Maxim's Sports Columnist
Check out Diane Hill. She's the first female sports columnist for a men's magazine. I met her today at the Maxim party setup. She knows her stuff.
February 03, 2006
Snooper Bowl Trophy
If there's one celeb I wouldn't mind bumping into this weekend, it's Snoop Dogg. I am (not so secretly) a fan. His ill-fated MTV show, Doggy Fizzle Televizzle, lasted only 6 episodes a few years back. Still, it was some brilliant television. Really.
Anyway, Snoop is in town for the big game... and a little one. He has a youth football league that will soon launch nationwide. Tomorrow, Snoop's team of Little Leaguers will play a local team at the Silverdome. (More on that)
Just what's on the line in the "Snooper Bowl II"? My WXYZ.com colleauge Sarah Morgan points out that the winner takes home a trophy created by Tiffany & Co. Sweet!!
February 01, 2006
That's an Awful Lot of "Terrible Towels"
A morning press release from eBay (that I'm just reading now) proves just how popular those yellow Steelers towel things are. According to the release:
"Over 3,300 Terrible Towels, Steelers fans' swinging sensation, have flown off eBay's virtual shelves over the past two weeks. Average selling price has been $15. Listings are receiving an average of 24 bids per item, demand comparable to Apple iPod nanos on eBay during the holidays."
Frank Responds
So, just when did Sammy Sosa grow a mustache? Frank Turner answered that tonight on 7 Action News at 5 p.m.:
"Right after Fred Flintstone got a late night talk show."
Wow. I can see it.
"When Did Sammy Sosa Grow a Mustache?"
First off, welcome to Detroit, Jimmy Kimmel. Last night's show was great. I laughed... And I couldn't wait to pull up side-by-side photos of Channel 7's own Frank Turner and baseball player Sammy Sosa. So here they are. Hmmmm... I don't really see it.
Tuesday Notes
Have you figured out my routine? I experience the day and post when I get home - usually late. Media Day was ho-hum... nothing to write home about, like shooting fish in a barrel if you're a TV guy. If you can't make a good story out of that, jeez!
The Media Party was tonight at the Fox Theatre. I was impressed with the setting and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Kudos to the Channel 7 folks who showed up lookin' mighty fine!
After the Media Party, I made my way to the Ren Cen - lots of road closures. Beaubein near Greektown was shut down as well as Woodward and Brush. Go around the perimeters and you'll be allright.
January 31, 2006
Motown Legends Visit Broadcast House
What a treat! Motown legends Bobby Rogers, of the Miracles, and Duke Fakir, of the Four Tops, join 7 Action News anchor Carolyn Clifford for Tuesday's noon newscast. The pair were at Broadcast House to promote Saturday's Motown Music Fest at the Masonic Temple.
Jimmy Williams's Tattoo
I heard Seahawks #22 Jimmy Williams tell a great story today at Media Day. He was being interviewed by a Japanese broadcaster and began talking to the reporter in Japanese - apparently he knows some of the language. Well, Jimmy then showed the reporter (all of us, really) the tattoo on his left bicep. It was Japanese characters that spelled "D-O-G".
Why does he have "dog" tattooed on his arm? Jimmy said it was supposed to say "God" but it somehow was put on there in reverse!
A Mayoral Manicure
With so much company in town, it pays to be looking your best. A friend who lives in the Millender Center just called to say that Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is looking really good for the big game. He saw the mayor getting a manicure at Gents in the Millender. Kwame was there with his sons.
January 30, 2006
Initial Seahawk Impressions
Welcomed the Seahawks to the Detroit area tonight and was impressed with what I saw. I only had a chance to talk to four guys - Hasselbeck, Alexander, Totupu and Jurevicious.
These guys have a chip on their shoulder. They're going to play the no-respect card this week and let everyone tell them how they don't stand a chance. In that vain, they remind me of the Patriots of 2001-02 that beat the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. Could Josh Brown be the next Adam Vinatieri?
Funny conversation with Matt Hasselbeck when I introduced myself and told him I also went to Boston College. I was a senior when he was a freshman.
Said Matt, "You probably kicked me out of your Mod."
I responded, "I would never do that."
It's true, I let everyone party on, even if I don't know you - until you start drinking the last of my beer, then you're out of there! On second thought, maybe I did kick him out.
Who am I kidding? I didn't even live in the Mods.
Kudos to the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn. The place looks like a million bucks, with a fabulous souvenir shop in the lobby run by a guy from Reading, MA (just north of Boston). Outside the front entrance, the hotel raised the #12 banner that was previously flown at Qwest Field in Seattle. Nice touch.
I also had fun signing a few autographs for some kids in the lobby. A couple recognized me from Channel 7 and then the rest just played, 'monkey see-monkey do.' I had to make sure a few of them still wanted my autograph after they found out I wasn't a Seahawk.
January 27, 2006
ESPN at the RenCen
That headline rhymes... I just wanted to point that out.
Anyway, if you find yourself in the area, now's the time to begin those strolls through the RenCen. You'll see that the building is adorned in all sorts of Super Bowl Media Center signage. I was in there this afternoon and was impressed by the large ESPN set that was going up in the Winter Garden area. Their set's backdrop is that giant glass wall looking across the Detroit River into Windsor.
UPDATE: 7 Action News reporter Michael Rosenfield says ESPN is encouraging Detroiters to come on out and watch their broadcasts at the RenCen. The first one will be Sports Center on Sunday morning at 10:30. Plenty more will follow as the network also plans to air Cold Pizza and other shows from the RenCen.
January 26, 2006
Club 1620
Tiger Stadium will open its doors for the first time in ages during Super Bowl weekend. Inside the tented "Club 1620," invited guests will hear concerts from Snoop Dogg and Three Doors Down. Right now, the old stadium gates are still closed, so we flew Chopper 7 over top for a bird's eye view.
Plus...
Another view from above
Workers build a large tent inside Tiger Stadium
Also on WXYZ.com: Bud Bowl Events at Old Tiger Stadium