Jeff Blackburn '91 was third on the Dartmouth team in tackles as a 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior linebacker in 1989. He went on to earn a spot on the second All-Ivy League team as a senior. These days he's involved in another sport:
From the story (
LINK):
Jeff Blackburn had a prolific 24-year run at Amazon, helping create and build Prime Video, Amazon Studios, Amazon Music and leading the company’s push into advertising. Prior to the “everything store,” though, he was a former high school tennis standout who came to recognize that a passion for the sport and the long hours required by a famously hard-driving tech culture were incompatible.
The exec’s personal and professional backgrounds officially fused last year when he was named CEO of the Tennis Channel by Sinclair, which paid $350 million to acquire it in 2016. After dropping tennis in order to play linebacker on Dartmouth’s football team, Blackburn “gave up the racket,” as he puts it, for 25 years.
It's not in his old Dartmouth bio, but sure enough, Blackburn won a Massachusetts state doubles championship in 1987. (LINK)
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FCS Football Central on SI has a piece headlined
4 FCS wild card teams with boom or bust potential in 2026 and one of them might be quarterbacked by a Dartmouth graduate transfer. From the story (
LINK):
(South Dakota) has plenty of talent to be a real factor in the FCS Playoff race, but it ultimately comes down to who wins the quarterback battle.
Nobody separated themselves in spring practice, but it's hard not to see Jackson Proctor getting a real shot at QB1. He was a productive starter at Dartmouth, but the potential dark horse in this race could be freshman Austyn Modrzewski. He was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Colorado, possessing the highest potential upside of any quarterback in the room.
Proctor '25, who spent time with FBS Northern Illinois University last fall only to leave the program early enough in the season to save a year of eligibility, completed 68.5 percent of his passes (135-for-197) with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions in his final season at Dartmouth. He also proved to be dangerous on the ground with a 78-yard run as a junior, and a 75-yard burst as a senior.
Over his Big Green career the 6-2, 210-pound quarterback completed 70.3 percent of his throws for 2,355 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 617 yards and five touchdowns.
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It's silly season again for ticket brokers. I thought Seat Geek's algorithm was a little more focused than this, but as the following shared by Mrs. BGA shows, that's not always the case:
Green Alert Take: Luke Bryan, Jelly Roll, Jack Johnson and a random November Dartmouth game against Brown. Seriously?
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EXTRA POINT
I've written about this before, but I once worked with an extremely affable fellow who always had a smile and a greeting when you walked through the door. I remember thinking it strange when he greeted me one morning by saying, "Happy Memorial Day."
I thought about that when I considered the Extra Point being, "Happy May Day." I certainly didn't think it was as odd as my old co-worker's greeting, but wondered what the various AI entities (?) might think. So I asked them and here are their responses:
ChatGPT:
In the U.S., May Day isn’t widely celebrated, so saying “Happy May Day” might feel a bit unusual—but it’s not wrong. It can come off as charming, seasonal, or a little quirky depending on your crowd.
If you’re saying it to someone who likes seasonal traditions or has an international background, it’ll probably land well.
Claude
Saying "Happy May Day" can feel warm and inclusive—it's no stranger than saying "Happy New Year" or "Happy Spring." If anything, it shows you're acknowledging either the historical/labor significance or the seasonal transition, both of which are worth recognizing.
Scout
It's not entirely weird to say "Happy May Day," but it might be considered a bit outdated or culturally specific.
In general, you can use the phrase "Happy May Day" in informal settings, but it's essential to be aware of your audience and the cultural context. If you're unsure, you could opt for a more neutral greeting, like "Happy Spring" or "Wishing you a great May."
Copilot:
It’s just a greeting with multiple meanings. If you say it casually in New Hampshire, most people will either take it as a spring greeting or not think much of it at all.
If you want to avoid confusion, you can always lean into the vibe you mean, like:
“Happy May Day — hope spring is treating you well.”
“Happy May Day — solidarity today.”
Gemini
It is not strange to say "Happy May Day," but the way it is received depends a bit on the context and where you live. May 1st holds a few different meanings around the world, so understanding the nuance can help you decide how and when to use the greeting.
Mistral
It's not weird at all! "Happy May Day" is a common greeting in many countries where May 1st is celebrated as a holiday, often associated with International Workers' Day or spring festivals. If you're in a place where this is recognized, it's perfectly fine to say it. Just be mindful of the context—some cultures may not celebrate it, so it’s always good to be aware of local customs.
Well then, OK. Happy May Day! ;-)
