Blue II...A Giant?

Somebody get my super agent, Ari Gold, on the phone because it's NFL draft day and it appears that the fans are clammoring for my gridiron services.

Evidently the World Champion New York Football Giants are in need of some help at the free safety position and some of their fans think I could fill that role. It's true. Check out this blog site, second paragraph which reads:

"Safety is by far the biggest need for the Giants this year. Neither James Butler nor Michael Johnson is going to cut it at free safety. I would feel more comfortable with Don Johnson or the Butler Bulldogs’ mascot at safety"

That's right, you would feel more comfortable with me at safety, even if my only previous football experience is running the Butler Bulldogs on the field at each home game.

Clearly my reputation of a tenacious defender preceeds me in New York. Hey Mara and Tisch, I prefer jersey No. 2!

Before I sign off to go watch the draft myself, I did want to send out a couple of belated birthday wishes. My apologies to Rachael Stephens Burt and Arni Sribhen for not mentioning their birthday on April 24th.

Happy Belated Birthday Rachael!

Happy Belated Birthday Arni!

Blue II

Jeremy Piven - The Next Addition to my Wall of Fame

You may remember back on January 30 I mentioned in my blog that I was so busy and booked with appearances that I might want to employ the services of a manager, and not just any manager, but the infamous Ari Gold of HBO’s Entourage.

Well, on Thursday of this past week, I did jus that as Ari Gold made a visit to Butler University.

I suppose that in a fictional world I would have made it happen and I might have even been on the next episode of Entourage; running around with Vince, Eric, Turtle and Drama.

But this is reality, and in the real world, the famed actor who plays Ari Gold, the Golden Globe winning Jeremy Piven, came to campus on Thursday in support of presidential candidate, Barack Obama.

If you are unfamiliar with Piven’s fast-talking and often vulgar mega agent role as Ari Gold in Entourage, then perhaps you may remember him from such movies as PCU, Old School, Black Hawk Down and Smokin’ Aces.

Jeremy spoke in the Reilly Room at Atherton Union and got in and out before I could catch him, but I was able to track him down out in the parking lot to “hug it out” and pose for a quick photo. He was very welcoming and was quite complimentary of me.

Of course, Jeremy’s no stranger to the English Bulldog, after all, he’s been spotted around Hollywood with a bulldog pup of his own and he attended Drake University…also the bulldogs.

A special thanks to Jeremy for posing for pictures and for being so cordial. I will get some pictures from the encounter uploaded on the blog very soon.

In case you missed it, Butler Bulldog and NCAA men’s college basketball all-star, Mike Green, was honored this past week with two national awards: the Chip Hilton Award and the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award.

Not to mention, Mike also played in the DiGiorno College All-Star Game at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Friday. In addition, fellow senior guard, A.J. Graves participated in the 20th Annual State Farm 3-Point Championship; making it to the semi-finals.

Congratulations to both of those guys…I’m going to miss you both next year. Hey Mike, now that you are done with Butler basketball, can I get a play date with your doggie, Miss Hoops Green?!

Sorry it has been a while since my last post. I have been busy making rounds with my on-call medical staff. I met with Butler grad, Dr. Kurt Phillips on Wednesday at Woodland Animal Hospital in Carmel, Ind. for a check-up on my ear infection. The infection is gone, but there’s still some bacteria in there so I got some special antibacterial wipes for that. I also got my nails trimmed while I was there.

On Thursday morning I got to visit Dr. Deborah Stephan at Indianapolis Veterinarian Specialists in Castleton. She took a look at my eyes and found that they were too dry so I got some ointment and drops for that.

It was great to go to the vet…I love it! I got lots of treats, love and great care. A special thanks to Dr. Phillips and Dr. Stephan, as always, for their great support of me and Butler!

This weekend has been a lot of fun for me. I got to go to Wabash, Ind. to stay with my Grandma and Grandpa Richards house for the occasion of my cousin Andrew’s birthday.

I got to ride the four-wheeler for a while which is one of my favorite things. It had been since last fall since I’d been on the four-wheeler and I was ready…so much so that when I heard it, I ran outside and even jumped up on it myself!

