And one team that will certainly be around come October is the Milwaukee Brewers, which is why lifelong Brewers fan and 620 WTMJ personality Trenni Kusnierek is our guest on the latest edition of the MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast sponsored by the M&A advisors and consultants at Generational Equity, where they are experts in guiding middle-market business owners along the process of selling a business.

Jerod and Trenni take a stab at one of Ari’s more challenging sextet of questions, and then they turn their attention to Trenni’s beloved Brew Crew.

Trenni discusses her confidence level heading towards the postseason, her thoughts on the Brewers’ potential playoff matchups, who should get the ball Game 1, and her feelings about Prince Fielder’s strange and untimely recent comments.

And she also briefly discusses a most exciting achievement of hers from this past summer that you’ll definitely want to hear about.

You can follow Trenni on Twitter or track her thoughts about the Brewers, Packers, and other sports issues here at her blog Kusnierek’s Korner.

Click play on the player below to listen.

Click here to take MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast Quiz #12

The link above skips you to the bottom of this page where quiz is embedded. Podcast will continue playing.

A few quick notes:

• The MLB Trivia Challenge is available on iTunes. Listen and subscribe here.
• Be sure to follow the MSF Trivia Challenge Podcast on Twitter: @MLBTriviaMSF.
• If you like the intro and outro music, and I know you will, it was provided to us by the Twin Cats out of Indianapolis. We encourage you to like them on Facebook or check out their music here. (The music that plays briefly in the interlude between the intro and guest is called “Milwaukee” by Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers.)

Here are links to all the old quizzes, in case you missed one:

• Episode 1 with Ken Rosenthal
• Episode 2 with Will Carroll
• Episode 3 with Big League Stew
• Episode 4 with Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors
• Episode 5 with Derek Schultz of XL950 in Indianapolis
• Episode 6 with Deadspin founder Will Leitch
• Episode 7 with Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports
• Episode 8 with Scott Sargent of Waiting For Next Year
• Episode 9 with Jonah Keri of Grantland
• Episode 10 with Jim Margalus of South Side Sox
• Episode 11 with Al Beaton of Bless You Boys
  

Your Turn to Compete and Win Prizes

Now onto the fun stuff: your chance to match wits with the “experts” and win prizes.

As explained on the rules and information page, we will be rewarding one winner each time a new MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast and quiz are posted. This winner will be awarded as follows:

• Each correct answer nets you one point. Most points wins.
• In the event of a tie, we will choose from the top group at random.
• The winner receives a $20 gift certificate to Chili’s*, which is perfect for a Chili’s Lunch Break.

• Weekly winners can go bold with the new six-dollar lunch break combo at Chili’s. Choose a house made soup or salad and then pick a half Texas Toast sandwich like the Southwestern BLT smothered in cilantro lime mayo.
• See all the great Lunch Break combos at Chilis.com.
• Note: You have ONE WEEK from today to submit yours answers and be eligible for the weekly prize. Next Thursday at 11:59 pm CT, entries are closed and we award a winner.

In addition to the weekly prizes, a grand prize winner will be chosen at the end of the season. Simply put, the grand prize winner will be the person who tallies up the most points throughout the season, regardless of when the quiz is taken.

A few final notes you need to know before we let you have at it:

• LISTEN to the podcast; each week we will be including one bonus question taken directly from our discussion.
• ONLY your first entry counts, for the weekly prize and grand prize.
• MAKE SURE you use the same UserID throughout the season. This is how we will keep track of your scores.
• PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to the instructions after each question. Due to the parameters of the quiz program we are using, and our inability to hand-grade thousands of quizzes each week, we must request that you very specific and particular in how you answer the questions. Thus, you MUST spell names correctly. Think of it this way: attention to detail is paramount in baseball, so shouldn’t it be part of the challenge? Absolutely.

And now, drumroll the please, we give you your chance to answer. Have fun!

**********

Obviously we cannot post the answers because this is an ongoing trivia challenge.

Check back in two weeks when we’ll post the 13th episode of the MLB Trivia Challenge sponsored by the selling a business experts at Generational Equity. Remember: someone is winning an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv when this is all said and done…it might as well be you.

