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Those BoKu commercials…

Those BoKu commercials introduced me to Richard Lewis. RIP

 

OMG. He was very active on…

OMG. He was very active on social media with D-line coaching tips/techniques. Too damn young. The amount of colon/colorectal cancer cases in the under-50 crowd is insane. I personally know four people who have had colon cancer, all were diagnosed in their 30s. Three of them are no longer with us. May he rest in peace and his family be comforted. 

I rewatched a bit iof Dan…

I rewatched a bit iof Dan Campbell's introductory press conference from 3 years ago (3 years ago yesterday in fact) and lost in all the knee-biting bravado is the fact that he wanted the job. He told his agent to do whatever it took to get an interview with Sheila Hamp. He wanted to be in Detroit. How many people want that? Now the fact it was a forced collaboration with Brad Holmes was a risk but it's been been a great partnership (watch the Inside the Den draft episodes on how excited both guys are about the drafted players they've gotten). 

The big issue with the Bills…

The big issue with the Bills are defensive injuries, especially at LB and in the secondary. It's hit them hard this season and they lost a few more guys on Sunday. I think all the LBs that were playing in the second half were backups. They've fought tooth and claw to get to this point, but I just don't know if they have enough juice to down KC. 

"Business is Finished" is…

"Business is Finished" is what got me emotional. I thought it would be the kneel downs, but when Corum said that, it struck a chord with me. And I agree, I'm at peace with the past and the stuff that happened this season, both with the Stallions thing and personally. I watched the Ohio State game on mute from my mom's ICU room days after she had a life-threatening medical situation (she's making a miraculous recovery but still a long road physically). My dad sat next to her giving her the play by play. That was incredibly emotional and at the same time a massive practice in patience and grace .

Also happy Easter to…

Also happy Easter to Armenians in Jerusalem, who celebrate it this weekend (Armenians elsewhere celebrated last weekend), and the Coptic Christians in Egypt and their diaspora.

The one fact about him that…

The one fact about him that I did not know: He was a member of the Lakers 1949-50 NBA championship. Played two years for them while they were still in Minneapolis (granted his stats aren't exactly spectacular for hoops). He then focused on football and the rest is history. RIP.

I never played the games,…

I never played the games, but I was intrigued with the premise. I have to say the production values, writing, and narrative are to my liking and moreso than other zombie shows/films because there's been good character development that complement with the flowing narrative. I do like that the focus isn't on the man vs zombie conflict (it's there, but secondary) but on the man vs man or man vs self conflict that makes it work. Also, the Bill & Frank episode was just damn good despite being a one-off.

Also, the first episode ended with "Never Let Me Down Again" blasting during the credits and that sold me.

Michael Caine, Jaws: The…

Michael Caine, Jaws: The Revenge. He missed out on accepting his first Academy Award to film that laughable sequel. 

I'm with the OP re: weight…

I'm with the OP re: weight off my shoulders for Michigan to survive and advance. Plus: Baby Translator arrives sometime in the next 7-10 days, so more important things are imminent on my end. 

I've got cousins and their…

I've got cousins and their families in Syracuse and I consider the region like a third home. I've seen it first-hand: SU sports drive that region since it has no pro sports teams (it does have minor league baseball and hockey, but the Orange are treated like a pro team). Mainly, the Boeheim-driven hoops teams are what everyone looked forward to. The football team has only seen minor glimmers of competency in the post-Donovan McNabb era the past 20+ years. 

Also: +1 re: Lake Skaneateles...especially during the fall (well, anywhere in Central New York during the fall is special).

Talk about a turbulent…

Talk about a turbulent ending for his tenure. Rough final years, the curmudgeon in him got more curmudgeony, and then an awkward press release announcing his retirement hours after a buzzer-beating season- and career-ending loss. He said it was the university's decision whether or not they wanted him back after the loss earlier today. Looks like they said "thanks for the memories." 

 

 

(No subject)

On The Run and Time are…

On The Run and Time are probably my favorite tracks on Dark Side of the Moon. Also, as much as I despise the Jordan-era Chicago Bulls teams, I give them credit for playing On The Run during the visiting team starting lineup introductions in the mid-late 1990s. 

I feel like after he took…

I feel like after he took that vicious sideline hit during the November 2010 Michigan-Illinois game (the one that went 3OT), he wasn't the same. He looked very tired on camera soon after that incident and 15 months later in February 2012 he retired (doing the math, he would have been 59). I know he said he and his wife wanted to be closer to their kids out west, but I did wonder if there was a health factor as well that they didn't want to divulge. 

And one more...this one may…

And one more...this one may be my favorite

 

Also this one, a classic…

Also this one, a classic Dare Don segment.

