MLB Spring Training games started on Tuesday. College baseball started a couple of weeks ago. I am away this weekend shooting the Houston College Classic -- featuring five Top 10 ranked teams (Texas AM, Baylor, Rice, UC Irvine, and UCLA) at the Astros Minute Maid Ballpark. 9 games in 3 days. For me, it does not get any better than this.
My other alma mater (I have an MBA from Baylor) won their game yesterday over the Houston Cougars. Today the Bears face UCLA Bruins and freshman phenom Gerrit Cole. Cole was selected in the first-round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees (28th overall) and decided to attend college instead. I guess the chicks at UCLA are hotter than the chicks in the Bronx.
I'm sorry folks, but I just could not concentrate long enough to come up with a SSF. You see Tom (ah dreamy) Brady has ruined it for all of us. He married her. In a Catholic Church. In Santa Monica Giselle is now Mrs. Brady.......
For those who care, she wore Dolce and Gabbana. Oh, and her 3 dogs were there too. I guess if you were going to marry Giselle you'd let anyone or anything walk down the aisle too....... Sigh. Maybe he married her for her money? I mean in case the football thing doesn't work out for him? That must be it, because I just don't see what's so great about her....... To me she's just evil.
In 1791 angry citizens in the western portion (essentially Pittsburgh) of the newly created United States staged a small rebellion against the federal government because of a tax on whiskey. Tax collectors were terrorized and the tax was ignored. President George Washington mobilized and led 13,000 troops under the command of Harry Lee (Robert E's father) into the area of dispute. A dozen or so men were arrested and eventually pardoned after the agreed to acknowledge to federal governments power to tax them.
In 2009 angry fans of the Michigan football program threatened to boycott Maker's Mark Bourbon because of a taunting banner (toasting Michigan's 2008 season) hanging from a sky scrapper in downtown Columbus. After 200 or so internet message board posts threatening to halt drinking Makers Mark peace was restored when people came to their senses. Thanks to our own SiC for sending the picture and confirming that this was not a photoshop project.
My take: Standing ovation to the brilliant local Columbus marketer that made this happen. I laughed when I saw it and chuckle thinking about it as I type this. It is stuff like this that makes our little rivalry fun. Instead of getting pissed off at Maker's Mark or angry at buckeye fans, embrace the rivalry and smile. I don't remember Wisconsin hanging banners in Minneapolis after the gophers only won 1 game a couple of years ago. I drink Maker's Mark and will continue to enjoy it. I hope to toast a Michigan win over Ohio State someday again before I die.
Also, don't think for a second if Michigan was standing on top of the Big 10 football mountain and Ohio State just finished a 3 win season we would not be mocking them just a little bit. I lived through the John Cooper years as a Michigan fan, and there was plenty of mocking going the other way when we were winning.
Are they obsessed with us ? Sure I guess so, although I don't know why at this point. That is what makes this rivalry so much fun. Are we obsessed with them ? Yes, definitely. We should want to get to were they are as a program. I am not ashamed to admit that.
You may recall this story from the AP back in October: THOMAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Police say a Michigan man has been arrested after "receiving sexual favors from a vacuum" at a car wash.The Saginaw News reports the 29-year-old Swan Creek Township man was arrested Thursday in Saginaw County's Thomas Township, about 90 miles northwest of Detroit.Police Sgt. Gary Breidinger says a resident called to report suspicious activity at the car wash about 6:45 a.m. An officer approached on foot and caught the man in the act.The suspect, whose name wasn't immediately released, is being held in the Saginaw County Jail. Well, the swift arm of justice has avoiding going 'back and forth' on this one.......(heh heh) Jason Leroy Savage has apparently pled "no contest" to the charges. His lawyer had no comment Not sure if that means he admits his hose was small enough to fit into the one at the car wash or not! Stay tune for the sentencing on March 25th. Whaddya think??? 40 lashes with a wet noodle???
Ok--you gotta check this kid out. Britney Griner of the Nimitz Lady Cougars (32-1) in Houston, Texas is a 6'8" Senior All-American who scored 34 points and banked 15 rebounds in the Region III-5A quarterfinals over Cinco Ranch.
Girlfriend can DUNK.
Good news for the Texas crowd--Britney will play at Baylor next year.
Here's a 3-part trivia question for you. Who was the first female basketball player to dunk in a) a high school game, b) an NCAA Division 1 Game, and c) a WNBA game???
