Wednesday, December 29: "Blood, Sweat and Cheers" @ the Library

For pure spectacle, passion and tradition, nothing in sports beats a college football rivalry – and the Big Ten has some of the best. On Dec. 19 at 7 p.m., the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., will host a presentation and book signing by freelance sports writer Todd Mishler author of "Blood, Sweat and Cheers: Great Football Rivalries of the Big Ten" on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. Whether it's reminiscing over Wisconsin and Minnesota's battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe, or rehashing Ohio State and Michigan scrapping for conference dominance, you'll discover the history, ritual and color of some of football's oldest and greatest blood feuds. Books will be available for purchase and will make a perfect Christmas gift for football fans. This program is free and no registration is required. Space is limited, however, so early arrival is recommended.

Mishler interviewed dozens of former players and coaches to capture the flavor, both on and off the field, surrounding arguably college football's best and most historic conference. Scores, statistics and highlights cover the teams from the series beginnings in the late 1800s to the showdown between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan in November 2006.

Wisconsin native Todd Mishler graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He previously authored Cold Wars: 40+ Years of Packer-Viking Rivalry, Baseball in Beertown: America's Pastime in Milwaukee, and Great Moments in Wisconsin Sports. His career included feature writing for daily newspapers prior to becoming a full-time freelance writer in 2003.