Monday, August 23, 2021
Sunday, August 22, 2021
OT: Ty Cobb Giving My Dad Hitting Tips...
There was a photo on Twitter today of Ty Cobb giving hitting tips to Mickey Mantle -- see below...
Well, my Dad (Jim Small, Detroit Tigers center fielder) had the same experience with Ty Cobb -- just before my Dad headed to Lakeland, FL for Spring Training in 1957. Here's the newspaper story from the San Francisco Examiner in February of 1957.
The folks at the San Francisco Examiner set up this interview / feature between Ty Cobb and my Dad, after his second season with the Detroit Tigers in 1956. My Dad is one of the very few players in Major League Baseball history to jump straight from high school to the big leagues -- which he did in June of 1955 after his high school graduation from Bellarmine Prep (San Jose, CA). He is 19 years-old in this photo with Cobb.
The photo on bottom left shows Ty splitting my Dad's hands apart on the bat -- which is how Cobb held the bat during his Hall of Fame career...
The coolest moment happened at the end of the day at Cobb's home -- when he went into a closet and pulled out a photo of his first day in a Tiger's uniform in 1905 -- and signed it and gave it to my Dad.
Here is Joe Theismann interviewing my Dad about his baseball career:
Ty Cobb giving a young Mickey Mantle hitting tips pic.twitter.com/3qmbEAjEbf
— Baseball In Pics (@baseballinpix) August 22, 2021
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Working On "Finishing Touches" to Golf Car...
I'm told we're getting closer to the arrival of the Notre Dame themed golf car...
The hold up has been "Tropical Storm Fred" which delayed the construction of the seats for the golf car (Lazy Life Seats + Covers -- Grovetown, GA) and the challenges in matching the color GOLD.
Finding the right gold paint color -- is DIFFICULT!
I did take on the task of creating a few medallions (photo above) that could be used on the front grille and the steering wheel of the golf car. Matt Leevy and Anthony Van Avermaete at Notre Dame's Idea Center were kind enough to knock out some Notre Dame Monograms out of acrylic for me -- then I took it from there.
Here's hoping we'll have wheels on the ground in South Bend before the Toledo game!
Friday, August 20, 2021
My First Trader Joe's Experience -- EVER!
Just traveled a couple of hundred yards from our home, to the grand opening of the Trader Joe's on the southern end of Eddy Street Commons...
I've been hearing about this store for years -- from my wife -- but, I had never stepped foot inside one, until today. IMPRESSED.
Prediction -- they are going to do very well here at Notre Dame!
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Monday, August 16, 2021
Sunday, August 15, 2021
Jamir Jones Getting Some Love in Pittsburgh!
The former Notre Dame DL/OLB is turning some head so far after two preseason games for the Pittsburgh Steelers!
LINK: JAMIR JONES
LINK: FILM STUDY ON JAMIR
Tony Jones Jr. Had a Big Night for the Saints!
The former Fighting Irish running back (pictured above) met with the media after his 82 yards on 7 carries last night vs. the Ravens...
LINK: TONY JONES JR.
Saturday, August 14, 2021
Julian Okwara w/Media After Lions' Game
The former Notre Dame defensive end played a number of snaps last night in the Lions' exhibition loss to the Buffalo Bills. Julian put plenty of pressure on the Bill's QB's throughout the game...
Julian's press session starts at: 22:52 mark of the video above
Friday, August 13, 2021
OT: When Does ND Football Play Here vs. Iowa!
If I'm Jack Swarbrick and NBC -- I'm taking a Shamrock Series game to the "Field of Dreams" and playing a football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in prime time...
Can you imagine seeing that "gold helmet" walking out of the corn rows onto that field at night...
A "made for Peacock" moment like none other -- until we play a game in St. Peter's Square (Vatican)...
Once Again: Domer Advances in U.S. Amateur
Davis Chatfield has advanced to the Sweet 16 of the U.S. Amateur being played at historic Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, PA. He tees off this morning at 9:50 AM ET -- and you can track his match at the link below.
TV coverage is as follows for today's round:
- 11 AM ET to NOON ET -- on Peacock
- NOON ET to 2 PM ET -- on Golf Channel
Davis will be returning to the Fighting Irish this fall for his fifth year -- courtesy of the NCAA's decision to allow student-athletes an additional year of eligibility due to COVID.
Here is a link to a story Davis wrote for Golf Digest about a great lesson he learned at Notre Dame. GOLF DIGEST STORY
Go Irish!
LINK: U.S. OPEN SCORING
Brian Kelly's Latest Press Conference
The Dick Corbett Head Football Coach at the University of Notre Dame -- met with the media after Thursday's practice...
Thursday, August 12, 2021
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Once Again -- Notre Dame Plays Top Schedule
Just took a look at the release of the first College Football Coaches Poll for the 2021 season -- to see which school is taking on the most ranked opponents in the TOP TWENTY. Here are the Top 20 teams "re-ranked" in the order of games against other top 20 teams this season.
