World Cup

To say I've been enjoying the World Cup so far would be an understatement. My only complaint is the games are too tightly scheduled together. Who has 7-8 hours per day to watch soccer? I wish, but sadly a few other things have remained on my schedule this month besides just watching the action from Brazil.

The world's biggest sporting event has seen an amazing mix of upset wins (Netherlands over Spain!), thrilling goals (John Brooks of the US vs. Ghana!), and upstart countries poised to make historic runs to the final 16 (Who had Chile, Costa Rica, and Algeria in their WC brackets??). The goal-scoring pace, is the highest since 1970 and over a goal/game higher than the 2010 Cup. Maybe it's the design of adidas' groundbreaking Brazuca ball, a more aerodynamic ball with only six patches and internal stitching, or maybe it's the laid-back Brazilian culture and the way they've mastered o joga bonito, 'the beautiful game', that's inspired such entertaining play. Whatever it is, it's been a joy to watch. The coolest part is seeing 32 countries from all over the globe, each with their own culture, style of play, even hairstyles, match up on an even playing field and duke it out for soccer supremacy. 

Here's my favorite goal so far, frame-by-frame:

USA plays next on Tuesday, July 1st, at 4pm.

Kevin Durant, a True MVP

Maybe you've seen this or heard about it, but I think it's too unique and heartfelt not to double-check. Kevin Durant, basketball superstar of the Oklahoma City Thunder, won the MVP award for the 2014 season last week, and gave an acceptance speech to match, displaying a humility and grace as effortless as one of his cross-over dribbles or step-back three-pointers. He credited each of his teammates by name, and saved his most poignant thoughts for his mother, who raised him and his brother in abject poverty as a single mom in Washington DC.

Well done KD - you've shown what it takes to be an MVP, and more importantly, a man.

A Dispatch from Dallas: Final Four Edition

Well, consider that line item crossed off the Bucket List - although, after that experience, a new line item might have to be added: "Attend every Final Four". The fact that the three games were held in AT&T Stadium (aka JerryWorld, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and the site of a previous Dallas trip to witness Michigan get shellacked by Alabama) only made the trip more grandiose.

When they say everything is bigger in Texas, they aren't lying. The video-replay screens (40 yards wide!). The VIP special guests (see photo below). The egos (see Jerry Jones-related comment above). The steaks (and the bills, although on that I can luckily only assume).

Amongst the trees: me with Artis Gilmore and Bill Walton

It's probably easier to list who wasn't there than to go through all the celebrities and sports-world dignitaries who were. Nestled snugly between an endless build-up of NFL Draft hype and the revered and stately launch of Masters Week, the Final Four is the center of the sports universe for a three-day bacchanal of excitement, drama, last second three-pointers, and heartbreaking near-misses.

The media were there: Mike Lupica, John Feinstein, Kenny Smith, Bonnie Bernstein, Rachel Nichols, Jim Nantz, Doug Gottlieb, Jay Bilas and Dan Shulman all strode past us at one point.

Basketball dignitaries were also in the house: coaches being honored were Tubby Smith, Roy Williams, Jim Larranaga, and Jim Calhoun, while former Michigan coach Bill Freider was just wandering around aimlessly; players being honored included Grant Hill, Alonzo Mourning, and several other, anonymous ones (yes, there are famous sports figures even I don't recognize!); NBA legends glad-handing in the VIP section (which led to such surreal experiences as a giant presence looming over my shoulder and in a deep voice insisting I take a picture with him. I turned around to see Bill Walton sitting down next to me. I meekly told him I enjoyed his broadcasting, which was literally the first thing to come to my mind, and he retorted that I might be the only one who does. He then chased down fellow Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore to join the two of us in a photo. As we were leaving the VIP to navigate our way back to our seats across the stadium, another large man flagged me down and insisted I take a photo with him. He turned out to be Hall of Famer Moses Malone. Like I said, surreal.)

