta in the first three quarters, smothering their own impressive offensive output.
It was so flat at times in Fiserv Forum that a fan at the end of the third quarter could be heard as clear as day shouting: “Let’s go! We have a whole other quarter!”
There have been gaps of empty seats at Fiserv Forum all season long. Nothing to cause alarm, but noticeable, nonetheless.
It’s hard to remember the last time Antetokounmpo was on the court with 3 minutes left in the game, fighting for his life and his team’s comeback attempt while disinterested spectators headed toward the aisles and streamed for the exits like they did Sunday.
By the time Antetokounmpo finished his postgame workout and treatment, and addressed questions from the media, the handful of reporters who had been there to cover the whole game had shrunk to just two.
Even in the darkest days in Green Bay, the Packers draw so much interest that losses are covered and analyzed ad nauseam because fan interest demands it.
Antetokounmpo doesn’t deserve this. He’s played another season at MVP-caliber status. He’s played tough and smart, taking essential-only days off when needed to stay healthy. He’s the heartbeat of the team, the backbone of its drive, the leader in every way. And with so many roles that he fills already, now he’s traffic cop as well, directing new teammates to the spots where they are supposed to be on offense and defense.
Just three years after the Bucks were in a ferocious playoff war with the Boston Celtics to try to defend their NBA championship title, they are now faced with the most unthinkable task of all.
Trying to find a way to not lose in the first round of the NBA playoffs once again.
“We’ve just got to come in and have pride,” Kyle Kuzma said. “And take criticism constructively. Be better than we were. The best thing about this league is we always play another game …
“At least now. In the regular season. So we got another chance to get back on track.”
When will wildfire smoke leave Wisconsin?
Let’s clear the haze on exactly how smoke from Canadian wildfires is affecting air quality in Wisconsin. Here are answers to common questions.
A 12-year-old was shot and injured during the afternoon of July 17, and Milwaukee police are asking the public for information.
The shooting happened around 6:35 p.m. on the 5600 block of North 60th Street, according to the Milwaukee Police Department. The child was injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-fatal injuries.
Police said the circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation.
Milwaukee police continue to seek unknown suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call 414-935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or the P3 Tips App.
Adrienne Davis is a general assignment and breaking news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
Milwaukee, WI
‘You can see God’s hand in it’: How Milwaukee women are building a double Dutch community through sisterhood and fitness
On Milwaukee’s North Side, women 40 and up are coming together to jump double Dutch. Members say that beyond the ropes they are building a sisterhood, strengthening their health and becoming confident in aging.
40+ Double Dutch Club is a nonprofit founded in Chicago by Pamela Robinson in 2016 that uses double Dutch and other fitness activities to encourage wellness, sisterhood, mental health and more for women over 40.
“It amazes me how God can use something as simple as a plastic clothesline to connect women all over the world,” said Robinson, who is also the group’s CEO and board president.
Robinson, 55, launched the organization after discussing the idea with her friend Catrina Dyer-Taylor. At the time she was battling depression.
“My husband and I were about to get divorced, my oldest kids were grown and I just had my youngest one in the house,” Robinson said. “I needed to find a happy place.”
She promoted the meetup on social media, and many of her friends and community members came out to support her.
“I remember telling (Dyer-Taylor) that if no one came then we’d tie the ropes to a fence and jump together,” Robinson said. “However, we never had to do that because our friends came out.”
Since being founded, the organization has expanded into hundreds of subclubs nationwide, including Milwaukee’s.
“I knew that God wanted me to do something and it’s given me purpose and he has put me on a path where 40+ Double Dutch is a part of that,” said Angela Scott, captain and founder of Milwaukee’s double Dutch subclub.
Launching the Milwaukee subclub
Scott, 54, established the 40+ Double Dutch subclub in Milwaukee in 2024 after discovering the organization on Facebook. She took weekend trips to Chicago and sometimes Texas to participate with women of the club.
“The feeling I got from the ladies when I entered the gym was like I’ve known them all my life,” Scott said.
As a breast cancer survivor, Scott said she was glad to have found something that brought her comfort that wasn’t a traditional gym space.
“Double Dutching is a full body workout, and I don’t like the gym, but I knew I needed something to keep my body moving and to keep cancer out of my body,” Scott said.
Once officially joining 40+ Double Dutch, Scott talked to Robinson about bringing a subclub to Milwaukee.
“She said that they had been wanting one in Milwaukee, they just had no one that was interested and committed,” Scott said.
Milwaukee’s subclub now consists of 37 members. Among them is Scott’s mother, Shirley Tomlinson, 76, who is the first and oldest member.
“I feel like my family has grown here and that’s a very positive thing for a person my age,” Tomlinson said. “It helps keep me feeling young, and there’s a lot of support in it.”
Tomlinson said she joined the club after hearing about her daughter’s Chicago experience and watching the film “Beyond the Ropes: The 40+ Double Dutch Club Documentary.”
Though Tomlinson doesn’t jump double Dutch, she does other things for the subclub like record keeping, videography, planning birthday celebrations and more.
“I do everything I can because I’m my daughter’s ride or die,” she said.
Reliving childhood memories
Scott said double Dutch gives her a joyous nostalgia from growing up, especially as she learned how to double Dutch from her aunt who was like a big sister.
“If you were a girl that jump-roped, then you know it takes you back to that space,” Scott said.
When the Milwaukee subclub appears at local events like the Juneteenth parade, residents typically will jump in the ropes with smiles and recall memories as they walk down the streets.
