Last night, I was privileged enough to attend the first major NBA contest that I have been since the Pistons vs. Lakers in Kobe’s rookie year and Shaq’s first year with the Laker show, 1996-1997. The Pistons weren’t every good, but were led by GHill, who was probably my favorite player at the time - so in my opinion it was a big deal. I am planning on doing this blog in bullet form and hope to make each one a sentence or two, but you're not allowed to hold me to that. The strategy here is to give you insight as to the actual event rather than a play-by-play synopsis of the game.

• I’m really not one to complain about drivers, but I am extremely thankful that I live in a community that at least respects other people on the road. I’ll leave that one at that.
• For those of you that are unaware, the Palace is celebrating its 20^th year of existence. The Palace remains an excellent venue and still one of the nicest in the NBA even though it is 20 years old. That’s pretty amazing and certainly a venue that was far ahead of its time 20 years ago.
• Rip hits a banker at the end of the first to give the Pistons a whooping 16 pts... to finish the quarter. Good start guys!
• Side Note: Those Rip It energy drinks, the cheap ones with way too much sugar, are all over the place on the east side of the state with two different lines of drinks. Well, they still taste like crap. Anyone see a connection….
• Stuckey’s dunk over KG was absolutely filthy. It was one of those plays where I just thought he’d go for the lay-in or a one-hander, but he thru it down with two hands and hard. More on this guy later.
• My name is KIIIIIIIIIIIIIID. Kid Rock! Detroit’s own K-I-D was honored with a banner at the Palace during the first half in recognition of his 18 sellouts. That’s pretty dang impressive considering Devil Without a Cause came out in 1998. That’s a lot of concerts - let alone sellouts. The Kid goes up to the rafters next to the likes of Bon Jovi, Alan Jackson, and well this guy. The Kid was there, didn’t leave until there was under a minute left. (more than I can say for most of the crowd), and walked around without security, but with some guy on crutches. Kid Rock is a really cross over star, who seems to be able to chill with anybody at any level, and the fact that he rocks tight white-tees in public is pretty legit. The guy however looks like he is permanently hung over. Congrats Kid!
• Sheed really likes Sam Cassell. They talked the whole time during second half shoot around. Several joined in on the convo as well. Seems like Sam was a pretty cool guy, who was rocking a sweet green cord suit coat.
• It was also a real treat to watch Ray Allen shoot around. The man’s stroke is so pure. I can certainly see why the players voted him as the best pure shooter they have ever seen in SI recently. Textbook. Especially when shooting next to Tony Allen.
• Curry really shortened the bench in the second half only playing 7 guys by my count. He wanted this one in the worse way.
• The fireworks and the game was really decided on Kendrick (I’m always just woke up from a nap or am stoned) Perkins close-lined slash head-locked Jason Maxiell. Max was promptly teed-up for the push, but the refs had to go to the monitor to check and see if that was a flagrant. Max missed both throws, but Ray Allen hit his. First of all, the officiating in the NBA is piss poor. You could see this developing as the Celts where getting away with some hard fouls. They would wrap guys up on the way to the hoop instead of actually trying to play D. It reminded me of watching old guys in rec league foul every time they get beat off the dribble. The refs let this happen and you get fouls like this as a result. Second, why would you have to look at the monitor to tell that it was a flagrant? I was twenty five feet away and it was obvious beyond a shadow of a doubt and thus, in my opinion, justifying Max’s reaction.
• KG promptly plays thug and acting like a you know what. I was hoping that Max was going to take his head off, because after reading this article, I think many around the league would want him too and the crowd certainly did. Sorry, you need insider to read it, but it’s in the Mag as well.
• The crowd was another story. The guys behind me kept saying things such as, “do you know where you are?” or “This isn’t Boston boys!” This could have easily escalated into a Malice Part Deux if the refs didn’t get in between the fight immediately, and the cops were at full alert. It was a perfect storm of atmosphere in the building. Arrogant champions vs. under achieving team that is frustrated with each other. The city of Detroit has a little built up frustration too from what I have heard.
• Paul Pierce and some fan from the “Haymaker” section were really going at it. The guy looked surprising like this guy. It went right through a time out and the free throws. I would say it took two or three minutes. The kid was relentless on Pierce and was seemingly pretty inappropriate. It was way too loud in there to see what he was saying, but Pierce seemed to be playing along with it. Security eventually went over and talked to the kid for a couple of minutes and Pierce went on to talk trash with some other guys a little closer to him. The kid was arguing with security like Pierce had started it, but he eventually went back to his seat.
• I was watching a Mavs game this past week and Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy, the guy who did this, had a pretty good conversation going about 6^th man. Then Jackson says something about the Pistons should bring Stuckey off the bench and Van Gundy agrees, because AI and Rip have to adjust. Hello? Have you watched Stuckey play this year? Yup, the Pistons traded Billups, because Stuckey was ready, remember? And by ready that means to start and play major minutes, not come off the bench. They were in attendance last night and I hope they changed their tune.
• Stuckey is our best player. This is his team and Curry needs to coach like it. Stuckey scores four consecutive points in the third and then gets pulled for Rip. Stuckey doesn’t get another shot until there’s under a minute left. That can’t happen. Curry needs to call plays for him.
• I think the Pistons didn’t hit a shot from outside the paint in the second half until there was about two minutes left and they were still in the game against the best team in the East. Don’t tell me they can’t contend this year. That’s an excuse.
• Rip is being babied. Big time. Two things that related to this. Curry runs a play for him almost every other time down if not more. I don’t know if he’s trying to make him happy since he’s coming off the bench, after he said he wouldn’t remember, or he thinks he’s that good. This is causes AI and Stuckey to get fewer shots, which is not a good thing. Does anyone notice that we were playing better when Rip was out? It isn’t because Rip is bad; it’s that he takes shots away from our two best players. Rip isn’t what he used to be. The guy is slightly above average for an NBA shooting guard with limited range. He isn’t a strong defender or passer and isn’t a threat to take it to the hoop. Maybe the groin is still bugging him, but he is a completely one dimensional mid-range shooter. I think Curry needs to stop trying to make friends and just coach. That’s the whole reason he didn’t move Rip to the bench in the first place. Ps Bill Laimbeer would have been a much better coach for this team.
• We can’t play Rip, AI, and Stuckey together against a team like Boston when Pierce is in. Rip cannot guard a player as strong a Pierce.
• We really need an identity and determine how we want to play. I don’t understand why they run a small line-up with three guards and don’t push the ball. Stuckey and AI are at their best in the open court and it seems like we try and slow the pace down to play half-court ball. You’re basically taking away the strength of playing three small quick players without making the other team do anything. This is coaching and isn’t smart. I also don’t understand why you would try to play half court ball against one of the best defensives in the NBA.
• Max and McDyess rebounded like beasts, but Sheed seems to kill us on the boards late in games. He needs to put his butt on somebody. We gave up two killer offensive boards in the last two or three minutes again.
• Prince was really out of it last night - had zero intensity and probably one of the reasons we played the three guards so much. We really need Tay seeing that he really has no backup, and we have no one else that can guard Pierce.
• Overall, I wasn’t impressed with Boston either. They act as if they are entitled to win. They will need to turn it up to beat the Cavs this year.
• I’m sick of hearing about the AI trade and that this is a rebuilding year. This is a good team and should contend for an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. I really think it's Curry that is holding them back. He appears to be in over his head. He was out coached pretty badly by freaking Doc Rivers last night. Maybe Joe should just coach the team, because I just don’t see this Curry thing working out.

