Move over, New England.
Now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, Wisconsin is making a case for itself as the most talented sports market in America. Sure, the state doesn’t currently hold any of the four major American sports titles, but it now has two reigning MVPs — a category it has dominated in recent decades.
The Greek Freak joins Milwaukee Brewers phenom Christian Yelich as Wisconsin’s current MVPs. The 27-year-old center fielder was awarded the National League’s most prestigious individual award in 2018. In being the best, the two young stars have taken over a torch formerly borne by Dairy State heroes like Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a two-time MVP, and his predecessor Brett Favre, a three-timer.
Only the Bay Area market even compares to Wisconsin over the last 25 years, but USA Today argues that it kind of doesn’t count.
This is based on the theory that Green Bay Packers fans are also likely Brewers and other Milwaukee team fans, even though Green Bay and Milwaukee are some 120 miles apart. There’s no one else to root for. In the Bay Area, meanwhile, you’ve got San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, and there’s no guarantee that Giants fans or 49ers devotees would be happy to see the A’s or Raiders succeed, and vice versa. The Bay Area may be considered a sports hub, but it’s a divided one.
It also took six teams across the Bay to amass 12 MVPs to Wisconsin’s three-team, eight-MVP totals. Don’t forget that the home state of the cheese-head doesn’t even have an NHL team, either.
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