home sweet home, UM football and EMU

For the first time since like May I went home this past weekend - usually it takes a pretty special occasion for me to go home which was exactly the case on this latest visit. My friend Renae from EMU was getting married.

The wedding ceremony and reception were cool, but after sitting through it it made me think how weddings are overrated in a sense. Then Crystal quickly reminded me that weddings are for the women anyways not the men. But seriously, you do all this planning for a ceremony that last like 20 minutes (if your not at a ghetto wedding) and then a reception that seems to fly be quickly.



One good thing about this particular wedding was I got a chance to catch up with a couple of people I had known from hanging out with Renae during the summers and a few of our mutual friends from the good ol days at EMU. It was very good to see both Rachel and Kristi and it had been some time since I had last seen them.

And its interesting to see how people have moved on from their college heartbreaks. Kristi was dating my boy Zack, who i lived with for two of my four years at EMU. They had dated for the longest of time but she has since moved on and seems really happy. Same case with Rachel, who had a new man and finally seemed to had been real happy after a good relationship turned wrong in college.

Anyways enough of this kind of talk

Moving on, I'm still saddened by how bleak Michigan's football season looks. After losing to Wisconsin on Saturday, it looks like their can be a long road ahead. This is the first time since 1998 that they aren't ranked in the AP top-25 poll and if they were lose to MSU this weekend it would be the first time since I can remember that they were under .500 during the season. I hope to not see that day.

On the other hand, the inner state rival, Michigan State is having a Michigan-like season. I don't know what has gotten into them but I know three of their wins have been easy. While they are playing like a team that should be ranked in the top-15, they also have beat up on Hawaii, perennial Big Ten doormat Illinois, and a Mid-American Conference team in Kent State. And let us not forget that you blew a 21-point lead to Notre Dame and then were lucky enough to win the game in overtime. And if i recall last year, you blew a lead to Michigan as well. So Spartan fans hold up before you get too excited.

Facing Michigan and Ohio State back-to-back will show us what you are really made of. But until then don't jump ahead of yourself. I've heard too many MSU fans out bragging of late, but I guess this is the first time in awhile they've had something good to talk about when it concerns football and having the upperhand on Michigan.

Even with all that, I'm still saying Go Blue this weekend and I think they will win. Besides its not too often that Michigan loses back-to-back games and MSU could be in BIG trouble playing the Wolverines after a heart breaking loss.

Also gotta root for EMU in their homecoming game against Kent State on Saturday. Its weird not being up there for Homecoming. Here is hopes that they dont lose on Homecoming which they have done the past two years to Western Michigan in '03 and Idaho in '04.

Funny comics from the CM-Life

Came across these funny comics from the CM-Life, Central Michigans school newspaper. I work with a couple of former writers for the paper and they told me about these comics they have done in light of the football players going to jail in connection with the death of a man at a bar in Mount Pleasant.

Here are the comics done by Evan T. Shaner. Pretty creative.

football rambling

Well this weekend ended on a sour note as it looks like I'll more than likely lose all my fantasy football games this week but also having to see the Lions get whipped in Chicago yesterday was just ridiculous. I saw myself flashing back to the ugly preseason game that was at Ford Field against the Rams.

Everything that could go wrong seemed to go wrong for the Lions. And based on my discussions with Nate and Mr. Scott Mcneish, it is very feasible that the NFC North winner could very well be 8-8 or 7-9. It would almost equate to baseball's pitiful National League West Division. Even Minnesota, who was supposed to be the front runner in the division, is 0-2 after getting whipped by Cincinnati (WHODEY). Then Green Bay is 0-2 and Detroit and Chicago are tied for the division lead with 1-1 records.

Speaking of whippings, Eastern absolutely got demolished by UM - just as I expected. But I thought at least the Eagles would be able to move the ball or score some points. I was very disapointed that they weren't able to get on the board, even against Michigan's scrubs. I hope they come ready to play in their MAC opener against CMU this weekend.



I guess at least EMU got paid $400,000 to travel seven miles for an ass beating. And hey maybe they can say they are the team that got Michigan back on track. I'm hoping for a better showing from Eastern when it plays Michigan again in 2007.

