Unverified PHELPS PHELPS PHELPS Comment Count

Brian

Ouch. Or seeya. Some injuries and departures of note:

  • Illinois defensive tackle Sirod Williams, a starter for them, tore his ACL and is done for the year.
  • Michigan State lost two safeties yesterday, including the projected starter at free safety.
  • Notre Dame wide receiver Richard Jackson is the sixth member of Weis's 2006 class to transfer from ND.

Speaking of that 2006 class, it's on its way to being about as overrated as the vaunted 2005 Iowa class. A seventh player (Bartley Webb) saw his career end due to injury, and an eighth (Darrin Walls) is currently dealing with "personal issues" -- at Notre Dame usually code for "should be academically ineligible but we'll shuffle him off to a community college for a while." That's six of the twelve four-star-plus recruits from the class, and four of the remainder are offensive linemen who apparently suck hard. Touted upperclassmen on the roster who play elsewhere: Raeshon McNeil and apparently overrated James Aldridge.

Oh, yeah: if you have Comcast, you now have the Big Ten Network. And hilariously cynical commercials claiming "no one covers the Big Ten Network like Comcast!" Do they think sports fans can't remember anything that happened more than 15 minutes ago? I remember Tyrece Butler, bitches, you can't fool me.

Channel 65; channel 255 for HD. Don't watch it today unless you want to watch the infamous Anthony Thomas football game. This is inadvisable unless you want to pretend that New Michigan is wearing purple uniforms and battling Old Michigan, except hopefully New Michigan's defense stayed at home and was replaced by oompa-loompas.

More stadium pictures. You've probably seen pictures of Michigan Stadium a million times since the renovations started. If you want to see more go here or here or here or here. It's all basically the same except there's some more metal.

I'm more interested in the possibility that the stadium's new configuration is driving locals bats:

"We call it `The Shadium,"' Stacie Steils said Thursday, looking through the windows of AAA Michigan at the iconic sporting venue. "It's just so big."

What?

$50 Bowling! Michigan's holding a benefit for Brock Mealer. From the diaries:

The team will participate in a "Bowling for Brock" charity next Wednesday to raise funds to help ease the medical costs for Brock Mealer , the brother of freshman lineman Elliott Mealer .

The Mealers were involved in a car accident last Christmas Eve as they traveled to church. Mealer's father, David , and Elliott's girlfriend, Hollis Richer were killed. Brock Mealer was paralyzed, and Elliott Mealer suffered a shoulder injury, and likely will be redshirted this season.

The bowling and autograph session is at the Colonial Lanes (1950 South Industrial Highway, Ann Arbor) from 4-6 p.m. Admission is $50 for adults, $25 for children, and all proceeds will go toward Mealer's rehabilitation costs at the U-M Medical Center.

The revenge tour continues. Michigan basketball's quest to let everyone who feels wronged by the program a shot at vicious stabby humiliating revenge continues apace:

On Dec. 22, FGCU [Florida Gulf Coast U] will travel to Ann Arbor to face Michigan as part of a two-game road swing that will also include a third meeting with NCAA tournament team Butler on Dec. 20 in Indianapolis.

FGCU lost to Butler 79-65 in Indianapolis two seasons ago and fell 78-66 to the nationally ranked Bulldogs at Alico Arena last season.

The Michigan contest also will mark the return of former Bishop Verot High School guard Reed Baker to Michigan after his transfer from the Wolverines to FGCU last season. He had to sit out a year following his transfer.

The Rainmaker will make us pay.

God, I hope not.

He eats, he sleeps, he eats he sleeps he eats. Amongst the MICHAEL PHELPS MICHAEL PHELPS MICHAEL PHELPS stuff going on in China was this surreal expose of Phelps' eating habits featuring Middle Kingdom, Prickly Pear, Maize 'n' Blue Deli, and some diner I'd never heard of named "Benny's":

I'm shocked there was a story about someone eating 10,000 calories a day in Ann Arbor that didn't involve Blimpy Burger.

Also, it's really weird to be watching NBC and see the nice old man from Middle Kingdom. Hey, I know that guy! Hey! I've been to that restaurant like twelve times! Hey, this is national television! Hey, I sound like that guy at hockey games who used to scream "HEY HEY HEY" whenever he thought there was a penalty, which was every ten seconds!

Sidenote: can Bela Karoyli please be on TV all the time? Can we replace Paul Maguire with him?

Yeah, this is a weird year. You are probably aware that we are playing Utah in the opener this year. You are probably not aware that some Utah fans outright expect the Utes to win. This is from Block U's "worst case scenario":

Something goes wrong against Michigan. Maybe it's Johnson who goes down, or Asiata sprains his ankle tripping over the serving cart on the flight to Michigan, only to fall on Mack's leg, breaking it. Maybe it's just the Wolverines are that much better than Utah, but for whatever reason, they do not leave Ann Arbor with a victory. It hurts, but is it the end of the world?

"For whatever reason" you leave Ann Arbor without a win is usually "you are a team not getting a return game playing Michigan." But now everyone's sizing Michigan up. Yeah, well, our walk-on quarterback is going to shut you up.

