Hi-Life Men owner/GM Butch Stanek held a press conference to announce the move, which Stanek said, "is necessary for the continued improvement of the Hi-Life Men tradition."
The move came as a shock to many associated with the Hi-Life Men franchise, including some fans and media. Head coach Frederick Miller, who also founded the Miller Brewing Co., said the time was now for the team to go in a different direction.
“Our styles are just far too different to be running the same ship,” Miller said. “Augustus prefers those clean, cool players that never let you down, while I prefer players from the land of sky-blue waters — the champagne of players, if you will.
“It just wasn’t going to work out. But I do wish him the best. I just got sick of him saying 'True. True.' all the time. It was really played, but he kept going with it.”
Stanek added that Busch, who has been around football for a century or more, just wasn’t into utilizing today’s players properly.
“Augustus was always looking for those horses, especially at quarterback, which is why we went out and got Daunte (Culpepper) and Donovan (McNabb),” Stanek said. “While we’re very excited about having these young guys, Augustus just didn’t know how to use them in a modern offense.”
No replacement has been named at this time, and Stanek refused to say who the team was considering for interviews.
While the Hi-Life Men brass denied any rumors that stadium concession preferences came into play, there seemed to have been a conflict of interest from Day One of Busch’s time with the team. Busch seemed hung up about what the team is and has been drinking on and off the field.
In March, Busch denied a story run in the Milwaukee Source-Times detailing an altercation at McGurdie’s Pub on Wisconsin Ave. involving several players, the coach and a McGurdie’s bartender. Busch allegedly punched the employee in the face after she told Busch that he could not "make it a Bud Light." The team has not commented on the incident.
Busch could not be reached for comment at presstime.
As for his future, rumors are already swirling that the Beer-Blitzed Bears could be interested in hiring Busch, as Bears' owner/GM Tim Hanacek seems to share ideals about his players as Busch does. Plus, Hanacek believes he can drink Busch under the table if given a chance.