Orlando Woolridge Dead at the Age of 52

Sad, sad news...

Former Notre Dame All-American, Orlando Woolridge -- the 6th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 1981 NBA Draft -- died last night at his parent's home in Louisiana from a chronic heart condition.

Orlando was one of the greatest BIG SKILL ATHLETES to ever wear a Notre Dame uniform -- with one of the greatest smiles ever in South Bend.  He was always fun to watch play...

LINK:  MIKE BREY ON ORLANDO

LINK:  ORLANDO WOOLRIDGE:  1959 - 2012

ND Alum in Second Place at Colorado Open!

Becca Huffer '12, who just graduated two weeks ago from the University of Notre Dame, birdied five of her first six holes in the second round of yesterday's Colorado Women's Open to move into second place!

Becca is making her PRO DEBUT this week!!!  As you'll see in the second link below -- Huffer will attempt to qualify for the LPGA Tour later this year.  They could use a DOMER on the LPGA TOUR!


LINK:  COLORADO WOMEN'S OPEN

LINK:  HUFFER MAKES PRO DEBUT

Vote for Notre Dame's "Cover Girl" Today!

Notre Dame Womens' Soccer player, Lindsay Brown is one of five young women who are involved in a contest to be on the October cover of Seventeen Magazine.  Brown, who has just finished up her junior year at Notre Dame, has quite a story -- which you'll see if you click on the links below.  (Photo above of Lindsay in Nepal last summer).

Let's get Lindsay her cover shot!

LINK:  VOTE HERE FOR LINDSAY

LINK:  LINDSAY BROWN -- WHAT WOULD YOU FIGHT FOR!

Domer Monty Williams Gets NBA's Top Pick!

Big night for the New Orleans Hornets and their head coach Monty Williams (photo above) -- as they won the NBA Draft Lottery and the rights to the first pick in the upcoming 2012 Draft.  Williams, a former Notre Dame hoops star, is expected to be adding Kentucky's freshman sensation Anthony Davis to his roster -- not a bad thing!

Here's a link to the Lottery selection and an interview of Coach Williams:

LINK:  HORNETS GET TOP PICK

Classy Move by Notre Dame Parent Martin Short

Comedian / Actor Martin Short -- who just happens to be the proud parent of two Notre Dame students; Oliver Patrick and Henry '12 -- was a guest this morning on NBC's Today Show with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kolb promoting his new movie Madagascar 3:  Europe's Most Wanted. 

Things were going fine until Kathie-Lee asked Martin why his long-time marriage to Nancy Dolman was so successful -- and, as you'll see, she didn't ask just one question about their relationship.  Unfortunately, Mrs. Gifford was unaware that Nancy died August 21, 2010 from cancer.

As you'll see -- Martin Short handled this in a very classy fashion.

LINK:  GIFFORD PUTS FOOT IN MOUTH -- BIG TIME

Mike Lee's Back in the Ring June 8 on ESPN!

University of Notre Dame alum Mike Lee '09, will be putting his undefeated professional boxing record on the line in a fight in Las Vegas, NV that will be televised on ESPN2 at 10 PM ET on Friday, June 8.  If you can't watch the fight in person (Hard Rock Casino Hotel) -- watch it on TV!

Good Luck Mike!

Working the Plan to a National Championship!

Notre Dame fans will enjoy watching these four Irish student-athletes re-live their 2012 Distance Medley Relay National Championship -- this is good stuff!  (Photo above of Jeremy Rae crossing the finish line!)

LINK:  THE PLAN TO WIN

Samardzija Wins "Bobblehead" Game Today!

You know you've hit the "big time" when your team runs a "bobblehead" promotion like the Chicago Cubs did today for former Notre Dame football All-American Jeff Samardzija (see photo).

Samardzija pitched seven strong innings before turning the ball over to reliever Jeff Camp in the 8th.  Jeff also knocked in a run with a base hit -- as he earned his fifth win of the season.  His ERA now stands at a sterling 3.09!

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA WINS AGAIN!

Toughest Schedule in the Nation -- Notre Dame

CBS college football analyst Bruce Feldman picks Notre Dame's 2012 football schedule as the toughest in the country.  No surprise here.

The IRISH have five potential top 15 programs on their schedule this season; Michigan State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Stanford and that school in "central Los Angeles."

Here's the link:

LINK:  TOUGHEST FOOTBALL SCHEDULE IN AMERICA

The Stanley Cup & the University of Notre Dame

It's the greatest trophy in all of professional sport -- the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup.  Since 1893, only five former Notre Dame students have had their names etched on the Cup:

• 1976, 1977 and 1978:  Bill Nyrop, Montreal Canadiens
• 1984 and 1985:  Don Jackson, Edmonton Oilers
• 2008:  Brett Lebda, Detroit Red Wings
• 2009:  Mark Eaton, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2010:  Stan Bowman, Chicago Blackhawks

The 2012 Stanley Cup begins tomorrow night as the Los Angeles Kings take on the New Jersey Devils.

