Moore to Say

Photo by Kathryn Moore

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 02:44:00 -0400

Photo by Kathryn Moore

Love, defined

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 02:43:00 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

The instructions are as simple and they are arduous.

Legs back, a deep breath, chin down, and, push — push, baby, like you’ve never pushed before.

Imagine a pain so real, no amount of words, colored and decorated with as many adjectives one could imagine, would ever do it justice.

Imagine a pain so intense, an unforgiving needle, shot into the spine serves as a method of soothing.

Now imagine the culprit of this pain right in front of you, oblivious and imprudent to any infliction caused. Content with the world around, ignorant to the blood, sweat and tears poured out just moments ago.

Now, imagine embracing this person, squeezing as if never to let go. A kiss. Maybe a hug, and now more tears. Sure, the pain persists, pulsing, vibrating pain, but these are tears from a different maker, born from a much stronger emotion. Stretched, torn and exhausted, this is the exact instant you’ve dreamed of and planned for.

Pain be damned, in this moment happiness reigns.

Life has a strange way of taking what we know, turning it upside down, and presenting us with what we had no clue of.

I used to know exactly what love was. Love was something you felt. Love was something you said. It was a gift, a vow, a certain act.

I knew this … with all my heart.

But, now, I know exactly what love is.

Love is pain. Love is sacrifice. Love is offering your very being for someone else, someone you don’t know, someone you’ve never met, talked to, or even seen, someone, who in all likelihood, will never fully understand exactly what it is you’ve done on their behalf.

Love is surrendering your body. Love is enduring the aches, pains and discomfort. Love is heartburn — boy, is it heartburn. Love is hunger with no room for food. Love is pants that won’t fit and shirts that won’t stretch. Love is test after test, appointment after appointment.

Love comes without caffeine. Love allows no booze. Love is morning sickness. Love is sleepless nights. Love comes with a push — push, baby, like you’ve never pushed before. Love is that longing for pain. Love is the desire to meet the culprit.

Life has a strange way of taking who we know, presenting them in a different light, a different situation, and reeducating.

Love is strength. Love is a will that won’t back down. Love is, a push, a breath, chin down, and another push. Love is stretched, torn and exhausted. Love is bleeding, screaming, crying. Love is a fist, strong enough to squeeze oil from a bed handle. Love is a line on a beeping monitor, rising to a point, a breath and one final push.

Love is that cry you’ve been dying to hear. Love is that sight you’ve been longing to see. Love is that meeting you’ve been yearning for months, that hug, maybe that kiss. Love is those tears.

I knew exactly who my wife was before we walked into that room. I knew she was proud. I knew she was strong. I new she was determined. But in those hours of pain, those hours of pushing, those hours of love, I met my wife all over again, for the very first time.

Life has a strange way of taking what we feel, turning it inside out, and gift-wrapping it before us without any need for a thank you.

Love is a memory, carved into our minds never to disappear. Love is pride. Love is a hug, a kiss on the cheek and a simple “thank you.” Love is a step back, a glance, a moment of awe. Love is considering everything you’ve just witnessed, all that the person before you has endured, only to smile, seemingly forgetting every excruciating second, thanks to what is held in her arms.

Love is a promise. Love is in an alarm clock. Love is uncomfortable feedings. Love is recovery. Love is stitches. Love is diapers. Love is stained shoulders, spit, crying, a rocking chair.

Life has a strange way of taking time, laughing out loud, and hitting fast forward.

Love is bigger diapers. Love is bigger clothes. Love is money, shrinking by the hour, while one grows by the second. Love is a new routine, as soon as the previous is figured out. Love is teething. Love is bottles. Love, quite simply, is growing up.

Love is knowing helplessness lasts for only a short time. Love is knowing steps will be taken, words will be said. Love understands maturity. Love understands separation. Love won’t always be cool. Love will sometimes be annoying, maybe even unwelcome. Love is trusting you’ve done all you can. Love is, somehow, someway, someday, letting go.

(continued next ->)

Photo by Kathryn Moore

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 02:42:00 -0400

Photo by Kathryn Moore

Love requires no thank you. Love is the understanding that given the opportunity, you’ll scream,...

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 02:21:00 -0400

Love requires no thank you.

Love is the understanding that given the opportunity, you’ll scream, bleed, sweat, cry and push, push baby, all over again. Love is never ending. Love wakes every tenuous day with a smile, a hug, maybe even a kiss. Love is the end of youth. Love is the farewell of freedom.

I used to know exactly what love was.

I knew exactly who my wife was before we walked into that room.

I now know what love is. Love isn’t something you feel, or say, or buy or get. Love isn’t a vow. It can’t be wrapped, bought or decorated.

Be thankful for the mother of your child. Be thankful for your mom, your grandmother, heck, even your mother in law. Be thankful for anyone who has shown, who has lived this love.

To my wife, my mother, and all who have endured the blood, sweat and tears.

Here’s the thank you you’ve never asked for. Here’s to the understanding only you could teach us.

Love is pain.

Love is sacrifice.

Love is motherhood.

Motherhood is love, defined.

Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu

Detroit dazzles with Frozen Four

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:26:00 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

Detroit - If a picture can tell a thousand words, Mike Hoffman had quite the story for his friends and family when he got back to Milwaukee.

Part of a dozen or so fans creating their own standing room section, Hoffman leaned forward, armed with his digital camera and determined to capture every angle of this spectacle that he could.

First he aimed forward, then to the side, then up, and once more at the view in front of him.

“This is pretty cool,” he uttered, his expression already saying the same thing. “I’ll never forget any of this.”

And with that another picture was snapped, another piece of history recorded.

-World record twice over-

Hoffman certainly wasn’t alone setting off the flashbulbs, nor will he be in rare company of those who took home a ticket stub of history. But by the time this April 10 NCAA hockey championship game concluded — a 5-0 victory for Boston College over the University of Wisconsin — the official attendance of 37,592 at Ford Field would set a world-indoor record for a hockey game, breaking the old record of 34,954, set all of two nights before.

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Photo taken by C&G photographer Patricia O’Blenes

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The three-game attendance of 72,546 was the most ever for the Frozen Four, which played in a non-hockey arena for the first time ever in 2010.

“I love how it looks and the atmosphere it creates,” Hoffman, donning a Wisconsin jacket added about the layout of the rink, which sat in the west end zone and ran from one sideline to the other. “I left Milwaukee around 5:30 a.m. (April 8) in order to beat Chicago traffic and I’ve been down here ever since. It’s been great.”

Teddy McGourthy, also from Milwaukee, dealt with the interesting dilemma of traveling from Badger Country but rooting for the Eagles.

“My father played football at Boston College. My brother played baseball, my sister went there, and my nephew is there now,” he said with a laugh, defending his allegiances.

But asked about the Frozen Four, which he attended all three games, and the city of Detroit as a host, McGourthy couldn’t lay out his praise quick enough.

“I’ve been to a lot of sports towns, Boston and Chicago for example, but I learned very quickly the people of Detroit are very passionate about their sports,” McGourthy explained. The Frozen Four was a perfect excuse for his first trip to the Motor City. “I’m not surprised at all at the turnout here. I mean, it’s Hockeytown after all, isn’t it?”

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Photo taken by C&G photographer Patricia O’Blenes
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McGourthy considered going to the Tigers’ game on the afternoon of April 10, but instead took part in a Boston College pre-game party at one of the local bars downtown.

“This whole experience,” he continued, “being down here and seeing this city and everything has been great.”

-Near perfect-

While official numbers weren’t released at press time, organizers expected the Frozen Four to generate anywhere from $7-10 million dollars of revenue in the downtown area.

Coupled with the Tigers home opener on April 9, the city, needless to say, was alive and well.

“We went to the Tigers game (April 10), stayed down here and then came to this,” Roseville resident Gary Fleming said while watching the championship. “I’m not surprised with the amount of people that have been down here, but the number of out-of-towners has been crazy. We saw a ton of Wisconsin and Boston College people at the (Tigers) game and at the bars and everywhere we’ve been.”

And while most comments in regards to the Frozen Four were positive, it’d be tough to be entirely perfect.

Fleming, who was at the final with his brother Paul, bought tickets more than a year ago and spent $200 each to sit in the risers that were installed on the east side of the rink.

“We should have gotten the 40-dollar package,” Gary Fleming said. “The seats in the risers were way too low. There was too much of the ice that you simply couldn’t see from where we were sitting. For the Final Four (2009) they had the court off the ground some. I wish there was a way they could have down the same here.”

