Heiko

First of all, how do you pronounce my name?

Well, it's a German name (I know, right?), it looks Japanese, my last name is Chinese, my driver's license says I'm from Ohio ... now everyone's confused.

It's okay. I have no idea, either.

The story goes like this. I was born in China while my dad was doing grad school in Germany. My family moved to the US when I was three, at which point we anglicized my Chinese name, which was Hui ==> Huey. 

But that wasn't good enough for my dad. The summer before second grade he decided I should drop the Chinese name and use a not-Chinese name. I said okay. How about Michael. Or Tom. Or Raphael because the Ninja Turtles RULED. 

My dad said, "No, how about 'Heiko.' It's my favorite German name." I said, "What?"

That was the end of the conversation. 

Second grade started, and my teacher asked me how to pronounce my name. I had no clue, so I sounded it out. "Hay-ko." And that's what I've called myself ever since. My parents call me "High-ko," which is also what Brian and, incidentally, German people call me. "High-ko" is correct. "Hay-ko" just sounds right.

Why am I working for MGoBlog?

Because the past three years of Michigan fandom taught me that if someone breaks your heart, the only way to feel better is to get closer to them and then write mean things about them. I'm just kidding. I would never write mean things about Denard (or anyone!).

For real now: I love writing, and I love Michigan sports. When I started the research phase of my training, my time became fairly flexible, so I joined Daily Sports where I assumed the role of the weird older guy. I covered women's volleyball first, and that taught me how to become very good at keeping track of a roster that reads "Alexandra (Zimmerman)," "Alexandra (Hunt)," and "Alexandra (Erwin)." (If you've been following volleyball, here's a programming note: Lexi the senior setter graduated, and she'll be replaced by Lexi the freshman setter.) In the spring I wrote for water polo and followed them all the way up to their unstorybook-like postseason demise at the hands of ... Indiana. 

Obviously, by joining mgoblog, I won't be writing for the Daily anymore. So, while the feelings are fresh, here's my plug for them: You guys are great people, you all do a great job -- tremendous, even -- and I'm going to miss you. 

But I'm still not convinced any of you know what I do during the day.

And I hate that you start all your sentences with conjunctions.

Am I really getting an MD/PhD?

Yes, really. Are you ill? If you're nice about it and present me an organized list of symptoms, I will tell you if I think you should go see a doctor.