Etc.: Zach Putnam waited until the deadline, but he signed. Frown.

Comments

jonock14

August 15th, 2008 at 2:11 PM ^

It's in that strip mall on S. Industrial and Stimson, next to that car wash, and behind that farmers market on State.  The Southern omelette (3 eggs, sausage, hash browns, covered in sausage gravy) or the Chili Cheese omelette are great hangover cures and will fully stress your digestive system. 

Tubes

August 15th, 2008 at 2:22 PM ^

with Frank's red hot and tzatziki sauce can't be beat. It was a weekend morning tradition.

Pretty sure Benny is in the mafia as well.

dex

August 15th, 2008 at 2:34 PM ^

You spend a lifetime building bridges and suck one dick, you are a dicksucker.

 

You spend 100 years becoming the program with the most wins in NCAA history and lose to a 1-AA team once, they all think they can beat you. 

turbo cool

August 15th, 2008 at 3:02 PM ^

bennys is even the best, or second best coney in ann arbor. the coney off campus on plymouth or the coney on s. state by briarwood are better. but regardless, i'm surprised there was no mention of BTB, no thai, or red hot lovers. best campus food.

Dan Man

August 15th, 2008 at 3:22 PM ^

Did anyone see the footage on NBC of Karoyli in the studio watching Nastia Luiken's floor routine?  The guy is AWESOME.  I don't know how to link, but there's footage on nbcolympics.com/video

realfootballfan

August 15th, 2008 at 3:11 PM ^

"Notre Dame wide receiver Richard Jackson is the sixth member of Weis's 2006 class to transfer from ND."

family values alert. lol

i love how non-UM fans are "thoroughly" analyzing the upcoming season for the Wolverines. they can't name any of the players but they know how poorly they will do on the field.

Dana

August 15th, 2008 at 6:34 PM ^

Definitely overrated.  The '07 class was probably underrated though.

Side note question- I used to visit this site and see a whole lot of comments.  Now there's a new format and very few comments.  Was this on purpose?

Cannibal6

August 15th, 2008 at 6:38 PM ^

...Zingermans.  I was afraid I was going to have to wait in line to pay a shit-ton of money for a mediocre sandwich.  We're safe, at least until its parents weekend and all the folks from NY/NJ come in town.  "Oh, my, gawwwd, like, this sandwich is wicked good.  Bunny, do you need more gas for your Lexus SUV?"

Other Andrew

August 15th, 2008 at 9:00 PM ^

...my photos of Michigan Stadium are in this post. It looks a bit ridiculous right now. I don't think it's going to look a ton better in time for the Utah game, but supposedly the structure is sturdy by now. Supposedly.

 

When I was in school, Middle Kingdom had a little boy who would bring you your tea cups and water glasses. He was overtly adorable. I made a mental note that I should take a date there if I could ever find one... I've, uh, yet to try that plan. The kid is probably their delivery driver by now.

H20

August 16th, 2008 at 12:02 AM ^

I've got a quick question if anyone can be obliged to answer it.  When the stadium renovations are done, will the boxes and whatever else they build add height to the stadium as it appears from the outside?  Do think it'll be a more intimidating place to play, or is that just wishful thinking?   

turbo cool

August 16th, 2008 at 8:16 AM ^

yes, definitely. although a lot of people remain skeptical that the big house will or won't be any louder, i think it definitely will be. by putting up the 2 boxes there is now way it could be less loud. but yeah, it's gotta be more intimidating..from the visiting team driving up to the east side of the stadium to get into the locker rooms and they see the stadium is just massive and goes straight up.. to actually being on the field and having more of 'closed-in' feeling i love it. 

so yes, i may be one of the few, but I DEFINITELY think the big house will be more intimidating.

turbo cool

August 16th, 2008 at 12:28 PM ^

it sounds like we got a good shot at him but at the same time, he hasn't ever made a visit up here. now i know that isn't necessarily a prerequisite to committing but it certainly helps. i hope we get this guy. a commit from this guy would be HUGE.

 ps, he said he already made his mind up, largely based on the depth chart. so... morgan trent is out after this year, open spot. donovan warren will be a junior his freshmen year, and could possibly be a 3 and done. if that is his primary concern we could probably be getting this guy. 

Wolverine in H… (not verified)

August 16th, 2008 at 11:01 PM ^

I worked at Zingerman's for one wonderful summer long ago (where I gained 10 pounds, because the company motto is, "try this").  Even with the Phelps hype, Maize n' Blue Deli will never come close to the Z.  Ari, one of the founders, likes to use Hellman's mayonnaise as an example. (Maise?  Maize?  Work with me.)  Hellman's is, apparently, the best mayonnaise in the world.  There are very good mayonnaises that cost 20% as much, but Ari and Steve refuse to consider it because it is not the best.  That's why the mention of Zingerman's gets a reaction in any major city in the U.S., while no one outside of A~2 has ever heard of the Maize n' Blue.  It's a cheap replica of the real thing, like Spartan football or Big 3 fuel economy.