And to bring it to high school football for a minute, I got a chance to see Adrian play again and I think they are pretty legit. Minus a few stupid special teams penalties they dominated Chelsea. They are two wins away from reachin the playoffs but have a tough game on the road at Pioneer this week. But the thing they have going for them is a great defense, which is a big part why they are the No. 2 ranked team in Division 3.

As far as fantasy football is concerned I was surprised by a lot of performances this week like Daunte Culpepper throwing five interceptions. It seems like him and Joey Harrington are on the same level.



Also i'm surprised Kevin Jones hasnt been able to run the ball that well in the first two games. Just as dismal as his performance has been, on the other hand Pittsburgh's Willie Parker has had a couple of good games. And former UM receiver Braylon Edwards had more than 100 yards receiving in his second game in the NFL. Hopefully he wont be a bust like the most recent UM receiver that was a top-10 draft pick - David Terrell.

A good start

With this past weekend being kickoff to the NFL football season, it also meant the first week of fantasy football and my teams got off to a perfect spots as I won my opening games in each of my three leagues that competition has started in.

Peyton Manning helped kick ass for me with two of my teams - man I love that guy.

And it was also nice that the Lions opened up with a victory over the Green Bay Packers.
Here is a funny photo from that game



The only mellow point to my weekend football wise was seeing Michigan choke against Notre Dame. In all though, it was just a bad week for the Big Ten with Iowa falling to Iowa State and Ohio State losing to Texas. At least EMU and Toledo won though. I'm lookin more and more forward to this weekend with my two favorite teams playing - EMU (my alma mater) and Michigan (my favorite team since I can remember)

Now that the NFL has began playing, I get three straight days of football which is very appeasing to me. Friday is high school football and I've covered three solid games this season. Most recently a good game between Blissfield and Hudson last Friday. And this Friday I hope to see much of the same when I get to see Adrian place Chelsea, which is a football power house.

Outside of that I've covered some other very interesting things in the past week. Last Thursday I covered the Adrian-Tecumseh swim meet --- not to be mean or anything but there were some pretty big girls on one of the swim teams and it surprised me that those girls were even on the varsity team because they were the slowest in the pool. I remember when I arrived to the meet, the photographer immediately pointed them out to me.

Tuesday I covered a basketball game at Adrian High School between them and St. Mary Catholic Central. I saw Adrian's star Kelly Kohn set the school record for points in a game with 38 and she also grabbed 19 boards. And the basketball game was a pretty close contest too which is surprising for a matchup of a Class A school and a Class C or D school.

Also during the JV game between the schools an argument broke out between the SMCC coaches, an SMCC fan and the scorekeeper because the game was stopped a minute into the fourth quarter because a few players from SMCC had not checked in to the scorekeeper at the change of the quarter, like your supposed to. The scorekeeper didn't notice it until then and brought it up to the officials and they gave SMCC a technical. The SMCC coach got mad and thought they shouldnt bring it up a minute after the fact. The scorekeeper was telling the SMCC coach she was just doin her job when a snotty SMCC fan yelled at the scorekeeper and told her to not talk to their coaches. I thought the scorekeeper and this lady were gonna duke it out for awhile because they kept arguing with each other when finally the scorekeeper was like I dont have to talk to you, your a spectator.

So that was crazy. Lastly today I was at a women's college soccer match and I think Adrian has to be the worst college soccer team I've ever seen. I didn't realize before I went to the match that they were coming off back-to-back one win seasons, but I realized today why. They ended up gettin defeated by Calvin College 7-0 and looked pretty awful the whole game. The team has lost 22 straight games dating back to last season and has been shutout in four of their five contests this year.

During the game i was sitting nearby a girl and her mom and heard them talking about the game and what Adrian was doing wrong. Little did I know the girl was a recruit and the coach told me it was his prized recruit that he was hoping to reel in. After seeing them get beat that bad I doubt that recruit will want to attend Adrian College.

So enough about those ramblings. On a side note its been good to catch up with all the EMU people and a few others who I havent talked to in awhile.

whats goin on with the Tigers

The Tigers can't even buy a victory is what it seems like of late. They either get decent pitching and don't hit, or hit and get crappy pitching. Or they can do both and get routed. Of late their has been nothing to cheer about and a team that I thought would fare better than last year's team looks to be heading toward the same kind of finish.



