Colectivo Myanmar Coffee Supports Relief Efforts

Milwaukee born and raised Colectivo Coffee seems to constantly roll out the types of charitable efforts we love at GMM, the ones men just may do, namely easy ones. Buy something, give something is usually the model here. It's a bonus when what you buy is exceptionally good, and in the case of what we promote at GMM - man-friendly. Well, for Colectivo that's fairly easy - coffee is after all universal and their products are as a rule exceptional. Right now their Coffee of the Week is  a Featured Farm Series coffee that checks all the boxes.

Buy a bag of this unique, flavorful coffee and $1 goes to relief efforts in Myanmar by way of the UN's World Food Programme which helps not only Myanmar but other areas with conflict.

UW Football Most Admirable Program in NCAA

Edited Image of WSJ Grid of Shame from David Leavitt

UW-Madison has one of, if not the, premier overall NCAA sports programs in the nation (even people outside our state are coming around to it like USA Today, CBS Sports, even rival Minnesota's Star Tribune had to admit it. Their recent, long-standing, records in men's basketball & football speak for themselves but they also have been consistently great in other sports as well across men's (hockey) and women's (hockey & volleyball) teams. Perhaps most impressive is the unprecedented and unequaled 15-year streak of the football team has playing in a bowl game and men's basketball team qualifying for the NCAA tournament (3 more years then the next longest). But definitely most impressive is that the university does it all while maintaining what the Wall Street Journal has named the Most Admirable program regarding academics, violations and probation, arrests, and other ways the program is run well with a focus on student-athletes - student being first.

Every year the WSJ puts out an updated Grid of Shame weighing football programs' on- and off-field successes and blemishes. It shows in some manner the difference between schools who have success (are considered a Powerhouse) but with shady, or shameful, win-at-all-costs practices vs. those that try for character first and success second. Of course a program that can score high on both Powerhouse and Admiration are truly 'elite' programs. In this year's edition, UW has scored highest on the Admirable scale and is near the top of Powerhouse.

Andy Murray Effortlessly, Overtly Stands Up For Women In Tennis

Andy Murray with his female coach  Amélie Mauresmo
photo cr. Eurosport

On a local NPR radio station today I heard a great piece about Andy Murray and how he is taking a stand for women in tennis, reporting on a story that appears in Elle magazine.

Admittedly I'm not a tennis fan, I don't have anything against it, just never got into it - even the Slams and Olympics. I have however admired various tennis players - men & women - throughout the years. I mean come on - you have to love John McEnroe - but I also was a fan of Björn Borg and of course Billie Jean King, and the Williams sisters but also Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf. Tennis is in a sort of golden age with the Williams sisters and Novak Djokovic, and the icons Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. With Nadal and Federer on people's minds currently, one name that I think gets overlooked - at least among non-tennis fans - is Andy Murray. I knew he was a great player, not sure where he ranks 'all-time' but seems he is arguably one of the best, but  regardless of his worth as a player, I am learning he is also a great man.

To Help Sometimes Money Is The Simplest & Best Answer

We are still in the middle of the natural disaster that is Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey, and now and by the time its done many, many will be affected. It will take a lot of resources to help people not only now, but in the future. For those of us not in the storm's track, we want to help in some way, but what way is best?

Many will go to help, hands-on assistance of course will be needed. But some can't go, and want to help, so they will look to make a donation. Often we think of donating items, its personal to us to give something tangible. But in the end, the simplest way is usually the best. in this case that means donating money. It may seem impersonal, you may think you understand what is needed and want to donate something, but with money, those on the front lines can purchase what is truly needed. More after the break on that, but if you just want to cut to the chase - you can donate to Red Cross here.

BloodCenter & Brewers Team Up

Once again, BloodCenter of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Brewers are asking blood donors to step up to the plate and help save lives. This is becoming an annual thing and its a great way to give and get.

Now (from Aug. 1) through Sep. 1, blood donors will receive one terrace level ticket voucher redeemable for the Brewers game Monday, Sep. 11 vs. Pittsburgh or Tuesday, Sep. 26 vs. Cincinnati. Ticket vouchers are available to donors at all 10 of BloodCenter’s statewide donor centers, as well as select community blood drives, while supplies last.