Son of Swami
It was March 24, 2009, when former Free Press columnist Michael Rosenberg told the Son of Swami he needed to come up with a Plan B in case the newspaper business goes sideways.
It has taken SOS some time, but together with Mike Harrison, the former chief public relations and marketing officer for the University of Michigan Health Systems, SOS has a plan.
What do you think of Spousal Disposal?
It kind of sells itself, doesn’t it?
And SOS knows who would be the first customer: Lawrence John Ripple.
You might not remember his name, but he is the guy who robbed a bank in Kansas City last week and got $2,924. Instead of fleeing the scene when he got the cash, Ripple sat in the lobby and told a security guard he was the guy he was looking for. He was arrested when the police showed up.
When questioned by police, Ripple told them he had an argument with his wife and, in front of his wife, wrote the note demanding cash that he handed to the teller.
The guy reportedly told his wife he would rather go to jail than live at home with her.
Ripple’s plan went south a few days later when the judge released Ripple on his own recognizance, leaving him wondering what it takes to get an extended stay in jail.
It reminds SOS of the time in the late 1980s when former Lions coach Darryl Rogers was informed that he was coming back for the next season and asked: “What’s it take to get fired around here anyhow?”
SOS wants to make it clear that after 41 years of marriage, which have been the three happiest years of SOS’s life, Mrs. SOS has nothing to worry about when it comes to Spousal Disposal.
Therefore, when SOS decides to stop predicting high school football and basketball games, he has his Plan B.
As SOS tried to figure out whatever happened to the esteemed Mr. Rosenberg and his Plan B, here are this week’s best games.
Macomb Dakota’s Jalen Hall catches a touchdown pass against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Shermond Dabney last month in Macomb Township. The Son of Swami is picking Dakota to beat Mott this weekend.
■Negaunee(3-0) at Iron Mountain (3-0), 7, Friday. Iron Mountain’s Josh Tucker is a threat whenever he touches the ball, but Negaunee can’t forget about Gavin Wright, who can find the end zone if teams don’t pay attention to him. Negaunee has some dangerous backs of its own. Neal Violetta and Shane Ring are capable of gaining well over 100 yards and stopping Negaunee’s running game is the key to the shooting match. Izzo’s Mountain 28, Nagging 24.
■Grandville (3-0) at Hudsonville (3-0), 7, Friday. This is really the first time in 15 seasons that Grandville has started 3-0. The impressive thing is the Bulldogs have given up only 22 points in three one-sided wins. Hudsonville knows a thing or two about defense, but it also knows that when it is moving the ball on the ground, the other team’s offense is on the bench. QB Jack Mandryk does an excellent job running the offense. Hudsonville Ice Cream 21, Grand Villains 19.
■Temperance Bedford (3-0) at Saline (3-0), 7, Friday. It is no surprise that both teams are undefeated, but the surprise is both teams struggled to win close games last week. Saline’s defense could use a healthy Corey Gildersleeve Jr. this week, especially against Bedford’s effective option game. A good passing effort from Zach Schwartzenberger could go a long way in getting the Saline offense going. Sault Water 28, Bedford Falls 20.
■West Bloomfield (2-1) at Farmington Hills Harrison (2-1), 7, Friday. Bryce Veasley, a transfer from Southfield Lathrup, has done a fine job replacing Trishton Jackson at quarterback. He has a pair of solid receivers in Taj Mustapha and Garrett Winn. But to beat Harrison, the Lakers will need a good game from RB Davion Johnson. Harrison needs to balance its offense between the running of Brendann Brown and the passing of Jimmy O’Connor. Blooming Onion 31, Farmington Hills Herrington 24.
■Macomb Dakota (2-1) at Warren Mott (3-0), 7, Friday. This is where we start separating pretenders from contenders. Already with a MAC Red loss, Dakota needs QB Brett Droski to keep finding Jaylen Hall to keep the Cougars on the attack. Mott has a pretty good tandem of its own in QB Mike Pond, a dual-threat guy, and receiver Andre Chandler. Dakota Fanning 27, Mott’s Apple Sauce 19.