Moses Malone

Other celebrities in attendance: Kentucky super-fan and extremely famous rapper Drake was sitting approximately 15 feet from us. Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, was also right there in the Kentucky section. Marcus Camby, who played for Kentucky coach John Calipari at UMass in the mid-90s, was sitting right behind us, looking about 40 pounds heavier than his playing days...which ended last year. Other former Calipari mercenaries, er, players were there - John Wall, Anthony Davis. The UConn section featured Ray Allen and Rip Hamilton. On the big screen they showed Johnny Manzeil, who elicited a chorus of boos, and Bill Clinton sitting next to George W. Bush in a luxury suite, which elicited a chorus of cheers. Sitting in front of Clinton and Dubya was Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo; amateur lip-reading determined that Clinton quipped, "They're clapping for you, Tony", when that motley trio was on the forty-yard wide screen. A welcome change, I'm sure, for Mr. Romo, after the last few Cowboys seasons.

Did I mention we sat court-side?

Nice seats!

The entire experience was supremely memorable. My lone gripe - c'mon, Michigan! Don't lose the game before! I want it to be maize and blue confetti next time I'm lucky enough to attend.

Phil Knight...could I get some free Nikes?

Court-side

What up Grant!

Drake in the building

Congrats to UConn, my adopted team for the weekend and 2014 National Champions

Best Olympic Moments So Far...

I love the Olympics. The pageantry, the tradition, the thrill of gold and the agony of the near-miss and the long four year wait for redemption. Plus, there's no end to the amount of crazy that happens. Here are my highlights so far:

This insane trick. I went to Deer Valley in Utah for a long weekend my senior year of high school, and saw the freestyle moguls course from the 2002 Salt Lake Games. It was STEEP, and the moguls were ginormous. I couldn't imagine taking the run, let alone hitting a huge jump and doing an aerial maneuver in the middle of it. And this guy does a front flip! Craziness.

Bob Costas' eyeballs. It's impossible not to be transfixed by the pink-eye infection seen around the globe. Thank God he abdicated his Olympic commentating throne, giving way to the infection-free Matt Lauer. It's awfully difficult to watch a German take a luge run at 80 miles/hour after staring at THOSE EYES for 15 minutes. Makes a person queasy. (But at least he could try the local spirits without anyone noticing.)

For all the pre-Games critiques of the shoddy hotels, corrupt organizers, and subpar facilities, there have been some gorgeous views of the Caucasus mountains. 

Check out more crazy, gravity-defying photos here.

(Although the stories emerging from journalists and athletes in Sochi are pretty epic.)

But even with all the eye-grossness and having to see Putin on TV all the time, it's pretty cool seeing someone this happy.

What are your favorite events?

Trust Your Power

I love this ad. Derrick Coleman came out of college undrafted, but fought his way on to the Seattle Seahawks, who play on Sunday for the right to go to the Super Bowl. Oh, and he's deaf - the first deaf offensive player to ever play in the NFL. Very impressive.

Part of the Grieving Process? Ylvis Explains Yesterday

(A visual interpretation of the Game of Great Shame, set to Ylvis' The Fox)

Fitz talks smack

Mark's a grump

Taylor bleeds 

and Al eats lots

Narduzzi plots

Sparty drinks

...and the Elephant goes toot.

They bring house 

O-Line's a sieve 

and Devin goes OW OW OW

But there's one sound that no one knows...

WHAT DOES Hoke SAY?

Once his teeth stop chattering, I'd love to hear an explanation of the offensive line ineptitude, lack of week-to-week improvement in all three facets of the game, why a bye week before the game still wasn't enough time to prepare, the reason blitzes straight up the middle that torched us in '11 still do so in '13...the list goes on. And put on a coat man!

Game Day is Here!

It's been a long off-season. 

Allow Tom to get you sufficiently pumped. Here's a longer version. 

Golfers Will Love This

Rory's got a bit more personality than, say, Tiger.

