Packers players, Brewers players and FOX6's Tim Van Vooren play ping pong for charity



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Green Bay Packers have a long way to go in the NFL season, while the Milwaukee Brewers hope they still have a long way to go in the MLB season. Recently, members of both teams met up in Milwaukee for a charitable challenge -- and FOX6's Tim Van Vooren took part.

Professional athletes will compete. They can't help themselves!

"It's bragging rights," Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb said.

"I think we all want to win," Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said.

As opposed to on the diamond or the field, a handful of Brewers and Packers players came together on Sunday night, September 7th for the inaugural Ping Pong Challenge for Charity. The event, held at SURG On the Water in downtown Milwaukee benefits the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin's neo-natal unit.

"Things aren't always going to go well at work, but you can always have a positive impact in your community and a positive impact on other people's lives," Ryan Braun said.

Ping pong aficionado Ryan Braun helped come up with the idea for this event, but he couldn't take part due to a sore thumb.

There was a wide open field of elite athletes taking part.

"I started back at the Boys & Girls Club when I was younger playing, and I think it's definitely something that carries over. We're all athletes. We all can pick up a bat and play. We all can pick up a basketball and shoot, so it's not that difficult, but it does take some practice," Cobb said.

Since the evening nodded toward a heavyweight bout, there was an undercard. In this case, a media division tournament -- not populated by elite athletes. But just the same, the spirit of competition was alive.

Once the preliminary rounds were out of the way, the real players took over, with teammates battling each other initially.

Left-handed reliever Will Smith, playing right-handed, emerged as the Brewers team champion, while Randall Cobb, southpaw all the way, was tops for the Packers. Cobb beat Smith in the championship match to win the coveted championship belt.

"I'll probably put it somewhere near my rookie year helmet. It's a pretty big accomplishment for me -- to be a ping-pong champion," Cobb said.

Cobb has the hardware to reflect his performance, but as is often the case with this type of event, the charity is the biggest winner.

"I think we all enjoy doing stuff for other people, and helping each other out, so it's a good way to give back -- especially to Children's Hospital," Lucroy said.

"We hope to make this an annual event. I think that would be a lot of fun, so if we can figure out who the best Packers players are, the best Brewers players are, and maybe get the Bucks involved, it would be something we look forward to doing for many years to come, hopefully," Braun said.

It's spirited competition -- and it's all in the name of charity.