You get half-a-point for answering Candice Parker of Tennessee--who was the first woman to dunk in a NCAA tournament game in 2006 and the first to dunk twice in one game versus Army. Oh, and she showed the guys by winning the McDonald's All-American high school slam dunk contest. These answers will get you your trivia points though..........
(A: High School) Cheryl Miller (from answers.com) A four-time All-American, Miller led her University of Southern California (USC) team to successive National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in 1983 and 1984. She went on to anchor the U.S. Olympic team that captured the 1984 gold medal in women's basketball. In her four years at Riverside Polytechnic High, she scored a total of 3,405 points for an overall average of nearly 37 points a game. In one 1982 game, Miller scored 105 points, a California high school record. She also performed what are thought to be the first two dunks by a woman in organized competition. The Riverside team rode Miller's coattails to four consecutive state titles during her high school career, compiling a four-year record of 132 wins and only four losses. During her college career, Miller averaged 23 points and 11.9 rebounds a game. When she was done, she held almost every important USC school record. Oh yeah, and her brother, Reggie Miller says that she routinely schooled him on the courts when they were kids.
(B: College) Georgeann Wells-Blackwell, a member of the West Virginia University women's basketball team, was the first woman to dunk in a collegiate women's basketball game on December 21, 1984, vs. Charleston. Johnette Howard tells it best. When the six foot seven inch Wells performed the first dunk she used a regulation men's basketball, not the smaller ball female players today use. Pretty impressive.
Oh, and for those in that 4-letter state: Georgeann is originally from C-bus....
(C: WNBA) Lisa Leslie was the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game on July 30, 2002.
I dunno, I think this Britney kid (who isn't even 18) has the most impressive dunks of them all....
Check these out: off the backboard, one handed, under the backboard. SICK
In 2008 Brandon Minor was the forgotten man. Injured and then buried on the depth chart behind a bunch of speedy freshman. Standing on the sideline he looked like a lost soul for most of the season. As the long season wore on, he became our most impressive offensive player and seemed to emerge as a team leader.
This season I am really looking forward to seeing what a healthy and motivated Brandon Minor can accomplish.
The NCAA 2009 Final Four festivities will be in Detroit this April. And, in an interesting and ironic twist, The Fab Five (aka Voldemorts) will be reunited at a charity event at...get this....the Motor City Casino.
As you may recall, this band of fabulous freshmen led the Michigan basketball team to the NCAA title games in 1992 and 1993. Right before leading the Michigan basketball program into perdition......
Now the program may have made it's peace with Jalen...apparently no act is egregious enough to turn down a $240,000 endowed scholarship. Granted, Jalen wasn't "down" with Ed Martin like Chris Webber, Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor, and Louis Bullock were, but I'm guessing those guys prollally bought some dinners for Jalen once in a while...them bein' all flush and whatnot from Mr. Martin's generosity.....I find it ridiculously hard to believe that everyone involved with the program didn't know EXACTLY what was going on. Hell, even graduate students like me heard the rumors at the time.
As a complete pseudo non sequitor--I was watching ESPN's "Outside The Lines" this weekend and they had a very interesting story about the 'package deals' that abound in college basketball. So and so's high school coach or daddy or AAU coach being hired by a particular school in order to insure the matriculation of one or more players.....seems like the same sort of quid pro quo gig that Ed Martin (and many a booster like him) had going to me, and why it's not being addressed is beyond me....BUT I DIGRESS
So here are my top 10 comments to the Voldemorts and the Benefit Organizers:
#10) At a casino??? really??? like the marriage of college sports and gambling hasn't gotten everyone in deep shit already?? #9) Hmmm a charity event for a museum...how about a dinner at the Ritz or something? or if it's really about basketball, how about a little 5 on 5 game? you gotta take all the altruistic folk to the casino for the alcohol, gambling, and 'dancers'. for shame. #8) Amazing chutzpah to be playing off your infamy at Michigan. Don't you guys get that you should be ashamed not proclaimed? #7) Why during the tourney? if the benefit is for the Black History Museum why not have the benefit in February---er, during...wait for it.......................... Black History Month??? #6) Do you really think that people want to see you guys all fat and bald now?? #5) Like you didn't embarrass Michigan enough? #4) you've got to come back and bring up all the old stories (and wounds for us) including a) the recruiting car accident, b) Ed Martin, c) NCAA sanctions d) the banner return etc. No thanks. #3) We don't want or need the negative attention you will once again generate for the University of Michigan and our basketball program that is just barely coming off of life-support. Please don't torpedo it AGAIN. #2) Your presence will be a distraction to the tourney---and will result in the continous replay of that damned time out that wasn't.....
