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Dairyland Madness: Top 2000s performances – Final Four

By Kenny Jilek

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Melvin Gordon #25 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball against the Auburn Tigers during the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. Wisconsin defeated Auburn 34-31 in overtime. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Melvin Gordon #25 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs with the ball against the Auburn Tigers during the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. Wisconsin defeated Auburn 34-31 in overtime. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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We’re onto the Final Four of the Dairyland Madness tournament to find the best Wisconsin Sports performance of the 2000s.

Each region started with sixteen all-time great performances from their respective teams. Now, only one champion remains from each region. For the Green Bay Packers, it’s Aaron Rodgers and his Super Bowl MVP game. For the Milwaukee Brewers, it’s C.C. Sabathia and his 1-hitter. The Milwaukee Bucks champion is Giannis Antetokounmpo with 44 points following his dad’s passing. Finally, for the Badgers, it’s Melvin Gordon and his record-breaking 408 yards.

The winners of these two matchups will face off in the championship for the title of Greatest Wisconsin Sports Performance of the 2000s. All of these performances have great claims to being the champion.

So be sure to vote on Twitter at Dairyland Express or click the link at the end of the article.

Matchup #1

#11 Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl MVP 2011 vs. #1 C.C. Sabathia 1-hitter 2008

Aaron Rodgers, with his Super Bowl MVP game in 2011, is the biggest Cinderella of this tournament. Rodgers started the tournament with three bids to win it and this one, the lowest seed of them all, is the one that has risen to the top. Obviously, there are a lot of fans that remember how great of a day it was when the Packers won the Super Bowl in 2011. Even though he’s been statistically outmatched in every round, he’s ridden that feeling that he gave everyone that day.

Sabathia is one of the two remaining top seeds. With a target on his back, he made it all the way through his region. It wasn’t without challenges, however. He had a few close encounters with each of Christian Yelich’s cycles and he finally beat Ben Sheets’ 18 strikeout game to prove that this day was the best-pitched game since Juan Nieves’ no-hitter.

Matchup #2

#5 Giannis Antetokounmpo 44 points for his dad 2017 vs. #1 Melvin Gordon  408 yards 4 TDs

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the mini Cinderella of the tournament as a fifth seed. This made him the underdog in all of his matchups after round one. It has been the emotional aspect of this game that has brought him through the bracket. Winning the game for his dad, putting up huge stats and making two game-winning plays down the stretch is what has gotten him to the Final Four. He even defeated his own game last season against the 76ers when he had 52 points and 16 rebounds and he beat Brandon Jennings magical 55-point game in 2009.

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Giannis is the underdog once again as he will have an uphill battle against Melvin Gordon’s record-breaking game. 408 yards and four rushing touchdowns are simply ridiculous and video game-like numbers. Melvin Gordon has gotten through this tournament on these pure amazing stats. Last round, he defeated an amazing Final Four performance from Frank Kaminsky that was based more on the magnitude of the game than stats itself. He will look to do that again and get into the championship match.

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