The Iron Brigade --- WISCONSIN MADE

I came across an article on the Wisconsin Historical Society's web site, http://preview.wisconsinhistory.org/Content.aspx?dsNav=N:4294963828-4294963805&dsRecordDetails=R:CS3355/, detailing the Civil War triumphs of Wisconsin's most famous group of soldiers, the Iron Brigade.

The Iron Brigade included units from Indiana, Michigan and a section of the U.S. Military Light Artillery, but the majority of its members were from the great state of Wisconsin as its 2nd, 6th and 17th infantry regiments led charges for the Union in several crucial battles.

ON WISCONSIN! (Courtesy of ironbrigade.net)

Even to this day, I like to think that the origin of the nickname 'Iron Brigade' reveals the core qualities that make the citizens of Wisconsin so special.

The name "Iron Brigade" came from a remark made by Gen. George McClellan when he saw the brigade advancing under a murderous fire. He was told, "It is Gibbon's Wisconsin brigade." "They must be made of iron," McClellan replied, and the name stuck.

General George McClellan (courtesy of http://jarosebrock.wordpress.com/union/henry-halleck/george-b-mcclellan-draft/)

It is that kind of toughness that sets Wisconsin apart. And the serves a precursor that the people of Wisconsin will keep persevering and advancing forward no matter which obstacles are in their way, whether it is heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures or a budget crisis.

The Iron Brigade fought in two of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War: Antietam and Gettysburg. If the people of Wisconsin can make it through that then a rough winter suddenly doesn't seem so bad.

And they say history is for nerds ...

Well, I am a nerd, but not because I like history. Were you aware that the owner of the Blatz Brewery, Valentin Blatz, was born on this date in 1862?

According to the Wisconsin Historical Society (http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/thisday/?action=search&month=10&day=1), Blatz was born in Miltenberg-on-the-Main, Bavaria, came to New York City in August of 1848 and then arrived in Milwaukee in 1849, where he founded one of the most well-known cheap-beer producers the Midwest has ever seen.

Blatz has evolved into a cultural icon right up there with Pabst Blue Ribbon, The Beast (Milwaukee's Best) and Natty Ice, so be sure to tip one back for good old Valentin and be thankful advertising for beer has progressed somewhat from the add below from http://milwaukeebreweries.wikispaces.com/Images:

First of all, I must be getting punked ... There's no way this add is real. But let's dissect it for comedic value any way, shall we?

'How Mother and Baby "Picked Up": What better way to get the whole family through a tough day than some Blatz?

"A case of Blatz Beer in your home means much to the young mother, and obviously baby participates in its benefits": A sixer just won't cut it. The wife and baby need a case. And perhaps my favorite part: "and OBVIOUSLY baby participates in its benefits." So let's get the whole family trashed ... errgghhh, I mean ... participating in the nutritional value of Blatz beer.

"The malt in the beer supplies nourishing qualities that are essential at this time and the hops act as an appetizing, stimulating tonic."

The kids these days have some crazy slang, but "nourishing qualities" has to rank right up there ...

Vacation Recap

I just returned from 11 days of rest and relaxation back in my native state, Wisconsin. I go back twice each year to visit family and friends. Here is a quick rundown of some highlights ...

Meet the Carters
Catching up with my family is the primary purpose of the trip so I met the Carters: my brother-in-law Kevin, sister Ann and of course the main attraction, my niece Reese (who is turning 2 in August).

My niece, Reese Carter, with my mom.

My dad and I took in the Pirates at Cubs game on July 7 from the right-field bleachers at Wrigley Field: A 3-2 11-inning, victory for the good guys! (Go Cubs Go!). By the way, don't look now but the Cubs have been playing decent ball recently, taking six of their last eight and pulling away from the Brewers for cellar-dweller honors in the N.L. Central. (And due to operator error, my thumb managed to photobomb two out of the three photos ...)

No summer vacation to Wisconsin would be complete without a brewery tour so I went with my parents and Ann and Reese to the Lakefront Brewery, which was a short walk from where my sister lives in Milwaukee. And we ended up missing the actual tour because we strayed too far away from the group after registering, but that was beside the point. It was a great time! Good conversation and good beer! On tap for next summer is a tour of the New Glarus Brewery for some Spotted Cow.

I hear the tour was good ...

I ventured west to Baumgartner's in Monroe, Wis., for Wednesday night ribs with my mom's side of the family. This place was awesome and I'm already scheming to come back for Green County Cheese Days in September 2014!

Baumgartner's in Monroe, Wis., with my mom's side, the Albrechts.

A visit to the O.G. with my parents and my aunt Marge and her husband Rol on my last night in Wisco was a great way to end the trip!

There were also a lot of little things that made this vacation memorable:
- Laying back in my designated recliner and having coffee with my parents every morning
- Being able to thoroughly enjoy Jay-Z's "Holy Grail ... Magna Carta" four times without interruption
- Going to work out at the Janesville Athletic Club whenever I felt like. (Quick sidenote, I did manage to go 10 times).
- Getting recommendations on books and movies from parents. I took notes on my iPhone and now have homework assignments!

So now I'm refreshed and re-invigorated for the upcoming year of University of Utah Athletics! Go Utes!

- Mike

Jazz Need to Do Their Own Thing Now

There comes a time in everyone's life where you have to move out of your parent's house and go out on their own.