* – Chili’s gift certificate good in U.S. only.

In Episode #11, White Sox fan Jerod and Indians fan Ari are joined by Al Beaton of BlessYouBoys.com, the blog of record for the Detroit Tigers at SBNation. Jerod and Ari had hoped that getting Al to discuss the Tigers’ playoff hopes would prove to be a jinx. It didn’t work out so well.

First, here are the updated standings heading into Episode #11.

Remember: the overall winner at the end of the season gets an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv for next season. And if you’re just finding out about the challenge now, you can always catch up on all the old podcasts and quizzes here. Scores are cumulative and entries can be submitted until the end of the season.

In Episode #11, Jerod and Al attempt to answer six more questions from Ari, and Jerod has some BIG news regarding the current standings. After the trivia portion of the program, Al discusses his thoughts on Justin Verlander’s MVP chances, the underappreciated Miguel Cabrera, and how the Tigers’ pitching staff stacks up for a playoff run.

To follow Al on Twitter, go to @Big_Al_TWFE. You can also follow his football musings at WayneFontes.com.

Click play on the player below to listen.

Click here to take MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast Quiz #11

The link above skips you to the bottom of this page where quiz is embedded. Podcast will continue playing.

A few quick notes:

• The MLB Trivia Challenge is available on iTunes. Listen and subscribe here.
• Be sure to follow the MSF Trivia Challenge Podcast on Twitter: @MLBTriviaMSF.
• If you like the intro and outro music, and I know you will, it was provided to us by the Twin Cats out of Indianapolis. We encourage you to like them on Facebook or check out their music here.

Here are links to all the old quizzes, in case you missed one:

• Episode 1 with Ken Rosenthal
• Episode 2 with Will Carroll
• Episode 3 with Big League Stew
• Episode 4 with Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors
• Episode 5 with Derek Schultz of XL950 in Indianapolis
• Episode 6 with Deadspin founder Will Leitch
• Episode 7 with Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports
• Episode 8 with Scott Sargent of Waiting For Next Year
• Episode 9 with Jonah Keri of Grantland
• Episode 10 with Jim Margalus of South Side Sox
  

Your Turn to Compete and Win Prizes

Now onto the fun stuff: your chance to match wits with the “experts” and win prizes.

As explained on the rules and information page, we will be rewarding one winner each time a new MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast and quiz are posted. This winner will be awarded as follows:

• Each correct answer nets you one point. Most points wins.
• In the event of a tie, we will choose from the top group at random.
• The winner receives a $20 gift certificate to Chili’s*, which is perfect for a Chili’s Lunch Break.

• Weekly winners can go bold with the new six-dollar lunch break combo at Chili’s. Choose a house made soup or salad and then pick a half Texas Toast sandwich like the Southwestern BLT smothered in cilantro lime mayo.
• See all the great Lunch Break combos at Chilis.com.
• Note: You have ONE WEEK from today to submit yours answers and be eligible for the weekly prize. Next Thursday at 11:59 pm CT, entries are closed and we award a winner.

In addition to the weekly prizes, a grand prize winner will be chosen at the end of the season. Simply put, the grand prize winner will be the person who tallies up the most points throughout the season, regardless of when the quiz is taken.

A few final notes you need to know before we let you have at it:

• LISTEN to the podcast; each week we will be including one bonus question taken directly from our discussion.
• ONLY your first entry counts, for the weekly prize and grand prize.
• MAKE SURE you use the same UserID throughout the season. This is how we will keep track of your scores.
• PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to the instructions after each question. Due to the parameters of the quiz program we are using, and our inability to hand-grade thousands of quizzes each week, we must request that you very specific and particular in how you answer the questions. Thus, you MUST spell names correctly. Think of it this way: attention to detail is paramount in baseball, so shouldn’t it be part of the challenge? Absolutely.

And now, drumroll the please, we give you your chance to answer. Have fun!

**********

Obviously we cannot post the answers because this is an ongoing trivia challenge.

Check back in two weeks when we’ll post the 12th episode of the MLB Trivia Challenge sponsored by the buyer ready experts at Generational Equity. Remember: someone is winning an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv when this is all said and done…it might as well be you.

