Congrats to the rock group Journey whose song Don’t Stop Believin has been officially immortalized this month by the Library of Congress. It is now in the National Recording Registry. Don’t Stop Believin has been adopted by many Detroiters because of its referral to being from South Detroit, which is ironic because there is no South Detroit other than the Detroit River and Windsor, Canada. “Don’t Stop Believin’,” is a favorite at Detroit Red Wings games, it was performed on the TV show “Glee” half a dozen times and it was the closing song of the play Rock of Ages. It was one of 25 recordings declared worthy of preservation for all eternity. Also immortalized was the Four Tops, “Reach out, I will be there.” A great day for Music with Detroit ties.
I have been very vocal in my support of former Lion QB Matthew and Kelly Stafford for what they continue to do for Detroit. Earlier today the Staffords joined Mitch Albom in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new facility outside the SAY Detroit Play Center that the Staffords donated $1 million to build. The Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center will represent a major expansion at the center, which was opened in 2015 by Albom’s nonprofit SAY Detroit. The center is an after-school facility for Detroit kids ages 8-18. It provides academic enrichment, sports, activities and mentoring for students from some of the city’s most underserved communities.
Before there was Wayne Gretzky, the Russian Five, and Mark Messier there was the Montreal Canadiens’ icon Guy Lafleur, who won five Stanley Cup titles in the 1970s and was a hockey hero in Quebec and all of Canada (except Toronto). Lafluer died today after a battle with lung cancer at age 70. Lafleur, a Hockey Hall of Famer, is the Canadiens’ record holder for points (1,246), assists (728) and game-winning goals (94). Lafluer played with grace and effortless efficiency. The only hockey player that I ever recall who played with more grace and efficiency was former Red Wing Nick Lidstrom. See my Video of the Day.
The transfer portal is changing college sports. It has many benefits because it allows players limited freedom to move without having to sit out a year. Michigan football will benefit from the transfer portal this year as one of the top centers in the country transfers to Michigan after being a starter for Virginia the last three years. Center is one of two positions on the offensive line that opened up because of graduation. The high-level sophomore recruit who was next in line for the job will most likely have to bide his time as the back-up center one more year because of the impact of the transfer portal. With everything there are winners and losers, and members of Michigan’s offensive line are feeling both emotions.
Pray for peace and tolerance. What are you doing to stop the violence? Get vaccinated and get your booster.
Quote of the Day: “Just a city boy. Born and raised in South Detroit. He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere.” From “Don’t Stop Believin” by Journey
Orchid of the Day: The Library of Congress and the National Recording Registry for immortalizing “Don’t Stop Believin” and “Reach out, I will be there”
Onion of the Day: Per the Detroit News, Brian Michael Maciborski,a Shelby Township man accused two years ago of hiding cameras to spy on people at a tanning salon is at it again, Wayne County prosecutors allege. Maciborski, 40, allegedly placed a camera in the ceiling grate of a gym’s tanning bed area to record a 24-year-old Westland woman on Feb. 23, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. The gym is located in the 250 block of North Main Street in Plymouth. Maciborski was arraigned Thursday in 35th District Court in Plymouth on four counts of using a computer to commit a crime, each a two-year felony; one count of capturing images of an unclothed person, a two-year felony; one count of installing a device to eavesdrop, a two-year felony, and one count of surveilling an unclothed person, also a two-year felony. I wonder how it will go for him if he gets to prison?
Question of the Day: What two songs would you have picked to be immortalized?
Video of the Day: Guy Lefleur against the Red Wings. You will see what I mean when I say he played with grace and effortless efficiency.
So I was from South Detroit. Never knew.
Two songs I’ve chosen are: It is Well With My Soul a hymn written by Horatio Spafford (1873) and Bridge Over Troubled Waters written by Simon and Garfunkle.