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If this is what happens when I don’t post for a month, maybe I should consider doing it (or lack of doing it) more often! Seeing that the cool thing to do, is dedicate oneself to posting one day a week, maybe I should do the same. If my calculations are correct, that would give the masses what they have been clamoring for, and provide a little help to make it through your work week (aka a post a day).

We have a new look! You got to love Nate’s dedication to making constant improvements to this site. It seems as if the site's appearance is changing faster than Ashlee Simpson’s. The masses must also be McLovin the new URL, as well. For those of us that don't bookmark this site and for some reason still enter the URL manually, you were treated to this fantastically awesome blog when we forgot to double the S (ie Sport Spice not SportS Spice). I was not sure how to take this news when I came upon it. But soon it became obvious that Nate has a fascination with this young lady, who is a member of this group of fine young ladies. Hence the dedication of his blog to Sporty Spice, aka Mel C. Now if your wondering how I knew this Spice Girls information let alone their Spice names, it took awhile to piece this thesis together, but my love for the Herb Ladies is also becoming extremely evident, so I’ll move on to my actual topic.

I’m going with the obvious one here: The Super Bowl. I tossed around a blog idea on my love for Australian Open tennis, but trying to stay awake and watch the 3:30 matches has really gone to my head and thus affected my creativity with the subject matter. I really can’t bring myself to talk baseball until I at least see the sun for over 5% of the day (no offense to those that can). And quite frankly, no one wants to hear my rumblings on the Pistons , not yet anyway. So I decided to mail it in, paging newspapers writers that ask themselves questions and then promptly answer them in their own articles; you know who you are Brian VanOchten.

So here we are less than less than 72 hours (and ticking) away from the biggest advertising day of the year and biggest one day gamble-a-thon known to man. Where the over one billion people of all races, creeds, and colors will be subject to blatant commercialism, while placing a bet on what color boxers Ben Roethlisberger is wearing, and love it! I know I do. I’m hoping for a commercial involving Chuck Norris, a Clydesdale, and the girls from a Double Shot of Love. I have the copyright to that idea too; you know who you are Dane Cook. There is an actual game to be played involved with the whole trying to sell of us stuff process, and for Lions fans another reason to wallow in our self-pity. The FREAKING ARIZONA CARDINALS are in the SUPER BOWL! Note the caps. That might be the dumbest thing I have ever heard. A team, that moved from Chicago and St. Louis, two of the best sports cities in the U.S., to a state that doesn’t actually have anyone born there, is in the Super Bowl. A team, that is owned by someone less competent than William Clay Ford, is in the Super Bowl. A team, that abides by Matt Millan’s draft guide, is in the Super Bowl. A team, that has a quarterback who should be the Lion’s quarterback in Mike Martz had his way, is in the Super Bowl. A team, that had been without a title game appearance longer than the Lions, is in the Super Bowl. A team, that plays in the worst division in football, is in the Super Bowl, A team, that fail to live up to expectations, is in the Super Bowl. Not only are the Cardinals in the Super Bowl, but that have a chance to beat what is possible the most dominant franchise in NFL history, on their way to redemption. The table is set for one team’s Cinderella story and the Lion’s Nightmare of Elm Street.

The actual game is the typical match-up involving a high octane offense vs. the unbreakable defense. I actually like both of these teams, which make the game a little less fun because I have no one to root against (see Duke, New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Lakers, etc.). While I have no rooting interest in the game itself, the half-time show is another story. I’ll be a happy man if Brue Springsteen can save us from spewing his typical political jargon.

The Cards D is the real reason for their turn around and the fact that I can no longer benefit from Larry Fitzgerald’s fantasy points (see Bill Simmons fantasy league). I would win that thing in a landslide, by the way. The Steelers are a Dennis Green to a T. Oh, the irony.

I’m not one to pick games, because A) I suck at it and B) If I got good, I would end up losing money on it. The Cards are the obvious underdog, but yet the trendy pick, especially with the points. The only way I see them winning this game is if they get up by two scores early and hang on for dear life. If it’s a close game all the way through, I just don’t think any team is capable of beating the Steelers at their own game (except that team that has the one guy that shot himself on it). The Cards won’t be able to run the ball without the lead. The story will really be if the Steelers can stop Fitzy early on, and if they do I think they win the game.

After all that, I’ll go against my prediction and say the Cards go up early leading 14-3 at the end of one and 17-10 at half. Roethlisberger then leads the Steelers to two 3^rd Quarter touchdowns and the lead 24-20 at the end of three. Parker gets a big TD run in the fourth essentially ending the game, before a late score by Steve Breaston on a slant followed by a failed onside kick attempt. Put It in Stone Final Score: 31-27 Steelers with the win and the Cards with the cover. This result will cause Lions fans around the world to breathe a little bit easier for at least the next six months.

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Today’s post is brought to you by “Tell it like it is Guy.” You know when you are at a party or social gathering and there is always this slightly intoxicated tough guy who makes it his own personal agenda to tell everyone the “cold, hard facts?” Well, here’s to you buddy, you are finally getting your just due. Everyone loves you for saying it and we all really appreciate it. If only I could type sarcasm…

The only sport played on a professional level that is completely “self policed” is golf. What I mean by that is that there are no referees or umpires or line judges to tell you when you are breaking rules or cheating. Golf has a book of rules that is updated and printed on a yearly basis and is put out in mass distribution by the USGA. All golfers are expected to follow those rules every time they walk out onto the course.

Laced with pride and tradition, golfers adhere to these rules to keep the game that they know and love the same as it has been for centuries. This means no moving your ball in the rough while no one is looking because there is a tuft of grass in your way that could impose ill will on your shot. It also goes as far as the equipment a golfer uses. Playing with USGA approved balls and clubs throughout the entire tournament as to avoid disqualification. Both of these things are illegal and both of them are very easy to “get away with” when playing in a tournament. Professional golfers don’t do things like that in order to protect the sanctity and tradition of the game.

