Collisions with Reality

This has been a long week, and here are some highlights!

• This article about Muslims and Christians protesting together in Egypt nearly made me cry. (Related: Muslims in Egypt protecting Coptic churches, and Christians protecting Muslims during Friday prayers during the protests.)
• I didn’t make it to IKEA today, but here are some awesome images from Homemade is Best, a cookbook of Swedish baked goods by IKEA. Unfortunately, it’s only available in Swedish IKEA stores. Can I even pick a favorite? Okay, maybe this one: (via the always awesome Things Organized Neatly tumblr.)
• I’m not entirely sure why the Wall Street Journal keeps writing articles about college hockey. In their latest, they celebrate the low-frills college hockey arenas, and rank them on various qualities. Michigan was ranked as the best crowd, to which I say, “Duh,” and, “You’re welcome.” (via my father-in-law.)

Have a lovely weekend, everyone! I will try not to brag too much about the lovely weather we’re having here.

I have to confess that I’ve bought into the hype, and am actually excited about the Big Chill game tomorrow. I wish I could be there (mostly because I think the hockey season ticket holders are getting the best seats). But in the meantime, checking out the webcam on the site is pretty cool — hey, someone’s practicing right now! (I am going to a bar in Berkeley to watch the game with the UM alumni club — yes, really — and someone had better have a cowbell.)

In some related notes:

• I’m amused by this guide to the Big Chill, aimed at the non-hockey fans who will be in attendance. And not just because of the warning about the student section cheers.
• Here’s an article from the WSJ wondering if college hockey is about to hit the big-time. There’s two key points that it misses, though. First, the NCAA hockey tournament is one of the four tournaments that actually makes money. So hockey may be under the radar, but it’s doing well for itself. Secondly, it seems like programs fold as often as new ones form. I’d be surprised if one didn’t fold before Penn State starts in 2012.
• On a sports note, in a survey asking which channels people couldn’t live without, ESPN was the highest cable channel noted. To which I say, DUH. I may be able to wait until this summer to watch the last season of Big Love on DVD, but you cannot replace live sports if you care about sports.
• Finally, you should all check out the recently-launched ESPNW. Over the years, ESPN has taken itself more and more seriously, but I think the ESPNW site makes it fun again.

Have a great weekend, everyone! And Go Blue!

Once I had decided on Michigan for graduate school, friends and family asked me if I was excited about Michigan football. High off of several seasons of Penguins playoff hockey, I told everyone that I was excited about the Michigan hockey. And that was before I had any idea what the Yost environment was like. I’ve always loved college football, and sure, I enjoyed my first game in the Big House. But then I went to a game at Yost, and I was hooked. Football is great on TV, but hockey is awesome in person. Doubly so at Yost. You’re right on the ice, the cheers are vicious and random and loud, the crowd loves a good penalty kill, there’s no piped-in music or sirens — just the band — and oh yeah, the hockey is usually pretty good, too.

I know that it’s summer, the Stanley Cup Finals ended yesterday, and college hockey won’t start up again for another four months. But with the imminent implosion of the Big 12, let’s pretend that college sports are occasionally about, you know, SPORTS. The lovely article about the history of the student section at Yost had me thinking about my favorite memories at Yost from the six-and-a-half years I was at Michigan (many shared with friends J and Sarah): Read the rest of this entry →