“I was hardly impressed with all of this,” Minnesota resident James Sterly said, with a smile. “The seating is too far from the ice, no matter where you are. The stadium is too big for hockey and that takes away from the atmosphere. I’ve been impressed with the whole downtown experience, but as far as the stadium setup is concerned, I didn’t like it.”

-Frozen forever-

With nearly 40,000 people buying into the event — 30,000 tickets were sold prior to the teams even reaching the semifinals — seeing the typical hockey venue in the typical hockey atmosphere was never the chief concern.

“It was about the experience,” McGourthy said. “I think a lot of people are here to support the sport of hockey and the NCAA and to be a part of history. After seeing this, I honestly believe Detroit should host more of these. It’s like the perfect city for things like this.”

Hoffman may not have gotten the result he was looking for on the final night of his stay. Yet, even with his beloved Badgers struggling to keep pace with Boston College, the picture taking continued.

“I can’t be too upset,” he joked. “I’ve got friends at both schools.”

He’s also got a part of history, captured one photo after another, a story to tell a thousand times over without a single word.

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This story was originally published on the C&G Web site. To view it, Click Here.

Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu.

Craig Transforms Ford Field to Hockey Palace

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:26:00 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

DETROIT — Hockey would be played here in a little over a week, but on this March 30 afternoon, Ford Field was a construction zone occupied by sheets of plywood, rubber flooring and a silver panel covering the west end zone that stretched from one sideline to the next.

To the casual onlooker, the eight full days left before the 2010 Frozen Four officially began would hardly be enough time to transform this football gridiron into a sheet of playable ice to crown college hockey’s king.

Someone, somewhere had to be stressed out.

Surely, whoever was in charge of this operation had to have the panic button in hand?

“I never get nervous,” Dan Craig quipped, hands empty, by the way. “We’ve had years to think about and plan for this. We’re ready.”

His confidence and his smile were interchangeable as he spoke to a group of media in the stands at Ford Field, his master puzzle being constructed behind him. There was no stress, no tension, just a contagious ease and comfort.

You see, Dan Craig knows ice; it’s as simple and complicated as that.

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Dan Craig talks with the media March 30 about the process of
putting an ice rink on the turf at Ford Field.

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And the results of his knowledge will be on full display from April 8-10.

“This time of year, I don’t have a home,” Craig laughed when asked where he resides, adding a quick rundown of his itinerary during a typical month in early spring, covering every corner of the country and back, twice.

His official job is NHL Facility Operations Manager, meaning, more or less, he’s the ice man for each and every rink in the NHL.

If something isn’t right, he’s summoned.

If things are perfect, he’s there to make sure.

Transforming a field into a hockey rink is a delicate and complicated process, and when that’s the case, Craig is usually the man for the job.

He was there, in charge at Wrigley Field for the NHL’s 2009 Winter Classic between Detroit and Chicago. When Boston hosted Philadelphia at Fenway Park for the 2010 Classic, and when Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, the ice was under his careful watch.

“Everything I do is a big event,” Craig said when asked about the 2010 Frozen Four. “If it were a high school game down the street, it’d be a big event and a big deal to me. Whether it’s 8-year-old kids or guys making $18 million a season, we want them to have the best of the best.”

He talked about the process as if it were no different than building a house. One step at a time, certain things required for others to fall in place.

Still, as standard an operation it is to him, Ford Field certainly presented its fair share of obstacles.

Due to its size, the refrigeration trailer, which tips the scales at roughly 300 tons and freezes and keeps frozen the ice surface, will remained parked outside the stadium, some 400 feet from the ice, which, in turn, requires some 400 feet of piping to supply the 3,000 gallons of coolant.

“Normally it’s about 200 to 225 feet away,” Craig laughed.

On top of that, the trailer will sit 40 feet above ice level, another first for Craig and his crew.

“We did a rink in Japan once and it was about 8 feet above, that’s the most we’ve ever done,” Craig added, still smiling. “Again, we’re not worried. These machines and these systems are designed to do what they do.”

Craig and his NHL staff arrived in Detroit March 28 and began rink construction — set in the west end zone and running from sideline to sideline with risers for additional seating on two sides — on March 29. There were 112 sections of boards installed March 30, while the glass went up March 31 and the four-day process of pouring the ice was scheduled to begin April 1.

“Ice making is patience,” Craig said. “We’ll spray the first layer, let it sit, go have a beer and steak and come back later. We’ll check things, do the next layer and so on.”

In all, more than 20,000 gallons of water will be used to create an ice surface two-inches deep. The total process takes four days.

“On (April 5) I’ll put the skates on and see how things are,” Craig said.

The four teams in the Frozen Four take the ice for the first time April 7 for practice.

By then, Craig expects his ice, as it always is, to be perfect.

You can reach Mike Moore at mjm12@albion.edu

Shamrocks win D-1 title

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:57:07 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

PLYMOUTH — There’s a certain passion for Catholic Central hockey some may not understand, but on March 13 was pretty clear for all to see.

Whether it was the fans lined up outside Compuware Arena more than an hour before the Division 1 state final began or the standing-room only crowd that eventually packed into the game, it got to coach Todd Johnson.

“When we took the ice, I had a tear in my eye,” Johnson said after his team captured its second straight Division 1 state title “The support we get and the kids we have is so incredible. It’s an honor to be a part of this.”

Catholic Central, the No. 1-ranked team in D-1 all season, capped the 2009-10 campaign with a 6-1 victory against Howell High, wrapping the season with a 28-1-1 overall record and the 14th state title in program history.

The Shamrocks did, in all reality, what many had expected them to do since last year ended — in the exact same game with nearly the same result against the exact same team.

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Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Members of the Catholic Central hockey team celebrate a goal during a 2-1 semifinal victory against St. Mary’s. The Shamrocks celebrated even more the following night after defeating Howell High 6-1 in the D-1 final.

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After all, that team, which beat Howell 7-0 in the final last March, graduated just six seniors, returned 14 varsity players and brought back 12 seniors.

For opponents, it was reason enough to shiver in their skates.

For Johnson, it was cause for concern.

“It sounds crazy, but I was a little worried we’d be full of ourselves or have some poor attitudes and feel that entitlement,” Johnson admitted. “Some of it is human nature with kids this age, but truthfully, we had the exact opposite. We had guys out here working harder than ever. We had guys doing the little things at school or supporting the other athletic teams, or doing volunteer work and so on. They wanted to earn that support and that following we had last year, again. They didn’t take anything for granted.”

The results speak for themselves.

Catholic Central began the year with 14 consecutive wins and didn’t lose a game until Feb. 3, a 1-0 setback to Trenton High. The guys rebounded well, winning the final six games of the regular season before beginning their playoff run.

After surviving an early scare from Livonia Stevenson in the regional final, a 2-0 win, CC rolled past Ann Arbor Huron 8-0 in the quarterfinals and earned a trip to Compuware against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.

“Of all the hockey games I’ve coached, not including the state finals games, that St. Mary’s game probably ranks No. 1 for me,” Johnson said of a 2-1 win March 12 that was as physical a game many had ever seen. “They did some things to take us off our game, and we suffered some tough injuries early that we had to adjust to. But to find a way to win that one was pretty special.”

When asked about the final victory, Johnson laughed.

“Honestly, if that wasn’t for a state championship, I would have been very worried,” he said. “We were up late Friday night. We were banged up, and we were playing a much better Howell team than we saw a year ago. For our guys to do what they did was pretty special.”

Johnson said the key was striking first — a Ryan Keller goal 6:17 into the first period. Howell kept things close, trailing just 2-1 with less than five minutes remaining in the second period before the Shamrocks blew the doors off with four straight goals, and their crowd nearly blew the roof off the arena.

“Again, it’s an honor to be a part of this,” Johnson added. “I was a little surprised with the outcome being as it was. We just played a great game.”

A state title was, obviously, a goal for CC entering the season, but as Johnson explained, it was anything but goal No. 1.

“When the guys set our 10 goals for the season, finishing as state champs was actually No. 10 on the list,” he explained. “The way we see it, you can only win a state title one day out of the whole year. That leaves four others months of hockey. So if that is your top and only goal, and you don’t do it, what does that say about your season?”

Maybe it was that attitude that carried the Shamrocks to 28 wins, including a perfect 11-0-0 record in the Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League. Maybe it was their talent or experience or 12 seniors, or that passion for success.

Whatever it was, it worked.

Again.

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This story was originally published on the C & G Web site. To view it, Click Here.

Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu

Political correctness of this country should make you furious, if that’s ok

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:19:18 -0500

-By Mike Moore-

He was inspired by religion, armed with a gun, and when the dust had finally settled, 13 Americans lay dead. The horror at Ft. Hood a few weeks ago has made national headlines on a nightly basis since, which, if you think about it, has been the biggest problem yet.