 

RIP and may his memory be a…

RIP and may his memory be a blessing. He was one of my favorite sportscasters, local or national. One of my friends was an intern for him years ago and he told me Don Shane was banging the table for the station to hire him--he supported and mentored the up-and-coming journalists who had that big dream to work in sports TV. My friend ended up doing some freelance producing for them until moving on to basketball coaching. 

But of course, I am partial to how he and Bill Bonds interacted...

 

 

A friend of mine was flying…

A friend of mine was flying from LGA to DTW tonight and made it with an hour delay but he's still got to navigate 94 and the Lodge to get to Southfield. Hope the roads aren't super slippery.

Bryan, we're at 37 weeks as well. Hope your baby waits until the weather is better. Wishing you all the best in the pregnancy home stretch. 

I've been to one of the non…

I've been to one of the non-conference MSG games where Michigan basketball played (I think it was vs. Missouri). It was a definitely a pro-Michigan crowd. Michigan and Penn State hockey a couple years ago played at MSG as well, that crowd was a little more mixed (and unfortunately the Penn State crowd was all fired up because Michigan played awful that game). 

I've needed a good excuse to go see a game at the Palestra since I moved to Philly 2.5 years ago. This might as well be it if they can make it happen.

My wife and I have our first…

My wife and I have our first birthing class tonight. We were going to reschedule if Michigan had made the final so I could fly out to LA for it. But since that didn't happen, original plans go as scheduled and if catch 2 minutes of the game, cool. If not, no big deal.

Watching this unfold gave me…

Watching this unfold gave me flashbacks to Reggie Brown's injury in 1997 when the Lions played the Jets in the final week of the regular season with playoff berths at stake and Barry Sanders' quest for 2,000 yards. He needed CPR on the field and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. They kept playing that game after it happened--how I don't know. I hope they don't continue tonight's game--they need to halt things for the night. Praying for Hamlin and his family and team...I can't fathom what everyone involved is going through right now.

A few families on our cul-de…

A few families on our cul-de-sac where I grew up went out to the Detroit Zoo for the holiday lights and one of the dads was smart enough to bring his Sony Watchman (there's a piece of technological nostalgia). I heard Mark Champion's radio broadcast of Barry breaking 2,000 yards on our family's way back home. Besides the record and Reggie Brown's injury, the other thing that stood out was Dick Hantak acting like a cranky old school principal telling the crowd to quiet down (he might as well have told them to get off his lawn) because Neil O'Donnell couldn't deal with being a visiting player. The Jets were a bunch of whiners as the game slipped out of their hands. 

My wife and I were…

My wife and I were originally scheduled to fly to Detroit from Philly on Friday very early AM. Early yesterday, we made the decision to switch our flight to tomorrow at 5:30 pm (which ironically Delta credited us back $20 each since it was a cheaper flight than the originally booked one--go figure) after it became more and more likely Friday AM was going to be bad. It's going to be raining in Philly when we depart, but we're hoping to get in before the winds get brutal all over the place and roads freeze over. The flash freeze is what I'm particularly concerned about. 

I know two people, one of…

I know two people, one of whom is a cousin and was treated at Michigan, who had osteosarcoma. Both found out after suffering leg injuries playing basketball, which ended up being blessings in disguise because the doctors caught the sarcoma in the process and early. The treatments and surgical procedures were absolutely brutal but thankfully both have been in remission for a number of years and are leading healthy lives. Praying for the best for Henry and may we never forget Meechie--may his memory be a blessing.

I know it's been alluded to…

I know it's been alluded to once in this thread, but as much as US healthcare has some ugly warts right now, Canada's current healthcare situation is making things here seem pretty heavenly. Maritime provinces and rural areas have a lack of physicians; people waiting hours in the ER; children's hospitals in perillong wait times to have surgeries...seems pretty bad.

Before she became famous,…

Before she became famous, she was an interior designer. I guess if it wasn't for Password Plus, she wouldn't have made it. RIP

 

 

I watched the game last…

I watched the game last night but with the radio broadcast audio in place of the Fox audio. As for the various highlights clips, at least a dozen times--likely more.

My wife went to Michigan…

My wife went to Michigan State, but she's supportive of me watching the games and loves Ann Arbor (she was born there too). There are times when I will sacrifice watching a game in lieu of family things. The Big Ten Championship last year was one of those times because that was our anniversary weekend and we were in Atlanta. I recorded the game digitally but we were able to watch the 4th quarter. 

From Jon Jansen:


Donovan…

From Jon Jansen:

Donovan Edwards is dressed and appears to be ready to return to action today. Nikhai Hill-Green did not make the trip. Neither did Erik All. Everyone else looks to be available. @UMichFootball #GoBlue #JustWin

— Jon Jansen (@JonJansen77) October 1, 2022
This is my last football…

This is my last football season before becoming a dad, so how to watch games next year is definitely in the back of my mind. I may have to compromise with Mrs. Translator on what games I watch live and what games get DVR'd for later consumption. Our kid is due in March, so I guess the NCAA tourney may be the litmus test.