#1) You are going to steal the spotlight from the City and all of the positive perceptions that could come from holding a benefit for a museum AT the museum. Instead of highlighting the cultural aspects of our city and perhaps doing just a bit to rebuild our image you've got to go to the Motor City Casino---setting up every damned sports writer and TV wonk for negative comments on this city about gambling, losing, betting, show girls etc etc etc.
It is time to move the SPAWNICON contest into the finals stage. Thanks to everyone that voted. In total, we had almost 700 total votes cast during the division elections. The final election will run for 2 weeks. The Division winners are:
Desmond Howard Heisman Pose Yost Division Winner (39.9%)
Maurice Clarett Prison Potluck Division Winner (24.7%)
Well kids, the NFL combine is underway. It's the annual ritual reminiscent of our good friend from Welcome Back, Kotter. (episode 1 on hulu) "Ooh-ooh-ooooh!" PICK ME! PICK ME!! I've decided that the obsessive media coverage of this four-day non-event rivals the ridiculous attention to high schoolers prior to any sports' official "signing day". Could you imagine if your job interview was covered by a multitude of national media outlets on television and in print, including live bloggage on the internets????? "Whooa". That realization, however, will not stop me from posting about it--because what the hell else do we have to talk about right now?????
Plus, all of this hulabaloo can directly affect one's career aspirations. Take for example the cost to Marlin Jackson back in 2005. A Michigan student, Shahin Farokhrany, claimed that Marlin assaulted him with a bottle in 2003--causing permanent injury to his eye. Marlin Jackson pled to guilty to misdemeanor aggravated assault (since he did clock the guy but not with a bottle....) and he was sentenced to probation. Oh, and he sat out the first game of the 2003 season. Farokharany sued the then Indianapolis Colts' 2005 first round draft pick (in the 29th slot) for $10 million. So, of course, Marlin counter-sued for defamation of character, since the misdemeanor assault charge directly affected Marlin's evaluation at the combine. Well, on Friday, Mr. Jackson was vindicated, as a jury found that Mr. Farokhrany did defame Mr. Jackson. AND the jury awarded Jackson $225,000 in damages---presumably the cost of a slot in the NFL draft.
The combine can also raise one's stock. Witness this year's invitation to long snapper Sean Griffin. Here's what the Bleacher Report has to say. Sean is the number 1 specialist at the combine, and barring some calamity he should get drafted. He walked on to the team after a year at Schoolcraft Community College. A Livonia native and graduate of Catholic Central High, the kid has started 25 consecutive games and earned a scholarship. And, he's never been injured. (I hope I didn't just jinx him.....) Here's what the NFLDraftScout.com has to say about him: "Positives: Consistent. NFL-caliber snap speed and accuracy. Two-year starter at Michigan with no bad snaps on punts or kicks over his career. Typically timed between .65 and .72 seconds for snap-speed as a senior. Has the bulk to hold up at the pro level. Experienced in high-pressure situations. Negatives: Lacks the bulk and overall athleticism teams are hoping for out of the position. Doesn't provide much downfield in terms of tackling ability. Lacks straight-line speed."
And, finally, the quote of the week courtesy of Terrence "Michigan Man" Taylor. When asked, how hard was it to lose Justin Boren this season? From the freep: “Justin Boren?” Taylor said. “It was easy if he wanted to go to Ohio State.” The reporter rephrased the question, asking about losing a teammate, “your brother,” to a rival. “He ain’t my brother if he transfers to Ohio State,” Taylor said. “I’m a Michigan man. Nah. He made his choice. He’s a good player. He’s my friend. But brother? No. “Tim Jamison’s my brother, guys who stayed. Those who stay will be champions. He didn’t stay. I’m a Michigan man. He’s a Buckeye.”
And that says it all..... other Michigan Men at the combine are Tim Jamison and Morgan Trent.
Have no fear of perfection -- you'll never reach it. ~ Salvador Dali
Sunday's just got a little better. I think I am going to like this new weekly feature. The hardest part will be for me to make up my mind on who/what to show each week. This one was easy... I have long considered Brooke Burke to be one of the great beauties of our time.
