Michigan sportscaster's drawings illustrating Wolverines' national championship go viral
If you missed the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night, when the Michigan Wolverines took home the title, never fear: One Michigan journalist has you covered. Sort of.
Sam Ali — sports director of Mid-Michigan NOW, which covers the Flint, Saginaw, Bay City and Midland areas with the NBC and Fox affiliate TV stations — went on air Monday night to give the highlights of the game. There was just one problem: He couldn't show actual highlight clips from the game while the ESPN broadcast was still going on. So he had to get creative.
He drew highlights of the game. Like a 5-year-old kid in kindergarten would. Complete with stick figures and bright colors. And it was amazing.
Enjoy.
So the Michigan game just went final when we went on-air tonight and we're not allowed to show highlights until the broadcast is completely over. But I promised the viewers "highlights" and I tried to deliver the best I could: pic.twitter.com/us2e1Y6YeD
— Sam Ali (@SamAliSports) January 9, 2024
The post has blown up on X (formerly Twitter) with more than 1.5 million views, 1,300 reposts and more than 7,500 likes to date.
"I wouldn’t be mad if this was a regular feature. I love it," Byron Williams posted, who notes in his profile he is alumni of both Florida State and the University of Alabama.
"You sir need a raise. This is incredible," Kenny from Grand Rapids posted.
He even got love from a Fox colleague in Detroit, Kellie Rowe.
— Kellie Rowe (@kellierowe) January 9, 2024
"Quick thanks to everyone for all the love for the highlights," Ali wrote on a subsequent post. "The permanent arthritis from putting these together was worth it!"
He also said: "Always remember to support your local TV stations."
Ending it: "Of course: #GoBlue."
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sportscaster goes viral for drawings of Michigan's national title
