“Sarah Spain Brings The Heat” on ESPNU’s “Unite”

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I was on the ESPNU show “Unite” last week to talk about Game 1 of the Bulls and Heat series. Check it out!

Fletch Helps a Fellow Rescue Find a Forever Home

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I got a message from a Facebook friend and it absolutely made my day! Before I share it with you, let me say this…

If you’re considering buying a dog at a pet store, please, please spend just a moment looking at all the beautiful, loving rescue dogs out there. Look here, look here, look here, go here, go here, go here, go here.

I have no doubt that the perfect dog for you is out there at a shelter, in need of a forever home. Don’t buy a dog, save a dog!!

Have some doubts about getting a rescue dog? Read on…

Sarah,

This is a few weeks overdue now, but I wanted to write and thank you for an amazing gift that you played a part in giving to my family, without even realizing it. Amy and I have only owned purebred vizslas in the time that we’ve been married, a breed we love due to their temperament with children, intelligence, lack of shedding, etc. Our first dog, Jack, lived to be 12 years old and we now have Rusty, who is 7.

You, obviously, have Fletch…who I love following via your Facebook postings. I still remember your original postings from when you first brought him home, as well as the column you wrote about that experience, and I developed a dog-crush on him right from the very start. I think he’s one of the coolest dogs ever and I love everything you post about him to this day. In short, you (and Fletch) have shown me what an absolutely positive and amazing experience you can have by adopting a shelter dog. Years ago, I wouldn’t have ever considered adopting a rescue dog because I believed that I preferred to “know what I was getting” with a purebred. I’ve since changed my mind on that, and you and Fletch are a big reason.

This brings us to…Kathy Hart, here on Facebook, “shared” a photo of a rescue puppy looking for her forever home a few weekends ago and I fell in love with the dog from that one picture. We hadn’t even been remotely looking for another dog, but once I saw her, I had to have her. It all happened really fast…I saw her picture late on Saturday night, submitted an application with the rescue agency on Sunday, and that Monday night we brought her home. We named her Elsie and she is the new queen of the house…our little diva. We all love her so much and I’m still finding myself feeling anxious to get home to see her as the workday winds down. We have a fabulous new member of our family and you actually played a role in that.

So THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for the positive experience that you and Fletch continue to demonstrate. I learned a long time ago that when people make a difference in your life, you should let them know.

Brian

My Favorite Pieces from 2012

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It’s pretty much impossible to embrace a new year without looking back at the year that just ended. The same questions always arise: What did you do? What did you learn? Where did you go? Who did you meet? What changed? And what stayed the same?

A new year is also a great time to look back at the work you did–a practice that is particularly easy for those of us who put much of our work into print (virtual or actual). With that in mind, here are a few of my favorite espnW pieces from 2012…

Don’t be “that guy” at the game–A list of Foul Fan Behavior.

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Tom failed again? Blame Gisele!–Pinning men’s defeats on women.

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Calling out Osi & questioning the use of femininity as an insult.

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Just say “No” to pink–The unwritten rules of female sports fans.

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The heartbreaking & inspiring story of rower and activist Jenn Gibbons.

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Finding a kindred sports spirit in the most surprising of places.

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53rd Man–Bears TE Kyle Adams on faith, on the field and off

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Ryan Garcia’s incredible 366 Random Acts of Kindness

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In honor of a lost friend, Kelcey Harrison ran from NY to SF.

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Street Clothes–Packers tune in when CJ Wilson plays the piano

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53rd Man–Third time’s a charm for Tommie Campbell.

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‘Twas the night before Christmas–A years of sports in verse.

 

Check Out My Video Game At Dave & Buster’s!

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Great news! By late November of this year, every Dave & Buster’s restaurant in the country will have two X Games SnoCross arcade games! Made by Raw Thrills (the people behind Big Buck Hunter) the game is a Winter X Games-branded snowmobile racing game.

Head out to a Dave & Buster’s next month and play a game or two — you’ll recognize the voice cheering you on! I’m the game’s announcer, helping you select your vehicle, giving you props when you complete a trick and congratulating you on your finish. (I really channeled my inner-surfer bro for lines like “Sweet Trick!” and “Huge Air!”)

Go check it out and let me know what you think! If you send me a picture of yourself with the game, I’ll post it on my site!

Grand Re-Opening of Nike Chicago

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After months of construction, the Nike Chicago store (formerly known as NikeTown) re-opened yesterday with a brand new look. I was lucky enough to attend the Re-Opening Party alongside other Chicago sports and media folks and VIPs like Bo Jackson, who spoke about attending the store’s original opening 20 years ago.

Yesterday morning we each received a special “VIP card” via messenger with a code in the corner. Typing in the code allowed us into the back entrance of the store, where we were ushered up to “Room 23,” a new space on the fifth floor devoted to special events.

We ate passed appetizers and enjoyed drinks at the bar, including a special pomegranate-champagne drink with a stick of blueberries punctuated by a swoosh.

After some boozing and schmoozing in Room 23 we were taken on a tour of the new store, which has a more modern, open floor plan and lots of unique local touches. Fans of Michael Jordan will love the first floor, devoted entirely to the Bulls legend and Chicago’s rich hoops history.

The store boasts the largest floor space dedicated to Jordan Brand of any store in the world. Highlights included three huge chandeliers made of Jordan 11s and basketballs and a wall featuring every Jordan shoe ever made.