This is the story -- much in the media choose not talk about -- when they start ranting about Notre Dame needing to join a conference.
WHY -- so we can play an easier schedule?
- NOTRE DAME* -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #12)
- ALABAMA -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #12)
- INDIANA -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #13)
- PENN STATE -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #14)
- IOWA -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #15)
- IOWA STATE -- 3 opponents
- FLORIDA -- 3 opponents
- LSU -- 3 opponents
- WISCONSIN -- 3 opponents
- OKLAHOMA -- 2 opponents
- OHIO STATE -- 2 opponents
- GEORGIA -- 2 opponents
- TEXAS A&M -- 2 opponents
- NORTH CAROLINA -- 2 opponents
- CINCINNATI -- 2 opponents
- MIAMI -- 2 opponents
- TEXAS -- 2 opponents
- CLEMSON -- 1 opponent
- OREGON -- 1 opponent
- USC -- 1 opponent
*Notre Dame is ranked as the toughest schedule among the TOP TWENTY -- winning the tie-breaker with Alabama, since the Fighting Irish play two teams in the TOP TEN versus just one for Bama...
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Ian Book Talks Camp Progress w/ Saints
Notre Dame's all-time leader in wins for a starting QB -- is a week or so into his NFL career...
LINK: BOOK W/ MEDIA
Access Hollywood & Today Show -- Lee Kiefer
The Notre Dame grad won the first GOLD MEDAL EVER in her sport in American history...
By Golly Molly -- You Can't Make This Up!
I've been without a laptop for the past seven days -- sorry I've been amiss in reporting on Notre Dame!
The Olympic games proved quite successful for the Fighting Irish with a number of former student-athletes winning medals over the few weeks in Tokyo.
But, one story sticks out for me -- MOLLY SEIDEL.
Who has ever competed for just the THIRD TIME ever in their event -- and runs away with an Olympic Medal? NO ONE, until Molly Seidel. Here's some of the coverage of her Olympic journey...
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Custom Golf Car Build -- Latest Update
The folks at Excessive Golf Carts (Prosper, TX) are continuing to build out a Notre Dame themed custom golf car for me. Here is their Instagram page, where you can see a number of their finished builds: EXCESSIVE
They're telling me we're about 3 weeks away -- so, I should have it here before the first football game!
In case you missed it, here was the first update on golf car build: UPDATE #1
ESPN Feature: Olympians' Skylar and Jewell
Thought you'd enjoy reading this ESPN feature on two former Fighting Irish All-Americans!
LINK: OLYMPIC BACKCOURT
OT: USA Olympics Gear = "Dots and Stripes"
I absolutely loved the concept of the golf shirt that the American team wore during Sunday's final round -- not the execution. (click on above image to enlarge)
You have to ask why did Adidas and their Tokyo based designer Hiroko Takahashi place "dots" instead of STARS on this shirt?
Huge miss!
Monday, August 2, 2021
Sunday, August 1, 2021
Two Domers Win Olympic Bronze in Foil!
Gerek Meinhardt (furthest right in photo) and Nick Itkin (second from left) won an Olympic Bronze Medal in the Olympic Foil... It's the second Olympic medal for the United States in this event since 1932.
Meinhardt '13 is married to Olympic Gold medalist and fellow Domer Lee Kiefer '17. Itkin '22 is a two-time NCAA Champion and a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame.
Congrats!
Saturday, July 31, 2021
Interviews of Notre Dame Stars in the NFL
Took a lap around the worldwide web and found a number of former Notre Dame stars taking questions from reporters at the start of NFL Training Camp begins for them...
LINK: CHASE CLAYPOOL
LINK: AARON BANKS
LINK: HARRISON SMITH
Friday, July 30, 2021
Romeo Okwara Meets w/ Detroit Media
Fast forward the video to the 6:00 minute mark to watch former Notre Dame star Romeo Okwara...
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Notre Dame Stadium's New P.A. Announcer...
It was announced yesterday that Chris Ackles will be the "new voice" of Notre Dame Stadium -- replacing Mike Collins.
Ackles, a lifelong Notre Dame fan, currently announces for the Chicago White Sox.
Rumored "Look" for Game with Wisconsin
Monday, July 26, 2021
Tokyo Olympics Update -- Meinhardt Upset!
Much was written yesterday about the GOLD MEDAL won by Lee Kiefer -- whose husband is Gerek Meinhardt..
Well, Gerek -- the #2 ranked athlete in the world in the FOIL, was upset in his first match by the 124th ranked player in the world...
Here's the Washington Post story.
LINK: WASHINGTON POST
Sunday, July 25, 2021
Photo of the Day: Lee Kiefer '17 Gold Medalist
The former Fighting Irish star just won an Olympic Gold Medal -- the first ever for an American (man or woman) in Foil!