For me personally, it meant going to college and moving across the country to pursue professional endeavors. I needed to get out on my own and succeed and/or fail by my own accord and this is what current Utah Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin must seize his independence as well from the Jerry Sloan era of Utah Jazz basketball.

Hiring Karl Malone and today's news of Sloan onto the coaching staff as a senior basketball adviser just perpetuates that need to cling onto the past.

RT @GregInUtah: I am pleased and honored to have Jerry Sloan back in the Jazz family in an official capacity.
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 19, 2013

One of the toughest things to do in sports is to follow a legend and it must be especially difficult under the circumstances that Corbin found himself in after Sloan's abrupt departure midway through the 2010-11 season amid the controversy with the Deron Williams trade.

I understand the significance, value and downright necessity of honoring and embracing the tradition of a successful organization. It is great to build statues, give them court-side seat or name facilities after great players from the past, but having them around and involved in the day-to-day operation of the current team could prove to be a distraction.

Think about your own job. Would you like it if the predecessor at your job, who was really good and was loved by everyone, just came back and started observing and nit-picking at your every move? Maybe even pointing out your shortcomings or offering unprompted 'This is is how I would have done it ..." suggestions.

Malone, John Stockton and Sloan built Jazz basketball into what it is today, but that was about 15 years ago and now is the time is now for the current Jazz squad to create its own legacy.

Ever since Sloan resigned in 2010-11, the Jazz have struggled to choose between the old and new with their product on the floor, too. A spirited debate has swirled around the Wasatch Front over the last two seasons about whether the Jazz should go for playoff appearances with a veteran roster filled with players like Al Jefferson, Raja Bell, Marvin Williams, etc., or should they sacrifice some short-term success and think long-term and turn the reigns of the franchise over to the youth movement with players like Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, etc.

To me, the youth movement is the way to go. Why be happy with an eighth seed in the Western Conference? The only way the young guys that they drafted based on potential can turn that potential into production is to play every night and take their lumps on the floor.

The Jazz cannot have it both ways and it is time for them to pick one plan and go with it. So what's it gonna be? We'll have to stay tuned.

- Mike

Jinxed It

Are you kidding?

You're kidding me, right?

Just when I'm pumping up the Spurs as the ultimate closers.

Just as I'm sure the Heat were going to finally be stropped.

Manu Ginobli misses the front end of a double-bonus free throw situation. Mike Miller misses a 3-point attempt, but the Spurs can't grab the board and Chris Bosh finds a drifting Ray Allen in the corner behind the 3-point stripe. SPLASH.

I'm still stunned.

In past 15 seasons, teams up exactly 5 points with between 20 and 30 seconds left, as Spurs were last night, win 98.6% of the time.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 19, 2013

The best franchise in the NBA over last 15 years was up 5 with 28 seconds left and they couldn't close the deal. And there was no way they were going to win in OT after that.

The worst part is that even though neither team has won back-to-back games yet in the series, I don't know how the Spurs can come back and win Game 7 on Thursday. But that's the great thing about it, the Spurs will have 48 minutes to prove me wrong and I really hope they do!

Coffee Is For Closers

Finishing. You can either do it or you can't.

This fact defines winners and losers in every walk of life.

Any individual or group can cruise along to success when things come easy from the start, but winners create their own success after facing adversity and manage to do whatever it takes to accomplish their goals. Now when, I use the term 'losers,' I'm not pointing to people who come out on the short end of a contest or on a scoreboard (I've lost plenty of games in my lifetime), I'm referring to people who go away from what they know is right (i.e. cheat) or just give up altogether when the first sign of adversity hits them.

Of course, no matter what you do for a living, you need to have poise under pressure to get where they want life. I simply use sports as an example because of the endless exhibitions of courage and persistence that are on display in front of millions of people each day offer us a tangible sequence of events that exposes how a group performs 'in the clutch.'

Some teams thrive when the game is on the line and they are rewarded for it. The San Antonio Spurs have a chance to clinch the NBA Title as I type. In Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Miami, the Spurs' lead was cut to 1 but they didn't panic and immediately stormed back with an 12-0 run of their own to claim their largest lead of the game (to this point).

Not panicking and sticking to your proverbial guns in crunch time is the most admirable trait of champions that I can see. That's why I always look at the third-down conversion rates of championships football teams. You can always bet that it will be a pretty good percentage because great teams always seem to come up with big plays when the they need them most.

To this day, I still remember going to Camp Randall Stadium on Nov. 19, 1997 to watch No. 24 Wisconsin take on eventual national champion Michigan, ranked No. 2 at the time, with eventual Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson and Brian Griese. I couldn't dig up the box score, but I remember that every time the Badger crowd and defense would get revved up for a much-needed, big, third-down stop, the Wolverine offense never wavered and would convert and move the chains. The belief on that sideline, even under the intense scrutiny of more than 80,000 Badger fans, was so powerful that it didn't matter how loud it was, the Wolverines were going to pull out the win.

And on the other hand is my favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. This a cursed franchise if I ever saw one and they never seem to come up with big plays when it matters most. I'm not sure what it is. They just lose composure and stop doing what brought them to the edge of success. The Cubs just collectively tense up and stop believing in themselves.

Everyone knows they haven't won a World Series since 1908 and everyone remembers that meltdown in 2003 when it seemed like they just gave up and started feeling sorry for themselves after Steve Bartman interfered with Moises Alou down the left-field line. Tonight, the Cubs were ahead 4-1 heading into the ninth at St. Louis, but Starlin Castro was able to come up with the play they needed to preserve the 4-2 win.

