Brandon's Blog: Getting Pumped Up In Ohio
11/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Brandon
Nov. 24, 2010
University of Michigan director of athletics Dave Brandon will regularly offer his view on different topics related to U-M and intercollegiate sports. All of his posts, along with links to related content, will be available on his page, mgoblue.com/brandon, and he is also on Twitter at @DaveBrandonAD.
I figured it had to be tough to be a Wolverine in the Buckeye state this week. So, with that in mind, I decided to make a trip through the state of Ohio to visit many of our great supporters, alumni and fans.
It all started Sunday afternoon, after I made a quick stop at Crisler Arena for the men's basketball game and then to the start of our NCAA men's soccer match (by the way, good luck to Steve Burns and the men's soccer team as they take on South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., on Sunday afternoon). After that, my wife Jan and I made our way to Cincinnati.
A Sunday night U-M reception, a fun Monday luncheon in Cincinnati with both OSU and U-M supporters, an evening event in Cleveland with another breakfast the Tuesday morning in the same city before an event in Toldeo that afternoon, made for a quick two days.
But it was the Sunday night reception at the Bow Tie Café in Mt. Adams that kicked off things with a bang. Our host was none other than Dhani Jones. He was always considered one of the more interesting football players here at U-M, but now I know Dhani is our "Renaissance Man."
He plays for the Bengals now and opened the restaurant in October. And bow ties? Well, that is Dhani's passion. He enjoys cutting his own path through life.
Dhani is the president and founder of Five Star Ties, stars in his own television reality show, is now trying to make a go of it in the restaurant business, and then there are his charities.
I wondered how he found a passion with bow ties, and then I found out it was friend with lymphoma that started Dhani on the bow tie rage. He wore it in support of his friend and now he is making a go of it in the retail business.
He's also doing a lot of work with various charities. Dhani will be appearing in the NFL PLAY 60 promotion all during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. He will also appear in an anti-obesity video with U-M punting great Zoltan Mesko. Bow Ties for a cause, his efforts in helping stop hunger and his work with groups concerning climate change is just a start.
And for our school, he developed a special-edition bow tie for our own C.S. Mott Children's Hospital fundraising effort.
While my trip was to connect with our alums and get our supporters pumped up in Ohio, I found myself getting a dose of Dhani to pump me up about our current and past student-athletes! Such special people ...
And on this Thanksgiving, I will be giving thanks for individuals like Dhani Jones who strive to make a difference.
To everyone, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
