JIM SMALL'S NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG -- www.NDGOIRISH.com -- A NOTRE DAME BLOG

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Domer Romeo Okwara's Passion Project...

Thought you'd enjoy seeing this ESPN story about former Notre Dame football player Romeo Okwara -- who now plays for the Detroit Lions:

LINK: ROMEO

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Domer Jimmy Dunne's September 11, 2001

New Notre Dame Song To Be Released Friday

Two University of Notre Dame seniors will be releasing their song; The Fighting Irish (of Notre Dame y'all) this Friday on campus;

2:30 PM ET -- Live performance at the stage between Eck Visitors Center and ND Bookstore
Followed by a CD autograph session until 3:45 at the ND Bookstore -- the Bookstore will be selling the CD for $1.99 -- beginning Friday
6:00 PM ET -- Live performance at the Pep Rally on South Quad

The song honors the history of how the Notre Dame community embraced the “Fighting Irish” label, originally intended as a slur, and today wears it as a badge of honor.

Beginning, Friday you can download the song for 99 cents at; Amazon Music and Spotify and many other online music retailers over the coming days...

LINK: PRESS RELEASE

Domer Austin Carr Talks About Our Friend...

Cavs legend, Austin Carr is emotional as he reflects on his career with partner, the late, Cleveland Cavaliers television announcer, Fred McLeod. pic.twitter.com/IYIcJ4WgIH
— WKYC Channel 3 News (@wkyc) September 11, 2019

LINK: MY STORY ABOUT FRED

Another All-Time Attendance Record for ND...

The folks in Athens, GA have decided to bring in temporary seats -- for the first time ever -- to a home football game in Sanford Stadium, to accommodate the largest crowd ever to see a football game in the State of Georgia.

This is a common occurrence when Notre Dame football comes to town. Here's a list of some of the Stadiums in this country who have had their largest college football crowd ever when the Fighting Irish came to play...

Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, MI)
Spartan Stadium (East Lansing, MI)
Los Angeles Coliseum (Los Angeles, CA)
Soldier Field (Chicago, IL)
MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)

LINK: ADD GEORGIA TO THE LIST

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Bob Davie Met With Media Today...

It's the first time Bob Davie has met with the media to talk about his recent medical situation -- and Saturday's game against Notre Dame...

Nick Martin Is Now #15 On Notre Dame List...

With today announcement of Nick Martin's contract extension with the Houston Texans -- he's now moved up to 15th on the list of former Notre Dame athletes (football, basketball, baseball and hockey) who will be paid the most as a professional athlete:

Jeff Samardzija: $127,625,000 -- guaranteed contract to 2021
Zack Martin: $102,308,800 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2024
A.J. Pollock: $76,397,500 -- guaranteed contract to 2023
Anders Lee: $75,044,038 -- guaranteed, contract to 2026
Kyle Rudolph: $74,173,950 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2024
Golden Tate: $71,478,749 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2022
Jaylon Smith: $69,159,293 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2024
Troy Murphy: $66,000,000
Stephon Tuitt: $64,760,551 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2022
Harrison Smith: $63,666,546 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2021
Brad Lidge: $55,335,000
Bryant Young: $44,000,000
Justin Tuck: $43,248,463
John Sullivan: $40,050,021
Nick Martin: $36,673,840 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2022
Jerome Bettis: $35,122,500
Jeff Faine: $34,456,892
Ronnie Stanley: $33,354,331 -- guaranteed, contract to 2020
Kyle Palmieri: $30,192,154 -- guaranteed, contract to 2021
Tim Brown: $28,432,686
Matt Carroll: $28,437,349
Joe Montana: $26,000,000
Ian Cole: $23,049,694 -- guaranteed, contract to 2021
David Phelps: $19,233,850 -- guaranteed, contract to 2020
Michael Floyd: $19,080,535 -- free agent
Rocket Ismail: $18,000,000

The next big contract negotiation still sits with Ronnie Stanley and the Ravens. Baltimore picked up Ronnie's "fifth year" option at $12,870,000 -- as they work on a new longer term deal. STORY

OT: My Friend Fred McLeod -- Left For Heaven

If you're a Detroit Pistons or Cleveland Cavaliers fan -- you'll know who Fred McLeod is...

I received a text this morning from Matt Freeman (Irish Sports Daily) that my friend had died of a heart attack last night. The news was a shocker for me.

I mourn through storytelling -- so let me share with you my favorite Fred McLeod story.

Fred and I became friends during his time in Detroit. We would often play golf at Walnut Creek Country Club in Wixom, MI -- where I had a membership. Our conversation one day centered on Fred's desire to get the Cleveland Cavaliers' play-by-play role for TV.

At the time, Fred had a TV gig with WDIV Detroit and the play-by-play role for the Detroit Pistons' TV games. Fred had half of the schedule, sharing the duties with Notre Dame alum George Blaha, who had the other half of the Pistons' TV schedule.

Fred wanted a full-time TV play-by-play gig and Cleveland was his hometown team -- and he let me know this.

What Fred didn't know, was I had a way for him to be introduced to the Cleveland Cavaliers' owner, Dan Gilbert. A friend of mine, Pat McGinnis was one of Gilbert's closest friends and colleague at Rock Financial.

Pat had extended the opportunity for me to jump on Gilbert's private jet with Dan (a few times) to go see a Cavaliers' game -- and sadly my schedule (I commuted / worked in New York City) never allowed me to take him up on the offer.

On learning this, Fred asked me to "promise him" that if I ever got asked again to jump on Gilbert's plane and can't go -- please ask to see if he could take my spot...

Well, a few months later, Pat McGinnis calls again and asks me to join him and Dan on Gilbert's private jet to go see the Cavaliers play -- and once again, my schedule would not allow it...

So, I asked Pat -- would it be okay if Fred McLeod took my spot on the trip?

Pat, said sure -- so I called Fred up and told him about the opportunity. Thankfully, Fred could go.

So here's what happens...

Fred arrives at Oakland Country Airport, where Dan Gilbert kept his plane. He walks out on the tarmac and climbs the steps onto the jet to learn he's the last one to board. Sitting on the jet are; Pat McGinnis, Dan Gilbert and some guy named Bob Ritchie (better known as KID ROCK).

Well they're not in the air five minutes when Dan Gilbert says to Fred "you don't remember me, do you..." Fred's thinking to himself (you're Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and many other companies) -- while Dan continues on... "I was a college intern at a TV station in Flint (MI) that you used to work at, and no one was nicer to me, I've never forgotten that. If there's anything I can ever do for you -- you just ask..."

Fred remembered "Danny the intern" -- what he didn't know was that intern now owned the Cleveland Cavaliers...

Well, Fred jumped on the opportunity. He quickly replied to Dan; "well, if you're serious about the offer, there is something you could do for me someday. If the Cleveland Cavaliers' play-by-play position on TV ever opens up, I'd like to be considered for that job..."

A few months later in 2006 -- Fred got that gig.

Ten years later -- this happens...

.@CavsFredMcLeod @MrCavalier34 call the game of games in tears! #ALLin216 @cavs @cavsdan pic.twitter.com/tH8HEESSLl
— Beth McLeod (@BethHMcLeod) June 20, 2016

Fred McLeod was kind to everyone he ever met -- including that college intern...

I haven't seen Fred in a few years, we have talked on the phone and texted each other. It's sad we'll never cross paths again here on Earth.

Fred, enjoy Heaven's broadcast location -- it doesn't get any better...

LINK: FRED'S FUNERAL SERVICE

Will Fuller Makes Great Catch on MNF!

Will Fuller just #Mossed Eli Apple. Ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/c9BFX3Dueh — NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) September 9, 2019

The former Notre Dame football star made a great catch in the first half of last night's Monday Night Football game...

Monday, September 9, 2019

Brian Kelly Talks New Mexico Game With Media

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Two "Rookie" Domers Make Big Plays in NFL

It was the first official regular NFL season game today for a number of former Notre Dame football stars...

Two made winning plays -- that's Drue Tranquill reacting to blocking a punt in the photo above!

LINK: BOYKIN'S FIRST CATCH A TD!

LINK: TRANQUILL BLOCKS PUNT!

ND Fan "Worst Baker in America" Runner-Up

Notre Dame fan Chris Scott, just competed on the Food Network Show -- Worst Bakers in America...

And, he finished as the "almost" worst baker in America!

Brady Quinn Tells the "Touchdown Jesus" Story

Brady Quinn (@3rd_Goal) reflects on The Word of Life Mural, better known to Notre Dame students and alumni as "Touchdown Jesus." pic.twitter.com/phKzbPP86u — FOX Sports: Golf (@GolfonFOX) June 28, 2019

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Domers Named Captains of NFL Teams...

Here's the list of the three former Notre Dame football players who will be wearing a "C" on their uniform this Fall -- designating them as a Team Captain in the National Football League!