OT: US Open's "Back 8" Starts at Hole #11

Yes, the US Open is being played with a "front ten" and a "back eight" this year at Merion Golf Club outside of Philadelphia.  That's not the only "unique" thing about this year's championship -- click on the link below:

LINK:  MERION STANDS ALONE

Irish Legends Golf Tourney -- Video Story

Coach Parseghian, Coach Holtz and Coach Kelly were at Lost Dunes Golf Club (Bridgman, MI) yesterday to host their annual IRISH LEGENDS golf event.  Looks like they had great fun again this year!  Here's the WNDU-TV story:

LINK:  IRISH LEGENDS

Potential Dangerous Weather for Notre Dame

The National Weather Service just issued a Tornado Warning for a couple of counties about 25 miles south of the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

TORNADO WARNING SIRENS FOR ST. JOSEPH COUNTY at 8:08 PM ET

If you'd like to keep track of the weather at Notre Dame -- click on the two links below.  The first link is to a LIVE WEBCAM on the MAIN BUILDING (Golden Dome) and then a second link to LIVE RADAR from one of the local TV stations in South Bend.

Keep an eye on the weather tonight!

LINK:  LIVE WEBCAM OF GOLDEN DOME

LINK:  LIVE WEATHER RADAR FOR SOUTH BEND AREA

Domer Gets $1.8 Million Bonus from Yankees

Notre Dame student-athlete Eric Jagielo -- a third baseman -- agreed to terms today with the New York Yankees.  The contract included a "signing bonus" of $1,839,000...

Congratulations Eric!

LINK:  JAGIELO AGREES TO TERMS WITH YANKEES

Floyd Running With the "ONES" in Arizona!

Never thought I'd have to write a headline like this...

Former Notre Dame All-American Michael Floyd. who didn't have the greatest of rookie seasons -- appears to be turning the corner on his NFL career.

Here's the story!

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD TURNING IT AROUND

Manti Te'o Meets With the NFL Media Today

He's been shielded from the media for a few weeks now -- but, they got their ACCESS today as the San Diego Chargers' Manti Te'o held a press conference.

LINK:  MANTI TE'O PRESS CONFERENCE

Vegas Has Notre Dame Favored in 10 of 12

One game is a "pick-em" -- that's Notre Dame's game at Michigan and the only team favored over the IRISH this season is Stanford and they're a 5.5 pt. favorite.  Here are the Vegas point spreads for Notre Dame Football:

• Temple at NOTRE DAME -- Irish are a 24 pt. favorite
• NOTRE DAME at Michigan -- Pick-em -- no favorite
• NOTRE DAME at Purdue -- Irish are a 14 pt. favorite
• Michigan State at NOTRE DAME -- Irish are a 6 pt. favorite
• Oklahoma at NOTRE DAME -- Irish are a 2 pt. favorite
• Arizona at NOTRE DAME (Cowboys Stadium) -- Irish are a 4 pt. favorite
• USC at NOTRE DAME -- Irish are a 5 pt. favorite
• NOTRE DAME at Air Force -- Irish are a 18 pt. favorite
• Navy at NOTRE DAME -- Irish are a 18 pt. favorite
• NOTRE DAME at Pittsburgh -- Irish are a 10.5 pt. favorite
• BYU at NOTRE DAME -- Irish are a 11 pt. favorite
• NOTRE DAME at Stanford -- Stanford is a 5.5 pt. favorite

Coach Kelly @ Patriots Mini-Camp Today

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly struck up a relationship with New England Patriots' Bill Belichick this past February at the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach -- they had never met before playing golf together for three days...

Well, that relationship led to Coach Belichick speaking at the Notre Dame Football Coaches Clinic in April and Coach Kelly visiting the Patriot's Mini-Camp today in Foxboro, MA.  Here's the story:

LINK:  COACH KELLY AT PATRIOTS' MINI-CAMP

Domer "Michael G" Survives Another Week!

Notre Dame alum Michael Garafolo '02 just received "A ROSE" this evening on ABC's hit show The Bachelorette.  Garafolo is an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the South Florida District.

Congratulations Michael G.!

LINK:  HE GOT A ROSE!

Rocket Ismail Back Home @ Notre Dame!

You've got to love Rocket's fire...  Notre Dame fans will enjoy this video -- especially our 330 lb. nose tackle playing defensive back and wide receiver!

LINK:  ROCKET TO IRISH CHOCOLATE

Jon Bon Jovi -- Representin' Notre Dame!

Rock-n-Roll star Jon Bon Jovi is now sporting a Notre Dame Leprechaun on his guitar at concerts -- see photo above.  His son will be attending the University of Notre Dame this next school year -- he's walking on to the football team. 

Here's a photo taken at a recent concert in Manchester, England.

OT: "Arms Race" in High School Football

A $60 million "tax funded" high school football stadium.

Only the State of Texas...

LINK:  RELIGION IN TEXAS

Cullen Finnerty Story: Coach Chuck Martin

This is a MUST READ story.

Cullen Finnerty, the star QB at Grand Valley State University left this world too soon...

I would have loved to have seen this young man in a GOLD HELMET.

LINK:  CULLEN FINNERTY

Detroit Tigers Draft Incoming ND FB Recruit

Torii Hunter Jr., was drafted today in the 38th round of the MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers.  Hunter Jr., is expected to be in South Bend in a few days to start his "football" career with the Fighting Irish.  Pretty cool story...

LINK:  HUNTER JR. DRAFTED

Yankess Draft a Domer #26 in MLB Draft

Notre Dame student-athlete Eric Jagielo, the reigning Big East Player of the Year, was drafted #26 overall last night in the MLB Draft by the New York Yankees. 

Jagielo, a third baseman -- may have become a priority for the PINSTRIPES after the latest scandal involving Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez...

Congratulations Eric!

LINK:  JAGIELO DRAFTED BY THE YANKEES

ND Alum Named New Jersey Interim Senator

Jeff Chiesa '87, was just named as the "interim" Senator for the State of New Jersey today by Governor Christie.  Chiesa, the state's Attorney General, will replace long-time Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg who died this past week.

LINK:  DOMER SELECTED TO U.S. SENATE

Coach Kelly Says Tommy Rees is the Starter

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui were honored last night at a dinner at Grand Valley State University.  As most of you know, Brian Kelly's coaching career began at this school 25 years ago...

During his talk he mentioned -- and this should come as no surprise -- that Tommy Rees would be the starting QB going into fall camp.

Here's the story:

LINK:  COACH KELLY HONORED

Chris Watt vs. Grant Irons -- Who Wins?

The folks at the Monogram Club produced this video of current Notre Dame offensive lineman Chris Watt '13 and former Notre Dame linebacker Grant Irons -- talking about how they might handle each other in a one-on-one battle in the trenches...

My money is on Chris Watt -- it has to be, Chris sits in with my team most every Thursday to talk about BEST PRACTICES in marketing...

LINK:  WATT  vs.  IRONS

Two Domers on ABC's The Bachelorette !!!

I posted a story earlier in the week about a Notre Dame alum (Michael Garafolo '02) who is a contestant on ABC's hit series The Bachelorette -- well, there were TWO!

Larry Burchett '01, (photo above) is a Notre Dame alum from Overland Park, KS -- who is an ER Doctor at Sonoma Valley Hospital (CA).  Unfortunately, Larry didn't get a rose this past week and he's been eliminated from the show.  Sorry Larry!

Notre Dame fans will now have to root for Michael...


LINK:  LARRY BURCHETT

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