In a state where other major league pro teams have struggled, the opening of Packers' training camp this week is bigger than ever. But, you have to be a true fan to dig watching the early workouts.

These early workouts include drills that are about as exciting as watching the cows come home for evening milking. Behemoth players mill around, often without pads, in a variety of agility drills and other workouts.

If you are lucky, you might actually catch a glimpse of Brett Favre, usually wearing a red jersey which means "don't touch this guy; he's the franchise." Otherwise, you see a lot of guys who might never make the team.

Yet, hundreds of fans will gather around the practice field in Green Bay any time the Packers do hold workouts open to the public. Neighborhood kids will give players rides to and from the locker room on their bikes. This is a football love-in.

There are legitimate reasons to be excited about the Packers this pre-season. They have strengthened their receiving corps and defensive ends considerably. They look to have more depth in the backfield.

If their offensive line and defensive backfield solidify, and veteran linebacker Hardy Nickerson still has some football left, the Packers could challenge the Bears for the revised Central Division title and go somewhere in the playoffs.

Besides, the Brewers are pitiful again, and might go on strike, and who wants to read about the Bucks' stars getting arrested. So, the love-in is even bigger this season.

In recognition of this, a new column, On The Pack, will start Aug. 5 and run weekly throughout the pre-season, regular season and playoffs. The Aug. 5 column will be devoted to a breakdown of the Packers by units.

Bucks' assistant coach Terry Stotts is leaving George Karl's staff. Some rumors say Stotts disagreed with some of Karl's tactics last season, but he and George have been close friends since 1980 when both were in the CBA.

Stotts would like to land a head-coaching job in the NBA and might think he has a better chance if he is a free agent. I wouldn't put a lot of stock in the rumors about dissension.

Yet, Stotts' leaving is some more negative news for the Bucks, coming on the heels of Glenn Robinson's arrest for an incident in the Chicago area.

At the same time, one of the real neat projects of the Bucks will go on next week, when Karl holds his annual youth basketball camp at Whitefish Bay High School. The slots for players in grades 7-9 are sold out.

One of my favorite sports events of the summer is when the International Cycling Class comes to my neighborhood. The tour, which has been in Wisconsin for several days, will come to Downer Avenue Saturday and Whitefish Bay Sunday.

It is a real kick to see these cyclists race through the neighborhoods, by people in their front yards, and through the business sections lined with onlookers.

This truly is an international event. Viktor Repinski of Belarus held a slight lead over Andy Cappelle of Belgium in total points as of this writing. Cyclists from all over the world will join them this weekend.

Speaking of international sports, in case, you didn't catch it, the Milwaukee Bombers won the Lake Michigan Australian Rules Football League Championship by beating the Illinois Ironmen, 51-11, and Chicago Sharks, 32-24, in a tournament in the Chicago area last weekend.

These guys started with a few Aussie transplants who had to teach the game to a bunch of Americans who thought football should be played with a helmet. To win the league title is a fine accomplishment.

The Bombers' next scheduled game is Sept. 7 in the Chicago area. The team also might hold an exhibition game Aug. 17 in Milwaukee.