This is two years old, but it still makes me laugh every time I see it.  Happy Mother's Day from all the Tuckers of the world..

 

I'm not sure this is even needed, because most people sleep or daydream during commencement addresses. But as discussed on WMN, here's the answer to "following your passion, paying your dues, making a difference and being true to yourself" etc. I prefer the advice offered by Steve Martin's adopted dad in the movie The Jerk. This is S*(& -- and this is shinola, The Lord loves a working man, don't trust whitey and if you catch it, see a doctor and get rid of it".

There isn't much I can say about this one, other than wow and pass the kleenex.  An 18-year old high school senior, dying of cancer, gets his wish -- to hit one last time in a game that matters.

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

He hasn't played in a few years, but he's called on to pinch-hit. His eyes light up at the first pitch and he puts all of his 5-foot-5, 93-pound frame into one mighty swing, making contact and sending a line drive into right field for a single -- if he can reach first base. The cancer he's been battling for almost two years has spread to his pelvis, making running nearly impossible.

The kid worries about falling as he hustles down the first-base line. When he gets to the base, he lets out with a yell. "I did it! I did it!"

Safe at first with a hit and an RBI, the kid is hugged by a crying first-base coach. The opposing pitcher takes off his glove, starts applauding and his teammates follow suit. The kid's teammates run onto the field to celebrate.  Here's the full story.

That's the new campaign Harley is pushing. In fact they took out a full page ad in USA Today and other newspapers to apparently encourage people to stop thinking about their troubles, their money woes and everything else that is bothering them. They are even selling bandanas that say "So screw it, let's ride". Here's the webpush Harley is doing with it. I don't really have an opinion on this campaign, but I know some people will.

How about UW-Whitewater grad Justin Beaver.  Justin, the 2nd all-time leading rusher in Divison 3, is headed up to Green Bay for a try out.  Not drafted, he was given a chance to impress by the Packers.  Instead of the Packers helmet he had as a kid, he'll don the real thing and hope that he gets to keep it.  It's a long shot, but we here at WMN are  pulling for him.  Listen as we talked to Justin while he drove up to Green Bay to give it his all.  You should also check out Justin's blog from the UW-Whitewater site.  Go get em' Justin!

 

 

My favorite story of the week.  It comes from the world of women's college softball. In what was the final game of her career, weak swinging Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon hit a home run.  It happened in a game against their arch rival Central Washington.  A game which had playoff implications.  As Tucholsky rounded first, she blew out her knee.  Her coached yelled at the first base coach not to touch her.  If they did, the homer would be wiped off the books and it would become a single.  As she writhed in pain from what turned out to be a torn ACL, the first baseman on the opposing team came up with an idea.  Mallory Holtman asked the umps if it would be okay if THEY carried Sara around the bases.  The umps declared that it would be.. and so they did.  They leaned her forward to allow Sara to touch each base as she rounded the diamond.  Holtman's reaction, "She deserved it. Anybody would have done it."  The simple truth is... no they wouldn't.  Can you imagine boys doing this?  Never would happen.  By the way, Sara's team won, but Mallory Holtman is my M-V-P of the game.. as in Most Valuable Person.  Here's more details on this great story from the New York Times.

 

We had a nice chat on WMN with Green Bay Packers 2nd round draft pick Jordy Nelson.  I brought up the whole "white wide receiver thing".  Couldn't help myself after the googles helped me find an old article from PackersNews.com.  It quoted several white wideouts who said the biggest thing they've noticed is that they're always compared to other white wide receivers.  Jordy said the same thing was happening to him when they were talking to teams about his talents.  ESPN's Mel Kiper didn't help matters any when he compared Jordy to Dwight Clark, only faster.  Isn't there somebody that's played in the league for say, the last 20 years, that he could compare Nelson too?  Perhaps a tougher Jeff Query?  Sheesh.

And oh by the way, the article I linked to up above has this quote from former Packer corner Ahmad Carroll, who couldn't cover a receiever whether he was black, white, green, blue or fusia.   "If I get burned by a white receiver, I'm going to hear about it more than if that's not the case," Carroll said. "Anybody who says otherwise is tripping."

Every week, Ryan Seacrest points out that American Idol is live.  No kidding.  On Neil Diamond night, the would be idolers sang two songs.  After round one, they stepped before the judges and Paula gave Jason a review for both of his songs -- even though he only sang the one time.  The reaction of Simon and Ryan is priceless. You can actually hear the audience laughing. Take a look as Paula steps in it..

 

As for Neil Diamond and the versions of his songs, I was whelmed. No "Cherry, Cherry", No "Brother Loves Traveling Salvation Show", no "Craig Koplien Song". There weren't even any stories about Neil's love of barely legal hardcore porno.

By now you know that Brett Favre will be on the cover of Madden 09.  Why a retired (are we sure about this) guy would be on the cover is puzzling.  And while I do wish he would just go away for a while (it's like an old girlfriend who dumped you and keeps showing up at all your hangouts), I do love this video.  My first Madden game was for the Genesis in 1994.  I still have it.  Here is Favre, through the years, of 20-years of Madden: