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Nickel: Stolz takes silver in final race, ending streak, but shaking up world of speedskating

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Nickel: Stolz takes silver in final race, ending streak, but shaking up world of speedskating


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Three years ago Jordan Stolz was an almost shy teenager who didn’t even have his driver’s license when he made his big-stage debut here at the U.S. Olympic Trials, just a hometown, homeschooled kid trying to fit in as the fastest American man to qualify for the 2022 Beijing Games.

Stolz, now 20, has robustly shaken up the entire world of long track speedskating, with further confirmation of this fact at the Pettit National Ice Center for the first ISU World Cup event in Milwaukee in 20 years. Last weekend, he was the man to beat. In the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 meters. The six time single distance World Champion, World Allround champion, and world record holder was every topic of conversation and consideration in his homecoming.

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Stolz has left his senior competitors in awe of his emerging greatness, and his younger contemporaries scratching their heads wondering how they can beat him.

But – the streak is over.

On his fourth and final race on Sunday, Stolz showed he was in fact, almost human.

He took a silver medal in the 500 meters, skating a modest-by-his-standards 9.66 seconds opener and unable to make up for it on the back end to meet and beat the man he was paired with, Tatsuya Shinhama of Japan. Shinhama, 28, took gold in 34.14; Stolz’s time was 34.19.

“I thought it was a pretty clean technique on the opener. I just didn’t have the snap today, just fatigued,” said Stolz.

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Just a day earlier, Stolz skated a blistering 33.91 here in the same event in the first 500-meter race of the World Cup, which featured two 500 meter men’s races. Conditions were perfect Saturday and so was Stolz from beginning to end. It’s a tall task to duplicate anything like that.

“I just wish I skated the second turn better, but it’s hard to skate a perfect race every time,” said Stolz.

The silver medal Sunday broke Stolz’s World Cup gold-medal streak at 18, believed to be the longest for a male skater in International Skating Union history (ISU is still counting the streak at 22 in social media posts, but that may be modified).

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Stolz’s World Cup race only gold-medal streak went all the way back to February of 2024 when he skated a rare and extremely unusual long distance 5,000-meter race, in preparation of his pursuit of the World AllRound championship – which he won.

The silver medal Sunday for Stolz diminishes nothing about his season so far or his Milwaukee World Cup or his résumé. He is still a speedskating maverick dominant in the sprints as well as middle distance as the leader in all three events in overall World Cup standings.

Still, take no credit away from veteran Shinhama, who suffered an injury 11 months ago and spent a great deal of effort to make this come back. He’s third in the standings overall, behind Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands. Shinhama had this to say after his big win according to his Japanese to English translator:

“It was his first time come to and skate in Milwaukee. However, he heard about it, about the rink. And also it was a try for him… and is also the win. There was a win! So he was expected to aim for the speed – and got a win. And also the first thing is about the spectators: They are really cheering up for the skaters, so that he really enjoyed the last three days.” The organizers for the Pettit National Ice Center made a strong case that the ISU should host a World Cup in Milwaukee every year with the job that GM Paul Golomski and his team did with making fast ice.  “The ice is always great at the Pettit,” said American Olympic gold medalist Erin Jackson. “Paul does a really good job here. This is my favorite place to race. And he definitely delivered. I was just really excited that we would have a World Cup here so that the rest of the world could come in and see what a great job they do here.” Part of the prep work with the Pettit is taking the rink ice down from 1 to 1.25 inches to less than an inch, between .5 and .75. In the first two days, every individual gold medalist set a Pettit track record. By the end of the even, numerous skaters had recorded personal best times. “We had some great people working on the ice, shaving it down,” said American long distance skater Casey Dawson who set a national record in the 5000 here this weekend. “Making sure its at the right temperature – that helped a lot; they don’t usually do that at the Pettit. Unless it’s a big competition like the Olympic Trials or a World Cup.  “The home ice advantage with the crowd and everything cheering us on I think that helps a lot too.” Even with the glorious bright orange of the Dutch, a dominant world skating team, the American contingent of spectators was the strongest. It’s rare to have a World Cup in the U.S. and especially outside of Salt Lake City. The Pettit was sold out and drew a standing room-only crowd, estimated to be 1,500 a day, many of them kids, perhaps inspiring the future of the sport for the next generation.  “Its amazing being Jordan’s teammate and just seeing what he’s doing for the sport,” said Jackson. “He’s just phenomenal. It’s really impressive to see him keep pulling out these wins time and time again. And not even just wins – he’s pretty much smashing the competition. “Its really encouraging for the team because when one of us wins we all win. So its really awesome to be living in the same generation as Jordan.” “It’s a talent, and when you see him skating it’s like, he likes to skate – and that’s the important thing,” said Italian 3,000m champion Francesca Lollobrigida. “You know when you see someone skate and no smile, no empathy (emotion)? He has that. I think he will have a long career.” Canadian Laurent Dubreuil, 32, reflected on his World Cup and coming back from injury to skate in Milwaukee. He doesn’t envy the next generation trying to beat Stolz.“I’ve had a good career; I was just lucky I was born 10 years before him,” he said. Kjeld Nuis, 35, the decorated Dutch speedskater, added: “I’m really happy I’m not in his generation.”



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Milwaukee, WI

LA Clippers Announce Trade With Milwaukee Bucks

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LA Clippers Announce Trade With Milwaukee Bucks


The LA Clippers did not make the blockbuster moves that the Los Angeles Lakers or Sacramento Kings did, but they made moves on the margins.

