Those people looking for some escape from the tragic realities of recent days might want to head for downtown Milwaukee this coming Saturday.

First, around 10 a.m., what started as Al's Run and is known now as Al's Memorial Run & Walk will be held. At the starting line on the Marquette campus, at 16th Street and Wisconsin Avenue, Al McGuire's bib No. 1 will be retired. Then, the race will start at 10:15 a.m.

Of course, the late Marquette coach, Al McGuire, started the annual event. It has been renamed by sponsor Briggs & Stratton to honor McGuire, who died in January. Children's Hospital benefits from the run.

At noon, the first Milwaukee River Challenge will start. The main gathering area for that rowing event is Pere Marquette Park, but there are several good viewing areas along the river. Click on an ad for the event that is running on OMC to see a map of the course.

The River Challenge lasts until 6 p.m., when the Brewers and Cincinnati Reds game starts at Miller Park.

I realize it's difficult even for ardent sports fans to get as buzzed about events in times like we have experienced recently. But, Saturday truly will be an exceptional day in Milwaukee sports. We all can use an escape, and these events will provide good ones.

While major league baseball, NFL football and other sports cancelled their games over the weekend, state prep sports events and some small college events did go on.

Sources say the WIAA considered calling all games, but after consulting child psychologists decided to leave it up to individual schools and conferences. Those psychologists recommended trying to carry on with some semblance of normal life.

Most high schools held moments of silence or vigils before their games. Friends who attended those games said they were sincerely touched and thought the events were tributes to those people who have suffered in New York and Washington D.C.

Before the UW-Eau Claire and Valparaiso college game, VP president Alan Harre told the crowd the schools were showing that terrorists were not going to stop normal life. The Blugolds did make Valpo's fans suffer though with a 31-9 trouncing.

I thought MLB and the NFL were right in calling off their games, not only in deference to what happened but also because of travel difficulties and the concerns about 50,000 or more people concentrated in one, easily-targeted area. But, the high schools and small college games did not have those additional concerns and did send a message in their own ways by playing the games.

Major League Soccer called off the remainder of its regular season because of the terrorists' attacks. MLS playoffs will start later this week. Will the decisions have any effect on MLS commissioners' consideration of expansion?

Tim Krause and other investors trying to build a soccer stadium in town and bring a MLS franchise here had been told the league commissioners wanted to make a decision about expansion in October.

Will that schedule still be followed? If it is not, it could give Krause and his group more time to lobby for the stadium, which was considered a key component in getting a possible franchise.

The Rampage's A-League playoff games have been switched to Wednesday in Nashville and at 3 p.m. this coming Saturday. The games had been scheduled to start last week.

Milwaukee and Nashville had 14-10-2 records during the season. Aggregate goals in the two games will determine the team that advances in the playoffs.