Yastrzemski's Grandson A Star At Vandy!

Notre Dame fans may know that Carl Yastrzemski attended the University of Notre Dame on a basketball scholarship before heading off to a Hall of Fame baseball career with the Boston Red Sox.

Well, Yaz's grandson Mike Yastrzemski is a star outfielder for the Vanderbilt Commodores.  Mike was drafted by the Red Sox after his senior year in high school -- he passed up the opportunity to join his Grandpa's old team to play college baseball.

Mike had a home run and four RBI in Vandy's weekend sweep of Oregon State to move on to the College World Series this weekend in Omaha.  Why couldn't we have gotten Mike to go to ND?  Here's a link to the game story:

LINK:  YAZ DIDN'T FOLLOW GRAMP!

Touchdown Jesus Getting a Makeover!

The University of Notre Dame is currently conducting maintenance on the "WORD OF LIFE" mural on the Hesburgh Library.  It was last done in 1994.  The 6,700 pieces of granite spans 134 feet high and 68 feet wide.  Here's a link to the WNDU-TV news story about the preservation work which should be completed in late September.  I'm betting before the USC game!!!

LINK:  TOUCHDOWN JESUS MAKEOVER

Domer Hannah Storm's Interview of Nowitzki

Notre Dame alum Hannah Storm (who went to the dark side when she took a job at ESPN) was front and center last night landing the interviewing duties right after the Mavericks big win over the "Heatles" to win the NBA Championship.  Here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  HANNAH INTERVIEWS DIRK

Muffet McGraw's Now a Hall of Famer!

This photo was taken Saturday night at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.  Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw was one of the honorees.  Congratulations Muffet!

Off Topic: Detroit Tiger Fans Won't Believe It!

My Dad (Jim Small) had the privilege of wearing the Detroit Tiger "old English D" back in the mid-50's.  Well, as life-long Tiger fan I learned something today that kind of floored me a little...

The "old English D" on the Detroit Tigers baseball cap -- does not match the "old English D" on their home uniform.  Can you believe it!!!

Take a look at the photos above -- you'll note the "old English D" on the Tigers baseball cap has "two bars" while the "old English D" on the uniform has "three bars."

The "old English D" did match until the 60's -- in fact the Detroit Tigers longtime Clubhouse Manager Jim Schmakel admits he was with the Detroit Tigers 15 years before he realized they didn't match.  The Tigers do not know why the two logos don't match.

What's up with that!!!???

Muffet McGraw Enters Hall of Fame Tonight!

Notre Dame women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame tonight -- congratulations Coach!  Here's a link to a Knoxville newspaper story today about Muffet's honor:

LINK:  ND'S HALL OF FAMER!

Phil Steele's Forecast for the Fighting Irish!

Phil Steele just published his take on the 2011 Fighting Irish -- thought you would enjoy what he had to say.  Here's the link:

LINK:  PHIL STEELE -- BULLISH ON THE IRISH

ND Board of Trustee Forced To Resign

Roxanne Martino, a 1977 graduate of the University of Notre Dame resigned this week from ND's Board of Trustees over a Cardinal Newman Society report that she had made donations to a couple of pro abortion rights groups.

Martino runs Aurora Investment Management -- a hedge fund company based in Chicago.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  ND BOARD OF TRUSTEE RESIGNATION

My Favorite Incoming Irish Football Player!

The folks at Irish Sports Daily reported this morning that incoming Notre Dame football player Joseph Schmidt turned down a FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP from the University of Arizona this past month -- to remain a "preferred walk on" and the honor of paying $208,000 these next four years to wear the gold helmet!


The linebacker out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California is now my favorite incoming freshman football player.  Here's a link to his high school highlight tape.


LINK:  JOSEPH SCHMIDT HIGHLIGHT TAPE

MICHIGAN vs. NOTRE DAME -- THROWBACKS

I like the Notre Dame uniform WAY BETTER than the school in Ann Arbor's!

Here's a link to more views of Notre Dame's "throwback" jersey:

LINK:  I LIKE IT!

"Rudy's" Nephew -- Baseball Star at ASU?

