But do you find that most of the places we have been, the previous five, are a lot alike, just different colors and different spaces on the map? Or do you think that each of these communities has had its own character?

I think probably both because I think as a whole, every one of these places has been welcoming.

They're very supportive of the program and their sports and the kids in their area.

A lot of them have relationships with them.

But I think the biggest difference is that Every community kind of has their own, if you will, their own pirates, for instance, and cougars and bulldogs and greyhounds.

They got their own little...

Just their own little vibe.

city

But do you find that most of the places we have been, the previous five, are a lot alike, just different colors and different spaces on the map? Or do you think that each of these communities has had its own character?

I think probably both because I think as a whole, every one of these places has been welcoming.

They're very supportive of the program and their sports and the kids in their area.

A lot of them have relationships with them.

But I think the biggest difference is that Every community kind of has their own, if you will, their own pirates, for instance, and cougars and bulldogs and greyhounds.

And they got their own little.

Just their own little vibe.

city schools.

This is week five, correct?

Correct.

It is something that we started talking about and then I just said, okay, let's just do it.

Now, I had to have you guys come along with me because it certainly would not be the show, just be by myself.

We've got to have a crack staff that can dissect any situation.

But it's been a blast.

We've been to four communities, and we're 3-1.

Can a loss ever be a good thing?

This is week five, correct?

Correct.

It is... something that we started talking about.

And then I just said, okay, let's just do it.

Now, I had to have you guys come along with me because it certainly would not be the show.

Just be my myself.

We've got to have a crack staff that can dissect any situation.

And the funny part is, LSU lost both of those games.

Jim, you glad to be saluting the East Lansing Trojans?

Well, Jack, I'm glad to be supporting whatever team in school will entertain our silliness when we come in on Tuesday night.

But in East Lansing, it does hold a little bit more special meaning in that I work there.

I know quite a few people.

Gary worked there for a while and enjoyed his coaching stint.

So there's a lot of good people there.

We're just looking forward to some sneaking out here and enjoying some libations and some food.

Do you know yet all of the particulars of the rest of the season, or is this still evolving?

Yeah, that's right.

Um, you know, so they lived, they raised their children and he was involved in the, the football program.

And, um, so it's, it's just a matter of, I think, just good people find good ways to, to do good things.

And that's, that's why we got together.

So, um, he's in, in Washington, DC now, but, uh, there's so many great athletes when you start to think of it and you think of one, and then you think of three more.

Yeah.

We've been fortunate in this area for a long time.

There's a lot of guys that have come out of this area, um, which is just a, a testament to what the greater Lansing area has to offer in terms of, uh, athletic opportunities That have helped kids get to places.

Eden Rapids 1-1, right?

Correct.

And they're hosting the I Own Your Bulldogs in league play Friday night.

It's going to be a good game, but I'm out here.

One of the players for Eden Rapids, actually two of them, is the son of a young man that I played ball with growing up.

And so his grandkids are going to be on the field, and I'm going to get a chance to meet them tonight.

I got a chance to meet his son here just a little bit ago, who actually is sponsoring our event tonight, B-V-I.

How much of this do you know in advance, and is there anything else you can share about next week?

You heard, you know, the Michigan players, they knew they'd lost.

And when they came back with the regurgitation that there was still one second, as soon as it happened, I immediately said, this ain't good.

Nothing good is going to happen on this next play.

And, of course, the quarterback throws the ball in the field of play this time, gives his player an opportunity to catch the ball, and then he goes up and catches it.

And just think, as an athlete, Because you saw the celebration that occurred with all the kids that were playing defense on the previous play.

That's right.

Imagine trying to refocus yourself back to there is no time.

Eaton Rapids 1-1, right?

And tonight, we're going to be over at City Limits in Mason, right?

Correct.

We are sitting here right at the front door off of Cedar Street.

We're getting things set up right now and looking forward to have a great show.

