Tuesday, June 4, 2013

The Third "Jim Small" With a Hole-In-One!


I just learned my dad, former Detroit Tiger outfielder Jim Small -- got his first hole-in-one this afternoon at Tullymore Resort (Stanwood, MI) at the age of 76.  He did this on hole #5 a 127 yard par three.   I'm not going to embarrass him with with what club he used -- but I'm sure he's telling everyone it was "into a stiff wind..."

Now, today's hole-in-one completes a unique golf "HAT TRICK" for the Small family:
  • Our oldest son Jimmy '08 -- got a hole-in-one October 2011 at Verdict Ridge Golf Club -- a course north of Charlotte, NC -- click here for the story
  • And, I've been fortunate to have two holes-in-one in my golf career.  One at Treetops Resort on the Rick Smith Course (Gaylord, MI) and the other at Walnut Creek Country Club (Wixom, MI)

Not sure how many family's have "three generations" of holes-in-one -- all, with the same first and last name!   Maybe we'll have to send this story on to the Golf Channel!

What I failed to point out is my brother Jay Small -- also has a hole-in-one -- making it FIVE HOLES-IN-ONE FOR OUR FAMILY!


LINK:  TULLYMORE RESORT

OT: Please Look for "The Outdoor Option"


The TV show "The Outdoor Option" is produced by my cousin Pat Doyle -- a huge Notre Dame fan -- and will air on The Sportsman Channel in Q1 or Q2 in 2014.

Here's a sneak peak at the show -- starring the Reaser family!

LINK:  THE OUTDOOR OPTION

LINK:  OFFICIAL WEBSITE

The Yankees' "Domer" One Hits Cleveland!


David Phelps, a former Notre Dame baseball star, one hit the Cleveland Indians tonight in his six "shut-out" inning start for the New York Yankees!  Phelps left the game after six innings -- striking out seven Indians.

LINK:  PHELPS' ONE HITS THE TRIBE

Former ND Linebacker Injures Knee Again


This is disappointing news for former Notre Dame linebacker Darius Fleming -- apparently he injured the same knee TODAY that kept him out of action all of last season for the San Francisco 49ers.  Sad...

LINK:  DARIUS FLEMING KNEE INJURY

Chuck Martin Speaks at GVSU QB's Funeral


An emotional Chuck Martin (Notre Dame's offensive coordinator) spoke today at the funeral of Cullen Finnerty who was found dead this past week in the woods of northern Michigan.

Finnerty, led the Grand Valley State Lakers to THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS during his four-year college career.  The first national championship was with Coach Brian Kelly at the helm (Finnerty's freshman season) -- the next two came with Coach Martin leading the Lakers (Finnerty's junior and senior seasons).  Here's the story:

LINK:  CULLEN FINNERTY LAID TO REST

Ohio State's Prez Announces Retirement

Ohio State University president Gordon Gee -- announced his retirement today, effective July 1st -- just a week after controversial comments from an OSU Athletics Council meeting (this past December) were made public.

He also announced that he would be backing out of a commitment to speak at the graduation of St. Francis DeSales -- a Catholic high school located on the north side of Columbus -- which was scheduled for this Saturday.

The University of Notre Dame and Catholics were a couple of the targets of Gee's comments that led to today's retirement announcement.

LINK:  GORDON GEE TO RETIRE

LINK:  COLUMBUS DISPATCH STORY

I Missed This: Mike & MIKE Reaction to...


A few weeks back, former Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr., signed a free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  What I missed was the reaction to the signing by his dad Mike Golic Sr. -- here's the link:

LINK:  GOLIC'S REACTION

Brady Quinn Gets a New Start in Seattle


The number will look familiar to Notre Dame football fans...

Former Irish All-American QB Brady Quinn is in Seattle these days working with the Seahawks and old nemesis Pete Carroll.  It's the fourth NFL team for Brady -- and I'm rooting this will the team that Quinn will finally show the football world his skills...

A reporter from the Seattle Times caught up with Quinn after the Seahawks' OTA's yesterday -- here's the story:

LINK:  BRADY QUINN

Monday, June 3, 2013

12 Bus Loads of Fans Drive to See Skylar


12 bus loads of Notre Dame women's basketball fans made the trek to Chicago yesterday afternoon to see one of its own play her first professional game this close to campus...