I guess Blake from Glengarry Glen Ross is wrong tonight! The Cubs get to drink their coffee!



And remember, sports are merely an example of the importance of being able to finish. If you don't get that big sale or promotion you were looking for, stick with what got you to this point, fight through that adversity and be ready to pounce on that next opportunity.

My name is Mike and I'm a motivational blogger.

Ode to Urlacher

I realize it's been a while, but I would like to pay my respect to the middle linebacker of the Chicago Bears, #54 Brian Urlacher, who retired from the game on May 22.

Like anyone else, he had his moments where I would ask myself "What the heck is he doing?" --- like complaining being booed after the defense played like garbage, complaining about having to play in prime time during Sunday Night or Monday Night Football because you get home late or a fling with Jenny McCarthy, but for the most part, I was proud to have him as the mainstay of the Bears' defense for 13 seasons. I still remember when I was in high school and heard that the Bears picked the free safety from New Mexico to play linebacker and saying "I hope they know what they're doing!" Clearly, I don't know much, but I'm certainly glad his size, speed, toughness and athleticism came together in a Bears uniform. 

In a total of 182 games (started all but two), Urlacher made 1,052 tackles with 306 assists, 41.5 sacks and 22 interceptions to help the Bears go 110-96 (53%) in the regular season, 3-4 (43%) in the playoffs and 113-100 (53%) overall during his career and should be a Hall of Famer, no doubt. People do need to stop trying to put him up there with Dick Butkus or even Ray Lewis. I never saw him play myself, but my dad always tells me he was the meanest son of a gun he ever saw and that's just not something you can get away with in today's game. Don't get me wrong, Urlacher was a great player in his own right, but I suspect people fall victim to the moment in the wake of his retirement and as time passes, he will fall into his rightful place as one of the greats to play the game, just the greatest.

It is staggering to see how Urlacher's career mirrored the fortunes of the Chicago Bear's franchise.

In his seven years in the NFL from his rookie season in 2000 through the Super Bowl season of 2006, Urlacher played in 105 (58%) of a possible 112 games (103 starts) and collected 642 tackles (61%), 204 assists (67%), 32.5 sacks (78%) and 10 interceptions (45%) to help the Bears improve each season and go 58-54 overall in the regular season and 2-3 in the playoffs.

But that was the point when injuries and other distractions (as mentioned above) started to pile up and from 2007 through 2012, the product on the field for Urlacher and the Bears just didn't feel the same even though Chicago went 52-44 in the regular season and advanced to the NFC Championship Game in 2010, but that was its only playoff appearance in the last six seasons. Urlacher's statistics are the symbol of the downward spiral: played in 77 of 96 games (all starts), 410 tackles, 102 assists and 9.0 sacks. The only uptick, interestingly enough, was interceptions where he had 12 over his last six years and seems to come along with seeming lack of aggressiveness and willingness to just sit in the passing lanes in Love Smith's Tampa 2 defense.

My point is, Urlacher was slowing down and as sad as it is, it was time for him to sit on the sidelines on a permanent basis.

With the Blackhawks down 2-1 in the Stanley Cup Final and the Cubs stuck in a permanent tailspin, the start of Bears Training Camp on July 25 in Bourbonnais, Ill., cannot come soon enough.

Bear Down, Chicago Bears!

- Mike  

Top 10 Sports Moments with My Dad

Happy Father's Day!

My dad is the person responsible for getting me into sports so since I've been in a list-making mood lately (see my last entry), here's a run-down of the top 10 sports moments with my dad, in no particular order.

No. 14 Indiana at Wisconsin Men's Basketball on Mar. 5, 2000
We had seats at the very top row of the Kohl Center, but it did not stop me screaming my lungs out as Bobby Knight smashed his clipboard into the floor and stormed off the court as the pieces scattered and Dick Bennett and the Badgers would win 56-53, which turned out to be a precursor for their Final Four run.

Seattle Mariners at Milwaukee Brewers on July 18, 1991
My dad took me to my first game and Ken Griffey, Jr., put on a show, going 5-for-6 with three RBI and scaling center field to rob a homer during a 12-0 route at Milwaukee County Stadium.

Portland Trailblazers at Chicago Bulls on June 14, 1992
The Bulls trailed by 13 and it looked like a Game 7 was unavoidable so I was crying my eyes. My dad reminds me of this to this day! But then the unthinkable happened, with Michael Jordan on the bench with foul trouble, out when the Bulls were down 13 to the Blazers in Game 6 of the 1992 NBA Finals for their second straight title.

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears on Dec. 24, 1995
My dad surprised me with tickets to the Christmas Eve game and we had seats pretty close to the field in a corner of the end zone. The Bears needed a win that day and got it and rookie Rashaan Salaam broke the 1,000-yard barrier and seemed to be on the way to great things and we all know how that turned out ...

Chicago Bears Training Camp in Platteville, Wis.
My dad would take me three hours to the west to watch the Bears practice on the campus of UW-Platteville. Saw a lot of great players work to perfect their craft: Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, etc., and I'll always remember my dad helping us hunt for autographs. I managed to get signatures from Dave Wanstedt, Jim Flanigan, Paul Grasmanis, Steve Walsh. It was always a scrum to get position for the autographs so I always remember when I dropped my pen into the walkway that was fenced off for the players, forcing them to sign my program.