It wasn't close. It took all of 75 seconds for the #3 ranked Michigan Hockey Team to show the Buckeye fans in Columbus that this was not a football or basketball game. David Wohlberg cashed in a rebounded Louie Caporusso shot to take a 1-0 lead.
Caporusso added 2 more assists and the Wolverines rolled 4-1 in a game televised on the Big Ten Network.
Coach Red Berenson continued his dominance over the Bucks, improving his career record against them to 57-22-11. Tonight's series finale will be shown on the CBS College Sports Network. Michigan will be looking to sweep the 4 game season series with Ohio State.
The Penn State University Riot Police and a team of grief counsellors were called out in force this week in Happy Valley after the NCAA announced the highly anticipated final results of the 2008 College Football attendance race. Nittany Lion fans poured into the streets, many of them with tears running down their faces screaming uncontrollably. Some even resorted to rioting as they loudly protested their stunning second place finish in the standings. This is the sixth time this decade that Penn State has finished second to Michigan in the attendance race.
"I don't know what to say, we thought we had it made when they had to eliminate so many seats during their expansion project..." stated Penn State Athletics Director Tim Curley. Despite having a capacity of 107,282 (larger than Michigan Stadium's 106,201) the Nittany Lions were once again outdrawn by the Wolverines by about 200 fans. Penn State averaged 108,254 while Michigan packed in 108,571.
Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was less diplomatic following the NCAA announcement: "I don't know what it is that we have to do to beat these ASSHOLES !!! We beat them on the field 46-17, they only win three stinking games, and they STILL put more fannies in the seats... It is really embarrassing..." Penn State has expanded Beaver Stadium seven times since Paterno became football coach in 1966. Rumors of further expansion including a 9th deck have not been confirmed by anyone inside the program.
Penn State fans were burning up the internet message boards with all kinds of complaints and whining about the results. "Maybe they mis-counted us because we were all dressed in white..." Some even suggested that Penn State would be better off "dropping out of the NCAA" and joining another college athletic association that would recognize how superior their storied program really was.
Paterno also stated that he is planning on complaining loudly to the Big Ten Commissioner at the next conference meetin regarding inconsistent counting methods used by stadium officials in Ann Arbor. "It is bad enough that we have to put up with the 'REF-ERINES' making sure Michigan wins on the field, but this is getting to be too much. First it was Tony Johnson's foot, then it was Jason Avant's heel followed by Lloyd's extra second. I just can't take it anymore..."
This has nothing to do with Michigan, unless of course you want to say it happened against Mike Komisarek's Montreal team.
Here is the goal scored by Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals last night. I was at the game and can honestly say I have never seen or heard anything so electric as the crowd reaction to this. It is moments like this that keep fans paying good money to come see live sports events.
I wish I could re-create my own personal response... but it went something like this: "oh my (on the pass to himself) ohhh yes (the breakaway) oh WOW (the goal from his butt)".
The #3 ranked Michigan Hockey team travels to Columbus this weekend to take on the #15 ranked Buckeyes. Outside of the normal rivalry importance of playing against Ohio State, this team is also playing for a top national seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Michigan has been one of the hottest teams in the country over the last month. We have swept 3 of the last 4 -- and 4 of the last 6 CCHA weekends.
On a good karmic note: I am headed to the Verizon Center in Washington DC tonight to watch the Capitals and say a little prayer that the Wolverines will be there on April 11th for the NCAA Finals. This is the same day as the Spring Game in Ann Arbor. How about this for a FUN day ? Spawn tailgate, spring football, and hockey finals.
I normally just glance over NBA blotter news -- because 1) at this point I think we only have two players in the Association (Jamal Crawford and Maceo Baston) and 2) NBA players are always saying and doing stupid things. But this one caught my eye...
Former Michigan State and current Phoenix Suns guard Jason Richardson was arrested in Scottsdale after local police caught him driving 55 mph above the limit with his unrestrained child in the car. The dude was going 90 MPH in a 35 zone with his 3 year old kid rolling around in the back seat. Wow.
Imagine that phone call to your wife ??? "Uhhhhh Honey, can you come and pick up Junior, I am going to jail for being a DUMBASS..."
