There are times when real life gets in the way of sports and then there are times when sports get in the way of real life. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends, and in the middle, in recent weeks as I’ve been enveloped with the Milwaukee Brewers and their march to the World Series. I was fortunate enough to attend Game 1 last Friday, and if you saw me at Brown Field on Saturday, you saw someone who was barely standing. The emotions of watching the team I grew up loving chase something I never thought possible in my lifetime have been impossible to describe and amazing to live. I’ll be at the Athletics-Recreation Center for the next two nights as the Valparaiso men’s and women’s basketball teams tip off their respective 2026-27 seasons, but one eye will certainly be in Tampa. Crossover season is officially here and this month has been one of the most memorable of my life. With apologies to missing last week, here is the latest Monday Morning Bell. There’s a lot to celebrate in Valpo athletics, and it all starts on the gridiron. - PO