A Michigan Thing

07/10/2025

In 1984, the Detroit Tigers roared to one of the most dominant seasons in baseball history, finishing with a league-best 104–58 record and an unforgettable 35–5 start—the best 40-game opening in MLB history. Led by manager Sparky Anderson, who became the first to win World Series titles in both leagues, the Tigers powered through the postseason and defeated the San Diego Padres in the Fall Classic, 4 games to 1. Alan Trammell, the Series MVP, delivered two home runs and six RBIs, including a heroic Game 4 performance. Pitcher Jack Morris threw a complete-game win in Game 1, continuing his postseason dominance. The Tigers swept all three games at Tiger Stadium, with a packed house of 51,901 fans witnessing the championship-clinching Game 5 on October 14. The heart of the team included seven All-Stars and the legendary duo of Lou Whitaker and Trammell, who made history as the longest-running double-play combo to win it all. The 1984 title remains one of Detroit’s most cherished sports triumphs.

07/09/2025

John C. Reilly sang "Happy Birthday" to his friend Jack White, who turns 50 today, ahead of the first pitch at the Tigers game.

That is not a Mad Libs sentence. That just happened at Comerica Park.

07/09/2025

Serena Jameka Williams was born on September 26, 1981, in Saginaw, Michigan, to parents Richard Williams and Oracene Price. Though her family moved to California when she was very young, Michigan is where her remarkable journey began.

Born at Saginaw General Hospital, Serena spent her earliest months in the state while her father, Richard, began envisioning a future in tennis for both Serena and her older sister, Venus. The family soon moved to Compton, California, where their intensive training began.

She won 23 Grand Slam singles titles—the most in the Open Era—and held the world No. 1 ranking for 319 weeks. She earned 4 Olympic gold medals, achieved the rare Career Grand Slam in both singles and doubles, and twice held all four major titles at once—a feat dubbed the “Serena Slam.” Off the court, she’s a successful investor, entrepreneur, and advocate for equity and maternal health.

In 2012, she was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame, and in 2023, her autographed tennis racket became part of the Michigan History Museum’s “Herstory” gallery in Lansing—a tribute to trailblazing women with Michigan roots.

You can visit the tribute to her at:
Michigan History Museum
702 W Kalamazoo St
Lansing, MI 48915

This museum is located within the Michigan Library and Historical Center building, just two blocks west of the State Capitol.

Photo credit to Daily Freeman, Wikipedia, and ESPN.

07/08/2025

When Dan Campbell took over the Detroit Lions in 2021, he inherited a franchise known for losing and low morale. Truly, the Lions were a defeated, emotionally washed-out team.

The Lions were coming off a toxic culture under Matt Patricia. The locker room was fractured. Hamp didn’t want a short-term turnaround—she wanted someone to rebuild trust, develop players, and create a lasting foundation.

Campbell embraced the challenge and brought a new attitude to Detroit. He changed the attitude with core beliefs:
1. Earn Everything: No entitlement—star or undrafted rookie, you compete.
2. Toughness: He preaches physical and mental toughness, making his players embrace pain, long days, and accountability.
3. Humility + Loyalty: His background makes him connect to players on a human level. They say, “He gets us because he was us.”
4. Never Give Up: Like his own journey from unpaid observer to NFL coach, he asks his team to believe—even if the world doesn’t.
Players say Campbell doesn’t "coach from a pedestal." He’s been a backup, a starter, injured, cut, and a Super Bowl contributor—he’s lived every side of NFL life.

One of my favorite quotes about Dan Campbell is also about Detroit.
“This place has been kicked. It’s been battered. It’s been bruised. … Here’s what I do know: **This team is going to take on the identity of this city. This city’s been down, and it’s found a way to get up.”**
He gets the blue collar ethos of Detroit.



Photo credit to Us Weekly, the Detroit Free Press, and the Detroit News.

07/08/2025

Incredible!

26-year-old Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskan was on his first official mission when he was called to Central Texas to respond to deadly flooding.

