Over the years, the racing sausages have made appearances at many community events. Wochit
In these tumultuous times for the Milwaukee Brewers' Racing Sausages, I know many of you have questions and concerns. It's understandable. Let's get right to 'em.
Question: What is happening??!!
Answer: Take a deep breath. Be assured that Milwaukee's most endearingly dumb tradition will go on. The Famous Racing Sausages will continue to sprint around Miller Park in the sixth inning of Brewers games. The Sausages will remain bun-free and in the same ethnic stereotype uniforms. What's different is that Klement's Sausage Co. has lost its sponsorship after 25 years.
Q: Who will sponsor the Sausages now?
A: On Wednesday, the Brewers announced that Johnsonville Sausage is taking over. I was kind of hoping for a non-meat company for a change. Imagine U.S. Cellular stepping up, and all the sausages would be texting and tripping as they run. Or the local colonoscopy doctors could have sponsored as a way of drumming up business.
Q: Is this a huge story?
A: It's more about the prodigious pun possibilities. You know, Klement's link to the sausages is broken. It's the wurst news of the week. The Brewers were grilled about why they made the change. Let's be frank; Klement's couldn't cut the mustard, and other potential sponsors relished this chance to ketchup. Endorsements are all about wieners and losers.
Q: What else is about to happen? If I hear that the Bernie's Slide Experience is no longer presented by Kwik Trip, I'm gonna freak out.
A: Yes, change is hard. If the Brewers are willing to keep their stadium sauce a secret, it's impossible to know what else they're hiding. The Dew Deck won't be the Dew Deck anymore. And you didn't hear it from me, but there's talk of a Jason Kid(d) Zone now that he's available.
Q: Do we have to call the Klement's Sausage Haus in the parking lot just the Sausage Haus now? If our tailgating gets rained out, can we not say the weather is inKlement? I mean, where does it end?
A: My darling, Klement time is lost and gone forever at Miller Park. Dreadful sorry. Just be glad Klement's isn't taking the Famous Racing Sausages trademark with them as they leave or we'd find ourselves in the stands cheering for the Renowned Running Cylindrical Meat.
Q: Do you think new sponsorship will even out the race results? Italian and Bratwurst together had fewer wins last season than Polish, Hot Dog and Chorizo. C'mon, are these races fixed?
Columnist Jim Stingl takes microwaving Peeps to the next level. Watch as he torches, mows, and deep fries the popular Easter candy. Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Local tattoo artist Garrett Bisbee is competing on the reality show "Ink Master." Writer Jim Stingl gives us Bisbee's story. Wochit
Marietta Sandoval was 14 when she gave birth to her son, Jesus, who then cycled through seven foster homes. Jesus, now known as Chase in his adoptive family, turned 18 on Dec. 29 and on that very day was reunited with his birth mom. Rick Wood/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Naudia Greenawalt, 8, wrote a book about her 7-year-old friend Linkin, who has brain cancer. The book is called "My Friend Linkin." Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Chuck Franzke, a WWII Navy pilot, turning 95-year-old on December 22, dances to “Jingle Bells” in his Waukesha home as a way to thank Stars and Stripes Honor Flight volunteers. Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
For years, St. Christopher's Episcopal Church has had an outdoor meditation labyrinth. A woman with no affiliation to the church but a frequent labyrinth user offered to trim the overgrown grass from the labyrinth, which it desperately needed. Mike De Sisti and Chelsey Lewis
Matt Felton lost both of his legs below the knee in an explosion this summer. He is battling back, working on getting prosthetic legs and relying on the support of family and friends who are raising money to cover his needs. Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Joe Janz drives the shuttle bus from the bar Steve's on Bluemound to Milwaukee Brewers games. He has a 900-plus game streak going. Michael Sears / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Sam Mullooly and his father, Tom Mullooly, have created an opera about the last month of the Civil War called "American Spring." It will be performed at the Pius Black Box Theater. Michael Sears / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The DeLorean time machine is one of the most famous movie cars in the world. But after decades of harsh weather, souvenir hunters and wild animals — this cinema icon seemed destined for the junkyard, until a restoration project took hold. Wochit
Alyse Bartczak, an altruistic kidney donor who signed up to give to anyone who needs one, met for the first time the 5-year-old girl, Elizabeth Melius, who received Bartczak’s kidney in June, and her mother, Bev Melius. Stefany Zamora
Bill Jank and Georgia Telfer drove 14 hours Arkansas to a family wedding, after they thought they lost their cat. When they arrived in Arkansas, they discovered that the cat had ridden the whole way underneath the vehicle perched on the spare tire. Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Stingl microwaves Peeps and more
Video: Garrett Bisbee’s passion is as plain as the cicada on his face
Given up for adoption at 3, boy is reunited with his mother on 18th birthday
Video: 8-year-old writes book about friend's cancer
Video: Chuck Franzke, the dancing World War II veteran
Faithful gesture restores labyrinth
Man works to recover after losing both legs
Shuttle driver Joe Janz keeps his Brewers streak going
Father and son create Civil War drama 'American Spring'
Waukesha native filmed restoration of "Back to the Future" DeLorean.
Kidney donor meets her 5-year-old recipient
Cat travels from Wisconsin to Arkansas under a car
A: Of course not. Well, they might be. Actually, I don't know. Sometimes it appears the Sausages are not running full-speed, but then you try doing that with a top-heavy costume over your head while looking out through tiny eye holes and worrying about being tripped by an opposing team's player. My advice is to think more about which baseball team is winning on the field.
Q: This is a little off the subject, but speaking of local icons is there really a statue of Da Crusher being planned in South Milwaukee?
A:Yes there is! The organizers are still about $35,000 short of the $40,000 goal to honor the beloved wrestler in bronze. Maybe Klement's can throw some of the Racing Sausages' money their way instead.
Contact Jim Stingl at (414) 224-2017 or jstingl@jrn.com. Connect with my public page at Facebook.com/Journalist.Jim.Stingl