Although there are referees in hockey, both golf and hockey are “self policed.” Hockey doesn’t exactly have a rule book for its policing, but it does have fists. Yes, fighting is what hockey players use to keep the game in line. There are referees to make sure that things don’t get out of line, but if there is some sort of misunderstanding between two players, fighting is there to solve their problems. Because of hockey’s fast paced nature and physicality, things can get touchy and fighting solves this issue. Without fighting as a way to “solve” ones anger a hockey player can turn to cheap shots to impose his revenge on another player. A great example of this would be what happened to Stephen Kampfer against Michigan State (my last post.) Sadly, due to liability issues, fighting is not allowed in collegiate hockey and has been strictly banned by the NCAA. But, fighting is legal in every level of professional hockey.

All hockey players, like golfers, greatly respect their game. Fighting has been a part of hockey since the first puck was dropped in 1875 in Montreal and it is a part of the game to this day. Two men get into a fight over a big hit earlier in the game or about whose girlfriend is hotter and they settle it between themselves. Four fists and a temporary break in the flow of the game. After all is said and done the two players skate away from each other and the game continues. That exact process is what keeps the game in line and keeps Happy Gilmore from taking off his skate and trying to stab someone with it. All hockey players respect this and all hockey players know that if they get out of line, a fight is more than likely headed their direction.

Exciting and entertaining for the fans, fighting will always be a part of hockey. Because of many “made” careers in the NHL, fighting is not as prevalent at that level as it is in lower professional levels (Grand Rapids Griffins.) But fighting will always be there and will always be hockey player’s way of keeping order out on the ice.

People who disagree with the allowance of fighting within professional ranks will argue its true meaning to the game itself. I would respond by asking what the true meaning of the BCS is to college football. Both might not have direct influences on the game, but both are serving a purpose and both aren’t going away for a long, long time.

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That title was plastered all over every newspaper, magazine, talking heads show, and www.insertsportswebsitehere.com before the team hit the field for Opening Day last year. This team was going to score 1,000 runs, blow away the Yanks and the Sox, and send their entire starting roster to the All-Star game. Tigerfest and Lakeland were Mardi Gras central with booze, beads, beer bongs and braziers strewn about as the Fall Classic Champions had already begun their Parade down Woodward Ave. A huge offseason of aquisitions by the "Big Dombrowski" led all fans to drink entirely too much of the rum spiked Kool-Aid like a freshman girl at a frat party, and then proceed down the walk of shame in the morning mired in a six month hangover the likes of which John Daly would've been proud to call his own.

Fans were spoiled. Much too spoiled. They believed they were guaranteed something because of offseason moves. Kenny Rogers didn't come out of the dugout and sing "you never count your money while you're sittin' at the table," like he should have. Instead he asked "who's your new overpaid Tiger?" The pun here is almost as sickening as the final win-loss columns. And yet it seems the fan base and the Michigan Media want the club to make the same mistakes as they did last year. They want K-Rod, K-Wood, and K-$$$. They wanted the Tiggies to trade the rest of their young talent for JJ Putz. What Michiganders should want, however, is a geography lesson. The Tigers do not reside in one of the burroughs of Long Island. Sorry.

The point is the Tigers are having one of the most unheralded offseasons to speak of, and all of this after arguably having the biggest offseason in the MLB over the past decade in '07. Yet in reality, the team has done more to guarantee wins this offseason than what they brought in last year. While '07 brought the pomp and circumstance, this year has us being served meat and potatoes. Donovan McNabb's mother would be proud. How the rest of us aren't is beyond understanding and leads one to believe that most casual observers don't comprehend how a winning team is put together. So listen, everyone can put away the Tylenol, the hangover is subsiding. The Tigers filled the holes in their roster very quietly and actually brought in what they really needed in the first place, pitching and defense.

Yet people continue to talk about how terrible the Tigers starting pitching and bullpen are. Part of this is because people think Dontrelle Willis, Nate Robertson, Justin Verlander, and Jeremy Bonderman are washed up. They all had probably their worst years last year ever in their Major League Baseball careers. And in all actuality, that may be one of the biggest hopes for the upcoming season. Are each of those players as good as they pitched in 2006 (minus D-Will) when they went to the World Series? Probably not. Are they all as terrible as they were last year? Definitely not. By the law of career averages, if the club had made zero changes this offseason, the starting pitching probably would have improved.

Then you add this to the fact that the Tigers went out and got one of the best pitching coaches in the Majors by inking Rick Knapp from the Minnesota Twins and canning our previous dugout disaster who had about as much baseball pedigree as a room full of 5 year olds eating pizza, fondly known here as Chucky "Cheese" Hernandez. Knapp took Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn, and Scott Baker, among others, and made them into household names that took the White Sox to the brink for a playoff seed. The Twins starting rotation was a huge question mark at the beginning of last year, and they were one win away from the playoffs when it was all said and done. Knapp is known for getting pitchers to throw strikes, and that's exactly what this ballclub needs.

The addition of Edwin Jackson is also an underrated signing that didn't catch a lot of attention. He hits upper 90's like Ron Jeremy hits anything with two legs. Hard and often. Not to mention the fact that he pitched out of the bullpen for the 'Rays in the World Series last year. He has experience in the starting role, and also has the flexibility to go to the 'Pen if necessary. But by far the most exciting addition for Tigs fans everywhere should be the signing of Brandon Lyon. He's not as sexy as Kerry Wood, Francisco Rodriguez, JJ Putz, or Jessica Alba thats for sure. However, if it is thought through this is the perfect signing for an ailing bullpen.

First of all, he is compared to Todd Jones. Most would cringe and cower at that name being uttered, but most people have an IQ around room temperature. Jones is the all time saves leader for the Detroit Tigers and was 18/21 in save opportunities last year before going down with an injury. Funny how the bullpen actually held together while Jonesy was still suiting up. . . Lyon is also younger, has a wider array of pitches that he throws for strikes, challenges hitters, is paid quite cheaply, and has a bulldog attitude. Just by reading his comments after signing with Detroit, you can tell he has the mentality of a closer. He spurned less money for a shot to come to D-Town to earn the closer's role and turn that into a big payday for next year. He wants the ball and he knows what's at stake, which is a classic closer mindset. Just signing a player and having them be in a contract year immediately is a beautiful thing, especially when that player is going to be the closer for a team that desperately needed one. And he will be the closer, mind you.

