Wide World of Sports

MGoBlog beat me to the punch on this one with a very good post on the topic (and great Coach reference), but there is a great Michigan football article in Wednesday's Detroit Free Press about a 1997 football game against Northwestern. The article is a little over-dramatic on the importance of the student managers given that Michigan won the game 23-6, but it's both a great story and a frustrating tale of a coaching staff that was sometimes buried in the 1960s when it came to game planning (and signaling)

I came across this article tonight about a state championship baseball game down in Georgia by Rick Reilly on ESPN.com. Definitely another great read about some punk kids that went way across the line. Umpires may miss calls from time to time, but they are always trying their best, especially when umpiring a state championship baseball game. It's good that at least the catcher will suffer consequences for their actions, especially given the lack of remorse over their idiotic decisions. Now someone needs to punish the pitcher.

A Canadian Catastrophe

My family refused to pay for cable television when I was growing up. I never really complained about my parents cheapness because I was always able to watch a lot of hockey. Why? Because our television antenna picked up the CBC feed out of Windsor, ON. Back then, CBC aired hockey games every Saturday night during the regular season and every night during the playoffs. I was able to see almost every playoff game every year. I was also able to watch magnificent live coverage of the Summer and Winter Olympics instead of tape delayed coverage that focused on US athletes and human interest stories.

Unfortunately, times are a changing for CBC. First, TSN, an ESPN-like cable network in Canada, started pilfering parts of CBC's Stanley Cup Playoff coverage (don't worry, it was only some games between American teams). Then, TSN won the right to air Blue Jays baseball games , the Grey Cup CFL Championship, and curling matches in Canada. This might seem silly, but curling is a huge deal up in Canada. However, TSN's hostilities reached a new level when they stole the 2010 and 2012 Olympic Games from CBC.

How did CBC react to all of this? Well, they continued to show managerial ineptness. They tried to fire Ron MacLean a few years ago. After a huge public outcry, they gave him the additional pennies he was asking for.

Now, CBC's cheapness emerged again when they played hardball in their negotiations to renew their right to play the Hockey Night in Canada theme song beyond this season.

You think another national outcry was coming? Oh yeah! Despite CBC's lame attempt to run a national contest for a new HNiC theme song, they got destroyed across the country for their lunacy.

Unfortunately, CBC was not able to resolve this situations. Despite a wonderful attempt by Stephen Colbert (really funny...watch it!), the rights to the HNiC theme song were purchased by a rival Canadian television network. Who? CTV. For somewhere around $2.5-3 million. And you probably already figured it out, but CTV owns sports cable network TSN.

CTV gave CBC every opportunity to renew their contract with the writer of the HNiC theme song before swooping in. Unfortunately, CBC was too freakin' incompetent to do anything about it.

Where does this leave CBC? Well, I will be shocked if TSN does not outbid CBC for the rights to Hockey Night in Canada and coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs when CBC's current contract is up in a couple years. CBC is almost begging TSN to take hockey away from them.

Once HNiC is gone from free television in Canada and parts of the U.S., CBC essentially becomes the Canadian version of PBS. What a shame.

UPDATE - CBC probably got what it deserved. Seriously.

Gary Vents

I received an e-mail from the University of Michigan ticket office today. The first thing I noticed was an order form asking for ~$700. My first thought - "Sweet. I got season tickets!"

Then I read the letter, which started out by saying that 'we regret to inform you that we were unable to offer you season tickets this year'.

WTF!!! I gave the athletic department $500, and with the $500 match from my employer, I had credit for a $1000 gift in the eyes of the football season ticket gods. In 2006 ad 2007, anyone who donated $500 received tickets. In 2008, with a lackluster schedule, new coach, crappy SE Michigan economy, and unheralded team, my $1000 gets the shaft. The minimum gift eligible for season tickets this year was $1500. I repeat, WTF!!

On the bright side, I have the right to purchase tickets to six of the seven games this year (Homecoming vs. Illinois was excluded). The tickets are non-renewable, so I'm debating whether it's worthwhile given the crappy schedule and potentially crappy team.

What should I do about the 2008 ticket pack? I'd be more inclined to buy if I know that some of you will buy the games I can't use (probably just two games since I'll attend 1-2 and give 2-3 games to family).

I'm only going to make an attempt for season tickets again next year if I have a backer who wants to share them with me. I'm not shelling out another $1k+ (including employer match), especially if it's not guaranteed to be good enough. I'd rather give my money to the band or the actuarial department than the athletic department.

Grr....

The Benefts of $4 Gas

Read a great column in The Detroit News today (syndicated from the Washington Post)

The Benefits of $4 Gas

Pure brilliance. With all the populist debate from our presidential candidates, I've been hoping (but not optimistic) that a politician would have the courage to argue the benefits of a higher gas tax. If you want people to conserve more energy and be less dependent on oil, tax the heck out of it. That way, excessive users of energy will be paying the government instead of foreign governments/companies, and everyone will cut back on their consumption.

