Catching up with Robb Logterman

Ever wonder what became of sweet-shooting Robb Logterman? Dave Wedeward from Janesville's GazetteXtra.com wrote this fine profile of Robb, tracking all the way back to his days at Janesville Craig up to the present day.

Turns out that Robb will be inducted into the Janesville Sports Hall of Fame next Saturday. Congrats, Robb.

On Golden Pond....a look back at Thursday

What a relief. I'm thrilled with the win but more relieved then anything. Relieved for the staff, relieved for the fans but most of all the players. The last two NCAA appearances were tough on MU. Significant injuries and youth played a big role and today they had to take on one of the giant programs of all-time. It was weird seeing Kentucky out there as the underdog but in a sense I was glad MU played someone with that kind of pedigree. Not that there was a chance MU would come into this game overconfident, but anything extra to pump them up was a good thing in my mind. As it turns out, not a bad day at all....let's take a look back at the sites and sounds of today.

The Pep Rally - 9:15am DoubleTree Hotel Anaheim, California

Pulled into the hotel and the cheerleaders, band and PRN's favorite mascot were outside the lobby in full throat. Managed to get inside and spotted a few friendly faces, including soon to be superstar sports agent Bill Robers (MU alum) and his lovely wife. Gerry Boyle, Father Wild, Greg Kliehbon (sp?) were there along with many faces from other trips over the years. Good turnout for a 2000 mile trip with a few So. Cal alumni as well.

Found Bill Cords in the crowd and spoke with him for about 10 minutes. He looks terrific. Well rested, healthy...what retirement should be. But you could tell that even though he's not the AD any longer, he was definitely into this event and the game. You can't just drop your life's work because you aren't punching a time card any longer. Always good to talk to him. He helped rebuild a winner when it looked hopeless at times.

About 9:30am the players started coming down through the lobby and outside to the bus. I captured a few videos showing them on their way to the most important game of the season.






After they loaded the bus, they were given a police escort from Anaheim's finest over to the Honda Center. Meanwhile the fans retreated back into the hotel for a pep talk from Jack Harbaugh.



The Pep Talk

You could tell this guy was a lifelong coach. I've heard him give a few of these before, but today's was very good. My video is terrible and I'm hoping someone else has some better clips. He started off by introducing his son, former NFL QB and current Stanford head football coach, Jim Harbaugh to the audience.



Jack then went into what today means. What it means especially for the seniors. For Barro, for Fitzgerald, for Blackledge. I'll post the video if I get it because I can't do it justice. It just struck a chord for me personally. He said the last four years we have been Barro's family and his teammates have been his brothers. Today could be his last game every with this family and these brothers. He would bring it all to the game, every last bit of energy. The same with Fitz and Lawrence. It was well stated. Maximum effort.

He then implored us all to make the Honda Center our home, to scream and yell and make our guys feel like it was our building. He divided the room into two and had a mini-competition between the two sides in terms of loudness. The fans were ready at this point...bring on the game.


Bumping into Joanie...cute story

So we leave the conference room and my wife tells me that the woman she saw yesterday at the Block of Orange (a large So Cal mall)shopping was in the room where the pep talk just happened. I asked her to describe which one. She said the gal with brown hair and the little boy. I started to laugh....you mean "THAT ONE"?

She replied, "yes".

Well, here's the background. Yesterday my wife tells me when I get home from work that she bumped into a Marquette fan at the mall while she was shopping with a girlfriend. My wife made a comment to her that it was great to see a MU fan and that her husband (me) went to MU, etc, etc. Well, my wife asked her yesterday if she was going to the game today and if she was all squared away with tickets. LOL. Joanie said she was all taken care of.

So that leads us back to today. I tell my wife, well honey, that's Joanie Crean...the wife of our head coach and I think not only is she going to the game today, her ticket situation is probably all squared away too.

Just then Joanie comes out, sees my wife and I think they had the 24 hour mall flashback for one second as they recognized each other. She was super nice, spoke to us for a few minutes and brought Reilly over. Very nice family. Very generous with her time.

Off to the Honda Center

So we got into my truck and gave a lift to Tim Vetscher and three other MU supporters. Vetscher worked as a student for me in 1997 selling season tickets to MU faithful. Now he's a television reporter in Phoenix....always good to see Tim. He participates on MU scoop from time to time.

We arrived at the Honda Center at 10:25am just before the doors opened.




My wife and I had never attended a Marquette game together in 10 years...at least not sitting together. When I worked at MU during the games, she was usually on the other side of the arena with our 3 month old son in the baby bjorn...so today was going to test our marriage.

We waited the hour for the game to tip off, I was nervous and she was the rock that she always is.

Attendance was quite sparse from what I'm used to at the Bradley Center and hosting those first two rounds. Milwaukee really does a super job of supporting the NCAA tournament.

At 11:25 they did the national anthem by the the MU band...well done. That was followed by player introductions.





I won't get into the game itself, most others have already done that. I did capture (poorly) a few final videos of the last seconds of the game including my comment "FINALLY" that is caught on video....it's been awhile and it's good to finally get another NCAA tournament win. The MU fans were ecstatic and giving Joe Crawford props for a tremendous game.




Now we've got a day off to figure out how to handle two 7 footers who have pushed UCLA to the brink twice in the last 14 days. It's good to be in the NCAAs again...and winning.