Penn State at Wisconsin on Nov. 21, 1998
My dad and I got a pair of obstructed view behind the Penn State bench, four rows behind the Penn State bench so your vantage point of the game was blocked a little bit, but the Badgers clinched a share of the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth with a 24-3 beatdown of the Nittany Lions.

WIAA Boy's State Basketball Tournament
For 12 straight years from fifth grade through college, my dad and I would play hooky and go to the Wisconsin High School State Basketball Tournament. I still remember going to the UW Field House in fifth grade and the place seemed so huge! And the tournament did not lose its mystique when it moved across campus to the Kohl Center. We aw a lot of great games, teams and players like Reese Gaines, Sam Okey, and Joe Thomas to name a few.

Beloit College Football Comebacks
My dad was an assistant on the coaching staff for the Buccaneers and the saying "We have them right where we want them ..." evolved from a joke among the team into a mantra that they actually believed in when they found themselves trailing.

Friday Night Lights
My dad would pick me up after school every Friday during the fall when I was in elementary and middle school and we go to practice at Beloit College then off to various high schools throughout the stateline area. Stops at Belvidere, Hononegah, Rockford Boylen, Beloit Memorial, Janesville's Monterey Stadium were common and a Frosty at Wendy's was sure to follow.

NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons, May 27, 1991
I was eight years old and really pumped up when watching the "Bad Boys", Detroit Pistons, walked out of Game 4 of the 1991 NBA Eastern Conference on the TV set on our porch. My dad always points to that as the moment when he knew that I understood what was going on.

- Mike

My Top 10 Power Songs

I just came across a tweet from the @MensFitness account that claimed to run down the top 10 songs made since 2000 that belong on every gym rat's playlist and I have to say that most of the selections were quite lame. They make some catchy songs, but there's no way a Black Eyed Peas song belongs on a man's workout playlist. I'm trying to get in shape, not dance at a club ...

Here are our 10 songs that belong on every gym rat's playlist. What are your favorite? http://t.co/DX18SXGf9b
— Men's Fitness (@MensFitness) June 15, 2013

So I thought it would be a good idea to send my top out into the world of cyber space to help you power through your next workout. And its' a shame that there were tons of song that would have made the list but were made in 1998 or 1999 ...

10. Fuel by Metallica

9 .Only by Nine Inch Nails

8. No Mo Play in GA by Pastor Troy

7. It's Going Down by Linkin Park and the Executioners

6. The Takeover by Jay-Z

5. The Champ is Here by Jadakiss

4. We Right Here by DMX

3. One Step Closer by Linkin Park

2. This Means War by Busta Rhymes with Ozzy Osbourne

1. Stupify by Disturbed

I ended up going through my entire iTunes library so here's an honorable mention list:

Get Bucked by Young Buck
Hustla's Ambition by 50 Cent
You Don't Want No Drama by 8Ball and MJG
Vice Versa by Pastor Troy

100 Black Coffins by Rick Ross

A City in Florida by Deadmau5

Hustle Hard by Ace Hood with Rick Ross and Lil' Wayne

Shut 'em Down by L.L. Cool J

Head Bussa by Lil' Scrappy with Lil' Jon

Bite the Hand that Feeds by Nine Inch Nails

Neva Eva by Lil' Jon and the Eastside Boyz

It's Time for War by L.L. Cool J

Warrior by Lloyd Banks

When Twitter Goes Wrong

Twitter is awesome! I never 'surf the net' anymore. Why do that when information, from sources that I select,  comes directly to me? And Facebook is good, too, but tends to be more laced with political diatribes geared toward trying to sway the opinions of others, but oftentimes turn into nonsensical ramblings that lead to personal attacks. The 140-character limit on Twitter goes a long way to making people be more precise with their thoughts or direct people to a link that can easily be ignored, if you so choose.

But no matter which platform(s) you enjoy using, all social networks can be equally dangerous when you use them.

There are numerous examples of social media mistakes costing people, but I give you exhibit A: disgruntled Daytona Cub third baseman Ian Stewart.

First off, perhaps my biggest concern is that I don't think he could have picked a dumber handle: @BeefStew2 ... I'm not making this up. @BeefStew2? This is a 28-year-old professional athlete ... and he chooses @BeefStew2? I'm speechless.

Anyway, on to the tweets that got him in trouble late last night/early this morning.

"I think dale [Chicago Cub manager Dale Sveum] doesn't like and He's running the show"

He just comes off as extremely immature, not a seven-year baseball professional. Clearly, Stewart didn't think things through before hitting the 'Tweet' button. 

"I meant they might as Well release since I have no shot of a call up ... let me sign elsewhere."

The rational and adult thing to do is call 'dale' and tell him in private that you're not happy any more and you would like to be released. But the ironic thing is that the Chicago Cubs Director of Operations Theo Epstein offered Stewart the option of being released --- and in turn becoming a free agent. But Stewart chose to collect his $2 million to play for the Cubs' AAA club, where he is hitting a whopping .168. [read sarcasm].

He's putting the Cubs in a bad spot with his poor play. Who can they talk into signing him when he can't even perform in Daytona? [Cubs facing a similar situation with right-handed reliever Carlos Marmol]. 