* – Chili’s gift certificate good in U.S. only.

And we’re back with a bang: Gregg Doyel and his perpetually strong opinions make their first appearance on an MSF podcast, and he was well worth the wait (though Bud Selig might not agree…)

In case you missed the update earlier this week, here are the current standings heading into Episode #7.

Remember: the overall winner at the end of the season gets an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv for next season. And if you’re just finding out about the challenge now, you can always catch up on all the old podcasts and quizzes here. Scores are cumulative and entries can be submitted until the end of the season.

Also, a shoutout to last week’s quiz winner, and recipient of the $20 Chili’s gift certificates, Geoffrey Hollander. Now let’s see if Geoffrey or Jeff or Andrew or one of the other consistent high scorers can give Dan Greenham a run for his money!

Now, without further ado, the buyer ready experts at Generational Equity present MLB Trivia Challenge #7 with Gregg Doyel (who you can follow on Twitter here and read here).

Click here to take MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast Quiz #7

The link above skips you to the bottom of this page where quiz is embedded. Podcast will continue playing.

A few quick notes:

• The MLB Trivia Challenge is available on iTunes. Listen and subscribe here.
• Be sure to follow the MSF Trivia Challenge Podcast on Twitter: @MLBTriviaMSF.
• If you like the intro and outro music, and I know you will, it was provided to us by the Twin Cats out of Indianapolis. We encourage you to like them on Facebook or check out their music here.

REMEMBER: The grand prize of an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv is given to the person who tallies the most points throughout the season. Even if you missed the first four quizzes, you can go back and take them now:

• Episode 1 with Ken Rosenthal
• Episode 2 with Will Carroll
• Episode 3 with Big League Stew
• Episode 4 with Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors
• Episode 5 with Derek Schultz of XL950 in Indianapolis
• Episode 6 with Deadspin founder Will Leitch

Your Turn to Compete and Win Prizes

Now onto the fun stuff: your chance to match wits with the “experts” and win prizes.

As explained on the rules and information page, we will be rewarding one winner each time a new MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast and quiz are posted. This winner will be awarded as follows:

• Each correct answer nets you one point. Most points wins.
• In the event of a tie, we will choose from the top group at random.
• The winner receives a $20 gift certificate to Chili’s*, which is perfect for a Chili’s Lunch Break.

• Weekly winners can go bold with the new six-dollar lunch break combo at Chili’s. Choose a house made soup or salad and then pick a half Texas Toast sandwich like the Southwestern BLT smothered in cilantro lime mayo.
• See all the great Lunch Break combos at Chilis.com.
• Note: You have ONE WEEK from today to submit yours answers and be eligible for the weekly prize. Next Thursday at 11:59 pm CT, entries are closed and we award a winner.

In addition to the weekly prizes, a grand prize winner will be chosen at the end of the season. Simply put, the grand prize winner will be the person who tallies up the most points throughout the season, regardless of when the quiz is taken.

A few final notes you need to know before we let you have at it:

• LISTEN to the podcast; each week we will be including one bonus question taken directly from our discussion.
• ONLY your first entry counts, for the weekly prize and grand prize.
• MAKE SURE you use the same UserID throughout the season. This is how we will keep track of your scores.
• PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to the instructions after each question. Due to the parameters of the quiz program we are using, and our inability to hand-grade thousands of quizzes each week, we must request that you very specific and particular in how you answer the questions. Thus, you MUST spell names correctly. Think of it this way: attention to detail is paramount in baseball, so shouldn’t it be part of the challenge? Absolutely.

And now, drumroll the please, we give you your chance to answer. Have fun!

**********

Obviously we cannot post the answers because this is an ongoing trivia challenge.

Check back in two weeks when we’ll post the 8th episode of the MLB Trivia Challenge sponsored by the buyer ready experts at Generational Equity. Remember: someone is winning an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv when this is all said and done…it might as well be you.

* – Chili’s gift certificate good in U.S. only.

A whopping 13 people got perfect scores on Quiz 6. Wow. I know Ari is not going to take too kindly to that, which means that episode 7 guest Gregg Doyel and I are going to have our work cut out for us.

