Ever played with/against a UM athlete?
In high school, I played against a couple of now-UM football players. I was wondering if anyone else has had that honor as well. Any sport, any era.
I played Kelvin Grady when he was a HB at East Grand Rapids. Tough matchup for a white kid playing MLB. At least it wasn't Kevin.
I also played Prince Obi, but it was in rugby. I was also roughly matched up against him, I believe I was inside center and he was outside center. At one point, I was passed the ball and saw him barreling toward me (it's easier to read plays in rugby than football). Fearing for my life, I no-look hospital-passed away the ball as quickly as I could. Too late. I got laid out, driven back, and all-around wrecked. Cool thing is, Obi asked me if I was okay after the hit. When I regained consciousness 20 minutes later, I told him I was.
August 9th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^
I went to Dearborn High School and I saw Tractor Traylor play (dominate) a few games in Districts his senior year. He was a man amongst boys to say the least. I also witnessed Ian Gold win the 100m dash. He was screaming (aka talking shit) the whole race, while Bellville finished in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. I could not imagine anyone playing football against a kid like that in highschool. Both were a couple years older then me. To a lesser extent I was teammates with Brodie Killian (97-01) who is lucky enough to have a beautiful National Championship ring (which looks great on my finger by the way). I'm sure no on has heard of him, but he was one of the best leaders I've have ever met (if that means anything).
uncle was married to my aunt for a few years... brodie was always a player i rooted for just because of that connection... to bad his uncle turned out to be a major asshole...
August 9th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^
I played basketball against Austin White quite a bit. I also played in a flag football tournament that Mike Martin was in.
dunked on my friends and me in a game at the CCRB.
In high school I was covering TJ Hensick in gym-class flag football... picked off a jump ball in the end zone and told him to grow a couple inches.
At the CCRB got alley-ooped on by Braylon Edwards... thank god Donnie Wohl was on my team
I played in the Michigan State Lacrosse Championship against Gannon Dudlar and Steve Morrison who both went to Brother Rice. They were both enormous and amazing athletes, while Dudlar got on by, on just being huge, Morrison was actually quite talented at Lacrosse...and yes Rice owned us in that game, but we had beaten them earlier in the year...
Aug
I played against Elliot Mealer in high school. I remember watching him play basketball too.
I threw discus against Tony Pape (OL) and Dan Stevenson (OL for ND). Beat both them on multiple occasions. Shot put, on the other hand, not so much.
Also, my dad was a DT at Michigan, and my cousin was a back up QB under Carr. I've played plenty of backyard football with them. Does that count?
Is a pretty mean softball pitcher.
I pllayed the football team in IM summer-league softball last summer. We didn't really stand much of a chance, but I managed to catch a couple Zoltan rockets in the outfield. Also, learned that Sheridan's a nice guy. We'd get compliments from his third-base coaching position after our long innings on defense were over.
I played against Willie Mitchell a few times. In our senior years, we put a tough 6'1" white kid on him in a box and one D, and held him to 11 points, including a lucky 3 where he was saving the ball from out of bounds and chucked it towards the hoop. So I'll suggest our guy held him to 8. I had 16 against Pershing, so I was proud to say I outscored Mr Basketball that day. Unfortunately for me, Willie had some nasty teammates and we lost by about 20.
Dude was huge, and very talented, but he just did...not...play...hard. Infuriating.
Played quite a bit of golf with Leroy Hoard. We were both members of the same golf club. He was a lot of fun to have in the group. Could apply the needle, but also take it just as well.
I got smoked by Jerome Jackson in madden a few times and played pickup hoops with Petway, Brown, and Horton. I actually didn't do too bad for a few minutes. But then I realized that none of them were trying at all. When Graham Brown actually decided to score on me, he scored on me. He just moved me out of way effortlessly. I was also on the West Quad team in the annual west vs south quad snowball fight. Braylon just annihilated people with snowballs. I think he actually picked a south quad(der) up and threw them when they came too close... glad to be on the same team
Chad Henne played against my high school team. We were terrible, utterly terrible and he lit us up every year. I did manage to tackle him once or twice. I tried to pick off one of his passes, but the thing was like a freaking rocket and just bounced off my hands.
I've played chess against Mike Hart. He trash talks you the entire time. He even has good material when you're a queen and rook up on him.
(I was one of those slow, ginger safeties with shitty hands.)
CRex, any update on the girlfriend/parents/grandparents/lil sis situation?
A diary update will really help us get to September...
Which high school did you play for?
I ran track against Kevin Bryant (back up WR in the 90's) as a freshman in high school and grew up playing with his little brother Ricky. Unfortunately, Rick ended up going to the O it Sucks to be U university.
