2019 Michigan Gameday #12: vs. Ohio State

I'll keep it short today because everyone knows the deal:  it's The Game, the one that's always at the end of the regular season, the one that matters the most no matter each team's record.  Once again Ohio State is rolling into Ann Arbor with an emphasis on "rolling"--they're 11-0 and have destroyed all comers on their way to another likely playoff appearance.  They have a new head coach who can continue the storied Buckeye tradition of winning a lot before leaving in disgrace--Woody, Tressel, and Urban say "hi"--not that the fans remotely care.

This was a true rivalry for the longest time, with each team experiencing peaks and valleys.  While the 30s-40s belonged to the Maize and Blue, the 50s-60s leaned scarlet and gray, until an upstart coach named Glenn "Bo" Schembechler came along to even things out.

Michigan enjoyed the mid-70s through the 90s before OSU went on their current 16-2 run.  The rivalry produced stars coming up huge in crucial moments like Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson, both of whom cemented Heismans with their performances against the Bucks.

In fact, that '97 game was the final push Michigan needed to win it all.

But the aughts and the 2010s were a low point for Michigan as outgoing coach Lloyd Carr let the game pass him by, and replacements Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke (who won UM's most recent game in 2011) made things worse.  Close calls in 2006 and 2013 were just that, and Jim Harbaugh hasn't gotten over that hump yet, though 2016 stands out (J.T. was short!).

Still, Michigan is peaking at the right time, as evidenced by a nice win at Indiana last week that saw the offense perform in a way the fans were hoping they would all offseason.  The reality says that OSU wins their 8th straight in the rivalry, but there's always hope, as The Game from 50 years ago reminds us.  Win or lose, it's been another fun regular season, and now it's time to leave it all on the field, just the way Bo would have wanted.

LET'S GO BLUE!

Blue Saturday

1-0.  A new streak begins today!

HAIL!

Michigan gameday: HATE WEEK

Today only one game matters.  Let everyone else enjoy the BCS fixing the rankings so they can have their 100% SEC championship game that excites them so much they die of autoerotic asphyxiation--today is THE GAME.  The undisputed best college football rivalry and probably the best in sports.

Today has to be the end of an ugly losing streak against Ohio--yes, I'm calling them Ohio like everyone else because they deserve it--it's what their band spells on the field, it's what they spell out with their arms, and most importantly, it's what my coach calls them.

More than a year ago an awesome fellow blogger sent me this and I think it still applies:

The only thing still not accurate on that card is that it's missing Ohio's current lame duck interim coach who, after this season, will make way for Urban Meyer--you know, until all his players continue getting arrested and he retires for "health reasons."

But that's the future, and my only concern is for today.  This losing streak that started with the downward spiral of Lloyd's last couple years and continued with the curse laid upon RichRod by the athletic department should finally end today when a highly-motivated and much-improved Michigan team sets its sights on an underperforming Buckeye team reeling from the effects of its decade (or more) of cheating.  Five years after this school lost its AD--athletic dad--its time to honor Bo with a win that's hard-earned by a team of players who stayed despite the chaos and bullshit of the last five years, a team that, by staying, will fulfill Bo's promise and be champions of The Game.

GO BLUE!  BEAT OHIO!

The toughest man(ager) alive

When I talk a bit about Michigan baseball alumni on this blog, there's a guy I don't mention too often since he was never a big star here or in the Majors, plus he played most of his career during an era when cards weren't quite as out-of-hand as they are now.  However, I'm happy to say that today is a perfect occasion to put the spotlight on this former Wolverine who'll make Michigan alumni the world over (and believe me, there's a LOT of us) proud during a press conference tomorrow:  Mike Matheny.

In news that's sure to matter to fans all over the midwest, the St. Louis Cardinals decided today to hire Matheny to replace baseball legend Tony LaRussa as their manager.  Mike played for the Cards for a few seasons and was most recently a special adviser for the team.  He was chosen over more experienced managers and coaches such as Terry Francona, plus Cubs legend and for some reason not new manager Ryne Sandberg.  Despite Matheny's lack of experience, history shows that he has two factors in his favor:  other first-time managers have gone on to have some success (see perennial asshole Ozzie Guillen) and former catchers, such as the very successful (and classier) Mike Scioscia, due to years of being field generals, tend to enjoy great managerial careers.  Obviously that's my hope here, mainly because I'd love to see a Michigan Man succeed at this level, but also because I genuinely like the Cardinals thanks to their excellent franchise history and the fact that they're one of the best baseball towns period.

