Former Irish Hoops Stars Play for $500,000!

A team made up of Notre Dame men's basketball alumni has made it to the championship game of The Basketball Tournament -- and the winning team receives $500,000!  A field of 32 teams competed this weekend in Philadelphia -- The Fighting Alumni (that's the team's name) -- won four games -- earning a trip to the championship game.

Here's the twist -- the championship game is slated for June 28th -- to be held in a location voted on by fans.  That's right -- the fans pick where the championship game is played!  So, Notre Dame fans -- if you want to pick the destination, click on the link below and vote.

Here is the list of former Irish basketball stars on the team;

• Chris Thomas
• Tory Jackson
• Zach Hillestand
• Ryan Ayers
• Russell Carter
• Ty Nash
• Rob Kurz
• Colin Falls
• Torin Francis

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE 

LINK:  THE FIGHTING ALUMNI -- ROSTER

LINK:  VOTE HERE!

Jewell Loyd Leads TEAM USA to Gold Medal!

Notre Dame student-athlete Jewell Loyd '16, led Team USA to the FIBA 3x3 World Championship in Moscow, Russia yesterday afternoon.  The Americans beat the Russians on their home court in the final game!  (That's Jewell wearing #8 in the far right of the photo)

As you'll read in these news stories -- Jewell "dominated" on both ends of the court -- putting her in the conversation as one of the top players "ON THE PLANET."

LINK:  WORLD CHAMPS!

LINK:  TEAM USA SITE

Skylar Diggins Featured in Esquire Magazine!

Folks, former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins is everywhere...

These are the spreads from a story in the July issue of Esquire Magazine.

Latest Jeff Samardzija Trade Rumors

Former Notre Dame All-American Jeff Samardzija won his second game yesterday for the Chicago Cubs as he pitched seven strong innings, striking out eight while giving up two earned runs.  His stats on the season:

• ERA:  2.54 -- seventh best in the National League
• STRIKEOUTS:  75 -- tied for tenth best in the National League
• INNINGS PITCHED:  85 -- sixth best in the National League

LINK:  TRADE RUMORS

Connaughton Drafted By Baltimore Orioles!

I apologize to the regulars of the ND GO IRISH BLOG!  I've been "off the grid" the past few days in northern Michigan with my family -- our daughter Kara gets married next month and we took a few days to get away and spend some time with her.

One of the stories I was following was the Orioles taking Notre Dame two-sport star Pat Connaughton in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft.  See the story linked below.

Congratulations Pat!

LINK:  CONNAUGHTON TO THE ORIOLES

Clausen Signs a Deal With the Chicago Bears

The story just broke that the Chicago Bears have signed free agent Jimmy Clausen to a contract.  The former Notre Dame QB is being brought in to back-up Jay Cutler.  As more information becomes available -- we'll have it here.

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

Encouraging Story For Lions' Theo Riddick

Former Notre Dame running back and now Detroit Lion Theo Riddick -- is the subject of a Detroit News story.  Thought you'd enjoy this. 

That's Riddick taking a hand-off from former Boise State QB Kellen Moore -- in the photo above.

LINK:  THEO RIDDICK

Photo of Terry Hanratty and His Trading Cards

Former two-time Notre Dame All-American QB, two-time Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl Champion and father of Fighting Irish offensive lineman Conor Hanratty -- Terry Hanratty -- is seen in this photo holding a couple of his Upper Deck Trading Cards from yesteryear...

Incoming Football Recruit's Taekwondo Skills

You can just bet incoming Notre Dame football recruit Quenton Nelson will be reminded (often) of this stunt by his Fighting Irish teammates... 

In the video linked below -- Nelson destroys two boards.

LINK:  POWERFUL PUNCH

Notre Dame Opens the Toronto Stock Exchange

Only Notre Dame... 

Perry Dellelece '87, has organized a very special day for his alma mater in Canada.

This morning in downtown Toronto, Ontario -- a number of Notre Dame officials and alums rang the opening bell of the Toronto Stock Exchange.  Here's a link to the video replay -- along with a link to the story from the Toronto Stock Exchange site:

LINK:  TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME RINGS THE BELL

Most Expensive Ticket -- 2014 College Football

Folks, seems like every year the most expensive ticket in college football involves the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- this year is no exception...

The folks at StubHub released this information:

LINK:  MOST EXPENSIVE TICKET IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Time Lapse: Notre Dame Stadium Make-Over

Here's the latest look at what's going on inside the "House That Rock Built" -- from the transformation of Notre Dame Stadium for the 169th Commencement Exercise -- to the removing of the grass field and plenty of dirt in the weeks after... 

As Notre Dame Stadium prepares for its first-ever game on field turf -- August 30th -- against Rice.

 Click on the link below:

LINK:  TIME-LAPSE

MLB 2014 Mock Draft: Domer Pat Connaughton

I found a Major League Baseball mock draft that went beyond the first round -- and it's predicting Notre Dame "two-sport star" Pat Connaughton will go in the first 100 picks. 

To learn what team and what round-- click on the link below:

LINK:  CONNAUGHTON DRAFTED BY...

Incoming Domer Wins Michigan Shot Put Title!

Jhonny Williams, out of Berrien Springs High School -- won the Michigan High School Division III State Championship in the shot put this weekend with a toss of 56 feet!

Williams,  a 6'-5" 230 lb. defensive end prospect, will be enrolling at Notre Dame in a couple of weeks to play for Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish.

Congratulations Jhonny!

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

90 Days Away: The Fighting Irish Return Today

The 2014 Notre Dame football season is just 90 days away -- as the Fighting Irish return to campus today after a few weeks away after the Spring Semester's end. 

The incoming freshman class will report in a couple of weeks -- when the Summer Semester begins.

Notre Dame QB Everett Golson spent his time away in San Diego working with QB guru George Whifield.  The photo above is of Golson working on a passing drill...

Martin Running With First Unit at Right Guard

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Notre Dame offensive tackle Zack Martin with the 16th overall pick of last months 2014 NFL Draft. 

As you'll see in this story -- he's already made a position switch:

LINK:  MARTIN A STARTER

The Latest Look Inside Notre Dame Stadium

Notre Dame photographer Matt Cashore posted this photo he took yesterday on Twitter.  It shows the work going on inside Notre Dame Stadium -- as the conversion from natural grass to field turf continues...

Jimmy Clausen Looking For a NFL QB Gig

Former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen is rehabbing from shoulder surgery this past September -- and looking for a NFL team who will give him a shot at a back-up role on their roster.

The folks at USA Today caught up with Jimmy a few weeks ago -- here's the story:


LINK:  CLAUSEN LOOKING FOR A JOB

Detroit Free Press Story on the Lions' T.J. Jones

Former Notre Dame football team captain T.J. Jones was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Fighting Irish fans will enjoy this story...

LINK:  T.J. JONES

McBride Scores 30 Against Skylar's Shock

What a game for former Notre Dame All-American and San Antonio Stars rookie Kayla McBride!

She scores 30 -- including the game winning three-pointer with 13.4 seconds left in her team's 82 - 79 win over Skylar Diggin's Tulsa Shock.  Skylar scored 17.

Kayla's the 15th rookie in WNBA history to score 30 points in a game -- and it's the most points ever scored by a Notre Dame alumna in a WNBA game!


LINK:  SAN ANTONIO NEWS

LINK:  WNBA STORY

LINK:  ESPN STORY