(HT: mgoblog boardist cltjr) Vice President Joe Biden presided over the memorial service for the 29 miners killed in the April 5th explosion at the West Virginia Upper Big Branch Mine.  A couple minutes into his seven minute speech, the VP talked about the lives of the men outside of work, here’s the audio from a couple minutes into the speech: [display_podcast] Quote: “And though this work defined them, it did not describe them.  As Nick Rahall said they were fathers, grandfathers, sons, nephews, husbands and fiancés.   They loved hunting, fishing, riding horses and four wheelers.  They hated the way coach Rodriguez left West Virginia for Michigan [applause/cheers/whistles]..” I read some of the comments ripping on Biden on mgoblog but I think they either missed the full quote or the point here.  The fact is that he was describing the passion of these men and Mountaineer football was a big part of that.  Do any of you doubt that they did hate the way Rodriguez left? If Biden talked to the wives and family of these fallen men I’m guessing more than one brought it up & note the WV sticker on the helmet in the photo above.   Certainly in the audience were (primarily) friends and family and you heard how they reacted to the Rodriguez comment. I don’t have…

Not cool man!  Not.  Cool. According to AnnArbor.com, 95 of parking tickets dished out during last Saturday’s Spring game were voided after fans went berserk.   There are special rules enforced on home game Saturdays each fall and cops applied this policy last weekend.  Via Ryan Stanton’s piece on A2.com: Several cars parked on the side streets near Michigan Stadium were ticketed for being in areas where parking is prohibited on game days. Whether the spring game was considered a football game was up for debate, and city officials agreed after some protest that the city didn’t make clear how it would enforce parking this past Saturday, [city administrator Roger] Fraser said. The city said it’s “likely” to enforce the gameday rules next Spring game and will work to communicate the policy a little better.   Based on this comment from supervisor Mike Rankin, they’ve got some work to do: …it’s important to enforce no-parking restrictions on side streets around Allmendinger Park because it’s a residential area, and problems have occurred in the past due to the size of the crowd. Also, team buses need to get through the area. Team buses for the Spring Game?  Umm, maybe he means the tailgate buses?: Often the comments on the sports posts on A2.com are horrible (Rich Rod sucks! /  You’re no fan!)  but…

On the eve of the 2010 Griese-Hutchinson-Woodson golf outing to benefit the new Mott Children’s hospital, on May 14 WTKA 1050AM will be bringing an unbelievable line-up in studio to specifically benefit the Charles Woodson Clinical Research Fund. Feast your eyes: 7 – 9 am – Lloyd Carr and Charles Woodson 9 – 10 am – Jerry Hanlon 10 – 11 am – Steve Hutchinson 11 am – Noon – Gary Moeller Noon – 1 pm – Brian Griese 1 – 2 pm – Jake Long 2 – 3 pm – Jeff Backus 3 – 4 pm – Jerame Tuman and Aaron Shea 4 – 5 pm – Mike Hart, Ron Bellamy and Drew Henson 5 – 6 pm – David and Jan Brandon and Rich Rodriguez All contributions provided through the Radio-a-thon will benefit the Charles Woodson Clinical Research Fund. This fund aims to support and encourage ground-breaking innovations for new pediatric treatments and is critical to moving these initiatives from brilliant idea to viable therapies. Use our online form to make a donation. Mark your calendars.  For those out of town, you can pick up the live stream on WTKA.com. A few more details here on the ‘Month of Mott’ campaign.

Same yellow envelope, same dot matrix printed ticket summary, new season.  The 2010 season ticket renewals hit mailboxes today.   Notes: Price is $375/seat.  Of course the required donations are handled through the Victors Club priority points program and outside of this. This is of course the first season with the boxes and the club level seating.  You have to wonder how many folks who moved to the premium seating will reject their regular seats.  I don’t think there will be much movement but we’ll see. Ticket holders are also able to purchase additional seats to the 9/18 UMass and 9/25 Bowling Green games for $50/each, and to Indiana ($50) and Purdue ($46) road games. Ticket holders are able to add Big Chill tickets for $15/each to renewal order.