Think about the facts for a second. A man, an Arab man, snapped for one reason or another. He had no care for those around him, those he was supposed to serve with, or himself, for that matter. He was seen in traditional Arabic garb, at a 7-11, which some may find funny. Then he was seen gunning down soldiers of this country, soldiers who were preparing to deploy, to, you know, the real dangerous place, in Iraq or Afghanistan. He chanted the traditional Arabic phrase of “god is great,” as he unloaded his weapon.

Those who’ve seen beheading videos, suicide bombings or anything else associated with the atrocities that happen while we complain about traffic jams understand that phrase and what it’s associated with. Terrorism. You know, the same phrase many, if not all, the 19 hijackers used when they were inspired by religion, used planes as weapons, and, when the brick, molder and bust had settled, left some 3,000 Americans dead. Sound familiar?

You wouldn’t know it by watching cable news or listening to the current administration talk about this event and the “man caused disaster” that’s come with it. Which brings me to the key point of all this. Can we please call Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan for exactly what he is?

A terrorist. A terrorist inspired by his radical Muslim beliefs.

Instead, President Obama barely mentions the entire event, meanwhile saying we have to wait for all the facts. Instead, we have the left-wing media making up conditions for Hasan, conditions that prompted and caused his outburst. Instead, we hear excuses on a daily basis for why the death of 13 is anyone’s fault but his.

But as the toxicology reports of this murder emerge, we learn the true facts. Facts that include how he has been in contact with Al-Queda. Facts that he has “Soldier of Allah” on his business card. Facts like his well-known support of suicide bombings.

Here are some more facts. This was not a case of post-traumatic stress disorder, as some (left wing) media have reported. It’s tough to have post stress when you have yet to be deployed. But here’s the key fact. If those who had seen, heard and known about Hasan’s radical beliefs, contacts and behaviors hadn’t feared prosecution or worse in reporting it, this whose tragedy may have never taken place.

But that is the world we live in. That is the society, post Sept. 11 mind you, that we find ourselves buried in. A spade may be a spade, but be wary of calling it such. Think back to the CIA prosecutions Obama has promised. The same CIA that, with their methods to be prosecuted, prevented further attacks in Los Angeles, Chicago and who knows where else.

Then you have the decision to bring terrorists that planned the Sept. 11 attacks, admitted to said plans and accepted a death sentence, who will now be prosecuted in a civilian court where they can plead “not guilty” and have every right to air any and all criticisms of the United States for the public to hear. And heaven forbid a jury sees fit to throw out the case and said terrorists flip the switch and sue the US for “torture” or anything else.

Hey, OJ got away didn’t he?

And then Nov. 24 the story of all stories broke. Think back to 2004 when four security guards, United States citizens, were abducted in Iraq. They were tortured, murdered, burned and had their charred bodies hanged from an overpass like a pair of kids shoes tossed around a traffic light.

If you haven’t seen the pictures, search for them, I dare you.

(or click here - that is an American citizen, mind you)

It was reported Tuesday that the mastermind behind the abduction, murder and hanging, Ahmed Hashim Abed, was captured by a group of Navy SEALs. Three of those SEALs are now facing criminal charges because Abed “told investigators he was punched by his captors — and he had the bloody lip to prove it,” as reported by Fox News.

These are the same SEALs that train in conditions none of us would dream of, experience a living hell on earth all in the name of protecting this country. And now they will face criminal charges for an alleged punch.

The scary thing is, I usually have an opinion as to what should happen next, or a way to get out of a certain situation. But I see these stories, read these reports and am left scratching my head. Who would have ever thought the political correctness of a country that used to see itself as the best in the world, would cause the death of 13 soldiers within our borders, allow admitted terrorists to speak out, in court, against us, and prosecute three men who should be receiving a parade?

But this is our country now. This is the vision one man had, and 50-some million were blinded into voting for.

I’m afraid to imagine what’s next.

Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu

On Sept. 11, 2009, I'm afraid we have forgotten

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:30:00 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

The pictures were back on the screen, the emotions back on display. One day, every year, we’re reminded of what happened on that fateful Tuesday morning. One day every year we allow those images to reignite the fear, anger, shock, desperation and helplessness we were flooded with some eight years ago.

Eight years since our country came under attack. Eight years since a mode of transportation was turned into a weapon against our own people, eight years since we ultimately learned how much we were hated, and just how vulnerable we were.

Now they say you don’t know how good something is until you’ve lost it. On that Tuesday morning in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, we lost our sense of invincibility. We were stripped of that protectionism none of us had ever seen challenged before.

But what’s more is what we gained in those days, weeks and months following the attacks. Never before had a country been so politically united. Never before had strangers become friends in a heartbeat. Blood banks were overflowing with donations, volunteers risked their own health and safety for people they had and would never know, patriotism reigned supreme.

Bloodied and bruised we were, but united we stood.

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I had someone say to me that “after eight years, time heals, but in this case it shouldn’t dampen anger.” That is where my fear comes in. Newscasts and headlines all day danced with the idea of “never forgetting.”

I’m afraid we already have.

Put yourself back in that moment, the first time you turned on the news, the first time you saw a human being jumping from those towers. Put yourself in their shoes, a sudden death by concrete was more desirable than the flames quickly climbing their way. Try and remember your emotions as you placed yourself on those planes, witnessing the murder of flight attendants, battling the panic and fear of what was happening next, only to look out the window and see the New York city skyline getting closer by the second, your death, now inevitable, starring you right in the face.

Think back to when you were the fireman, weighed down by dozens of pounds of equipment, hysterical people running in the opposite direction while you trudged upward, one floor after another, a blind ambition of duty and sacrifice carrying you into a building just moments from collapsing.

Now remember when that phone rang, and it was your son, daughter, wife or husband, fear trembling from their voice as they explained the horror that was happening on the plane they were seated. Think back to those words they used about men with bombs, the ignorance they had about what had already happened, and the fate in your heart of hearts you knew they were in for.

Look ahead to the future you now have, a child without a parent, a husband without a wife, a mother without a son. Recall that entire day, that entire night, the shock you woke up to, the despair you went to bed with and anxiety that controlled you every moment. It was hell on earth, a day never to forget, a lesson never to ignore. Things would never be the same. The life we had lived to that moment would be altered forever.

Put yourself in any one of those positions, on that day, Sept. 11, 2001, and envision the world we now find ourselves in on Sept. 11, 2009.

The divisiveness the country finds itself in across political lines, the simple way people treat one another or the fact that patriotism has slowly become something to be fearful of. Look out your window and count the American flags on your street, a handful would be a blessing. United we stood, and in God we trusted. Now, it’s each man for himself, and don’t even think of saying “Merry Christmas.”

The term “terrorist attack” has been replaced with “man-caused disaster.” The very people behind and in ways responsible for that day are having their prison closed, and are receiving trails, representation from lawyers and sympathy from American people. An administration, as far left as we have ever known, seeks to investigate, prosecute and punish the very people who prevented more of these attacks because they used “scare tactics” to do so.

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We now have a president who travels the world, apologizing for American’s actions, bowing before foreign leaders, accepting gifts from communist dictators while listening to speakers call American’s terrorists. All the while he’s ordering FBI operatives to read detained terrorists, captured on the field of battle, their Miranda Rights.

We have a speaker of the house referring to everyday citizens as “Nazi’s” because of their use of freedom of speech. We have congressmen comparing moms and dads, grandparents and neighbors to the Ku Klux Klan because of their opposition to a government takeover of health care. We have Czars, government owned auto companies, government seized banks and debt in the trillions to countries who don’t particularly fancy us.

A child-molesting pop star is granted weeks of coverage after dying, while soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan are pushed to the back page. That same president who handed out $740 billion in tax-payer dollars, wants to cut military spending, tax anyone with a paycheck, all the while promising a bigger, better and brighter future, without the slightest clue as to how to fund it.

There was an America I saw in September of 2001, a country envied by all, and fearful of none. I’m afraid in eight short years, those memories and that anger, while not gone, have been seriously dampened, by our policies, our leaders and our leader. There’s a song, written not long after 9-11 by country star Darryl Worley that simply begs the question, “Have you forgotten, how it felt that day?”

I’m afraid to admit we have.

They say you don’t know how good something is until you’ve lost it. Some eight years ago I knew a country that backed down from nothing, defended its people in the face of danger, no matter the way, no matter the cost, stood united in the cause of freedom and operated with a take-no-prisoners type attitude.

I now know how good that was.

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Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu

His vision is what you see

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:19:00 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

DETROIT — Mark Iacofano has the best job in the world, just ask any of his friends.