Ruskan was sent to Camp Mystic where he helped guide groups of 10-15 campers and adults to safer landing zones. All in all, he rescued 165 people from the camp.

In an interview with Good Morning America, Ruskan recounted the rescue saying “I kind of discovered I was the only person there as far as first responders go. So I had about 200, kids mostly. All scared, terrified, cold, having probably the worst day of their life. And I just kind of needed to triage them, get them to a higher level of care and get ‘em off the flood zone.”

Ruskan had completed his rescue swimming training only 6 months prior to this week’s mission and said that the real heroes “were the kids on the ground” adding that “those guys are heroic, and they were dealing with some of the worst times of their lives, and they were staying strong. That helped inspire me to get in there and help them out.”

07/07/2025

In the mid-1800s, James Jesse Strang, a self-declared successor to Mormon founder Joseph Smith, led his followers to Beaver Island in northern Lake Michigan. In 1850, Strang crowned himself “King of the Kingdom of God on Earth,” making him the only person in U.S. history to hold a royal coronation on American soil. He ruled the island with religious and political authority, founded the town of St. James, published The Northern Islander newspaper, and was twice elected to the Michigan Legislature. Strang enforced strict religious laws—including tithing and polygamy—which created tension with non-Mormon residents and Irish fishermen. His reign ended violently in 1856 when he was assassinated by disaffected followers. Shortly after his death, his followers were forcibly expelled, and the island’s control returned to local non-Mormons. Despite its brief existence, Strang’s kingdom left a lasting imprint on Michigan history and remains one of the most unusual chapters in American religious and political life.

Sources: Britannica, Atlas Obscura, MyNorth, Wikipedia, BeaverIsland.net

07/07/2025

Cutting through the Monday morning noise. Nice pic!

Summer in the Straits.
Flowers in bloom. Storms in the distance. And the iconic Mackinac Bridge connecting the two peninsulas. Pure. Michigan.

07/06/2025

Kitch-iti-kipi, Michigan’s largest freshwater spring, is a 200-foot-wide, 40-foot-deep natural pool located in Palms Book State Park. It pumps over 10,000 gallons of water per minute—more than 14 million gallons daily—at a constant 45°F, keeping it ice-free all year. Known as the “Mirror of Heaven” by the Ojibwe, its crystal-clear waters reveal trout, ancient logs, and bubbling sand below. Visitors ride a self-operated raft to view the spring’s depths, drawing over 100,000 tourists annually.

🐟 Fish: Home to large lake trout, brook trout, and brown trout, often visible due to the clarity.

🚠 Raft: A manual cable-operated viewing raft, holding about 20 people at once, floats over the spring, allowing views through glass panels.

🧭 Depth Visibility: You can see all the way to the bottom due to zero sediment disturbance — the spring water keeps it pristine.

🧍‍♂️ Annual Visitors: Around 100,000–150,000 people visit each year.



Sources: Michigan Department of Natural Resources, National Park Service archives, Palms Book State Park
Photo credit to Brenda Mainz Photography & Design Company, LLC

07/06/2025

07/05/2025

The Au Sable River Canoe Marathon is a legendary 120-mile, non-stop overnight canoe race held every July from Grayling to Oscoda. It is considered the most grueling sports event in the world. It attracts elite paddlers from around the world. The race begins with a dramatic foot race to the river through downtown Grayling, then continues down the Au Sable River, with paddlers navigating six dam portages and racing through the night. The fastest teams finish around noon Sunday, with others arriving later in the afternoon. Known as “The World’s Toughest Spectator Race,” it draws thousands along the riverbanks to cheer through the night. The event is part of canoeing’s Triple Crown, and the course record is just under 14 hours. Spectators often follow the race at key checkpoints like Mio, Alcona, and Foote Dam.
It starts at 9 PM on July 26.

I will put the website in the comments. 🙂

A companion week-long festival in Grayling features parades, concerts, and family events.



Photo Credit to the Grayling Visitors Bureau and Jeff Calvary Productions.

07/05/2025

When you're at the fireworks and the hill catches on fire.