From MGoBlue.com

The Michigan Daily did a nice piece on him earlier this year and I totally recommend reading it because it's a fairly interesting story.  (I also recommend this interview with him from this year as well)  As a no-hit, great fielding catcher out of Ohio, the Buckeyes dropped the ball (OSU fans don't get that pun, why people make fun of them for marrying their cousins, the concept of not being a douche) in not recruiting him, but that was Michigan's gain.  The rest of the story is interesting and features several great moments.  One of my favorite aspects was the fact that he met his wife, a fellow Michigan athlete, on the first day of classes, making them a true Michigan family.  I also love his obvious reverence for and pride in the school, something he was definitely serious enough about to spend two years after being drafted finishing up his degree.  Matheny truly is a Michigan Man.

After being drafted by the Brewers (having spurned the apparently "standoffish" Jays years earlier) Mike went on to a solid MLB career.  It was ultimately derailed by concussion-like symptoms, a hazard of the job, but he wasn't nicknamed "The Toughest Man Alive" for nothing--he couldn't really hit but his defensive prowess was almost unheard of.  He won four Gold Gloves, but more impressively, he holds the record for most consecutive chances without an error in a career:  1565.  He was truly a gifted defensive catcher and it's a shame his career was cut short and that he didn't get to enjoy either of St. Louis' World Series titles as a player, but at least he got to participate in one with the Cards in 2004.

All that said, I wish Mike the best in this next step in his baseball career and hope he continues the Cardinals' tradition of excellence, hopefully with slugger Albert Pujols signed to a fat contract extension soon.  Go Cards and GO BLUE!

Memorial Day catchin' up

Happy Memorial Day, everyone.  Let's celebrate with a new post since it's been quite a while!

Trade #4 with Great Sports Name Hall of Fame:
The march to 300 Michigan hits continues thanks to Tim of the Great Sports Name Hall of Fame.  I recently picked him up a couple hits from Blowout, as I'm known to do, and in return he sent me a couple really nice PC additions:

Here's a B.J. Askew 2003 Bowman's Best auto RC, my favorite from this package.  I liked some of the early-2000s Bowman's Best designs, and Askew ended up with a pretty cool signature here, including his number.  This is Askew #3 for me, and I hope that collection continues to grow.

Next up is a Mario Manningham 2008 Stadium Club Impact jersey.  A nice blue swatch from Super Mario's rookie year, and it's serial numbered to boot.  This is Manningham #19 for me, and I have a feeling #20 is just around the corner.


Tim was also cool enough to throw in some other fun stuff for me, including a pair of great A.L. shortstops--Ripken and Alan Trammell, as well as a couple Lee Suggs cards that should make for some good trade bait for someone.


So don't miss out, get trading with the Mooss!  Thanks, as always, Tim.

More 2011 Bowman happenings:


Thanks to the magic of--what else?--Blowout, I've now completed my 2011 Bowman base set and cut a HUGE swath through my Bowman's Best wantlist.  I'm not going to show those off until I have the set finished, but I can't wait to do so because it's such a great looking set.  Keep an eye out for that down the line, once I can finish picking up Harper et al.

Fire Jim Leyland everybody!!!

Thanks to a total panic move on the part of the dysfunctional Tigers, Detroit is no longer privy to the ostensible talents of Mr. Scott Sizemore.  That's a really nice way of saying the jackasses in charge, including the increasingly dubious Dave Dombrowski, totally gave up on Sizemore and sold fairly low on him, in return for a (former first-round, as if that matters) RELIEF PITCHER.  I was already all over Detroit for the total mistake of extending Jim Leyland's reign of terror, but now that we're continuing the trend of shipping out the only second basemen that can play worth a damn (Polanco, anyone?) I just don't see how we're going to fill the position competently.  Then again, competence isn't exactly in abundance from the top down in this organization right now.  Anyway, I'll continue to enjoy this season's bright spots, like the consistently awesome Justin Verlander and the busting out catcher, Alex Avila, while I pray for some serious housecleaning to right the ship.

Fire Tressel!  Wait, he fired himself?
Ohio State coach Jim Tresselll (the extra "L"s are for lies, now a bigger JT trademark than the vest) resigned, or finally got forced out, or whatever (maybe he gave the president permission to fire him, it seems that's the way it works there).  Why anyone in the world was surprised at his actions given his track record is totally beyond me, but here's hoping this total waste of a person never gets to enjoy coaching a D-I team again.  While on one hand it's nice to see a guy who falsely played the morals/religion card get shot down so spectacularly, I wish Michigan still had the chance to even the score with him now that the playing field would seemingly be more equal (not all Big Ten schools can pay their "student ath-a-letes" so well AND turn a blind eye to literally any indiscretion).  Anyway, for now I'll enjoy the spectacular implosion that is THE Ohio State University's football team while I cross my fingers that the NCAA shows some cojones for once and rightfully wipes out the records for any games played by ineligible players.  Plus, of course, I'll laugh at Tressel upholding at least one recent major OSU tradition:  going out in a blaze of controversy and shame.