“They tell me that all the time,” Iacofano says with a smile and a quick shake of the head. “They think I work about four hours a day and see every Tigers’ game of the season. It’s pretty funny.”

And accurate — somewhat.

“I certainly work more than they think,” Iacofano says, standing just outside Comerica Park on a warm and sunny July afternoon. It’s roughly 4:30 p.m., and he “punched in” more than three hours ago to begin a routine he’s very accustom to, one he’s done nearly every day of summer since 1998.

You may have heard him mentioned before, although his face is as unrecognizable as his last name can be difficult to pronounce. But without his work, without him doing the job his friends think so highly of, well, those next-day discussions about last night’s game would be limited to only those lucky enough to have been in attendance.

~~The man behind the curtain~~

Iacofano has been to thousands of Red Wings games during his career, never once, as he explained, “have I sat inside Joe Louis to watch.” Instead, during those winter months he holds down the same seat he is on this July 8 afternoon, in the far side of the FOX Sports Detroit production truck.

His job title is producer, but in reality he’s a maestro, conducting his grand opera in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers on a nightly basis.

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Mark Iacofano has produced Tigers and Red Wings games since
1997 for Fox Sports Detroit.

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“In a way, my vision is what people watching at home see,” said Iacofano, a Lake Orion resident who’s been with FS Detroit since its inception in 1997 and produces Red Wings and Tigers games. “People don’t realize the work that goes into putting a game on the air. From the office personal, to the stage manager to the commentators to the people in the truck, it’s a complete team effort every time.”

But he’s the leader, the man with the “C” on his shirt, if you will.

For a 7:05 p.m. game, Iacofano is usually at Comerica by 1 p.m.

“We’ll fire up the truck, camera’s and anything else we need,” he explained. “Whatever preproduction material we’re going to use, we’ll start working on. We build graphics, gather sound bites from players and coaches, line up highlights and introductions, prepare the audio clips … Essentially everything we are going to possibly use during the broadcast is done beforehand.”

Most of that is completed before the crew of 30-40 takes its lunch break around 4:30 p.m.

After dining, things kick into another gear.

“I’ll talk with Mario (Impemba) and Rod (Allen) about the pregame elements, what they’re going to discuss and the kinds of graphics they’ll need,” Iacofano said. “We’ll rehearse the pregame show, dot our i’s and cross all our t’s.”

~~Still gets that rush~~

Iacofano has been in this position more than a thousand times, a with every passing second, the moment that FS Detroit theme song will be cued draws closer. The adrenaline and nerves are still there, though, even some 11 summers after the first broadcast.

“Once that red light goes on you get that rush,” Iacofano said, smiling. “We want people at home to feel like they have the best seat in the building.”

While he oversees the activities of 20-30 people in the production truck, cues replays, graphics, stat boxes, camera angles, audio and everything in between, Iacofano summed up his job as simply as he could by saying, “I try to make Mario and Rod look as good as possible.”

He’s in constant communication with the tandem throughout the game. He’ll inform them of graphics about to appear on screen, describe when or what type of replay is set to roll, or do his best to accommodate a request from the broadcast booth.

“Anything and everything we do well starts with Mark,” Impemba said. “The toughest part of a broadcast for us is juggling all the different things we have to take care of, on top of talking about a baseball game. He’s the guy that keeps us focused and on track. He keeps this ship steering in the right direction.”

“He gets it,” Allen said of Iacofano. “A great leader. A great communicator, and he understands what it takes to do this. … We’re at a point now where he’ll know exactly what kind of replay to send me without me even asking.”

~~From the field to the truck~~

“I always wanted to be a major league player,” Iacofano explained of his career, which included time on the University of Dayton team. “Then when I was 22 I essentially had a scout tell me I couldn’t run and I couldn’t hit.”

With one door closing, the window of television soon fired open.

He spent the last two years of college taking courses in television production and received Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. He worked in a number of small markets at first, using internships and less glamorous jobs as away to move ahead.

“You have to cut your teeth and learn the business,” he laughed. “Experience is everything.”

And it’s been the experiences he’s enjoyed over the years that make the long nights and road trips — Iacofano is one of eight staff members to travel with the team — worth every minute.

“I’ll never forget (Justin) Verlander’s no-hitter a couple season’s ago and how crazy it was trying to juggle replays and capture the emotion on the field,” Iacofano said. “In 2006 when they clinched the playoffs in Kansas City, I was talking to Mario and Rod and trying to figure out the locker room scene and who we’d interview next. … Sometimes the more hectic things are the more fun it all is.”

He spoke with a certain pride while describing the job he has. He also did so in a way that gave some credence to his friends and just how they think of him.

“It’s tough to argue their premise,” Iacofano said, before pausing. “I feel like I do have the best job in the world.”

This story was originally published with C&G News Aug. 5. To see that version, please Click here

Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu

A great man, A great loss

Sun, 17 May 2009 11:52:00 -0400

-By Mike Moore

We all knew him in our own unique way, yet in a way unique to only him, we all knew him exactly the same.

He was the face of the parish, the character behind what Divine Child stood for. He was the old man with the quick step, the raspy voice, the white hair and that unmistakable wry smile.

If you stepped out of line, he was there to put you back in place. If you needed a shoulder to lean on or an ear to talk to, his door was always open. If you had a joke to tell, even if he was the punch line, he’d share a laugh, then follow it with a quick jab to the shoulder.

He came to Divine Child in February of 1961, known then as Reverand Herman Kucyk, quickly appointed to Associate Pastor. In 1976 he became the face, voice and symbol of Dearborn’s most revered parish, named Pastor of Divine Child, designated as the No. 1 Falcon. By 1990 he was called Monsignor, but he was known for so much more.

As pastor he would watch over, mentor and guide Divine Child. It was his home. his calling, his passion. He traveled the grade school as would a proud grandfather, looking over the generations to come with an unyielding gratification. He paced the high school, evaluating his students like a builder would a nearly completed house, so much work, time and effort already dedicated, but the finishing touches still to come.

If you didn’t think he cared about every last detail, just take a walk to the parking lot. An unbearable sun beating down, the cruelest of summer days, and there he was. A straw hat to shade his face, a cane to brace his step, stubbornly making sure every last inch of the refurbished parking lot was done correctly.

If you thought money was tight, take a look at the state-of-the-art gymnasium, the tuition he battled to keep reasonable, the teachers who spent a lifetime working under his lead.

There are a million ways to describe Fr. K, yet none of them does justice to who he was and what he meant to the parish that housed him. Whether he performed a baptism, celebrated a wedding, gave the sacrament of reconciliation or just shook your hand and asked how life was going, he did it with a genuine spirit few could match.

He personified what Divine Child stood for, his faith never yielding, his dedication unwavering. He was, in every sense of the word, a true Catholic, one who loved his job, cherished his calling, and spread his faith. He inspired those who looked up to him, gained the respect of those who worked for him and probably loved the fear he put in those who didn’t exactly know him. Sure, he could be rough around the edges, intimidating to talk to at times, but deep down, for those who knew him best, he embodied the Christ he loved.

Born in Montreal, Wis. in 1926, before he was Fr. K, he was a member of the United States Navy and an employee of Ford Motor Company before entering Sacred Heart Seminary. Following his June 1, 1957 ordination, he served as an associate pastor at St. Isaac Jogues Parish in St. Clair Shores from 1957 to 1961; came to Divine Child until 1966, was assigned to Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth for a year before heading to St. Michael Parish in Monroe (1966-67); and St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, in Redford Township (1967-71).

His home was, and forever will be Divine Child, though.

Whether it was pacing the sidelines of a football game, eating lunch with students during fifth hour or just checking up on his gardens on the campus grounds, he was the most recognizable and most respected Divine Child man there ever was.

For 83 years he served his faith. For the last 52, he did it from a pulpit where all could hear and all could embrace. At times his homilies may have drifted from course, but they always came straight from the heart. His services may have been quicker than most, but you left feeling inspired, as if that Sunday morning was hand-delivered from the God he loved.

There is no doubt Divine Child has suffered a great loss. While Fr. K was less visible in his time since retiring, his presence was never in doubt. The keys to the parish were handed over, but that stubborn old boss, in one way or another, was still in charge.

Somehow, at 83, he was down to earth enough to relate to those his age, yet hip enough to still be cool to those generations younger, and he had the respect of everyone in between.

It was a certain honor to talk to him, and if he knew who you by name, your smile was impossible to hide.

He loved the Blessed Mother, which, in a way, is fitting that he left this earth on the day his high school celebrated May Crowning.

Over the past few years his health had deteriorated. He was a far cry from the man he once was. Once seemingly immortal, like the trees he so often cared for, you couldn’t help but think he’d be around forever. But as the weeks and months passed, that quick step grew slower, that raspy voice suddenly sounded weaker — immortal he was not.

Yet now, as his life on earth has come to an end, it’s the beginning of something new we celebrate and rally around. His earthly sufferings have passed, his seat in God’s kingdom now occupied.

When he’s laid to rest, his grave will yield January 10, 1926 – May 15, 2009. But what should, and will forever stand out, is not the dates that define when his life began and ended, but that little dash that tells the story of everything he did and everyone he led.

It’s hard to imagine Divine Chile without thinking of Fr. K, hard to envision the red, black and grey without picturing that smiling old man. But as the parish, school and community he helped shape will forever live on, so to will the spirit he spent a lifetime establishing.

Mike Moore is a 2001 Divine Child graduate, a Sports Writer for C & G Publishing in Warren and a play-by-play commentator for JTV in Jackson. You can reach Mike at mjm12@albion.edu.

Mike Moore Broadcast Demo

Sun, 17 May 2009 11:51:00 -0400

My broadcast demo can be viewed at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVOF49Q_beU

Please contact Mike Moore at mjm12@albion.edu or (313) 770-6365.

Quite simply, a Christian can not support Obama

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:00:00 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

It’s a scene all too common.

A woman, having just given birth, looks at the newborn baby in her doctor’s arms and notices something is very, very wrong.

The baby is not crying - as a matter of fact, it’s just breathing. Its movements are awkward and uncoordinated, fairly consistent with something just seconds old.

Something is very, very wrong.

This baby shouldn’t be breathing, yet alone moving. This baby, this fetus, as it is called, was supposed to be aborted, never intended to be minutes, yet alone seconds old.

————————————————

You may have heard the name Jill Stanek before. She was a registered nurse in the Labor and Delivery Department at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill. But in 1999 she discovered babies that were born alive, or in a better term, babies that survived induced-labor abortions such as the one described (where an abortionist artificially induces labor with the expectation that the underdeveloped fetus will not survive the delivery) were literally shelved to die in a utility room.

Think that over.

An infant, which survived an abortion, is taken, alive and breathing, to a utility room to be placed on a shelf until death. A friendly term being tossed around this election season is infanticide.

Stanek went public with her findings, a move that eventually cost her her job. In 2001 and 2002 she testified before a U.S. House Committee for the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, and in August of 2002, was invited by President George Bush to be on hand for his signing of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act.

“This reform was passed with the overwhelming support of both political parties,” Bush said at the time. “It is about to become the law of the land.”

But now, with the 2008 election just days away, that law could be in jeopardy, which is the main reason no self-respecting Christian should, or more importantly could, ever support or vote for, Barack Obama.

———————————————

During his days in the Illinois senate, Obama vehemently opposed the Born Alive Act, voting against it on three separate occasions. His reasons for doing so varied. He opposed the Act because it would, “unduly encroach upon Roe,” and would put abortion doctors in legal liability.

In his own words on infanticide, (does it feel better to use that term), Obama said the following, and I plead with you to read slowly. Try to comprehend.

“As I understand it, this puts the burden on the attending physician who has determined, since they were performing this procedure, that, in fact, this is a nonviable fetus; that if that fetus, or child - however way you want to describe it - is now outside the mother’s womb and the doctor continues to think that it’s nonviable but there’s, let’s say, movement or some indication that, in fact, they’re not just coming out limp and dead, that, in fact, they would then have to call a second physician to monitor and check off and make sure that this is not a live child that could be saved.”

To clarify his words, Obama went on to explain…

“whenever we define a pre-viable fetus as a person that is protected by the Equal Protection Clause or the other elements in the Constitution, what we’re really saying is, in fact, that they are persons that are entitled to the kinds of protections that would be provided to a - a child, a 9-month old - child that was delivered to term. That determination then, essentially, if it was accepted by a court, would forbid abortions to take place. I mean, it - it would essentially bar abortions, because the Equal Protection Clause does not allow somebody to kill a child, and if this is a child, then this would be an anti- abortion statute.”

In other words, tending to a live and viable “fetus, or child - however way you want to describe it,” that didn’t cooperate with an abortion is unacceptable because a move like that challenges Roe vs. Wade and in doing so “would essentially bar abortions.”

I wish this was the worst of it, but those who have followed this election, those who have truly researched and looked into Obama’s stance on abortion know how extreme he is. It’s easy to call him pro-choice, but aside from voting against the Infant Act, he also voted in support of partial birth abortion. An adamant supporter of Planned Parenthood, Obama stated one of the first things he would do upon taking office is sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which would essentially overturn every local, state, and federal abortion law passed in the past 35 years.

“I’ve got two daughters…I’m going to teach them, first of all, about values and morals,” Obama said this past March, “but if they make a mistake, i don’t want them punished with a baby.”

——————————————

“The common theme, the common idea of any Christian faith, is the idea that life is sacred from the time of conception to the moment of natural death,” said a Christian priest in the Dearborn area, who will remain anonymous. “This is not just a Catholic view as many people think. This is a Christian view.”

His words became more adamant as he spoke, a certain passion brewing with each second.

“It is absolutely impossible, impossible, for any Christian to support, yet alone vote for a candidate that supports abortion. It goes against everything faith teaches us. … There is no option here. A Christian can not support someone like that.”

There are many issues at stake in this year’s election, everything from the economy to the wars to immigration and so on. But those who care about and actually practice their faith, those who go (or should be going) to church on a weekly basis, must have a higher calling, must distinguish themselves to another level.

“There is no greater issue, none at all, than the issue of protecting life,” the priest added. “Sure the economy is in the pits, but think about a country in which all those aborted babies would be consumers. People needing cars and groceries and everything else. Think we’d be in the same position we are now?”

In a word, no.

——————————————————

I understand there are those who will see my stance as an extreme one, those who I may never know, those who I consider close friends. The consequence of writing something like this is something I welcome, good and bad, because it is something I believe in, without the slightest bit of hesitation.

Feel free to disagree. Feel free to justify supporting a candidate who only values life outside the womb (in most cases). You can lie to me. You can lie to yourself when you step into that voting booth. But in no way, can you lie to your faith.

This election is historic on so many fronts. Consider, whoever is elected will, without a doubt, appoint one, maybe two or as many as three, justices to the Supreme Court. Think how far we’ve come as a country in terms of abortion, and how many steps have been taken to limit the practice of killing the innocent.

It’s staggering to think nearly 50 million abortions have been conducted in the United States since Roe vs. Wade. On average, more than 3,000 lives will end today by way of abortion, and that number will only rise should Obama win.

I again understand there are those of you who find a piece like this extreme. I understand there are those of you who will look at me in a different light after reading this.

So be it.

Less than two weeks ago I got the first look at my first child. Barely 13 weeks in the womb, legs were kicking, arms were swinging, and, most incredibly of all, a heart was beating.

Is that a choice? Is that, as Obama said, a “fetus, or child - however way you want to describe it.”?

——————————————

We of faith have a chance to stand for what is right Nov. 4. A chance to take another step toward protecting those who have no voice, toward protecting those who never had a choice.

Those of you of faith, those with the courage to take a stand on something so important, I challenge you to do what is right Tuesday. Don’t vote with your wallet, or your mortgage or your lack of earthly possessions. You know as well as I do, those things are cyclical. The economy will rebound, home values will increase, and we all have too much stuff as it is.

Instead, I plead with you to vote with your conscience, vote with the God you believe in. Vote with the faith you uphold.

Keep in mind, you aren’t just voting for yourself, but instead, filling out a ballot for the 50 million cries never heard, the 50 millions smiles never seen, the 50 million lives ended without a choice … the 50 million votes never cast.

Which candidate do you think they would pick?

—————————————————————————————

Some links you may find interesting…if you have the courage to watch.

-http://www.durarealidad.com/

-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh_b3WXbqvI

-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0c7j6w-8I4&feature=related

-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSsFzue-V-I&feature=related

-http://www.holylamb.com/abortion3i.htm

-Abortion is a choice?

Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu.

A chauffeur to Lord Stanley

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:57:48 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

Wherever it goes, he goes.

That’s the rule of the land. No debating it. No questioning it.

A school function with some adoring young kids or a Malibu party with more celebrities than a prime-time awards show, if the Stanley Cup makes an appearance, so does Mike Bolt.

He’s your average guy, as simple and down to earth as his name suggests. His occupation, however, is unlike any this world has to offer. Bolt, a Toronto native and employee of the Hockey Hall of Fame, has the distinguished and unique job of traveling with hockey’s grandest prize.

Watching its every step.

Protecting its every move.

“An honor, more than a job,” as he described it. “Wherever it goes, I go.”