God, Country, Notre Dame: Memorial Day 2012

On a day in which we reflect on the great sacrifice millions have made for our FREEDOM -- I share with you this video entitled; GOD, COUNTRY, NOTRE DAME.

Happy Memorial Day!

LINK:  ROCKY BLEIER -- GOD, COUNTRY, NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame Men's Lacrosse -- Next Year!

The Fightin' Irish came up on the short end of a 7 - 5 score in yesterday's NCAA Men's Division I Lacrosse National Semi-Final game with Loyola -- putting an end to another successful season.  Loyola's Eric Lusby scored five goals and Jack Runkel (goalie) made 15 saves, the most in his career in the Greyhounds win. 

The IRISH held Loyola to their lowest goal total of the season and dominated the face-offs 13 - 1 -- we just couldn't score...

LINK:  NATIONAL SEMI-FINAL RECAP

LINK:  ESPN STORY

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED STORY

LINK:  DAY 2 AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Are You the Smartest Notre Dame Fan?

Think you know Notre Dame?  Take the test!


LINK:  SMARTEST NOTRE DAME FAN

Notre Dame's Second Coming of Rocket Ismail!

Folks, be sure to watch the video linked below.  In a couple of weeks -- a young man from the Southwest will be arriving on the campus of the University of Notre Dame with the skills of Rocket Ismail. 

Davonte Neal comes to town with 4.37 speed and "back to back" ARIZONA PLAYER OF THE YEAR awards!  He's a huge talent!

Mose pundits believe Davonte will end up in the slot on offense -- and will be running back kick-offs and punts SOON!  After watching the film -- he needs the football in his hands -- often.  This man's a GAME CHANGER!

FYI:  I suspect Coach Kelly "might" require Neal to wear a GOLD HELMET when he's on the field!


LINK:  THE NEXT NOTRE DAME ROCKET!

Must See TV on Saturday -- ESPN2 @ 2:30 PM

Kevin Corrigan's Fighting Irish of Notre Dame left campus yesterday for Foxborough, MA -- home of the New England Patriots and home of the 2012 NCAA Men's Lacrosse National Championship.  The #4 seeded IRISH take on #1 seed Loyola -- Saturday at Gillete Stadium -- those of us not able to make it to the game can catch the action LIVE on ESPN2 at 2:30 PM ET.

The winner of this game will take on the winner of the Duke vs. Maryland game -- on Memorial Day!

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media are tracking the IRISH all weekend long.  Here's their report filed this morning:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LACROSSE

"Never An Excuse To Quit" -- Joe Kernan '68

Loyal son of Notre Dame, Mayor of South Bend, Lieutenant Governor and Governor of the State of Indiana, professional baseball team owner and resident of the infamous HANOI HILTON -- Joe Kernan '68, was recently honored by the Notre Dame Monogram Club. 

The video that introduced Joe to the gathering is quite moving -- you'll enjoy watching! 

LINK:  LOYAL SON OF NOTRE DAME

Happy 95th Birthday Fr. Ted Hesburgh!

He turns 95 years YOUNG today! 

Happy Birthday Father Ted!

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Notre Dame Student-Athletes Graduate...

Folks, it's a story that you won't find on the ESPN network -- student-athletes graduating.  And, that's a shame.  Here's a link to a feature that our friends at Fighting Irish Digital Media put together that you're going to enjoy.  It's a story you'll only find here...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GRADUATES IT'S STUDENTS -- ALL OF THEM

Notre Dame's Greg Crawford -- He's At It Again!

For the third consecutive "summer" -- University of Notre Dame's dean of the College of Science, Greg Crawford is on a "cross country" bike ride to raise money and awareness for Niemann-Pick Type C disease.

This year's route will take Greg from Boston (where he left on Monday) to his end destination of Pebble Beach, CA -- where he expects to arrive on June 22nd -- 3,250 miles later!  Here's a look at his RIDE SCHEDULE!

We'll be checking in on his ride every week -- though you can check in on him everyday at his blog -- see the link below:

LINK:  GREG CRAWFORD'S DAILY BLOG

Big East Home Run Derby Champ -- ALL IRISH!

Trey Mancini (Winter Haven, FL), a sophomore Notre Dame first baseman -- won the Big East Home Run Derby in Clearwater, FL on Tuesday night -- marking the second consecutive year a member of the IRISH baseball team won the hitting contest.  The folks at UND.COM were present -- as always -- with their cameras!

LINK:  HOME RUN DERBY CHAMP