After my four-wheeler ride and went over to Andrew’s house where his Grandma and Grandpa Dinkins had their dog, Pete. I had never met Pete before, but we hit it off really well and played very hard.

Talk about a perfect weekend…the spoiling of grandparents, four-wheeler rides and play time with fellow four-legged friends. What’s not to like?!

I have another busy week ahead of me. Monday I have a H.S. Junior Preview Day with the Office of Admission and a video shoot for the ButlerRising Campaign. Tuesday I have a freshman recruitment party for the College of Education and a Rotary Club meeting down at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. On Wednesday and Thursday I will do my usual thing and on Friday, I have another early registration event.

I’ll keep the blog updated with the aforementioned fun this week. It should be a good time!

Blue II

In the Spolight

An anonymous reader asked, "Blue, I think you are adorable!! I'm sure with a job like yours you get invited to do all kinds of things... What have been some of your most exciting moments in the spotlight??"

Great question! The first few years on the job haven't been dull, I can assure you, but most of my time in the "spotlight" has been of the local variety. Although, I'm looking to make my big break this March in San Antionio, Texas for the Men's NCAA Final Four. Coach Stevens, members of the basketball team, if you're reading this, see what you can do to help me out. Okay?

Just thinking back off the top of my furry head, some of the obvious things that come to mind are my appearances at Butler sporting events. Whether it's leading the football team onto the field (pictured), greeting the starters on the basketball court, doing my "tricks" during a timeout at center court (pictured), or serving as the halftime entertainment at a soccer match where I displayed my own soccer tecniques, those are all great instances where I steal the show.

Of course, there's more than athletic events, there's also the performing arts. I've been a part of the limelight at several events such as YMCA Geneva Stunts, YMCA Spring Sing and JCFA's REJOICE! where the students sang "Blue Christmas" and I came out on stage riding a sleigh with Santa Claus. (picture below by Claire Corbin Photography)

I also make appearances at university/campus events for University Advancment, Admissions, Student Affairs, and much more. I've been used in class presentations, atttended press conferences, and black tie galas (pictured). At the press conference to announce the hiring of Butler Athletic Director, Barry Collier, I let out a loud bark during the middle of that event. I'm not sure what came over me, I just felt like letting the media and attendees know that I approved of the hire.

Oh yeah, and there's Butler's Homecoming activities too, where last year I hosted the "Family Fun Fest," and the annual "Bulldog Beauty Contest presented by the Ovid Butler Society," as well as had my own Corvette in the parade.

I've also been known to be a bit of a media hound too. From TV, to radio, to newspapers, to magazines, to the internet, I'm blowing up! It's not uncommon to see my mug on the local Indy major network affliates when they cover Butler basketball highlights after a game.

I can remember one time Dave Calabro of WTHR NBC Channel 13 (and Butler grad) was doing a live shot from Hinkle Fieldhouse before a home game. He wanted to get me on camera, so going to a break, he rolled a basketball (one of my favorite things) on the floor for me to attack. I didn't disappoint. It was so funny that he featured it on his "Check It Out" spot in the 11 p.m. broadcast. Guess you had to be there.

This past month I did get some national TV exposure as well as I made a couple of appearances on ESPN's SportsCenter.

This season and last you can hear me on the radio broadcasts of the men's home basketball games. Those can be heard at WXNT AM 1430. That's me barking for the Ovid Butler Society and Bulldog Club commercials.

I've also made two or three appearances in Indianapolis Montly, with my most recent coming in the Feb. 2008 issue, page 100. No issues of Dog Fancy yet or Time's Dog of the Year yet, though.

I've been in the newspaper quite a few times including this past Sunday's edition of the Indianapolis Star. I also make appearances in Butler's student produced paper, The Butler Collegian.

Okay, that's all I can think of right now, but now that I think about it, I need to renegotiate my contract! That's a lot of stuff I've done in just under four years. My stock is hot, baby! Get Ari Gold (pictured) on the line, I need some representation!

I'm sure there's more that I've done, times I've been the center of attention, instances where I stole the show, etc., I just can't think of them. If your reading this and something comes to mind that I didn't cover, then use the "comments" section to share.