The Fan Teaser – The Sports Fan Project

The Fan Teaser – Week 196

July 24, 2026July 21, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

**^{You couldn’t draw up a better way to play outfield defense than this fella.}**

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.

Fan Teaser Solution: Week 195

July 19, 2026July 14, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

**^{One of these two was golden half a century ago at Royal Birkdale.}**
**^{Who are they?}**

American Johnny Miller won two major golf championships during his Hall of Fame career. The second – the 105th Open Championship – came at Southport, England’s, Royal Birkdale Golf Club in 1976.

Fifty years later, The Open is once again at Birkdale.

Miller’s victory arrived in comeback fashion, overcoming a 2-shot, final-round deficit to 19-year-old Spaniard Seve Ballesteros.

**^{Johnny Miller, left, and Seve Ballesteros finished first and second at the 105th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. (Photo courtesy of the R&A)}**

Ballesteros was just in his second year as a professional but zoomed to the lead following the first, second, and third rounds. Alas, playing with Miller in the final round, Ballesteros was seven-over after his first 12 holes while Miller was on his way to a final-round 6-under-par 66 and a 6-shot victory over Ballesteros and a fella named Jack Nicklaus.

And for his victory, Miller earned a whopping 7,500 British Pounds Sterling. Quite a difference from this year, when the winner will take home 3.2 million U.S. Dollars.

^{The Royal & Ancient’s documentary on the 105th Open Championship from 1976 at Royal Birkdale.}

The Fan Teaser – Week 195

July 17, 2026July 14, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

Fan Teaser: Week 194 Solution

July 12, 2026June 27, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

We weren't aware that GOATs could ride bicycles, but this week's #FanTeaser might be the exception. — **^{Steady as you go. This fella in the saddle was unparalleled.}**

The Tour de France first pushed off 123 years ago on July 1, 1903. Since then, 113 ridings have occurred (including the one that wraps a week from today along the Champs-Elysees).

In its storied history, only four cyclists have officially won five Le Tours (due to doping, Lance Armstrong’s seven are not being counted). Among those four is the solution to this week’s #FanTeaser: Belgian Eddy Merckx (1969-72 and 1974). The other three are Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil (1957 and 1961-64) and Bernard Hinault (1978-79, 1981-82, and 1985), and Spaniard Miguel Indurain (1991-95).

Should Slovenian Tadej Pogacar win this year’s Tour it would not only be his third straight but also his fifth in total, turning the quartet into a quintet.

**^{Belgian cyclict Eddy Merckx of Team Faema is seen riding during the 1969 Tour de France. (Photo by Jean-Yves Ruszn)}**

Merckx is widely regarded as one of the best riders in the sport’s history.

His 11 total Grand Tour victories (five French, five Italian, and one Spain) are the most all time. Additionally, he’s won all five Monuments which are generally considered to be the oldest, hardest, longest and most prestigious one-day events in men’s road cycling, with distances between 240 and 300 kilometers.

^{A look at the legend of Eddy Merckx.}

The Fan Teaser – Week 194

July 10, 2026June 26, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

Fan Teaser: Week 193 Solution

July 5, 2026June 26, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

**^{Not only is this fella in Cooperstown but also Omaha Beach.}**

As the United States celebrates its 250th Birthday this weekend, what better way to celebrate than with baseball (hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet … right!?!).

On the occasion of the nation’s semiquincentennial we thought it would be enjoyable to look at those baseballers who served in active military duty during major conflicts from the 19th and 20th Centuries.

The #FanTeaser image this week is of a youthful Lawrence Berra (later known as Yogi) who served in the U.S. Navy and was aboard the attack transport USS Bayfield as a gunner’s mate on June 6, 1944 (aka D-Day) and was at both Omaha and Utah Beaches. The Bayfield’s role was to fire artillery at German defense positions to clear the way for Allied infantry to arrive.

Berra, who was just turned 19-years-old the previous month, later went on to enjoy a 19-year Major League career with the New York Yankees and Mets that was deemed Baseball Hall of Fame worthy by the electorate.

In total, there were 72 current inductees of the Baseball Hall of Fame who served during either the Civil War, World War I, World War II, or the Korean War. Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams served in both of the latter two and famously flew as a wingman to future astronaut and U.S. Senator, John Glenn.

One would have little difficulty building a few formidable starting nines out of those 72 men who served their country.