Bolt has always viewed the game of hockey as a sort of religion. A player in his youth, though, “never very good,” he laughed, it was Bolt’s admiration for the sport that eventually landed him the job.

“I always wanted to work at the Hockey Hall of Fame. It was a lot easier than paying admission,” he said. “For a while I worked in the museum itself and traveled with different displays. But in 2000 I was asked if I’d be interested in traveling with the Stanley Cup. I was in such compete awe at first. It took a few hours before what I was actually being asked to do, set in.”

Needless to say, Bolt jumped at the opportunity, and since has worked as one of three keepers of the Cup. During the National Hockey League’s regular season, he’ll travel to do promotional or charity events. He’ll visit schools, hospitals, minor league rinks or anything else the NHL has scheduled.

Chaos, as some would call it, sets in every summer at about the same time, as soon as the NHL crowns its newest champion. Players, coaches and staff of the Stanley Cup champion are each awarded one day with the Cup, and, as Bolt said again with a laugh, “wherever it goes, I go.”

In his eight years on the job, Bolt’s summers have taken him to just about every nook, cranny and corner of the world. He’s accompanied the trophy throughout the United States and Canada. He’s been to Moscow, Finland, Sweden. He even made a stop last March in Afghanistan to visit the coalition forces.

“A missile went off while we were there,” he recalled. “That was pretty surreal.”

This past summer alone, while traveling with players and coaches on the Red Wings, Bolt traveled to Chicago, New York, Wisconsin, Malibu, British Columbia, Ontario, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic and numerous stops in Michigan. Many of those destinations were visited during a 23-day road trip.

“I averaged about three or four hours a sleep during trips like that,” Bolt said with a laugh. “I guess it’s pretty simple, though. All I have to do is make sure it gets from point A to point B without anything going wrong.”

Aside from a few drops and dents, Bolt has kept the Cup in nearly perfect condition. As a matter of fact, Bolt said players and coaches of winning teams have never presented a problem toward the trophy or to him.

“The players couldn’t be more respectful to me or to the Cup,” Bolt explained. “For the most part, when they have it, I become part of their families. I’m in their houses, hanging out with their friends and having a beer with them. A lot of them have questions for me and so on. It’s always a good time.”

Bolt said his highlight of the 2008 summer was, without question, when Chris Chelios hosted a party at his summer home in Malibu, Calif.

“There were a lot of big shots there,” Bolt laughed of the party, which included, among others, Chelios, Sylvester Stallone, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kid Rock, Ray Liotta, David Spade and Wayne Gretzky. “At one point, I look over and see Tom Hanks walking up and he said, ‘I heard the Stanley Cup was here.’ … The Cup is probably a bigger celebrity than any of those people.”

As the summer wound down, Bolt and the Cup made more local stops, like the Sept. 12 visit the two made throughout the Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day school district. Hundreds of adoring students stood next the trophy, snapping pictures while Bolt sat on a nearby couch, trying to simply relax.

“It’s been another crazy summer,” he said. “It never gets old, though. A few nights ago I was sitting in my hotel room and it kind of hit me again. I’m in a room with the Stanley Cup sitting on the couch.”

While he stopped short of naming which city has been his favorite champion, Bolt talked about Red Wings’ fans having a passion few others can relate to.

“To go downtown and see 1.5 million people at a parade is pretty incredible,” he said. “To see the reaction it gets here, it’s pretty special.”

Bolt’s final duty in the Detroit area was Oct. 9 when the Wings opened the 2008-09 season at home with a banner-raising ceremony that featured the Cup inside Joe Louis Arena.

For now, Bolt is back in Toronto with his life returning to some level of normalcy. For Red Wings’ fans everywhere, the hope is he’ll be back – and soon.

Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu

Gheeling's return to the real world

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:02:00 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

DEARBORN — More than a week later, as he looks back on how it all played out, he can’t help but smile.

He’s been recognized since returning home, since rejoining the outside world, but this was something different. This was something he’ll never forget.

With just minutes remaining in Orchard Lake St. Mary’s week-five victory against Birmingham Brother Rice Sept. 27, St. Mary’s assistant coach Dan Gheesling left the press box en route to joining his team on the field.

As soon as the student-section saw him, the chants began.

“Gheesling! Gheesling! Gheesling!”

As he acknowledged his fans with a wave, the chants grew louder.

Becoming a celebrity

Before the start of summer, Dan Gheesling was a popular name on the St. Mary’s campus thanks in large part to his role on the coaching staff and his duties as a freshman biology, health and physical education teacher. By the end of summer, however, and after a three-month appearance on CBS’ reality show Big Brother, Gheesling is now a household name across the country.

From the beginning of July until midway through September, Gheesling competed, formed alliances, broke alliances, schemed, planned and ultimately outlasted 12 other housemates in a game that featured weekly eliminations and a grand prize of $500,000.

In the season’s first show, he was portrayed as a conservative Catholic school teacher without much chance to last. By season’s end he was being hailed as the best player in the show’s 10-year history.

“It took some planning and a lot of good luck,” Gheesling, a Dearborn resident and 2001 grad of Divine Child said last week when asked about his victory.

There was also plenty of hesitation on his part before flying to California to join the show.

“The one thing I never wanted to do was lose the respect of my students, the St. Mary’s community and especially my job,” Gheesling explained. “Winning $500,000 wasn’t worth losing the job I love. I was more than content with the life I was leading.”

Plenty of support

So before heading west, Gheesling met with the powers at be from St. Mary’s. He explained the game, what it would entail and the possible situations he would inevitably find himself in.

“When I talked to everyone and found that I had the support of chancellor (Timothy) Whalen, Monsignor (Stanley) Milewski, headmaster (Jim) Glowacki and coach (George) Porritt, I knew this was something I had to do,” Gheesling said. “I knew I had to represent myself and my faith in a way I could be proud of. … At the same time, I knew the producers and editors could portray me in any way they saw fit. So if nothing bad came out of my mouth and I didn’t take part in any stupid actions, they’d have nothing to work with.”

While Gheesling had full support from those within the St. Mary’s family, feelings were mixed from the outside. Glowacki said the school received hundreds of complaints regarding Gheesling’s decision. Still, as Glowacki pointed out, “for every complaint or concern we got, we had an equal number of people throwing their support at Dan.”

“We understood what he was getting himself into,” Glowacki added. “We, as Catholics, had to look at it this way. If you’re playing poker, is it a sin to bluff? Dan was playing a game and we knew he’d be required to make moves under the guise of that game to be successful.”

Returning to St. Mary’s

Gheesling returned home to Dearborn a couple weeks ago with the intention of heading back to work at St. Mary’s. Just when he punched in at the school was the question.

“Getting back to everyday life has been a little harder than I thought,” he admitted. “I was so mentally tough and determined for three months, it’s taken me some time to unwind.”

Glowacki advised Gheesling to wait until the next card-marking period, which is in about three weeks before he resumes teaching.

“It’s best for the students,” Glowacki said. “They’ve had a sub who has done a tremendous job, and while I know they are anxious to see Dan, for the flow of their schedule, we thought it best to wait a little longer.”

“I’m really looking forward to getting back in the classroom,” Gheesling said. “I’ve missed teaching the kids. I look forward to explaining why I did some of the things I did in the context of the game. I think they understand it all, but I’ll be happy to see them all again and explain everything.”

As far as football is concerned, Gheesling was anxious to get back and Porritt and his team couldn’t wait to have him.

“I know he felt like he may be a distraction or something, but we wanted him back right away,” Porritt said. “Dan’s an excellent coach who gives us a great advantage. I know the kids were anxious to get him back as well.”

Back to normal

Gheesling admitted he’s still adjusting to life back home. He gets stopped a couple times a day by fans who recognize him, or even mothers who want an autograph for their daughters, as happened last week at a junior varsity football game.

Football, as he explained, has helped.

“Being around the kids, the game, has helped me forget about the craziness of the past few months,” he said. “It’s great to be back. It’s a great reminder of exactly what I want to do with my life.”

For now, he’s just taking everything in stride. He’s enjoying every moment he can while the spotlight remains bright. He’ll sign autographs, wave at fans, and even smile when his name is cheered.

Especially, as was the case Sept. 27, when it’s the opposing team’s student section doing the cheering.

This story was originally published with C&G News Oct. 8. To see that version, please Click Here.

Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu

Mike Moore broadcast demo

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:01:00 -0400

Mike Moore broadcast demo

My play-by-play demo is done. Click Here for the link on YouTube.

To contant Mike Moore send email to mjm12@albion.edu or call (313) 770-6365.

Another debate, another debacle

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:06:00 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

Another debate and another Obama victory. At least that’s what we’re being told by nearly every media outlet across the country today.