I also played against Kirk Moundros (Marks older brother- walk on Fullback) in High School. He played for the North Farmington Raiders and I for the Farmington Falcons. He was a decent tailback. I did get a couple of good licks on him though in the 4 games that we played against one another.
Played against Chris Webber in high school when he was a Fr. and I was a Sr.
He scored 19, could've been 50 if he wanted.
I hacked him as hard as I could (I was 6' 3" - 230) and had no affect on him what so ever.
Dude was crazy sick, even as a freshman. Too bad he tainted us so badly....
Played basketball with Ryan VanBergen, and baseball with Nick Urban and Jake McLouth.
I think that may have been during my year as a janitor at UM hospital, between graduating from Huron and starting in the RC. It was mid-afternoon, the place was relatively dead, and the regulars must have needed a 5' 9" guy who started on the JV team at boarding school* to round out their pickup game.
I remember losing my dribble almost every time I touched the ball and Grant ignoring everyone, effortlessly throwing up four, five, and six-pointers from everywhere on the court each and every time he got the ball. I think he, too, may have been a little undersized. . . for The League, but iirc he put together a nice little career.
P.S. Spose this dates me a little.
*Blair Academy, in N. Jersey, which has since become something of a proving ground for kids to spend a year sharpening their skills before they go to NCAA teams.
i played beer pong with jeff del verne.
Pete Vignier taught me how to post up at Michigan Basketball Camp when I was 12. That's pretty much it.
I remember I went to to a game in high school where my friend (who is 6-5) was playing against Vignier. My friend goes up for a short jumper, Vignier comes from across the lane and swats into like the 5th row of the high school gym. Good times.
As for me, probably a pickup game at the CCRB against people I didn't recognize, but my athleticism generally banished me to Court 3 (where I could actually hold my own against the scrubs).
against Big Will in an IM basketball game. He was the quickest man on the court, it was incredible. One guy on my team took a charge from him, too. Talk about balls.
The fadeaway jumper i made over him is the highlight of my sports career too, nbd.
Jim Abbott, Glen Rice, Dave Dever .....also, Mark Ingram(MSU) and Dan Majerle(CMU) and Todd Krumm(MSU).
Beer pong against Alex Mitchell. I won. Also, one of my fraternity brothers played one on one against Alan Branch with full cups, inducing a bit of vomiting.
... Lemont high school in the state playoffs my junior year, david molk was the starting center. They dominated us
I played against Drew Henson in baseball my sophomore year in HS.
Not related: I frequently played against/with members of the Plymouth Whalers in hockey while I worked at Compuware. It's amazing how just playing with great (relatively) players can make you look awesome.
Once stole my pocket change. He then gave me a ski mask.
Zack Novak and Stu Douglass in summer AAU ball. Douglass had his unlimited range back then (before his junior year of HS). Novak was just tough, no other way to describe it. I guarded Greg Oden for a game and basically had no chance (I held him to 25ish points before he got taken out cause they were smacking us obviously). Mike Conley was on that team too. We never had a prayer.
I used to play pickup basketball in Southfield and I played against Woody Hankins a few times. He was a starting CB in the mid 90s.
He is a lot older these days obviously, but he is still pretty athletic. I scored a bunch of times on him but he did the same. I'm 6' and 175 lbs so he had some weight on me even though I had some size.
Really nice guy.
But in HS i managed to play hoops against J Rich (MSU), Kelvin Torbert, Desmond Farmer (USC) Stu Schewgart sp? (Purdue), Charlie Bell.
Player summer league in 8th grade with the Varsity and face Cleaves and Mo Pete.
Played football against one time Michigan Commit Reggie Benton.
I played for Harper Creek 1997-2000. Had the impossible task of playing against Jermaine Gonzales when he was at St Marys in the state semifinals of the playoffs. His first play was a 98 yard qb keeper with me among the missed tacklers. Also had the opportunity of tackling T.J. Duckett in the open field (I had his foot and he just fell down) and being posterized by Jason Richardson in AAU basketball.
August 9th, 2010 at 11:21 PM ^
August 10th, 2010 at 12:55 AM ^
was in a softball league here in San Diego w/DeWayne Patmon. He was stil pretty damn well put together. When I found out who he was I got all nervous but was able to go talk to him for a few after a game. Nice guy.
August 10th, 2010 at 1:07 AM ^
I threw shot put against Mike Martin when i was senior. Lets just say it didnt turn out well for me. His shot pretty much went out of the area while mine went like 30 ft
August 10th, 2010 at 1:55 AM ^
Ian Gold, Eric Wilson, Drew Henson, Dave Pearson...