BATTER UP!

Who knew hitting would give you such a rush! Went to the batting cages on Saturday and smacked the devil outta some softballs. MAN! It felt sooooooo gooood. I seriously could have been there a couple of hours. Out of 150 pitches, I think I missed only9. Not bad for not having picked up a bat in about 3 years. I think I found a new way to relieve some stress . The inside of my right hand is absolutely black and blue from hitting fast pitches with a slow pitch bat. By mid day you could see the bruising on my hands and thumb. My thumb was twice it's size. I had it on ice most of the day Saturday and some of the day yesterday. It's bruised on the front AND back of my hand but it works so all is good. Guess this week I'll be hunting for a couple of bats and hitting gloves.
I suggest the batting cages if you have any stress tension or anger to get out of your system. It's such a great release! It looks like the softball team I'm supposed to be on at work might fall through. Not enough women want to play for a woman's league or a Co-ed league down here in Utah county. My Midvale leagues doesn't look like its going co-ed either. Sigh! Will my softball experience for this summer be limited to the glory of the batting cages each Saturday morning? I can life with that if I can find someone to play catch with a couple hours a week!

Anyway...

....... BATTER UP!

Michigan's Bo Schembechler, left, and Woody Hayes of Ohio State

The Power of the Maize & Blue.



Yesterday was a phenominal day. Woke up WAY TO EARLY for a Saturday. Mostly because I've been very tired all week and have literally be crashing and then waking up freakishly sooner that I'd like to. I woke up, did the morning routine: shower, hair...got dressed: Put on my navy blue running pants with my matching blue and gold Michigan Wolverines t-shirt. Yeah I was feeling good, totally pumped about the Michigan/ohio game. Michigan/ohio game is possibly the greatest college football rivalry around. It's was extremely exciting today because ohio is ranked #1 and Michigan is ranked #2 and the winner would indeed be seeing an invitation to the national championship bowl.

So I put on my wolverine t-shirt and my sweatshirt and scooted off to my early morning saturday meetings. After the meetings I'm walking out of the church building with the 2 genesis councelors and one said... "I'm pullin for Michigan today!" The other counsolor then started saying how he went to College at Michigan Tech and how cold it was out there. We're in the hall conversing by a bishop's office when that door opens. Out steps an older man and we all introduce ourselves. He notices my sweatshirt and asks if I'm from Michigan. I told born and raised! He tells us he went on his mission to Michigan when it was called "The Great Lakes Mission." He's never gone back but always wanted to and he would love to see Michigan win today!

Afterwards, I head to the grocery store to get some things for a soup bowl party we're having in the evening. I want to have it prepared and simmering so I can focus on the game when the time comes.

I walk into Macey's and I head down the isles for what I need. I suddenly realize I'm singing with the music on the overhead speakers and smiling at those who are greeting me while passing me. I head over to produce and two guys stocking potatoe's look over at me. I smile and greet them with " good morning!"

One guy says to me... "GO MICHIGAN!" and I all but squeal like a little kid with a favorite toy on Christmas! "You know it!" I call back to him and then a few others join in and start giving props to the Michigan Wolverines. Before you know it, there's about 17 of us gathered around the potatoes, apples, avocado's, talking football! It was AWESOME! Even a couple of creepy old guys asked if I wanted to watch the game with them on the big screen. We're talking stats, we're talking history, we're talking BO and Woody Hayes and I was holding my own I tell ya! One guy walks into the product sections wearing a University of Michigan hat and a BYU t-shirt. He heard us talking football and his shirt reminded us that BYU was going for conference champion ship today. We gave our props to BYU and after a few more minutes I said... "well Cougar fans... I have to get going. But it was nice to meet you all!" A few of them shouted.." Hail! Hail" and I Shouted back "Go Mighty Cougars! Thanks for the pep rally that was awesome!" And off we went our seperate way down our seperate isles. A few of us bumped into each other and chatted a bit more here and there before leaving the store. Even in the checkout isle I got some "high fives" and "good lucks" and "we're going for Michigan!" It was already a good day at that point, win or lose.

I watched the game..... BOY WHAT A GAME! I had to leave about the last 6 minutes but my daughte kept me updated via cell phone as I rolled down the highway towards a gathering in Midvale. Michigan lost to ohio 42-39. 3 points. I can't even be mad. I can't. It was a battle in true Michigan fashion, up til the last second. My chest hurt from the excitment and yelling at the TV and pacing back and forth. AWESOME!