There's been FieldTurf or a…

There's been FieldTurf or a FieldTurf-like field at the stadium since 2003; there were updates/renovations/replacement done to the FieldTurf in 2010 and 2018. From 1968-1991, there was the "Tartan Turf" which was essentially AstroTurf and was resurfaced in 1982. In 1991, real grass aka "Prescription Athletic Turf," was installed, but I remember that grass was awful with a lot of divots flying around. I think between the harsh winters and the evolution of artificial turf technology(i.e. it's not green carpet laid out on cement), the AD went that route. And if you look at the Bentley Museum link down below, it seems between donations and overall cost, it's just cheaper to maintain the artificial grass, especially with the advancement of FieldTurf.

Sources include Bentley Historical Museum and this article.

Jedd Fisch and Arizona…

Jedd Fisch and Arizona spoiled Brady Hoke and San Diego State's home opener in a new stadium. Looks like the Aztecs' starting QB got knocked out with a shoulder injury and the backup quarterback looked like he didn't belong. Down 18 with 10 minutes left in the game and all SDSU did was run the ball. Arizona dominated...with the exception of this, umm, self-inflicted situation:

Get ready to pony over some…

Get ready to pony over some money for Peacock if you want to watch some games. From The Athletic article:

The conference also announced a deal with Peacock, the direct-to-consumer streaming platform from NBCUniversal. Peacock will exclusively stream four conference football games per year in addition to four nonconference games involving Big Ten teams. ...

Peacock will stream 32 regular-season men’s basketball games (20 conference games) in 2023-24 and 47 games (32 conference games) from 2024-25 onward as well as the Big Ten tournament’s opening night doubleheader. Peacock will also stream 30 regular-season women’s basketball games (20 conference games) per year starting in 2023-24.

First year (00-01): East…

First year (00-01): East Quad--Prescott. 

Second year (01-02): South Quad--Thronson.

Enjoyed both dorm experiences and a keep in touch with a few people from each year on social media, email, etc. That said, East Quad was in dire need of a renovation, which came a few years later. Barely ate at the dorm as most of my friends lived on the Hill and I ate at one of their dorms--usually Couzens or Markley. (this was before they built the consolidated Hill dining hall behind MoJo). South Quad food was tolerable, but I enjoyed getting food from the Down Under (and East Quad had the Underground) if what was in the cafeteria wasn't great. A shame they shut those down too.

Probably one of the most…

Probably one of the most underrated aspects of my overnight-shift sports journalism gig a decade-plus ago was putting the Dodgers games on TV and having Vin Scully's commentary in the background while I was editing away. I agree, he was the GOAT. RIP, good sir.

Fitting considering it's Mrs…

Fitting considering it's Mrs. Translator's birthday tomorrow.

We both went to the same church growing up, but there was enough of an age difference between us (8 years) that we weren't really aware of each other as kids/teens. We first met as "young adults" when I was counseling a youth summer conference in NY and she was in college (I was 28, she 20) in 2010. We really didn't interact much and in fact she met the guy who she dated for 4 years that summer (ironically, that guy ended up marrying the girl who introduced the two of them). We finally met as more mature grown-ups in 2017 at a graduation party and that's when things started rolling.

Thief is extremely…

Thief is extremely underrated. It's also produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and served as Michael Mann's film directorial debut as well as film acting debuts for Jim Belushi, Dennis Farina, William Petersen, and Robert Prosky. It's got great cinematography (Chicago was a perfect backdrop for this film), excellent acting, and that Tangerine Dream soundtrack that gives it the moody/atmospheric quality. It was critically acclaimed when it came out in 1981 but Hollywood I guess was mehh on it and it was in and out of theaters pretty quickly. Give it a watch when you get the chance. RIP James Caan

Yellah and Mabrouk, Youssef…

Yellah and Mabrouk, Youssef. As someone who has family connections in Lebanon, I'm all for him wearing the maize and blue.

I happen to be in Toronto…

I happen to be in Toronto for a wedding today and the Pearson Airport debacle came up last night during dinner with friends of mine. When planning to book our flight, my wife and I debated if it was better to fly into Toronto or Buffalo and rent a car. Luckily, we found out we would have a commitment in Buffalo on Sunday, so that made the decision easier to fly there and rent the car. It certainly looks like it was the right decision. I will note Customs at the Queenston Bridge didn't bother checking our ArriveCan app info, only our passports. 

The first news I saw was the…

The first news I saw was the The Hollywood Reporter tweeting he died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic and I had to do a double take to see what the heck I had just read. RIP.

