Hi there, Tiger fans. It’s really me, Mike VI, the tiger formerly known as Roscoe. When I hit campus, I wanted to go to the message boards and introduce myself but I had to wait until now because you need a computer and they seemed to forget that little detail when they set up my “dorm room.” But one of the interns (cute blonde girl) has been letting me look at her laptop from time to time. Yesterday she left it in the holding cage and I figure since July 23 is my birthday it's her birthday present to me. Just in case, I’m hiding it behind the bushes on the back wall of the playground. I’m faking a tummy ache so she thinks I ate it.

I’ve been wanting to make a request of all Tiger fans, so read ALL of this post. You don’t find a message from the real Mike the Tiger every day you know.

People, I want to thank all of you. I tell you Elvis and the Beatles never had it so good. A year ago I was prowling a cage in the cornfields, hanging out with my family and the good folks at Great Cats of Indiana who gave us a home. Now I’m a freakin’ rock star, Big Cat on Campus, stylin’ in my spiffy tiger penthouse and doing my best to act like I’m ignoring all the adulation that is coming at me. We cats have to be cool you know. I have the reputation of an entire species to uphold and play the part of the aloof overlord of the jungle so don’t take it personally. But let me tell you, I love every ounce of attention I’m getting. Just keep your yapping dogs away from my lair, they are sooo annoying. They aren’t even worth eating. But it just makes me want my team to beat the snot out of Georgia and Mississippi State even more!

I miss my parents and sibs, and Rob and the gang at Great Cats really raised me well. It was a happy childhood and I miss everyone terribly. It’s not all sunshine and chuffing around my world, let me tell you. But I try not to get homesick and cry in public. Give me a break, I’m barely 3 years old for catssake!

Dr. Baker and the handlers are really sensitive to my needs and take good care of me. They even know that I was raised on pig meat and throw me a piglet once a week or so from the LSU ag school. I have lots of toys and stuff to scratch and climb on, but I wish I had a bowling ball like the one I used to bat around back home. And I can’t tell you how much I love my very own pool! Splish splash baby!

I know I’m the luckiest tiger in the world to be Mike VI. I have everything I need...well, almost everything. To be honest with you, I’m going through my pubes and it would be nice to have a lady friend. Sometimes the yearning gets so bad I would even hit on a cougar! Hee hee, big cat humor. Oh well, I just think about the upside that I have this tiger penthouse all to myself and don’t have to put up with crap from a mate. Literally.

So here’s my request. As I mentioned, July 23rd is my birthday. Yeah, I know, I’m a Leo. The irony. We tigers got ripped off when they made the horoscope. Lions are pussies! But I guess it beats being a goat or a fish. Anyway, since there is nothing I could ask for myself in this new purple and gold paradise, there is one thing you can do for me as a birthday present.

Make a donation to Great Cats of Indiana. Their web URL is www.greatcatsofindiana.org. And put it on your calendar to do it as my birthday wish every year. They don’t get big grants from the government or foundations…the zoos sop up all that gravy. Send whatever you can, every bit helps. They have to come up with a ton of meat every week to feed all the tigers, lions, cougars, a bobcat and that crazy hep cat black leopard Onyx up there. And since Rob and Laura don’t have the heart to turn away a stray, they also have three bears, some wolves, a silver fox, and some other livestock on the property. But because of the budget they can’t take in any more animals of any kind, even though they have two more pens walled out and an option on plenty more acreage next to the sanctuary. And since I was raised my first few months in the family house, I can tell you they aren’t living high on the hog. But there’s lots of love on that refuge, I can tell you. Those people are doing everything they can do to make a happy home for big cats. The least you can do is send them a check or do a Paypal donation on their website. Do it for me as my birthday gift. I’ll feel good knowing that I’m treating mom and dad and all my family and friends back home to a few good meals. I’m chuffing just thinkin’ about it.

I also appreciate all the donations that were made to build this sweet lair for me on campus. I know you will continue to help me out through the Friends of Mike The Tiger campaign. I just don't want any of you to ever forget the place that gave me my start, and where my family still lives.

Gotta geaux, blondie is coming. I hope to post again, if I can figure out how to keep the battery charged. Maybe one of you could volunteer to toss me a new charged battery every so often and I’ll keep sending you Postcards From the Lair. As long as they don’t clip my nails…my posts would look like an Arkansas grad typed them if all I had was my hairy paws!

Thanks again, Tiger fans. See you in Tiger Stadium!! I’ll wink for the TV cameras as a way of saying thanks for your donations!

Your pal,

Mike VI

P.S. I'll sneak a peak from time to time and try to hay hi and answer any questions you might have.