Obviously, I wasn't with him, but I can only assume that he was drunk at the time. Why else would you vent in a public forum like Twitter, especially if you're a pro athletes?

So just a quick PSA, think twice about posting to your social networks the next time you're 'out on the town.' 

Consider yourself warned. Y'all be easy.

- Mike 

Free the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism!

I try not to discuss politics AT ALL on social media. It's a 'lose-lose' situation. Much like in 'real life,' no one truly listens to the opposing point of view. Everyone is either getting extremely upset or merely waiting for the other person to finish making their point so that they can speak.

So here comes the contradiction ... WISCONSIN LAWMAKERS WANT INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS BOOTED FROM UW-MADISON CAMPUS.

I don't really have a profound thought about this situation, other than anger and even a touch of something I rarely, if ever, feel ... embarrassment of being a UW-Madison alum (B.A. English 2006).

With the Center taking on interns and fostering an environment for valuable research, it is just sad that the legislators in my native state, regardless of party or affiliation, lack the long-term perspective to value education.

If their claim is true that they are kicking the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism out of Vilas Hall and off campus altogether because of budgetary concerns, what exactly are they going to replace it with? ....

I have to call B.S. on that reason (excuse).

If they're not on campus, it's really a 'win-win' for any politician who is not doing what they're supposed to be doing. With one less watchdog on campus, it makes it all the more likely that corrupt acts could go on unnoticed.

Like Public Enemy so eloquently put it ....

Anyway, that's just my two cents. If I'm missing something, give me a shout. Ya'll be easy.

- Mike  

When Did Tradition Stop Being Cool?

I’m 29 years old, which is a pretty good spot to be in on the cultural landscape when you think about it. Meaning, I’m young enough to understand and appreciate most of pop culture (although why anyone would like Justin Bieber or those Twilight movies is still beyond me), yet old enough that I don't care about trying to impress anyone.

 However, one of the things I don’t get right now is the growing obsession over gaudy uniforms.

Doesn’t the increasing need to stand out contradict the very meaning of uniform?

I know. I know. It all comes down to recruiting and revenue. Student-athletes love when a school is willing to try something different with its gear and I understand how that would be exciting to prospective student-athletes.

It is also a huge revenue generator as post-game auctions are becoming the norm with the game-used gear going to the highest bidder. Changing logos and designs is a relatively way to get a fan base back into the store buying more gear. It is logical from a business point of view and enduring brands such as the Boston Celtics or at a school like UCLA are few and far between.  

The ‘uniform game’ has developed into the new fad in recent years in intercollegiate athletics and it seems that most schools are rolling out variations on a pretty regular basis. The examples below have been most memorable to me:

Oregon started this whole thing and continues to be at the forefront. Even though I was rooting against them, it was pretty cool to see their pure metallic helmets cast a blinding glare off the Pasadena sky at the 2013 Rose Bowl.

Baylor carried its RGIII momentum and ran with it to the front of the ‘cool club’ when it debuted its new Nike football uniforms.  

Not to be outdone, adidas introduced new uniforms for the Big East during the basketball postseason.

And now we have the Indiana football’s new armor and the reaction from the guys onthe team is priceless!

Don’t get me wrong, all of this stuff is cool, but I like the idea of little kids growing up learning to play in their driveway and going through high school dreaming of wearing that motion W on your helmet, red jersey with white trim and white pants highlighted by two vertical red stripes --- THE SAME EXACT UNIFORM that Ron Dayne --- everyone’s favorite Badger --- wore (in my case).

You get that at schools like USC, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and even with select pro sports franchises like the New York Yankees. But 20 years down the line, do you think a little kid in the Chicago suburbs working on his jump shot in the drive way will be asking, “Hey dad, if I work hard enough, do you think I’ll get to wear the Shamrock Shake jersey at Notre Dame like Jack Cooley?”

Only time will tell, but for now … Get off my lawn you young whippersnappers. =)

Y’all be easy.

- Mike 

Back On My Gym Grind

Sometimes inspiration comes from peculiar places.

After browsing through Deadspin's RSS feed on my Google Reader, I found this blog entry by Sean Newell that hit home: A Treadmill Is The Vestibule Of Hell: Recovering Fatass Soundtrack.

Although I don't consider myself to be 'recovering' yet, I found this article to be both amusing and uplifting.

I often find myself searching for ways to divert my brain when working out and most of the time it is music. The rare times I have forgotten my headphones and iPod have been torture.

My issue is the act of dragging my bones to the gym on a consistent basis, because once I'm there I do go hard (as the kids say these days).

For me, building the routine is so much easier said than done.

Waking up at 5 a.m. to go before work, the time to go during lunch or the energy to go after a stressful day is a challenge that I've been trying to overcome ever since college.

In high school, I was religiously in the weight room. Having that goal of earning all-conference honors during the upcoming season and performing at my best on Friday nights on the football field fueled my psyche and willed me to showing up in the weight room every day after school or during the summer.

I need to find something tangible like back when I was in high school. So I will be tweeting my weight again to make my progress public. I tried this a couple years ago and didn't follow through, but I believe this will be a crucial part in helping me build a proper fitness routine.

Interpretations are like snowflakes. No two are exactly alike.

Interpretations are like snowflakes. No two are exactly alike. (Ironic headline considering it is June 1, but roll with me on this one).