Ray Liotta - RIP | Come for the cars, stay for the anarchy

I'm fine with how things…

I'm fine with how things shook out for the Pistons. Knowing the Kings are at 4, I'd be willing to bet the owner will overrule basketball operations and pick someone who shouldn't be taken at the slot. Pistons will benefit from this one way or another. 

Also, many Pistons fans seem to forget that Weaver has a pretty good draft track record so far; there haven't been any Mateen Cleaves/Rodney White/Darko Milicic/Henry Ellenson/Sekou Doumbouya-type busts yet and most of the 2nd round picks have contributed and/or shown promise, including Livers.

When I went to the Frozen…

When I went to the Frozen Four in Denver in 2008, I ended up renting a Hyundai Accent hatchback. Just an awful automobile in good or bad weather.

Last year, I watched "Cast a…

Last year, I watched "Cast a Deadly Spell" which is a film noir meets HP Lovecraft type of detective/horror movie set in the 1940s. He played the lead and was really good in it. I guess it was a Made-for-HBO movie from the early 1990s. Not sure if it's still on Amazon Prime or if it moved over to HBO Max, but it's worth checking out.

Besides all the other roles mentioned (Tremors, The Right Stuff), I remember him as the bad guy in Naked Gun 33 1/3 and the overbearing dad of one of the characters in Road Trip. He also starred in the lead role in the first-ever NC-17 movie (Henry and June). RIP.

I think 8 wins is doable…

I think 8 wins is doable with the schedule. As long as they stay on the right side of injury-luck (that's the one variable we can't account for until it happens) and keep fighting, this could be interesting. I still think it's bogus they count Thanksgiving as a "prime time" game; but if they're in the hunt, I can see a game get flexed in December to prime time or moved to a "Game of the Week" slot at 4 p.m.

Earliest sports memories…

Earliest sports memories include:

Pistons: 1988 NBA Finals, specifically Game 6 on CBS. My dad was barbecuing that day (it was an afternoon 3:30 pm ET tip-off) and I kept running in and out to give him score results. Of course, I didn't realize as a 6-year-old how controversial (and bogus) that Laimbeer foul call was at the end of the game. I remember my parents let me stay up to watch Game 7, which went LA's favor. Probably my first taste of sports disappointment. 

Michigan: I remember seeing news reports about the 1987 Rose Bowl, but don't remember watching the game. I do remember seeing the block M on the TV sports reports and hearing/seeing about Bo Schembechler during the mid-late 1980s. 

Red Wings: The Cinderella Jacques Demers-coached 1987 team--specifically the conference finals vs. Edmonton. My youngest brother was born around that same time, so that stood out.

Lions: Honestly, it was the 1991 season at 9 years old when I bothered starting to follow the Lions, but more for the magnificent things Barry Sanders did.

Tigers: 1987: "Wheel of Fortune will not be seen today but will return tomorrow at its normal scheduled time. Now stay tuned for a special presentation of the Detroit Tigers next on Channel 4!" ... which is followed by: 

As a product of Troy schools…

As a product of Troy schools (Troy High), I'll throw in a good word for the district. My wife would throw in a good word for Plymouth-Canton since she's a product of their district (Plymouth High). Troy School District also has an International Academy campus in the district and a pretty good preschool program for families who have tykes (they just built a new pre-kindergarten education building recently). The district has been pretty good about upgrading technology and renovating/retrofitting buildings regularly and it's arguably a pretty stable area with a solid Parks & Rec program for sports and activities and a great public library. Troy High has also been one of the top feeder school to Michigan for years (I heard rumors in high school that Michigan admissions added .2 to THS applicants' GPAs, but I found that extremely hard to believe...plus that was in the 90s so who knows what's changed, if anything).

I can't speak much to the private/catholic schools scene, but I'm a non-Catholic who supports the Jesuits therefore I'd pick U-D Jesuit. I know a couple guys I went to elementary and middle school who went to Country Day for high school--both were athletes and ended up playing varsity football in the Ivy League.

It is pretty funny and…

It is pretty funny and Wilson is a good sport about it.

 

I'm sorry for your losses…

I'm sorry for your losses and agree that out of darkness does come out of light...even the smallest speck or quark of light can help light up the dark if given the chance. Even just being there for those in mourning/suffering is an opportunity to shine light in the darkness. 

On a personal note, it has definitely been a rough Easter season for myself as well. One of my best friends from college lost his father to prostate cancer last week and I traveled to Michigan for that funeral. And now on top of that, my uncle's sister-in-law died unexpectedly Friday, I'll have to go back again to Michigan for that funeral later this week. Everyone is still in shock and I can only imagine what my cousins and their cousins are going through right now.

A great clip of his was from…

A great clip of his was from Hollywood Squares when a match (dubbed the "YOU FOOL!" episode) came down to him and he kept stumping the contestants. By the time one of them won his square, the episode was practically over. RIP.