In this quick update post, I’ll announce the winner of the Chili’s gift certificate for Quiz 6 and show you the updated overall standings.

With 13 people recording perfect scores (including, yes, Dan Greenham…again!) we had to throw all of the names into a hat to choose the Chili’s winner. I was personally pleased to see that Geoffrey Hollander was the winner, as he has been a loyal listener and quiz-taker since the challenge began; he and a few others are also nipping at the still-perfect heels of Greenham.

So congrats to Geoffrey. His gift certificate to Chili’s will be in the mail shortly.

Remember, you can talk any quiz at any time for it to count towards your season total; you just have to take it within the first week of it being posted to be eligible for the Chili’s gift certificate.

Here is the current top 8:

• Dan Greenham: 36
• Jeff Wallack: 35
• Andrew Schwartz: 34
• Kevin Luljack 34
• Geoffrey Hollander: 33
• Pedro Diaz 32
• Gary Moore: 26
• Brian Dilsheimer 23

To see the complete standings, click here to download the Excel file. Let me know if anything doesn’t seem right.

We’ll be back Thursday with Episode #7. It’ll be a good one.

And it was. Because this week’s guest is well worth the wait: sports blog patron saint, movie reviewer extraordinaire, and die-hard Cardinals fan Will Leitch.

Before we get to the podcast, begin, here are the current standings after Quiz #5. Dan Greenham remains on top with a perfect score, followed by Jeff Wallack and a host of others in the high 20s.

Remember: the overall winner at the end of the season gets an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv for next season. And if you’re just finding out about the challenge now, you can always catch up on all the old podcasts and quizzes here. Scores are cumulative and entries can be submitted until the end of the season.

Last week’s quiz winner, and recipient of the $20 Chili’s gift certificates, is Pedro Diaz. Pedro is lurking behind Dan and Jeff. We’ll see if he can make a move over the season’s second half.

Now let’s get to this week’s Generational Equity Buyer Ready sponsored MLB Trivia Challenge podcast with Will Leitch.

You can follow Will on Twitter here, and I also encourage you to check out his books God Save the Fan and Are We Winning?.

Use the player below to listen to Episode 6:

Click here to take MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast Quiz #6

The link above skips you to the bottom of this page where quiz is embedded. Podcast will continue playing.

A few quick notes:

• The MLB Trivia Challenge is available on iTunes. Listen and subscribe here.
• Be sure to follow the MSF Trivia Challenge Podcast on Twitter: @MLBTriviaMSF. We’ll provide links to the latest episodes as well as periodic trivia questions that don’t make the final cut for the show. Why? It’s a long summer…you can never have enough MLB trivia.
• If you like the intro and outro music, and I know you will, it was provided to us by the Twin Cats out of Indianapolis. We encourage you to like them on Facebook or check out their music here.

REMEMBER: The grand prize of an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv is given to the person who tallies the most points throughout the season. Even if you missed the first four quizzes, you can go back and take them now:

• Episode 1 with Ken Rosenthal
  
• Episode 2 with Will Carroll
• Episode 3 with Big League Stew
• Episode 4 with Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors
• Episode 5 with Derek Schultz of XL950 in Indianapolis

Your Turn to Compete and Win Prizes

Now onto the fun stuff: your chance to match wits with the “experts” and win prizes.

As explained on the rules and information page, we will be rewarding one winner each time a new MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast and quiz are posted. This winner will be awarded as follows:

• Each correct answer nets you one point. Most points wins.
• In the event of a tie, we will choose from the top group at random.
• The winner receives a $20 gift certificate to Chili’s*, which is perfect for a Chili’s Lunch Break.

• Weekly winners can go bold with the new six-dollar lunch break combo at Chili’s. Choose a house made soup or salad and then pick a half Texas Toast sandwich like the Southwestern BLT smothered in cilantro lime mayo.
• See all the great Lunch Break combos at Chilis.com.
• Note: You have ONE WEEK from today to submit yours answers and be eligible for the weekly prize. Next Thursday at 11:59 pm CT, entries are closed and we award a winner.

