Mike_Reed's Blog

I'm deeply saddened this morning at the news of the passing of LeRoi Moore - the Dave Matthews Band's outstanding saxophone player.

For someone who grew up listening to the over-played, over-marketed, under-talented music constantly pumped out by local radio and MTV, finding DMB in 1996 opened my musical taste and helped me appreciate the talents of real musicians.

I saw my first of what would be numerous DMB shows (well over 20) while I was freshman at Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, Mich. An extra ticket to the show at Wings Stadium was all I needed to be hooked. The haunting voice of Dave, the best drummer in the business in Carter, the intricacies of Stefan's bass, the twang and energy of Boyd's fiddle and the unmistakable smooth, deep sounds LeRoi's sax.

From the baritone and alto to the tiny pennywhistle, LeRoi had a way of stealing the show without so much as moving on stage. The man was so shy he wouldn't take his sunglasses off and could always be found planted on the right side of the stage. I can remember the floor of the Palace rumbling during a solo moment on 'Too Much' and a 10-minute 'Say Goodbye' intro in the front row at Tinley Park in Illinois that made everyone in the crowd fall more in love with the pennywhistle.

I did a brief YouTube search this morning and the tributes are already beginning to pile up. I'm sure there will be more to come and rightfully so.

The best live band in America will never be the same.

SAY GOODBYE


#41


ONE SWEET WORLD


SPOON (Great solo)

Attention Detroit Tigers fans: You are among baseball's least loyal fans.

Well, at least according to a study on Forbes.com.

The study claims we flock to Comerica when the team is winning, but stayed away during the thin years. If anything, the story is a good read.

But what do you think? Do Tigers fans deserve this rating?

If you were lucky enough to attend the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, we want to know about it.

I was able to attend two days and determined that green-side on No. 9 was the best spot to watch the action. You could watch the pros tee off some 230 yards away onto a sloping green surrounded by deep bunkers. The short game play was unreal (except for K.J. Choi's 6 on Friday). You could also want the monster tee shot off No. 10 as well from that spot.

Good times. Great venue. Just need to work on that $3 for a bag of chips. Ridiculous.

Post your comments below or upload some photos from the event.

What a treat it was to get out a watch the pros at Oakland Hills on Wednesday. (and take in the scenery like this shot I took above) Sure, there was no competition, no roaring galleries, no CBS commentators following the world's best players up the fairways.

Instead, the treat was watching how the best players in the world PRACTICE. It's something that all aspiring weekend warriors (like myself) tend to overlook. Usually, a round consists of pulling into the parking lot 10 minutes before your tee time, crudely stretching for 10 seconds on the first tee and duck-hooking a drive into the woods. We've all been there.

Not the pros, though. I sat down by the practice range for a few hours and just soaked up how hard these guys were working. Every player had a specific routine that included a certain amount of balls and working their clubs from the wedges to the driver. And after every shot, they would step away, focus on their next target, set up to the ball and swing. None of this throwing down a ball, swinging, throwing down a ball, swinging...

Let's face it, hitting a large bucket of balls can get a tedious after awhile, and if things aren't going well, we all have a tendency to rush through and get it over with which leads to a reenforcement of your already bad habits.

So, after watching practice, I decided to go to the range and instead by a small bucket and concentrate and hitting my targets and taking my time. The result was the best 40 balls that I've hit all summer.

It looks as if drinking games are going mainstream as the Nintendo Wii introduces 'Pong Toss' later this month.

If you don't already know, 'Pong Toss' is a very clear reference to the widely popular 'Beer Pong' game college kids all know and usually love.

And I must admit, I kinda miss 'Beer Pong.' I miss covering the pool table to with plywood and lining up red Solo cups (one rinse cup, please) into that pyramid formation and topping them off with foamy, tepid brew. Makes me think of sunny, cool Saturdays in the Fall.

Thanks to all the FOX 2 viewers who've shared their photos with us following Sunday's storm. Keep them coming. You could see them during one of our newscasts.

Plus, you can now upload video as well!

Click here to view the photos and upload your own.

Got a little nostalgic last night and couldn't help but remember exactly what metal, warm beer and champagne all mixed together tastes like -- sweet victory.

Thanks, Steve Duchesne, for a memory I won't soon forget.

I don't really consider myself a 'foodie' or anything, but I do enjoy a good meal - especially when someone else is cooking.

So I must admit I was excited to hear about Chef Michael Symon's new restaurant coming to the Book-Cadillac hotel in Detroit. Huge wood-burning grills 'roasting' steaks and such sounds good to me.

But it got me thinking about my favorite places to grub in metro Detroit. Here's my short list. I'm curious to know yours.

