I was and am a Frazier guy.

Muhammad Ali may well be the greatest of all time, but Joe Frazier is the one true hero of my life.

I decided that I had something more important to do and passed on the field trip with F Troop to Cobo Hall for the closed circuit presentation of the "Thrilla in Manila".

Then I couldn't stand it and went down alone in order to get scalped at the door like you wouldn't believe.

I sat there on the edge of my seat along with the rest of the building completely astonished at the magnificent courage of these two men.

When Eddy Futch threw in the towel on the 15th round I had tears in my eyes.

I have tears in my eyes sitting here now just thinking about it some 35 years later.

People, mostly women but the occasional man as well, will sit there and tell each other, "Boxing is stupid.  Look what it did to Ali." 

Usually I mostly agree.

Boxing is stupid.

The UFC is stupid.

Hell, football is stupid.

If played at the highest levels, football takes years off a life and invariably negatively impacts to a greater or lesser degree the quality of the life that remains after football.

Except ....... and what these people can't possibly even begin to understand ..... there are few things in this life that bless like having stared into the mouth of the cannon, whatever that cannon might be ..... and lived. 

For Joe Frazier, that cannon was Muhammad Ali, and for Muhammad Ali that cannon was Joe Frazier.

And for each, that was one big damn terrible M&%^#$ F*#$^% of a cannon (French, I beg your pardon).

One of the greatest exchanges in the history of sports occured somewhere in the middle rounds of this fight as Joe Frazier having been pounded early is now up in Ali's grill doing some pounding of his own.

Ali, "Old Joe Frazier, they told me you were washed up"

Frazier, "They told you wrong pretty boy."

Joe Frazier can no longer tell you having succombed to cancer last night at age 67, but Ali while he can no longer form the words has and will tell you straight out in whatever fashion he is able, that what boxing and Joe Frazier did to him can't even begin to detract from what boxing and Joe Frazier did for him.

"I always bring out the best in the men I fight, but Joe Frazier, I'll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I'm gonna tell ya, that's one helluva man, and God bless him."

Rest in peace tough guy.

Click on the photo above for the Mark Kram account of the Thrilla in Manila which is widely and rightfully acclaimed as one of the 20th century's greatest examples of sports journalism.

Seriously great writing even if you hate boxing.

As a life long Wolverine, you can count on the fingers of one hand the Spartans I've ever pulled for.

Bubba Smith followed by George Webster and Sherman Lewis was the first, then Magic, then ................. yup that's about it.

A terror on the football field and an incredibly big damn teddy bear off of it, Bubba Smith epitamized the phrase class act.

I can honestly say that I have never heard or read a bad word about the man.

Click on the photo below for a nicely done tribute by Joe Howley at The Daily Tribune.

Rest in peace big fella.

Rest in peace Big Man.

When the change was made uptown and the big man joined the band 

From the coastline to the city all the little pretties raise their hands

One of the great safeties in the history of Michigan football was lost to cancer today.

Vada Murray 1967-2011

Way too damn young.

Thanks to Vada and Michigan Historian for the memories.

Aaahhhhh, Keith Jackson.

Poppa Neutrino, born William David Pearlman, died from heart failure this past Sunday in New Orleans, Louisiana.

I sat here for a moment, and thought about what I could write that might capture something of this incredible man.

The best I could come up with is to say there has never been anyone remotely like him ...... ever.

And I'm going all the way back to Og here ................ or Adam, take your pick.

It's probably much better that you just meet him yourself anyway.

This vid takes an hour ..... way worth the time.

Maybe you simply say ..... He didn't pay rent.

Smart Little Lena suffered a stroke and was euthanized Monday August 30, 2010 at his home in Aubrey Texas.

He was 31 years old.

Arguably both the greatest show horse, and the greatest sire in the history of the National Cutting Horse Association, the tiny sorrel earned $743,275 in only eight shows.  

His offspring have earned in excess of 34 million dollars in the cutting pen alone.

He has also sired champion Reining and Working Cow Horses.

I really am not crazy about the video available for Smart Little Lena at this sitting, so in order to answer the question,

"Just what the hell is a cutting horse anyway?"

Here's promotional video of Metallic Cat doing his thing.

Smart Little Lena sired both of Metallic Cat's grandams (grandmothers)

 Whoa buddy.

From The Daily Record UK

Click anywhere below for a real good story

Brave Scot Bill Millin who played the pipes as bullets flew on D-Day beach dies aged 87

Aug 19 2010 By Charlie Gall

HEROIC Scot Bill Millin, who bravely played the bagpipes as British soldiers were cut down around him during the D-Day landings, has died aged 87.

Dubbed Piper Bill, he was only 21 when his regiment - 1 Special Services Brigade - surged on to Sword Beach on June 6, 1944.

Waist-deep in the water and wading to shore under fierce resistance - wearing a kilt his father had worn during World War I - Glasgow-born Bill was among the bravest of D-Day's many heroes.

His courage was so inspirational, it featured in The Longest Day, the Oscar-winning 1962 film about the landings.

By D-Day, the Army had banned pipers from playing on the front line as they were sitting ducks for snipers.

But Bill's commander, Lord Lovat, ignored the order (gee, thank you Sir) and told his personal piper to play Highland Laddie and Road To The Isles to lift morale as his comrades fell around him.

Were it me writing the headline, it would read, "Piper Bill Millin, Legendary Crazy Bastard, Dead at 87"

With nothing but my utmost, absolute and sincerest respect.

Obituaries suck.

They pretty much have to.

Who the hell has the time to give a rat's ass about some other guy's friend?

What newspaper has the column inches to give anyway? 

The man below, you couldn't do justice to in ten thousand words.

The final issue here has to do with the fact that he wouldn't want it anyway.

Gerhard preferred to "keep things quiet".

So, I'll say this much and then leave it alone.

One of the two or three most honorable men I've ever known.

Gerhard Stadler Sr.

November 10, 1927 - March 19, 2010

Gerhard Stadler, Sr., beloved husband of Isabella (nee Baumgartner). Loving father of Katharina (Werner) Linder, Gerhard Jr. and Dr. Frank (Dr. Marcia Lu). Cherished grandfather of Alexander Linder; Christian, Nicholaus and Isabella Stadler. Gerhard worked at the First National Bank of Chicago for 30 years where he became Vice President. As a world renowed expert of precious metals, he began the Precious Metals Department. He later continued his expertise as Vice President of LaSalle National Bank. For the past 15 years, he owned and operated Water Tower Precious Metals at Lakeside Bank.

Rest in peace my friend.