Dombrowski also went out and got Gerald Laird and Adam Everett this winter. Again, not glitzy or glamorous, and yet it was exactly what was needed. They are both defense first players who, along with Inge and Santiago, will give the Tigers one of the Top 5 defensive infields in the game. What they give up in hitting will more than be offset by fielding church softball grounders that Renteria couldn't corral and turn into outs. With a predominantly groundball pitching staff, this is key. Three out innings turned into four or five out innings because Renteria couldn't make a routine play, which put more undue stress on an already depleted pitching staff. Add in the fact that Laird is well known for handling a pitching staff, and won't call fastballs with a man on 1st just so his pick-off stats wouldn't suffer as he got older. Hmm . . . sound familiar? Kind of sounds like a guy who lost 50 lbs. when the steroid scandal exploded doesn't it, making his nickname obsolete. Another post for another day. . .

Bottom line is this. Davey Boy went out and got what the team lacked that caused the Motown Letdown, pitching and defense. The offense sputtered at times with Grandie and Sheff hurt, Miggy and Guillen on the position merry-go-round, and the feces sandwich that was left field. But those dilemmas are now extinct, and truly wasn't the main source of losses for this team. Will Lyon, Jackson, Laird, and Everett along with the new pitching coach solve every problem this team has? No. Every team has question marks going into the season, the Tigers simply have less of them than a year ago. Few enough, in fact, that the Tigers will win their Division, and we all know what that means.

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If you would have asked me a year ago whether team chemistry was an important factor in winning, I would have laughed at you and given you a lecture on the importance of talent. After suffering through a summer of lackluster Tiger baseball and even worse Michigan football, I think I might have to change my tune.

On January 17th, after a Pistons loss to the pathetic Oklahoma City Thunder, Allen Iverson attributed the Pistons lack of success to a lack of team chemistry. Earlier this year, I questioned the timing of the move to get Allen Iverson by Joe Dumars. Although my reasoning behind my apprehension mostly involved familiarity with each player's game, as well as a full knowledge of the playbook and defensive schemes, perhaps chemistry could be an equally important, or at least enough of a factor to start a conversation.

Team chemistry, or camaraderie, synergy, or however you want to call it, is not something you can force, but it is something a coach could facilitate. Much like a plant, chemistry needs the right environment to grow and blossom. While each team requires a different set of circumstances and characteristics to create this "right environment," a good coach should be able to adapt and put players in the right situations to succeed. It is the lack of a good environment due to the failure to facilitate by Michael Curry, and, probably indirectly, Joe Dumars.

Sunday night I saw video evidence of the Pistons chemistry problem; I even took a picture of my screen to prove it too you (seen above). Here is a little context. Allen Iverson played very little in the 4th quarter, a move made by coach Curry because Rip Hamilton had the hot hand. Iverson was on the bench, doing his best to play cheerleader for those Pistons on the floor. The Pistons had just called time out, and this is a picture of Rip and McDyess walking off the court to the bench. As you can see, Iverson is reaching out trying to give them high fives as encouragement. However, neither Rip nor McDyess returned the gesture, nor even looked at Allen.

Now what does this picture suggest to you? To me, it is quite obvious. At least two members of the Pistons, and likely more, straight up don't like Allen Iverson. Admittedly these two players were probably the closest teammates to Chauncey Billups, but even several months after his departure they still don't like the Answer.

While I realize that these players are professional and getting paid a lot of dollars to play a game, regardless of with whom, the level of effort a player exerts has a lot to do with those personalities around. Right now, there is a fracture within the Pistons team, involving at least Rip Hamilton, Antonio McDyess, and Allen Iverson, that is creating a bad environment and leading to unacceptable losses.

McDyess was interviewed about the lack of Chemistry and said "You can see it from the outside", and "I don't know what it is going to take." Well Antonio, it might take a bit of effort on your part to, maybe, meet Allen half way. Seems like he is the one trying, and you and Rip are the one keeping him out.

Rip can be angry that Allen took his starting role, and McDyess can be upset for having to miss a month of the season, but I thought winning was the ultimate goal. Rip even said so when he was benched, "“The bottom line is you want to win games. If this is the best way we can win a championship, then I am all for it. The thing is, we have two great scorers, me and A.I. We have to figure out how both of us can be our best.” Sounds like lip service after looking at the picture above.

That picture proves the lack of chemistry, and suggests mistrust and that bad environment I earlier suggested. Iverson called it out, and it looks like he is doing his best to try and build bridges instead of burn them. Hopefully, guys like Rip and Antonio aren't as petty as this picture makes them seem.

Ultimately, I think it is the job of coach Curry and Joe Dumars to settle this and find the winning combination. My solution would be a tall task for any coach, and especially tall for a first year, rookie coach. Unfortunately, I do not think that Coach Curry is the facilitator this team needs, and I do not think the Pistons can find a championship mold before the playoffs.

Perhaps it is better now to just blow this team up... (to be continued)

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First on the docket is a general announcement from yours truly. With the growth of this blog and my personal desire to participate with its expansion, it is my goal to post every Thursday. This policy will start with this week Thursday so look forward to something creative and inspiring or...curt and opinionated (haven't quite settled on a topic yet!). Hope you all enjoy!

Today’s post is brought to you by Wendy’s 3conomics. Seriously those three value menu sandwiches are totally awesome. I strongly suggest a Double Stack, Junior Bacon Cheeseburger or a Crispy Chicken Sandwich from there anytime you are hungry and short on cash.

So, Michigan played Michigan State last weekend in hockey. I personally have been to Yost Arena two times, and let me tell you, it is absolutely CRAZY there. The game atmosphere and the crowd are extremely intense. If you are a hockey fan, or a Michigan fan, you should seriously consider going to a game or two; you won’t be disappointed.

Michigan finished off a season sweep of the Spartans on Saturday to end up 5-0 against MSU this year. Michigan is currently rated the number eight team in the nation and could be in line for a number one seed heading into the tournament this year. Michigan is currently 18-8 and atop the CCHA standings. Michigan State, however, is a direct antithesis to our boys in blue and are sitting at 7-15-3 and in the leagues basement.

Rivalry games are always hard fought, tough victories. Saturday’s game however, was a bit more than a rough victory for the Wolverines.

Ridiculous Michigan State Frustration

Above is a video link to the hit during the game I am referring to.

After watching this in total disgust there are a few things you should know. First, fighting is NOT allowed in collegiate hockey. Second, Stephen Kampfer is actually alive and conscious. And third, Kampfer’s Dad has been speculated to have gone into the Spartan locker room and had a bit of a “tussle” with Corey Tropp (the second MSU player in on the action.)

The two Spartan players involved are Corey Tropp (mentioned earlier) and Andrew Conboy. After the game MSU’s coach said that Tropp would likely get a two game suspension and Conboy would “likely stay home” next weekend when State goes to Lake Superior State University.