Best Burger: Red Coat Tavern (Royal Oak) -- Extra burger sauce, please. And try the Piedmontese. Less fat than chicken and you can't really tell the difference.

Best Pizza: J. Baldwin's (Clinton Twp.) -- If you like thin crust pizza, you can't go wrong. The man knows how to whip up a pie. Try the Signature pizza with all the fixings.

Best Mexican: Mexican Town Restaurant (Detroit) -- So many great options in Mexicantown, but this jewel is my favorite. The hot salsa is excellent and the chips are always served hot. Plus, $4 lunch specials get you two chicken burritos, beans and rice. You can't even get that at Taco Bell.

Best Thai: Bahn Thai (Detroit) Just look for the yellow awning near Greektown. Their options are excellent and they make the BEST Gang Gai I've ever tasted. No one's even close.

Best Coney Island: (tie) Lucas Coney Island (South Lyon) and L. George's (Oak Park) -- I know, I know. South Lyon and Oak Park? Yes. Coney Islands are usually a dime a dozen around here, but these places have the greatest Greek salads around. Be sure to add chicken at L. George's - you won't be disappointed.

Best Sandwich: Eph's Downtown (better know as McNally's) -- A downtown gem. Original location in Corktown was charming and the food delicious. If you like chicken salad, go for the No. 25 on wheat with lettuce and tomato....and add in a Faygo cream soda.

Best Hot Dog: La Puma's (Downtown Rochester) -- Hands down. You can have your National and American and Lafayette. Give me La Puma any day. Great chili and Chicago dogs and the chili fries leave you feeling just plain happy.

There's my short list. My favorite thing about it? You can go to any of these places and eat for under $10. Maybe I'll try and compile a 'finer dining' list some other time. For now, I'm hungry. Time to hit up the vending machine.

So, the Associated Press is reporting that 5.4 earthquake hit the midwest this morning at 4:37 a.m. We've been receiving calls in the newsroom this morning from viewers saying they felt the tremors, which are said to have originated near West Salem, Ill.

Being a good producer running a few minutes late, I was preparing my morning cup o'joe at the gas station at 4:37 a.m. I don't think I felt any rumbles....well, besides the rumble my wallet lets out everything I look at gas prices.

So, did you feel it?
Let us know and we could use your story on-air.

You know how they go: A little golf, some good eats, lots of booze and maybe even a trip to an 'adult-themed' bar. It's a bachelor party. They have happen every weekend all around the world, and some stories are more notable than others.

Take this video from Australia for example. It seems like an innocent day at the track until one inebriated bachelor decided to pull a 'Ocho Cinco' and run against the ponies.

Have a look, and let me tell you - that's one luck lady getting this dude.

For college football geeks, today is important. National Signing Day has become a bit of a holiday for fans, predictors and naysayers alike.

The biggest decision of the day? You know it - Terrelle Pryor. Will it be Michigan or Ohio State? Will the newly-hired Rich Rodriguez go 0-1 against future nemesis Jim Tressel without even taking the field? Or will Pryor live up to expectations and become the symbol of Michigan's new spread offense?

Should be interesting...interesting enough for a live press conference today on CSTV and ESPNU.

My guess - he'll be a Buckeye.
Bummer.

What do you think?

Are you kidding?

Michigan phasing out flashing red traffic signals

DETROIT (AP) -- When it comes to turning left, Michigan drivers will have to learn new habits in order to get it right.

Federal safety officials are requiring that Michigan phase out signals using flashing red lights for left-turning traffic.

The state will replace them with a four-phase system of left-turn arrows.

Left-turn arrows will start with flashing yellow, meaning turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Next is steady green, meaning turn left turn. That will be followed by steady yellow, meaning prepare to stop or complete the left turn, followed by red -- or stop.

What would your candidate look like in the dog world?

Hillary as a pit bull? McCain as a German shepherd?

Watch as former KGB agent turned Dog Wizard looks at what the candidates would look like in the K-9 world. If you missed this during MyFoxDetroit.com's primary coverage, you have to check it out:

Click Here to watch!

Or copy and paste URL:
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?c
ontentId=5490774

So, I'm in the market for a pooch and I need help.

I've read the books, gone to the shows and spoken with the experts. But still, I don't know what I want. Small dog for apartment living? Athletic dog to get me outside more?

So here's what I need: your help. Who better to turn to for stories, suggestions and comments than the fine bloggers here on MyFoxDetroit.com.

What kind of dog do you have? Why would you recommend the breed? What should I stay away from? Feel free to include pics, video, etc.

Thanks for the help!

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) stopped by the FOX 2 News studios on Tuesday to stump for John McCain's presidential bid.

Here's a few shots during his visit to MyFoxDetroit.com's live primary webcast: