Glad to here that former Fab Fiver and current NBA analyst Jalen Rose will be honored later this month during the Illinois game. I’d love to make it out there on February 23 to see the ceremony, which is focusing on celebrating Rose’s charity work through his Jalen Rose Foundation which has given over $1M to Detroit area children. Major props to Jalen for all of this. He’s true role model for the kids and maybe more importantly, for the Detroit area athletes. Although his astranged father played in the NBA Jalen grew up in humble surroundings in the city. My buddy Rosey tells a great story from a class he had at Michigan with Jalen. When the class was asked to give their TV show, Jalen offered his was “Good Times, because I lived it.” For the university to look past the Ed Martin crap to honor him is a good move. While Jalen was never directly included in the names of players to which Martin gave money I believe he’s made it clear that folks like Martin helped him out from time to time when he was growing up.
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Oxford Blues: Michigan takes 3
A great weekend for Michigan ended tonight in a 5-5 tie against the #1 Miami Ohio RedHawks. Unfortunately the Blue icers squandered a two goal lead in the third but have to be happy with the net result of the road series. And what a great game; would have been incredible to see it decided in a shoot out. The fourth Miami goal was a bit of a fluke: off the boards and off the back of the net. Sauer was turned around and it landed right on a Miami stick. The wood these guys get on the puck is unreal. They were firing lasers all night definitely check out the highlights if you missed it. UPDATE I: 3 points, not 4 like the previous title said…right. That’s what you get when you have a football guy talk hockey. Maybe next year they’ll have shoot-outs and a point for the overtime loss, 3 for a win. UPDATE II: Whoa, highlights of a regular season CCHA game made it onto ESPN’s SportsCenter! And here’s the recap from CSTV. They’ll probably post highlights soon. And Antoine Pitts posted post game interviews here as part of his recap.
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Decision ’08: Vote Porter for Hobey Baker
At the suggestion of MVictors reader Duffy, here’s the link to where you can put in a fan vote for Kevin Porter for the 2008 Hobey Baker award. Vote early and often! Here’s a pprofile on Porter from mgoblue.com.
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4-0 Michigan at 14:46 of the First Period!
Check out the live blog by Antoine Pitts on MLive right now, live from Oxford as the #2 Wolverines battle shell-shocked #1 Miami. Goals by Max Pacioretty, Aaron Palushaj (who has 3 points), Kevin Porter, and Louie Caporusso in a span of five minutes. Per Pitts, the students waited out all night to get into this one: Miami students, who get into the games for free, have been lined up all day. Some spent Thursday night in tents. They were let into the arena finally at about 6:45 p.m. Update: Michigan wins 4-2. Red Hawks tally two third period goals to make it interesting and get some momentum going into tomorrow. Great league win for the Blue.
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Snake Rod? Don’t think so
So Purdue Coach Joe Tiller is mad at the new kid on the block. You’ve certainly heard his quote directed toward Rodriguez after losing verbal commit Roy Roundtree: “If we had an early signing date, you wouldn’t have another outfit with a guy in a wizard hat selling snake oil get a guy at the last minute, but that’s what happened,” Tiller said. So many things bug me about this, some already said some not. First off, the suggestion that Coach Rodriguez is selling “snake oil” implies a RR’s master salesman selling a lie. Yes, he’s selling fantasies like Rose Bowls, the Rivalry, the NFL and Heisman trophies. Where does Rodriguez come up with this stuff? Tiller is selling the Old Oaken Bucket, giant percussion instruments and the Motor City Bowl. Second, it sure must have been some charming looking Wizard hat to conjure up that spell he put on the naive recruit. Rodriguez actively recruited for Michigan for THREE WEEKS…must have been some slick moves involved to change the mind of a verbal commit. Perhaps it had something to do with a receiver wanting to play in the Big Ten in a spread offense like Purdue’s, only better? For Tiller to put this on Rodriguez is weak. A charming way to welcome a new colleague in the league. Not…
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Recruit Brandon Smith wants 4 Buckeye scalps
WTKA and Sam Webb hosted their fifth annual Signing Day Extravaganza yesterday afternoon. They interviewed several players and coaches including Coach Rod. I caught some of the show on my 3 hour drive home from Lansing. My new hero? New Jersey recruit and now permanent Michigan Man Brandon Smith. During Webb’s interview Brandon Smith made four unsolicited references to beating Ohio State. The cocky multi-skilled Smith capped it off when he mentioned that a defining moment in his career would be his 4 wins over Ohio State! It was so great – I’ll look for audio but it was a beauty. He also is friends with Sam McGuffie and told everyone not to worry, that Sam would come around. Sure enough. Update: Second best thing that happened yesterday, Will Ferrell live at the Breslin Center on MSU’s campus. As Anchorman character Ron Burgundy, he did an interview with Tom Izzo and asked the Spartan coach if he was a legal dwarf.
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Paper: Pryor Not Announcing Today; Oregon Out
Just found this from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Jeannette quarterback Terrelle Pryor said late Tuesday night that he changed his mind and is not planning to sign a national letter of intent today. “I’m 100 percent sure I’m not signing,” Pryor said. “It’s a tough decision and I’m still trying to decide between Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.” Pryor did say he has eliminated Oregon and told the Oregon coaches the school was too far from home. Pryor said he’ll probably make a visit to Penn State. It goes on to say Pryor will still meet with the media; just not make a decision.
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Hilarious
Left me rolling on the floor – from mgoblog today [full post]: — ——————————————————— I present this thing from the CBS Sportsline message boards: I just flew back from Pittsburg and guess who sat nect to me on the flight. Jerome Bettis. I sat and talked football with him for about 2 hours. Guess what he told me. Terrell Pryor is going to Michigan. Was never a doubt in his mind after the official visit. This was passed onto him from Charlie Batch who he had just been out with the night prior to his flight with me. As a Buckeye fan I’m crushed, and don’t want to believe it. It even took away from the fact that I was sitting next to an NFL future HOF player and talking with him. I can furnish a photo upon request of myself and “The Bus” if needed. I hate when Darth Rodruigez and the evil empire wins. The horrible grammar and spelling immediately raises suspicions until “As a Buckeye fan” explains them away. ———————————————————– Of course all you recruitniks are less concerned with Brian’s towel snap at the Buckeye than the validity of the story. So…read more.