Another incredible JDRF fundraiser concluded Monday evening at Franklin Hills CC.   I’m still waiting on the final numbers, but they raised a bunch of money for Type 1 diabetes research.   Some of the notables on hand: Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz, who kicked off the outing with a passionate speech about JDRF along with a few positive words about his Lions.   Word of advice: don’t cross this guy.  He looks like an MMA fighter and he’s all business. Here’s Schwartz delivering the opening remarks (don’t cross him!): Channel 7 sports director Don Shane, served for the second year in a row as master of ceremonies of the dinner afterwards and can really swing the golf club, FWIW.  Here’s Shane mastering the dinner ceremony: Former Michigan football quarterback and db Rich Hewlett, probably best remembered for getting the starting nod against Ohio State in 1979.  Hewlett held his own golf outing benefitting JDRF last year at the U-M Blue course, attended by Cathy Schembechler and Lloyd Carr. You can learn more about JDRF and Type 1 diabetes here. Thanks for all the readers who support this site and its sponsors.

For curious minds.  The auctions highlighted last week on this site drew quite a few serious bids.  The 1910s era helmet closed with a winning bid of $1,225.00 while the uniform including a jersey, belt, boots and pants fetched a whopping $3,716.00. Let’s hope they found a good home, maybe back within the Michigan athletic department?

Join MVictors.com at the 2009 JDRF Fore the Kids Golf Classic which returns to Franklin Hills Country Club on tomorrow, Monday, June 22. Scheduled to appear, Channel 7 Sports Director Don Shane and Detroit Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz (left)! For more on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, click here.  For information about the Detroit chapter of JDRF and how to support this great cause, click here Here’s the schedule for tomorrow: Here’s more about JDRF: The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide.  The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.   Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.3 billion to diabetes research, including more than $156 million in FY2008. More than 85 percent of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education. In FY2008, the Foundation funded more than 1,000 centers, grants, and fellowships in 22 countries, including nearly 40 human clinical trials. For more on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, click here.  For information about the Detroit chapter of JDRF, click here.

Former WDFN mainstay Mike Stone joined Mitch Albom on WJR to promote his new book, ‘The Great Book of Detroit Sports Lists’. . Stoney talked about the Red Wings, Lions, Tigers and of course a little about the new book.  He also mentioned he has no plans or offers to return to the air be is clearly still interested.  In the meantime, he’s hanging out, doing his show on Channel 7 and following Bruce around.  (That’s good livin’). Mitch didn’t disappoint, delivering another demonstration of how he’s completely out of touch, saying of the Lions first round draft selection, “since they picked Stafford, there has been universal approval of that pick.” This wasn’t said in jest. Of course he’s right if by “universal approval” he means complete outrage by the overwhelming majority of the fanbase. Here’s the full audio of the interview. [display_podcast] Related: “Sweeping Cuts” at WDFN, Stoney & Wojo Gone! The Great Book of Detroit Sports Lists from Amazon.com

Assuming this is authentic, and it appears so, this is probably the most valuable piece of Michigan football memorabilia that I’ve seen since starting the eBay Watch series a few years ago.  Try this on for size–Pieces of a Michigan football uniform the seller claims date to 1912 and 1913: And why not round it out with a helmet from the period, in a separate auction by the same seller: There have been a couple instances of vintage jerseys showing up for auction, you might recall this beauty dating to 1931 (left – #32) and earlier, another from 1930 (right – #28): I’ve never seen anything like this.  My birthday is this week and yes, it’s also Father’s Day [which combined make for a dad version of the ol’ kid-born-on-Christmas nightmare scenario].  Some people are amazed that I don’t actually collect this stuff although occasionally I grab some unique, lower priced items.   This is an exception—I want it but I’m not sure how to explain to “the boss” why I spent thousands on this “costume”.  Then there’s the question of what I would do with it [other than trying to squeeze into it and crush dropkicks in my backyard]. Here’s more details on the jersey from the auction: The jersey is a heavy knit wool (similar to sweater material).  It…

"No women allowed?  Offensive.  Choice of hat?  Very Offensive. [photos: Jay Cassidy, Daily] Thanks to Greg K. for passing this along.  Check out this brief essay from former Michigan Daily Photographer Sara Krulwich published recently on a New York Times photographer blog.   The intro: Fall meant football at the University of Michigan, but the photo department at The Michigan Daily, where I worked as its first woman photographer, was given only four press passes. As a freshman, I was not entitled to one. Seniority was not the only problem. In 1968, the passes all said, “No women, children or dogs allowed on the field.” This was no joke. There were no women in the marching band; no women cheerleaders; no women security guards. A year later, I earned one of the coveted passes. The rules had loosened a bit. The new passes said, “No women or children allowed on the field.” Dogs were now allowed. It’s definitely worth a read.  Included is a letter of apology from then SID Will Perry which starts out, “I guess the generation gap and 12 years of sportswriting with only men around have begun to set in…”

Check out this pin apparently dating back to the inaugural Rose Bowl held in Pasadena.   If truly dated to this period and this game, the souvenir will likely attract a few bidders: The face of the badge certainly looks dated, with an older style block M and the rounder pigskin.  The ‘rah-rah-rah’ sentiment is found on other items from the period but unfortunately, there’s no mention of Rose Bowl, Tournament of Roses, or Pasadena so all we’ve got is the seller’s claim: It was worn that day by a young Michigan student from Ann Arbor, Wilfred B. Shaw. Not only did he experience one of the greatest days in Wolverine Sports History but he went on to serve his alma mater as General Secretary of the Michigan Alumni Association! The pin was acquired from hobby legend Frank Nagy nearly 40 years ago. Shaw also wrote a few books in the day, including a few collections of Michigan history.  His book, ‘The University of Michigan’ even contains a brief mention of the Rose Bowl game: This game was special for many reasons.  For starters, as it was the inaugural ‘Tournament of Roses’ football game, this was the start of the bowl tradition we know today.  Maybe most important to Michigan fans, it was this day during Fielding Yost’s first season at…