Hot Mom

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This week we have a very special guest. Softball Diva Jennie Finch. A true trail blazer in the world of sports and pop culture, Jennie is as hot on the field as she is off it, once named by ESPN.com as the hottest female athlete (2003), Jennie continues to dominate the world of softball. Her career stats speak for themselves. She has appeared in numerous publications (SI,askmen.com, and Modern Bride amongst others) and tv shows including This Week in Baseball, The Late Show and The Jimmy Kimmel Show.

Jennie and I first met in San Diego on a shoot for This Week in Baseball with Tony Gwynn. We hit it off from day one and she was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to sit down with UMTailgate.com. Hope you guys enjoy and thanks so much to Jennie!

The Hammer: You recently had your first child with husband Casey Daigle (YAY!), how is life with a child?

Jennie Finch: It is such a blessing, each day is filled with surprises! We are enjoying
every second!

TH: As an elite athlete, what was it like being pregnant?

JF: It was really really fun! It is such a miracle and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to experience it and our lil guy Ace. I had it really easy... I enjoyed being pregnant! I was able to work out the entire pregnancy, I even walked 5 miles the day before I gave birth.

TH: At what point did you have to interrupt your daily routine?

JF: About 8 months I really started showing... after about 8 1/2 no travel, which was great! Not much change other than not being able to run, liftweights intensely, and etc.

TH: Did it take you a while to get back into softball shape?

JF: I was on the field after 3 weeks trying to get back, back to my old self about 2 1/2 months. It came back real quick, which was really exciting because you never know how your body is going to react. I had National Team Try outs at 6 weeks, so that was my goal as far as coming back.

TH: Tell us about USA Softball and what the future holds for the sport?

JF: USA Softball is at its peak right now, looking forward to the 2008 Olympics.  The World Cup was a real success this year, bringing it back to the US. We head out to China for the World Championships next week. Next summer the main events are the Pan Am Games in Brazil and the World Cup. Our sport is growing and really needs to continue to grow around the world in order to create opportunities for women in our sport. Seeing the National Pro Fastpitch League get its feet underneath itself has been really exciting for our sport especially with softball being taked out of the 2012 Olympic Games. 

TH: Are you excited about going to China (for the World Championships)?

JF: Yes, we are looking forward to World Championships. This is the 2nd biggest event for softball in between the Olympic Games. We are looking forward to qualifing for the Olympics next week. It will also be good to see Beijing in preparation for 2008.

TH: At what age did people start recognizing you ("Hey, look, that's Jennie
Finch!")

JF: I would say maybe after the 2001 Womens College World Series, the year we won it!

TH: Re-live the first couple years of your stardom...From working on TWIB, to appearing on late night talk shows, to finally gracing the cover of Sports
Illustrated and appearing in their Swimsuit issue. What are some of the
craziest highlights...besides hanging with me (wink)

JF: Where do I begin, I've been able to meet some incredible people and athletes! Some highlights were meeting Donald Trump at the Emmy's and David Letterman! TWIB (This Week in Baseball, one of the longest running sports series) was really the start of my career... truly a dream job, traveling all over to Major League Stadiums interviewing players.. some favorites were interviewing Barry Bonds and pitching at Dodger Stadium with Tommy Lasorda looking on! All Star Festivities were pretty fun too! Sports Illustrated was a dream come true! Its all just crazy, I am truly living a dream and feel so blessed!  Gatorade Commercial... another dream! 

TH: Where you ever apprehensive about all the attention you got? Did you ever
feel an obligation to the sport to do something that you might not have
normally done but thought it would help softball?

JF: It gets a little tough just trying to balance everything family, softball, media, and all while still trying to be the best on the field that I can be. Its a good issue to have, I keep busy! I've had to say no to a lot of things only because it might affect training. Its tough too in a team sport, you wish you could experience everything with your teammates!!!

TH: What does the future hold for you?

JF: Raising my son Ace with my husband. Getting ready for 2008... who knows
what will come in between!

TH: Michigan won the softball national championship in 2005, tell us about some
of the Wolverines you've met and what allowed our team to finally
breakthrough the pac-10's dominance...