Everyone is unique, has different paths in life and has gone through different experiences so in turn, we all see the present in different ways and then formulate and express those opinions about said situation. And round and round we go, conflicting opinions, but that is what makes life so interesting isn't it? 

An emergency situation on a commercial airline is a plight that will expose the best and worst of human emotion, so it is no surprise to me that there is a controversy about the facts surrounding the event.

Brooklyn writer Noah Gallagher Shannon recounts a flight experience on back page of the New York Times Magazine (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/magazine/the-plane-was-about-to-crash-now-what.html?_r=0) two weeks ago and the firestorm that has awoke around his tale is intriguing.

Jim Romenesko dissects the differing views (http://jimromenesko.com/2013/05/31/two-views-of-the-plane-was-about-to-crash/).

As one would expect, New York Times Magazine editor Hugo Lindgren defended his publication, even stating that: "Naturally, not every detail matches everybody else's experience. Surely even people on that plan would remember it differently. The story was about the personal experience of a fearful moment."

This must be your first sign that this should be read more as fiction than anything else. Leave the account of record to the Associated Press.

I thought it was well-written, but I could tell after the first paragraph that this wasn't exactly a news release. It felt like Gallagher Shannon was being a little dramatic with more colorful language, but that’s his choice and I think it’s perfect back-page content that shouldn’t be expected to have total accuracy. If Gallagher wants to embellish some facts and interject some of his opinions then he’s got the right.     

Crosstown Beatdown: How Sweep It Is (See What I Did Right There)

The Cubs took all three games of the Crosstown Rivalry this week from the White Sox. And it waaaas awwwwwweeeesssssome.

With the win, the Cubs clinched the season series victory over the South Siders for the first time since 2008. Hard to believe since the Sox haven't been that great, but obviously better than the Cubs.

When seven runs is your smallest offensive output in a three-game set, you like your chances. The Cubs' beat down of the Sox came at 24-6 clip with a 31-19 edge in hits.  

The bats finally came to life to help out what has actually been solid pitching for the Cubs throughout the first third of the season. Which was surprising because the White Sox entered the series with the lowest ERA in the American League. Where has this been all season?

Samardzjia threw the first complete-game shutout of his career and allowed only two hits on Labor Day at US Cellular during a 7-0 win. This win set the tone for the entire series. The Sox found themselves in quick sand and could not escape the whole week ...

Starting catcher Wellington Castillo clocked a homer and the Cubs led 2-0 before rain forced Tuesday's game into cancellation, while Edwin Jackson seemed to find a rhythm, which has been a rare occurrence this season. All statistics and even the highlight packages from the Cubs' web site have been pulled from the record so in essence, it never happened.

Backup catcher Dioner Navarro slammed three homers on Wednesday and the White Sox' adventure in the woodshed continued in a 9-3 fashion.

They were even able put Carlos Marmol in the last two games ... that's when you know you have things rolling. He didn't disappoint completely, managing to give up a run, but suppressed any real threat and hopefully made himself more attractive to anyone the Cubs are trying to coax into trading for him. So much for that 'Warm Weather Marmol' theory I've heard people talk about. That's garbage in my opinion and clearly the Cubs think so, too, because they only put him on the mound in 'garbage' time.

And today, the Cubs finished the job with an 8-3 victory to clinch the Crosstown Rivalry trophy and run their season-long four-game win streak to a whopping four games! (and coincidentally comes after a six-game losing streak).

 Travis Wood helped himself with a grand slam (the Cubs' first of the season) today and it seemed like the Sox didn't want any part of the action and were already packing for Oakland.

It was nice to be on the good end of a beat down ... for once. Go Cubs Go! Ya'll be easy ...

Summer. Summer. Summer time.

With the Cub game washed out on the south side (Too bad because Wellington Castillo got a hold of a two-run homer off Chris Sale and Edwin Jackson looked solid on the mound, but it's all for naught) and Game 7 of the NHL Western Conference Semifinals less than 24 hours away (Go Blackhawks!), I thought tonight would be as good of a night as any to look at some concerts coming to Salt Lake City this summer ...

#kickinupdust Summer Tour with Slightly Stoopid and Atmosphere on July 27 at Usana Ampitheather

I have been a fan of Atmosphere ever since my freshman year of college (10 years ago!), but have never seen Slug and Ant perform live so this will be cool!

And I saw Slightly Stoopid about three years ago (Usana, again). I had never heard of them before so I was pleasantly surprised by the mix of rock and reggae, which reminded me of Sublime.

Also, on the same day at the Gallivan Center is the Summer Jam with hip-hop acts like ASAP Rocky

Tyga

Then a mere three days later on July 30, the Unity Tour with 311, Cypress Hill and G Love and the Special Sauce take the stage at Usana.

I'm not the biggest 311 fan, but they have a few good songs and I'm sure will put on a good show.

My favorite act of the Unity Tour will be Cypress Hill. I knew the lyrics to 'Insane in the Membrane' in elementary school and haven't looked back since ...

And who could forget G. Love and the Special Sauce. I'll be waiting for them to play 'My Baby's Got Sauce.'

Oh, and don't forget the $5 Twilight Concert Series at Pioneer Park. (Although, it could be argued that the people watching is the best part!)

It may seem weird, but I always liked this song by Erykah Badu, who will be there on Aug. 8 ...

The Twilight concert I'm looking forward to the most is Kid Cudi on Aug. 22. One of my favorite songs of his just came up on Shuffle on iTunes ....