In addition to the weekly prizes, a grand prize winner will be chosen at the end of the season. Simply put, the grand prize winner will be the person who tallies up the most points throughout the season, regardless of when the quiz is taken.

A few final notes you need to know before we let you have at it:

• LISTEN to the podcast; each week we will be including one bonus question taken directly from our discussion.
• ONLY your first entry counts, for the weekly prize and grand prize.
• MAKE SURE you use the same UserID throughout the season. This is how we will keep track of your scores.
• PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to the instructions after each question. Due to the parameters of the quiz program we are using, and our inability to hand-grade thousands of quizzes each week, we must request that you very specific and particular in how you answer the questions. Thus, you MUST spell names correctly. Think of it this way: attention to detail is paramount in baseball, so shouldn’t it be part of the challenge? Absolutely.

And now, drumroll the please, we give you your chance to answer. Have fun!

**********

Obviously we cannot post the answers because this is an ongoing trivia challenge.

Check back in two weeks when we’ll post the 7th episode of the MLB Trivia Challenge sponsored by Generational Equity. Remember: someone is winning an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv when this is all said and done…it might as well be you.

* – Chili’s gift certificate good in U.S. only.

Before we begin, here are the current standings heading into Quiz #4, with Dan Greenham still on top with his perfect overall score. Remember, the overall winner at the end of the season gets an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv for next season. That’s no small prize. And if you’re behind, you can always catch up on all the old podcasts and quizzes here.

Last week’s quiz winner, and recipient of the $20 Chili’s gift certificates was Cody Chrosniak, Our congratulations to Cody, and we’ll see this week if he can start moving up the leaderboard.

Now let’s get rocking and rolling with some trivia and this week’s guest, a man who all sports fans in Indianapolis will know well: Derek Schultz of XL950.

We start off, as we always do, answering Ari’s thoroughly researched trivia questions. I think this is his best set. The questions are tough but fair, and they require a nice mixture of past and present knowledge.

Once the questions are done, the three of us delve into an intriguing discussion about Marv Albert, the current state of the Yankees and their chances to compete in the AL this year — Derek is originally an East Coaster, if you can’t tell — and what Major League Baseball can do to improve, namely realignment.

I think you’ll enjoy the banter and find Derek to be knowledgeable, articulate, and certainly passionate. Keep up with Derek on Twitter and on Facebook.

Use the player below to listen to Episode 5:

Click here to take MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast Quiz #5

The link above skips you to the bottom of this page where quiz is embedded. Podcast will continue playing.

REMEMBER: The grand prize of an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv is given to the person who tallies the most points throughout the season. Even if you missed the first four quizzes, you can go back and take them now:

• Episode 1 with Ken Rosenthal
  
• Episode 2 with Will Carroll
• Episode 3 with Big League Stew
• Episode 4 with Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors

A few quick notes:

• The MLB Trivia Challenge is available on iTunes. Listen and subscribe here.
• Be sure to follow the MSF Trivia Challenge Podcast on Twitter: @MLBTriviaMSF. We’ll provide links to the latest episodes as well as periodic trivia questions that don’t make the final cut for the show. Why? It’s a long summer…you can never have enough MLB trivia.
• If you like the intro and outro music, and I know you will, it was provided to us by the Twin Cats out of Indianapolis. We encourage you to like them on Facebook or check out their music here.

Your Turn to Compete and Win Prizes

Now onto the fun stuff: your chance to match wits with the “experts” and win prizes.

As explained on the rules and information page, we will be rewarding one winner each time a new MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast and quiz are posted. This winner will be awarded as follows:

• Each correct answer nets you one point. Most points wins.
• In the event of a tie, we will choose from the top group at random.
• The winner receives a $20 gift certificate to Chili’s*, which is perfect for a Chili’s Lunch Break.

• Weekly winners can go bold with the new six-dollar lunch break combo at Chili’s. Choose a house made soup or salad and then pick a half Texas Toast sandwich like the Southwestern BLT smothered in cilantro lime mayo.
• See all the great Lunch Break combos at Chilis.com.
• Note: You have ONE WEEK from today to submit yours answers and be eligible for the weekly prize. Next Thursday at 11:59 pm CT, entries are closed and we award a winner.