Lee's husband, Gerek Meinhardt '13 is currently ranked #2 in the world in Foil -- and he begins his Olympic journey tonight at 10:35 PM ET
OLYMPIC FUN FACT: America has won only three Olympic Gold Medals in history in Fencing -- and all three have been won by former Notre Dame student-athletes!
- 2004: Mariel Zagunis, Sabre Olympic Gold Medalist
- 2008: Mariel Zagunis, Sabre Olympic Gold Medalist
- 2021: Lee Kiefer, Foil Olympic Gold Medalist
Notre Dame's "Power Couple" at Olympics!
Just minutes ago -- Lee Kiefer just became the first American ever to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the Foil!
Here's the moment it happened: OLYMPIC HISTORY
Her husband (and fellow Domer) Gerek Meinhardt is currently ranked #2 in the World -- he begins his quest for a Gold Medal in the Foil this evening at 10:35 PM ET
Kiefer Wins First Ever GOLD MEDAL for USA!
Notre Dame alum Lee Kiefer makes history!!!
Saturday, July 24, 2021
Friday, July 23, 2021
Olympics Start Tonight -- Cheer on Our Irish!
The Opening Ceremonies for the 2021 Olympic Games in Japan -- started this morning LIVE at 7 AM ET on NBC. The "encore" TV coverage begins this evening at 7:30 PM ET -- again on NBC.
The University of Notre Dame will be well represented in Tokyo these next few months -- with a total of 24 athletes and coaches on Olympic & Paralympic Teams!
Here's the list of all of the athletes and coaches who currently call or did call -- Notre Dame home:
TEAM USA (17):
- Yared Nuguse -- Track & Field Team
- Molly Seidel -- Track & Field Team
- Sam Grewe -- Track & Field -- PARALYMPIAN
- Skylar Diggins-Smith -- Basketball
- Jewell Loyd -- Basketball
- Jackie Young -- Basketball
- Molly Bruggemann -- Rowing
- Kevin Hurley -- Fencing
- Nick Itkin -- Fencing
- Gerek Meinhardt -- Fencing
- Lee Kiefer -- Fencing
- Sabrina Massislas -- Fencing
- Mariel Zagunis -- Fencing
- Francesca Russo -- Fencing
- Angie Akers -- Beach Volleyball (coach)
- Bucky Leach -- Fencing (coach)
- Christian Rascioni -- Fencing (coach)
TEAM CANADA (1):
- Natalie Achonwa -- Basketball
TEAM HONG KONG (1):
- Kaylin Hsieh -- Fencing
TEAM MONTENGRO (1):
- Ilija Tadic -- Fencing
TEAM PANAMA (2):
- Tyler Christianson -- Swimming
- Mike Litzinger -- Swimming (coach)
TEAM POLAND (1):
- Ewa Nelip -- Fencing
TEAM SINGAPORE (1):
- Anita Berhier -- Fencing
Thursday, July 22, 2021
A Custom Golf Car -- The Build Begins!
I joined the Development Team at the University of Notre Dame back in January of 2012 -- in December that same year, we moved into our new home just a couple of blocks away...
In that new home, we specifically designed an area in the garage to park a golf car -- that was more than eight years ago. I've been waiting a long time to finally have that golf car built!
This past February, I started the process of talking with custom golf car builders who could help create my long dreamed Notre Dame themed golf car. Surprisingly, most every company I spoke with had been severely impacted by COVID. They've been unable to acquire used golf cars from golf courses (they are hanging on to them for another year) limiting their ability to find inventory for custom golf car builds.
So, I had to expand my search beyond Indiana, Michigan and Illinois -- which led me to seeking out one of the top players in this space, EXCESSIVE CARTS out of the Dallas, TX. Rob & Stacie Wallach have built quite a business out of "tricking out" new and used golf cars -- and, they've agreed to build my golf car.
The custom golf car (pictured above) is one of the many that Excessive Carts has built for customers around the world.
Back in April, we began the process of designing the golf car and doing our best to try to match the helmet paint color of our Notre Dame Football team -- it's a color you can't order at any paint store. It's made exclusively for Notre Dame by Finish Line Industries and their company Hydro Graphics, Inc.
So -- we had to look around to try to find the closest match to that exquisite GOLD HELMET. We ended up choosing a powder coat color called GOLD GLITZ from a company called Columbia Coatings in Columbia, TN -- this took a lot longer than I had hoped...
That takes us to today -- Rob & Stacie just sent this video clip of the first golf car parts that have been powder coated in the Gold Glitz color and delivered to their production floor -- here's the video...
Replay: Milwaukee Buck's NBA Champ Parade
Our guy Pat Connaughton is introduced to the thousands in attendance at the 2:02:18 mark.
You will also find Pat in the parade for the first time at the 35:50 mark.