Happy 4th!

Final Four Bound!

I have resisted commenting on M's tourney run up to this point, but I can refrain no longer.  



Unbelievable!

 

Not the last trophy we're raising this year hopefully...

So classy, and criminally underrated.

 



This wouldn't be complete without an acknowledgement of how we got here. Coming from 10 points down in the final 2:50 - unlikely, unprecedented, gutsy, somehow expected -  it's something we'll probably never see again. The basketball statistics site kenpom.com put the probability of Michigan winning the game at that point at .6%. A 1-in-200 chance. Truly amazing.

 



Filling Out Your Bracket?

I like the way this kid thinks. Michigan to the finals - hey, I'll take it. Not likely, but that's why they call it March Madness.

Some tips (but don't complain to me when they're wrong!):

• Usually it's the 12 over 5 seed that's a lock every year, but this year I like every 5 to advance.
• It's the 11 vs. 6 matchup that I see being the source of real drama. Usually something like 31% of 11 vs. 6's result in upsets, but this year I like at least 3 of them. Which ones? Your guess is as good as mine. How about Minny, Belmont, and St. Mary's?
• Could some even higher seeds win and advance? Don't even mention South Dakota St.! How about Valpo?? Nah, I don't like them either to win. With both in-state teams playing in the friendly Palace, I think they each win their first two games.
•  Last year two 15 seeds won - could the unthinkable happen again? No.
• But a 14 could make some noise - I see Marquette being a vulnerable 3 seed. Maybe underdog Davidson could give a scare.
•  Is the Big Ten finally going to break through and end it's 13 year title drought this April in the ATL? I think so. Sparty, the hated Buckeyes, those gouge-your-eyes-out-because-they're-so-boring Badgers, even the least experienced team in the field, your Michigan Wolverines, could advance to the Georgia Dome. But it's the LoosiersHoosiers I see cutting down the nets and concluding the annual One Shining Moment montage. 

Ya got that? Look for most of these educated guesses to be wrong because, hey - it's March Madness! Good luck!

Crazy Wheelchair Guy Rushes Court

Hey, it was against Duke, what do you expect?

 

The craziest part - NC State's best player CJ Leslie probably saved this guy from a sure trampling and held him 'for a couple of minutes' while they located his chair. Talk about a game-winning assist!

World Series Game 3

My Dad and I were lucky enough to get hooked up with tickets to World Series Game 3 on Saturday night in Detroit. I figured, hey, we might not get to this point in the postseason again for a while, so we better get to one of these games. The game obviously left something to be desired but we had a great time regardless, including seeing one of my favorite former Tigers:

 

 

Maggs! Former Tigers' rightfielder Magglio Ordonez.

 

1/2 of the Tigers' broadcast team on Fox Sports, Rod Allen.

 

Big flag! (Along with creepy Dad face on bottom left of pic)

UM 12, MSU 10

 

 

 

A bunch of buddies, from CA, LA, NYC, DC, NJ, among other places, back in town for the big game.

 

Postgame - a lovely shade of yellow.

 

 

A more panoramic view.

 

#10 in your programs, #1 in your hearts: Jeremy Gallon made an appearance at our celebration.

 

The Ideal College Football Fan

I need to step my game up.

Michigan vs. Notre Dame Weekend

Remember this game just over a year ago?



Yeah, that was pretty awesome.


Michigan vs. Alabama in Dallas recap:

 

Well, this was pretty awesome too, minus that whole football game part....

 

Saw some great friends...

 

Ate some great food...

 

Entered a spaceship masquerading as the world's most extravagant football stadium...

 

 

Some people expressed their love for Justin Bieber...

 

 

All in all, it was a great time in Dallas, even if it is the hottest place on Earth. Seriously, it's like a sauna with a hair dryer blowing on your face. Crazy.

 

Prediction for tomorrow: Denard comes through again! Michigan 31, Notre Dame 24.