Not to long ago there was a stretch where the Tigers had played good ball and had gotten back in to the wild card chase with a string of winning baseball. But since that stretch things have gone south. Its usually at the end of the year that you want to be playing your best ball, but the Tigers are at a season worst 12 games below .500. Now it could be worse and Detroit could be like the lowly Kansas City Royals. But the Tigers had a season similar to K.C.'s not to long a go when they almost set the American League record for losses in a season.

Its too often in Detroit that you have to look towards next season for hope of breaking the stretch of under achieving baseball. The Tigers haven't finished above .500 since I was in freakin fifth grade - its been a good 12 years.

Magglio Ordonez, the Tigers big free agent acquisition this past offseason, even came out and stated that the team stinks in an article in today's Detroit Free Press.

The Tigers, and for quite some time now, cant seem to have players who stay healthy for an entire season to aid their cause. You have Carlos Guillen, who seemed to have never fully recovered from the injury that cut his 2004 season short. Then their is Ordonez who missed half the entire first half of the season because of injury.

The pitching seems to have run out of gas, in particular Sean Douglass and Jason Johnson. Jeremy Bonderman looks like he hasn't recovered since gettin hit a few starts back and is having elbow problems which are forcing him to miss his next start.

Usually when a team falters like the Tigers have of late, blame is turned to the manager. Obviously something isn't right - it might not necessarily be Trammell but something needs to be done differently because what the Tigers have right now isn't working. Which makes it interesting that the Detroit News had an article about Jim Leyland, who had a lot of success as a manager in professional baseball and is looking to get a job as a coach again.

Should Trammell be let go at the end of the season he might be the perfect candidate, especially since he actually has a track record of having success as a manager.



So I'm done with my venting about how the Detroit has yet again under performed, but here is hopes that next year the Tigers and fans won't have to look toward September as being a month to gauge what kind of team/talent you will have next year. Lets hope next year we can be in the thick of a wild card race, which shouldn't be too much to ask - accept it is when your in Detroit.

---------------------------------

Here is a Michael Rosenberg column about the Tigs. A funny line from his column:

"Pudge Rodriguez can fly to Columbia but can't drive anybody home"

- in reference to Pudge's low RBI total

thoughts

First to address a few things from my college football post

Nate - Considering I almost went to UM but changed my mind at the last second, I'm a diehard Michigan fan at best. I would love nothing more but to see EMU put on a good showing against them but realistically I want Michigan to win. Although when I play that game in my video game (NCAA Football 2006) I will play as EMU. Weird but I'll hope for a good game.

Corey - Heck yea I got to see some of the Ohio State game. Luckily down here I get the ABC Toledo channel so I get to catch those games. I just saw your post about not minding Michigan which is pretty respectable. We need more Ohio State fans like you.

Anyways as to what else is up. All my peeps from EMU are back at schoool. Man i miss being up there right about now, but I also feel that I have moved on to better things. Its been good to see some of my pals though, like Cynthia when she stopped here last Friday on her way back to campus from Cincy. I also got to see Laina and Miss Casey Copeman as well so thats been great.

I definitely dont miss the homework or the walks across campus, especially how hot it was today. I do miss the student paper - its the only place where you can get the best experience and afford to make silly mistakes and not pay too severe consequences for it - most of the time.

Tonight i filled in for as a sub in a bowling league and bowled like shit - haha. A 111, 120 and 128. Pretty shitty but at least as a consolation I didn't lose any of the games to Crystal. Even the last game, which we tied, I hit 9 pins in the last frame to ensure that she wouldn't beat me. I also never realized how much it bothered me when people bowl SLOW. i find it so rude when they take their time and dont pay attention which prolongs the game. I wanted to fall asleep while waiting for our opponents to quit gossiping.

Last night I had to work and covered a soccer game between Adrian College and Siena Heights and do desk work. I also got a chance to hit the Cafe for a few games of volleyball after that. Was pretty cool thats for sho and I thought I played pretty well.

Anyways thats all I got for now. I'm hungry now so I'll write more later

Kanye West

Kanye West is a grown ass man, that is for sure.

