Duke Mascot Painting Mystery - Hint #1

Who is the new owner of the Duke mascot painting? Here's the first clue:

Detroit Pistons - Lipstick on a Pig?

Last night was the home opener for the Detroit Pistons, a team which is clearly in the rebuilding stage. With the Lions actually good and back in the NFL Playoffs, Red Wings on top in the NHL, and the Tigers' playoff 2011 season with the league MVP as pitcher, it would seem impossible to get fans excited about a Pistons team predicted to finish at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. So the BIG question going into the shortened, partially locked-out NBA season was (and continues to be), "How the heck do we get fans to come to the game?"

The Temptations perform as fans arrive to the Palace of Auburn Hills (Allen Einstein/NBAE/Getty Images)

Taking pages from Howard Schultz at Starbucks and Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks, the only chance the Palace has to attract customers is to provide them with an experience worth the price of admission. New team owner, Tom Gores, and the Palace staff knew this first impression would be an important opportunity to build a buzz. So, they pulled as many tricks out as possible. So much so, that it seemed I was attending a concert with an NBA basketball game in between performances.

Mike Posner performs the National Anthem. Mittens Up! (Allen Einstein/NBAE/Getty Images)

To begin, the Motown sensation, The Temptations, serenaded the early-arriving fans with their classic hits. A few minutes later, pop-star and Detroit native, Mike Posner, sang the National Anthem. Then, they had flames, fireworks, and the famed Detroit "Selected of God Choir" perform the introductions -- this was all before the game even started.

During a television timeout, the jumbotron showed Ndamukong Suh flexing his Pistons jersey in the upper balcony. After the 1st quarter, the Pistons revealed the new banner to honor their previous owner of 37 years, the late Bill Davidson. At halftime, "headliner" Taio Cruz, performed his multiple international pop hits with a dance team and the high-flying Flight Crew performing in the background. After the third quarter, Kid Rock came out to center court and honored returning service men and women back from their tours of duty.

Kid Rock shows his support for the troops opening night

Intermixed between the "show" was a basketball game that featured two teams predicted to be at the bottom of the league standings. The Pistons lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers by 16 points, 105-89.

Can the experience of being at the game make up for a lackluster game? Can the experience of the product out-perform the actual product itself? Could Starbucks sell this much coffee with their trademarked "third place" environment but by selling dirt-water coffee? My late Grandpa used to say, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but that doesn't make it pretty."

The Pistons organization are doing everything in their power, and the players and coaches are working hard to improve day in and day out. I just hope that is good enough. I hope the experience of going to a game, the sites, sounds, smells, and energy can hold fans over through this rebuilding process. I've grown up supporting my hometown team, and I don't plan on stopping. I hope others can bare with it and do the same.

Life Lessons From a Fool

I'm just kidding, Joe Buys is no fool. But boy! Does he like to act foolish at times! Ha-ha-ha.

But seriously, now. Listen and learn...

How To: "Ball So Hard"
The Dream and Joe Show, Episode 1

What Story Do Your Shoes Tell?

This guy is no stranger to shoes having stories behind them. That's what drew me to start custom-designing sneakers in the beginning: the ability to utilize a shoe as the canvas to paint a personal story on. That's why most of the shoes I've created are personally made for that specific person, to tell a story that is significant to them but that may not be to someone else.

What I love about the 1000 Mile Boot is that their story can be, and should be, appreciated by all. It's about the entire 300-step process of making the shoe. The production, the materials, and the people is the story behind this shoe. It encompasses traditional American values of hand-crafted quality goods made by neighbors. This is a trend that seems to have started a post-9/11. I'm not sure if it's American pride or a mixture that people have realized the loss of community and quality by buying products from big-box stores that were made cheaply in factories across the world. Whatever the reason, I love that buying local, mom-and-pop boutique shops, and "quality over quantity," are all coming back "in style."

Part 1 and part 2: The Production Process

Part 3: Maintenance and Care

This got me thinking, "What story do my shoes (and clothing) tell?"

Video: Future of T-Shirts

Interesting video about the ever popular t-shirt and the cultures surrounded by it. Is it an under appreciated art? Or is it too over-crowded and overwhelmingly saturated? 

