Brewers finally feel at home

A 90-mile stretch of Interstate 94 separates Chicago from Milwaukee -- and from this week's four-game series between the Cubs and Brewers, the top two teams in the National League.

The Cubs' popularity has often made visits to Milwaukee almost seem like being at home, but the Brewers' success is beginning to change that.

"There were dueling cheers, dueling boos and dueling chants of 'Let's Go Brewers' and 'Let's Go Cubbies.' There was a time not so long ago when Cubs fans staked a large claim to Miller Park, called it 'Wrigley North,' " wrote Bill Glauber of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after Monday's series opener won by the Cubs, 6-4.

"Seats used to be plentiful here -- but now, the Brewers are on a run of eight straight sellouts.

"Sure, Cubs fans showed up, wore their Cubbies blue T-shirts and their jerseys emblazoned with names of Cubs players past and present, such as Mark Grace and Carlos Zambrano. ...

"But Brewers fans were here, too."

• MAKE AN OFFER -- "Like the rest of Atlanta, the Braves are covered with 'For Sale' signs," writes Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"The difference: (General manager Frank Wren) absolutely will move some property."

The first big deal came Tuesday when Atlanta dealt two-time Gold Glove first baseman Mark Teixeira to the Los Angeles Angels.

Over the weekend, the once-mighty Braves blew leads of 9-3 and 5-0 in Philadelphia and lost, 10-9 and 12-10. On Monday, the Braves fell behind 9-0 against St. Louis and lost, 12-3.

"Manager Bobby Cox would sooner bite down on a cyanide capsule before admitting in July that it's over," Schultz said. "But when asked if his players required any sort of pep talk before the start of a homestand, he said: 'I've already talked to them.'

" 'When?'

" 'In Florida (last week). What's there left to say? Who are you gonna yell at?' "

• REBELS NOT LAST IN BIG TEN -- If the UNLV football team played in the Big Ten Conference, the Rebels could be perceived as having the fourth-best shot at winning the conference title.

The Midwest's powerhouse conference only releases the top three preseason selections, which this year are Ohio State, Wisconsin and Illinois.

The Mountain West Conference ranks all nine teams, all the way from No. 1 Brigham Young to No. 9 UNLV.

The Rebels could benefit from the Big Ten format. Just thinking they might be considered as high as fourth before the first snap could minimize preseason anxiety.

• ON A CLEAR DAY -- We're taught that in the case of fire, stay low to the ground to avoid the smoke. But in pollution-ravaged Beijing, site of the Summer Olympics, will shorter be better?

China's 7-foot-6-inch basketball star, Yao Ming, must hope the dirty air at his altitude won't be too hard to breathe.

Or else he'll need to play from his knees.

COMPILED BY JEFF WOLF REVIEW-JOURNAL