40/40, Brian, and the Imperial March

I received a “40 under 40” award today from the Cincinnati Business Courier. It was a great event and I was honored to be included with many impressive people.

The organizers asked each honoree “what song inspires you?” They told us the song would play in the background as you walked up to receive your award. I immediately knew the song I wanted, but thought the audience might not respond to my unique tastes. I asked Susan, my Dad, and my Mom separately “which song should I use?” ALL of them said “Darth Vader’s theme" without any prompting. Susan clinched it and said; “what would Brian do? You know Brian would totally tell you to do it!”

“The Imperial March” by John Williams played when I walked up to the podium to get my award.

It killed.

The audience of about 400 people loved it. I had a smile on my face and thought of Brian sitting next to my parents and Susan around the table. He was smiling at me and doing the patented “McCormick head nod.”

Click the link below and feel how Brian was with us today in spirit (force?) through Darth Vader:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8

Love you and miss you Brian.

St. Patty's Day in Chicago

Obviously, one of Brian's favorite holidays is St. Patty's Day and we never missed the opportunity to get out of town and take our show on the road. This particular year (I think it's '99 0r '00) Brian and I drove to Chicago to stay the holiday weekend with Johnny Personette and his family in Barrington, IL. I'll spare you the gross details of the weekend, but share with you this terrific picture of the three friends with the Chicago skyline and green river.

Brian helps a future "Teacher of the Year"

Dear Mr. McCormick and family:

I am writing to you because I am the beneficiary of some of the money from the scholarship fund that you have set up at Xavier University. I am writing to thank you for your incredible generosity, and to tell you a little bit about myself.

I am currently a senior at Xavier, double majoring in Early Childhood Education and Spanish. I am working to pay my way through school and supplemented my tuition with loans and grants. This semester, I am a student teaching full time, so I have been unable to work as much as in semesters past. This leaves me short when it comes to paying my tuition.

Through the help of Mr. Schiess in the Office of Student Success, I was granted funds from your memorial scholarship fund and the money was matched by the University.

I want you to know what a tremendous help this money is to me. Thank you, again, for your generosity in memory of you son. With your help, I am able to successfully complete my last year at Xavier. I promise you that I will work diligently for these last two semesters.

My Xavier education is a gift that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Thank you for being a part of my experience.

Very truly yours,

Name Withheld

Class of 2010
Xavier University

You are welcome and we know you will be a great teacher! MM

Introducing Brian Dargin Gunnoe!

Brian Dargin Gunnoe was born on August 27, 2009 to proud parents (and our cousins) AJ and Gary Gunnoe. “Dargin” was 8 pounds, 7 ounces, and 20 inches long. Everyone is healthy.

Though they are in Kansas City, they (and all of the Gunnoe’s) are very close to our hearts. We had no idea Gary and AJ would name their son after Brian. All of the McCormick’s were amazed by this wonderful and loving gift! I told Gary that Brian is stunned, proud, and celebrating by doing the “McCormick head nod.” We all know Brian will be a great guardian angel to young Dargin.

Unfortunately for Dargin, he will be forever looking for his lost keys, sunglasses, cell phone, and wallet!

Look out world, here comes Brian Dargin Gunnoe!

Game Day! Team Khaki: Reds Firstar First Pitch

After XU graduation I was hired by Firstar Bank as a marketing specialist and soon thereafter Firstar became the official bank of the Cincinnati Reds. One of my responsibilities of the Reds sponsorship was to conduct the contests in all the branches for the aptly titled "Firstar First Pitch." Basically for every home game I was to find branch winners to throw the first pitch out at all the Reds' home games. Four people were allowed onto the field, one to pitch, one to throw from the mound, and two to stand and stare. Everybody got a Reds baseball cap and the winner got to keep the ball as a memento. And if you had $35 they'd tape it and give you the tape later. The whole event was on the jumbo-tron too. One problem... nobody believed they won a first pitch at a Reds game and people weren't showing up at the game as instructed! After about four games with no winners showing up to claim their prize, my boss really got on my case so I did the next logical thing - I stacked the contest and selected all my friends and family to throw first pitches for the complete season!

I often wondered if my contact at the Reds thought it strange that all the winners were about my age. And even stranger that they saw a few repeat winners like Brian who was on the field twice.

Attached is a classic picture of Brian, Adam, Adam's brother, and I after the first pitch at the Reds vs Indians game. What you can't tell from the picture is that Adam was drunk as a skunk. Homeboy threw the pitch in the dirt and the ball jumped passed his brother who was catching and hit some poor little kid standing by his classmates on the field! Brian and I laughed ourselves to tears.

Brian always wanted to make a movie about the cool, random, and outright crazy things that always happened to us and he swore this first pitch would be in a dream sequence. We were going to call the movie Team Khaki because of our preppy khaki pants. Look at the picture and see that Team Khaki was in full effect.

Miss you bro.

"In order to make an impact on society, one must be educated"

FYI, Xavier students send the “thank you” letter to my attention after they received an award. When you see my name or “you” please think of my parents and other generous souls like you who helped the “Brian McCormick Memorial Fund” become such a huge success. This could not happen without your help. God Bless, MM

Dear Matthew McCormick:

I am very grateful for your generous contribution. Your donation has helped me out tremendously. You helped me overcome a financial burden that was getting in the way of my education.

I am person who greatly values education. I believe that an education is an opportunity. An education is something that can never be taken away from you once you receive it. I do not believe that there was one great person of the past who did not have some form of education. All of the great inventors, scientists, politicians, and other revolutionary people of the past had an education. In order to make an impact on society, one must be educated.

I will never forget your generosity. You helped me at a time when I was having financial troubles that were interfering with my education. I am eternally grateful for your generosity.

Thank you,

Name withheld

Iron Chef

Can anyone please explain Brians' fascination with Iron Chef and this man?





I watched a little bit the other night and I just don't get it.

Swimming Pool Paaattyy

When I saw this, it reminded me of something Brian would forward me without any sort of explanation. And it would of course be hilarious. And disturbing.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttgg1OaOuQA

and Brother Franklin feeling it at church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lmCju71Lcg

Lloyd Dobbler...

One of Brian's favorite all-time songs was The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony" and I know for a fact he'd have wanted me to hold up a boombox playing this song like Lloyd Dobbler in the movie "Say Anything" at the funeral, but I completely chickened out. I'm sorry bro.

Another Pic

A picture of Brian and some of the Gunnoes from a night at the Fox & Hound.