The Brandy Show...

In May of 1962, General Douglas MacArthur, one of the most decorated soldiers of his generation was named the Sylvanus Thayer Award winner by the United States Military Academy. The award honors those whose accomplishments and service to the national  interests have exemplified the the academy's motto of "duty, honor, country." MacArthur was extremely honored by his beloved academy's honor and gave one of the most memorable accepta...

When Chad Henne, a former Michigan quarterback and multi year NFL star retired from the NFL. he took some heat in social media after his last seasons as a back up in Kansas City to Patrick Mahomes. Chad retired on top of the football world with a Super Bowl ring ending a wonderful career. I read some remarks after Chad announced the retirement that he was an average quaerterback who made a lot of money and never won much til he was...

It was over 100 years ago when an athletic director genius and visionary named Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan had an idea. It was about intercollegiate athletics for all. One part of that plan was a massive football stadium that was far beyond the scope of anything that had been already constructed or was planned to be constructed. “Ambitious” would have been an understatement for Yosts’ plan. Yet, he believed so fi...

Bits and pieces of history that are surprising come from all aspects of historic events. For instance, Robert E Lee, the South's greatest General in the Civil War tendered a resignation letter to his president, Jefferson Davis when the war was still raging. Davis wrote Lee back and refused to accept his resignation. The rest, as they say, is history. But, to experience the anguish of  Lee's letter, and the encouraging reply of Davi...

On September 2nd of 1945, the Emperor of Japan surrendered to the Supreme Allied commander, General Douglas MacArthur of the United States. The event took place in Tokyo Bay on the deck of the United States battleship Missouri. It marked the end of one of the bloodiest and deadliest conflicts in world history. For this occasion, MacArthur was compelled by the events that brought the war to an end to speak about the occasion, and th...

Gambling has been looking for a foothold to invade the world of professional and college sports for a very long time. You can go back to the Black Sox scandal in major league baseball way back in 1919 as an example. But now, gambling enjoys seats in the front row. It used to be available only in Vegas or shady store fronts. Now they advertise for your bets on our TV's and radio's. Gambling is a major sponsor for the games they hope...

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka Mark Twain is one of America's literary treasures. Not only a great writer of classics like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Twain was an essayist, humorist and wonderful speaker. He would, and could converse on just about any topic. From politics, to the arts, to literature, to journalism, to history, Twain was never boring. With an acerbic yet playful style, he played his audiences and readers like a...

A commentary on the fragile balance the NFL manages between its standing as the colossal giant in professional team sports, and the underbelly of its mega successful standing as a business beast. When the players that create the beast become expendable, despite their exemplary service, the business portion of the beast casts them away. Don't feel sorry for the players, they usually find their way to continued pay days, but make no ...

Abraham Lincoln was one of two people asked to speak at the dedication of the cemetery in Gettysburg. The other speaker took more than 2 hours for his address, Lincoln's lasted a little more than two minutes. Despite the brevity of the remarks, they have lasted much longer than the other speakers by a mile. Hear the address, and the context surrounding this historical event in this episode.

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The analysis of the game doesn't do this Lions loss justice. It's more about the dashing of the dreams of a fan base. This was the year all the past was going to be forgotten...instead, more heartache and  hopes put on hold again greeted the proud franchise faithful in a playoff run that wasn't.

Be sure to visit all past episodes of "The Brandy Show." There is a wealth of content covering a number of topics and formats that may int...

My take on the Matthew Stafford trade from Detroit back 4 years ago. It's an open letter to Stafford. In many ways it's a thank you note to him for his great efforts in Detroit to make the Lions a winner. Even through it didn't happen, Stafford did everything in his power to make it work. jimbrandstatter.com,  The Brandy Show podcast, @jimbrandstatter (X).  facebook.com/jimbrandstatter76

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Grantland Rice takes sportswriting to another level. He brings a story about a football game to the literary world. A massive college game and four Notre Dame players achieve legendary statues in one day thanks to Rice and his beautiful description of the events that happened before him on a Saturday in October at the Polo Grounds in New York.  The stadium is gone now, so are the players, so is the newspaper Rice was writing for, b...

    If  you have ever been to Michigan Stadium for a football game, it is an experience. And nothing adds to that experience more than the impressive baritone voice that greets you on the public address system every week. The booming words, "BAAAAAAND...TAKE THE FIELD!" sends shivers of excitement and anticipation up the backs of every Wolverine fan in the building. For over 50 years that voice that delivers those words has belonge...

        As you enjoy the 2024 Michigan Football season, and revel in the memory of the 2023 National Championship team, don't forget that in 1997, Michigan  was also atop the college football world with a national title authored by Coach Lloyd Carr and a group of Wolverines who would settle for nothing less than perfection.  Newspaper reporter Mark Snyder was in the middle of that run as the beat reporter for Michigan at one of the...

      One of the most important lessons I learned in my athletic life came from being part of a team. The importance of working together, and focusing diverse personalities and talents to focus on a common goal has been one of the most vital lessons of my life. I learned that from team sports. My college football coach, Bo Schembechler, was a master professor and I can never repay him the lessons he taught all of us who played for ...

The city of Frankenmuth is a treasure in the State of Michigan. The village is a slice of Bavaria just outside Saginaw and north of Flint. Chicken dinners at Zehnders, the Bavarian Inn, and the and Bronners Christmas store dominate the quaint little spot amidst acres of farmland. But, tucked in with this German everyday Octoberfest is the Michigan Hero's Museum. It is probably the most unsung attraction in town, but it maybe the mo...

If you want to know the inside story on University of Michigan Athletics, you must listen and follow Sam Webb. The WTKA radio veteran broadcaster in Ann Arbor has built himself into an encyclopedia of Wolverine information. Whether it's football or basketball, or anything Wolverine related, Sam will give you the latest, the best, and the most accurate information. Things you want to know, and things you never knew are Sam's special...

Growing up in Detroit and its challenges

Jerome's decision to turn down Michigan and Michigan State and go to Notre Dame out of high school

Those college days at ND and his record against Michigan

Getting drafted by the Rams in the NFL

Learning about the game in the NFL

The move to St Louis and  the disappointment in management  that had him seriously considering retirement

Getting a new start and new career in Pittsburgh

He was talked ou...

We talk abut the current change of environment in collegiate athletics with NIL, Transfer portal, etc

Bruce talks about his impact on the Chris Weber post game story after Webers "time out" in the NCAA title game

Bruce was in the middle of the Gary Moeller to Lloyd Carr transition in football which was a dicey moment for Michigan football

The idea of a crisis manager doubling as a sports information director is appropriate in Bruce's ...