Every Wednesday, FOX Sports Wisconsin takes a look at which athletes' stock is trending up and whose is trending down.
In other words, whose value is making a meteoric rise, and whose is quickly plummeting.
With that in mind, let's "take stock" of the current sports scene in Wisconsin, shall we?
Bucks arena supporters
On Wednesday morning, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker officially signed into law the deal to use $250 million in taxpayer money to pay for a new Bucks arena. It's a major victory for the Bucks, especially the owners and front office, who have been aggressively rebranding the team over the past year. It was also a win for fans, as the decision to fund and build the arena essentially erases concerns about the franchise moving out of Milwaukee.
Clay Matthews
Not a lot happens in NFL training camp. Players stretch, mill about, jog around, talk to coaches and occasionally play something resembling football. Pretty much the biggest news is made when guys don't do those mundane things, and that's why Clay Matthews missing every practice last week with knee soreness was such a major concern -- at least for everyone besides the star linebacker. But Matthews returned to the field on Monday, practiced again Tuesday and is preparing to play in Green Bay's preseason opener Thursday against New England. Packers Nation can exhale.
Khris Davis
One player who has benefitted enormously from the Brewers trading away outfielder Gerardo Parra is Davis, who has laid claim to the left-field job and recently showed off his formidable power. Over the past week, Davis went 7 for 22 with four home runs, 10 RBI and six runs scored. In six games, he produced a prodigious slash line of .318/.400/.909 (OPS of 1.309). He had two two-homer games, both of which Milwaukee won, and seems to be grooving. When he's hot, and he certainly is now, he's one of the best hitters the Brewers have.
Matt Garza
It's been a year to forget for Garza, who is 6-12 with a 4.95 ERA that would be his highest since his rookie season. But it was a week to remember, at least, for the veteran starter. He pitched seven strong innings and picked up the win against the Padres, allowing just one run on two hits, with five strikeouts and two walks. If only he'd had a couple more performances like that before the trade deadline, Brewers fans are no doubt thinking.
Bucks arena opponents
If you didn't like the idea of public financing for a private sports arena played in by millionaires with billionaire owners -- and plenty didn't -- then Walker signing the bill into law no doubt was upsetting. The debate about the pros and cons of paying for a new arena played out very publicly -- all over social media, in town-hall meetings, across the media and throughout the city -- and the proposed deal passed through the legislature with bipartisan support, but the end result of taxpayer funding for a sports venue still left many feeling ignored and powerless.
Doug Melvin
After 13 years, Melvin announced Tuesday that he was leaving his job as general manager of the Brewers. He will continue to lead the baseball operations department before "transitioning into an advisory role," the team said. Despite pulling off the personnel moves to return Milwaukee to the playoffs in 2008 for the first time since 1982, and then doing it again in 2011, Melvin's tenure will end after four straight disappointing seasons. Last year, the Brewers suffered a historic collapse and missed the playoffs; this year, they have the second-worst record in the league.
Tyler Cravy
The rookie starter was called back up to the majors last week, and it should have been a happy occasion. Instead, he had the unfortunate task of pitching against the Cardinals on Aug. 7. In five innings, Cravy gave up eight hits and six earned runs, walking two with four strikeouts, taking the loss as the Brewers were shut out 6-0. He's slated to get his chance for redemption on Friday against the Phillies.
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