In addition to the weekly prizes, a grand prize winner will be chosen at the end of the season. Simply put, the grand prize winner will be the person who tallies up the most points throughout the season, regardless of when the quiz is taken.

A few final notes you need to know before we let you have at it with the first quiz:

• LISTEN to the podcast; each week we will be including one bonus question taken directly from our discussion.
• ONLY your first entry counts, for the weekly prize and grand prize.
• MAKE SURE you use the same UserID throughout the season. This is how we will keep track of your scores.
• PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to the instructions after each question. Due to the parameters of the quiz program we are using, and our inability to hand-grade thousands of quizzes each week, we must request that you very specific and particular in how you answer the questions. Thus, you MUST spell names correctly. Think of it this way: attention to detail is paramount in baseball, so shouldn’t it be part of the challenge? Absolutely.

And now, drumroll the please, we give you your chance to answer. Have fun!

**********

Obviously we cannot post the answers because this is an ongoing trivia challenge.

Check back in two weeks when we’ll post the 6th episode of the MLB Trivia Challenge sponsored by Generational Equity. Remember: someone is winning an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv when this is all said and done…it might as well be you.

* – Chili’s gift certificate good in U.S. only.

It has now been a full seven days since Quiz 1 went live, and after receiving a ridiculously high number of submissions considering this is our first time doing anything like this, I am excited to announce the first winner of the $20 Chili’s gift certificates that are perfect for a two-person lunch break: Jeff Wallack.

As soon as I get done posting this, I will contacting Jeff via email and making arrangements to send him his gift certificate.

There were actually five people in all who answered all of the questions correctly: Jeff, Dan Greenham, Art Fahrner, Kathryn, and MSF’s own Brian Dilsheimer (who is ineligible for prizes, but whose participating we appreciate!). Jeff was chosen at random from the eligible group of perfect scores on Quiz 1.

To those of you who did not win a prize this week, do not despair. Not only will there be another Chili’s gift card on the line next week, but everyone is in the running the the iPad and MLB.tv subscription that will be given to the season-long winner, determined based on cumulative scoring.

This means that if you did not complete Quiz 1 yet, go do so now! You won’t be eligible for the Chili’s certificate, but it will get your point total count started for the grand prize.

And to everyone: make sure that next week, and in all weeks after, that you use the same User ID each week. It’s how we will keep track of your cumulative scores.

Also, a quick word about some of the formatting difficulty.

As I mentioned in the first post, because of the online quiz program we are using, we have to require specific formatting of answers. To alleviate the confusion this caused for Quiz 1, we are going to change how we develop our questions to ensure that the vast majority have simple answers that you will just have to spell correctly. This should simplify things greatly.

I appreciate everyone’s patience while we worked things out for Quiz 1, and we decided to be very lenient in terms of what we’d allow to pass for a correct answer or not with respect to commas and misspellings and the like. In the future, we will have to take a bit harder line in requiring more acute attention to detail, but we’re balancing that by trying to make it easier. (Also, for the record, Quiz 1 winner Jeff nailed everything and formatted it correctly; so he was truly the winner!)

Finally, to also makes things easier on everyone, I bought the domain http://mlbtriviachallenge.com. You can enter that into your web browser and it will take you directly to the category page for the trivia challenge podcast so you don’t have to hunt through MSF for the latest post. Just go right there.

We’ll be back next Thursday with podcast #2 and quiz #2. Our guest will be the great Will Carroll (aka The Injury Expert), formerly of Baseball Prospectus and currently writing for SI.com. Should be fun. See you then!

As we began a sponsor search, one referral we were given was Generational Equity of Dallas, TX. In addition to being experts at advising business owners looking to sell their companies, Generational Equity is a company rich in philanthropic activity which includes the funding of an orphanage in Nigeria, a Belize faith-based mission, and support for fighting colon cancer. Generational Equity also has several ex-collegiate athletes including a member of the 1989 SMU Mustangs football team (the first year after the death penalty). Though Southern Methodist University doesn’t qualify as a Midwestern team, we couldn’t deny the inner passion the company has for sports.