In Midvale I had to stop and get some ice cream for the gathering. I see 3 cops outside arresting someone. One looks over at me and says.... "wow that was a good game, huh? I think Michigan and Ohio need to rematch for the national championship." I laughed and said... " I don't think my heart could take it.... but I'd risk it!" Again, in the store.. up and down the isle singing and skipping along... people smiling at me.."good game" here...."wow what a match..." there. I get to the Cashier and he's dying to know about the game... so I give him the short version of "black chick e-es-pee-in version" as I saw it. Told him I lost and he was like.. ."man I' am soo sick of ohio this- ohio that." I said.. "yeah... and seeing all this U of U red doesn't help does it?" I gave him a wink ... and he laughed at the U of U pin on his shirt. Off I went to my gathering. We did some small talk about the games... most of us were from out of state.. so when I mentioned the BYU Championship game was today too, most of them hadn't realized. I let them know BYU won the Mountain West conference.

Our gathering was more fun than I'd had in a long time. I laughed so hard my head and stomach still hurt! Met some new people who are absolutely funny and incredible. We had WAY too much food! It was absolutely a FABULOUS DAY! It made me forget to worry and stress about what's been eating me up in side all last week and prolly all next week.



I start to head for home after the gathering and notice my car is running on fumes. I pull off at 90th south and head east towards a Maverick filling station. I pull up next to a pump and just on the other side of me is a Green Jeep Liberty. passengers door is cracked up and there's a guy in the back. I pay no attention as I jump out of the car... the guy looks at me and says.... "excuse me.... can you open this back door for me....the people i was riding me left me in the back seat and it's safety locked... I can't open the back door!" I start to laugh and he starts to laugh and I open the door for him. He tells me... "Sorry Michigan lost... it was a good game though!" I agreed. He goes into the store and comes out with 3 ladies the 2 ladies get into the truck and he turns to me. I'm still filling up. He says... to me.. ."you know... Michigan and Ohio need to play that championship game together. They are the best 2 teams in the country... and this BCS crap just messes everything up." And we're off and running into another post pep rally at the gas stations. One of the ladies notices I'm wearing my Michigan shirt. She rolls down her window and says.... "hey.... are you from Michigan?" I said ..."Yeah.. " She says... "HEY ME TOO!, Where are you from?" "Battle Creek" I say. "I'm from Detroit!.. Isn't crazy that we're both living in utah?" I say... "yeah..." and then we're off into nostalgia about home sweet home.





When I finally get home, I'm exhausted. (from the excitement of the game? from all the blood test from earlier in the week? From this freakin disease riddling my body?" Who cares why I was exhausted? I changed into some footie Jammies. Sat back in the recliner, turn the TV to ESPN... and drifted off to sleep as the new's casters aruged about if Michigan should get another chance at Ohio in the National championship bowl.

Michigan may have lost this game but they are always winners to me.



I wonder if Bo Schembeckler and Woody Hayes are snacking on buffalo wings and gatorade at the tailgate party in the parking lot of the big house in the sky.





Hail! Hail!

Wyoming Cowboys Get the Boot!

For the first time in 3 years the Wyoming cowboys gave Colorado state the boot while getting the boot in return. In the 98th battle of The Border War long time rivalry against the two states. Wyoming shut out Colorado 23-0

*if you come across any pics of college football rivalry trophies please contact me. I'm trying to get a collection of as many pics and I can.

It's a great time to be from Michigan! Even though Im not there now I have the same excitement I know my homies do. University of Michigan holds true to their 8-0 football streak, although I must admit the Iowa Hawkeye's had me worried for a bit. The Spartain came back from a 31 point deficit to win over Northwestern. I must has I have a hard time feeling badley for a team that blows a 31 point lead. Even it if is generic trojans. The Detroit Tigers are in the World Serious. Tell ya truth I lost track ot the Tigers years ago. Is Mark "the bird" Fidritch still talking to baseballs on the mound? Even Western Michigan Football team in Kalamazoo (yes there is a placed called Kalamazoo) made ESPN. Couple that with the beautiful fall colors I know are blasting all over the place and the bite in the air at the high school football teams getting ready for homecomings and Halloween. It's all comes back to me, that sites, the smells, the goosebumps from the humid cold. Michigan always had Perfect football weather. I remember a few years ago sleeping on the futon in my daddy's basement up in Layton, Utah. It was the Michigan- Lucky Charm game (notre dam). It was slightly chilly so I had a blanket wrapped around me. I turned on the big screen TV. It was one of those the side of a wall in your basement. And the basement had surround sound and the sound was Clear as a bell. I turned on the game. I remembering closing my eyes, lying back and hearing the roar of the opening kick off. IT WAS JUST LIKE BEING IN THE BIG HOUSE! It was such an exciting rush! I'll never forget that day and what pride I felt being from the state of Maize and Blue Wolverines. Detroit Tigers. Michigan Wolverines. Great Lakes. Snap Crackle and Pop, Tucan Sam and Tony Tiger. Oh yeah, it's like that!