Folks, that is NOT a punishment; it isn’t even a slap on the wrist. These kids are getting out of a few games each amidst a dismal season at best as a result of violent and malicious behavior out on the ice. Kampfer put a good legal hit on Tropp and the two retaliated and put Kampfer in the hospital and their punishment is a two game suspension? Ridiculous! These kids should be kicked off the team for good. There is absolutely no place for that kind of action on any playing field much less in a college atmosphere where fighting isn’t even legal. The NHL would have came down on them WAY harder and at the professional level of hockey, where fighting isn’t even banned.

The punishment administered by the CCHA is supposed to be released on Friday, but anything short of a complete dismissal isn’t enough. If Tropp and Conboy did this exact same action out on the street they would be charged for assault and battery and would be staring jail time right in the face. Also, anything short of a complete dismissal will more than likely lead to complete Armageddon on ice next year between the two schools.

So please CCHA; “for your Mother’s sake and for your Daughter’s sake,” kick them out of your league.

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Today’s post is brought to you by Circuit City. Thanks for tanking like crazy and folding like a little girl playing dodgeball to Best Buy. If it wasn’t for you I would have had to pay like twenty dollars more for another Playstation 3 controller. Friendly suggestion, go there, stuff is crazy cheap.

This post should be brought to you by John Elway because he is a lot of the reason why Michigan’s new defensive coordinator Greg Robinson has the pedigree he does.

Anyway, Greg Robinson is the new DC at Michigan and as I am sure most of you have heard, he just got fired from Syracuse; the same Syracuse who doesn’t have Donovan McNabb, Dwight Freeney, or Marvin Harrison anymore. That’s important because it was also the last time Syracuse had major recruits enrolling in their athletics department. Greg Robinson inherited a terrible situation at ‘Cuse and, for lack of a better explanation, didn’t make it better. Syracuse was his only real experience as a head coach and in this time he lost a recruit to Central Michigan and also made the best out of a defense which was astonishingly deprived of talent.

Other notes of accomplishment of Greg Robinson are that he was the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos for six years and won 2 Super Bowls with them. His defenses finished at or near the top ten in four of those years. After his tenure with Denver he took a job at Kansas City which I am sure he would like to forget. His defense at Kansas City finished near the basement of the NFL for all three years in which he was DC. It is my personal opinion that his performance there was not his fault at all. Kansas City put little to no money into their defense during the time he was there and they expected great things to happen. Sound familiar Lions fans? After being let go by the Chiefs he took a job being a DC for Mack Brown in Texas. That year the Longhorns finished with the best defense in the Big-12 and ended up beating Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Mack Brown loved him and so did his players. After a stellar year with Texas he took the Syracuse head coaching job which I know he regrets.

So now that Robinson’s background is out of the way, here is my opinion.

At first thought I hated the hire because he has a terrible track record as a recruiter and to me, recruiting is one of the most important aspects of college football. Upon further review I am talking myself into liking it more. Rich Rodriguez loves recruiting and so does most of his staff. Jay Hopson (Linebackers Coach) is a big time recruiter on the defensive side of the ball as well. Having Greg Robinson on staff who holds two Super Bowl rings brings instant credibility to the staff and Rich Rodriguez and his recruiting staff could really exploit that. Greg Robinson himself? Not so much. I like his credentials and I am assuming that he is good schematically (Rich Rod took a long time trying to find the best available person for the job) so I am hoping for good things for next year. But, its not like he is replacing greatness either. Scott Shafer didn’t exactly light the world on fire with his “worst defense at Michigan in forty years.”

All in all I seem to like him a lot when he has talent to work with and only has to worry about setting up a defensive scheme. If he has increased responsibility from that I will be legitimately worried, even more so if he actually has to hit the recruiting trail. That being said, walking into a family’s living room with the winged helmet in hand is vastly different from doing the same with a Syracuse helmet.

Always remember...“Those who stay WILL be champions!”

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I have been hearing the word hope being thrown about frequently when referring to the Lions. Perhaps those very fans throwing around that 4 letter word, so haphazardly, are the very reason "Hope Springs Eternal" is now a cliché. Perhaps...

But, perhaps it is that hope that is keeping a football franchise in Michigan...

There is always hope for a different result when you change the inputs in any system, and the Lions have certainly changed the inputs. They have "changed" management by firing Matt Millen and promoting Martin Mayhew. They fired Rod Marinelli, who (miraculously?) coached a team with Paris Lenon as a starting linebacker to 7 wins, and hired Jim Schwartz as their new coach. They have picks galore, money to spend, awful middle linebackers leaving, etc., etc.

The inputs are changing, and so are the external factors. Now, Lions fans' newest source of hope is the Arizona Cardinals recent success. As if shouting, altogether now,: "If they can do it, so can we!"

But with all this "hope," I stand pessimistic. Arizona's success hasn't created hope, it is just another scoop of dirt piling on the Lions' grave.

Instead of seeing the Arizona victory as the ignorantly hopeful Lions fan, the NFL might see it quite differently. Instead of a mantra shouted by a throng of Lions fans, Roger Goodell might actually shout: "If they can do it, WHY HAVEN'T YOU?!?!"

Detroit has a sports franchise representing all 4 of the major American Sports, something only 12 other cities can claim. They are also one of only 2 of those 13 cities that has a unique stadium for each of those teams (Phoenix being the other). As a result, all Detroit teams have high operating costs associated with them, and those same teams are surrounded by a dying economy. Consequently, as good friend of the blog Ryan Terpstra said it, Detroit will, more likely than not, lose a sports team in the next decade.

So why do I think it is the Lions? TV blackouts ring a bell? 0-16..? 50 years of losing? Plus there is that enormous NFL market named Los Angeles, just dying to steal a team.

But, would William Clay Ford, Sr. and his strong Detroit ties really move the team? No, but whoever he potentially sells the team to probably wouldn't hesitate.

So, while some Lions fans are hoping that the playoffs are just 2 years away, I am just hoping that in two years the Lions are still the Detroit Lions.


P.S. Hopefully, you all noticed and appreciated the blog redesign. It is still a work in progress, but hopefully everything works as desired.

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The NFL draft is still a long way away but yesterday has set in place a foundation for how the draft will likely flow as we now know who will be available. Based on the players who decided to stay in college or turn pro, we have a better idea of depth and availability at all positions.

Though the Lions need a LOT of help, there seem to be two obvious glaring needs to address in the first round (Thanks Jerry Jones for another high pick!) - Linebacker and Left Tackle. It seemed to be a fairly deep draft at both positions, but now I am not so sure. With Brandon Spikes staying in school another year, the now only 4 game changing linebackers available are strongly projected to be gone by the time our second pick rolls around at #20.