JF: Of Course you had to bring up your Wolverines, just kidding! It was great for our sport, what a great program, Coach Hutch has built a great program at Michigan! Its exciting to watch them play! They had great pitching, great defense, and timely hitting. That's what it takes to Win it all! having Michigan win shows and proves the growth of our sport, the talent nation wide! Jennie Ritter is a tough competitor, Jessica Merchant is so talented! Great players and great people!

TH: Are you a college football fan?

JF: Only if my Wildcats are playing!

Way Back When-sday: September 30th, 2001

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Ah yes, summertime is dwindling down, and autumn is upon us.

The Tigers are recovering from a 5-game losing streak by beating up on Sox of a different color. Last night, Bonderman, Ledezma, Rodney, and Jones combined to allow just two runs, then went out and beat up some smaaart kids at a Haaavard Bar. Might have lost Placido in the process though...

Things are in full fall swing at Camp Shembechler, and if you don't know Terrance Taylor, you will soon enough. Meanwhile, Michigan is going from crap to underrated to dark horse to everybody's secret pick so fast that the AP might have us in the top-10. How can we surprise anyone if everybody knows we are coming? Sports Illustrated online featured us, and Sportcenter's Championship Series just showed us moving up to #8 after knocking off Notre Dame. They do a week from the season each day at 6pm on Sportscenter, and I've got this funny feeling they're going to ride us out as long as possible, pissing off the football powers that be at every step.

But alas, today is not about today, it's about yesterday. It's Way Back When-sday, and today we travel back to one of the early tailgates in UMTailgate.com history...

It was September 29th, 2001, and just to put into perspective how long ago that is, Michigan was about to face Illinois...and Illinois was ranked #22. Crazier still, we had not knocked off the Illini in the Big house since 1996. Wow.

Michigan put a hurting on Illinois on this day, winning 45-20. It came at the hands of unbelievably creative playcalling, which included a 51-yard pass from Marquise Walker TO Jermaine Gonzalez, and a 21-yard touchdown pass by Walter Cross. Yes, you just read that correctly. Maybe it would be more believable if I told you that our regular QB was John Navarre? The day also included a completion from Navarre to TE Bill Seymour, and a reverse for a touchdown by Calvin Bell. Christ, how did we win any games that year? Well, we did get crushed in the Citrus Bowl by Tennessee 45-17.

But the game was not the big story. Captain Michigan retired his leg wrestling championship belt on this day, and became the first person inducted into the UMTailgate.com Hall of Fame. His name was etched into history on the UMTailgate.com flag, which was unveiled by Bubba for the first time in front of a capacity tailgate crowd.

See the original post here, the pictures here, and share your memories of this special day below.

Scheduling note: Michigan Fan Day has been officially scheduled for August 26th.

17 days? You're not ready.

 

Motown Listeners' Nightmare

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 So our first "Monday" night game on Espn is in the books. It immediately became apparent that the intention of the downward spiraling network, as always these days, was to gimmick up the broadcast. Besides the obvious reasons of not hiring a football ignorant person to blunder through the most sacred weekly television broadcast, they go and add more bizarre graphics and segments than necessary. The only Tony! Tony! Tony! I want to hear sung is "Feels Good" or "If I had No Loot" by the group Tony! Toni! Tone!. I just don't think it's a good idea and seeing how Espn has filled it's airwaves with dorks, see Mr. Leather, Around the Horn Jerk offs, let alone steven a. and stuart. I think this is just another publicity stunt and real fans should be super pissed. I am. I can deal with Theisman, even though he makes his share of idiotic comments at least he had his bone exposed by LT to give him some street cred. Torico I can also handle, he is adequate, but we can only hope they get better, they get a pass this time but they are on a short leash with me.

Now I must admit I didn't hear the whole game cuz I simultaneously watching the Tigers pound Josh Beckett. But here in lies the dilemma, a dilemma i wouldn't wish on a near deaf person, listen to the new crew on Monday or Rod and Mario. I leaned towards the Monday crew because I already know our Detroit boys are winning the race for worst MLB play-by-play this season by more games than the Mets are winning the NL East by, but after a while it was a tough decision. I did listen to the broadcast long enough to hear two or three full innings of special guest Mark "the bird" Fydrich. What a treat that was. It only made me more disappointed I wasn't around yet to see his antics in person, and for all of you that don't know, that shit he did was not an act. Next time this occurs, I am definitely going to listen to Sirius 19, the Buzzsaw, while watching both muted. What would you do??