Then to top it all off -- Skylar holds a Q&A with the fans "after the game" in a road arena -- think about that!  You've got to wonder what the Chicago Sky marketing team must be thinking.

(The photo above is of Skylar's Q&A session after the game...)

Only Notre Dame!

LINK:  SKYLAR TURNS THEM OUT!

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Notre Dame Alum a Bachelorette Contestant


Michael Garofola '02, is currently a contestant on the ABC hit show The Bachelorette.  Garofola, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Florida -- is one of the contestants who "got a rose" in the opening show...

If you want to get a look at Mike -- click on the bottom link below:


LINK:  DOMER ON THE BACHELORETTE

LINK:  REPLAY OF PREMIER EPISODE -- LAST WEEK'S SHOW

Former ND Player Named "10 Best in NFL"

Curly Lambeau -- who played football for the IRISH back in the days of Knute Rockne -- was just named the 10th BEST NFL COACH OF ALL-TIME!

The "founder" of the Green Bay Packers led his team to six Championships as its coach -- earning him this recognition:

LINK:  GREATEST NFL COACHES OF ALL-TIME

Missed This: Bettis' Grille 36 Harlem Shake


There is a sports bar in downtown Pittsburgh that bears the name of former Notre Dame football star Jerome Bettis -- it's called Jerome Bettis' Grille 36.  Well, the staff decided to join in the Harlem Shake craze -- see link below:

LINK:  BETTIS HARLEM SHAKE

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Further Proof Chicago Missed Not Drafting...


...Skylar Diggins

"FIVE BUSES" of Notre Dame fans are heading to Chicago tomorrow to watch former IRISH star Skylar Diggins and her Tulsa Shock teammates play a WNBA game in the Windy City...

Last season the Chicago Sky finished 10th out of 12 teams in attendance -- selling 5,573 tickets per game. Note:  The Tulsa Shock sold 7,381 tickets in their home opener this season -- compared to Chicago who sold 6,607 in their home opener.  Can't wait to see how many seats Chicago sells tomorrow!

Here's a story in the Chicago Tribune about Skylar and what her life is like these days.

(Photo above -- that's Jay-Z and his star client Skylar)


LINK:  THE LIFE OF SKYLAR

Eifert Earning HIGH PRAISE from Bengals!


Former Notre Dame All-American tight end Tyler Eifert is proving to his veteran teammates that he belongs...

Notre Dame fans will enjoy this story!

LINK:  EIFERT EARNING RESPECT

A Look Back @ 2012 Football Season


ESPN created this video -- recapping the "IMAGES" of the 2012 college football season -- they treated our Fightin' Irish with respect.  Thank you!

LINK:  2012 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON

Golson Looking at JUCO Ball in California?


The internet was wild with speculation, the past 24 hours, that Everett Golson was visiting Riverside City College (CA) this week -- looking to play for their football team this fall.

Well, about 3:00 AM ET this morning the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reported that a writer from the local paper in Riverside, CA spoke with Tom Craft, head football coach of the Riverside City College Tigers and he shot down those rumors.  Here's the story:

LINK:  GOLSON NOT GOING TO RIVERSIDE

Friday, May 31, 2013

Rainbow Over Notre Dame This Evening!!!



Just took these photos from our home in the "Triangle" area just a couple of blocks south of the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

OT: Catholic Identity in Question...


More than 1,200 Georgetown alumni, parents, faculty, etc., signed a petition to have "Catholic" removed from all references referring to the University in protest to "abuses of Catholic identity."

LINK:  A PETITION TO REMOVE CATHOLIC

LINK:  CANON LAW CASE AGAINST GEORGETOWN

Is Malik Zaire "The Guy" at QB for the IRISH


He's been on campus since January -- having enrolled at Notre Dame after graduating early from his high school in Ohio...

Malik Zaire is one of three scholarship QB's on the roster at the University of Notre Dame -- so, oddsmakers would say he has, at best, a "1 in 3" chance to be the replacement for Everett Golson come this September.

Here's a story that ran in today's South Bend Tribune on Malik and his chances to be THE GUY:

LINK:  MALIK ZAIRE

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Notre Dame Parent Named Phoenix Coach


Jeff Hornacek, the proud parent of a Notre Dame grad (Ryan Hornacek '10) -- was named the 16th head coach in the history of the Phoenix Suns.  Hornacek played 14 years (his first six for Phoenix) in the NBA.

LINK:  HORNACEK NAMED SUNS HEAD COACH