Before we get into today's conversation with former Wolverine Javon Shepard, let's talk about

Joanne Howard.

On Friday, we learned that Coach Howard underwent successful heart surgery at the University

of Michigan Health, Samuel and Gene Frankel, Cardiovascular Center.

I don't have a whole lot to add from the press release, just a few thoughts before we get

into the episode.

First and foremost, of course, just thrilled that Coach Howard got the treatment,

the procedure he needed it, when he needed it.

You know, sequentially, it's one of those situations where you feel relief,

even though most people and all Michigan fans only knew about the entire situation once

the surgery happened and the positive result had already

taken place. And if someone like Joanne Howard, who played 19 years in the NBA, he still

maintains a significant workout regimen despite the workload involved with coaching in college

basketball, if that person can still have health issues at his relatively young age, then

it can happen to anyone. That's why the biggest

takeaway to me, and hopefully for many of you, is regular checkups are vital. Secondly, what a

tremendous blessing it is to have University of Michigan Health and all these outstanding

hospitals throughout the country, and especially on college campuses, U of M Health makes routine

what is unquestionably difficult and way above my

comprehension. The doctors work quickly, not in months, but in about two weeks to go from

Juan Howard's diagnosis, Juan Howard's procedure. You want to talk about a loaded roster,

you want to have an overlap of Juan Howard's procedure and John B-Line's double bypass surgery back in 2018.

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