When Generational Equity agreed to sponsor our initiative, we began to evaluate organizations that could help us connect with the right child athletes. One on our shortlist was a local YMCA. Upon reviewing their scholarship programs, we were introduced to an eight-week swimming program they offered that helped provide essential swimming skills to kids who, for a variety of reasons, couldn’t swim. Though the exposure to a swimming program at the YMCA could serve as inspiration for a child to take up the activity as a sport, we were more convinced that the donation would be put to good use as 100% of the participants would leave the program with essential skills that could mean survival in the right situation.

Town North YMCA Swimming Out Reach

On June 18th 2009, I had the pleasure of spending the morning with Diddy Fullbright and Micaela Gomez on site at their swimming outreach program at the Sierra Vista apartment complex. Sierra Vista was one of the two apartment complexes they selected to reach out to this year.

“Our residents are primarily Hispanic and 95% have children,” commented Margo Rodriquez, manager of the Sierra Vista apartments, “We have found that a large percentage of our resident adults do not know how to swim and do not have the ability to teach their children. This summer, we set out with the YMCA to do something about it.”

The YMCA program conducts four daily swimming classes at the apartment complex’s pool. The classes began this week and run Monday through Thursday until August 9th.

“Between our 2 separate outreach programs, we have over 50 kids learning vital swimming skills. The parents are responsible for a $15 fee for the entire program and the rest is paid for by a donation from Generational Equity,” commented Micaela Gomez of the YMCA. “Each child starts the program with a skills evaluation and finishes the program with a follow up evaluation to measure progress.”

The class that I attended had participants ranging from 3 to 14 years of age had little to now swimming skills. One very young child had downs syndrome and it was very touching to see the smile on her face as she made progress in one of the water exercises.

Swimming: Support and Survival Skill

Swimming is a sport that has been put on the world sporting radar screen by the greats who have represented their countries in the Olympic games of the modern era. In a 2006 post, though dated with regards to Michael Phelps, the Top 10 swimmers of all time are highlighted. Swimming is also a sport accessible to all via community and school programs that take transform young people into competitive athletes. However, in addition to being a sport, swimming is a fundamental skill that can be a means of survival for children and adults alike.

Program Sponsor: Generational Equity

Generational Equity is based in Dallas, TX and is the leader in Merger and Acquisition Services, Business Evaluation, and Exit Strategy Planning for middle market businesses worldwide. Generational Equity Charities provided sponsorships through MidwestSportsFans.Com and DallasSportsFans.Com for the 2009 Summer Swimming Outreach Program by the Town North YMCA of Dallas, TX. Generational Equity has offices in Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Connecticut.

First off, we love baseball here at MSF, and this podcast, which was inspired by Jayson Stark’s weekly appearances on ESPN Radio, is going to be a great biweekly feature on the site for all of the fellow baseball lovers out there.

Secondly, there are prizes! We are going to be able to reward one weekly winner with a $20 gift certificate to Chili’s each week, and at the end of the season we are going to be giving one grand prize winner an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv for 2012.

And thirdly, specific to this week, one of the most well known and controversial moments in MSF history (a result of this article) will come full circle as Ken Rosenthal joins me and Ari on the first MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast.

This will be fun.

Before you listen to the podcast or jump to the quiz below, I implore you to read the MLB Trivia Challenge Rules and Information page. Only your first quiz submission is counted, so you want to make sure you know what’s going on.

Use the player below to listen to the MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast sponsored by Generational Equity.

In addition to tackling some deliciously difficult trivia questions from Ari, Ken and I look back at our appearance together on Outside the Lines, look forward at the future of sports media, discuss the topsy-turvy AL Central, and so much more. Enjoy.

Click here to take MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast Quiz #1

Link above skips you to the bottom of this page where quiz is embedded. Podcast will continue playing.

A few quick notes:

• The MLB Trivia Challenge is available on iTunes. Listen and subscribe here.
• Be sure to follow the MSF Trivia Challenge Podcast on Twitter: @MLBTriviaMSF. We’ll provide links to the latest episodes as well as periodic trivia questions that don’t make the final cut for the show. Why? It’s a long summer…you can never have enough MLB trivia.
• If you like the intro and outro music, and I know you will, it was provided to us by the Twin Cats out of Indianapolis. We encourage you to like them on Facebook or check out their music here.

