I'm sorry for the week off, but I think I deserved a one week blog vacation. The last time I left you, I was on my way to see "We are Marshall." You definitely must go see this movie. We loved it. Great story and great acting. I think it is impossible for anyone to not enjoy it. Its been a pretty relaxing vacation for the most part. Movies, naps, and a lot of eating. I am trying to get it all in now - the eating that is, because as of tomorrow, January 1, I am going back on the starvation diet. Now for the highlight of the vacation.
So as I mentioned a few weeks back, MD's University of Detroit Titans were going to Lawrence to face my Jayhawks. This was MD's first trip to the Fieldhouse and probably my one and only opportunity to sit courtside and have all access. I flew out on a 6:30 flight out of Phoenix and had to connect through Houston (Had a confirmed Trichelle from Real World Las Vegas sighting at the airport - she looked bad. Too thin and was sporting a bad blonde hairdo. Nothing worse than this moron yakking away on her cellphone at 5:30 in the morning crazy loud). I landed in Kansas City and met MD in Lawrence at the hotel around 1:30. We went down Mass street for lunch. I had to take MD to my go to spot for the best delicacy in Lawrence, The Rudy's Pocket Za. We both buried medium's with Pepperoni (dipping it in Ranch is the key). We then took a walk down Mass, got some shirt for his kids, and got back in the car for a little campus tour. I took him through campus and past all of my various apartments where I lived. Other landmarks were included as well on the tour - The old Little Caesars where I used to work and is no longer there, The bar The Crossing - home of the infamous Eric Chenowith incident, and the staircase where Scott Whittaker (may he rest in piece) was arrested. We got back to the room, relaxed for an hour and headed to the Fieldhouse. We arrived a couple hours early so we could soak it all in. We had a parking pass right across from the arena. We walked in together, a moment I had long waited for, and a huge smile came across my face as we headed right onto the floor. As the minutes got closer, the Fieldhouse began to fill. Bob Davis, the longtime voice of the Jayhawks walked over and introduced himself to MD. He was looking for some pronunciation help on the Detroit players. MD introduced him to me and told him I was a KU grad. Next thing I know its 20 minutes later and Bob and I have just had a one on one conversation about the state of the KU program, Royals baseball, and how much he enjoys the city of Cleveland. I got a photo taken with him as well. Great guy.
My friend Sheri was in town visiting her parents and MD got her and her father two tickets - right behind the Detroit bench. Since I couldn't take photos from the scorers table during the game, I had Sheri on photo duty. Just before the game, the referees took the floor, led by the legend himself, Eddie Hightower. MD of course knew him and I made sure to snap a photo of the two of them. Its a classic. As we awaited tip off, the national anthem was sung, followed by the alma mater where the fans sway back and forth shoulder to shoulder. Then comes the Rock Chalk chant. MD loved every minute of it. The game tipped off and the crowd was loud as usual, even without the students there. 16,300 were strong as usual. The game was rather ho-hum, except for the fact that I was sitting so close. Now I have been to many sporting events in my day, but I can honestly say I've never seen anything like this. Early in the second half, out of nowhere, there was a stoppage in play. The ball boys started to clean up what I though at the time was a wet spot on the floor. I look over at Sheri and she gives me the finger down the throat sign. It turns out, Detroit assistant coach Garland Mance threw up on the floor, right in the middle of the game. It was so strange.
After the game ended, MD did a little postgame show and then we packed up his stuff and went into the locker room area for Coach Bill Self's press conference. We sat in the room and listened to him take questions from the media. During it, MD turned to me and said "I have heard all of this bullshit before," to which I replied "shhhhh." I was totally into it. As it ended, we waited outside the door and out walked Coach Self. MD congratulated him and introduced him to me. He gave me a huge smile, shook my hand, looked me right in the eye and said "Hey, Todd, nice to meet you. Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" I said that I always have a great time at the Fieldhouse and he gave me another big smile, said "nice to meet you," shook my hand again, and walked to his office. I can see why high school kids want to come play for him - he is so charismatic and doesn't come off as a phony, the way Roy Williams does. MD and headed back to the floor and took a bunch of photos together. The whole experience was so great and so well worth the travel. MD came through big time and delivered on everything. I saw the Fieldhouse in a way I have never seen it before and sat courtside and listened to my brother call a KU game from the front row.
So in my last blog for the new year, I want to wish you all a very happy and healthy new year. We have big things coming in 2007. I'll be back to my regular Monday/Thursday schedule starting this Thursday. Topics will surely include the execution of Saddam Hussein, New Year's Eve, and getting geared up for the baby. I'm off to see my nephew and niece at the dog park. Should be fun seeing the ex-Mrs MD for the first time in a while. Let the bitterness begin.