It’s getting old, archaic, actually, as to how the predictable cycle of American politics continues to turn in a country where journalism continues to fail us. There is no legitimate way to declare a victor in these meetings, there is however, ways to alter opinions.

If you stayed up for the debate (or stayed awake during it) the greatest injustice done has nothing to do with who won or lost, but instead, it has everything to do with the person “chosen” to moderate it.

Tom Brokaw, who as recently as Sunday could be seen slamming Sarah Palin, joked Tuesday night about controlling the times of answers, “being hired help,” and trying to keep things fair. The problem is, fairness never made an entrance to the town-hall style debate, thanks in large part to the many asinine questions Brokaw selected to be asked.

Protecting Obama anyone?

Polls throughout the country have suggested Americans are (somehow) much more favorable to Obama on topics such as foreign policy and the economy. So, predictably, most of the questions Brokaw selected had to do with, you guessed it, foreign policy and the current state of our economy.

As I sat watching, applauding McCain for the punches he was throwing, the “that one” comments he was making, I couldn’t help but wonder where other questions this country deserves answers to were.

Are you going to try and tell me nobody, not one single person in all the emails and in the audience, wanted to know about the candidate’s stances on abortion, gun control, immigration, Supreme Court appointees, ACORN, or, just maybe, William Ayers?

Of course they did and of course those questions were submitted, they just were never asked, and for good reason. Brokaw was Obama’s biggest shield of defense.

Do you think Obama wants to talk about his abortion beliefs, more specifically his belief when an abortion goes wrong (an interesting phrase) and the fetus survives. He supports no medical care for a living baby, claiming helping the baby live would be a burden to the mother.

“Look,” Obama said recently, “I’ve got two daughters, nine years old and six years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

Or how about immigration, a McCain strength, or gun control, a basic right in our constitution Obama opposes, or ACORN, a democratic-favored group that Tuesday morning had an Las Vegas office raided due to faulty voting registration.

Or, maybe, just maybe, a question or two about Ayers, a terrorist who bombed the pentagon and hosted Obama when the Illinois senator kicked off his political career.

None of it was asked, all of it was by design.

Those who know me best already understand my political views and who I believe is best for this job and best for this country. Those who don’t know me that well have probably figured it out by now.

My hope, however, is those who are undecided as to where their vote will go, will not be swayed or tricked by the liberal media and the liberal handling of these debates. I can only plead that you don’t tune into CNN following the debate to watch James Carville talk about riots if McCain were to win.

I’m not ignorant, and I understand the right has its Fox’s, its Hannity’s and LimBaugh’s. But neither Hannity, nor Limbaugh, or any conservative for that matter, will ever have a hand in these debates, ever have a chance to protect their candidate.

As the final month of this race winds down, it’s our responsibility (like heath care) as Americans, to not only listen, but truly hear what the candidates are saying. Research their views and records on certain issues, avoid being swayed on how things are portrayed, but instead focus on what will benefit our democratic nation. A nation, as we were once told, operates with a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu

Gheesling talks about Big Brother victory

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:36:41 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

He entered the house with drums banging and guns blazing.

He pronounced his religious beliefs, as a Catholic high school teacher, in perfect accord with his political viewpoint, saying he would leave the United States if Hillary Clinton was ever elected president.

When the country was first introduced to Dearborn resident and 2001 Divine Child grad Dan Gheesling, opinions of him ranged somewhere between arrogant and cocky, as if there was much difference.

But now, some three months later, the CBS reality show and Big Brother 10 winner is being hailed as one of the game’s best players ever. He planned and schemed perfectly. He formed alliances when needed, and dissolved them equally as fast.

Most importantly, according to the winner himself, he did it all while upholding his character, practicing his faith, and standing firm in the beliefs he entered the house with.

I caught up with Gheesling recently, asking him about the process to joining the show, what it was like to win, and everything in between.

-Mike Moore: Not many people, if any, expected you to be in this situation, as the winner of Big Brother 10. Has it all set in yet, and why do you think you outlasted the other 12 houseguests?

Dan Gheesling: Well, it set in when I scratched a check to the government to pay the taxes on my winnings. (Laughs) But I can’t complain about that. It costs a price to live in the greatest country in the world. As for winning, I think it took a lot of luck, some planning on my part, and some things that really went my way. It’s still pretty cool to think about, though. I mean, I won Big Brother.

-Moore: You have $500,000, before taxes. People want to know what you’ll do with the money?

Gheesling: I’m going to be smart about it. Poeple have asked me when I’m getting a new car and stuff like that, but I paid my car off just before I left. I’m going to drive it until it blows up. But really, I’m going to be smart, invest, and use it in ways that will allow me to teach and coach and not have to worry about money.

-Moore: Only a select few people knew you were even trying to get on the show, what was the process like?

Gheesling: This was actually the third year I tried to make it. The other two years I had to turn them down at some point. Again this year, I sent a tape in and they were interested in what I had to offer. They called me and I went to a semifinal interview where it was down to 800 people. Then I moved onto the finals where they knocked it down to 40 people in Los Angeles. I met with CBS executives and really started playing the game in casting. I knew they wouldn’t cast a normal, everyday-looking guy. So when they asked questions, I knew the type of answers they were looking for.

-Moore: When you finally learned you had made it, what was your initial reaction?

Gheesling: I was kind of shocked and at the same time excited. The casting process is a couple months, and finally the answer I wanted had arrived.

-Moore: One of the things you referenced most while on the show was the students and players at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, how tough of a decision was all this?

Gheesling: Honestly, the toughest thing was talking to head football coach George Porritt. I didn’t want to abandon the seniors who had dedicated all their time and effort to the season. Coach Porritt told me how this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance and I had to go for it. Once I had his support I felt a lot better. At the same time, I knew I had to leave my girlfriend Monica and my family and friends. (Monica and I) talked about it, and it was tough. But I have to say, I am very lucky to have a girlfriend like that who would support me through all this.

-Moore: When you first arrived at the house, and saw everyone, what were some of your initial impressions?

Gheesling: When I got in the house, I saw a bunch of physical threats and strong-willed people who could slick talk. I didn’t excel in any of those areas. I honestly thought my chances of winning were slim to none. … As far as the players were concerned, I found out Jerry was manipulated by young women, he wanted to make them happy. I thought I’d get along with Ollie because we both had football backgrounds. In the first two weeks, I didn’t talk to Keesha at all. It’s funny how things all played out.

-Moore: Right off the bat, you aligned with Brian, why!?

Gheesling: I thought he excelled in areas I was pretty weak. He was too convincing, though. I thought I was in a lot of trouble after week one (when Brian was evicted). I knew I had to start over at square one.

-Moore: When was the first time you actually thought you could win the whole thing?

Gheesling: Not until the end, until Memphis voted out Keesha. When I saw she was that mad I knew she’d never vote for him in the jury house. I knew I had at least vote and I could get a few others.

-Moore: Jerry? What can you even say?

Gheesling: Jerry got pretty emotionally involved in the game (Laughs). When you are 75, you get free pass to say whatever you want.

-Moore: But he called you Judas! Did that get to you at all?

Gheesling: It was like water rolling off my back. I think he was trying to drive a stake at something that was very personal to me. It didn’t work or offend me in the least bit. In the end, you have to respect Jerry because he outlasted a lot of people. If I’m 75 and can be half the competitor he was, I’ll be proud. He won challenges and played tough the whole time.

-Moore: Being Catholic in the house, how difficult was that?

Gheesling: The first time I lied was the hardest part. It’s not everyday you look someone in the eye and lie to their face. Lying is like riding a bike, once you do it, though, you don’t forget how. The thing is, I was playing a game. I would never lie like that in real life. It was all part of winning.

-Moore: One of your most controversial moments was the time Jesse was eliminated, do you regret playing things the way you did and having to make two promises when you could only keep one?

Gheesling: I had to set up both sides because I didn’t know which way America was going to vote. Worst case scenario, I still had to have one side to align with. Not that anyone in their right mind would have sided with (Ollie, April, Jerry and Michelle).

-Moore: WHAT WAS WITH YOU SCREAMING IN THE DIARY ROOM!?

Gheesling: I knew this question was coming. (Laughs again) In the diary room, I’d get fired up. In the house, I could control my emotions pretty well. I got fired up in there because that was my time to let loose and have some fun. I didn’t realize I blew out a few microphones that had to be replaced.

-Moore: You were probably the only player that acknowledged the cameras on a daily basis.

Gheesling: I tried to make the show as entertaining as possible. Anytime I could give the fans something funny, or give them insight into what I was thinking, I tried to do that. It was all a way to have fun.