One of those moves was to send backup guard Kevin Porter Jr. to the Milwaukee Bucks in a trade for MarJon Beauchamp. The Clippers announced the trade and made it official on Friday morning.

“Beauchamp, 24, has played in 26 games with the Bucks this season, averaging 2.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 4.7 minutes. The 6-foot-7 forward has appeared in 126 games across three NBA seasons with Milwaukee, averaging 4.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 11.4 minutes. Prior to being selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Beauchamp spent time with the G League Ignite and appeared in the 2022 Rising Stars during NBA All-Star Weekend,” the Clippers said.

LA Clippers trade announcement

LA Clippers trade announcement / LA Clippers PR

The trade was a bit shocking from the standpoint of Kevin Porter Jr. having an important role on the Clippers. He played in 46 games for the Clippers, averaging 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists on 42/25/65 shooting in 19.6 minutes a game.

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The Clippers used Porter so heavily that he was taking rotation minutes from long-time guard Terance Mann, who was also traded to the Atlanta Hawks.

While the Clippers have been linked to acquiring Ben Simmons after his buyout from the Brooklyn Nets, it remains to be seen who’ll take the backup point guard minutes for the team.

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Milwaukee, WI

Canvassing for clues: Milwaukee family asks for help apprehending hit-and-run driver

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Canvassing for clues: Milwaukee family asks for help apprehending hit-and-run driver


MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee family is canvassing for clues one month after their loved one was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.

Beverly Fair was killed in a crash on Jan. 4 at 34th and Lloyd.

Photo submitted by family

Beverly Fair

No arrests or charges have been made.

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Thursday night, Fair’s family invited TMJ4’s Mariam Mackar to tag along as they went door-to-door just blocks away from the scene, asking for help finding the person responsible.

“We’re just going door-to-door today, seeing if there’s anything you see, any tips you may have,” said Fair’s daughter, Shyla Deacon. “This is my duty to make sure people are doing their due diligence to get criminals off the street.”

Watch: Milwaukee family asks for help apprehending hit-and-run driver

Milwaukee family asks for help apprehending hit-and-run driver

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Seventy-year-old Fair was a wife, grandmother, and mother of five.

Deacon says they’ve been seeking justice ever since her death.

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“It wasn’t fair. She didn’t deserve to die that day like that. It’s a tragedy that her last breath was because of somebody going 75 or 80 miles per hour in a residential area,” Deacon said.

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Alongside community members, Deacon and her family left fliers in search of new tips about a person they believe was involved in Fair’s death.

Beverly Fair

Photo submitted by family

Beverly Fair

It’s TMJ4’s policy not to identify a suspect until they’ve been formally charged. Milwaukee police say that hasn’t happened yet.

“We respect the police and we appreciate how they are helping the family, but we’re also going to take that initiative to knock on doors, make phone calls, put things on social media to see if we can get this guy caught,” Deacon told Mackar.

The family urges anyone with information on the hit-and-run to speak to police.

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Until an arrest is made, the family says they will continue to fight for accountability.


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Milwaukee, WI

One-Time Bucks Center Believes Giannis Antetokounmpo Could Leave Milwaukee

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One-Time Bucks Center Believes Giannis Antetokounmpo Could Leave Milwaukee


The Milwaukee Bucks have one of the best players in the NBA in Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s a top-five player in the league by any measure.

He is the biggest reason why the Bucks were able to win the NBA title back in 2021 over the Phoenix Suns. As long as the Bucks have him, they think they can be a contender to win the title every year.

His presence and need to win now are part of the reason why the Bucks decided to trade for Kyle Kuzma ahead of the trade deadline. They want to maximize the time they have with Antetokounmpo.

Read more: Bucks Trade Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma in Blockbuster Deal

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The Bucks are terrified of losing Antetokounmpo. That’s why they traded for Kuzma this season and for Damian Lillard prior to last season.

One former Bucks player thinks that the Bucks could eventually lose Antetokounmpo. Former center DeMarcus Cousins believes he could leave if the Bucks don’t start getting closer to another title.

Cousins had some interesting things to say about what Antetokounmpo could be thinking. Speaking on Run It Back, Michele Beadle asked if Cousins could see Antetokounmpo being a Knick someday.

“One thing I learned being his teammate is that there is always truth in his humor, and he’s a lot smarter than he likes to give. So the things that he says, there’s truth in it always. So I could see that happening.”

Antetokounmpo has been vocal that he wants the Bucks to make sure they are doing everything possible to contend for titles. He wants to win, and that’s all he cares about.

More Bucks news: Bucks News: Clear Winner Emerges In Khris Middleton For Kyle Kuzma Trade

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Cousins thinks that if the Bucks don’t win a championship in the next couple of years, Antetokounmpo could decide that he wants to be somewhere else.

He isn’t wrong, but Antetokounmpo just re-signed with the Bucks recently. He clearly thinks that the team is trying its hardest to surround him with players who can help him win another title.

Right now, the Bucks need to focus on playing better basketball. They are just 2-5 in their last seven games and now sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game this season.

More Milwaukee Bucks news: Blockbuster Kyle Kuzma Trade Could Boost Bucks Into Deep Playoffs Run

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Kyle Kuzma Reacts to Being Traded to Bucks

For more news and notes on the Milwaukee Bucks, visit Milwaukee Bucks on SI.





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