We got the Mason football team will be coming over, Coach Gary Houghton.

Tom has a wonderful relationship with Gary, and he's been great.

very, very nice and, uh, accommodating to bring his captains over.

They're not college players or NFL players, then you know you really got to meet.

And tonight, we're going to be over at City Limits in Mason, right?

Correct.

We are sitting here right at the front door off of Cedar Street.

We're getting things set up right now and looking forward to have a great show.

We've got the Mason football team will be coming over, Coach Kerry Houghton.

Tom has a wonderful relationship with Gary, and he's been great.

very, very nice and accommodating to bring his captains over.

Then you know you really got to meet.

Yeah.

Um, we've competed.

Um, we've taken situations that could be used for bad and turned them into good.

Um, I think everybody's learned from them.

And, and I think that, you know, as a general rule, that, that, that both Mr. Johnson Sr. and Mr. Keaton Sr. are looking down and saying, you know, "My kids, they, they did okay, and, and I wanna continue to have them continue with the same legacy that, that they feel like they have left, uh, themselves." And, and being about community and working with young people and providing them opportunities that maybe they otherwise wouldn't have, um, and, and just pouring into people's lives.

And one of the things that I know that, you know, both my dad, Mr. Johnson, they, they both had this saying, because my dad was in the garbage business as well as Mr. Johnson, so-

That's hiddenrivergolf.com.

[upbeat music] Dave Portnoy here.

Yeah.

Um, we've competed.

Um, we've taken situations that could be used for bad and turned them into good.

Um, I think everybody's learned from them.

And, and I think that, you know, as a general rule that, that, that both Mr. Johnson Sr. and Mr. Keaton Sr. are looking down saying, you know, "My kids, they, they did okay," and, and I wanna continue to have them continue with the same legacy that, that- They feel like they have left, uh, themselves and, and being about community and working with young people and providing them opportunities that maybe they otherwise wouldn't have.

Um, and, and just pouring into people's lives.

And one of the things that I know that, you know, both my dad, Mr. Johnson, they, they both had this saying, because my dad was in the garbage business as well as Mr. Johnson.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

And then you hit a dribbler off the right side infield and it's an infield single, and I think that that's all that happened with the Tigers.

That, uh, baseball's an ebb and flow game.

I...

They competed.

I like the way they competed.

They, they battled back.

[laughs]

Yeah.

And then you hit a dribbler off the right side infield and it's an infield single, and I think that that's all that happened with the Tigers.

That, uh, baseball's an ebb and flow game.

I...

They competed.

I like the way they competed.

They, they battled back.

[laughs]

And I look at now we'd all be sued.

Oh my goodness.

You wouldn't even, if it even came out of your mouth, the police would be coming through the gates to lock you up.

Um, You know, obviously times change, and athletes are different.

There's still ballers out there.

But that grind and that two-a-day grind, I think it does things to your mental abilities.

And I think that's the biggest difference between, you know, my era, if you will, and I'm going to say up until about, Um, let's just say 2000.

Got

And I look at now we'd all be sued.

Oh my goodness.

You wouldn't even, if it even came out of your mouth, the police would be coming through the gates to lock you up.

Um, You know, obviously times change, and athletes are different.

There's still ballers out there, but that grind and that two-a-day grind, I think it does things to your mental abilities, and I think that's the biggest difference between, you know, my era, if you will, and I'm going to say up until about Um, let's just say 2000.

Okay.

That might even be a little bit far, but up through then, you know, guys, guys got after each other and, and, and it was, you know, I remember Just the battles that you would have, you would fight on the field and in the locker room.

Got

What can you tell our listeners about what we're gonna be doing on Tuesday nights?

Well, first of all, Jack, thanks for having me.

I appreciate it as always.

Um, but we just, we, uh, we have a new season, if you will, for Keys to the City.

We're gonna, uh, highlight communities and through their high school s- uh, activities.