So, what to do with the #1 pick? Assuming that we cannot trade the pick, what direction do the Lions want to go with this franchise in a year of change and rebuilding? I have said for a while now that Aaron Curry would be the most logical choice with the first pick and I feel even more strongly about this now. Defense wins championships - how did the Steelers, Ravens, Cardinals and Eagles get to their conference championships games? - so why not take a guy who has the ability to be Merriman like and change the culture of your defense?

New head coach Jim Schwartz is a defensive minded coach so lets start rebuilding this defense with the best player available. Look at some of the best linebackers who were steals in the last few drafts and only fell based on the position they play - Patrick Willis, Jon Beason, Jerod Mayo, David Harris just to name a few. Linebackers are the leaders on defense and are essential to building a strong defense. Some say it's not smart to take a linebacker with the first pick and I must ask why? Up until a few years ago nobody would draft a lineman that high either, now look at how the last few draft have played out...Aaron Curry is a game changer and would instantly make the defense exponentially better.

Yes, the Lions have 268 other need on their team, but you have to start somewhere. Luckily we do have 3 of the top 32 picks with which we can address a few of these needs. So lets suck it up and take the best available player in whom we can build our defense around for the next 10-15 years. Seems logical, which is probably why it won't happen.

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Today’s post is brought to you by expired college ID’s. Seriously my Calvin College ID has saved me a few hundred dollars over the years past its expiration. Doesn’t really compare to the thousands I gave that place while I was there I guess.

I want to reach out a bit and write about a person in college sports that I really admire. Someone who puts a face to a college program and actually gives it a good name. Not a person like Colt McCoy who is the face of the Texas Longhorns and has been arrested for drunk driving, or a person like Michael Vick who loved killing man’s best friend. No. I want to take a stance and say that I truly admire Tim Tebow.

Coming out of high school as somewhat of an uber-recruit, Tim Tebow’s name was scattered all across the college football landscape as the kid that everyone wanted. Before every college football head coach in the nation was calling his house, sending him letters and e-mails, Tim Tebow was living in the Philippines with his parents doing missionary work for his church. Spreading the word of God to countless people overseas that need it and are persecuted for it. After an entire childhood in the Philippines Tim headed back to the states so he could play football for a high school. Tim starred as a dual threat quarterback on the field; and off the field, every summer; Tim went back to the Philippines to help his dad with the mission work and his family’s orphanage.

After accepting a full scholarship to play at the University of Florida, Tim played a major role as a freshmen QB splitting time with the nominal starter Chris Leak. The two QB’s ended up leading Florida to a national championship over Ohio State. The next year Tim took over the reigns as starting QB since Chris Leak had graduated. Tim went on to become the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy and he led his team into the Capitol One bowl against Michigan. Healthy for the first time really that year, Michigan went on to win that game and send off Lloyd Carr as a champion. This was somewhat ironic because Michigan was in on the recruitment of Tim Tebow almost until the bitter end (he ended up choosing Florida over Alabama.) Heading into the offseason many people said that in 2008, Florida, with Tebow at the helm, was going to be the team to beat. That again proved to be true as Tim Tebow led Florida to its second National Championship during his tenure there.

Because Tim Tebow plays QB differently than a prototypical NFL QB does, his draft status isn’t exactly the same as someone like Sam Bradford or Matthew Stafford. Understanding that leaving early for the NFL draft probably is not a good idea, Tim decided a few days ago to stay at Florida for his senior year. Florida again will be the cream of the college football crop with Tebow back for his last year, but that’s not all Tim plans on doing next year. He will also graduate with a degree in Family, Youth and Community Sciences. Even though Tim would not be a first round selection in the NFL draft, he very easily could ditch out on his senior year and take the money provided to him by some NFL team. Instead he plans to stay in college, graduate, and try to leave his mark of college football as one of its all time greatest players. This such honor would place him along sides of people like: Reggie Bush, Vince Young, Archie Griffin, or even Tom Harmon (Michigan’s “everything” HB from 1939-40.) But in my eye Tim is already a step ahead of all of these people. What Tim does in the Philippines with his family is unmatched by any one of the so-called College Football Greats.

I am sure that if any one reading this actually watched this years BCS National Championship you probably heard countless times about all the great things Tim has done. But seriously, they are all said for a very good reason. I am not trying to say that if you spend 5 minutes with Tim Tebow your life is suddenly better; rather I am saying to admire him for what he has done on and off the gridiron. Tim Tebow truly is a man among boys.

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Before the season began, I jovially folded my all-in bet with the Detroit Lions. Instead, the Chargers started getting a little more of my fan power. What perhaps started as an act of protest against all the evil that is the Detroit Lions, left me completely invested in what outcome resulted from the 4:30 Sunday afternoon game. I truly felt like more than just a bandwagon fan, I felt like a Chargers fan. While I am sure you all care very little about which team I give more attention to, I can promise that this post contains the same attention to detail and passion that any other of my posts relating to a more local team would. So, let's begin!

This post, is not an excuse; it is not a justification for a heart breaking loss. Instead, it is an observation. The Chargers missed Shawne Merriman, and probably could have won the game had he been a part of the game.

Forget the injury, forget the steroids. Remember that Shawne Merriman is one of the most dynamic pass rushers in the game. His impact, even his presence, could have changed the game completely.

While it may be naive to claim that one player could change the entire course and result of one game, I hope to prove that it is not folly. I hope to additionally prove that one player on defense, not offense, is more important to the repercussions of that player's impact.

So much of what happens on the field any given Sunday is because of the way a team game plans. While simple notions such as run-pass balance or the amount of times a defense blitzes are influential, nothing is nearly as significant as game planning for super stars. When Calvin Johnson or Adrian Peterson steps on that field, 22 eyes are watching him. Safeties move over towards that player, Linebackers freeze in position anticipating what those type of players will do. But, the truth is, offenses game plan for defensive super stars just as much, if not more. Just knowing that Asante Samuel is matched up against the X receiver, or seeing Bob Sanders creeping up into the box affects everyone's thoughts: from the offensive line to the quarterback.

Shawne Merriman has the same effect because he is such a dynamic pass rusher. If he was there and 100% healthy, it would be ignorant not to believe that everyone on the offensive line would watch which side he lined up on, and would be careful to notice whether he blitzed or not before making a decision. His presence alone might have taken a double team off of Jamal Williams and given Shaun Phillips a clearer path to the quarterback thereby creating pressure on the quarterback; something completely lacking in the second half of that game.

One player's presence does have an effect on the defense as a whole. It affects their whole mentality, not just stats. Just compare the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Colts when Bob Sanders was hurt and when he was healthy. A team that struggled mightily against the run, suddenly because a brick wall when Sanders was healthy. His presence made offenses over think, not to mention all the tackles he got from being in the right place at the right time. Another example would be Ed Reed. Where would the Ravens be without him? My guess is at home, and Miami might be still alive.

