The Brandstatter Blog
Part of my personality, and what many people feel was part of my success as a broadcaster, was my passion for the event I was covering. That continues to this day. When something happens in my area of interest, which happens to be sports, football in particular, or broadcasting, or the media, that moves me, positively or negatively, I like to get my opinion out there! It keeps me engaged.
You don’t have to like it, or agree with it…it’s just something I like to do. I have learned that faithful friends and fans who have followed me over the years enjoy it when I sound off. Whether it’s a current events commentary, an essay, or an op/ed piece, a book or movie review, a video from my past days in the broadcast booth, a video from one of my book projects, or even a unique and tasty recipe from one of the hundreds of cookbooks we’ve collected over the years traveling, these are the pages to find it.
You are all invited to take a trip through the categories. It’s all about content these days, and I think you’ll find plenty of content. Have fun, and let me know what you think!
Categories
A Rare Rant: Referees and Replay
If you will all pardon me, or cut me a little slack, I’d like to…
Michigan & Lions – Preview 2024
So, let’s talk a little football. After the first week of the college season and…
College Football: Pricing Itself out of the Market
It has been amazing to me the speed with which changes to the landscape of…
College Football Playoff – It’s About the Benjamins
You know the old phrase, “Money is the root of all evil?” I, for one,…
The Cycle: The NFL Coaching Carousel
The NFL coaching carousel appears to be over for the 2023-24 season. I actually find…
Coaching Carousel – It’s a New World
Since the college football season for 2023-24 is in the history books, and our Michigan…
KC Rules Super Bowl – Mahomes is King
Ok, I was wrong. Last week I picked the 49ers to win the Super Bowl.…
Super Bowl LVIII – All About Karma
I have a kind of a unique theory and method of picking Super Bowls. Many…
Lions Let Super Bowl Berth Slip Away
The 34-31 loss to San Francisco by the Lions in the NFC title game was…
Lions vs SF – NFC Title Game
The Detroit Lions have kicked to the curb that old lament, “same old Lions.” I…
Lions Fans – This Ones For You!
It was a wonderful Sunday night in Detroit. The Lions won their first playoff game…
The NFL Stretch Run – 2023
We are beginning of the stretch run in the NFL, and it’s one of the…
Michigan over Ohio State 2023
Wow, there is a lot to unpack in this post, so forgive me, and stay…
Michigan Football – The Exclusive 1000 Club
This is an interesting spot I find myself. I am brimming with pride about the…
NFL Week 1 – 2023
Last week I gave my impressions of the first week in college football, and this…
The Harbaugh Suspension
Jim Harbaugh has been suspended by the University of Michigan for the first three games…
Another Visit to the Fair
With the recent news of the ever expanding Big Ten conference, and the systematic…
Book Review: Witiku – David Walks-as-Bear
I am a big fan of this author, David Walks-as-Bear, and his lead character…
Book Review: The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
This is an interesting book. It’s on a lot of best seller lists, and…
Cherry Cobbler
With the Traverse City Cherry Festival completed earlier this month, I thought it would be…
Golf Tech-Talk Gone Mad
I am about at the point where I can’t watch the Golf Channel’s “Live from…”…
Polish Appetizer
This is really simple, but it’s also very good. It’s a completely different take on…
Scalloped Potato/Ham/Cheese
Here’s a recipe from the 1974 Detroit Tigers players cookbook. Remember a relief pitcher named…
Bread and Butter Pudding with Irish Whiskey Sauce
This is a really good dessert for anyone who loves a sweet bread pudding. It…
The Regular Season – Not a Sure Thing
As we enter into the finals in both the NBA, and the Stanley Cup playoffs…
Salmon Pineapple Dip/Spread
Hawaii is a magical place. We’ve been fortunate to travel there on a number of…
Southern Sweet Grilled Pork Chops
This recipe came out of the old favorite “We need to use this stuff, or…
Happy 50th-Reggie McKenzie Foundation
Recently, I was honored to once again help out my good friend Reggie McKenzie and…
Sports Gambling – The New Normal?
This commentary post has been a long time coming for me. Way back when, I…
Tuna Corn Chowder
In our travels to Hawaii, we found a ton of cookbooks in little local bookshops…
Easy-Easy Fruit Dip
This is about as easy as it gets. It’s also a surprise because it livens…
Acorn Squash and Applesauce
Acorn Squash and Applesauce This recipe comes from a cookbook called “Renaissance Cuisine.” Believe it…
My Left Handed, Under the Table, Fire-Brewed, Turkey Chili Supreme
Great title huh? Anyway, this is my own concoction. This didn’t come from a cookbook,…
Colcannon Potatoes
Colcannon Potatoes If you are interested in an Irish all-time great recipe, it is Colcannon…
Apple-Grape-Honey Peanut Butter Salad
Apple Salad with Honey Peanut Dressing This was a real find for me. It comes…
Chad Henne Retires & Back Up QB’s
I felt moved to post this after a couple of comments I read after…
Congratulations Tom – A Career for the Ages
(I actually wrote this about a year ago when Tom Brady retired the first time.…
Christmas 2022-My Top Christmas Movie List
Christmas Movies This little essay formed in my head during Christmas season. It has nothing…
The Lloyd Carr Tunnel
Hi everyone, wanted to get to this before too long, because I am very pleased…
Michigan Sports Hall of Fame 2022 Induction Night
Just wanted to update you guys on last week, and while you were trying to…
A Trip to the Fair!
Hi Gang, Todays post in kind of different. I’m kind of waxing philosophical after a…
A Busy First Summer of Retirement
Wow, I can't believe it's been June 4th since I last posted. It's been a…
Book Review: A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
What a great book. A wonderful little read. It is actually a childrens book, and…
Root Beer Pulled Pork Recipe
A Delicious Root Beer Pulled Pork Gameday Recipe Made for Saturdays! Here is an easy…
Book Review: Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton
Amazing true story of a group of special forces hero’s who entered Afghanistan on the…