Time Out with TANY • Pre-Christmas Edition

THIS COLUMN WAS WRITTEN IN FRONT OF A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE

QUICK QUIZ

Name the only Major League Baseball player to have played on the winning team in three perfect games?

A) Paul O’Neill

B) Horace Clarke

C) Willie Randolph

D) Craig Nettles

E)  Greg LaMarr

QUATABLE QUOTES

 “If we won a game, I wasn’t sure if he would be strong enough to carry me off the field.” – Former Arkansas head football coach Lou Holtz, on why he didn’t recruit a defensive lineman who looked weak.

 “When I became a manager, I asked Chuck for advice. He told me, ‘Always rent.’” – Tony LaRussa, on what he learned from Chuck Tanner.

“Well, outside of a busted jaw and a cracked rib and my hands busted up, I feel all right.” – Boxer Kid Broad, when asked by a reporter how he felt after a fight.

IDLE THOUGHTS

Detroit Lions back-up quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is making $4,437,000 for the 2023 season and he has yet to play a single down. The veteran signal caller initially planned to retire before this season, but Lions head coach Dan Campbell called about a potential backup job and he decided to come back for another season.

Bridgewater, who intends to become a high school football coach after his playing career, may soon see action. If the Lions have the NFC North title locked up by Week 18, Detroit could start Bridgewater against Minnesota to end the regular season on January 7th, bringing his career full circle. Bridgewater has thrown for a total of 15,120 yards with 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions in his career – including a four-year stint with the Vikings.

Long-time Carrollton High School boys’ varsity basketball coach Ron Vondette was honored December 19^th as the Carrollton school district will name its basketball court in his honor. Vondette is very deserving of the honor, compiling an impressive 245-164 record.

Names of facilities doesn’t happen often in Saginaw County. Norwaine Reed had the gymnasium named in his honor at the now-defunct Buena Vista High School. Arthur Hill’s gym is named for long-time coach Chuck Fowler. Saginaw High School’s football field was renamed Larry Laeding Field after the long-time coach/athletic director. Nouvel Catholic Central’s Boyd Field is named after former SS. Peter & Paul/Nouvel coach/athletic director Leo “Smokey” Boyd, who also coached basketball, baseball and track and field at SSPP. Valley Lutheran’s Sargent Stadium is named for a long-time benefactor of the school. Hemlock High School has jumped into the naming game at its gorgeous new facility by naming the football field after former head coach Bob Wallace, the track surrounding the football field after Don Krueger, and the softball field after long-time coach Larry Graf.

Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel hosted the LA Bowl in 2021 and 2022. This year, however, they went a different route as former All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski was the headliner this year. In fact, Gronkowski signed a multiyear agreement to partner with the college football postseason game at SoFi Stadium.

Unfortunately, the LA Bowl took it one step further as Gronk joined the New Direction Veterans Choir in singing the National Anthem. And it went just about as well as you’d imagine. Please don’t disrespect our National Anthem, a la Roseanne Barr, by having someone with absolutely no singing ability perform the song.

As for the game itself, UCLA defeated Boise State 35-22. That was thanks to a tremendous comeback led by quarterback Ethan Garbers, who stepped in for an injured Collin Schlee. The LA Bowl is supposed to be a matchup between the Pac-12 and Mountain West. But with the recent dismantling of the Pac 12, it’s anyone’s guess who plays in next year’s game.

Like many of you, I have grown extremely weary of the entire Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift narrative which isn’t going away any time soon. I think the Detroit Lions should jump on the media bandwagon and release a statement that Sam LaPorta is rumored to be dating Olivia Rodrigo.

St. Charles Community High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame for 2023 included athletes Mike Ballor, Tyler Nieman, Aaron Gordon, and Nijivah Holden, coach Glen “Dutch” Schrotenboer, Distinguished Citizen Dick Browne, and the 1978-79 Bulldog football teams.

The Detroit Tigers projected starting rotation for 2024 includes Tarik Skubal (LHP), Kenta Maeda (RHP), Reese Olson (RHP), Matt Manning (RHP), and Casey Mize (RHP). I’ve got a friend, Brian Stephens, who is a teacher at Swan Valley High School, that takes predictions from his friends each spring on how many victories the Tigers will win for the season. My 2024 prediction: 87 games.