Shawne Merriman is also a game changer, just like Sanders or Reed or James Harrison, because offenses fear him and think first and foremost about how to stop him.

Look at the 3rd quarter of the game. The first drive lasted over 7 minutes because Pittsburgh converted at least 4 Third down and longs. Third and long is an obvious passing situation. Pittsburgh ran the bunch formation most of the time in this situation. San Diego's defense played a poor zone and Ben Roethlesburger had all the time in the world to find Heinz Ward or Nate Washington for big gains each time. Had an effective pass rush disrupted Ben, the Steelers would have been forced to punt to the impressive Darren Sproles. My theory is, a Shawne Merriman rush would have drawn the attention of at least two players, most likely a tackle and the running back. That would have left probably Jamal Williams alone on the center; a matchup certainly favoring San Diego. Even the threat of a blitz by Merriman would probably be enough to confuse the offensive line and again give San Diego a good match up.

The Chargers offense played well enough to win. The defense (and two unfortunate and no-fault turnovers didn't help either) is what ultimately lost the game.

So, while Pittsburgh won, and I am sad, the result more than likely would have been different with the presence and threat of Shawne Merriman

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Welcome readers, today’s post is brought to you by the ineptitude of Davenports WiFi network. Seriously guys, wireless networks aren’t that hard to control.

In any event today’s post is going to be about one of my favorite topics, Michigan Football recruiting. Most people don’t get caught up in recruiting until signing day but I guess I am not most people. Keep in mind that everything I say is NOT set in stone in any way.

So…Shavodrick Beaver decommited and then switched schools to Tulsa. Yeah, uh, maybe he really does want to be the next Shaun King? Different school, pretty much the same scenario. Folks, this actually is kind of a big deal. Right now Tate Forcier is the only scholarship QB Michigan has on its list of recruits for next year. Right now Michigan is targeting Denard Robinson from Florida. He is listed as an athlete on rivals and is a 4 star recruit who actually is rated slightly about the Beaver. If he came to Michigan he would have a chance at QB but most likely would end up at receiver or CB (based mostly on need) after a red shirt year. He is a possibility but he isn’t exactly the answer I think we were all looking for. Michigan is putting a lot of eggs in Tate’s basket but frankly I can think of worse baskets to be in.

Other less likely options for QB in this class include Tajh Boyd and Eugene Smith. Tyrik Rollison (Rivals #2 dual threat QB) most likely wont qualify academically so is not being recruited for that reason. Tajh Boyd has been committed to West Virginia and Tennessee but as of right now isn’t committed anywhere. Michigan is not realy recruiting him to hard which is somewhat strange because he is very talented, but they may be sold on the fact that he truly is either committing to Oregon of Ohio State. Eugene Smith is a current West Virginia commit and Rivals #5 dual threat QB. Smith maintained interest in Michigan for roughly a month with Beaver and Forcier still committed at the time. He is most certainly an option still for this year, but given his current commitment to WVU it may be hard to persuade him to come to Michigan where there will be more competition.

On a brighter side, if my idea for the starting QB spot is actually correct (Tate Forcier to end up being the starter by the end of the year and possibly earlier,) then any other QB who would have signed with this class would more than likely be red shirted. That being the case, maybe saving a scholarship for the likes of Devin Gardner (2010 QB from Inkster, MI) isn’t a half bad idea. He is a teammate of current 2009 commit Cameron Gordon and is projected as a top 50 ish player for 2010. I am not trying to say that losing the Beaver was in any way a good thing, but it may have a silver lining with Gardner. Aside from Gardner, AJ Westendorp is also an option to be a preferred walk-on to Michigan for 2009. He is from Holland Christian and has picked up quite a bit of a buzz around West Michigan. Currently he holds an offer from GVSU but that’s it. I don’t think he will ever get an offer from Michigan, but he is a smart kid and could get academic scholarships from UM. Maybe scholarships mixed in with an opportunity to play QB at Michigan will be enough to sway him our way.

As for Michigan recruiting for positions other than QB, we landed Will Campbell (again) to no ones particular surprise. Rich Rod needed a big year recruiting the defensive line and he got it. Will Campbell, Craig Roh and Anthony LaLota are all in the Rivals 250 and big Will is Rivals #25. Michigan also currently has Pearlie Graves and DeQuinta Jones who are both 4 star recruits. A decommitment from one of the two is possible but in my opinion, not probable. This years defensive line recruits, if all stay committed, could be really special and could make us forget quickly about the loss of Terrance Taylor, Will Johnson, and Tim Jaimison.

To be honest the only positions we really need to add more depth to are: QB (as stated earlier), CB, OL, and WR. Michigan just lost the commitment of Dewayne Peace, a 3 star WR who was a camp offer in the summer. Losing Peace, this leaves Cameron Gordon as our only true outside WR in this class. Adding Je’Ron Stokes is a definite possibility though as he is visiting Ann Arbor this month. CB on the other hand is a bit more of a reach. A few high profile guys have us on their list like Dre Kirkpatrick, but I would say we have about as good of a chance at getting him as we did getting Ted Ginn Jr. a few years back. The most likely CB prospect currently for Michigan is Jayron Hosely out of Florida. He is a 4 star recruit and you can expect Michigan to push hard for him. After that it gets a little dicey. Michigan may have to add a few “shots in the dark” type of recruits to get the number of needed CB’s for this year. Michigan currently has 2 pretty good OL recruits in Taylor Lewan and Michael Scholfield. Adding Quinton Washington (4 star) is possible and at this point probable. After that I might expect maybe one more OL to be added.

Please let this not discount from that fact that I really really want Jelani Jenkins. He would be an immediate starter at linebacker and he is arguably the best recruit in all the land. Also remember it is severely doubtful he actually does go to Michigan, my guess is a Florida lead for him.

It is conceivable that Michigan could end up with a couple more 5 star recruits and a few more 4 star recruits. It is also possible that they add a few more mediocre players and are done for the year. As always I am hoping for the best of the best, but the exciting part about tracking recruiting the way I do is the fact that recruits constantly change their mind. You never know what kind of “snake oil” could be in Michigan’s future.

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There have been a lot of haters out there who think the Pistons have regressed, they are too old, Curry is an inexperienced, in-over-his-head coach, and that trading Chauncey was about as stupid of a move as drafting Darko "I coulda had Melo, Bosh, or Wade!' Milicic. I'm here to tell you that I am more excited about this team than I ever have been since they traded for Rasheed in the "thank you Danny Ainge!" trade of the century and went on to win the NBA finals in a 5 game sweep.

