On the football field, Deon McLain made it look so simple.

Playing for Park High School, the gifted running back transformed many simple runs into spectacular ones.

In the classroom, it was a different story for McLain. By his own admission, he didn't take studying seriously and wound up paying a steep price.

Because he didn't have the necessary academic qualifications, big time colleges shied away from actively recruiting him - despite his immense athletic talents. Furthermore, he didn't graduate with his class.

Yet, McLain stuck with it, attended summer school and instead of going to a prep school, is likely to attend a junior college.

If McLain takes care of his academic business, possibly at Rochester (Minn.) Junior College, he still could end up playing for a big time school.

McLain obviously is delighted to be back on track.

His desire is that other athletes who are moving into high school realize the importance of school and don't make the same mistake as he did.

"I wish I would have done things right, right away as a freshman," said McLain, one of the greatest prep running backs ever produced in Wisconsin. "I didn't think it (academics) could affect me that much. But I was wrong. It matters a lot. I should have done better.

"I just hope other people don't do what I did and get things done early when they're a freshman."

Brewers face steep odds

I'm not the only one who believes the Milwaukee Brewers are at least a good starting pitcher away from being a legitimate World Series contender.

The bookies in Vegas list the Brewers' odds of winning the World Series at 18/1.

Teams with better odds are Boston, the L.A. Dodgers and N.Y. Yankees, all at 7/2, the Chicago Cubs at 13/2, Philadelphia and St. Louis at 8/1, and the Los Angeles Angels, the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers, all at 10/1. The Tigers, by the way, opened at 30/1 back in September.

Ellis taking her game overseas

While Krystal Ellis won't be playing in the WNBA this season, she'll still be playing for pay.

Ellis, the former St. Catherine's High School and Marquette University standout, has signed a contract to play for Neas Filadelfias-Neas Halkidonas in Athens, Greece.

The contract is for one year.

Ellis is Marquette's all-time leading scorer.

Leaving some big shoes

The Horlick High School girls' tennis program flourished under the leadership of coach Sylvia Krause.

During her tenure, the Rebels were consistently among the elite teams in the Southeast Conference.

But Krause, who truly cared more about her players' well being than their records, has decided to join her husband, Dave, in retirement.

Here's wishing Sylvia nothing but aces.

- Speaking of the Krauses, their son, Shane, a former Horlick basketball standout, is following in his dad's footsteps: He's become a head high school basketball coach.

Shane is the head coach at Rouse High School in Leander, Texas. The school is in its second year of existence and is projected to have an enrollment of 2,500 in a couple of years - or about the same size at Horlick.

Trotter gives commitment

Michael Trotter of Racine, who attends Marquette High School in Milwaukee, has made a verbal commitment to play football for the University of Wisconsin.

Trotter, a safety, turned down full rides from Indiana and Western Michigan, among other schools.

Michael's sister Alana, a former standout for The Prairie School basketball team, is on the Badgers' women's basketball team.

Lueneburg honored

Jake Lueneburg has picked up some nice coins for college.

Lueneburg, a former Somers Shoreland High School and current Racine Kiwanis first baseman, was the recent recipient of the Racine Baseball Co-op scholarship and received $1,000.

Lueneburg, who is batting .387 for the Kiwanis and was chosen to the Langsdorf and Land O' Lakes leagues all-star teams, is headed to Kishwaukee (Ill.) College, a junior college.

Another Bucks' departure?

There are strong indications the Milwaukee Bucks, who already have lost Richard Jefferson and Charlie Villanueva this summer to a trade and free agency, respectively, may be on the brink of losing another starter from last season's team.

Ramon Sessions, a restricted free agent, is being seriously courted by the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers and could receive an offer from one of those teams shortly, a lucrative offer the Bucks probably won't match.

Around the horn

You probably heard that Tony Romo recently played golf with Tiger Woods in the AT&T National Pro-Am in Bethesda, Md. What you probably didn't know is that Woods shot a 70 and Romo, the former Burlington High School and current Dallas Cowboys star quarterback, fired a 74. … Jason Caspers won his 14th Racine on the Lake Tennis Classic men's open singles title Sunday. What you probably didn't know is Caspers and his partner, Kevin Lock, also won their 15th doubles championship in the event. … You just wonder how much longer it'll be before Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin calls up prized prospect Alcides Escobar. Not only is Escobar an exceptionally-skilled shortstop, but his offense also has picked up dramatically. As of Monday, Escobar was hitting .305 and had 35 stolen bases.

Gery Woelfel is a sports reporter for The Journal Times. Gery can be reached by calling (262) 634-3322, Ext. 322, or by e-mail at gery.woelfel@lee.net Gery's "Woelfel World of Sports" blogs can be read at www.journaltimes.com