JOURNAL

JOURNAL ARCHIVE

Labor Day Weekend 2007

I hope everyone had a terrific Labor Day Weekend! I had a super one. It started with a trip to South Bend, IN on Friday with my wife, my daughter and son-in-law (both ND grads) and my three grandkids.

I always look forward to the start of the college football season - the excitement is unreal and I love the enthusiasm and passion of the students, fans and alumni. We always start our ND weekends with the Quarterback Luncheon that is held each Friday before home games. It is a sellout crowd and 2 or 3 players always speak as well as the head coach. After the luncheon we walked the beautiful campus- I love seeing that Golden Dome and the grotto by the lake.

The campus seems to get more magical each time I visit. The night concluded with the pep rally - my grandkids had a blast listening to the band and seeing the cheerleaders. The football team enters the rally with the lights off and the fight song playing...then some players speak. A special treat at this rally was hearing former QB and NFL star, Joe Theisman speak to the crowd. Saturday was kickoff against Georgia Tech. Right from the start Georgia Tech dominated the Irish. It will definitely be a rebuilding year for the Irish, especially since the graduation of QB Brady Quinn. Even though the Irish didn't win, my trips to ND are so special and ones I will always cherish! I love sharing those times with my family!

For more photos from our ND weekend CLICK HERE

After Saturday's football game, we continued our weekend with a trip to Chicago. I was invited by the Cubs to throw out their first pitch at their home game on Sunday against the Astros. What a blast my family and I had visiting Wrigley Field. The PR team and the entire Cubs organization could not have been any nicer. They brought my grandsons on the field before the game to meet Alfosno Soriano and some other players and then let them join me in the Cubs locker room, where they spent time talking with Derrek Lee and Mark DeRosa.

What great guys - I am so glad to see them having such big years this year! My grandson couldn't believe it when they walked away with two autographed bats by players (pitcher Scott Eyre and DeRosa). I then took to the mound to throw out that first pitch. Even without much of a warm-up, I surprised myself and threw the ball to the catcher! The Cubs pulled out a close vistory over the Astros - it was a sellout crowd and Wrigley Field was jumping.

For more photos from my trip to Chicago - CLICK HERE

It was a perfect weekend for a sports junkie like myself - but most importantly, I got to share it with my family!