Giannis Antetokounmpo signed the supermax yesterday. It is not a dream. Giannis got a deal done with the Milwaukee Bucks to the tune of five years, 228 million dollars. There is opt-out in his contract in 2025. The long, local nightmare is over. Giannis is going to be a Bucks player for the foreseeable future. Everyone in the city seemed to be elated that Antetokounmpo is choosing Milwaukee over Miami, Dallas, or somewhere we don’t know. This is his ball club and he loves them. They love him back. This means Milwaukee sports teams have inked both their MVP free agents in 2020 to large long-term deals. The narrative about not wanting to play here is dead.

Milwaukee gets a bad rap from the media. Yes, I know people carry a chip on their shoulder like they’re Aaron Rodgers in 2008, but still, it’s annoying. People think most Milwaukeeans are fat, love beer, and love sausage. While all those things might be true for some, Milwaukee is a really great place to live. It’s quiet, peaceful, and athletes can be left unbothered. Sure, it doesn’t have the nightlife as some other places, but the city has enough options available for these star players.

Both Giannis and Christian Yelich established themselves in Milwaukee. Giannis called this ‘his city’ when addressing that he would sign the supermax. Yelich has business ventures in Milwaukee and has supported the community on different occasions. Giannis walked with protestors after the murder of George Floyd. These two are Milwaukee, and it hasn’t ever been this way before. Not that anyone would take these two for granted but never do that. It is truly special stuff.

Giannis could bring a championship to Milwaukee for the first time since 1971 That is the last pure Milwaukee championship. Sure, the city can add 1996 and 2010 to their mix with Packers’ Super Bowls, but I contend that Milwaukee-based championships will draw an even bigger reaction. A title would be nice, but the fact athletes are staying in Milwaukee is a championship within itself.

Lastly, this is something I noted on my podcast today, but do you know how awesome it must be if you’re nine years old and just becoming a sports fan in Milwaukee. You get Giannis, Aaron Rodgers, Christian Yelich for the next few years. That’s awesome. Better than the likes of John Jaha, Glenn Robinson I had growing up in the ’90s.

Go, Bucks, go Milwaukee.

Charlie.