A new beer has been specifically brewed for the Saginaw Spirit hockey team. The Midland Brewing Co. has released a blond ale dubbed “Spirit City Brew,” which can be purchased at the Dow Event Center. The can, which features the Saginaw Spirit logo, has images of the Dow Event Center, Temple Theatre and other downtown Saginaw landmarks.

Northing against the Midland Brewing Co., but I’m not sure why local brewers like Loggers Brewing Co, Oracle Brewing Co., and the Frankenmuth Brewery were bypassed.

This past fall, John Mulvaney was inducted into the Hemlock Public School District Hall of Fame. A distinguished Class of '68 alum, Mulvaney’s exceptional achievements in athletics, significant contributions, and as a Distinguished Alumni earned him this well-deserved honor.

The induction ceremony was held at halftime of a football game on September 15th, and celebrated his outstanding contributions to the school and community. Following his graduation, Mulvaney served with honor in the U.S. Army, and upon returning to civilian life, he and his high school sweetheart, Diane, became cherished members of the Huskie Pack, celebrating over 50 years of marriage this year. His commitment to Hemlock has extended for nearly half a century, including a significant tenure on the school board. His selfless service and support have left an unmistakable mark on the district. He is the proud father of Elizabeth “Liz” Mulvaney Garcia, who has been inducted into both the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame and the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinal Athletic Hall of Fame.

Tommy DeVito has hit the proverbial ground running.  The New York Giants’ third-string quarterback has become a fan favorite in New York, New York, a city so nice they named it twice. DeVito, who played at neighboring Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey, has played well for the Giants in leading the team to three straight victories.

All that was halted on Sunday when the New Orleans Saints spanked the Giants 24-6. DeVito found himself mauled at the hands of the Saints, who sacked him seven times, limited the Giants to two field goals and repeatedly used DeVito’s signature celebration along the way.

DiVito’s agent, Sean Stellato, told national media that his client has already won the Giants' locker room as a potential starter of the future. But DeVito completed just 58% of his throws in between eight hits from the Saints' front, failing to guide a touchdown drive as both Saints players and coaches mimicked his Italian hand gestures.

DeVito may have had a bad game, but things are still progressing at warp speed. Stellato, who was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame over the weekend, is now asking twice as much for personal appearance for DeVito. DeVito's appearance fee has doubled from $10,000 to $20,000. For that reason, DeVito will no longer be appearing at a pizzeria in Morristown, New Jersey.

I had the opportunity to chat with Heritage High School’s Braylon Isom at the recent Harry Hawkins Award, given annually to Saginaw County’s top senior football player. I am here to tell you that the talented young man is very genuine and personable and has absolutely no cockiness about him. It will be interesting to see if Isom, who has committed to Miami of Ohio, changes his mind and selects another college.

 A Double-A Texas League player hit back-to-back home runs with himself on May 29, 1955. Fort Worth’s eighth batter, Joe Pignatano, incorrectly came up in the seventh spot and hit a home run. After being called out for batting out of order, he stepped into the box again and hit another home run.

In April of 1983, then-Bishop Kenneth Untener, despite being surprised by strong support from local parishioners, announced plans to merge the three remaining Catholic high schools in Saginaw County – SS. Peter & Paul, St. Stephen and St. Mary’s Cathedral. The diocese mailed more than 11,000 survey forms and more than 2,000 were returned with 85 percent supporting the merger.

SS. Peter & Paul opened its first school in a farmhouse in 1889. A new building was erected at 617 Wayne in 1909. The high school was moved to 1413 Gratiot in 1957, then to the former St. Paul Seminary, 2555 Wieneke, in 1970. The first St. Mary’s high school, a small frame building, was constructed in 1869 at 621 Hoyt Street. The more modern facility was built at the same location in 1921, and has since been razed. St. Stephen’s, meanwhile, was built at 1315 Sutton Street and its first high school graduating class was in 1968.

Whatever happened to Keith Dorney?

QUICK QUIZ ANSWER

A.   Paul O’Neill is the only player to have played on the winning team in three perfect games. He was in right field for the Cincinnati Reds for Tom Browning’s perfect game in 1988. He caught the final out (a fly ball) in the New York Yankees’ David Wells’ perfect game in 1998, and he made a diving catch in right field and to help the Yankees win during David Cone’s perfect game in 1999.