Weekend Roundup, Get Some Tail Edition: June 30, 2008

​Here's what you missed while watching the Tigers go over .500...

• Sparty lovers think the open tryout plan will work out better for him (ha), but if I were Drew Neitzel, I'd be changing in my dollars for Euros.  [Neitzel Goes Undrafted - Spartans Weblog]


• Interesting article on Gary Stewert, the guy that does the screen printing on Michigan bowl jerseys, and has done so since the 1986 Fiesta Bowl.  [Sportsarama - Sturgis Journal]


• This would change tailgating drastically, and for only $1 million.  [Terra Wind Amphibious RV - Uncrate]


• MGoBlog is selling the 2008 edition of Hail to the Victors.  You need it, so buy it.  [Hail to the Victors 2008 - MGoBlog]


• The Wizard of Odds discusses The Linebacker Lounge.  I only bring this up because following the 1998 loss to Notre Dame, I puked on the wall of this bar from a combination of beer, dip, and the team shitting the bed. [The Wizard of Odds - The Linebacker Lounge]


• Sparty is playing at Ford Field next year against Western Michigan.  [Spartan Football to play at Ford Field in '09 - Scout.com]


• Freep covers just how average the Wolverines are going to be next season. [Average Big Ten team? - Freep.com]

Godfather Just Wants to Have Fun

​About once a week, the planning committee has a conference call with the menu organization team.  Translation:  I talk to the Godfather.  This week, The Godfather expressed displeasure with the verbose tone of the recent posts on UMTailgate.com.  "Not enough fun," he said.

Despite retiring at a very young age and leeching a living off of Red Grandma, The Godfather is a very busy person.  He takes out the garbage, he does the grocery shopping in nearby South Bend, he buys Michigan stuff on ebay, he puts gas in the lawnmower so Red Grandma can cut the grass, and most importantly, he schedules "events."  Not being allowed by Red Grandma to mix a Captain and Coke when alone, these "events" give the Godfather the freedom to imbibe.

He hasn't had an open weekend since 1973.

Recently, one of the Godfather's "events" took him to the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo.  In between appointments with the one armed bandits, he bumped into Hall of Fame Coach Mike Ditka.  They talked for a while (I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that exchange) with Godfather most likely divulging his entire life story, and Ditka revealing that his morning winnings totalled in the six-figure range...which I am sure was just a bit over what The Godfather had won.

Fun.

This weekend, he will make the trek accross the state to Comerica Park for the Saturday night Tiger game.  I will join him there at some point and there will likely be some more fun...and casinos...and maybe even some fresh pics for the site.  Stay tuned.

Canadian Michigan Fans Giving Life and Limb for Season Tickets

​Brian remarked today in the Fanhouse that of the 84 handicap seats that are being added to the Big House for next season, only 14 have been sold.  Marty Bodnar says these seats are for handicap patrons only, so they are trying to get the word out to the handicapped community.  Meanwhile, I was on the waiting list for 6 years before I got the privilege of being able to purchase 2 seats in section 9.  Brian jokes...

Keep this in mind if you see a headline like "UNEXPLAINED RASH OF AMPUTATIONS ACROSS MICHIGAN" sometime in the next couple months.

Funny?  Yes.  Until you see this...

A woman on a beach near Campbell River, a fishing town on Vancouver Island, discovered a right foot inside a black Adidas men's running shoe, witness Sandra Malone told AFP.

"You could see the two bones coming up out of the shoe," said Malone, who manages a tourist campground 220 kilometers (137 miles) northwest of Vancouver. "It's just the bone and a lot of seaweed around the ankle," she said.

They even went with Adidas in celebration of the latest athletic department contract.  And I thought that the $500 I dropped on OSU tix in 2006 was a sacrafice!  These are the real fans.  O' Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Weekend Roundup, Girls In Uniform Edition: Monday, June 16, 2008

• Brian Williams of the NBC Nightly News took a moment to jab at Ann Arbor and your Wolverines at a commencement address. (via MVictors) Why is he so pro-Columbus? Because after stints at Brookdale Community College, George Washington University, and the Catholic University of America, he surfaced without a degree. Enter The Ohio State University, who was more than willing to pony up one of their worthless pieces of paper bestowing upon B-Dub an honorary Docterit of Journalizem. That finally answers the question "Are they just giving degrees away?" Not that you're watching his broadcasts, but if you find yourself forgetting to change the channel after My Name is Earl...now would be the time.


