My vote: the OTHER Big Chill at the Big House
We've been collecting unheralded diaries for several weeks. Let's herald them.
[TRUMPETS OF HERALDRY: bah dah dah dah dah dit daaaaaaaah!]
Michael Scarn asks the big question: if college sports are corrupt and we hate the guys who are running them, do we continue to go? I say go, and grumble. My thing about my dad was 5% inspired by this diary, because my response to it that I didn't write had about the same point: the complaints are valid but they're not the whole thing or even most of the thing. Most of the thing is kids from your college are playing on recently reattached ACLs and you're on a bench next to someone who will never forget being next to you on that bench on that day.
Money talks but it's not the only thing that does so. Write emails. Call into WTKA. Attach a strongly worded letter with your check explaining this is the last one they'll get. No matter how unreasonable they seem, keep giving them every chance to be reasonable.
Mich1993 has been going over the depth chart to see how the recovery's coming from Michigan's Notriguez-to-Rodriguez-to-Notriguez adventure. In Part I he went over the various position groups; CB, LB, and DE appear fine but safety and DT are "mild concerns." On offense the skill positions are strengths and the meaty parts look awfully uncooked. Part II compares it to the depth of 2013 and expected depth of 2015.
LSAClassof2000 put together a thing not nearly enough of you read that compares the SEC and Big Ten's volume of contribution to the NFL. Brian already linked the one where he showed Michigan was one of the top NFL producers in the '90s and now is Minnesota. The aggregate shows us falling behind.
We just passed Alabama who's going just as swiftly in the other direction. Hi Alabama. Tell Nebraska hello for us when you see him and we'll do the same to Auburn.
Guides to other sports. Since soccer is now Germany's sport everybody start calling soccer things German words:
Soccer is no longer "Football", it is now Fußball.
A Team is no longer a "Side", it is now a Mannschaft.
A Game is no longer a "Match", it is now a Spiel.
Nice spiel.
Reshp1 is watching the Tour de France, or as my agricultural consultancy business family members call(ed) it: "Le Tour de Corn" because they use it to gauge how European corn is growing this year.
Yes I do mean cycling is less interesting than watching corn grow.
I used to know a guy who rode his bicycle across part of the U.S. that included South Dakota, and who used the ride across South Dakota to write a song called "I Won't Cry When I Leave South Dakota." Look for sadeto's hit single "There's Nothing Between Lansing and Grand Rapids" in a month or so.
[jump for controversy on the board]
Best of the Board
CONTROVERSY!
Like Wisconsin and others have been doing to widespread that-was-really-niceness, Michigan announced it's going to have a free movie night on August 17.
First things first: Wolverine Devotee, 78% is a little bit on the edge for 7:00 PM; between your commute and dinner you've had plenty of time to charge back to the 90s for anything the evening may present. Maybe turn off the bluetooth.
Second, finally an event even Michigan's PR incompetents can't screw up. I mean, you let people into the stadium, let them watch a movie on the big screen, and hire a cleaning crew and a few cops to make sure everything's how you left it after, and afterwards everyone leaves with an extra happy experience at the Big House and more excited to see the main events there some day. It's a wonderful opportunity to show appreciation to the fans, especially those who've recently been most put ou…
…t. Ungh.
Whereas Wisconsin opens theirs to the public, Michigan decided they couldn't countenance non-season ticket holders stinking up the building with their proleness. Cue controversy.
Fresno State and NIU apparently did it for season ticket holders and Minnesota asked for a donation. Virginia has three a year and they're free to the public—they sell concessions and raffle prizes. Pro stadiums do it too. At Michigan's level, free and open to the public is the standard.
It's a small thing, whatever kitsch is so far removed from the game day atmosphere that nobody should have cause to complain, and I don't doubt it was mostly meant as a nice/PR gesture. But it's conspicuous, and I do doubt it will move the needle much with dissatisfied season ticket holders. Meanwhile, given the precedent set by other like universities, the relative extravagance of season tickets at Michigan, and recent history, the half of the fanbase who've been shut out—and I speak as one of them—can't help but feel the AD had an olive branch to offer and chose to extend yet another middle finger instead.
Here's hoping they open it up (even if for a small cover) then balk at the suggestion they ever intended to exclude the poors.
MORE CONTROVERSY
It's offseason, and mostly about sports, so I tried a little social experiment of leaving a possibly politics thread up concerning the name of Washington D.C.'s NFL franchise. Reasoning: we didn't build one of the more reasonable internet communities (you're still all quite insane) to discuss popcorn flavors. Overt politics, especially party/ideological politics, are still unwelcome, but when it's sports with a touch of politics I don't want to be afraid to discuss it. Enter with an open mind, and prove my theory that you're too smart to be kept quiet about issues that matter.
NAME THE BOAT
User flablue13 just bought a boat and wants to name it a Michigan thing. Winner, according to me: "Not Just a Schooner" by deemarsah. Also appreciated: The J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Sailing Vessel, More Fun Than a Coaching Search, Seaward's Son, MUPPETS!
PROMISES
If you were an HTTV backer on Kickstarter and don't have your digital edition yet, check your email for something from Kickstarter or me, or log into kickstarter and get the download link. Also BiSB has an offer:
I believe all offers on internet message boards are legally binding, but I'll have to check with our lawyer, Bryan MacK…dammit.
Your Moment of Zen:
[UPDATED as of 1pm it is now THIS THIS THIS THIS:
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