Ready for some Football?

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So I just found out that the NFL network is showing every single NFL preseason game. Also found out that preseason games are not very much fun to watch but it nevertheless got me in the football season mood. Of course the NFL network has many kinks to work out, not least of being only two commercials that contiually loop and make you really want to shoot yourself, but it is a great idea to show all the games. I used the games to reflect and research some of our former standouts from the greatest University to be founded in 1817. Let me start with one of our all time favorites, Mr. John Navarre. This probably was the highlight of my weekend as I realized we still don't have to watch him on Saturday's. Although a not bad 11 for 15 throwing day, 2 of the 4 "non-completions" were actually completed to rookie Anthony Smith of the Steelers' defense. Just like old times, particularly loved the one he tossed while falling down, have never even seen a pop warner kid do such a thing, check that, i have seen Navarre do it a million times, sorry. On the bright side, the studious Larry Foote looked like an All Pro for the defending XL champs. Oh and before i forget, I have never seen a team wear a patch of their stadium on their jersery, ok, we get it its a great place and new and all that but do you really wear a patch depicting it on your jesery??? By the way it kinda looks like its an inflatable stadium doesn't it? Ps- Ernest Shazor had a pick for the Redbirds, although it was negated by a penalty, it was pretty sweet anyway.

Not much else exciting for ex-wolves, they fared much better on the defensive side of the ball, Pierre Woods had 4 tackles and a sack for the Pats. Marlin Jackson equaled his Michigan career total with 3 tackles and Markus Curry led the Chargers with 5 tackles against G.Bay who got two takedowns from Roy Manning. Todd Collins led the offesive standouts with a 6 for 13 effort plus a pick and a fumble for the Skins. Rookie Tim Massaqoui actually caught a ball for the Bucs and BJ Askew had one touch for 4 yards for the Jets. And the biggest news was David Terrell attended the Broncos game in Detroit, he had a run for 10 yards and a 24 yard punt return! Actually 1997 National Champion Brian Griese had a solid showing with a 6/7 day that included to TD's and a total of 134 in limited action for the Bears. My apologies to almost forgetting the special teamers, cuz Jay Feely knocked in a game winning field goal for the Giants.

In closing a couple of things i am elated about this upcoming season, A. That Detroit got rid of Joey Ballgame, his unrefrained joy after scoring a preseason TD was unprecedented, especially after 2 fumbles in the a Miami loss. Actually not unprecedented, he did it all the time here. Good thing there are a lot of "Lions Quarterbacks" in the Miami area for him to loath with this season. B. Thank goodness Vanderbilt comes to town sans Jay Cutler, who looked like the best quarterback ever, albiet it was against the vaunted Honolulu Blue sieve. C. That in an effort to further humilate the already ridiculed zebras, the NFL has decided to put their refs in some spandex/leather outfit that crosses the line of ridiculous. Although Joey asked to borrow one to wear out with his backless chaps.

Tonight's monday night game shouldn't be too interesting and the only UM connects include the Vikes Steve Hutchinson, who as you know is a lineman, and transfer Huggie Bear's son. So watch Tigers v. Red Sox.

 

Case of the Mundy's: 8/14/2006

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Injury Report Remains Unchanged 

"Based on overall instinct, gut, everything, I'm playing next year regardless, whatever it takes, I'm playing. I've told everybody that... It's not worrisome to me at all," said Bass, one of six freshmen who played last year. "I put it in God's hands; whatever happens, happens. I don't believe it is (career-ending); I never will. As long as everything goes according to plans, I'll be playing next year."

Injury concerns seem to still be starting and stopping with Antonio Bass. His future remains in doubt, but apparently his passion does not.

From the internet to you, rounding out the weekend that was:In continuing website update news:
  • Added all of the front pages from 2001 Season and Off-Season

  • Added all of the pictures from 2000

So it's with great joy that I announce that the full migration from old UMTailgate.com to UMTailgate.com is complete. Still have some finishing touches to put on it, and of course I'm always up for suggestions. Leave me some feedback in the comments section on what you'd like to see on UMTailgate.com.

Also, don't miss this week's upcoming edition of Hard Hittin' Thursdays, where The Hammer will be dropping another first rate interview upon us.