• Brian Cook of MGoBlog fame posts at his other venue The Fanhouse about "Ohio State: where you can wear a blue diaper in a creepy clinical environment... and have it broadcast to the world!." Seriously, this IS creepy. Why is this footage available? They can't tell me about a college player's injury because of privacy concerns, but they can show me everything short of TP turning his head and coughing.


• What all the ladies have been waiting for...the Kirk Herbstreit sextape. (via EDSBS)


• The Toledo Blade covers Michigan's "Life Without Hart" because Ohio is really more concerned with Michigan football then they are with the Buckeyes being the Buffalo Bills of college athletics. One poignant piece of info in this article: Mike Hart went 1005 carries without a fumble, which is the most impressive stat in the history of sport.


• The Sporting News gives you the top ten mascots you'd want on your side in a barfight. #4 on the list is the beloved Wolverine, which has "a legendarily horrific odor, can eat frozen meat off the bone with ease and possess such disproportionate strength...can take down a moose in the right circumstances." Bring on the Moose.


• Epke Udoh has officially transferred to Baylor. (via UMHoops) Let's wish Epke the best of luck in surviving the rigors of Baylor Basketball.


• Full coverage on the "depths" of Michigan Football at Sunday Morning QB. It's a pretty good preseason primer that references Athlon's prediction that Utah, Michigan State, ND, and Purdue are automatic wins. That's some funny stuff right there.


• We've got uni's. MGoBlog with the help of the fanbase has uncovered the new Adidas jerseys. Even better, they were found draped over boobs at the Michigan Football Women's Academy. Home here. Away here. I can't believe I have to buy another jersey.

Tubatorial: Making the Past the Present

by Robert Haddad​

A common way to test the value of our traditions is by comparing them to our present day experiences. If they resemble the past, or what we know of as the past then we tend to appreciate them more. We pay equal attention to that which we've never seen. But in order to determine value we usually need certain parameters to act as measuring sticks. To say "he's good but not as good as..."

What's fascinating when we incorporate sports into the conversation is that we tend to rely heavily on championships. Our fondest memories tend to emanate from our most extreme experiences. Winning a championship or a heart breaking loss. Joy and pain are shared emotions. But obviously to maintain a level of reverence, one must be successful.

So when we look back on the past eras of Michigan football we hold certain coaches near and dear to our hearts because of their accomplishments, but let us not forget to include the timing in which they arrived as factors of our fondness. No doubt their success drives our foundation and our culture but their success most frequently is predicated on the fact that they followed failure.

Earlier this week we took a look back at the contributions of Gary Moeller. A man who actually had timing on his side. No doubt his task was daunting. He was in the unenviable position of having to follow a legend but he had the resources and tradition that were laid before him by someone who not only redefined an already established tradition but resurrected the program after a brief down period. Bo was handed the keys to a vintage car in need of a tune up. Gary Moeller inherited that same car with a complete overhaul but same classic looks. All he had to do was drive straight. And sometimes that's the hardest way to drive. So Gary, much like many who follow in the footsteps of an icon acted as a bridge to a new generation. And instead of being able to crest his own wave he had to pass and let someone else try.

Enter Lloyd Carr. A non-descript assistant who had put in more years coaching as an assistant than his players had on earth. He was not what the fan base was looking for. But timing was everything. Whether his success came with the help of Moeller's recruits or not, Lloyd coached Michigan to it's first National Championship in 50 years. His success always revolved around that fact. What will be interesting to see is if Lloyd Carr will in fact act as a bridge to Rich Rodriguez or if he will be the second wave of our most recent run of success.

The talent level during the Lloyd Carr era is unparalleled. And our current age of information may be why we have less appreciation for Lloyd. Because we know what talent was available and the perception was they were undercoached. Will Rich Rod have the same talent and do more? Where do the expectations lie and when can we fairly evaluate the impact Lloyd had on this program? When Bo retired there was never a question of his value. For some reason Lloyd's is still in doubt.