-Moore: Besides Jerry slipping and falling in the pool, what were some of the funnier moments you enjoyed?

Gheesling: Jerry slipping was pretty funny. I had to control myself so I wouldn’t laugh. But messing with Renny was the best. I was relentless with her. But she had a good sense of humor.

-Moore: In the early going, you threw a lot of competitions on purpose?

Gheesling: Yeah, early on, I threw the competitions and put my neck on the line It was a huge risk. It was kind of like playing poker. You can’t lose if you don’t put all your chips in the middle. Then again, you can’t win much either.

-Moore: April and Ollie? Enough said?

Gheesling: Well, I think some people went in to this to win a half million. Some went for fame. April and Ollie have some interesting memories they shared with all of America.

-Moore: What about Jesse? He was pretty into himself, and based on America’s vote, was probably the least-liked houseguest.

Gheesling: Jesse was a fierce competitor in the competitions, but in the house, he was also good at stirring things up. I guess he stirred it up one too many times, though. He didn’t know when to stop, and when the pot boiled over, he got burned.

-Moore: Your decision to play “Replacement Nominee Roulette,” when you essentially got rid of Michelle and Ollie was almost perfect. How did you come up with that?

Gheesling: The night before, I was up till like 5 a.m. thinking about how I would run the meeting. I didn’t want it to be a run-of-the-mill meeting. It was one of those things I look back on and it was a stronger move because it caused so much chaos.

-Moore: Near the end of the game, you said you would throw Memphis under the bus if needed while he kind of said he’d never do anything of the such to you?

Gheesling: The goal was to get the two of us to the finals. But my personal goal wasn’t to make sure he won the half million. If the jury asked me something and I had to throw him under, I would have been diplomatic. More or less, whether it was bad for Memphis or not, I gave the jury members the answers they wanted to hear. … Honestly, I was shocked to get all seven votes. I thought we would each have at least two and the rest would be a toss up.

-Moore: How difficult was it not knowing what was going on in the outside world?

Gheesling: I got burned on the Brett Farve question in one game. Who would ever think he would leave Green Bay? … It’s tough, though, I always stay up to with the news, politics and current events, especially in a year like this with the presidential race. Any information we got in there we thrived on.

-Moore: So when you got out, one of the first things you had to have learned about, aside from Kwame, was Sarah Palin.

Gheesling: I’m all for her. I think it was a great move by McCain. He stole a play from the Dan Gheesling playbook of surprises.

-Moore: How has it been getting back to everyday life?

Gheesling: It’s been an interesting adjustment. It took me four days to go through all my emails and phone calls. I tried to do it all at once, and I found myself staying up all night. At the same time, I had so many people that supported me. I wanted them all to know what it meant to me. I really love the fan support.

-Moore: What’s with you and Memphis?

Gheesling: I talk to Memphis just about every day. We’re going to have a couple Renegade shirts coming out. We’d like to do some other business ventures together.

-Moore: People have started to love you, obviously, and for those that want an autograph or something, what can you tell them?

Gheesling: Pretty soon I will have something set up so I can get people a mailing address so they can send self-addressed things that I will sign for free. As long as it is self-adressed, I’ll sign it and send it back. People can also check out my Myspace at Myscpace.com/ghees

-Moore: Would you ever go back and do a Big Brother All-Star season?

Gheesling: I don’t know. I’d have to ask myself if I want to go out like John Elway, on top, or if I want to come back and tarnish my legacy like Jordan did. I guess we’ll see.

A feature story about Gheesling’s return to coaching and teaching at St. Mary’s is scheduled to appear in the Oct. 8 issues of C&G Newspapers. Check back with Mooretosay.com for the link.

Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu

Firing Millen doesn't solve problems

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:04:00 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

Rejoice.

Let the party begin.

Celebrate, Detroit, for today is a great day. Heck, there’s probably some confetti and cupcakes left over from the other ousting celebration just two weeks ago.

First it was Kwame, now it’s Millen. Two different scenarios, two identical results.

The Lions made what many had been hoping for official Wednesday, firing team president and general manager Matt Millen after more than eight years on the job. This wasn’t a change for change’s sake, as we all too often see in professional sports. No, this was a move long overdue, a move that, in all fairness, could have and should have come three or four years ago.

Better late than never, I guess.

But as the celebrations wind down, and the parties let out, one question must be asked. Are the Lions any better off now than they were 24 hours ago? The answer is an obvious, No.

This was more of a symbolic move than anything. An NFL general manager has little responsibilities once the season begins. Unlike baseball, basketball and hockey, midseason trades are rare and if made, minor.

The same Lions’ team that trotted out to the field and got embarrassed in San Francisco, will do likewise next Sunday against Chicago. (Trot out that is, although another embarrassment isn’t out of the question.)

If the Lions are serious about improving, serious about giving the fans of Detroit what they deserve in a football team, the next firing should be William Ford Sr. An owner who in his 50-plus years with the organization has seen once playoff win and more losing than I care to count.

The only problem, of course, is you can’t fire an owner. That’d be like Donald Trump starring into a mirror and saying, “You’re fired.” (Now that’d be great TV)

What can happen, and should happen, is a complete sweep of the entire organization. Nobody, from executives to coaches to scouts, that was associated with this team in any way, should be back when the 2009 season kicks off.

There’s a long list of replacements for Millen the Lions will entertain in the coming months. Whoever ends up with the job should arrive with plenty of experience, plenty of success to fall back on, and the idea that everything, from top to bottom, will change.

He’ll bring his own coach, his own staff, his own mentality.

It’s sad to think that when Millen arrived in 2001, the Lions were a team just one game from the playoffs, a team that seemed to have some potential for the near future. Now it’s a team that sits with an 0-3 record and no realistic hope of winning more than three of four games this season.

Millen was the man in charge, by title at least, so he takes the fall for the past eight seasons, he takes on the record of 31-84 during that time. Don’t be fooled, though, he had help, sometimes orders in making the decisions he made. That simply can’t be anymore.

Step No. 1 has happened. It was the right step, and a needed step forward. But unless the Lions, or the Ford’s for that matter, sweep the entire staff and start anew, as we’ve seen all too often with this franchise, one step forward will surely be followed with two steps back.

You can reach Mike Moore at mjm12@albion.edu

Gheesling dances into the finals

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:51:00 -0400

-By Mike Moore-

He came in as one of the most controversial contestants, thanks mainly to his religion and political views, but now, with just two episodes remaining, he is down to the final two, guaranteed at very worst second place, and $50,000.

Believe it or not, it’s been 69 days since Dearborn and Divine Child’s own, Dan Gheesling entered the Big Brother house.

As Thursday’s show wrapped up, Gheesling could be seen dancing on a table, throwing out high fives to his “Renegade” partner, Memphis, and pacing the kitchen in a state of shock.

Truth be told, Gheesling may be surprised at his success, shocked, however, he can’t be.

Since the first day he entered the house, he entered with a game plan. He threw competitions early on, dominated others at the right moment. He formed alliances that would only benefit him, while faking others he could use when needed.

No matter your opinion of him as a person, his play as a competitor in this game has been unmatched. And it’s that little word, “game,” that so many people seem to forget about when speaking of Gheesling, and, for that matter, his success.

He’s gone against his word when needed, sorry Ollie, while other times hiding what his true word was. Keep in mind he would have voted out Keesha just as quickly as Memphis did.

It’s impressive, even hard to believe at times, that Gheesling has maintained his reputation, kept his normal persona, all while advancing to this point in the game. Not once did he compromise his job at St. Mary’s, and aside from what seemed like one disingenuous comment about the sacrament of confession, (his only statement that’s bothered me to this point), he’s found a way to win with smarts, intelligence and a little deception.

The makings of a good coach, right?

It’s hard to believe the journey has brought him this far, given what reality TV usually strives for. Rarely, if ever, has the good kid, a Catholic boy at that, had such success in an industry driven by sex, lies and controversy.

Through it all, he’s maintained his relationship to his girlfriend (only a few more days Monica), he’s honored, or better said, made his mother proud, all the while being the Dan Gheesling so many of us have come to know, and, in a weird way, come to love.

It was some 69 days ago, when the show first began, that I said, and I quote, “why couldn’t a straight-forward Catholic from a middle class city have a shot to steal the spotlight in Hollywood?”

Well, he has, and if the vote goes his way Tuesday, (he’s played his cards right so that it will) he won’t just steal said spotlight, he’ll take it all the way to the bank.

Check back with Mooretosay.com in the days following the final episode of Big Brother as i hope to secure an interview with Gheesling, win or lose.

Mike Moore can be reached at mjm12@albion.edu