On behalf of everyone at MSF and our sponsor Generational Equity, I extend my sincere thanks to Ken Rosenthal for taking the time to join us. I encourage you to follow him on Twitter, where he is often found tweeting out juicy nuggets of baseball information.

Quick Reaction to Rosenthal Conversation

I promise we’ll get to the first quiz in a moment, but I do think at least a couple of final thoughts on the entire MSF-Raul Ibanez-Ken Rosenthal-Outside the Lines situation are in order.

A lot of people have seem surprised that Ken and I have “patched things up” and have a solid relationship now, but I’m not. Ultimately he was just responding to his interpretation of words written by someone he didn’t know, and he has apologized both privately and now publicly for going a bit overboard with his indignant tone. I appreciate that and, of course, accept.

I will say that, based on listening to the podcast while editing, I’m still not completely sure he realizes that I never actually accused Raul Ibanez of using steroids and that I did try to seek out alternative explanations. (I probably should have asked a follow-up question about this.) But I also understand his larger point that you have to tread very carefully when “naming names” in association with steroids and PEDs when all you have to go on are numbers, and he’s right.

Overall, I learned a lot that week, as I detailed in this post. In particular, I learned about the potential for massive amplification that even an unassuming post on a small site can have. I also learned that with that potential comes a lot of responsibility. While I certainly felt that Ken’s public rebuke of me and my work was unfair, the constructive and informed parts of his message did not go unheard nor unheeded, and it made me a better blogger and MSF a better (and certainly more well-known) site. For that, and for his graciousness in helping us kick off the trivia challenge, I thank Ken.

Your Turn to Compete and Win Prizes

Now onto the fun stuff: your chance to match wits with the “experts” (which certainly was not me or Ken, but rather Ari and his fun but challenging questions) and win prizes.

As explained on the rules and information page, we will be rewarding one winner each time a new MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast and quiz are posted. This winner will be awarded as follows:

• Each correct answer nets you one point. Most points wins.
• In the event of a tie, we will choose from the top group at random.
• The winner receives a $20 gift certificate to Chili’s*, which is perfect for a Chili’s Lunch Break.

• Weekly winners can go bold with the new six-dollar lunch break combo at Chili’s. Choose a house made soup or salad and then pick a half Texas Toast sandwich like the Southwestern BLT smothered in cilantro lime mayo.
• See all the great Lunch Break combos at Chilis.com.
• Note: You have ONE WEEK from the day the podcast is posted to submit yours answers and be eligible for the weekly prize. The next Thursday at 11:59 pm CT, entries are closed and we award a winner.

In addition to the weekly prizes, a grand prize winner will be chosen at the end of the season. Simply put, the grand prize winner will be the person who tallies up the most points throughout the season, regardless of when the quiz is taken.

A few final notes you need to know before we let you have at it with the first quiz:

• LISTEN to the podcast; each week we will be including one bonus question taken directly from our discussion.
• ONLY your first entry counts, for the weekly prize and grand prize.
• MAKE SURE you use the same UserID throughout the season. This is how we will keep track of your scores.
• PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to the instructions after each question. Due to the parameters of the quiz program we are using, and our inability to hand-grade thousands of quizzes each week, we must request that you very specific and particular in how you answer the questions. Thus, you MUST spell names correctly, you MUST separate multiple response answers with commas, and oftentimes we request that you list responses in alphabetical order. Think of it this way: attention to detail is paramount in baseball, so shouldn’t it be part of the challenge? Absolutely.

And now, drumroll the please, we give you your chance to answer. There are only six questions this week whereas there will usually be 10 or 11. Have fun!

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Obviously we cannot post the answers because this is an ongoing trivia challenge.

Check back in two weeks when we’ll post the second MLB Trivia Challenge sponsored by Generational Equity. Remember: someone is winning an iPad and a subscription to MLB.tv when this is all said and done…it might as well be you.

* – Chili’s gift certificate good in U.S. only.