The Boys of Summer Reunion

​There's no bigger homer on the planet than our own Godfather.  He's a Wolverines fan on Saturday...a Bears fan on Sunday.  He's into hockey...once the Wolverines make the frozen four, or the Wings are in the finals.  He's a Cubs fan by day, and a Tigers fan under the lights.  So gas prices be damned, G-Daddy made his way across the state to see his favorite Tiger, Miguel Cabrera, don the old English 'D.'  Some of the family made the trip as well, and after a quick hiccup at the casino, we made our way to the ballpark for a pizza picnic in section 137 and to see (Justin's Tiger) Todd Jones blow his first save.  But as if he knew his biggest fan was in town, Cabrera came through in the bottom of the ninth with a walk off double.  Tigers win 6-5.  Nice...and...*ahem*..."fun."

Better late than never...here are the pics from the days events.

Our Wolverines

Ex-Wolverines have been in the news recently and for some very good reasons. Michael Phelps, former swimmer, broke his own record in the 400m individual medley on Sunday night. The Baltimore Sun asks if Michael can become the next Tiger Woods...The title was enough for me not to read the article.

Two former Wolverine baseball players have made the prestigious Futures Game during the All-Star festivities at Yankee Stadium. One name is probably more familiar to you than you think...Clayton Richard, former Michigan quarterback who left the team to focus on baseball appears to have made the right decision. He's been tearing it up for the White Sox triple-A farm club along with fellow teammate Chris Getz who is down in Charlotte.

Three former women rowers have been selected to represent their countries as well. Heather Mandoli and Janine Hanson from Canada and Ellen Tomek from the USA. Congrats to our Alumni! Check out mgoblue.com for complete coverage of all our potential Olympians!

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.