Off to the second floor! An escalator leads you up a wall of logos from high school, college and pro teams in the area, then deposits you in front of a big glass case. Inside you’ll find Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher’s complete “system of dress.” It’s a showcase of Nike’s new NFL collection, from the pants to the jersey to the mouthguard.

The second floor, devoted to both running and football, featured a floor made entirely of reclaimed wood, most of it gathered from old bleacher and basketball courts at local high schools. The NFL area also featured a very cool display of every team’s gloves.

Time to head to the third floor — old Chicago Bears prints dominate the wall leading to the escalator.

The third floor is devoted to soccer, tennis, golf, action sports and youth gear. There’s also a table set up for Nike CustomID, where you can create your own shoes.

Ashley and I collaborated on some sweet custom kicks with our new friend Cory.

I made a pretty badass pair of navy and orange shoes to rock to Chicago Bears games, customizing them with “SPAIN” on the tongue.

If you get a chance to head down and check out the store, I highly recommend it. You might even run into this guy, a Nike employee who takes brand loyalty to a whole new level.

Fan On The Run

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I got a great email today that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Back in April I wrote a column for espnW about turning your baseball team’s successes into personal motivators. Inspired by the MasterCard “Priceless Chicago” campaign, which rewards Cubs fans for pledging support for their team, I took a pledge of my own:

I decided to use the Cubs pledge as a motivational tool. For the last few months I’ve wanted to get back on a regular running regimen but haven’t been able to get motivated. Running used to be one of my main sources of exercise, but after straining a muscle behind my knee, I took it out of my workouts and never really got back to it in earnest.

In an effort to reclaim my status as a runner, I will pledge an offseason mile for each of the Cubs wins. So if the Cubs win 75 games, I’ll have to log 75 miles between the end of their season and Opening Day 2013. Now for the marathoners out there, 75 miles over a few months may not sound like much, but to me a couple miles every few days sounds like a perfect way to reintroduce myself to the treadmill.

The Cubs are slogging through one of their worst seasons ever (49-79) so I shouldn’t have too much trouble keeping my promise over the offseason. Five miles a day a few times a week and I’ll be done in no time. Maybe next year I should pledge a mile for each Cubs loss…But I digress.

Reader Jennifer was inspired by my post and, despite being a fan of the rival White Sox, decided to follow my lead. Here’s the email she sent me today.

Thank you
In january of this year I couldn’t run a BLOCK without stopping. Then I read your column about running a mile for every cubs win. Well as a Sox fan I said – hey I can do that too, that’s a way to get into shape. As you know, the Sox are doing very well so I’m running a lot but have switched gears. Now I’m training to run my first 5k in September (AIDS run). But I did want to say “thank you” for the inspiration. Your column is more than just enjoyable – it’s inspiring.

The Sox have definitely kept Jennifer moving–they’re already won 71 games this year. It was so great to hear that my pledge inspired someone else to get moving, and hearing that Jennifer is going from not running at all to taking on a 5k makes me want to step up my game, as well.

Thanks for the note, Jennifer, and good luck with the race!

Adopt!!!

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If this gorgeous little pup doesn’t convince you to head to PAWS, the Humane Society or the Anti-Cruelty Society for your next dog, then I don’t know what will.

Our little Fletcher just turned seven months old and he’s the friendliest, happiest, sweetest dog in the world. He keeps us on our toes with all of his puppy energy and gives us endless snuggles and kisses.

Don’t go to a pet store or a breeder when amazing dogs like Fletcher need homes!

Just think, you could wake up to a little face like this every morning. : )

Look Ma! I Made it to SportsCenter!

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This past Monday I was one of the judges at the McDonald’s All-American Game Powerade Jamfest along with WNBA star Ivory Latta, Comcast sportscaster David Kaplan, v103 personality Ramonski Luv, former Bears greats Otis Wilson and Dan Hampton and a young girl whose family spent some time at the Ronald McDonald House when she underwent brain surgery.

Not only did we have a blast that night, my card-holding abilities (along with some dunks, I guess) made it to SportsCenter’s Top Ten plays! Here’s a pretty terrible iPhone video I got of my SportsCenter debut.

SportsCenter Top Plays #10

SportsCenter Top Plays #2

Better Than Anything You Saw on Day 1 of March Madness

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You wanna see some March Madness? Check this out…

That triple-OT winner from Lauriane Rougeau pushed the Cornell women past Boston University in the NCAA Quarterfinals.

Tonight at 8pm Central the Big Red (30-4-0) will face the second-seeded Minnesota Gophers (32-5-2) in the second Women’s Frozen Four semifinal. Check the schedule at http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule to watch the game live online!

GO BIG RED!

Happy Valentine’s Day from Michael Jordan…

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This past Christmas my boyfriend’s sister gifted me these retro Michael Jordan Valentine’s Day cards. It’s not an exaggeration to say my heart skipped a beat at the sight of super-dreamy MJ, in all his ’80s glory, sending me his Valentine’s Day love.

If you’re alone this February 14, let the greatest of all time, Michael Jeffrey Jordan, warm your heart with his thoughtful compliments (“Lookin’ fine!” and “You’re cool!”) and his unintentionally euphemistic declarations (“You give me a lift!”).