And I say activities 'cause it's sports or whether they have, uh, debate teams or whatever.

We just wanna try to highlight high school activities in the area.

Right.

What can you tell our listeners about what we're gonna be doing on Tuesday nights?

Well, first of all, Jack, thanks for having me.

I appreciate it as always.

Um, but we just ...

We, we have a new season, if you will, for Keys to the City.

We're gonna, uh, highlight communities and through their high school s- uh, activities.

And I say activities 'cause it's sports or whether they have, uh, debate teams or whatever.

Right.

So, uh, what advice would you give someone, uh, besides staying hydrated and, uh, being smart about it, uh, dealing with the heat when they go and suddenly they're competing in ridiculous temperatures?

Yeah, it's, it's one of those, I think everybody's a little bit different.

You know, obviously I was a big guy and, um, lots of hydration for me.

Um, some of the, uh, skinnier guys, I think, were, were more apt to cramp up than the bigger guys.

Um, I think you just gotta be smart and know your body.

Um, you don't prepare the day you're going to play when it's hot.

You need to be preparing two or three days ahead, both with your meals as well as your hydration.

Yeah

So, uh, what advice would you give someone, uh, besides staying hydrated and, uh, being smart about it, uh, dealing with the heat when they go and suddenly they're competing in ridiculous temperatures?

Yeah, it's, it's one of those, I think everybody's a little bit different.

You know, obviously I was a big guy and, um, lots of hydration for me.

Um, some of the, the skinnier guys, I think, were, were more apt to cramp up than the bigger guys.

Um, I think you just gotta be smart and know your body.

Um, you don't prepare the day you're going to play when it's hot.

You need to be preparing two or three days ahead, both with your meals as well as your hydration.

Yeah.

Yeah

... y- you're a part of it without even knowing it.

Then when you get there, it's even twice as good because, uh, all the things that you seen on TV, you didn't see all the things that were going on behind the scenes.

And, and, and that's where, you know, you see the vendors and the people that, um, make sure your uniforms are ready, and you make sure that the, the dorm rooms are ready, and-

Mm-hmm

... and given a position.

And then, i- in my opinion, abused the position for some sort of, um, personal gain themselves.

And, and when you are a board of trustees, you're supposed to lo- you're, you're there because you're a l- you love your university.

Yeah

... y- you're a part of it without even knowing it.

Then when you get there, it's even twice as good because, uh, all the things that you seen on TV, you didn't see all the things that were going on behind the scenes.

And, and, and that's where, you know, you see the vendors and the people that, um, make sure your uniforms are ready, and you make sure that the, the dorm rooms are ready.

Mm-hmm

... and given a position.

And then i- in my opinion, abused the position for some sort of, um, personal gain themselves.

And, and when you are a board of trustees, you're supposed to lo- you're, you're there because you're a l- you love your university.

Yes, it

has.

We didn't have the TV.

We didn't have the notoriety.

However...

I would equate it to something that folks around here could relate to, and that would be the Diamond Classic at Municipal Park, where you have folks along the fence line all the way in the outfield, all the way out to Red Cedar, and and guys from encampments that are looking from center field, people chasing balls for a nickel, and what's the 50-50 guy's name rattling his can? I can't remember his name.

But jam-packed, exciting, every pitch exciting.

What do you remember about when you won it all in Rosenblatt and the dog pile and what that felt like to know you were just the best in the state of Michigan? You were the best in the nation.

Yes, it

has.

We didn't have the TV.

We didn't have the notoriety.

However, I would equate it to something that folks around here could relate to, and that would be the Diamond Classic at Municipal Park, where you have folks along the fence line all the way in the outfield, all the way out to Red Cedar, and guys from encampments that are looking from center field, people chasing balls for a nickel, and what's the 50-50 guy's name, rattling his can.

I can't remember his name.

But jam-packed, exciting, every pitch, you know, bated breath, a hit.

You were the best in the