Besides, people vote with their wallets. Higher gas prices will lead to more sales of fuel-efficient cars in the short-term and more development of mass transportation options in the long-term for larger cities with a spread out suburban population.

Anyone know where to find an electable politician with the courage to fight for higher gas prices? Don't worry, I'm fully aware that, sadly, no politician can be elected with that position today.

More Family Fun Time

My dad is in Connecticut for the first time since he helped me move to CT nearly six years ago. He is traveling with his girlfriend, who I am meeting for the first time during this trip.

True to family vacation form, day trips often start around 8 or 9AM and end back at home around 8 or 9PM. A bit of a grueling pace, but thankfully I've been able to talk my dad out of keeping this pace every day since I do like to relax a little during the weekend.

We went to Poughkeepsie, NY yesterday. The FDR Presidential Library and Museum is out there, and both of us are huge fans of the presidential museums. The museum was the first of its kind and not as extensive as some of the other presidential museums (it glossed over the middle 8 years of FDR's presidency), it was still very good. There were also tours of the FDR childhood home and of Eleanor Roosevelt's home (Val-Kill) that were very interesting. For a family with a lot of old money, they definitely were much more subtle/practical in how they spent it.

Since we were in Poughkeepsie, we stopped by the Culinary Institute of America (aptly names - CIA). Unfortunately, we did not make a reservation or wear appropriate clothing to have dinner at one of their student-run restaurants. Instead, we walked past a bunch of 'classrooms' where they make really cool desserts (cookies, cakes, breads, etc). All of the classrooms are essentially fishbowls, so we could watch the future chefs at work. I highly recommend a day trip to Poughkeepsie for anyone who has not been there before. I regret that I waited nearly six years to spend a day there. Good mix of history, architecture, decor, and food!

We spent today in Newport for the annual Clam Chowder cook-off. I had been there for this event once before and had a great time, so it was the perfect place to spend a beautiful summer day. My dad won't eat clam chowder given his incredibly picky/poor eating habits, so he stayed behind and walked around Newport for an hour. It was a good chance to talk more with his girlfriend. I was pleased to hear that she occasionally puts some mild spices (i.e., onions, garlic, pepper) in my dad's food. We both agree that his food intolerances are mostly mental and that the key for losing another 40 pounds is to improve his eating habits (he already lost 40+ pounds by starting to exercise). As my brother mentioned several times, she's a great person.

One thought i had after touring homes of the uber-rich for the past two days. What is the rationale for 'naming' mansions? Why does every wealthy person need to formally name their home? I'm inclined to name my cozy apartment 'Mall-y-wood' just so that I can feel rich and famous (or at least a part of my surroundings).

Clearly I have my dad's habit of telling really bad jokes/puns. If it weren't for that bad joke above, I'd be saying how I wonder sometimes how I am my parent's child.

Quest for a Three-Peat

Lost in the past month has been the start of another company co-ed softball season. Our goal of the elusive three-peat that raises our dynasty from Houston Rockets status to Chicago Bulls status took a few hits before the season even started.

Gone from last year's juggernaut are our best two guys from 2007. Add that to the mid-season loss of Hawkeye last year and our team lost it's identity as a team that beats you by turning singles into triples (present company excluded). We still have our great defense, but it was going to be a little harder to put runs on the board this year.


Prior to the playoffs in 2007, we played one game that was decided by less than five runs (either way) en route to a 12-2 regular season record. While it was nice to win most of our games, the competition level of the league was pretty low. This year has been a lot different. After 2-3 years of domination from the "Big 3", a different team occupies the first place slot after one month. Unfortunately, everyone hates that team since they have the two biggest jerks in hte league. We'll get our crack at them in a little over a week.


We've started out 3-1 in May, but three of our four games were decided by less than five runs. We lost a heartbreaking extra inning game to The Swarm, and we barely escaped a with a close win against the rival Swinging Bunts last week after falling behind by four runs early in the game.

Overall, the league is much more competitive this year since the top teams seem a little down and the other teams are improved. It should be a much more competitive season, but I am not optimistic about our three-peat chances unless we find a way to score more runs.


Here are some pictures from our game against FlyingV and the Swinging Bunts last week:We broke out our championship t-shirts instead of our regular orange attire for this rivalry game. I added an orange Bucknell hat in honor of our good friend, RoopDogg! (or to help shield my eyes from the blinding sun)

Our newest ringer this season, and latest addition from the University of Michigan.


RytheRed needs to stop focusing on his modeling career and get his head in the game

That's more like it

Tricki once again shows why she is an awesome first baseman.

Swing and a miss...or another solid hit from FlyingV. We'll never know.

I was insulted that all of our fans sat on the other bench, especially given that we totally had better beer on our side.


Post game celebratory high-fives. FlyingV appears to be a little disappointed with the outcome of the game.