Did You Watch College Football Yesterday???
I SAID DID YOU WATCH COLLEGE FOOTBALL YESTERDAY???
What a hot mess. Yesterday you didnt even have to be a football fan to watch college football. There truly WAS something for everyone.

For Those Following the Rivalry Trophies:

Wisconsin beat Minnesota 48-12 to win the Paul Bunyan Ax!(see above Photo)

For the Heart felt; I lead you to Oklahoma and the story about a Sooner Named Adrian Peterson: Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma Sooner's Heisman hopeful. Junior Running Back I believe he's 4th in the nation. And that's what he does, He runs back and forth, to and fro, North and south while weaving east and west for touch downs. This particular saturday was a special game. Adrian was playing with his father in the stands for the first time in his college career. His father is just out of prision after serving and 8 year term. For what? None of your business, that's besides the point! Oklahoma Sooners having great game, putting the smack down on Iowa State! with about 6 minutes left in the game, Peterson finds himself with the ball running 53 yard and diving into the endzone for the touchdown. While doing so, he broke his collarbone, and is out for at least the regular season.

For you weather Fanatics: A Hurricane hit Miami... in the form of Miami International. What happened? Is Miami International poor sports with a 0-7 record this season ? Have they come close to winning a couple times that when the Miami Hurricanes showed their cocky side... well, their ONLY side was it just too much to take?
Here's the scene:
There was a touchdown for the 'canes and an unsportman like conduct penalty on their side. They kicked for the extra point and then all hell broke lose! A hurricane of players from both sides brawling like the dirty south that they are. There was pushing, kicking, someone removed their head gear and started swinging it at others. The bench was cleared. For the fans, it was AWESOME! For the players, what a disgrace. A disgrace to the title and priviledge of being an Athelete. A disgrace to the sport of college football. A disgrace to your teams and the example you should be to your college. A disgrace to the privelege of being called men. Most of all, A disgrace to your mama! Even in sport a man knows when to hold his composure and conduct himself in a gentlemanly manner. Boys, go to your rooms until you can play nice! Fans, wow, was that a brawl of brawls or what? *wink*

For those holding their breath: I take you to those candy corn looking uniforms called the USC Trojans. My sister said at one time while she was half a sleep and glanced at the tv with them playing: "they look like halloween Candy corn running around the field. (haha that still cracks me up!)
I don't know who said it but they really ARE the most unimpressive undefeated team right now. And they just won that prized spot of being number 2 in the country. In other words, LIKE O.J SIMPSON THEY GOT LUCKY, and should still be scurred!
This weekend they played The Sundevils of Arizona.
The score was in their favor 21-7 going into the half. But they were up 21-0 the first 20 minutes into the game.By the end of the third and most of the 4th, the Sundevils came back with a burning vengence evening things up 21-21. The last 5 min or so USC with the ball, ate up the clock to scored the winning touchdown. Save their first game, the others have been ugly wins. This win and the Gators loss brings them officially to the 2nd place rating. However, they ought not to be too happy, they should look at their history. No, not their University history, the History of the #2 spot this season. Is it just a matter of time befor they get picked off too?

For the Vengance type: Let me give you a dog eat dog invironment. A week ago Auburn was #2. They got picked off in an Upset by LSU which nocked them out of that # 2 spot giving it to the Florida Gators. Auburn returned the Favor by picking off Florida at the #2 spot this week, giving it USC.
Auburn, Auburn, Auburn! In the beginning it was all Gator. 17-11 at the half. When the clock started back up at the top of the 2nd half, Auburn put the burn on the Gators and their perfect season. I believe they said the coach lashed them in the locker room calling them a buncha girls and questioning their manhood. Whatever it was, it was enough for the Tigers to come out swinging and they dominated with 16 points (the last touchdown was in play before the time ran out and scored after time ran out) holding Florida scoreless in the last half. Auburn losing to LSU last week gave the Gaters that # 2 spot. Auburn decided to come in person and taketh away on their terms: If we can't have it, you can't either. Go ahead, War Eagles, go ahead!

