Marquette Roll Call/Mr. Neutral

[Masterofreality]

The Xavier/Marquette game in Milwaukee is Saturday February 15- the same day as the Chicago Memorial for Gary Griffin.

There is a mass on Saturday morning at 10:00am (central) for Gary at St. Bernadine's in Forest Park, IL. Then the X game is at 3:00pm Central, then the Memorial Celebration at Space Stage Studios at 1844 W Hubbard (corner Hubbard & Wolcott) in Chicago will start at 6:30pm central.

I'm sure that Moose would have made all of those events and made sure he got to the XU game. I'm doing it to honor my old, dear friend and getting to Chicago Friday. I hope that some of you out there are up for the same thing.

[American X]

Thanks for the info, HH. I will cross paths with you at one of these points.

[Masterofreality]

Remember Saturday.

I'll be at the mass, in Milwaukee for the X game then back down to Chi.

[xu2002]

I will be at the game and the Xavier pre-game at Mo's Irish Pub. Very excited to have Xavier playing in Wisconsin every year now.

[Mel Cooley XU'81]

At Mo's and game with Spike Cooley XU'19.

[Masterofreality]

At Mo's and game with Spike Cooley XU'19.

Looking forward to seeing you, TM!, XU2002 and also the Great American X!

[WCWIII]

I'll be making the Naperville to Milwaukee and back to Chicago memorial trip myself. Thinking of Gary the whole trip.

[American X]

I plan on attending the Mass Saturday morning.

[JAPER]

Old school XU 10S will be there today.... In or thoughts and prayers today Mr. Neutral.

[ballyhoohoo]

Anyone else stuck in traffic on 65?

[Professor X]

Merkles in Chicago is sending a bus to the game. We should have a good contingent in Milwaukee.

[ballyhoohoo]

I'm driving up solo from Indianapolis there a pregame happy hour anywhere

[Masterofreality]

Yesterday was quite special in many ways, despite the turnover filled building that I was in thanks to our Muskies. I thought for a minute that I had mistakenly walked into a bakery.

The day began with a well attended mass at St. Bernadine's in Chicago. It was superb to see the Great American X there and catch up. There was a solid number of Gary's 1972 classmates that also made the trip in from Detroit and Indy along with the Chicago guys. Then it was on to Brew City for this lad.

Mo's Irish Pub was off the hook. What a well-attended pregame! As advertised, Mel and Spike Cooley were in attendance and I now know that Music City Muskie is not the only guy with a Xavier Hockey Sweater. Mel, that one you have is a beauty. Spike, you only have one school you have to think about...and it starts with the 3rd last letter in the English Alphabet.

So many guys there to chat with, but I cannot thank My Man WCWIII enough for his gracious hospitality and thoughfulness. That Leiney I bought you does not come close to a repayment. I've got a tab outstanding with you that you will get reimbursed for, my friend. By the way, I have decided that WCW is, no doubt, the smartest poster on this or any other board. Literally, the guy is a Rocket Level Scientist and could probably recreate the entire Universe in a lab somewhere if he put his mind to it. I just wish he could figure out a way to rearrange my DNA to get hair to regrow on my pathetic dome. Or, better yet, W, just create force fields around Xavier's opponent's baskets tha keep 3 pointers from going in.

The game. Uh, I won't mucky this thread up with my thoughts. That will be on the game thread. Then...back on I-94 south to the Memorial Celebration.

The Celebration was outstanding, and very fitting, just what Gary would have wanted. As he once said: "When I die, don't have a sad wake for me. Have a party with lots of good food, beer and booze. And make sure you invite tons of SuperModels to decorate the place who will say that I was the best that they ever slept with." Yep, it was close to that, but a few less SuperModels than he would have wanted. Kathy and his Mother were in from California, and, of course his brother John and sister Joyce hosted the event. There were people form all stages of Gary's life who stood up and spoke about the man in hilarious fashion. Our classmate Marty (last name withheld by request) did the Xavier portion and was outstanding. His sister Kathy, who I believe may have done stand up comedy at some point, also gave a rollicking account. A good time was had by all and thanks to all of my classmates, Xavier related folks and, again, the Great Man himself WCWIII for making the event so fantastic.

By the way, Kathy and I had quite the conversation about the merits of GrandPa's Cheese Barn in Ashland, Ohio. Absolutely, hysterical.

Then it was the long slog back to Cleveburg through the snow where I arrived at 4:30am. It was all worth it, however.

Gary, you had one helluva send off. I know you were looking down and were very proud.

[RoseyMuskie]

Went to Mo's after the game to potentially meet up with some fellow fans. Let me tell ya, couldn't be more disappointed in the place. Was told there'd be a 15 minute wait. Fine, no biggie, it was a Saturday night. 45 minutes later we realize that we were passed up on the list. The hostesses told us they'd come and get us when ready. Pretty sure they flat out forgot.

Then, during our wait, I went to order a round. I stood at the bar for twenty minutes without be served. And it wasn't like the line was three deep. To compound the issue, I was told twice that "I'll be with you in a moment." Didn't happen.

Won't be going back there.

Just a bad day in Milwaukee.

Sounds like a nice remembrance in Chicago, though. In the grand scheme of things, that's what is most important.

[American X]

I spoke to Gary's brother and conveyed the condolences of all the Xavier fans here.

It is always a privilege to see the Masterofreality, but preferably under better circumstances. We shall all have to reconvene and raises several glasses to Gary and all the faithful Xavier departed.