Category: Local News

News and updates on players, coaches and more from Grand Rapids, MI #BeerCityUSA

Happy Birthday, Sam Awry! #4 turns 43 today

Even in the coldest days of the calendar year the Heavens bring forth the warmth and joy of celebration.

Today, we celebrate the Captain of The Greens, the original Greater Grand Rapids Liger, Sam Awry.

43 years this earth has been blessed with the smooth notes, subtle tones and an unwavering ability to bring the triumphant noise of life to every tribe.

For the last 5 years, we’ve had the privilege of having this guy around in our league and lives.

For that, we are truly blessed.

Thank you, Sam.

“ONE TEAM FOR WEST MICHIGAN”, a collaboration in Beer City, USA

Four of Beer City’s sports franchises, the Grand Rapids Drive, Grand Rapids Griffins, West Michigan Whitecaps and West Michigan Sports Commission on Tuesday launched “One Team For West Michigan,” a collaborative initiative to provide encouragement and help to our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This 30-second PSA video released to local TV stations and shared on the four organizations’ websites and social media platforms contains clips from the three professional teams integrated into a message of positivity and hope.

Viewers are invited to visit OneTeamForWestMichigan.com, where they will find donation links and information for charities that have been designated by each sports organization for particular support during this time, including The Children’s Foundation (Drive), Heart of West Michigan United Way (Whitecaps), Kids’ Food Basket (Griffins), and Mary Free Bed Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports (WMSC). Each charity has specific COVID-related funds or needs that fans can support, joining campaigns that each team initiated in the early days of this crisis.

“It’s exciting to have all three Grand Rapids teams come together to support this great cause. We’re all in the business of providing entertainment to our community and now we’ll turn our focus to supporting the West Michigan community that we all have the pleasure of calling home. We want to thank the Griffins, Whitecaps and the WMSC for partnering with us on this initiative and bringing awareness to the fantastic work these organizations do,” said Drive president Steve Jbara.

Thoughts from the Dirty Water: Covid-19 #StayAtHome in Michigan

Did we ever really understand what was going on around here in the first place?

Seriously.

Not much unlike the NFL draft, most of this can be done online.

What were we before that “one time we did that one thing” in sports, politics, family, friendships and everyday life?

We, as a United people of these American States (I’m not sure anything else fits the current status quo), won’t (not can’t, WON’T) find an even ground to plant our feet and solidify enough commonalities in our lives to put aside whatever political differences we have and make a concerted effort to “give of ourselves” to the future generations that may or may not exist only due to the choices we humans are making today.

Healthcare and Hospital workers (Nurses, Doctors, Admin, Orderlies, Technicians, Therapists, Social Workers, Trainers, Cashiers, Valets, Maintenance, IT, etc.) deserve the utmost respect and gratitude for CONTINUALLY putting their lives at risk every day, far before the Covid-19 pandemic. If you can’t find money to buy these folks a meal right now, start putting ONE QUARTER (that’s 25 cents) of your spending change into a HERO FUND to give away near the HOLIDAYS. 24 weeks at $2.50 equals a $60 gift card for your favorite HERO!

Gone out to SHIP anything? That means “sending mail, packages or gifts” to friends, family or customers…and also “RETURNS to amazon or zappos“. Retail cashiers are near the lowest paid industry and deserve a $5/per transaction tip. They’ve lost hours, had to wear masks & gloves, continually clean and disinfect the stores they work in. They WEAR THE STUFF YOU SHOULD BE WEARING IN PUBLIC! SO, HAND OUT SOME CASH if you’re “just returning this pair of shoes that don’t fit”. Is returning product really essential? To paraphrase the Governor, “food or life-saving items only”. You’re overzealous Zappos order does not comply! #StayHome They don’t want you there, the business owner does. But, the owners haven’t provided the “mandated necessary equipment to open”, the Managers and Staff have. TIP THE STAFF!!!! Or #StayHomeMichigan. 

“But, Hoops, groceries!”

And now we can tackle the grocery store. Not much unlike the NFL draft, most of this can be done online. Except for the pickup of prescriptions, which you can have delivered, why are you even AT the store? Restaurant servers out of work because of the VIRUS are finding work doing grocery and other deliveries but don’t have the clout (bottom of the list/ small orders) on the seniority and customer preferred list of shoppers hired months before them. So, yes, GO order and buy meals and gift cards from your local restaurants, but please don’t forget about the staff that the CAN NOT keep on payroll right now. WE RECOMMEND 50% TIPS AT YOUR LOCAL TAKEOUT! 

Tangent:

And while we’re at it, why can’t 2K Sports and the NBA work out a deal to get CAREER MODE for the @WNBA on 2k20 via an upload or get their sh!+ together and get it working for 2K21? WE hate this! SO much! There’s ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD OR REAL EXPLANATION THAT #GirlDad’s have to tell their daughters, “Well, at least they have girls on the game.” 

Seriously, What The F*ck is Wrong With Humanity? 

Profits. That’s it. Oh, and Pride. 

 

 

Family, friends, fans, followers, haters and Gators,

ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE THE SACRIFICE “Less Than You’s” NEED YOU TO MAKE? 

NOTHING REALLY MATTERS. F*ck The Destination, Have Fun On The Journey! Give It All Away, Now!