Richardson was arrested and charged with reckless driving, excessive speeding and failure to use a child seat. His wife responded to the scene of the stop and took custody of the boy. He was released from jail after a few hours. The Suns responded by suspending him for one game (which costs him $111k).
Despite the snow and freezing temperatures here, Coach Hutch and the Women of Softball have started their season. They are now ranked #6 in the nation, having won 8 of their first 10 games.
They mercied Saint Louis 12-1 at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic this week after sophomore Marley Powers (Soph. Owosso, MI) crushed a game-ending grand slam in the bottom of the 6th. They play in the Seminole Classic this weekend in Talahassee.
Hutch has another young team this year with only 2 seniors: Shortstop Teddi Ewing and Outfielder Megan Gregory. Her pitching line-up maybe the best in the Big Ten with Nikki Nemitz coming off of back-to-back 20 win seasons, Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jordan Taylor, and Lauren Taylor in reserve.
Home games begin with the season opener on March 28th against Loyola (Ill.) Dress warmly and come cheer on these winners!
Well, it's official. Steven Threet is outta here. As you recall, he left Georgia Tech to come play at Michigan. And now he is leaving Michigan for parts unknown.
Apparently the signings of Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson were enough to convince Threet to transfer? Or maybe it was the realization that, um, well he can't play in this system? Or maybe this is a reflection of the uber-child culture we've created---where every kid is great, deserves the best of the best, and is entitled to find their golden ring no matter what? Is Threet's goal to play college ball with the hopes of going to the NFL? Or is Threet's goal something more sure and long-term, like say business school? or law school? or medical school? {on second thought, not so much job security in those professional industries these days either.........}
See in my shallow view of the universe, you compete and do your best. If you fall short then you learn from it and come back the next time and see what you can do differently or better. Or you realize that this may not really be your path and that other gifts await. Take, for example, Scott Loeffler. Rode the pine here at Michigan, went into coaching, ends up down in Florida coaching Tebow. Not too shabby an outcome in my naive view.
Sports is a great thing, which is why I believe that girls should start playing, competing, winning and losing at a young age. It teaches you about success, dedication, adversity, disappointment, teamwork, and provides life lessons not readily appreciated by being a book nerd or a stoner. I wonder what lessons these young men who transfer from school to school garner while they pack their baggage and carry it with them....
Most likely, it's none of my business. But it seems like a unique phenomenon in college sports these days--not necessarily specific to Michigan. But, it sure does makes me wonder just what the heck is going on over there in Schembechler.......
So, when ANY kid transfers out of whichever school you care to consider is it that they are fulfilling the promise of the free-market? Searching out their best opportunity to show off their talents and play college sports? Or is it that they a running from the difficult realities of life, not used to being told 'no' or 'you really can't do that'? Does it matter??????
T9 add: Ah, you beat me to it. You guys definitely need healing after that nude of Dobby aka Woody. ick. I would have chosen Irina however. It's all about the lion for me.
Valentines Day is upon us. This day was originally a pagan festival. later renamed after a couple of early christians named Valentine were martyred. It has become a day associated with love, romance, and expensive dinners.
Today also happens to be the 96th birthday of Wayne Woodrow Hayes. Happy birthday Coach !
Maybe it was just fate this week a that former Ohio State student newspaper reporter (and Washington Post exec editor) Leonard Downie Jr.told a group of OSU students that Woody used to conduct post game interviews (when the Bucks lost or tied) in the nude. (HT: EDSBS)
According to Downie: "He was an ugly guy so it would clear the locker room out pretty fast."
I also laughed at the recollection Downie had while reporting on OSU campus riots after the faculty voted not to send the Buckeyes to the Rose Bowl in 1962.
"While other campuses were having anti-war riots, Ohio State was having football riots"
Dedicated to the fun loving online community of The MZone -- with a special nod to it's founder Yost. We welcome all contributions and opinions here, not just those viewed from the Michigan perspective. It is perfectly acceptable to disagree with someone or something here, but personal attacks will not be allowed.
If you have something you want to share, feel free to send us stuff at spawnofmzone at gmail dot com.
MLB Spring Training games started on Tuesday. College baseball started a couple of weeks ago. I am away this weekend shooting the Houston College Classic -- featuring five Top 10 ranked teams (Texas AM, Baylor, Rice, UC Irvine, and UCLA) at the Astros Minute Maid Ballpark. 9 games in 3 days. For me, it does not get any better than this.
Posts