For The Underdog: No need to fear... Underdog is here!
I must admit I got a little teary eyed about this game. The press stated it best: " Indiana waited nearly two decades to party like this."
Leaving # 15 Iowa wiping the dust from their Hawkeyes! Indiana has had some struggles the last season with players getting suspended and coaches having brain surgery alla that kind of stuff. Although they upset the Fighting Illini Homecoming (pronounced Ill -eye-nye) last week with a 34-32 victory. Perhaps it's a new beginning for the Hoosiers. The jubilation after the game was such that if you were watching, even one small portion of it, your heart for a split second, was hoosier. Fans Screaming, Slapping high fives with the players, the band, and each other. Atheletes gathered in the pack, helmets held high in good voice singing the fight song. To be victorious in this a manor, there's nothing like it! And if you can put behind you the fact that it took almost quarter of a Century to get there, All the better! Props to Indiana. Hoosier Daddy?!

For those who HAIL TO THE VICTORS: I didnt' get to see my wolverines win. We trotted down to Happy Valley. No, not the mormon happy valley that y'all call Provo, Utah. The REAL Happy Valley, home of the Nittany Lions. Let me tell y'all something before I get started. I LOVE JOPA! LOVE HIM! With Manningham out michigan would be looking for the team to step up and they did. However the wolverines, took out two of Jopa's quarterbacks, one to a concussion. To Jopa's credit the Nittany Lions held Michigan 7 points in the last half of the game. Final Score Michigan 17-Penn St 10.
**Side note.... Penne, the Wolverine QB was on his home turf tonight of Penn St. Apparently he had a verbal committment to Penn St just out of High School and decided to go with the better of the 2 teams. Sorry JOPA,but, you're still THE MAN in my book!

WHAT A BONEHEAD!

A few weeks ago I was watching my Michigan Wolverines from Ann Arbor play the leprechaun team from South Bend Indiana. As my team was well ahead going just about 1/2 way through the 2nd quarter, I decided I would take a little nap. Knowing myself I figured I would wake up right about time to see my wolverines finish devouring their bowl of lucky charms.
I sat back in my easy chair recliner and started to drift off into what I could feel was going to be a fabulous nap. I hit that stage where you're deep in relaxation but can faintly hear what's going on around you. Next thing you know I hear the leprechaun fight song. I snap awake with feelings of piss-ocity. I was slightly miffed. Hearing that song can only mean one thing: Touch down for the leprechauns. Except it wasn't the touchdown that miffed me. Wolverines were far enough ahead that we had this game in the bag anyway before it was even half time.
Now on football saturdays you'll find me on the phone alot with my brother and sister. We discuss, rant, rave and do our armchair coaching on the cellulars.
Flashback to high school: My high school team was called the Bearcats and our colors were blue and gold. This prolly explains my love for the U of M maize and blue. Well and the wolverines are just too cool. I mean dig that flashy helmet at the top of the page! Our fight song goes to the tune of "On Wisconsin" Our arch enemy and cross time rivals were the Spartans. Their colors are purple and white and their fight song is that of "the fighting irish march." It gets better. My beloved grandmother was a bearcat! Her eldest son, my dad, was a spartan. (po thang) He would go around singing that song in a house full of bearcats so we knew the words and knew them well. Check this...the last game of the season, when the bearcats would play the spartans, my ghetto daddy would wear his purple and white and cheer for his alma mater while sitting in the blue and gold seats in support of his sons. SHAMELESS!
Back to that song. To me that song represents everything I loath about the high school rivals. They were the snotty rich kids and everytime they we played them there were police escorts, extra security, cans and bottles being thrown at the buses, name calling.... everything you need to make for a good Friday night high school football game. I can remember being in the grocery store the year they made state playoff's and one of our guys going up to one of their guys saying.. "we want you to know that the Bearcats are routing for you." To which the Spartan said..."we dont need your freakin support!" So that song reminds me of that day and how shallow our cross town rivals really were.