Then MGMT (who interestingly enough is featured on Pursuit of Happiness with Kid Cudi) wraps things up on Sept. 5. Can't go wrong with a little 'Electric Feel'!

I'm not sure who this band 'To Be Announced' is, but they must be good if they're playing seven shows! ... But seriously, it should be interesting to see if it is just a marketing ploy to build up excitement or if they truly don't have anyone lined up yet.

Feel free to chime in with whatever concerts you're pumped up. Should be a good summer in SLC! Ya'll be easy.

- Mike

Rivalry Day on Memorial Day

What makes a good rivalry? Down right 'hate.'

With a pinch of respect and admiration. (To keep things from getting too crazy.)

It just so happens that rivalry day for two of my favorite teams falls on Memorial Day. Good old fashioned American competition will be at full froth this afternoon, but still kept in the proper perspective framework that none of this would be possible without the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women of the armed forces. 

WIthout them, frat boys could not stagger off the 'White Sox' stop of the Red Line on the South Side of Chicago. A father could not drive in to U.S. Cellular Field from the Dan Ryan Expressway to take his son to his first game ... AMURICA!

The Cubbies start thing against the homestanding Pale Hosers (a.k.a. Chicago White Sox) at 5 p.m. MT. Jeff Samardzjia hopes to finally get some much-needed run support in the series opener. It's been too long since the Cubs took a Cross Town series so I hope they set the tone right tonight.  

In the rink, Game 6 for the Hawks against those squid throwers (Detroit Red Wings) at 6 p.m. MT in a do-or-die scenario tonight. Chicago hasn't been able to steal one at Joe Louis Arena yet so they obviously need to break that trend to force Game 7 back on the friendly ice of the United Center.

As the guys from Workaholics would say, S'Go!

The Good Land

Back in my home state for Memorial Day weekend and it feels good ... as Alice Cooper would say.

Although Milwaukee is an hour and a half away from where I grew up, there is just something about getting back home.

Anxiety As Kryptonite

I went as saw Iron Man 3 last weekend and thought it was interesting how (other than Aldrich Killian's enhanced genetic engineering) anxiety was Tony Stark's biggest obstacle.

He went through some horrific events in New York and any mention of the city and the events that happen there leave him short of breath, falling to the ground and panting for relief.

Of course, Tony is too proud to go see a therapist or seek any counsel about his problem. And it almost costs him (and the rest of the free world) in the end.

Stark refused to face his fear and discuss what happened in his past so his post. It's a problem that many people face and I thought it was nice touch --- an innovative yet simple method to engage the audience and enhance the human element in the story.

Too Late for D-Rose

I know I'm late to the party, but since I won't be as busy with my job, I will now have time to follow my teams the way that I like and the way that they deserve to be followed.

Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals is coming up for the Bulls on Monday at the United Center, a.k.a. the "Madhouse on Madison" (inspired the re-naming of this here blog) and "The House that Michael Jordan Built."

I find it funny how the Bulls were like the Heat back in their second three-peat from 1995-96 through 1997-98. Growing up 60 miles from Chicago, I loved that version of the big three - Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman. Of course I am biased, but that trio seemed a lot more likeable. Rodman added a splash of color to an otherwise business-like team that I'm sure fans of opposing teams hated, but as time passes I hope people come to appreciate his tenacity, outstanding effort on the boards, and innate ability to get into the head of the opponent's best player.

Since we live in a "what have you done for me lately" world, the 2012-13 edition of the Chicago Bulls has put together a pretty solid playoff run - defeating the Brooklyn Nets in seven games and giving the Heat a dog fight - despite being marred by injuries and the media whirlwind around those afflictions.

Point guard Derrick Rose has had one heck of a time recovering from an ACL injury in Game 1 of the 2011-12 playoffs. He tried to rush back too early and re-aggravated the injury so that's why I have opted to join the minority of the opinion that he shouldn't come back this season.

Long-term productivity has to outweigh the prospect of short-term success in this situation. Would you rather have five or six more MVP seasons from Rose and many more playoff runs OR a chance to win two or three games against the Heat? The Bulls are under-manned regardless with Luol Deng begin racked up in the hospital with a nasty flu. How successful can you expect them to be?

Even when Rose comes back, it's not like it's going to be an instant championships. It will take Rose at least a few games to work off the rust of being laid up for so long - there's only so much you can do in practice to simulate NBA playoff action - and he'll also have to jive with his teammates. It's a lot more complicated than Rose is being soft. Maybe he is, but a lot of fans fail to acknowledge these variables and a lot of people are over-reacting. That is why they call them fans (fanatics), I guess.

Anyway, Go Bulls! #seered    

Just Start Writing

I've decided to make a concerted effort to write a lot more. My goal is to post a blog entry every from now on. The image that sticks out in my mind is that scene in 'Finding Forester' when Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown) visits William Forrester's (Sean Connery) office ... Four quotes in this scene struck a chord.

"The first key to writing ... is to write, not to think."

I feel that I get too wrapped up in what people will think of me after reading what I write. And I think that gets in the way of my creativity. Hell, I have not sat down to write for fun for a while ... and that's a shame because I know I'm good. 

"Why is it that the words we write for ourselves are always so much better than the words we write for others."