Most recently he made the news because of his comments during a national televised airing to benefit those hurt by hurricane Katrina

Here is the associated press story

It began, fittingly enough, with jazz from New Orleans natives Harry Connick Jr. and Wynton Marsalis. But "A Concert for Hurricane Relief," a heartfelt and dignified benefit aired on NBC and other networks last night (Sept. 2), took an unexpected turn thanks to the outspoken rapper Kanye West.

Appearing two-thirds through the program, he claimed "George Bush doesn't care about black people" and said America is set up "to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible."
The show, simulcast from New York on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and Pax, was aired live to the East Coast, enabling the Grammy-winning rapper's outburst to go out uncensored. There was a several-second tape delay, but the person in charge "was instructed to listen for a curse word, and didn't realize [West] had gone off-script," said an NBC spokesperson.

West's comment about the president was cut from NBC's West Coast airing, which showed three hours later on tape.

Comedian Mike Myers was paired with West for a 90-second segment that began with Myers speaking of Katrina's devastation. Then, to Myers' evident surprise, West began a rant by saying, "I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food."

While allowing that "the Red Cross is doing everything they can," West declared that government authorities are intentionally dragging their feet on aid to the Gulf Coast. Without getting specific, he added, "They've given them permission to go down and shoot us." After he stated, "George Bush doesn't care about black people," the camera cut away to comedian Chris Tucker.

Concluding the hour a few minutes later, host Matt Lauer noted, "emotions in this country right now are running very high. Sometimes that emotion is translated into inspiration, sometimes into criticism. We've heard some of that tonight. But it's still part of the American way of life." Then the entire ensemble performed "When the Saints Go Marching In."

In a statement, NBC said, "Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him, and his opinions in no way represent the views of the networks.

"It would be most unfortunate," the statement continued, "if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion."

During the show, viewers were encouraged to contribute to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by phone or on the Web. Some 18 presenters performed musical numbers or gave information on the tragedy's huge scope.

Louisiana native Tim McGraw teared up as he told Lauer, "I know the citizens that weren't affected by this directly are gonna stand up and do good things for people." He sang two songs, then became the first of the evening's stars to sign a Gibson Les Paul Special guitar to be auctioned online.

Faith Hill, a Mississippi native, sang "There Will Come a Time," with the inspiring lyrics, "The darkness will be gone, the weak shall be strong. Hold on to your faith." New Orleans son Aaron Neville performed Randy Newman's soulful "Louisiana 1927" with the memorable chorus, "they're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away."

New York governor George Pataki presented the Red Cross with a check for $2.5 million and promised, "This great state will do far more."

Welcome back college football

Oh college football how I missed you. Many schools had their season openers today and it was great flipping through the channels to see college football on. This has to be the thing I love most about fall - weekends of football.

Waking up this morning and being able to flip through a couple of channels and catch Bowling Green playin Wisconsin, Ohio State vs. Miami-OH and a few other games is simply the best. I don't know what it is about the game - whether its fight songs, the school spirit or whatever - college football is just appealing and marks one of my favorite times of the year.



Nothing gets me more than seeing the maize and blue and hearing Hail to the Victors or Lets Go Blue - Going to a UM game is an experience that simply tops it all.

With the return of college football, it also means there were upsets - like Oklahoma getting beat by TCU 17-10. Even my alma mater, Eastern Michigan, almost pulled off an upset on Thursday but fell to Cincinnati 28-26.



Speaking of that, whats goin on with Sherrell not even traveling with the team to Cincy. That is pretty crazy.

Other random stuff:
- I covered a college football Division III game today - well if I can call it a game. It was a romping - Adrian College beat Heidelberg College 61-14.
- The Tecumseh-Adrian football game last night was so one-sided but there was a few plays on the highlight reel for Adrian High senior Oscar Johnson who has a block that laid a Tecumseh player out on a 70-yard punt return for a TD by Ronald Walker. After the play the Tecumseh player was still laying on the field down. Adrian ended up winning 33-0.
- I never knew this but Lloyd Carr was an assistant at EMU back in the day, like in the 1970's. Came as a very surprising thing to me - but a lot of those big time coaches get their start in the MAC, especially at a school like Miami-OH which is like a coaching factory
- Any controversy about the Lions starting quarterback situation should be over now that Jeff Garcia is out 6-8 weeks after getting injured (broke his leg) in the preseason finale last night. The Lions did win though - its about time