More Good News

To whom, you ask? Well... you'll have to wait until after Christmas to find out...!

The Next Mascot Is...

The Facebook fans have voted, and the winner for the next installment of the Mascot Series is...

Louie the Laker, from thee Grand Valley State University.

Yes, I know... this voting process was pretty bias since the majority of respondents were either from the Grand Rapids area and/or went to school with me at GVSU. But, oh well. The public has spoken, and I have heard them. It was a close vote, however. The Oregon Duck lost by only two votes.

See, just like with the U.S. Presidential election, every vote counts. But sorry, no recounts.

My goal is to have Louie complete by the end of the year. Can he do it? Wait, and see...

Corporal Hoffman Series: Behind the Designs

Personally, the meaning behind the designs means more to me than the finished designs themselves. I had the pleasure of trying my best to get to know Josh these past few weeks and months. In doing so, I was able to learn his major interests: driving fast, Ford Mustangs (a white 1994 Mustang to be exact), loud classic rock music (his dog is named after Motley Crew), comedy and playing pranks, Michigan football, "collecting" t-shirts, UFC and mixed martial arts, and in his home is a shadow box of military medals and patches that solidifies him as an "official" hero -- as if that were ever in question.

Before we dive into the meaning behind the designs, I should point out that as of this past Friday (view pictures from the launch party), Josh's designs are available to purchase from Musicskins for your cell phone, laptop, MP3 player, and more. Order before Tuesday, December 20th, to make sure to get them in time for Christmas.

I have a few people I plan to buy them for -- I'm sure you can think of a couple, as well.

[View Josh's designs and learn more about the meaning behind each of them after the jump]

Corporal Hoffman Series Launch Event

Last night was the launch event for the Corporal Hoffman Series by [Fashion Has Heart]. The event was a great success and a very humbling experience for all those who were in attendance.

[View more pictures from the Corporal Hoffman Series launch event after the jump]

Video of the Day

This time lapse video by Tom Lowe is amazing. This is worthy of the title, "Video of the Day," for sure!

More Press

Josh and the Corporal Hoffman Series has continued to pick up press coverage. Today, it was the West Michigan-area ABC station that covered not only this project with [Fashion Has Heart], but also captured the demanding rehab process that Josh faces every day of his life.

Making of Sparty

Previously, you've seen the making of the Raider Red and Blue Devil paintings as well as the final, delivered Sparty painting to its new owner in Colorado, but you have not yet seen the "Making Of" images of the Sparty piece. So, without further delay...

Here is the making of the Sparty the Mascot:
[View the images after the jump]

Corporal Hoffman Series - Preview

Corporal Hoffman Series logo patch [Fashion Has Heart]

[Fashion Has Heart] is a Grand-Rapids based nonprofit organization that I've had the pleasure of assisting founder and CEO, Michael Hyacinthe, in building the past 8 months. The mission of [FHH] is to utilize the power of fashion, art, and design to benefit the wounded soldiers that are returning from battle and are trying to integrate back into civilian-life.

The Corporal Hoffman Series has recently developed through working one-on-one with Corporal Josh Hoffman, a U.S. Marine who was shot by a sniper's bullet while on tour in Iraq 4 years ago. The bullet entered his spine and left him paralyzed from the neck down, leaving him unable to speak or eat. He communicates through a unique code that is featured in the designs that will be made in "skins" and t-shirts.

The launch party, where Corporal Josh Hoffman's designs will be revealed, is this Friday, December 9th, from 6PM-9PM at Regal Financial offices: 2687 44th Street, Kentwood, MI.

Catch Josh's story on FOX-17,

in the Grand Rapids Press and mlive.com, and

Wood TV-8:

Project video trailer by Josh Beebe (SEI Studios):

GR Mini Hoop on ABC's Home Makeover

JustinTymeSports, whom you'll remember I created the logo for not too long ago, was just featured on last night's show of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They had one of their famous wall-mounted basketball hoops as the center point of the young boy's room. The special guest he got to shoot around with: Ray Allen from his favorite Boston Celtics team. Congrats to JustinTymesSports, keep up the great work!

I have a wall-mount hoop they brought over that I still need to find the perfect spot to install. I have a feeling I'll be mounting that soon; I'll let you know when that happens. I wish I had this when I was growing up...