C – Yogi Berra
1B – Johnny Mize
2B – Jackie Robinson
3B – Billy Herman
SS – Pee Wee Reese
OF – Stan Musial
OF – Willie Mays
OF – Larry Doby
RHSP – Bob Feller
LHSP – Rube Marquard
Mgr – Casey Stengel

C – Mickey Cochrane
1B – Gil Hodges
2B – Charlie Gehringer
3B – Eddie Mathews
SS – Rabbit Maranville
OF – Duke Snider
OF – Ty Cobb
OF – Enos Slaughter
RHSP – Christy Mathewson
LHSP – Warren Spahn
Mgr – Whitey Herzog

C – Bill Dickey
1B – Hank Greenberg
2B – Eddie Collins
3B – Luke Appling
SS – Ernie Banks
OF – Oscar Charleston
OF – Joe DiMaggio
OF – Ted Williams
RHSP – Grover Alexander
LHSP – Eppa Rixley
Mgr – Red Schoendienst

We can also cobble together a pretty nice front office between General Manager Branch Rickey, Promotions Director Bill Veeck, and whatever it is that Warren Giles, Larry MacPhail, and Morgan Bulkeley (a Civil War veteran!) would like to do.

The broadcast team can be Ralph Kiner and Phil Rizzuto and we’ll go with a 2-man umpiring crew of Jocko Conlan and Al Barlick.

And, shoot, while we’re at it, the entire myth about the invention of baseball is built around someone with a long military history, Abner Doubleday.

Happy Birthday USA!!!

**^{A youthful looking Yogi Berra served in the U.S. Navy prior to going onto star for the New York Yankees.}**

The Fan Teaser – Week 193

July 3, 2026June 25, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

Fan Teaser: Week 192 Solution

June 28, 2026June 25, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

We went multiple choice for you this week in recognition of the recently completed NBA Draft. Your mission, should you accept it, was to pair the following NBA Draftees with their Draft Night Ensemble.

LeBron James
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jalen Rose
Bol Bol

Here’s who wore what:

^{Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the 11th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets but was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for Miles Bridges and draft capital. SGA, as he’s known, wore this floral suit by Los Angeles designer Jhoanna Alba.}

^{Bol Bol, the son of the late Manute Bol, was the 44th overall selection of the Miami Heat during the 2019 NBA Draft but was later traded to Denver Nuggets for future draft capital and cash considerations. Here he’s wearing a suit from hip-hop artist Young Thug‘s brand, Spider.}

^{LeBron James was the first-overall selection by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. Just 18-years-old on Draft Night, he chose all-white, slightly oversized fit that has been credited to Elevee Lifestyle stylist, Sami Jenks.}

^{Jalen Rose was the 13th selection by the Denver Nuggets in the 1995 NBA Draft. Rose’s look was created by fellow Detroiter Ed Lews who owned Custom Clothing by Ed Lewis. The red was Rose’s nod to the Los Angeles Clippers whom he believed were going to draft him. Alas, the best-laid plans.}

The Fan Teaser – Week 192

June 26, 2026June 25, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

In recognition of the annual NBA Draft which occurred earlier this week, we’re having a little fun at the #FanTeaser. While the draftees talent on the basketball court is undeniable, sometimes the choice of attire requires some plausible deniability:-)

With that, below are four Draft Night Ensembles from the archives. Let’s see if you can sleuth out who wore each. To make your job that much easier, we’re giving you the names of the four players. All you have to do match them to the correct cropped image below.

Your choices are as follows:

LeBron James
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jalen Rose
Bol Bol

Fan Teaser: Week 191 Solution

June 21, 2026June 14, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

In what is widely considered one of the best – if not the best! – Men’s College World Series finale in its 78-year history, Louisiana State’s Warren Morris belted a MCWS-winning 2-out, 2-run walkoff homer off Miami (FL) closer, Robbie Morrison, to give the Tigers’ a 9-8 victory back in 1996.

Morris, who went on to play parts of five MLB seasons for four franchises, missed considerable time that season due to a wrist injury. Believe it or not, this was his only home run of the season!

^{LSU’s Warren Morris enters full celebration mode rounding first base in Omaha after his walkoff home run won his Tigers’ the 1996 Men’s College World Series. (Associated Press Photo by Rodney White)}

Other recognizable names on the field that June 8, 1996 afternoon in Omaha, included Miami’s Pat Burrell and Joey Cora. For LSU, beyond Morris, future MLB players included Brett Laxton and Ed Yarnall. Also on that LSU team was future College Baseball Hall of Famer and LSU Athletics Hall of Famer, Eddy Furniss. Furniss is also the parent of Ole Miss senior baseball player Will Furniss whose Rebels advanced to Omaha themselves this season.

^{Video of Warren Morris’ 1996 Men’s College World Series-winning walkoff home against Miami in Omaha.}