While I enjoy my job, most of the time I write what others want me to write, whether it be a game recap, media guide, feature stories. Don't get me wrong --- that's what I'm supposed to do. The main purpose of this blog has evolved into a personal outlet for myself. I can write about whatever I want here --- except collegiate sports because that would be a conflict of interest --- but other than that, it's on (as the kids say).

"No thinking ... that comes later."

This further elaborates the first point so I know I have to work on just 'letting go' and let my thoughts come out on paper. Easier said than done, but the only way to get better at it is to practice.

You write your first draft with your heart. Then you re-write with your heart." 

Now comes the more conventional part of the 'writing process.' I actually enjoy going through it. My work becomes a puzzle and it's up to me to make all of the pieces fit together. Shuffling paragraphs, deleting adverbs, dissecting run-on sentences (I write those frequently), etc., is a rewarding aspect of writing.

As Marshall Henderson would say, "Y'all be easy."

- Mike

Don’t Take ANYTHING Personally

At the urging of my sister, I’ve been reading The Four Agreements: A PracticalGuide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz. There are a few concepts that seemed a little ‘out there,’ to me, but for the most part, it is an interesting book that offers a unique perspective and served as a reminder about the importance of keeping an open mind.

As you can tell by the title, there are four fundamentals that the reading is centered around. I admit that I’m only about a third of the way through, but easily the most intriguing concept I’ve read about is: Don’t Take Anything Personally.

It all makes sense to me. When someone tries to belittle or disrespect you, it is more of a reflection on something going on in their world or something wrong with how they view the world.

That is easier said than done and sounds difficult to practice because I feel like my instinct is to listen to my ego and go on the attack when I feel threatened. I know it’s something I have to improve upon in social situations and in the work place.

Like most people, I have a lot of pride so in social situations when I get rejected by a girl or  feel like I got ‘punked by some dude,’ my impulse is to fire back with disparaging words or actions of my own. The book describes that negative energy as poison and you’re merely passing it from one person to another when you internalize the initial remarks --- take them personally.

This will be even more difficult for me in the work place as my job is an extremely significant part of my identity. When my work is criticized or something does not go as I would like, there are times when I feel like my actions, and thus me personally, is being scrutinized. This, in turn, makes me feel uncomfortable so I feel attacked.

The only way I can improve on this and not take as much personally (I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to eliminate everything!) is to be mindful of this agreement.

And on that note .. Party on.

- Mike D.       

Workout for May 9, 2013

Bench                   3x10 135

Shoulder Press  3x10 30

Curls                       3x10 60

Walk                        30 min. at 3.5 MPH

Weight: 310.1 ... Yikes.

Top 10 Games I've Seen At Utah

I'm one softball game away from completing my fifth go-around as a member of the University of Utah Athletic Communications office, so I thought I'd reel off and riff about what I consider my top 10 games that I have been fortunate enough to witness live and in living color ...

10. No. 14 Seed Harvard Defeating No. 3 Seed New Mexico in the 'Second Round' of the 2013 NCAA Tournament / Butler Beats Syracuse and Kansas State to Advance to 2010 Final Four One of the better perks of the job is hosting tournaments like this so 'Cinderella' going all the way to the Final Four in its home city and a No. 14 seed taking down a No. 3 makes it even that much more exciting.

9. Volleyball vs. Stanford in 2012: Probably the only Utah loss in the countdown, but it was a great atmosphere for the first match in the Jon M. Huntsman since 1993 and sparked the team's move into the JHC for the 2013.

8. Softball vs. Oregon State in 2012: After dropping their first 16 Pac-12 Conference games, the Utes picked up their first-ever Pac-12 win. It was awesome to see the progress they made in 2013, as they took two of three from No. 2 Arizona State and No. 15 UCLA.

7. Men's Basketball vs. BYU in 2009: Overtime game (of course) saw Luke Nevill score 32 to lead Utah to a 94-88 win over a young Jimmer Fredette and gave the Utes an early leg up in the Mountain West Conference title chase.

6. Football vs. BYU in 2010: Brandon Burton blocks Mitch's Payne field goal attempt as time expires.

5. Volleyball at BYU in 2009: Down 2-0, it was a foregone conclusion that the Cougars were going to win. It was just a matter of when and by how much. But someone forgot to tell the Utes and head coach Beth Launiere ...

4. Volleyball Makes Sweet 16 Run in 2008: After winning the Mountain West Conference title, I got a chance to travel with the team across the country to Clemson, S.C., and the team swept its first two matches, including a road match from Atlantic Coast Conference champion Clemson. Clemson had a particularly amusing fan, who would wear Tiger face paint and sit at mid-court and roar like a tiger as the opponent tried to make plays.

3. 'Championship Saturday' on Nov. 23, 2008: Volleyball clinched Mountain West Conference tittle with a 3-1 win over nationally-ranked Colorado State and then Football clinched the MWC with a 48-24 win over BYU, also my first taste of how intense this rivalry really is! Gotta love the 'BCS! BCS! BCS!' chants from the Rice-Eccles Stadium crowd!

2. Football at BYU in 2011: 54-10. Enough said.

1. 2009 Sugar Bowl: Tough to beat being along on this trip! From the get-go, Utah overwhelmed Alabama in the first three series with its no-huddle offense and the Crimson Tide seemed unprepared for the blitz packages called by then-defensive coordinator Gary Andersen. The whole week down in New Orleans and on Bourbon Street and the image of an Alabama fan giving our bus caravan the bird will be life-long images!

Go Utes!