“As you watch us grow, you can see God’s hand in it,” Tomlinson said.
The women of Milwaukee’s subclub meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday at Abundant Faith Church of Integrity, 7830 W. Good Hope Road.
The meet typically begins with a stretch, then leads to open play that includes dances and songs to let them double Dutch, hula hoop or play a rhythmic game.
One fitness activity recreated by 40+ Double Dutch is African Hopscotch, which includes members jumping to a song called “Double Dutch Bus” by Frankie Smith and sometimes holding pompoms.
To end the session, members close with a double Dutch hymn followed by a circle of prayer.
“We hold hands and then we sing the song,” Scott said. “Regardless of what meet you go to each one will have the same format.”
Building a strong sisterhood
Scott said the relationships being built at the club remind her of the organization’s mission.
“Part of the mission is friendship, fitness, fun and fellowship,” she said. “All of those things resonate with me and in my spirit because it’s a sisterhood that’s based on God’s direction.”
When away from the ropes, members try to support each other in different ways.
“There are several of the ladies in our club that have businesses, and we’ll do anything to support them,” Scott said.
For Tomlinson, who experienced a few health crises this year, it brought relief knowing that there was a sisterhood standing behind her.
“They reached out to me and let me know they were praying for me,” she said. “It’s like having a big family of daughters.”
Achieving long-term goals
Within the next few years, Scott hopes to see the subclub grow in membership and the women begin to intentionally take more time for themselves.
“I truly believe that a healthy and strong woman makes a healthy and strong world because we are the mothers of this world,” she said. “If the woman is not healthy mentally, physically or spiritually, then the world is not healthy.”
Another goal of hers is to visit with incarcerated women.
“For whatever reason that they’re there, I just want to take them out of that space for just 30 to 40 minutes,” she said.
Tomlinson said it amazes her to see her daughter lead, receive support from the community and promote health to other women.
“It’s been wonderful watching her grow and watching how dedicated she is because that’s a big responsibility,” she said.
How to join 40+ Double Dutch Club
If you are a woman over 40 and interested in joining, click here to find a subclub near you and find details about weekly meetups.
Membership is $120 and includes a digital ID card, access to all nationwide subclubs, subclub support and more.
Scott said the summer has been the busiest time for the organization and wants to remind women that you don’t have to jump to be a part of it.
“People are starting to realize we’re in the city and we like it that way because the more women that know then the more that can be impacted by what we have to offer,” she said.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
This <a target=”_blank” href=”https://wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/milwaukee-women-double-dutch-jump-rope-club-community-sisterhood-fitness/”>article</a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https://wisconsinwatch.org”>Wisconsin Watch</a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src=”https://i0.wp.com/wisconsinwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cropped-WCIJ_IconOnly_FullColor_RGB-1.png?fit=150%2C150&quality=100&ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”>
<img id=”republication-tracker-tool-source” src=”https://wisconsinwatch.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=1318844&ga4=G-D2S69Y9TDB” style=”width:1px;height:1px;”><script> PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: “https://wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/milwaukee-women-double-dutch-jump-rope-club-community-sisterhood-fitness/”, urlref: window.location.href }); } } </script> <script id=”parsely-cfg” src=”//cdn.parsely.com/keys/wisconsinwatch.org/p.js”></script>
MILWAUKEE — It’s well known that Milwaukee is famous for beer, brats, the Bucks, and the Brewers. But let’s put some respect on the comedy scene here.
The Laughing Tap features weekly stand-up performances with nationally touring acts. They opened up their new venue at 761 N. Jefferson St. in Milwaukee back in March.
Since then, they’ve had dozens of acts perform. Now, they are putting on a new type of comedy show, The Milwaukee Comedy Challenge.
According to the website, the challenge is: “A friendly battle of wits with over $2000 in Cash Prizes, more than 2.5 hours of Paid Gigs awarded, and the chance to challenge yourself to be the best comic you can be. This isn’t about competing with your fellow comics, it’s about challenging yourself to write great material, get bigger laughs, and become a better comic.”
The first round has finished. The challenge continues on July 22 with the start of the second round. The remaining 20 comics will perform a four-minute set. Only 10 will make it to the next round. There will be four more rounds afterwards. In the finals, comics will have to perform 20-minute sets with completely new jokes. The winner will be receive a paid headliner gig at The Laughing Tap, a spot in the 2026 Milwaukee Comedy Festival, and $1,000.
If you think you’re pretty funny, you can get on stage for The Laughing Tap’s weekly stand-up open mic on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Every aspiring comic gets about three to four minutes.
Milwaukee comedy club The Laughing Tap hosting comedy challenge
Let’s talk:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip
-
San Diego, CA2 seconds ago
San Diego’s 6-month streak of a falling jobless rate comes to an end
-
Milwaukee, WI6 minutes ago12-year-old injured in Milwaukee shooting, police seek information
-
Atlanta, GA12 minutes agoYou can watch the Atlanta United vs Nashville MLS match live for free tonight – Here’s how
-
Minneapolis, MN18 minutes agoMinneapolis man charged for driving at 2 Washington County campground workers
-
Indianapolis, IN24 minutes agoCanada wildfire smoke leads to air quality alerts for Sunday, Monday
-
Pittsburg, PA30 minutes agoAbandoned mini golf course in Westmoreland County getting new life
-
Augusta, GA36 minutes agoRichmond County traffic stop attempt leads to chase, rollover crash
-
Washington, D.C42 minutes agoWildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota pushes farther into the US and engulfs DC in haze
