[Ed: This is an update on last night’s post on the 1997 Championship Ring that has appeared on eBay. The seller contacted me and revealed the name of the original owner. This isn’t an attempt to embarrass anyone, answer some questions about how this important item in Michigan history ended up on the open market.] The seller contacted me back, I’ve got the player’s name. Once again, I don’t know the circumstances or details of how this ended up on eBay and I don’t want to get into all that. The seller claims the ring belonged to Demetrius Smith, a fullback on Coach Carr’s great team. Smith was kicked off the team in the summer of 1999. I don’t remember the circumstances around all of this, I’m digging a little bit, but here’s a follow-up story in the Michigan Daily from July 1999 after Smith was kicked off the team for alleged involvement in an embezzlement ring at a nearby Big-K. According to the Daily piece Smith was not charged with anything: On June 23, allegations of a six-person embezzlement ring from an Ypsilanti K-mart surfaced. Smith’s name was included – as well as two other Michigan football players – and the story quickly became national news. Five days later, Diane Smith [Demetrius’ mother] received a phone call from Debord.…
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Ricky Leach!
From the MLive summary of the 2008 Michigan Football Bust, here’s former dual threat quarterback Rick Leach who was at the bust representing the 30th anniversary of the 1978 team: “I’ll make you a promise before I go,” he said. “My promise to you is, I know that day’s coming. Maybe you had your fun and got your pound of flesh out of Michigan after 33 years. I don’t care if it’s Mark Dantonio, Charlie Weis or – you better believe it – Jim Tressel. Your freakin’ day is coming.” Then Rodriguez added this gem: “Rick Leach, you’ve been a true friend,” Rodriguez said. “I know there’s media here, so some things I would like to say maybe I shouldn’t. But all the things you said Rick Leach, amen.” Related: Leachapalooza: The Best of Rick Leach on WTKA 12-09
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1997 Michigan National Championship Ring – For Sale
This site has profiled a few different Michigan championship rings that have ended up on eBay. Long time readers may recall: 1986 Rose Bowl Ring: This prompted a few follow-up posts, the first speculating on the original owner and then another, after a teammate confirmed my sleuthing. 1977 Championship Ring: Not as pretty as the others, but painful to see. 1980 Rose Bowl ring: Probably the wildest story, a ring alleged to a salesman sample bearing the name ‘McCartney’ on the side prompts a note from former Michigan and Colorado coach Bill McCartney’s wife Lyndi, asking that the ring be returned to her husband. Funny, when I was posting about these other rings it crossed my mind that this day could happen but hoped it never would. It did: Ah yes, the 1998 Rose Bowl, what a week, what a game. [Sidenote: I arrived in Los Angeles a couple of days before the game. I saw Morris Day and the Time at the House of Blues on 12/30, then I joined Run DMC at the Viper Room to ring in the New Year. I still have the T-shirt from the show, it was incredible]. As with the 1986 ring, the seller has offered a clue as to the original owner, but not much. From the auction description: “..this is a…
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Plaxico Ditty
The Plexico jokes and talk are getting tired but had to pass this along. In the final segment of Jim Rome today, a text’er sent this over: “Why’s everyone coming down on me? I just shot the man who shot me. Sincerely, Plaxcio.”
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Ann Arbor Adopt-a-Family program (updates!)
Update 12/4: I spoke to Jamie Adkins at the A2 police department this morning, the contact for the program. Not a surprise, but she told me that this year they’ve got the largest number of families in need. They are very flexible on how you can give. If you are interested see the details below or email Jamie Adkins at jdkins@a2gov.org. Original Post (with a few updates): Looking for a way to give back the holiday season? Sam Webb of WTKA 1050AM had on former professional golfer Debbie Williams-Hoak, one of the founders of the Ann Arbor Adopt-a-Family Program. She started this along with the Ann Arbor Police Department, and she notes that the athletic department is heavily involved. Here’s the audio of her visit to the studio, check the audio here. It’s a great way to help a local family. More importantly, here’s the details as I gathered them (I don’t think they have a website): You don’t need to adopt a whole family. They accept straight donations and gifts. You can mail checks to: Ann Arbor Police Dept 100 North Fifth Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48104 attn: Adopt a Family/Jamie Adkins If you want to donate a toy or want general information, contact Jamie Adkins at the Ann Arbor police department at 734-994-2858 or at jdkins@a2gov.org unless you’re…
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What Happened to MSU hockey fans?
Driving in the Lansing area this morning I tuned into Tim Staudt’s show on 730AM WVFN, the sports radio show in that area. Near the end of the 9-to-noon Staudt on Sports show, they were giving away tickets to tonights Michigan State vs. North Carolina game at Ford Field, and were remarking about how many tickets were still available for the game. I’m watching the game right now and there’s no doubt many seats went unsold. But then he mentioned that the station had “volumes” of tickets available for Saturday’s Michigan-Michigan State hockey game at Munn Ice Arena, and how times had changed. I was floored. I’d heard things were bad and had a few commenters on this site describe the Spartan home ice as “the library” and the “Munnsoleum“. I grew up in the East Lansing area. During the mid-80s my dad had Michigan State hockey tickets at Munn and I joined him to many games. I loved it. The Spartans led by Ron Mason had great teams and the place was electric. In my memory at least, the atmosphere was in the conversation with Yost. The student section was hyped up and dropped clever chants. According to the Wikipedia page, Munn was sold out for 323 games from 1985 to 2004. I know there were a few down…
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Red Hot Poker in your Eye
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Coaching Legends in Atlantic City (1957)
This edition of eBay Watch takes a look at a special pint glass. Like I’ve found with many of these memorabilia auctions the description doesn’t quite make sense and certainly doesn’t do the item justice: Up for bid we are listing 9 vintage football glasses all in mint condition. This one is Herbert ” Fritz ” Crisler from the University of Michigan 1957. The top of the glass reads Atlantic City National Football Clinic. The back lists the Clinic staff members. It measures 5-3/4″ tall. Great piece for the collector. Paypal preferred or money order only. Yes, it’s an old pint glass for a football clinic with famous Michigan coach and athletic director Fritz Crisler on it. That got my attention. But on the back of the glass it lists the rest of the staff for the event and it’s remarkable. Here’s a photo of the piece which recently sold on eBay for $15: Check out some of the legends that attended the conference in the city where the sand turns to gold from March 11-14, 1957: The top of the list of coaches is the great Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, who at the time was still the head man at Texas A&M. 1957 was his final season for the Aggies as his “momma called” him back to Alabama where he…