What's up with this?  Rudy's nephew chooses to play baseball at Arizona State University?

Rudy's nephew JOHNNY RUETTIGER wears #23 for the Sun Devils -- and he's one of their better players.  Drafted in the eighth round of the MLB Draft this week by the Orioles, Rudy is a 6'-2" outfielder out of the same high school as his famous uncle (Joliet Catholic).

He's currently on ESPN right now in the NCAA Tournament game against Texas.

LINK:  RUDY'S NEPHEW A SUN DEVIL

Notre Dame's Throwback Jersey Unveiled!

Here it is folks!  I LOVE IT -- WHITE SHOES AND ALL!!!  Here's how adidas describes the uniform design:

Paying homage to the rich football tradition of Notre Dame football, the Irish "Under the Lights" adidas uniform includes a white jersey with Kelly green lettering and two Kelly green shoulder stripes, old gold-colored pants, white socks with green stripes and white shoes. A large shamrock logo appears on the traditional gold helmet for the first time since the early 1960s. The years the Fighting Irish won National Championships are listed inside the bottom hem of the jersey.


Here's a link to a photo gallery:

LINK:  ND'S THROWBACK JERSEY

Tune In At Facebook For Uniform Unveiling!

The adidas Football US Facebook site will be unveiling the "throwback" football jerseys for Michigan and Notre Dame at 8 PM ET!

Adidas / Notre Dame Unveiling Friday Night!

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly "re-tweeted" this afternoon that Adidas would be having a special "unveiling" tomorrow involving Notre Dame.  Rumors persist on the internet that this could be the "throwback" uniform for the Michigan game -- or, a major uniform design change for Notre Dame this season.

Photo of the Day! -- Brian Kelly Tweet Photo

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly "tweeted" this photo this afternoon to promote next Tuesday's FOOTBALL 101 at Notre Dame Stadium.  This second annual event benefits Breast Cancer Awareness and is for women only!

Coach Kelly Named Top 100 Irish American!

The folks at Irish America magazine have selected Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly as one of the top 100 Irish Americans!  Here's a link to the honor:

LINK:  COACH KELLY HONORED!

Not Surprised: Reggie Bush Still With Heisman

USC running back Reggie Bush has yet to return his Heisman Trophy to the Heisman Trust.  Bush, who offered to forfeit his Heisman Trophy before it was stripped from him for his NCAA violations at USC -- has yet to actually give back the trophy.  It's only been nine months....

Here's a link to the story:

LINK:   BUSH STILL HOLDING ON TO HEISMAN

Irish Pitcher Drafted By Nationals Today!

For Notre Dame (graduating) senior baseball player Brian Dupra '11 -- the third time was the charm!

As a high school senior the right handed hurler was drafted in the 36th round by the Texas Rangers back in 2007.  He turned that down to play baseball at the University of Notre Dame.  Three years later in the 2010 MLB Draft the Detroit Tigers drafted him in the 11th round -- he turned the Tigers down to come back to ND for his senior season and to get his degree.  You don't see that every day!!!

Well, this afternoon the Irish alum was drafted in the seventh round by the Washington Nationals.  Congratulations Brian!  Here's a few of the stories:

LINK:  DUPRA DRAFTED BY NATIONALS 

LINK:  ND CAREER STATS

LINK:  DUPRA TAKEN IN SEVENTH ROUND

Nice Interview of Pat Terrell

The former Notre Dame football star was in town last week for the Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp.  You'll enjoy Pat talking about Brian Kelly, his time aT ND and what he's up to these days.

LINK:  PAT TERRELL BACK HOME

Subway's Chief Marketing Officer is a Domer!

Tony Pace '79, is his name and he's given a great deal of credit for Subway's climb to the largest single brand restaurant chain in the world!  So when you see that next Subway TV commercial -- know there's a Domer behind that brand.  Here's a link to an Observer interview of Tony along with a video interview of former Notre Dame All-American and current NFL All Pro DE of the New York Giants, Justin Tuck during a Subway promotional visit.  You'll enjoy him talking about his time at ND:

LINK:  SUBWAY'S DOMER!

LINK:  JUSTIN TUCK AT SUBWAY