Seriously, I really am. The Stones are flying under the radar right now because they hit multiple speed bumps with integrating a "superstar" into their lineup after the season had already started. Every other NBA team had gone through a training camp with their respective rosters and had a game plan, a rotation, and a general knowledge of what was expected of them rolling into the season. The Pistons did too, until Joey pulled "the trade" and moved Chaunce "I have a Finals MVP trophy" Buh Buh Buh Buh Billups. Basically, the team was thrown back into training camp mode as they muddled through the next few dozen games and tried to define roles and playing time. Having two All-Star caliber shooting guards who can't really play other positions can do that to ya. . .

But Michael Curry tinkered with his lineups and went small, he went big, and he went young to try to figure out what the best combination of his young players and his veterans were. I really happen to enjoy Mr. Curry and how he's divvied out PT so far this season. Yes, you have interesting lineups and sometimes either AI or Hamilton have been on the bench during crunch time, but I don't mind. Curry has something that Rick Carlisle, Larry Brown, and Flip Saunders never had, the juevos to play the young guys and whoever is playing the best. And you can't say he's going strictly young, because my favorite Piston Jason Maxiell has seen his playing time dwindle during the first half of the season.

The Pistons surge as of late, in my mind, has come from the fact that Rip has been on the sidelines the last few weeks. Is this because he isn't a good player or our shooting guard of the future? Absolutely not. In fact he is our future banner carrier at the position, but the fact that we only have one bonafide two guard right now has solidified the team. Which is why I am so excited about the future of the Stones. When AI comes off the books next year (and he WILL come off, he will not be resigned even if they win a Title), our young starting backcourt will be of Rodney Stuckey and Richard Hamilton.

Having Stuckey and Hamilton in our backcourt and knowing Joe has the cash to redeem himself from the Darko Disaster by signing one of the players he should have drafted all those devastating years ago. . . 2003? Really? It was only that long ago Dumars went Tanya Harding on our Dynasty hopes? Anyway, knowing what this team can do with a set in stone starting backcourt, along with not having to play Tayshaun at the four spot and alot of cash in the biggest free agent sweepstakes pool in decades, makes me giddier than a 16 year old in a porn shop.

Let's put aside the amazing amount of cash that we have to go after the likes of Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and *gasp* LeBron James. The biggest gamble of the deal was not whether or not we can sign one of these players, but whether or not Rodney Stuckey could truly fill the shoes of the venerable Finals MVP. He has passed this test with flying colors. He was named Eastern Conference player of the week while averaging 20 pts, 5 boards, 5 dimes, and 2 steals during that stretch. He dropped 40 on the Bulls, and is 13-3 overall during the course of the season when he has started the game. Rodney will be a staple in the All-Star game and the catalyst of the Detroit Pistons for the next 10 years.

And let's be completely honest with ourselves. Detroit was not going to the Finals with Billups in the backcourt. The definition of crazy is "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." We have run into a brick wall in the ECF for the past four years with our current roster, and as Dick Clark said, "we aren't getting younger." Has he said that? Or does he just really look old to me? . . . At least with the Iverson trade we have a unique piece of the puzzle, that if used correctly, could be harnessed into a possible Finals bid. And we all know a possible Finals bid is a better chance than we had with Buh Buh Buh Buh Old Guy.

I love Chaunce, I really do. He has given me one of the greatest sports memories I will ever have and I shall take it to my grave. I wish him nothing but the very best in Denver and I hope he has alot of success. But, on the other hand, we now have a younger, more dynamic point who will lead this team, and has his own NBA Finals MVP in his future. Put it in stone.

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John Beilein is a great coach.

Not good, great.

He is such a great coach that he turned around a horrible Michigan basketball program in 1 year. Beyond the results from half of this season, John Beilein is a great coach because (1) he knows how to coach in all game time situations, (2) he is a great teacher, and (3) he wins young basketball player's respect.

In game time situations, I have been so impressed by John Beilein's ability to control the game. He seems to know exactly when to put players in, when to switch up his defenses, and when to call the right offenses. Any student of the game of basketball loves to watch when coaches throw different looks at opposing teams through different defensive schemes. The most recent game against Illinois is a great example. Beilein mainly stuck with the man to man defense, but whenever things got tight in that second half, he would switch quickly to the 1-3-1 zone. Illinois was caught off guard after getting a steady dose of man-to-man and took bad shots. In additon, his coaching control extends to the offensive side as well. The UCLA game is a great example. Beilein knew that UCLA was afraid of the 3 point shot because Michigan had lived by it through the entire game. So as a result he spreads out all his shooters along the perimeter and calls for a backdoor cut by DeShawn Sims for an easy dunk. Michigan may lack talent, but you can never say that Beilein got out coached.

Beilein can accomplish these strategic and often complex offensive and defensive sets because he is a great teacher. He has clearly taught each and every player on that team what to expect in just about every situation and what each of their roles is. Player know their roles, they fit those roles, and they carry out their given tasks on the floor. The Michigan players have bought into the Beilein system and they are carrying it out.

As stated above, the play and success of the basketball team so far is attributable to players buying in and understanding the system, which is a direct reflection on the respect that Beilein has earned. To garner the respect and faith of all of these players is absolutely impressive. Keep in mind the varying personalities on this team. There is the superstar mentality of Manny Harris that he has over come. As a result Manny is a total team player: happy to score 25 or get 12 assists based on what the team needs him to do. Or you have the personality of entitlement that DeShawn Sims displayed early in the year. Beilein combated that by benching Sims early in the season; a bold move, and one that has paid off. Lastly, you have the group of young kids who were not highly touted. Beilein has instilled a sense of confidence in all of them by giving everyone on the team the go ahead to shoot all the time. Nobody hesitates, and everybody can shoot from all over. Players like Gibson, Novak and Douglass all seem to have ice running through their veins even though they are young or lack the talent. That is a true reflection of a good coach. Beilein is sucking these players for everything they got by putting them in the right situations and teaching them his vision.

However, the aspect of Beilein's coaching I respect the most is his ability to make a player better. Tommy Amaker was a pretty good recruiter, especially given Michigan's turmoil involving Chris Webber and the booster Ed Martin. But, Amaker was a terrible coach. Player's like Daniel Horton and Lester Abrams were exactly the same players they were as freshmen when they were seniors. They displayed no improvement whatsoever. The same cannot be said about John Beilein. Everyone on that team who played last year is better than the year before. The best example may be Kelvin Grady. He was a turnover waiting to happen last year and was down right afraid to shoot. This year he is dynamic handling the basketball and has become a legitimate downtown threat. It may just be players gaining experience, but I think the tenure of Tommy Amaker proves otherwise.

So, while Beilein may not be the best recruiter in the world, he gets wins with fantastic coaching. And that great coaching has turned around the Michigan program and made it relevant again.

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