Anyway, so I snap out of my nap upon hearing that song and I call my brothers who was also watching the game. Now my brother was a football star in high school. He played offense and defense and was scouted out by serveal of the big colleges. He had a chance at a good football career, but made different life choices. Anyway, I call my brother and say..."man, I was drifting off soo good into la la land until i heard that fight song. I CAN'T STAND THAT SONG!"
And then he says... "I can't stand that song either...and i dont even know why!" Now this took me by suprize. I couldn't tell if he was just kidding. Then he says.. "I never did like Notre Dame's fight song it just always rubbed me the wrong way.." So I say... "well, because it was Lakeview Spartans fight song and everytime we heard it it meant the rivals scored points." He said..."that's not the spartan fight song.." I started to laugh cuz he just don't know. Then I said...."ask your sister..." my sister was in the room with him... He says to her..." hey, what's the Lakeview spartan fight song?" She begins to sing their fight song lyrics to the tune of the leprechaun fight song. And then my brother says... "OH SNAP! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I never paid attention to their song, I just went in and played my games." I fell out laughing. 23 years after high school he figures it out. WHAT A BONEHEAD!!!!
Wait there's more!
My dad is Michigan State Spartan fan. He was a spartan as a kid and will die a spartan fan. I think my sister likes them too. My brother and I are Univeristy of Michigan Wolverines fans. We were blue and gold as kids and will die Blue and Gold fans. Today, the Spartans and the Wolverines played for the Paul Bunyon Trophy (see previous blog about college rivalry trophy's) Guess who won?
And the rivalry lives on....!

****PROPS TO THE BYU COUGARS! I dont even care too much for the cougars but I promised I'd be supportive this year. I even won Tickets to today's game. They beat SDSU 47-17. Wasssup wit dat????? Rah Rah Rah *cough... cough... cough...!* (sorry, must be the wolverine in me choking on that fight song.... but hey I tried)

I Loves me some College football, YES I DO!

Saturdays in the fall..... ESPN. ESPN2, Fox Sports, CNN sports, play of the game, hard hits, instant replays all night long til I fall asleep in the big chair and wake up 3am the next morning with a freakin neck ache. All of that, I LUV IT.
Recently my team... Michigan Wolverines.... (maize and blue,baby!) Played Minnesota for the "little brown Jug." They've been playing for this thing since 1903. The story behind it?

Here's the Jist of the story. (although the links below have the real story)
In 1903 Michigan Wolverines travel to Minnesota to play the Golden Gophers. After a Game the coach at the time, Fielding Yost, left their little brown water jug. He contacts Minnesota and says... "Hey, send us back our water jug....!" Minnesota says...."no way, man, you want it back, you have to win it back!"... and they been playing for it back and forth ever since. Some of these rivalries and trophy's are HUNDREDS of years old. Now at first, this whole little scenario was rediculous to me:

Minnesota says.... "come win it back" Which of course, we do. For mine, that should have been the end of it. But it turns out, if Minnesota wins... the Jug goes back to Minnesota. And they have been doing this back and forth thing ever since. In a logical world, You win back your stuff, end of story. What would compels you to hand it over again and again after that first exchange? There ain't no winning back your own stuff over and over again for 100 years. AND Minnesota has the nerve to have their Colors and Letter on 1/2 of the jug. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT???
Perhaps Im ghetto. It's my jug, I left it, I won it back. THE END.

Awwwww but what fun would that be, right? RIGHT! Something funny, the current minnesota coach has been coaching their for over 10 years. They Won my jug on my turf last year. It was the first time in his minnesota coaching career he had seen the thing. (michigan had it for the last 16 years, lost it last year, and took it back this year) . Hell even I've seen it before now! Poor guy prolly thought it was some mythical goblet made up by the Notre Dame Leprechaun or something.

K, so anyway.... i got to thinkin of all these rivalries and what other kind Junk stuff they're trying to win back. I tell you it's the most AWESOME craziness I've ever experienced. This trophy stuff is SERIOUS business. The stakes are: a keg of nails, Slap of bacon, Old war canoe, Spittoon, oaken bucket, paint bucket, dutchman shoes, cannons, trophies, Paul Bunyons ax, and so on. AWESOME! Not only do I love me some college football, Im all for ghetto supa star prizes you win on the backside. That just makes college football even better. I'm included a link to where you can find some of the trophies and the history behind them and the rivalries. Im tellin ya, ya gotta love it even more.

Im making a blue and old t-shirt that says..... 'Hey! Yost wants his Jug back'. I'll sell them long with my BYU t-shirts.

Any takers???

http://www.umich.edu/news/MT/03/Fal03/jug.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Brown_Jug_(football)

http://www.1122productions.com/rivalries/