Fall Craze

Clear out your schedule, or schedule your life around it. Girlfriends are told to stay out of contact with you for perhaps the most important two or three hours of your late summer. Weeks of research, analysis, pre-ranking and exaggeration take place because of it. Time is wasted thinking about it. Possibilities are talked over and over again. You wonder for months where your draft pick will be located and where other dangerous opponents will make their pick. The line of trust grows tenser by the minute because of it. Was what he told me true? Lines of communication become filled with talk. It might be the first thing you think about every day. What is the craze I am talking about? Fantasy Football. Numerous leagues, might I say, millions, are created early in the summer and then fulfilled throughout the remaining months of the year.


In the next four months, you will become a pro at trash talking and Sundays will be the most important day of the week. Time on the internet may double because of it. Arguments will take place about whose team is better. Some may stay up late on Sunday night and far into Monday morning to ensure they pick up last week's best performer before anyone else. One-sided trades will be made causing the entire league to go up in arms. Managers will analyze their roster so much that at one point, they will have thought about either dropping or trading their entire roster. Ties to your favorite team may be pressed if your favorite team is playing a team loaded with your fantasy guys. You don't care how touchdowns are scored, as long as they are scored by your players. Others will roll their eyes at the continous, boring talk of how this player or that player scored two touchdowns. Fantasy playoffs will cause managers either to be disgusted that they didn't make it or extremely nervous for the fact that they might be screwed over by having players on winning teams or for some other crazy reasons. The end of the season marks a relief in the eyes of many outsiders, for they can now realistically talk their boyfriend/girlfriend or whomever it may be. The new season of waiting will now begin sparking a debate of which player will be next year's number one pick and how they are going to survive for the next 8 months without football. And in case you haven't noticed, your favorite team won the Super Bowl. But, who cares about that? It doesn't matter because a team comprised of random and studly players has just won you a fake trophy and a year's worth of trash talk and the title of reigning fantasy football champ in your fantasy football league.

October-esque?

I would live here if I could.
Will most likely fill seats in October for the first time ever.
Has hosted my friends and I for 7 games this year.
Will host us for more in the near future.

5109

And with all the time between this post and my last one, I have moved from one house to another. 7101 certainly will always remain one of my best places of residence. The memories and times had at that place will never be forgotten, only remembered. 5109 is the new mark under my name on my mail and will remain the place where I hang my hat for the next 11 months. Craziness has already found us in this new place. This will most certainly be a place where I fulfill and carry out my final wishes and duties as a college student. A list will be assembled and perhaps posted later. This is where the remaining randomness will result in more fond memories of many new and extrodinary things. I extend a welcoming hand to the new welcomings, the new hardships, the new budget constraints and especially, the new unknowns that are to fill this house throughout the next several months.

This is my update for the time being. The move was a tiresome affair and is not something I am likely to be willing to do for some time. Therefore, I think I will keep my residence at this red house with a label of 5109. Sounds like a good time to me. I think I will stay awhile. My hat will be hung without a question for the next 300 some days here and I look forward to that.

When is it gum time again in Detroit?

Duct Tape, Fireworks, Streaking and the Bad Guys

Where do I begin? The last party at 7101 is definitely one that most of us will remember, or for some us, not so much (Monk)... The anticipation was so great that we tapped the keg around 7 o'clock. Beer pong was intense because nobody wanted to lose and drink large amounts of Oberon. Of course, Harry and I kept winning, which meant we were drinking large amounts anyway. Sidenote: my beer pong record ended at 109 wins and 110 losses, bah! The party grew and grew as the night got darker and there had to be a good 20-30 people there at some point (a handful of people I didn't even know). My night went downhill as soon as Kelly arrived, but not because of her. Let's just say that I signed the barrel maybe no longer than 5 minutes after she arrived. Soon after this, I was duct taped while hugging Drew or somehow he and I were duct taped together by the ever-plotting Matt. After a fierce struggle ensued where I was held back trying to get at Matt, I soon feel asleep from fatigue, lack of sleep, etc. on the porch. While asleep on the porch, Corey, Rick and others duct taped me to our pillar and then Robbie abruptly lit fireworks underneath my chair. Confused, dazed and semi-upset was I in the following moments. After tackling Robbie somewhere near the front of the house, I caught my second wind, or was it third? Frisbee playing then took place and beer pong continued. Then while mingling outside, Robbie and Colin streaked around the 4 townhouses that ours is attached to. Soon after, the number streaking doubled and this time, while on the back stretch behind the houses, we caught glimpse of a police officer patroling behind out house. Just our luck. Ran right into the house, put on some clothes and I half was forced/half volunteered to talk to the cops. Kelly got our clothes from outside, so I had my wallet to give the cops my ID. They threatened, asked where the construction barrel came from and basically gave me a slap on the wrist. They didn't even mention the streaking, but did notice the fireworks on our porch steps. These guys just challenged me a lot and then said that party was over, which it seemed to be anyways cause about half the party had scattered. Soon after they left everyone came out/back and some people left while the rest of us chilled indoors or on the porch. It was definitely fitting that after all the parties we have had, the cops finally confront us on our final bash. We've had some eventful parties, soap shots, streaking, pool parties, beer pong, halloween parties, but I'm happy with the turnout, the extent to which the party was carried and that fact that generally, I think everyone had a good time. Oh 7101, you will not be forgotten! These memories will live on forever!

Packed House

Normally, in the beginning of August, Detroit sports fans are consumed with the upcoming Lions season and College Football. The Tigers are usually an afterthought. Games aren't even half-sold out and the only thought is what prospects the team might bring up for September and if we are going to avoid 100 losses this year. However, this year is a totally different situation. The atmosphere I witnessed tonight was magical. Comerica Park was a different sight this August. The game was 41,000 strong tonight and all of these fans were into every pitch, every fly ball, every grounder and every single movement made by a player or manager. I have never witnessed such an atmosphere at a baseball game. I have been to Michigan football games and let me tell you I had chills like none other when U of M recovered a fumble against Notre Dame and 110,000 plus roared with jubilation. This however, was a different feeling. Baseball is my favorite sport and the feeling I had tonight was just pure happiness. Tiger fans have not had much to be excited about in some time and the chills I got watching Craig Monroe slam a game-winning 3-run homer tonight was one of the best feelings one can have watching baseball. Last year, tonight's game would have been a loss almost every single time (down 6-0 late into the game). But this year, the Tiger's have it. They have the karma, the luck, the bounces, they have the whatever you want to call it. Just when it looked like I would be watching a Tigers loss tonight, they came out of nowhere and showed me why everyone, including me, believes in this team; believes that they can truly challenge for the World Series title this year. Great game tonight. Go Tigers!

Ty Cobb

I am linked in a bizarre way to the Georgia Peach. My grandfather, who passed away several years ago, lived in Detroit when he was a little kid. He once told me a story about how he infamously met Ty Cobb one winter day on the streets of Detroit. "Papa" and one of his friends were throwing snowballs at innocent passing cars alongside railroad tracks in the early 1900's. The cars passing by did not know where the snowballs were coming from because each time Papa and his friend threw the snowballs, they would duck back behind the tracks. They did this several times without much of a response from the confused drivers passing by. However, one car did seem to know where the snowballs were coming from and stopped. Snowballs started coming back towards my grandfather and his friend, real straight and real fast. I can only imagine how confused they must have been tobe receiving snowballs back from the cars. They peered over the railroad tracks to see who was throwing the perfect snowballs and it was none other than Tyrus Cobb - arguably the best hitter to ever play baseball and a staple in Detroit for about two decades. I am not quite sure of the exchange that took place, but I can only imagine given Cobb's demeanor. Those snowballs that left the arm of this outfielder remain my link to one of the best players to ever play the game. Ty Cobb, will remain a hero to me, even though all he did was try and punish the prangster kids that were playing tricks on the passing cars.


Moving out of 7101 in less than a week which is deeply depressing. I have a strong attachment for things in general, especially places I live and the normalities that I wake up to everyday. We've had many good memories in 7101 and those won't be forgotten, just the opportunity to have some more memories will be gone forever and this saddens me.


Going to the Tigers game tomorrow. Bonderman pitching. Tigers have just accomplished the incredible feat of passing last season's win total with two months left to go in the season - amazing. They were 71-91 last year and right now they are 72-36. Simply brilliant. Need to keep the pace up and secure the number one seed in the American League. The last time we had this kind of record was '84 and we all know what happened that year. This summer has been severly hightened due to the fact that the Tigers are finally a contender again. Playoffs would be a gift, World Series Title would be a dream come true. Go Tigers!