In the realm of hacky old media sports writers, Mitch Albom - the author of syrupy classics like "Tuesdays With Morrie" and "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" -- is perhaps the hackiest of all the hacks.

As our economy here in Michigan currently resides alongside Splinter and the TMNT gang in the sewer, Governor Granholm and her old fogy cronies have enlisted some of the Dirty Mitten's most notable faces to clean up our image and bring customers back to the Great Lakes State: Coach Izzo, Mitch Albom, The Captain and a few unrecognizable big-wig business-types who know Bo Diddly about sports.

My mom had minor surgery this past week, so today I did my duty as a loving son and called to check up.