Wade and Diener deliver a night to remember for MU alums

I doubt many alums had a better basketball weekend than those who attended the Marquette Club of South Florida's most recent event. On Saturday night, the alums gathered to watch Dwyane Wade's Miami Heat top Travis Diener's Indiana Pacers......and the night was capped by a meet & greet with the pros.

With special thanks to Dan Reinfeld of the MU Club of South Florida, here's a slideshow of the post game gathering. Very nice!

Two quick alumni updates

OK, more content to come later today but in the interim, here are a pair of items passed along from fans of the blog:

• "McGuire," Dick Enberg's one-man play about Al McGuire, will run at Hofstra University's Black Box Theater in Hempstead, NY on Feb. 9 and 10. Here is the blurb from the Daily News.
• Also, if you have the good fortune to live in South Florida perhaps you can jump into the fun when the Miami Heat host the Indiana Pacers game on Saturday, January 26th 2008 at 3:30pm. I should have posted this last week (skiing got in the way!) -- because the MU club down there will host a post game meet and greet session with Dwyane Wade (and hey, maybe Diener shows up too). OK, I am green with envy. For more info click here.
  

Roney and Rab

.......the dynamic duo of content for today.

• Rosiak has a fine entry on MU great Roney Eford. Eford, who moved back to Milwaukee recently, is doing fine work on a number of fronts.
• Coach Rab is back with the latest edition of In Rab's Words. Enjoy.

Marquette media notes

Just a few notes to aggregate this morning that you might find of interest:

• It's great to see three former Golden Eagles doing so well up at UWGB. The Bullseye Brothers have an update on the recruiting prowess of Tod Kowalczyk, Jon Harris and Brian Wardle.
• Also from Bullseye, MU is mentioned as one of the early leaders for 6'4" guard Diamond Taylor from the Chicago area. MU is also listed by a couple of other recruits in this most recent report.
• 6'10" MU recruit Chris Otule led his team to the finals of Houston's Outback tournament over the weekend where FB Bush fell to Dulles 65-50. Otule scored 12 points in the loss, and was named to the all-tournament team. RCS Sports lists FB Bush as the #21 team in the greater Houston area. Fellow MU commit Erik Williams' squad - - Cy Springs - - is currently ranked #6 in the area with an 11-2 record.
• Check it out ....here is a YouTube look at Erik Williams sticking a 'three'.

BTW, Milwaukee basketball fans take note - - the 3rd annual Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Shootout is coming to the Al McGuire Center on December 27-28. You want talent? This field has talent. MU commit Nick Williams will lead the Mobile LeFlore Rattlers, the reigning Alabama state champion and one of the nation's best teams, into Milwaukee. Other players of note include 2009 stud Jamil Wilson of Racine Horlick, 2010 stud Flavian Davis, and many more talented preps.

Alumni Update: Mike Kinsella

Marquette's former 3-point specialist, Mike Kinsella, has had a tough go of it after graduation.

He hooked up with his hometown team, a newly created group called the Rochester Fire, part of the American Basketball Association.

Unfortunately, after 1 game, the team folded.

Here's the update from the Rochester Post-Bulletin.

Saddest of all? Mike wasn't paid for his time with the team, and .. can't afford a haircut. (See pic.)

Congratulations, Abel Joseph

Yesterday, Marquette University alum Abel Joseph was named General Manager of the ABA's Montreal Royal franchise.

Congrats, Abel and good luck with the Montreal Royal.

Where are you now: Mike Bargen

Ah the wonders of Google. We now know that Mike Bargen, Marquette graduate, is the new head coach of the Butler (KS) Community College Grizzlies. Congratulations on your first head coaching position, Mike!

Here's a blurb on Bargen's latest recruiting success.

Maybe Mike's MUScoop Wiki page could use an update? Jump in!

Marquette Big East Tourney Information

Hopefully MU fans will travel well to NYC this week for the BET in MSG (I love acronyms). To use a radio tactic, 'keep it here for up to date information on Marquette events in New York City this week'. We'll do our best.

Anyway, here's info from Marquette on where/when to be in NYC this week:

NOTE: The official Marquette bar for the Big East Tournament is Connolly’s. Alumni and Marquette fans should stop by before and after all the games. Connolly’s is located at 121 West 45th Street (between 6th and Broadway). (btw, there are several 'Connolly's' in Manhattan -- so be specific if you are cabbing it)

TUESDAY

• Marquette happy hour at Connolly's from 6-9pm

WEDNESDAY

• Kick-off Celebration at Connolly’s.
• Appetizers and cash bar are available from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• email kimberly.kluge@marquette.edu for reservations.

THURSDAY

• "Big East Tournament Alumni and Fan Extravaganza” at Madison Square Garden (MSG). This will be held in the Theater Lobby of MSG from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The cost is $20/person and offers unlimited access to the Extravaganza area during the games. You must have a game ticket in order to purchase a ticket to the Extravaganza. Marquette staff will sell the Extravaganza tickets at MSG. Non-stop buffet, coffee, dessert, and a cash bar are offered.

It is a great way for alumni and fans to connect. Marquette will have a booth set up where fans can get beads, poms, etc. Call or email kimberly.kluge@marquette.edu to register.