Song of the Day: "Busta's Lament" by Q-Tip
So as I mentioned a few weeks back, MD's University of Detroit Titans were going to Lawrence to face my Jayhawks. This was MD's first trip to the Fieldhouse and probably my one and only opportunity to sit courtside and have all access. I flew out on a 6:30 flight out of Phoenix and had to connect through Houston (Had a confirmed Trichelle from Real World Las Vegas sighting at the airport - she looked bad. Too thin and was sporting a bad blonde hairdo. Nothing worse than this moron yakking away on her cellphone at 5:30 in the morning crazy loud). I landed in Kansas City and met MD in Lawrence at the hotel around 1:30. We went down Mass street for lunch. I had to take MD to my go to spot for the best delicacy in Lawrence, The Rudy's Pocket Za. We both buried medium's with Pepperoni (dipping it in Ranch is the key). We then took a walk down Mass, got some shirt for his kids, and got back in the car for a little campus tour. I took him through campus and past all of my various apartments where I lived. Other landmarks were included as well on the tour - The old Little Caesars where I used to work and is no longer there, The bar The Crossing - home of the infamous Eric Chenowith incident, and the staircase where Scott Whittaker (may he rest in piece) was arrested. We got back to the room, relaxed for an hour and headed to the Fieldhouse. We arrived a couple hours early so we could soak it all in. We had a parking pass right across from the arena. We walked in together, a moment I had long waited for, and a huge smile came across my face as we headed right onto the floor. As the minutes got closer, the Fieldhouse began to fill. Bob Davis, the longtime voice of the Jayhawks walked over and introduced himself to MD. He was looking for some pronunciation help on the Detroit players. MD introduced him to me and told him I was a KU grad. Next thing I know its 20 minutes later and Bob and I have just had a one on one conversation about the state of the KU program, Royals baseball, and how much he enjoys the city of Cleveland. I got a photo taken with him as well. Great guy.
My friend Sheri was in town visiting her parents and MD got her and her father two tickets - right behind the Detroit bench. Since I couldn't take photos from the scorers table during the game, I had Sheri on photo duty. Just before the game, the referees took the floor, led by the legend himself, Eddie Hightower. MD of course knew him and I made sure to snap a photo of the two of them. Its a classic. As we awaited tip off, the national anthem was sung, followed by the alma mater where the fans sway back and forth shoulder to shoulder. Then comes the Rock Chalk chant. MD loved every minute of it. The game tipped off and the crowd was loud as usual, even without the students there. 16,300 were strong as usual. The game was rather ho-hum, except for the fact that I was sitting so close. Now I have been to many sporting events in my day, but I can honestly say I've never seen anything like this. Early in the second half, out of nowhere, there was a stoppage in play. The ball boys started to clean up what I though at the time was a wet spot on the floor. I look over at Sheri and she gives me the finger down the throat sign. It turns out, Detroit assistant coach Garland Mance threw up on the floor, right in the middle of the game. It was so strange.
After the game ended, MD did a little postgame show and then we packed up his stuff and went into the locker room area for Coach Bill Self's press conference. We sat in the room and listened to him take questions from the media. During it, MD turned to me and said "I have heard all of this bullshit before," to which I replied "shhhhh." I was totally into it. As it ended, we waited outside the door and out walked Coach Self. MD congratulated him and introduced him to me. He gave me a huge smile, shook my hand, looked me right in the eye and said "Hey, Todd, nice to meet you. Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" I said that I always have a great time at the Fieldhouse and he gave me another big smile, said "nice to meet you," shook my hand again, and walked to his office. I can see why high school kids want to come play for him - he is so charismatic and doesn't come off as a phony, the way Roy Williams does. MD and headed back to the floor and took a bunch of photos together. The whole experience was so great and so well worth the travel. MD came through big time and delivered on everything. I saw the Fieldhouse in a way I have never seen it before and sat courtside and listened to my brother call a KU game from the front row.
So in my last blog for the new year, I want to wish you all a very happy and healthy new year. We have big things coming in 2007. I'll be back to my regular Monday/Thursday schedule starting this Thursday. Topics will surely include the execution of Saddam Hussein, New Year's Eve, and getting geared up for the baby. I'm off to see my nephew and niece at the dog park. Should be fun seeing the ex-Mrs MD for the first time in a while. Let the bitterness begin.
Song of the Day: "Busta's Lament" by Q-Tip
2 comments:
Yeah KU! You look good TD. WHat a combo....brother vibes at the field house-----Bless
Todd:
It was so nice of you to stop over and see me. I will wave to you next time KU is on tv. Tracee sends her best.
Fern
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