Honestly, I thought this had run its course at the end of last year.  But with a few readers asking where this was and after some nice words from them, it only took some light arm twisting for me to find time.  Thanks readers!  Sorry for the new account, it’s a long convoluting story without a point that is quite boring.  It goes without saying thanks to Brian, Seth and the horde of nameless mods who provide the free bandwidth for these. 

As a Michigan fan, I’m contractually obligated to have an opinion on the QB battle.  I have been asked for my opinion at least a dozen times since March.  Obviously in most cases, just people trying to make small talk such as my father-in-law, MSU student nephew (was a huge Michigan fan until the stereotypical rejection letter came), other Michigan fans, the buffet host at the vacation resort and a guy walking past me on the street. 

Meanwhile this sums up my feelings.

I am more worried about replacing God and Jesus, as Brian called them on the pod at DE, a senior linebacker, and edge erasing safety, a boring safety at the back end and a possible wunderkind defensive coordinator. 

If you credibly replace those missing pieces on defense.  Does the QB really matter until OSU? I don’t see 2 losses with either QB.  McNamara might be more likely to take us to 11-0 in the shoe, but do you see more than one obligatory stupid loss* with either QB?  1 loss and 1 win at OSU gets you a title shot.

It becomes a question of who is more likely to get a win in the Shoe.  For those saying, McNamara won’t or can’t do it, were you saying the same thing last year?  I was, oddsmakers were.  During one glorious snow flurry and flu epidemic**, Michigan not only won they dominated.

In the next weeks, 100k gallons of digital ink will be spilled and 10,000 hours of talk radio and podcasts will be filled.  In the end, our words are like wind.

I will add if you think the old adage is true that “If you have two qb’s then you have no qb’s.”  Then you must agree if you have 1 qb and he gets hurt then you also have no qb’s. If you are willing to go all in with McCarthy, and if McNamara checks out or transfers, with McCarthy’s style there’s a non-zero chance of him being injured or being uber-targeted ala McCaffrey by some team on the schedule (cough MSU).

Is Harbaugh trying to have his cake and eat it too? Absolutely.  However, Henne, Denard, Speight, Rudock, Gardner are all QB’s who didn’t make it The Game healthy.  Having an insurance policy at the most important position on the field isn’t the worst goal in the world, even if it requires tap dancing on a tight rope.

*Please not MSU again

** Citation needed

Hawaii 5-0

Named after the spread for Saturday’s game, this drink is variation of the Blue Hawaiian.  Throughout the 40’s through the 60’s a Tiki Bar culture exploded in the continental USA.  Due to a romanticized version of Hawaii and the South Pacific experienced by tourists and popular movies, tiki drinks and culture exploded especially on the West Coast.  Servicemen returning from the Pacific theatre after WWII and Korea also added to their popularity.  Hawaii became a state in 1959, 60 years after the US annexed, Overthrew Hawaii’'s kingdome by coup leading to heightened interest in the state.  This prolonged the tiki movement due to increased tourism and ease of flight to the islands. 

Most Tiki drinks are Caribbean in basis.  Most have a rum as the base spirit then exotic fruit juice added.  The venerable Mai Tai was created in San Francisco by Trader Vic. 

Due to the popularity of these drinks and bars, many of the cocktails have many different recipes. Many bars and books had similar spins  on recipes with the same name. I won’t argue if someone says there’s a different version of this or any others.  I think I know 5 different Mai Tai variations. 

Ingredients

2 oz light rum

1 oz sweet and sour mix

3 oz pineapple juice

2 oz blue curaçao

Pineapple and cherries for garnish.  Grab an Umbrella if you’d like.

Grab a highball glass.  Fill with ice.  Crushed if feeling frisky.  Pour the rum, sweet and sour and pineapple juice into a cocktail shaker.  Add ice and stir the cocktail shaker for 20 seconds.  Strain into the highball glass.

To achieve the layered look, take a teaspoon and pour the blue curaçao over the back of the spoon slowly.  Garnish with a pineapple flag made with a pineapple triangle and two cherries. I’m apparently very rusty on layering or my curaçao is heavier for some reason.  At least the colors are right for this 

Honestly, after making this one.  I would go with a darker or spiced rum trying to hold up the sweetness of the pineapple juice.  Pineapple juice is the horrible ingredient for a bartender.  Anything you make with it just takes like pineapple.  It’s overpowering

M Go Salut!