Sunday, July 14, 2019

Refurbishing Update: Notre Dame's Grotto

Click on photo to enlarge.

 View from Grotto towards Saint Mary's Lake

 Railing and kneelers yet to be installed at Grotto.

New steps (east side) down to Grotto.
 

Construction Update: The New Corby Hall

Click on photo to enlarge

Very impressed with the brick they selected -- click on photo to enlarge
 

Construction Update: New Indoor FB Facility

Click on photo to enlarge
 
Video Board -- click on photo to enlarge


South End Zone -- click on photo to enlarge


Looks like Notre Dame's Football team and Men's and Women's Soccer teams will be able to use this new indoor facility in the very near future.

My Dad & Brother Win "The Prestige" Saturday!


My 82 year-old Dad Jim Small (former Detroit Tiger) and my brother Jay (Denver, CO) won the Turnberry Flight at this weekend's The Prestige -- Tullymore's member/guest tournament at Canadian Lakes, MI.

Both played quite well -- Jay carded a 76 on Saturday and Dad carded a 89 to team-up to win their flight!

And, you should know they're both huge NOTRE DAME FANS!

Today's Detroit Free Press had a story about a Tiger fan who had two favorite players; Charlie Maxwell and my Dad... 

LINK:  FREE PRESS STORY

This Domer Fights For A World Title July 20th!



Notre Dame alum Mike Lee '09 -- will fight for the IBF Super Middleweight World Championship this Saturday (July 20th) on FOX.

Golden Tate Travels to Northern Ireland to Golf


Saturday, July 13, 2019

Former Notre Dame Football Stars on NBC...


The annual American Century Celebrity Golf Classic is taking place this weekend on the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe -- and a few former Notre Dame stars are playing in the tournament.  69 year-old Joe Theismann is leading the "much younger" Fighting Irish contingent...

Here's their scores in this modified Stableford format -- heading into tomorrow's final round.

28th:  Joe Theismann, 16 pts.
38th:  Golden Tate, 8 pts.
44th:  Jerome Bettis, 5 pts.
47th:  Tyler Eifert, 3 pts.
55th:  Tim Brown, -6 pts.
73rd:  Kyle Rudolph, -20 pts.

We can watch Sunday's final round on NBC at 3 PM ET.


LINK:  LEADERBOARD

USA's Top College Town to Start Your Career!


Guess which town in America ended up #1...

LINK:  TOP COLLEGE TOWN...

The Notre Dame Centre at Kylemore Abbey...

This is the Notre Dame Centre at Kylemore Abbey

 Kylemore Abbey -- click on photo to enlarge
Kylemore Abbey


Here's a few more photos from my trip to County Galway, Ireland -- earlier this week...

Thursday, July 11, 2019

An Interesting Ride Back to Dublin Airport...

Order of British Empire

Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Order of The House of Orange
 
 
If you follow my blog you'll know that I traveled to Ireland this past Sunday to meet with the Benedictine Nuns at Kylemore Abbey in County Galway...

During my time at Kylemore I met an individual by the name of Paul Smithwick.  Beer drinkers may recognize the last name -- yes, he's "beer royalty."  Paul's family began brewing Smithwick beer in 1702 in Kilkenny, Ireland.

Two years ago, Paul and his son Dan launched another brewery in Kilkenny -- Sullivan's Brewing Company.

Paul was kind enough to drive me from Kylemore Abbey to Dublin Airport (a four hour drive) on Tuesday.  During that time together -- I learned a great deal about Paul's career and some of the honors he's received...

I even convinced him to show me some of the "medals" that went with these honors (photos above).

I don't believe there are too many people walking around the planet who have been honored with the:

I can't thank Paul Smithwick enough for the hospitality he extended me -- driving me four hours to Dublin.  He didn't have to do that.

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Notre Dame's "Shared Mission" In Ireland...


I arrived at the beautiful Kylemore Abbey (County Galway, Ireland) Sunday afternoon -- with a couple of my colleagues from our storytelling team at the University of Notre Dame.  We are meeting with the Benedictine Nuns -- who have lived here since 1920 -- on Monday and Tuesday.

I will post more photos over the next two days.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Saturday, July 6, 2019

Anders Lee's New Contract Moves Him to #4!


Here's a look at the TOP 24 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
  • 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 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2019
  • 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 sits with Ronnie Stanley and the Ravens.  Baltimore just picked up Ronnie's "fifth year" option at $12,870,000 -- as they work on a new longer term deal.  STORY


LINK:  ANDERS LEE SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION


Notre Dame is Ranked a Little Low On This List


Monday, July 1, 2019

2019 U.S. Senior Open -- Payouts Per Player


If you're looking to see who made what -- Sunday afternoon at Notre Dame's Warren Golf Course -- here's the payout for the 59 players who made the cut and finished the 2019 U.S. Senior Open golf tournament...

LINK:  U.S. SENIOR OPEN -- PAYOUT