Michigan AP writer Larry Lage joined Ben Holden on the Big Show this afternoon.  As the guy that covers all the major sporting events held in the area, Lage always shares some interesting takes.   I picked up the audio midway through: He discussed the fates of fellow Spartans Charles Rogers and Plaxico Burress.   Lage knew these gents pretty well from his days at the State News. Lage commented on Rich Rodriguez’s desire to improve the atmosphere in Michigan Stadium. He just finished a feature on Lions coach, who definitely is an interesting cat.  I met him earlier this year and he scared the bejesus out of me.   I’m less scared after seeing the photo Lage used in the piece: Interesting, Lage is “not buying” that Michigan scheduled UConn in 2010 for sure, he’s waiting for official word from Michigan (he added a nice jab at the journalism standards of Rivals.com).  He’s a local guy and well-connected obviously, could there be some question whether this is actually happening? Here’s the audio: [display_podcast] .

Check out what Phil Callihan at umgoblog.com noted has been found in a junkyard in suburban Detroit: It’s winged ice cream truck emblazoned with autographs from a bunch of Michigan legends.  Even if the thing couldn’t run it had to be worth something.  How did it end up in the junkyard?  More photos here. HT: Michigan Sports Center

Via a tweet from Michigan associate athletic director Bruce Madej, the Sporting News ran down their top coaches of all-time in any sport.   Not represented?  Fielding Yost.  What a crock. The list was selected by a panel of Hall of Famers, coaches, and experts in various sports.   Several college football coaches, including Bo and Amos Alonzo Stagg, one of Yost’s contemporaries, made the cut: So I hate these off-season lists and the debate that ensues, but this one is at least a little interesting by introducing multiple sports.  Yost should clearly be there over most of these guys (including Bo, sorry!).  No, I’m not giving these hall of famers the satisfaction of creating a matrix comparing each of these guys (maybe next June) and proving that Yost belongs here.

Ah yes, a great day when that yellow envelope arrives…I received my 2009 football season tickets today.  The artwork is holding to the ‘All In For Michigan” theme, staying away from game action in favor of sights/sounds and the fans.  Here’s how they look: The run down: Western Michigan – A photo of Rich Rod, starting down the sideline looking less than thrilled.  Also appears to be fixing his belt or zipping up his brawn. Notre Dame – A Maize out (hard to ignore as the ticket was dipped in a maize glaze).  To the chagrin of those who hate the tradition key-rattling during big plays, it appears we’ve got a photo of such an instance here. Eastern Michigan – The scene after the Spring Game this year when Rich Rod led the team in The Victors at midfield. Indiana – Just the team running under the Go Blue banner. Delaware State – A line of female cheerleaders including major biochemistry (I think), although the shot is from behind with maize pom-poms covering their keisters. Penn State – Another Maize Out, this time with a crowd shot executing a maize out (or as close as M fans come to executing these ‘outs’). Purdue – Very nice.  The scene of the Michigan drum major leaping into formation after the band has…

I saw this first via a tweet from ESPN’s Pat Forde.  Apparently Rich Rod chatted it up with the multi-talented actor Jamie Foxx up at Gibson’s in Chicago last night.  New AnnArbor.com writer Michael Rothstein got some more details on the encounter: “He’s a great guy,” Rodriguez said Tuesday morning. “He’s obviously extremely talented. I’ve seen some of his work ethic and he’s one of the most talented entertainers in the country. So, it was neat. “…Hopefully, we can get up to a ball game. I’d love to see him again.” Rodriguez said Foxx’s father was a football coach and Foxx, who was born Eric Bishop, played quarterback for Terrell High School in Texas. The pair talked for almost an hour. All this brought up memories of when Russell Crowe came to Ann Arbor a few years back to give his buddy Lloyd Carr a lift [some context on this].  This exclusive photo from MVictors actually made it all the way to Hollywood gossip site PerezHilton.com thanks to two meddling gossip hounds at my house after the game: [as a sidenote: I love that the pointless back and forth between rival schools that dominates the comments of ESPN/Freep/Detnews also plays out on a Hollywood gossip site.] Anyway, the celebrity citing evoked a great story from Mesko on when Crowe visited:…

I try to keep tabs on ticket prices for the upcoming season especially for the big games. According to my sources at Stubhub.com, early this afternoon the ducats for the Wolverines’ September 12 game against Notre Dame spiked: Any thoughts on what happened? (HT: A tweet from UM Hoops) In unrelated news, former Lion GM Matt Millen gave the thumbs up to Coach Rodriguez and in Vegas, the 2009 Michigan’s over/under win total plummeted to 4.5 and ten people canceled their reservations for big house luxury suites. [poll id=32]

I believe this will conclude what’s become Michigan vs. Army at Yankee stadium week on MVictors, but had to throw this up.  Perhaps inspired by my posts on these games, a local seller has tossed up this beauty of a program up on eBay and is asking a measly 45 bucks (or best offer).  It’s the program from the 1945 game in New York and it’s got to be pretty rare.  Collectors (I’m am not) might want to grab this one.  Unfortunately Michigan was smoked in each of these games so that might keep U-M memorabilia hounds away. For more on the 1945 and 1950 battles againsts the Cadets at Yankee Stadium, click here.  View the auction of the program here.